85 - I knew a girl called Jade.

There was a time when I had the chance to date this beautiful girl six years ago. She was Australian-Chinese, and we initially met in our first year of high school. When you spoke to her for the first time, you would know in your mind to place her in the 'cool' clique at school. She simply had that charm about her, in the fragrance of her hair, the apparent sincerity of her smile, the chipmunky cheerfulness of her voice, her whole aura, a kind of biological femininity that was especially crafted for luring male companions, for enticing men, but her kindliness and immediate congeniality not necessarily indicative of you two strangers turning into friends, or becoming something more.

I, on the other hand, went into high school open-minded, and lacking any predetermined social standing. I was one of those kids that had the potential to end up a studious nerd, a lonesome bully, a suicidal emo kid, a regular Joe, a friendly Tom, an outrageously gay socialite, a muscular jock, or one of those guys that are just as clingy as their girlfriends and that never hang out with anyone else because both members of the relationship are too mutually preoccupied with having to attend to each other's needs and wants every minute of every day.

It was conceivable for me to be that last guy - to end up with that gorgeous-looking girl, to hang out with her and her two younger brothers all the time on yachts and on beaches, surfing, building sand castles, summering with her family on the coast of Maui, Costa Rica or Cebu, to make out during romantic movies and feed each other popcorn, to hold hands as we walked through the school corridors and sat in classrooms, unafraid of displaying our sick, mushy love for each other, to have amazing secret sex in parks and on rooftops that would make anybody jealous if they heard about it, to curl up next to a fireplace on long winter nights, playing Monopoly, drinking hot cocoa and exchanging funny anecdotes, or perhaps sharing our thoughts on what life would be like if it were drastically different from the one we were living...

Despite all the images I could conjure up now, it isn't the way it turned out. The details aren't necessary for you to know (as I am ashamed of said details), but in the end, Jade and I (and everybody else) all attribute the non-existence of this relationship in history to my own foolishness. This could-have-been pairing is just one of those situations that belongs in dreams and alternate realities.

71 - I got a Neno's Award.

An award, namely the Neno's Award, has been bestowed upon me by Argentum Vulgaris, creator of a number of blogs, including the less commonly advertised Beyond Bolivia and Things that are Not Normal. The award is given to and displayed on Do you hate it too?.


The award is:
- a dedication for those who love blogging and love to encourage friendships through blogging
- a means of seeking the reasons behind why we all love blogging.

The aims of this award:

* As a dedication for those who love blogging and love to encourage friendships through blogging.
* To seek the reasons why we all love blogging.
* Put the award in one post as soon as you receive it.
* Don't forget to mention the person who gives you the award.
* Answer the award's question by writing the reason why you love blogging.
* Tag and distribute the award to as many people as you like.
* Don't forget to notify the award receivers and put their links in your post.

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On Do you hate it too?, I love to rant primarily, and I like to have people rant with me or rant against me. We use the word 'hate' so freely, and this applies to everybody, everywhere, at any given time, in a vast multitude of workplaces, public spaces and households, and I just like how widely I can stretch this theme across so many different things, while also providing a day-to-day update on my own life and learning about other people's experiences through their comments. It's also a very good medium to ventilate in, and it also helps me practice my writing. For me, there are so many reasons I love to blog.

There is one more reason that I reckon I must mention separately. Quite frankly, I love the attention. :)

I love the followers, the comments, the thousands of viewers I've had in the past six months. I'm an honest guy, and honestly, even though I did not expect this much readership when I first started out, it's now mainly what drives me the most to keep blogging - you, the readers, the fans, your consideration, your comments and your care.

I hope that sounded sweet, and not arrogant at all. I mean it - your care means a lot to me.

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I'd like to give the award to, and hear back from:
Eura from Thumbs Up, Feet On The Ground
Madame DeFarge from bateau de banane
Randa from 365 Days
Marcy from Tales of the Kids
Eugene from Solviter
Douglas from Boomer Musings
Tiffany from lipstick & poker chips
Chris O from My Cat ate my Brain
Jodi from The World According to J.J. In L.A.