Friday Five 2-July-2021

thefridayfive questions:

1) What one event from your lifetime would you change if you could, and why?
Probably that time when it was my turn to get into University, and at the same time my Sis decided to "run away" from Mom and decided she would relocate to Austria. Because she couldn't just go alone, so Dad had to go with her. I felt sorry for Mom having to be alone in Macau, so I decided to choose a University in Macau. Even though everything turned out well enough for me, I had always dreamed of studying overseas. So if I were to change anything, I guess I'd probably change the fact that I chose to stay to keep Mom company. She still babies my Sis and helps her with everything, whereas I had sacrificed so much to contribute to her life, yet, she doesn't seem to appreciate a thing. I would go out, to UK, do University there, and achieve my childhood dream of studying overseas. But, reality check, it'll never happen now.

2) If you could give one piece of advice to your younger self, what would it be and how old would your younger self be when they got it? Do you think your younger self would listen?
Mom doesn't always have the best ideas. Heck, even up to now, I would do as Mom says (mostly) just because I have to "give her face". There are many things that she does that I don't agree with, but what the heck. Respect your elders and all that.

3) If you could have a conversation with the historical figure of your choosing, whom would you pick and why? What would you talk about? (You can't give them advice, though - they'll think it was all a very strange dream!)
Never really thought about it. Can't just think and make anything up just yet.

4) There are many things that we've lost from the past -- how to make Roman concrete, countless episodes of Dr. Who, most of the plays about Oedipus, my favorite stuffed animal . . . . What one item or secret would you retrieve if you had the power to do so?
I must be such a boring person that I don't wonder about any of that. But talking about a lost toy... so there was one time when there was still the old Pizza Hut in town, they gave out toys to kids. I got a Pizza Hut toy. It's those... a square area with 7 pieces of irregular shaped... shapes and you had to put them together? Either back into the square, or you can use those shapes to build different things (a dog, a cat, etc...). So I got that toy, and was happy for it. Then we went to the arcade and onto the bumpy car ride (you drive around the enclosed area and bump into other cars). I didn't have a pocket, Dad didn't have a pocket (I wonder why now) so I decided I would sit on the toy. Exciting car bumping ride later, we leave, and I forgot that toy in the car seat. I still want that damn toy now.

5) What would you like to say to people in the future?
I guess... treasure the traditional crafts? Technology is amazing but always know how to do something manually as well?

Followed by F.riday5.com questions:

1. For what ability do you seem to have a natural gift?
Dogs. I've always had a thing with dogs. Even the most aggressive dog (that I've encountered) turn into putty with me. My friend had a German Shepherd as a guard dog, Bobby. Oh boy was he aggressive if you so much as looked his way, he would bark at you like mad. But with me, the dog was just so docile. I could hug the dog, the dog was always so happy to see me. I also felt so much pity for the dog because as guard dog and not a pet, they didn't take care of him. Coz they had a garage (I think her dad was a mechanic) so the dog was all oily and dirty. I even offered to wash the dog once. Her dad refused. "You're making my guard dog soft!" Bobby you were a good boy! I remember you!

2. What’s pretty good about the present moment?
Right this moment, nothing is good. I went out for drinks with my colleagues last night. While I didn't get smashed nor tipsy, I don't know, because I'm getting on with age, when I drink alcohol, I can't sleep at night. Like, as I get more "drunk" (not drunk really), my brain is working overtime to get myself out of the haze... so then even when I hit the bed, it's still running.... so I can't sleep....

And I have a damned headache now.

3. What nearby, everyday object would be a good symbolic bequest to someone in your life?
I'm not rich enough to have something worth enough to be bequested. I suppose my one and only diamond ring (university graduation ring) can do. Oh, but symbolic? erm........................................... also the diamond ring LOL

4. What recognitions, large or small, have been bestowed upon you?
Smart and diligent. There was a time due to some management fighting that I was right in the middle and I was basically collateral damage, so I was being thrown about "this department didn't want remnants of that department" and "that department says this department wanted a hostile takeover so they should take me with them". Anyway, in the end I got assigned to the new department that "didn't want remnants". My first task was to handle the annual appraisals. I was diligent, and worked my way through the staff list. Within that company (and it was a big corporate company), it was only my division (non-gaming operations) that completed the staff appraisals with an up to date and accurate list of staff that have meanwhile resigned, etc, a week before the deadline. It was only then that the department heads of that new department saw me as an asset.

5. What was your most recent charitable donation?
I have a standing donation to a few charitable organizations. Without going too much into the politics and whether "which organization is good and sincere and which is not", I have a sponsored child in Ethiopia with World Vision. I also have a monthly donation to Orbis. I used to have a monthly donation to Save the Children but I've stopped that because I wanted to reassign my donation money to things closer to home. I do a yearly donation to the dog shelter my Sis is working at, and I also donate the amount to sponsor a dog in another organization, but I did not ask to really "sponsor" any particular dog, I'm just doing the monthly donation, they can assign the money to whoever and whichever. And sometimes when I see the dog shelter groups post about particularly severe rescues, I would donate something for that too. I also go give blood at least once a year. As for non-money "donations", I am the secretary of one of the boards of yet another dog shelter. I'm not sure which board I'm in though, they haven't called on me recently to do secretary work, but I did help them quite a bit a couple years back.