I weigh myself at the gym today.

With shoes, the scale reads 61.6 kg.

I am regaining the weight I lost 4 years ago....

 
Edmond's signature on his email reads:

May God give us the wisdom to know the right,
the will to choose it,
and the strength for it to endure.

King Arthur in "First Knight"

 
This song from Top Gun is dedicated to some of my guys who have been facing problems with those of the fairer, although not necessarily, nicer sex. You have not admitted it, but I know who you are. Here is something to remind the joy of simplicity, enjoy:

Playing With the Boys
Kenny Loggins

I'd say it was the right time
To walk away
When dreaming takes you nowhere
It's time to play
Bodies working overtime
Your money don't matter
The clock keeps ticking
When someone's on your mind

I'm moving in slow motion
Feels so good
It's a strange anticipation
Knock, knock, knocking on wood
Bodies working overtime
Man against man
And all that ever matters
Is baby who's ahead in the game
Funny but it's always the same

(Chorus)
Playing, playing with the boys
Playing, playing with the boys
After chasing sunsets
One of life's simple joys
Is playing with the boys

Said it was the wrong thing
For me to do
I said it's just a boys' game
Girls play too
My heart is working overtime
In this kind of game
Someone gets hurt
I'm afraid that someone is me
If you want to find me, I'll be
Playing with the boys

I don't want to be the moth around your fire
I don't want to be obsessed by your desire
I'm ready, I'm leaving
I've seen enough
I've got to go
You play too rough

 
I have come to a conclusion that nicotine makes one courageous.... or foolhardy.

I have been privileged to witness some apparently nicotine induced acts. There were times when I see motorcyclists on the expressway, in drizzle, one hand steering the bike, the other holding a cigarette; smoking despite the obvious difficulties of having to adjust your helmet to fit in the cigarette with every puff, and the lifespan of each cigarette drastically reduced by the rushing wind.

Of course, there are other memorable acts, one of which remained fresh in my mind. I happened to be standing between two other smokers along a row of urinals. As we were collectively contributing to the national newater movement, they were puffing away, holding their cigarettes in the same hand that they used to hold their organs. It struck me that should a spasm strike or that there be a shiver, a personal tragedy could just take place. They could possibly be scarred for life, not to mention wasting a few good puffs. And let me assure you, hair can burn.

I held myself back from studying how close they held their cigarettes to their respective members, after all, working in a male-dominated environment, the last thing I want to be known as is a butt lover. In any case, I am sure they were holding it close enough to feel the heat. Well, I am still curious and I do hope that my smoker friends can enlighten me through their personal experiences. But please be informed that all experimentation will be done so at your own risk, I will not be held responsible for any unfortunate accidents, nor will I financially able to pay for any cosmetic surgery or reconstruction procedures.

Should anything untowards happen to you, I do hope that nicotine is a painkiller. All the best.

 
Every Sunday, I fall in love all over again. Just like a mayfly; being born; growing; mating and dying; living out its short existence in those few hours; I am reborn every Sunday morning. My steps are lighter, my heart beats faster, my face wears a silly grin in anticipation of what is to come.

It is so strange that after so many years, I am still so in love with basketball. Every week I dance with a new partner, dancing a different dance, to a different tune.

It may seem bizarre to some; it may seem ridiculous to some that a person can be so dedicated to a single sport. But as with most love affairs, it is probably detrimental to health; as evidenced by many of my friends with damaged knees and finger joints, and often it happens without warning nor reason.

It has always eluded me how anyone can be as in love with a person. Basketball and philosophy remain my greatest loves; they remain the only things that I think I can be remain faithful to.

Whatever allow you to look forward to a new day; whatever allow you to want to look for beauty beyond what is apparently ugly and painful to bear; whatever allow you to want to want to wake up; whatever allow you to feel the surge of youthful energy within your aging limbs; whatever restore that fire in your eyes, are worth falling in love with... and falling absolutely in love with.