Passing it on

When I was about 8 and we had just moved to our new apartment, the notion of taking the lift was introduced. Previously we were located a mere three storeys up so under parental rule, we had to take the stairs.

Anyways the new flat was on the eighth floor and we took the elevator everytime. Mum taught me to ask "Which floor?" to all the neighbours riding with us and, even though it might be hard to believe, I did that quite religiously, even today.

Remember how Haley Joel Osment urged us all to "pass it on" in that movie he did with Helen Hunt and Kevin Spacey? The one where he got stabbed by schoolmate and died quite tragically? Sorry if you hadn't watched it but in my defense it really was an old movie. You should have watched it by now if you had wanted to watch it.

I'm not digressing here, in case you're wondering why I went from talking about lifts to Haley Joel Osment movies.

Thing is, I'm starting to see, what mum taught me over 10 years ago, my neighbours returning the favour now. Even the little primary school kids. Which really makes for such a good community doesn't it? Things like these seem trivial, obviously, compared to what, your monthly donations to whatsthatcharity but I'm of the opinion that your monetary contributions have no place in society until you can learn to be well-mannered to the people you interact with on a daily basis. How exactly does your $10k donation chip in when you put on a black face towards your neighbours? And, really, what's it gonna hurt to just be civil? Besides, it's free. Food for thought.

Return of the monthlies

If only boyfriends could be as faithful as my period.

Speaking of which, you girls know how your hormones act up when your crimson tide is rolling in? The dreaded period before the actual period where you drive everyone within a hundred mile radius absolutely nuts, not to mention embarrassingly emotional at the slightest thing. Like killing ants by mistake. Maybe ants are a bit of a stretch but you get my picture.

As you know I do public relations now, client being a prominent global company with local roots. So in line with their corporate responsibility duties, their most recent activity involved a donation of sorts to the elderly. This is all very sketchy but I can give neither names nor details, seeing that my blogger identity is not hidden. But it's not like this is a bitchy post lah. Sorry to disappoint. :P

Prior to the charity event, I'm not going to deny I had personal reservations about old folks - grumpy, nasty, fussy, testy... a lot of negative adjectives there, all of which were promptly chucked when I met them in person. They really put the younger generation to shame because they are all just so polite and friendly, not to mention warm. This is the new age grays people. NAGs. And you know what? I love it. So much that I nearly cried when the company was bidding them goodbye, thanks to the hormones. I really should make a mental note to not get involved in sob stories when God is going to part my red sea.

I so can't stand corporate emails. It is just too subservient. Not to mention long-winded, overly-polite, and so 1960s, y'know?

It's that typical mistake everyone makes: using language that is much too official even for daily use and using too many words. Though nothing beats this one MAJOR ASS-KISSING ACTION:

"thanks very much for your time over the phone, and for how welcoming and encouraging you are. I truly appreciate it, and I hope this note finds you well..."

So walau right?!?!!?

As if the client is going to read and pretend to be oblivious to all our bitching behind his back. Just get straight to the point and don't be rude, is that so difficult to do without having to resort to false enthusiasm and sincerity?