Life Moves Fast

Listening to the moans of a dying old woman is scary.
It's perhaps one of the greatest forms of torture.
Because the pain it inflicts is indescribable,
Especially if it comes from one you know and love.

It makes you scared of the future.
It teaches you to make the most of what you have now.
It warns you to take good care of your health.
It insists that you cherish what you have.
Because when Death comes a-knocking,
No amount of fear or regret will be able to ward it away.

I don't want to miss out on the things that make me happy.
I don't want to live a life without accomplishments.
I don't want to know how I'd be like when I'm 70.
I don't want to wait till it's too late.

Perhaps I need to learn how strike a balance between living for now,
And taking care of the future.
But all that clouds my mind now is the endless pain and suffering,
Of my grandmother on the hospital bed.

I had this dream last night about someone accusing my sister of stealing a bike. And instead of being my usual self, I was hurling vulgarities at the person and giving her the middle finger. First of all, it made me realise how much I valued my sister. We were talking a bit just before sleeping, one of the few conversations we shared ever since I entered the army. Then there's the very obvious message that hit me - I spend too much time bottling up my feelings. There's been countless times during the past month that I want to shout "You fucking cheebye!" at someone, but managed to keep it under control and play it cool. I don't want things to spiral out of hand. However I guess I failed to realise that sometimes that making your pain heard is also a solution - just that I don't have the guts to use it.

I've always believe in peace and being nice so much that I know people take advantage of me a little. Of course, I'm okay with that, as long as I know that the person would do the same thing for me in return. That's the only thing that would save me from breaking down. I think in life, we should always be experimental and try what works for us, and it also leads down the path of self-discovery. The army is where you get to see many different personalities at work and then get to choose who you want to be in the face of all the interaction.

I guess I could live with who I am, because I value morals, but I'm not exactly the most popular person because I'm not the PR machine, or the funny guy, or the one who takes everything lightly. However, if someone needs help (seriously, as in he's doing something and he needs help, not I-can't-be-bothered-so-I-need-help) I would never turn them down. But it makes me fucking judgemental - afterall, who am I to say which of them need help and who doesn't? Yet the energy I have is not infinite, I need to choose who I give it to.

I guess I need to learn not to hate those who play the game of life using means that I don't agree with.

I have no initiative when getting to know people, or interacting with them. Instead I choose to first observe their behavior and judge if they are worth knowing. I believe in paying back (many times) if people have done something good for me, or take the initiative when I'm down or by myself to come talk to me. I'm a passive person. I'll admit to that.

I guess I'll conclude by saying that I can't wait to ORD. I need to start afresh. But the people who've made a difference in my life, I won't ever forget. I need to move on, but I'm always being dragged down by being where I don't want to be. I want to live my life, because I see that everyone's got limited sand in their hourglass, and you don't know when it'll run out.

I just want to be happy.

Goals for September

Last Month

1) Get a student to tutor Maths for Sept.

2) Save $100 and open a bank account to stuff the money.

3) Make 1 breakfast for the family.

4) Work out twice a week.

5) Pack my terribly messy table.

6) Not wear a sleeveless shirt out of the house.

Sigh, I've only manage to do half of what I wanted. The first point is voided already because of the IMF period, and I would not be able to have much control over my schedule. 2) was kind of hard to manage after paying off the 90 bucks I owed everyone last month. So it should be more achievable this month instead. I've learnt a lot about saving this month though. 3)... I shan't come up with excuses. I just didn't manage to get it done! Just to have you know, out of all the things I've done, 6) was probably the most difficult. I'm glad it's over!

My goals for this month are:

1) Finish 8 Chapters of the A Maths textbook.

2) Save a 100 bucks. (Again.)

3) Organise a steamboat for Zhenhui and Shuming.

4) Doing 15 pull-ups

5) Getting the Sentosa Islander card.

Mistakes

Everyone makes mistakes.
Some people realise them, some people don't.
Some people admit to them, some people deny.
Mistakes come when we aren't thinking.
I don't think I'd make one on purpose.
Because when mistakes hurt the people you love, there's regret.
And the only way to take it away is forgiveness.
I'm willing to learn.
And I'm willing to make up for it.
Am I on my way to receiving yours?

