Sidelines, By-lines & Aligns

By-lines
Moon was just telling me how a reporter gets his by-line in a paper. It has to be

1. an orginal story (or scoop).
2. much resesarch is done
3. substantial enuf for crediting.

I was just thinking that over at the Sphere, we do seek, in our own way, crediting to the papers that we draft.

I must try my best to put in WK's name in the papers. He did a lot of background research work and is a marvellous fellow to boot. I'd hate to see him sidelined in any way.

Sidelines
Very glad that I've made the phonecall to the Informant. Have explained to him that Blur Kangkong was rumoured to have said that he "didn't like True Sotong" when queried by a mysterious somebody. As usual, Conniving Sotong was the bearer of such gossip to P, who was sufficiently disturbed in mind to tell me this, lest she thinks evilly of Dr Blur Kangkong.

Having turned the matter over in my mind for a few days, I decided to pick up the phone and asked the Informant to do some discreet checks with the good doctor.

Informant was very amused. He said outright that if it concerns True Sotong, he doubted Kangkong would have said that of her. Afterall True Sotong is rather pleasant looking to begin with. As for Ms Conniving Sotong, well, Informant is very sure that Kangkong will decline her intentions.

Informant called about 2 weeks later with news. Apparently it is untrue that Blur Kangkong said such a nasty thing about True Sotong, and was shocked that anyone would speak ill of him. However, Informant did caution me that Blur Kangkong did have a strong wish to have children of his own - a point that was not lost on me. Nevertheless, Informant did state that he himself, too had a problem when he brought home his then girlfriend to his mum to see and it became an issue. The good thing is, the MIL adored her, and the concerns were summarily dismissed.

Miracles can happen, and I'm praying that True Sotong and Blur Kangkong will triumph as a pair.

This is nothing less than an attempt by Conniving Sotong to sideline True Sotong from Kangkong, if the former finds out about it - she'd be devastated.

Aligns
Conniving Sotong is now trying to sideline P and align herself with N and HC and even my group. I could see it from a mile coming and P's story coroborated with my thinking.

Have been praying against it, and will be guarding our hearts and minds against such evil ploys.

Life, has taken a rather complicated turn.

I Spot Land (I Think)!

There's news afoot that I might be heading out to the shores of the Peninsula (after about 2 months of aimless sailing) a lot sooner than I think.

And under unusual circumstances.

The Peninsula has rejected our envoy because of his lifestyle prediclictions. They found him too... different from their liking. Fellow envoys who heard the news queried envoy on the reasons why he would be sent back after a mere 6 months. Envoy was equally flabbergasted as to the true reasons, but denied that he was sent back because of complaints by his boss.

I suppose that's cold comfort to me. I do not have a very good vibe about his boss, but what is giving me a queasy feeling is that I'll be taking over someone because he was rejected for his choices. I do have my own lifestyle choices too.

Will they then, find fault with these choices? I wonder.

Nevertheless, again, nothing is firmed up, as the Chief Envoy plans his postings for all of us.

An Interesting Problem

It seemed to me that it's almost natural that I will be seen as a perceived threat, where P is concerned.

Right after salsa class, S asked if I'm P's girlfriend. I'm not sure what made me say it, but I spoke honestly that I find "P not bad, too bad I'm not his gf, but would love to have opportunities to know him better."

End of story? Nope.

Next day, T called me on a pretext to tell me more abt Kota Kinnabalu. Of which, I responded politely but silently wondering what is this all about. She brought up the issue of S asking me if P is my boyfriend and I said "yeah".

The real discovery was that S had made known her feelings to P, but was rejected with a motherhood story. S and T were thus discussing if I'm actually seeing P (that being the proabable reason for the rejection), even though I remember clearly on recent occasions I have clearly stated that I'm not seeing anyone, in response to S' queries.

The best part is, P thought Alex is seeing me, not T (yeah, this developed out of the retreat). And nobody bothered to clarify the entire episode that I'm still single and available.

For I'm a perceived threat, you see, and since one can't have P, the others can't, either.

That accounts for the sudden questioning.

That also accounts for why P treats me so formally nowadays.

Sigh. So it's a matter of each man for himself. What makes S thinks that if P rejects her, it's a sure thing that he'll accept me? Love does not work that way.

It doesn't. If it truly does, I would have not suffered so much in my past relationships.

Kingsley surprisingly was very supportive about my frank reply and about me expressing myself or showing hints to P. Not to frighten people, as he would often say, but to have some self-confidence and see if he wants to sms, talk, go for tea/supper etc with me.

One phrase from him will always ring very clearly in my mind, "You want to be able to look back 10 years later and say that 'yes, you've not missed the opportunity and given yourself a fair chance of trying.'"

I'm so glad that Jo praised me for my openessness. I really had no wish to scheme for a man, but to be as natural and discerning as possible.

And I used to think openness would sound a death knell of sorts to any hopes between me and P.

