Everyone has had their fair share of good days and bad. While many things are within our control, what about those subject to the cruel jokes that life plays? Whenever you think that life sucks big time, take a look around you.
Chances are, yes it does look pretty bad through your shades … but there will alway be others without the gift of sight in the first place. So how the hell do they cope? Perhaps this little story might just shift your paradigm a tad.
Meet Faith – the Dog
This dog was born on Christmas Eve in the year 2002. He was born with 2 legs -
He of course could not walk when he was born. Even his mother did not want him.
His first owner also did not think that he could survive and he was thinking of ‘putting him to sleep’.
But then, his present owner, Jude Stringfellow, met him and wanted to take care of him.
She became determined to teach and train this little dog to walk by himself.
She named him ‘Faith’..
In the beginning, she put Faith on a surfboard to let him feel the movement. Later she used peanut butter on a spoon as a lure and reward for him for standing up and jumping around.
Even the other dog at home encouraged him to walk.
Amazingly, only after 6 months, like a miracle, Faith learned to balance on his hind legs and to jump to move forward.
After further training in the snow, he could now walk like a human being.
Faith loves to walk around now.
No matter where he goes, he attracts people to him. He is fast becoming famous on the international scene and has appeared on various newspapers and TV shows.
There is now a book entitled ‘With a Little Faith’ being published about him.
He was even considered to appear in one of Harry Potter movies.
His present owner Jude Stringfellew has given up her teaching post and plans to take him around the world to preach that even without a perfect body, one can have a perfect soul’.
In life there are always undesirable things, so in order to feel better you just need to look at life from another direction.
I hope this message will bring fresh new ways of thinking to everyone and that everyone will appreciate and be thankful for each beautiful day.
Faith is the continual demonstration of the strength and wonder of life.
While most folks are busy striking items off their Christmas shopping list, my list has not been drafted and there?s only less than a week left. Where has all the time gone to? Are we really coming to the end of 2009?
Previous years in the airline meant that festive seasons were often spent without my family. Majority of the crew, especially junior ones would be last on the ballot list for choice annual leave slots. Christmas was always spent either serving passengers up in the air or holed up in some hotel room, merry-making with the rest.
If you?re lucky enough to be rostered for a States flight (or any other country that celebrates Christmas in a big way), post Christmas sales would render the crew members delirious with joy. Most of us would spend at least a couple of hundred dollars at Macys and A&F alone. If there?s any country that truly understands retail therapy and the effects of a wondrous sale, it?s got to be the States.
I remember overlooking the bay at Hong Kong Island a few years ago. The beautiful nightlights were accentuated by Christmas decorations and as one look far across, it seems as though the dressed up buildings were staking a silent contest to outbid one another. Drafts of cold breeze swept across everyone?s faces as we took in the mesmerizing horizon, completely absorbed in the beauty of the Christmas atmosphere.
As the sense of calm swept over me, my thoughts went out to my family at home. I would have given anything to share this magical moment with them?
I?m glad that festive moments can now be spent with my loved ones, now that I?m fully ?grounded? on terra firma.? Is a Christmas tree, turkey and party on the cards this year? My little one has already been promised his favourite pizza on the eve. ?A heavenly rum-infused fruit cake is on the way. Wanna bake your very first this year? For a drool-worthy recipe, look no further ?
* 2 cups unsalted butter
* 4 cups confectioners’ sugar
* 8 eggs, separated
* 2 ounces candied citron peel
* 2 ounces candied orange peel
* 1 cup dried currants
* 1 1/2 cups candied pineapple chunks
* 3 cups golden raisins
* 1 1/2 cups candied cherries
* 4 cups macadamia nuts, chopped
* 3 cups sifted all-purpose flour
* 1/2 cup orange juice
* rum
Directions
1. Chop pineapple, raisins, and cherries. Combine chopped fruit with currants, peel, and citron; soak in orange juice overnight.
2. Preheat oven to 275 degrees F (135 degrees C). Place a small pan of water in the oven. Line one 5 x 9 inch loaf pan and two 3 x 8 inch loaf pans with parchment or doubled waxed paper.
3. Mix cream butter and confectioner’s sugar. Stir in beaten egg yolks. Stir in fruit, juice, and nuts. Mix in sifted flour.
4. Beat the egg whites to peaks in a clean bowl. Fold into batter. Fill pans 2/3 full.
5. Bake for 2 to 2 1/2 hours until golden brown, or until toothpick comes out clean when inserted.
6. Cool, pour rum over, slice and devour!
Religion shouldn?t be the only reason why we celebrate Christmas. It being the season when the year draws to an end, it?s time for some self reflection. When was the last time we showed our love? Or even flashed a genuine smile at our friends and family – People whom we have neglected for the past months, buried nose deep in work and studies.? They don?t want big fancy pressies or parties. What truly warms their heart is the mere comfort of your companionship and meaningful conversation.