Life Advice

I want to get down to blogging, but I just can't do it. It's that horrible laziness that's overwhelming me. I can't get my eyes to stay open, and now I'm left with about an hour before I've got to book in.


Anyway, www.stomp.com.sg's Star Blog is a good read. This week the topic is "What I'd Like My Cousin Know At 18". Of course, seeing that I'm already 2 years older than that, what is discussed might not be appplicable to me. However, life has issues. If you don't learn them earlier on, you'd have to learn them later anyway. May and Choy aren't very interesting as bloggers, nor are they fantastic to look at. (Gosh! I'm openly criticising people!) I am tired of them gluing themselves together at every photo-taking opportunity. KTM is bloody cynical - reading his stuff just gets in in a bad mood.

That leaves Xiaxue, Dawn, Ju-Len and Nick. They don't write fantastic stuff week after week but the basic standard is there. Xiaxue is still my favourite, although sometimes she can't be bothered to write about issues that don't interest her, she's outspoken and full of different perspectives. I'm sick of people offering her nasty criticism because she really doesn't deserve the flak.

Hey, it's like with this week's topic, everyone had something to say about not having sex before you're 18. Xiaxue then posts an additional topic on how sex is great and you should do it (safely) once you're legal. I don't agree with everything that's been said but you can't deny that 34 years of orgasms are much better than 20! I mean, it's just great pleasure that you should enjoy while you can. Don't regret that you can't even remember the feeling when you're 70 because you didn't get enough!

What the hell am I saying!?

On to the serious stuff. I feel that the advice given by various bloggers relate to me and there's that there's a lot to learn. Xiaxue's main point would be to venture out, take risks, be yourself and not be afraid to make mistakes and that they make you who you are. She does go off course at times but her examples are more than sufficient to show what she's trying to put across.

Dawn offered her perspective as well as the lyrics of Everybody’s Free (To Wear Sunscreen) by Baz Lurhman. It's undoubtedly the best (and perfect) set of advice to ever been put into song. For that... she scores. It's like quoting the most relevant piece of work - even though it's not yours, but it answers the question like a gem.

I think Nick's best piece of advice is "If you think other people care, they really don't.". I can't put it better in words (he's really good), so to quote him, "Spend more time getting to know yourself and becoming the person you want to be, rather than worrying about the person you think others want you to be, and you'll end up a lot wiser, and happier, individual." The other reason that I like reading what he writes is that he sounds like a reasonable, sound, role-model-ish adult. It's a point of view that's sorely lacking in my life.

The one thing that Ju-Len mentioned that really got to me was making the most of what all of us have (in Baz's song, it's the greatest instrument you'll ever have) - our body. Enjoy eating, because "At 18, food somehow evaporates into nothing when it reaches your stomach."! And also what I think is pretty hilarious as he tries to bring home the fact that you should take up all the physical challenge that your body can take at a young age - "Your reflexes are sharp. Please, don't squander that. Taking up anything after age 30 is a bitch on your body. This is why old(er) people play golf."

Oops! Got to book in. Think I'll reflect and write more on this when I have the time! I'm booking out tomorrow! Muahaha!

Celebrity Watch - Paris Hilton

AHM 2006

I enjoyed the 21km today.

I know that sounds terribly wrong, especially because it's suppose to be some sort of torture, but after completing it under 2 hours and 15 mins (2hr14mins40secs to be exact) and getting an extra day off, I felt that overwhelming sense of achievement. I also did much better than last year. I guess it's because the pacing was much better and that I didn't push myself too hard, unnecessarily. Last year I committed the mistake of going too fast at the beginning and at the end I stopped every 5 metres to stretch my cramped-up muscles. That was pure torture.

Come to think of it, why I am one of the few weirdos to have done AHM for 2 consecutive years?

Nothing eventful happened except the fantastic view. And this guy who was running without his shirt and his Renoma undies sticking out. I was so damn keen on proving myself better than him (I have no idea why), but he sort of paced me for the entire first half, for which I am grateful. I lost him after the 14km mark though. He bloody managed to speed up and I just couldn't!

Oh, and there was this retarded moment that this man offered me the isotonic drink. I turned it down at first but he insisted and so I accepted. After that I didn't know how to open the damn drink. Hey, I was tired and feeling dumb! In the end I used my teeth to rip open the side and about half of it splashed over the front of my singlet, and there was this loud sound of the thing bursting open. Embarrassing. As if that wasn't enough, the same man came up to me and told me that I could actually tear a strip of it to reveal and opening from which I was supposed to drink from.

