The Bear Bitch’s Project

I’ve always been very particular about my scents. Very few get my stamp of approval, but when I discover a new scent that I adore, I usually wear it everyday for weeks. I literally have to force myself to alternate it with another scent so as to not become desensitized to it.

But I noticed something interesting recently (well, interesting to me at least).

Even though the EDT/Perfume/cologne is mine and I wear it day in & day out - I sometimes even use the matching bath gel & lotion -, when I smell it (on myself or otherwise), the person who gave that particular scent to me always pops into my head no matter what I’m doing. Like Ralph Lauren Hot, for example. I wore it everyday for a week and on the week that I alternated it with something else, I smelt it on the lady sitting beside me on the train. Instead of thinking to myself "Hey. That’s Ralph Lauren Hot. I use that too." I automatically think: Tatin (who gave it to me). The same goes with Clinique Happy Heart. Whenever the scent reaches my nose, bam! Liam pops into my head. When I smell L’Occitane Mandarin, I think of Gella, J&J Limon = Bambi, and so on…

This is quite a peculiar response considering the fact that these people who I think of whenever I smell that scent have never actually used that particular EDT/perfume/cologne. I mean, c’mon. Liam wouldn’t be caught dead using Clinique Happy Heart. Moreover, these people bought/gave these scents to me precisely because these scents remind them of me and they think that I would like it (which I do). So its quite interesting that something purchased because it reminds someone of me in turn makes me associate it with them! So even though I’m the one using Ralph Lauren Hot, I think of Tatin whenever I smell it.

Meet Capt. Cupcake "Bear" the Grouch!

http://www.becomeanmm.com/

An observant person pointed out that "Bear + Cane = House" could also mean that because of my cane, I was stuck at home for nearly 2 weeks.

Cool. I’m smarter than I thought! Ha ha ha!

Anyone who has known me longer than 60 seconds will know that I am probably one of the most masungit and abrasive people on the planet. Its obvious I’m called “Bear” for reasons other than because I love Care Bears.
But imagine what happens when you give an already crabby Bear a cane.
I became even grouchier, even more irritable, even more abrasive, AND I was weilding a sturdy stick!
In other words, I became Dr. Gregory House without the Medical degree & genius!
I can’t really explain why but somehow, I think canes bring out the "House" in people. I snaped at SM sales people (well, they were being obnoxious!), gave the evil eye to anyone who came within 3 feet of me (haven’t they heard of personal space?) and waved my cane around indiscriminately - if anyone got hit, well, its their fault for not looking where I’m going!

But in addition to the (unofficial) license to be grouchy, there are quite a few perks to having a cane that I was pleasantly surprised to take advantage of.
While renewing my passport at the DFA, one of the ushers/guards noticed that I had a cane so he pulled me from the line and told me to go straight to the Disabled/Senior Citizen window. Though I didn’t particularly appreciate having to stand under the sign that reads "Senior Citizens", it was pretty cool that I didn’t have to fall in line for so long (since my foot was already starting to ache) and I was able to finish renewing my passport in all of 40 minutes!
I was also able to avail of wheelchair services while traveling back to San Francisco from Manila. I just called Cathay Pacific and United airlines and told them that I just got a foot operation and will be needing a wheelchair. It was so cool cause since the Hong Kong airport is so huge, I got to ride on those cool golf cart looking things that the airport staff use to zoom around. It was way better than a wheelchair cause I didn’t look like such an invalid and those cars have those neat yellow flashing lights on top! Whee!
Another neat thing about canes is that crowds tend to part when they see people hobbling around with a cane to give them a wider path to walk. All I have to do is wave Greg (yeah, I named my cane after Gregory House) around a bit and crowds part! I feel like Moses with his staff parting the Red Sea! Whatta rush! Ha ha ha!
But all in all, people are just so much nicer to people with canes: they hold doors open for you, they bring chairs for you when you’re standing, and they let you have the prime seats on the bus/train.
Sort of makes you feel guilty for being crabby all the time…
Sort of, but not quite! Ha ha ha!

Showing off the hole in my foot and Greg, the lovely cane I inherited from my grandfather!

I did upload a lot of photos though. That should count for something, right?
Check out my photo albums