This Christmas, do just that. Merry Christmas everyone!
A stranger was seated next to a little girl on the airplane. He turned to her and said, ‘Let’s talk. I’ve heard that flights go quicker if you strike up a conversation with your fellow passenger.’
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The little girl, who had just opened her book, closed it slowly and said to the stranger,
‘What would you like to talk about?’
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‘Oh, I don’t know,’ said the stranger. ‘How about nuclear power?’ and he smiles.
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‘OK,’ she said. ‘That could be an interesting topic. But let me ask you a question first. A horse, a cow, and a deer all eat the same stuff–grass. Yet a deer excretes little pellets, while a cow turns out a flat patty, and a horse produces clumps of dried grass. Why do you suppose that is?’
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The stranger, visibly surprised by the little girl’s intelligence, thinks about it and says, ”Hmmm, I have no idea.’
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To which the little girl replies, ‘Do you really feel qualified to discuss nuclear power when you don’t know shit?
Being in a foreign land makes us vulnerable targets.? In the late 1990s, a pilot was waiting for the coach outside the hotel when a snatch-thief grabbed his cabin bag and sped off on a motorbike.? The victim held on to his bag in an attempt to yank it out of the rider?s hand.? Little did he expect to be hauled a short distance along the streets of Paris before losing grip.? The silver lining to this was that he lived to tell.? As seen in the papers, many victims of such snatch cases often lose their balance, hitting the back of their head before a painful death due to internal bleeding of the brain.
Another involved a stewardess who hugged her LV bag to her chest while maneuvering her way through the busy walking streets.? To her shock when she reached into the bag to make payment for a dress, the bottom of her bag was slit and wallet, nowhere to be found!? This story has been repeated to the trainees and may have been edited one way or another.?? However the essence of it remains loud and clear- do not allow yourself to be an easy target and for goodness sake, flash those branded items where it is safe to do so.?
I tasted foie gras during my first year of flying. It is the favourite of many First Class passengers who choose to throw all health caution to the wind.? It was a taste like no other. The enthuasiastic leading crew brought the plates of delicacy down to Economy Class for the rest to share. The thick slabs of goose liver pate were eagerly snapped up by all… all but one, the galley steward.?
” You guys have no idea how much suffering these geese go through. They are held down by the farmers, their beaks pried open with a metal tool and practically forced-fed until the liver expands to 9 times the original size!… imagine the pain, the fear, the helplessness… ! “? As much as he admitted to the allure of its exquisite taste, the thought of hapless geese struggling in vain to protest against the pain of having poultry feed forced down their throat numerous times a day, was more than enough to make him swear off it completely.?
“Aiya, the geese are already dead… it doesn’t make a difference whether you eat it or not.? In fact, they died for nothing if you don’t eat it,” one stewardess gave her view in between bites.? ” If you really want to save all these animals, you have to turn vegetarian then!”???
Demand drives supply. As much as i enjoy the occasional steak and Mum’s curry chicken, I want to believe that they did not die a slow and painful death, unlike the geese.? I stopped relishing the creamy mouthful of buttery-like foie gras, vowing never to touch it again.
Have you ever spoken and wished that you could immediately take the words back…or that you could crawl into a hole?
Here are the Testimonials of a few people who did….
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FIRST TESTIMONY:
I walked into a hair salon with my husband and three kids in tow and asked loudly,
‘How much do you charge for a shampoo and a blow job?’
I turned around and walked back out and never went back
My husband didn’t say a word…he knew better.
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SECOND TESTIMONY:
I was at the golf store comparing different kinds of golf balls. I was unhappy with the women’s type I had been using.
After browsing for several minutes, I was approached by one of the good-looking gentlemen who works at the store.
He asked if he could help me. Without thinking, I looked at him and said, ‘I think I like playing with men’s balls .
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THIRD TESTIMONY:
My sister and I were at the mall and passed by a store that sold a variety of candy and nuts.
As we were looking at the display case, the boy behind the counter asked if we needed any help.
I replied, ‘No, I’m just looking at your nuts.’
My sister started to laugh hysterically.
The boy grinned, and I turned beet-red and walked away.
To this day, my sister has never let me forget.
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FOURTH TESTIMONY :
While in line at the bank one afternoon, my toddler decided to release some pent-up energy and ran amok.
I was finally able to grab hold of her after receiving looks of disgust and annoyance from other patrons.
I told her that if she did not start behaving ‘right now’ she would be punished.
To my horror, she looked me in the eye and said in a voice just as threatening,
‘If you don’t let me go right now, I will tell Grandma that I saw you kissing Daddy’s pee-pee last night!’