And that made me feel real stupid.

My face was extra flushed (from the running and then the embarrassment) as I replied that I was too shagged to think. He replied that it was okay.

I just ran as fast as I could to get away.

It was a great experience and I was real glad to finish better than expected. When I was finally able to see the clock at the finishing line, I was really euphoric. I was this close to hugging a stranger and crying. *exaggerates*

Yay for my second AHM medal!

JKYH Top 20 (60)

01. London Bridge - Fergie (+2) 4

02. No Tomorrow - Orson (-1) 6
03. SexyBack - Justin Timberlake (-1) 7
04. Maneater - Nelly Furtado (+1) 3
05. Screwed/Turn It Up - Paris Hilton (+6) 2
06. This Boy - King Kong Jane (+6) 4
07. Me & U - Cassie ft Ray J (-3) 9
08. Get Up - Ciara (+5) 3
09. Rooftops - Lost Prophets (+10) 2
10. Qian Li Zhi Wai - Jay Chou ft Fei Yu Qing (NEW)
11. Call Me When You're Sober - Evanescence (+7) 2
12. Voodoo Child - Rogue Traders (-5) 5
13. Jump - Madonna (-4) 4
14. Ring Ring Ring - S.H.E.(2) 3
15. Get High - F.I.R.(2) 3
16. Call On Me - Janet ft Nelly (-6) 5
17. Eskimo Joe - Black Fingernails, Red Wine (+3) 2
18. Stars Are Blind - Paris Hilton (-10) 11
19. A Public Affair - Jessica Simpson (-13) 9
20. Muse - Supermassive Black Hole (NEW)

At #1 is Fergie. No surprise as the song's taking over the world by storm. It's 3 weeks at #1 in Billboard and I think although she isn't really singing, she's a great performer and she's got plenty of attitude. Her performance on So You Think You Can Dance is a blast. Check it out.

#6 is King Kong Jane with This Boy. I liked the NTU performance of the song more than the SP. It might've something to do with the quality of the video, or maybe it's the more enthusiastic crowd! Anyway, KKJ will be performing today at Toa Payoh HDB Hub which I cannot attend because of AHM tomorrow. I don't know why I've to book in at 5PM so I can sleep at 7, but hey, everyone else is doing it! My point is - if you've got the chance to go down there and show your love - DO IT.



#10 sees the comeback of Jay Chou. This track is amazing, but I don't think it has a proper build up anywhere. It's just soothing and goes on and on. Fei Yu Qing gives the track a much needed boost. His crystal clear vocals are one of the highlights. This Jay formula is nothing we haven't heard before. However I'm still looking forward to his album. There's been a lot of hype about it through the whole of this week. Boastfully titled Still Fantasy, it's sure to get critics and fans alike anticipating the music that many agree was his peak - An Jing, Kai Bu Liao Kou, Shuang Jie Gun (ie the whole of Fantasy). Pre-order for the album has started already (in fact I saw someone carry the humungous poster away upon purchase) and the album is set for official release on the 8th of Aug.



At #11 is Evanesence, who've decided to release their album on the 3rd of Oct (my birthday!). Titled The Open Door, the band will go on tour on the 5th in support of the album. It's been a long time since we've heard from Evanescence, who brought such worthy, memorable and refreshing songs, and I'm really looking forward to what they have to offer this time round. If it's really good, I'm sure they'll be able to add more trophies to the 2 Grammy Awards they won for Bring Me To Life in 2003. This current track makes a strong debut at #25 on Billboard this week.

New songs to look out for this week include Brooke Hogan ft Paul Wall - About Us, Danity Kane - Show Stopper and Cassie - Long Way 2 Go. However, I think it's the Chinese songs that are making much more of a wave these couple of weeks, and so you might wanna check out an alternative charthere.

I'm kind of busy to give a good chart thing this week. I'll have more time next week though so... anticipate!

Ultimate Performer

I was super excited when I saw that Lee Hom had released a concert DVD. I think I must've waited about 6 years or more just to get my hands on it. It's a well-known fact that he's a versatile and talented performer. I remember that I used to visit this CD shop that carried his previous concert. That was in Secondary School. I could never bear to part with my money to buy it, and now it's gone and I'm filled with regret. That's why when I saw this on the shelves yesterday, I didn't even bother resisting - I bought it without a second thought.

