I’ve always wanted to have this space as a place where I can just unload my thoughts and not have to worry someone asking me the next hour, the next day, the next week, what I mean about what I posted. A word, a feeling, a thought is said for the purpose of writing. Nothing more. Should I put a disclaimer that says, “It’s not about you, it’s about me.”?

So again, I will try to put more effort here, focus on the goal of blogging.

If you’ve ever been part of a discussion on ethics, in school or elsewhere, chances are you didn’t spend much time talking about your feelings. It’s believed that to live ethically, we must engage our reason, which reins in the whims and follies of emotion. Ethics, then, is heavy on Spock and light on Sally Struthers. But what if unethical behavior is actually spurred, rather than prevented, by reason? [Link]

Good read on ethics in business.

The idea of staying in Canada then left me cold. It wasn’t “home”. I didn’t have a life here. I had a couple of friends who were already here, sure, but nothing compares to having your social safety net. For the first year of my stay here when I eventually came back, I wished to go back. Oh, what a difference 10 years make.

Today, I wouldn’t be anywhere else. Although I have friends and family back in Manila, I’ve found new friends here to treasure. I am now in my comfort zone. This country has brought me many opportunities for learning and living. Its people, although not perfect and not everyone is nice, I’ve come to accept. And love. The diversity it has is such a blessing. The freedom we all enjoy here is very empowering. Thank you Canada! You’re wonderful. <3

So here are a few things I learned from my cat that I hope to learn in her lifetime, because if I master them, I really truly am at such an advantage over the human race:

Queen Muffin

1. You don’t have to do anything to be royalty. Just be.

Eat, sleep and be pretty. I sound jealous, don’t I? Think about it: everyone says pets give unconditional love. They make us believe that! We give them unconditional love. Who picks their poop and scoops their pee? Uh-huh, that’s you and me. Who loves unconditionally now?! If someone took care of me as much as I took care of my cat, hell yeah they can swim in all the unconditional love I have to give!

2. It is possible to inconvenience others and yet still get an apology back.

I don’t know what else to attribute it to other than sheer brilliance. I accidentally wake up my cat because I need to get on my bed to rest after a long day of work, and what does she do? Glare at me as if I ruined the only good sleep she ever had in her life! And all that’s left for me to do is apologize, pet her head and help her get back to sleep, at which point I’ve lost my sleepiness. That, my friends, is power that only a few people have, and pets are born with as a birthright.

3. Whine until you get what you want.

Pet wakes you up at 3am wanting food and you give it unless sleep is not precious to you. Whine to a human and things could escalate to war and worse comes to worst, you’ll end up with a hefty bill after a shopping spree to make you feel better after that tiff. See pets don’t need to resort to that.

4. Bite where it hurts.

I’m not talking about physical assault from a pet here. I’m talking smart, passive-aggressive tactics that work. Take for example my cat (well, who else? haha) knows exactly which paper, receipt or book to start chewing to get my attention. I once almost used the line, “My cat ate my homework.” in programming class because she did just that. Blackmail is her middle name.

Watch for part II!

[I hope you know that this is all a joke and I am laughing my arse off right now...]