The silence was deafening after this enlightening exchange. Even the tellers stopped what they were doing.
I mustered up the last of my dignity and walked out of the bank with my daughter in tow.
The last thing I heard when the door closed behind me, were screams of laughter.
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FIFTH TESTIMONY:
Have you ever asked your child a question too many times?
My three-year-old son had a lot of problems with potty training and I was on him constantly.
One day we stopped at Taco Bell for a quick lunch, in between errands. It was very busy, with a full dining room.
While enjoying my taco, I smelled something funny, so of course I checked my seven-month-old daughter, she was clean.
The realized that Danny had not asked to go potty in a while.
I asked him if he needed to go and he said ‘No’ .
I kept thinking
‘Oh Lord, that child has had an accident, and I don’t have any clothes with me.’
Then I said, ‘Danny, are you SURE you didn’t have an accident?’
‘No,’ he replied.
I just KNEW that he must have had an accident, because the smell was getting worse.
Soooooo, I asked one more time, ‘Danny did you have an accident ?This time he jumped up, yanked down his pants, bent over, spread his cheeks and yelled
‘SEE MOM, IT’S JUST FARTS!!’
While 30 people nearly choked to death on their tacos laughing, he calmly pulled up his pants and sat down.
An old couple made me feel better, thanking me for the best laugh they’d ever had!
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LAST BUT NOT LEAST TESTIMONY:
This had most of the state of Michigan laughing for 2 days and a very embarrassed female news anchor who will, in the future, likely think before she speaks.
What happens when you predict snow but don’t get any!!??
We had a female news anchor that, the day after it was supposed to have snowed and didn’t, turned to the weatherman and asked:
‘So Bob, where’s that 8 inches you promised me last night?’
Was dining at Blue Lobster the other night with some friends and i had such a gastronomic beef experience. No need for expensive Lawrys and the likes… the Hokubee Beef @ $27.90 (if i recall correctly) is a steal ! Four out of five ordered this dish,recommended by the waiter with heavily-laced accent and none of us regretted the choice.
Mine was an 180 gms slab done medium rare and totally out of this world. The mashed potato was buttery creamy (is there such a word?) and sat atop 3 thick shoots of asparagus. I have no idea what sauce was dribbled over the beef but all i know is that it melted right in my mouth and left me wanting more, even after a starter of caesar salad, pinch of soft-shelled crab and lotsa of pinot noir. Hungry already?
Be sure to call and find out when the beef’s delivered. We were lucky to get them at the freshest state,so to speak.
It reminds me of the steakhouse at Darling Harbour,Sydney which serves up a mean piece. Throw in some cool seabreeze and the magnificent night view of the famous harbour… god, i’m so hungry i could eat a cow now !
I had an interesting flight with this senior steward who intrigued me with an unusual question.? Crew- talk usually evolves around the common gossip topics of food, drink, shopping and sex, but he suddenly popped this,? Do you believe in black magic??
I was slightly taken aback but the nature of his question prompted me to lean forward and replied in a near whisper,? no, do you???
?He later shared a personal story of how unwelcome spirits haunted and hosted his female friend?s physical being, rendering her a changed woman who would often stare into space with a distant look.? He knew a famous boh moh in Indonesia who would treat victims on a referral basis and managed to get her an appointment.? The setting was described as sinister, and the boh moh requested a room in a particular hotel to perform his rituals- a room with nails driven into the top of the door frame.? During the entire process, he had a case of goose pimples.? Miraculously, when the two hour session was over, the steward?s friend came out of her trance.
Well, looking at the intent look on his face, I still couldn?t bring myself to believe his encounter.? Perhaps, one has to see it to believe it.? But whatever the case, I?m glad that his friend is alright now.????
I chanced upon this the other day.? While it may not be the latest video, it still is such a scream!? The flight attendants? have the mannerisms of our gay counterparts, right down to a T.? That said, let’s laugh with them, not at them.??:)
It was a two day layover in Dubai.? I was in the middle of a wonderful dream when the phone rang.? I barked an irritated ?Hello?? into the mouthpiece.? The rest of the gang had arranged for lunch in two hours time, so who the hell was disturbing my sleep now??
There was no reply.?? Seconds later, heavy breathing travelled to my ears, followed by lewd laughter.? That was it man.? First you deprived me out my beauty rest and now you get all horny over the line! I treated the mystery caller to a slew of colourful expletives and hung up the phone.
It turned out that I was not the only one who was disturbed.? Apparently, this happens pretty often to the stewardesses.? The question is who and how?? Surely, only an insider had access to our room numbers?? In the end, to avoid such prank calls, we took to contacting one another via mobile phones.?? While it was an expensive means of contact (calls in Dubai are not cheap at all), at least we could sleep in peace and stay as far as possible from whoever this perverted caller was.