I watched half of it yesterday upon returning home and I must say that it doesn't disappoint. And I'm seriously considering attending his concert this October. The man is not merely an Energizer Bunny nor a livewire on stage. He encompasses everything a live performer should have and more.



I was completely mesmerised by his opening where he appeared in a long pao. It was awesome. Then there was his rapping and dancing. His sense of rhythm was fab. Of course the things that he did that really impressed me was playing the various instruments. The electric guitar, keyboard, piano, violin and drums, just to name a few. Of course it did help that he singing was top-of-the-world. It made me wonder how current acts who have absolutely no singing talent have the balls to hold a concert when they can't carry a tune! Listening to his songs is like travelling through time - the old classics to the current hits showed his musical evolution and is testament that he hadn't stood still and became complacent. Rather, he has been improving himself constantly and learning new things and encompassing new sounds to his music. The same cannot really be said of my other favourite mumbling male pop star.

His star quality is undeniable. When he's on the stage, the presence is there. He doesn't have moments (unlike many other performers like Jolin *cough*) where his eyes would reveal a blank look. He always looks intense, and very at one with the music he's performing, as if performing is an experience for him as well. I've seen a lot of performances (at least on video!) in my life, and I think it's safe to say that he really is the best that I've come across. And his costumes are bloody good too.

Now where can I get a loan of about 200 bucks that I can give (to SISTIC) in exchange for a once-in-a-lifetime experience?

So Unwell

It's difficult to be in a good mood when you're feeling unwell and hungry. I'm not lying on the floor, motionless as of yet, just a small headache with a bit of a fever, a permanently blocked nose and a terrible throat that hurts when I swallow my saliva. Did I mention I was hungry? Yeah, I think I did. There' nothing to eat at home and I can't be arsed to walk all the way downstairs to buy anything. Oh, and I haven't actually refilled my wallet with cash. Who knew that saving money could be this difficult? I'll most probably be unable to save a hundred this bucks. Bah.

I'm just blogging for the sake of it.

I was watching the National Day Rally yesterday and I must say the PM is a very convincing speaker. It must've taken quite awhile to draft the script of such a long speech, as well as quoting real-life examples to support his points. I am impressed by his attempts to make what he's saying relevant to the younger generation. He knows what he's talking about, his information is accurate and he really gave me a good idea of where Singapore is headed in the future. Although I fell asleep before it ended, I found his presentation entertaining and funny at the right places. I suppose this is part of growing up - knowing about politics. Usually I'll be more up-to-date with the latest white dress Britney wore into the public, the fact that Jennifer Anniston is not engaged or that Angelina Jolie gave birth to her kid in Africa. That isn't to say that coming to terms with real-life issues isn't difficult. He spoke of a few things that were hard to swallow, although we've always known it was there all along - the unrest in the Middle East as well as global terrorism. Transport prices are rising, and as it is, we're all feeling the impact of such a move. I was made to realise the implications that would arise if oil prices doubled, or if Singapore had home-grown terrorists. These are the things that I'd normally take for granted, but now I've come to face up to them, I feel I have to take a stand. Also, saving money is important because I don't know what will happen in the future, and it might be just what I need to scrape through and cover my expenses.

There goes my "Live for the moment!".

All the issues that were mentioned were rather close to my heart. New media for example, is a crazy thing. How is traditional media going to maintain their hold having the majority of eyeballs on them? Faced with such strong compeition and the fact that audiences now have the power to choose what they want to see, will TV, radio and newspapers be relevant in the future? I must say that since I'm going into the School of Comm and Info next year, it has really got me thinking about my choice. It is, of course, something that I've always wanted. On the other hand, I've grown up and learnt that life's not always about doing what you want (to do), but what you need to do. Sometimes I feel that I can't be selfish and do what I enjoy and neglect responsibility.

I don't know where I'm headed.

Ah, I think I know where that headache's coming from.

Celebrity Watch - Benjamin McKenzie

New Balance Real Run

Oh yeah, I had a hell lot of fun today. You can either tell from the pictures, or enjoy my long, tiresome description of it.

