THE CURIO(US) TRANSFORMATION

Delivered to my home, last Saturday, were two pieces of grown up furniture.

1. A Large leather sectional
2. A Curio cabinet

I sit on the sectional staring at the curio, wondering when I became so grown up.

NHU LOVE

The most wonderful of all things in life, I believe, is the discovery of another human being with whom one's relationship has a glowing depth, beauty, and joy as the years increase. This inner progressiveness of love between two human beings is a most marvelous thing, it cannot be found by looking for it or by passionately wishing for it. It is a sort of Divine accident.
~ Sir Hugh Walpoe

Nhu-An and Jorge, congratulations on your engagement!

SOAPBOX DIATRIBE PT.II

Dear Faithful Readers,

Prepare yourselves for an onry oration. Subject: Valentine's Day (of course).

I have never been fanatical about V-Day. I do not harbour bitter irate resentment towards this day because of some deep psychologically scarring event from my past. In fact, I've received my fair share of hearts, chocolates and flowers. However, I have made a conscious decision, at nineteen, to ignore the holiday.

It's not because I'm hostile and madden by the outpouring of people's romantic displays. I'm all for whatever helps folks spread more love in the world. But I feel that capitalizing on this movement tarnishes its effect.

The significance and pressure of the holiday was ingrained in our prepubescent hearts and minds, before we become cognisant of the freedom surrounding love, society swooped in and took our minds hostage and brainwashed us with all the formalities surrounding love. Must buy, must receive, must state in the most opulent fashion: LOVE.

It's the concept behind the holiday, the idea that love doesn’t count unless it’s grand, expensive and romantic. It's the perfect commercial cash grab: Romance by Guilt.

In addition, I refuse to support a psychologically damaging holiday, where one is left to feel unimportant and unloved.

1. Elementary School: the one with the least Valentine's card from classmates equals unloved?
2. Junior/High School: the one without the heart-o-grams/flower-o-grams equals unloved?
3. Adulthood: the one not struck by Cupid's arrow equals unloved?

Love gifts should not validate our existence. Our ability to give love freely validates our existence.

I believe in hugs, kisses and kind gestures on a daily basis. I partake in the romance of small simple acts and whispered words of adoration at the most unexpected moments. I believe in saying "I Love You" often and to everyone whom I care for.

If we need a holiday to remind us to love others... should we be loved?

WHITE MATTERS

“Some people have an edge up on others in their ability to tell lies,” says Adrian Raine, a psychologist at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. “They are better wired for the complex computations involved in sophisticated lies.”

He found that pathological liars have on average more white matter in their prefrontal cortex, the area of the brain that is active during lying, and less grey matter than people who are not serial fibbers. White matter enables quick, complex thinking while grey matter mediates inhibitions. These are the first biological differences to be discovered between pathological liars and the general population.

Hypocrites, Manipulators and Liars. Game on.

I've witnessed your antics, I've observed your strategies, I've noted your tell-tale signs and I say "Game On!"

Physically, I may appear agreeable and demure, but mentally, I am feisty and potent. I am on the defensive and am two steps ahead, blocking your every move. Rest assured, I will only use my faculties for the greater good. However, you won't like playing by my rules because I play for keeps.

Game On.

PROGNOSTICATING CRITTERS

Happy Groundhog Day, everybody!

Ontario's own Albino Groundhog, Wierton Willy predicts promises a prompt spring.

However, the fortunate forecast is not just for overjoyed Ontarians. This year there appears to be a consecutive consensus for warmer weather throughout Eastern and Central Canada (plus Pennsylvania), confirmed by Willy's critter cousins: Manitoba Merv, Shubenacadie Sam, of the Nova Scotian Shubenacadies and Punxsutawney Phil, of the Pennsylvania Punxsutawnies.

Weather woodchucks, what a wonder!
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