AZ opt-in

Malaysia through MOSTI offered an opt-in for the vaccine Astra Zeneca for the second time today, after a successful run in April. Because of the hype, I got in on it, even though initially I was waiting for sinovac. 

maybe it was the story about the family members who died on by one except for the 2 that got vaccinated;

maybe it was the viral message that "the best vaccine is the vaccine that you can get"

maybe it was the highest case number yesterday, 

or the threat of possible lockdown, 

or the general fear stoked by the media/ social media/ own mental health...

Whatever it was, we were in a frenzy. 

At 12:15pm (delayed from the initial opening time of 12 noon) Malaysians frantically registered for vaccination, many to no avail, myself included.

After trying about 5 times I decided to let it pass. Not worth breaking my drawing tablet or my laptop mouse for that spot that is not available. So I shall move on.

No comments about the Ministers, or the leadership, or the management of MySejahtera, or the coordination between MOH and MOSTI, or the whys and hows and wheretofores.

When the time comes, I will get my jab. That's it and that's all, really.

Trade off

Popularity on the Internet >> trade it for privacy?

Celebrities and Influencers probably know this already, and many don't bother to fend off the paparazzis anymore, the only possible way to manage is probably to have some ground rules with the paps & manage the expectations i.e. you get my photos but don't harass my family members (I say 'probably' because such is the life I have never experienced and never wished to experience)

What if you accidentally become viral?

Do you take it in stride and bask in your 20-minutes of fame, or do you become helter-skelter?

This is what I have observed: there are those who are very grounded and gracious, and they remain grounded and gracious even with all that attention. The person inside & outside remains classy.

There are those who react in surprising ways: in short, the drama queen comes out. I suppose innately this drama queen persona has always been there, and it emerges when public applause is loudest.

I have also noticed one strategy of anonymity: there are also those who loves to create content but not necessarily the 'fame' that comes with it. They create an alter ego which they can detach from (e.g. wear a costume/ wig/ or use an animated character), and live their lives like they normally would.

I am most likely to do the last one, OR I will just create ho-hum content so that the videos/ content do not become too famous but I still get to teach/ share my knowledge (i.e. somebody would watch it, but not everybody).... otherwise the drama queen comes out, and there is no telling what monster she might tur out to be 👽👸👹👻

Lemon Comes Home

Our cat Lemon had an eye infection on his left eye and spent a week at the vet's: to stitch his third eyelid and thereafter for monitoring/ recovery.

After about 8 days at the vet's the doctor gave us a message that Lemon refused to eat or drink, and that he had to be put on drip to hydrate his body. We went immediately to get him and brought him home. He was in a disheveled state. Like an uncared-for person. His coat was shabby and unkempt, and he had lost 800g of weight (he was just 4.8kg to begin with) 😱

At the vet's when he saw me and in the car on the way home he was meowing away, recounting his tale at the vet's.. and possibly questioning why he was left there for so many days. 

He had a bit of the sniffles and his meows sounded a bit weak. My heart broke.

Once at home we cleaned him with wet wipes, brushed his fur & prepared his meal, which he ate quite enthusiastically. He stayed upstairs with the girls and when he went downstairs he climbed on this couch (he doesn't normally do this, he usually sits on or under the stairs). Yesterday he was indoors the whole day. He went out occasionally (perhaps to take the dump, or to meet his friends) and returned home, back to this couch.

I guess he just missed home, like any person would 💗