I woke up damn early in the morning, and my dad drove his cab to pick up Guo Fei from his house before letting us alight at Jurong East. We were supposed to take this bus that would send us straight to Sentosa. However, I forgot to bring my number tag and the chip that came with it. GF volunteered to go with me back to my house to take it. I'm very grateful for that. He sacrificed his sleep (on the bus), which was a big deal to him! My sister also helped by slotting the thing under the door such that it made it very convenient to go up, grab it and flag another cab to take us to Sentosa. Total cab fare was about 30 bucks.

We walked over the Sentosa. That was kind of cool. It did look like it was going to rain though! We waited for everyone to arrive and by that time the run had started! It was off to a rather slow walk at the beginning, but after awhile my adrenaline was pumped high as I overtook quite a lot of people along with my platoonmates. Alright, it was kind of dumb of me because most of them were civilians, while I the most meaningful thing I do in camp is probably run. However it did give me that rush from being able to speed past people. The run on the beach was probably the hardest part. No doubt the escalating roads did make me feel as if I was using the gym's stair-trainer, running on the sloping sand (from right to left!) was insane. I spent most of my energy trying to keep my balance. I'm just glad I didn't walk. I was damn motivated when I managed to see Samuel and Charles during the last stretch. However, I didn't expect myself to be able to sprint all the way to the finishing line. I just couldn't contain it. If only I could do it during my IPPT on Wednesday...

The ice-cold 100 Plus tasted fantastic. I had about 2 and a half cans myself after the run!

I met an ancient friend of mine, from way back in RVHS. I was kind of stunned when this guy came up to me and stuck his hand out. I had this horribly awkward feeling that he might've got the wrong guy, but instinct told me to just shake it. It was then that I realised that it was Jia Hui! Probably my best friend during my lower Sec days. We lost contact for about 4 years already - the last time I saw him properly (and talked) was when I crashed NJC during the first 3 months. We chatted for awhile and I think that I might take the initiative to meet up with him one of these days. It was a pleasant surprise.

I also met Chon Hoong who gave me a huge slap on the back as a greeting. It was really cool to see him too. He's in school already, and I bet he's enjoying it!



We took a long walk to the beach. Actually we gave up about half-way and took the bus instead. We were soaking ourselves in the sea until Samuel started throwing sand. That's when WWIII broke out. We might be ganging up on someone, or backstabbing each other. It was terrible, in a good way. I've realised that sand is bloody painful, but not bad enough to be injured by. I'm just happy I didn't get hit by the wet singlet! There were moments where we very nearly played out Infernal Affairs! YC wanted to throw sand at me, while GF wanted to throw sand at him, and I was going to throw it at GF. I got a cramp from all that running and swimming! It was very havoc.



GF wanted to get buried in the sand, and they actually made boobs and a big...err.. shlong for him, which I deem too R(A) to be posted. After that Charles got buried. Jeff then left early because he had to meet up with his friends. We continued sand warring, before taking a lot of photos and washing up.



After that we went to PS to have lunch at Manhattan-sth-sth. I can't remember the name. Ivan came to meet us. The food was rather ex and not too good for my sorethroat. It was tasted real good though. I went home, while Samuel, Ivan and GF went to play LAN.

It's been an extremely tiring but fulfilling day. I had a lot of fun.

JKYH Top 20 (59)

01. No Tomorrow - Orson (+1) 5

02. SexyBack - Justin Timberlake (-1) 6
03. London Bridge - Fergie (+2) 3
04. Me & U - Cassie ft Ray J (-1) 8
05. Maneater - Nelly Furtado (+5) 2
06. A Public Affair - Jessica Simpson (-2) 8
07. Voodoo Child - Rogue Traders (2) 4
08. Stars Are Blind - Paris Hilton (-2) 10
09. Jump - Madonna (+2) 3
10. Call On Me - Janet ft Nelly (-2) 4
11. Screwed/Turn It Up - Paris Hilton (NEW)
12. This Boy - King Kong Jane (+4) 3
13. Get Up - Ciara (+4) 2
14. Ring Ring Ring - S.H.E.(+1) 2
15. Get High - F.I.R. (+3) 2
16. Now I Run - Shannon Noll (-4) 7
17. Jia Zhuang - Jolin Tsai (-8) 11
18. Call Me When You're Sober - Evanescence (NEW)
19. Rooftops - Lost Prophets (NEW)
20. Eskimo Joe - Black Fingernails, Red Wine (NEW)

At the top is Orson, a band from LA, but based in the UK. I had no idea they were a new band. They sound so seasoned. They've been described by Q as “the sound of Britain on a Saturday night”, so I guess it's no wonder why they are so well-loved. Oh and I think I'll chart the single "Bright Idea" which comes before Happiness and after No Tomorrow. Once I hear it of course!

