I Met a Herbivore!

I am likely to not blog about everything, so I am declaring that I will be selective, even for activities and events that I'm involved in. 

Otherwise, blogging will take a huge chunk of my time and to be honest, I don't have much time given my academic duties and my Toastmastering.

Having said this, I had the fortune to be invited to a farewell B-B-Q party yesterday. The occasion? A HICT student and a friend, Jai Harpalani is finally leaving us and returning to a sorely-missed place called Dubai.

I use the word "fortune" because it was not your typical B-B-Q fare since I had my fill of oyster mushrooms and corn-on-the-cobs. It took getting used to because I would have preferred my usual pick of chicken wings, sausages, prawns and the like. 

But this time, it was just vegetarian fare. As Jai took pains to emphasize, vegetarian food is not only simple, but also nutritious and healthy. Uh-huh! 

You would know by now that I am a carnivore – surprisingly, my teeth wasn't gnashing at the thought of meat yesterday evening – but having survived last night, I guess just eating veggies is alright. If once in a long while. Anyway, I must thank Jai – he is a bona fide herbivore – for this experience. And Jai, thank you for your friendship and my best wishes to you, always!

I am currently immersed in two books – the first on Globalization, called "The World is Flat" by Thomas L Friedman, and the second, "The Fiefdom Syndrome" by Robert Herbold . Both are interesting reads. 

The former reveals that the world is flattening, but that this 'globalizing' phenomenon can be a force for good – whether for business, the environment, and/or people everywhere. Well, that's Friedman's perspective, which is predictably ultra-positive. 

The latter deals with how turf wars and bureaucracy are undermining companies. It's very political because of destructive individuals – Malaysians would label them as "little emperors" – those self-important persons who have their own agendas that, for sure, are at odds with their organizations' goals. Reading the book makes me realize that many Malaysian entities are afflicted with this syndrome, and I am talking of personal experience here! 

In fact, this particular book was a real bargain, because the hard-cover was priced at a very affordable RM19 at MPH Subang Jaya – part of a small collection that was on promotion that day at Subang Parade.

Anyway, it is nice to know that I am back into an active reading mode. So, I do read other stuff, besides the mandatory textbooks that I must devour because of my teaching interests. 

Didn't Mortimer Adler once said "Reading is a basic tool in the living of a good life"? 

Now if I can only get to a beach – Teluk Cempedak comes to mind since I did spend 3 years in Kuantan a long time ago when I was working there – and the thought of being able to relax on the gilded sands while reading a book conjures an image of euphoric bliss! 

This is nothing more than fanciful thinking on my part because with the sea breeze caressing my sun-tanned frame and the rolling waves breaking into a lullaby, I am more likely to fall asleep in four seconds flat!

Reading and writing – I am rediscovering myself again. I must say I'm pleased. Another quote before I sign off – Ralph Waldo Emerson's "Whenever you are sincerely pleased you are nourished". Isn't that right?