Some weeks back, a friend asked me what my passion was. It turned out to be a rather difficult question.

What is my passion?

He -- contrary to what most people choose to believe, not all my friends are female, thank you -- tried to help me out: what thing you have are you most proud of, what makes you voluntarily spend heaps of time and money on, what has you travel miles just to get it?

Gee, thanks a lot, that helps.

Well, it did help. Helped in getting me thinking real hard, that is. What thing that I have am I most proud of? I dunno, my health, I guess? Is staying healthy my passion, then? Don't think so, considering I haven't exercised in weeks and am not bothered by it.

What do I happily spend time and money on? Err, most of my time surely goes to puter and 'net. Money? Tough one; the biggest amount I've ever spent thus far wasn't even on my own stuff. It's a tie between a multithousand-dollar Gucci bag -- that's when you know it wasn't for me -- and bailing someone out of trouble. Biggest money I've spent on myself so far in total has got to be those musical instruments. So, is music my passion? Hardly; I did sleep with a guitar by my side, yet until recently, I barely played it -- to the annoyance of my then-partner.

What makes me willing to travel miles just to get it? Well, for a 30-something guy, I don't have that much mileage in my body. I do like traveling and it's one of my dreams to someday go around the globe. But not to the extent where I'm incessantly saving up for it -- or for my next trip, for that matter. So, traveling? Not my passion, I don't think so.

It just occurred to me that, why must I always spend something for this so-called passion thingy? What if I'm all about money and saving up? Does that make money my passion? But that wouldn't be cool, would it? Imagine discussing passion with your friends -- female and male -- and you telling them positively: money is my passion. They'd be, like, uh, OK, can we have the check now before you disappear, then?

Finally, I settled on several half-passions, if there's such a thing. Reading is definitely one of them. So are puter and 'net and those silly programs I spent sleepless nights writing. I like drawing as much as I like playing music. I don't mind waking up early -- even earlier than on other days -- for badminton or basketball sessions, nor do I mind running miles every other day for those marathon events. And a few others.

And to those of you who cleverly asked, how can multiple things be half-passions, I'll say this: good point, now go back to your DotA.

See below? That's another of those half- -- or one-fifteenth- -- passions: solving puzzles.

To date, I have completed -- and I'm not saying this without pride -- more than ten of such jigsaw puzzles. Most were 1000-piece puzzles, although I did two 1500-piece ones. Don't ask where they are now 'cause I can't answer you. Likewise, don't ask what pictures they're of. See, that's another half-passion: completing things.

Check that. Conquering things is more accurate. I don't always complete things when I've figured out how to complete them. Once, I did this game engine program. I was most excited when turning my brain upside down trying to come up with a working solution. I got it, wrote a prototype just to prove it did work, and I stopped there. No point in completing the whole thing; for that I would have those hard-working elves. Show them how, they'll mass-produce the parts neatly.

That's why I get bored easily. That's why I don't bother to remember all the puzzles I completed. Once conquered considered dismissed.

This is when Karma bites me hard. And just for the record, she kinda just did. But we're talking puzzles here.

I understand that working jigsaw puzzles is not for everyone. But if you have never tried your hands on one, I strongly recommend you do. It can be fun, you know. It helps you exercise your brain, eyes, patience, and endurance. It may even help you tone those ab muscles -- just remember to do 50 sit-ups every half an hour.

If you have a partner handy, even better. There's nothing like solving a jigsaw puzzle together. It brings you two closer and more mutual understanding. Not currently speaking with each other? No worries, nothing that a good jigsaw puzzle can't fix. Just grab one of those Clementoni on your way, have your partner sit with you -- by force if necessary -- and spread those pieces.

Now, I myself have never tried that, but I would imagine one of the following scenarios should play out.

One, you enjoy it and actually try to complete the puzzle while your partner gets bored. This may bring him or her to say, screw this! At which point, you should counter: you know what, instead of screwing a jigsaw puzzle, you could ***** ** [that's self-censorship for you; for all I know, underaged like Buncis may be reading]. It's more satisfying.

Two, your partner enjoys it and you get bored. This should bring you to say: you know what, instead of screwing a jigsaw puzzle, why don't we ***** *******? It's more satisfying.

Three, both of you enjoy it and actually complete the puzzle. After which, you may want to say: now that we've done this friggin' puzzle, let's celebrate by ***** **** *****, what say you?

Four, both of you get bored. You say: I'm so sorry, what was I thinking, doing this to you. I love you so terribly. Please, can we stop this pointless silence and puzzle-solving and make up? I have a reservation at [insert your fav romantic, candlelight dinning place here -- I suck at this], just you and me and those damned delicious, succulent tenderloins.

In each of those scenarios, you're guaranteed to start speaking again -- either before or after ******** **** *****. So, what have you got to lose?

Why waiting, then? Get yourself a jigsaw puzzle and a partner now.

Current music: Guns n' Roses - You Could Be Mine
Current mood: happy