#2 is Justin Timberlake who gives up the top spot, but seems to finally be seeing some chart action on Billboard. He rises from 52-35 and is the week's Greatest Airplay Gainer. He's featured on the MTV interview All Eyes On Justin Timberlake recently where he talks about his album and all that.

Other than that, I haven't got much to update on the music except that I'm looking forward to Paris Hilton's album (Stars Are Blind is at #8 after 10 weeks! new single is Nothing in this World instead of Turn It Up), which will be released in the US next week. I'm very ashamed, but I love what I've heard so far. It's better than the stuff that Lindsay Lohan comes up with! She's got good lyrics but her music is a tad pretentious, and trying to get people to take her seriously. And she fucked up her own musical career by not promoting the album. What's the point of recording it then! Paris Hilton gave a rather hilarious interview too about recording her second album, which you can read on mtv.com. I like her, but I can't take her seriously.

Seriously.

New songs that I've got to make a shoutout to include Leave Before The Lights Come On - Arctic Monkeys, Take Me As I Am - Mary J. Blige, Just In Time - Tony Bennett with Michael Buble, Revolution - The Veronicas and Ring The Alarm - Beyonce which comes with a new video which you can see here.



Oh, and in totally related music news, Britney Spears has done an interview with People Magazine recently and here are two quotes which I think need to be put under scrutiny. First of all, the woman talks about the album she's been working on.

"Having her family around will be even more important when Spears – whose last original album was 2003's In the Zone – makes her postponed return to the music world with a new album due next year that she describes as "cooler than ever – fun, upbeat and sexy."

All of us fans are dying for something to leak. Or some news. At least she's not telling us that she's going to retire already! Haha... I'm trying very hard to be optimistic. If she doesn't deliver (the album, not the baby), I'll burn my Britney DVDs! Oops. Oh, and there's this little bit here about her pregnancies and battle-plans to reclaim her position in the world of Pop.

"She's far less conflicted about nearing the end of her back-to-back pregnancies. Having been in one trimester or another for nearly 18 months out of the past 21, "I feel like I've been pregnant for 10 years!" she says. The performer who was once renowned for her 3,000-sit-ups-a-week abs can't wait to get back to fighting form. "I'm so excited to really be able to sweat like I used to – now I can't because you're always kind of scared, just kind of protective," she says. As soon as her doctor gives the okay – likely six weeks after her C-section – Spears plans to hit the gym daily and stick to a low-carb diet: "I'm definitely going to start working out in a huge way." "

And when she comes back with that sexed-up image, all those who doubted her appeal can go suck... their thumbs.

Tasting Freedom

Alright, it was kind of hard for me to remain in camp. I'm not good at being stuck there for 5 days! So I took half day off today! It's such a relief to be able to get out and see the world. I've had it being in there. I didn't go for nights out on Tuesday so I've officially been in there for about 77 hours or so. It's enough to drive me nuts.

I hate it that I have no time to blog and I have absolutely no time to look at everyone's blogs and comment. I hope to be free enough this weekend to do something about it all! I haven't got much going on except for the New Balance Real Run which happens this Sunday at Sentosa and a game (or two) of badminton on Monday. Saturday will be chilling at home and I'll probably be online the whole time.

I've just got to get this off my chest. I'm happy to be with those who did CFT yesterday. It's basically an insane thing where we route march 4km in the chem suit and run 2 km in mask. As sick as it sounds, I do enjoy running in the mask. It's cool. The route march is a totally different story . Anyway, what I mean to say is for those who didn't try to chao keng, and avoid it, I felt some sense of camaraderie with them. The feeling of going through some real shit together and making it out alive and in one piece is something I find hard to describe. There's a kind of bond, even when you end up shaking your heads at each other at the end of it all, and complaining till the cows come home. There's a sense of common accomplishment, and that at the end of the day whatever shit that gets thrown at us, we'll fact it together.

