gimme a break!

i'm going home tomorrow!! can't wait to get back!

it's gonna be a week long (actually, 9 days) break for me, and i just can't wait to get started! have arranged to meet up with my friends, and i'm just so excited!! now trying to get through another hour of work (we've got a half-day off today) before i scoot off to have lunch with my gal pal, do a spot of last-minute shopping, a massage, and a facial. ahh... bliss....

soft spot

i meant to blog about this for some time, but i kept getting distracted by a lot of things... but i just saw a post that my brother put up on something related, and i'm prompted again to write this post. so, here goes...

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i've always had a soft spot for old folks. think i've mentioned this somewhere in one of my posts before. i guess it stems mainly from the fact that i'm very close to my grandma-- with whom i've shared a room for my whole life up to the point when i left for hong kong.

so when i see poor old ladies on the streets picking up drink cans and scavenging the garbage bins to find something of resale value, it really breaks my heart. i oft wonder-- how many people actually pass them by with nary a backward glance? i often have the urge to go up to them and maybe help them with the heavy load of things they're carrying, or to show some concern in some small measure. but of course, there's always a reason (or an excuse) not to-- rushing for time, carrying a huge load myself, or, more often than not, too bothered by what i think people might see or think... it's not something i'm proud of, obviously.

so in the end, i try to help in other ways... other more anonymous ways... like the other day the tv station was broadcasting some documentary-style fundraising program for an organization called "Senior Citizen Home Safety Association", which aims to help elderly folks who stay alone or don't have anyone to take care of them. they issue a device called "Personal Emergency Link" (PE Link) which will connect them to a 24-hour emergency hotline. beyond that, the service workers at the help centre will make periodic calls to registered elderly folks with the PE Link to check on their well-being. the organization was founded by a group of citizens in 1996 in response to the heartbreaking news that more than 100 elderly folks living alone were found dead during a cold spell.

initially i opted to donate an amount equivalent to paying for the service for 1 old folk for 2 months. by the end of the program, i was all tears and had resolved to donating an amount equivalent to paying for the device for 1 year. don't get me wrong, the program didn't try to show how pathetic these old folks are, instead it was just presented in a very documentary-style way. which i appreciated. no dangerous stunts performed by celebrities, no lucky draws to tempt the greed in mankind... just plainly and simply, a sincere request for donation to help these old folks. many of whom have children, but have been what i call 'abandoned' or 'neglected'. sigh.

so anyways, in case there is actually someone reading this blog and you're interested in helping these old folks, you can visit this website: www.schsa.org.hk

a forgotten birthday

while typing and pounding away on my computer today, i thought of the possible birthday gifts i should get for my gal pal who's turning 30 this week. and then suddenly i remembered that his birthday is very near hers. and then i recalled-- his birthday falls on 9th february.

which means that i've missed it.

which means that i've actually missed it!!

i know it sounds odd, but i actually am applauding the fact that i've let this day slipped by with nary a thought about it being his birthday.

i guess moving on and healing is like time passing-- it happens when you're not paying attention... especially when you're not paying attention...

can't... breathe...

whoa, the air in hong kong is really bad today. as in, REALLY bad. i made a speedy trip to the post office during lunch hour and when i was outside, i had a bit of difficulty breathing. the air feels heavy & laden and then i remember that my brother is coming over in march for the standard chartered marathon and i'm seriously quite worried for him. running a marathon while breathing in the smog that passes off as air here ain't no joke.

better get him prepared for it.