Dear Partner, you know how I see the whole thing. I just want to place the whole thing into Your Hands. You know best, and I trust that nothing but the best be given to me. Amen.

Tentacle-ly Yours

Conniving Sotong is apparently at it again. And she is determined to be here, there, everywhere.

Sources have informed me that Dr Blur Kangkong was asked about whether he likes True Sotong. According to Conniving Sotong who had the gall to inform my source, Dr Blur Kangkong allegedly and reportedly said that "no, I don't like her".

Of course, Conniving Sotong told this to my sources with the intention of showing her concern to True Sotong, that she shan't encourage the latter to get to know Dr Blur Kangkong as "he's disinterested".

Apparently, Conniving Sotong has been cultivating a careful image as a moderate, godly Christian woman. While she has managed to worm her way into my Salsa class (of course! The key attractions lie in Steven the gardener and Eric the accountant!), she has also a captive audience in the car last night, mouthing platitudes about how important it is not to slime one another in a godly circle such as ours.

"Oh there's no need for jealousy. I left another group because of all the backbiting and stuff. I find this group good and we should try our best to help Siok Ai and pray that it will not descend into another gossipy group again. You men are such hot property and it's human nature for women to backbite."

As if she's not the one doing it and starting all this bloody nonsense in the first place.

*phui phui PHUI*

It seems to me that many are taken in by her lies hook, line and sinker.

She claimed that she's over the scoundrel and has stopped seeing him.
By implicit meaning and indirect reference, she claimed that she doesn't do all the jealous stuff like spreading rumours, discouraging others etc.

Lies infinitum, ad nausuem.

********

I think it's high time that I set down some action for dear E and G. I'm unsure if contrivance is the way. The gardener and the accountant have been cultivated by another faction rivalling for their affections.

However, I do think I have a very powerful ally on my side. In fact, He is on the side of those who fear, believe and trust Him for the best of things to come. Amen!

Aftermath of the War of the Sotongs

G messaged back to say that all went well, and that she had been protected by God and was very blessed by the trip.

She had managed to manouvere her way out of having PB as a room mate, though she was assigned to her car for the trip up North.

Amongst her many counted blessings are:

• Had a nice roomie;
• Had Dr Blur Kangkong as a facilitator (mmm...yum!);
• Learned much and was blessed much. The flower is going to bloom (if not, already blooming).

Indeed, as what E says, Man proposes, but God disposes. As what Esther Ch 4 says, despite Haman's evil intentions, God still circumvented it and turned evil into good by using the same man to bless Mordecai instead, much to Haman's humiliation.

The War of the Sotongs

It's all-out war, all right. And it is PB, who now has a new moniker by way of Insufferable Woman, who first thew down the gauntlet.

G was close to a volcanic eruption when she messaged angrily to say that she's terminating her friendship with Insufferable Woman. What transpired was that the Woman had apparently saw G's email about finding courage to attend the self-awareness seminar ALONE (emphasis hers), and was so "touched", that she decided to join G as well. Insufferable Woman claimed that she at first didn't want to join (despite signing up for it behind our backs) because she thought Scoundrel is there. However, since he's not going to be there, "I'm now at liberty to attend and keep you (i.e. G) company".

G of course was angry. She had hinted and came out to say that she'd rather go alone, thank you very much, but PB has basically ignored her pleas. She had a good mind to pull out and stay put at home come New Year's Eve. And the most shocking bit was that she's ready to slap her, if Woman were to continue in her hypocrisy and indirect spying.

After convening a hasty lunch with the afflicted one, E and I talked about the issue at hand. E was of the view that it was pointless for G to go to an event where she found the presence of Insufferable Woman to be intolerable for 3 days and nights. The best she could do was to pull out at the last minute and come for the NY party.

Fat chance.

The cheque that G submitted for her seminar packaged had been banked in.

While G was busy bitting her nails and felt very harrassed and cornered, The Chronicles of Narnia was a godsend. Sufficiently encouraged to face her fears, she decided to go for it.

And lo and behold! Insuff Woman was there, despite promises to the NY party-giver that she'll turn up at the party after 9pm! To date, she has yet to explain her absence.

G discovered the true motive of Insufferable Woman's sly insistence of joining the seminar. It was to target the docile, arty (not farty), intelligent and sensitve prized catch, Dr Blur Kangkong! She has determined that the victim, sighted in the cross-hairs of her weapon, shall not escape. And that perceived threats are to be eliminated to clear the way for the eventual conquest, by hook or by crook.

So began the War of the Sotongs, where Conniving Sotong squirted ink to make the waters murkier, so as to deceive those who want to find out the protagonist's true intentions!

Admist the churning seas of deceit, connivance and lies, will True Sotong find her true love? Will the innocent, kind and respected Dr Blur Kangkong be able to escape out of the evil clutches of the Conniving Sotong? Will there be a happy ending of a tasty dish of Fried Sotong and Blur Kangkong?

Stay tuned for the next epidsode of The War of the Sotongs!!!!!