I thank every one of them for being with me as we woke up early and faced the disgustingly long wait and queue to draw arms. To do the warm-up in MOPP 2. To walk all the way to the starting point. To make it through the STF. To come back red in the face. Breatheless. To put on that grey vest and brace ourselves for the run. And to return, mission completed, and tearing the mask off our faces.

And it means a lot to me. To believe that what I did was right.

Because I can report sick for footrot too. *sarcastic sneer*

Celebrity Watch - Wang Lee Hom

Ash's Birthday

Yesterday Sequeena and I met up at 2PM to go to Causeway Point to shop for Si Hua's present. Si Hua's birthday was actually 11 days ago, but due to our busy schedules, we hadn't had a chance to celebrate it properly for her yet. Anyway, we wanted to get a soft toy, and almost settled on a Pooh bear. Luckily we settled for this one, which she said she'd like better than Pooh! As we walked around Popular, inspiration struck and we bought these two tag-thingies to write our well-wishes for her. We made our way to Sun Plaza and sat down at Mos Burger to do the final prep for the gifts while drinking the Milkshake. I tasted it for the first time - fantastic! Probably the only thing that I like from Mos.

We surprised her because she thought we were going to meet in town. I then went to settle the last bits of the photograph-issue at my uncle's shop. The bill came up to a whooping $115 dollars. Luckily I had money in my Nets! They waited quite awhile before we were able to make our way to City Hall.

We went to the newly renovated basement of Raffles Place and it was kind of cool. Sort of went shopping at JASONS but we didn't buy anything as we were all hard up on cash! After that we went to Marina to walk. While the girls were in the toilet, I had to sneak into Coffee Club to buy a small piece of cake. It was only till we walked to Lau Pa Sat, settled down and went to buy drinks that we surprised her with the cake!



She said it was kind of embarrassing that we were singing her a birthday song and everything in public! I was still thankful that the cake was in one piece after being tossed and hidden in the bag! The atmosphere at that place was fantastic really. Bustling with energy and activity, with the smell of good food in the air, it's definitely a unique place to celebrate a birthday!



We got this aunty to take a photo, but she was so stunned that she handed the camera to her husband, who was queing at the famous Teh Tarik stall! He ended up taking the photo from quite a distance! But it turned out rather good, as he managed to capture the hawker centre as the background.



We went a bit overboard with the food, but we were so hungry, we just couldn't resist getting our hands on everything that was available! I think it's because of all the walking that we did! We sat there for a very long time, 2 hours or so, even after all the food was finished. We had endless things to talk about. I guess the chemistry comes from knowing each other while we were growing up. The Secondary school period really brought us a lot of pleasant memories. We were laughing spastically at the table as we recounted hilarious tales.

Sembawang Sec was pretty out of control. I was in a different class from them, but we became close, mainly because of a science project. I laughed loudly as I remembered the time when Si Hua (with Sequeena) would walk past my class and shout loudly in chinese, "Ying Heng, hurry up, we'll be waiting for you at the canteen!", when I was sitting quietly and having my lesson. The teacher'd stare at me and I'd just shrug. Ah... there were a lot of stories. They probably deserve an entry of their own.



I know a construction site's a weird place to watch the fireworks, but it was the only place that we could get to in time! If there weren't those half-built buildings around, we'd be able to get a full view of the fireworks in their complete glory! However I must say it's kind of interesting to have the fireworks light up the sky just above the buildings. Looks special.



It was hell crowded so we hid at this place for awhile, and took plenty of photos. As usual. Am I a bad influence on people? Anyway, my eyes are damn small because of the contact lenses. Argh! There was this woman who sort of volunteered to help us take a photo. In exchange for that we'd lend her a phone to make a phonecall. I exclaimed in a joking and slightly sarcastic manner that it was a good deal! Okay, I'm not that evil, she was nice.

After that we sat somewhere near Raffles MRT and had a long chat. It's amazing what we can talk about after knowing each other for so long. They are the oldest friends that I'm still in contact with, and they grew up with me, moulded my identity, and sort of made me who I am today. Through our awkward days till now... With age, we didn't grow apart, but our chemistry became more amazing. Yep. Next month's Sequeena's birthday...