Sick Chicken

Now very 辛苦.

Since coming back from M'sia,haven't been resting enough. Having to wake up at 6am also doesn't help. The flu has been supressing itself, until yesterday, when it decided to explode.

Since this morning, has been self-medicating. Fever was 39 degrees, then went down, then up again.

Finally went to see doc just now, and fever was 38 degrees. And $48 poorer.

Got 1 day MC. Got to call the camp tomorrow to tell them.

Reader's Digest Courtesy Survey

RD's survey says Singaporeans are not courteous at all, ranking 30 out of 35.

Wah, why am I not surprised sia ...

Why need RD to tell us? I already told you here!

Lee-zer-bit

Finally, after many, many years out in the wilderness, I have finally gone back to serve my country.

I haven't been the best reservist (or NSman) around, never bothering to update my particulars. I have also been missing IPPTs.

I got so excited that I had problems sleeping last night. Hope this doesn't aversely affect my health.

Donning my camouflage uniform and entering a camp brought back all the euphoria I used to feel. We are the protector of the land leh!

Glad to also see the profile of my course mates are similar to mine - first incamp after 10 odd years. I feel at home liao.

Matter of Opinion

Spotted this at the airport.

Wouldn't "Legacy" be a better choice?

Genting Ranting

The last time we went to Genting was eons ago. This time around, the experience was different, as the whole bus(!) are our own group. Also, it will be 6(!) to a room. When I heard, I was like " How do you bloody squeeze 6 people into a hotel room?"

Somehow it worked out, as there were shifts. One group will be at the casino while the other slept, and vice versa.

Apart from the older rides, the outdoor theme park also had a few new rides. We tried them all. Then there's this whole new place called New World Hotel. The hotel is nothing to rave about, but the shopping / F&B area is sipeh steady! Had most of our meals there.

Wifey and I blew about RM200 at the casino. It's a third of our bloody budget!

England vs Trinidad & Tobago

TMD. I put $5 on Away-Home (HT-FT), and the odds were $22! That means I could have won $110!

But disappointing T&T didn't manage to score before half-time (or for the rest of the match), and there goes my money ...

Touched ... by Him

Today was supposed to be another peaceful day, until ...

... my boss declared that he committed to give a customer a quote today, and he had to leave for Malaysia in an hour's time. Wah, thanks ah ...

My colleague and I rushed, he calling the supplier and me counter-checking with the customer on his requirements.

Knowing that we're going to work late, I sian half liao. I was supposed to get a cake for Father's Day tonight, since all the 3 kids will not be there to celebrate with Dad. But now like that ... It's another case of family vs work.

The quote was finally sent at 9.40pm. The first thought was to get the cake in Bedok, since there are more shops there. But by the time I reached, I guess they'd have all closed by then. As I was driving along, Ubi Central was in front, and I gratefully turned in. However, the further I walked, the more disappointed I became. Most of the shops were closed.

Can't a person have both family AND career? Why must it always be a compromise? I kept replaying this thought in my head. The more I thought, the harder I prayed, asking the Buddha to help me. I want to be a good worker, and I also want to be a good son.

At some point, I decided to head back to the car. I've almost given up. "I'll buy it tomorrow then", I told to myself. Just then, right in front of me, was the shop with the signboard "X X Confectionery". At that moment, I knew He heard me, and it was His guidance that brought me along the path to the shop. I wanted to cry, and I think I did tear a bit. Given the difficult time that I'm going through, I thought He has taken a backseat, but no, He is still there for me. I bought the cake gratefully, and left.

I am still thankful and touched. I'm so happy the relationship is back.

Thank you, Lord Buddha, for hearing my prayers and being there for me.

Meadow of Quivering Aspens

The name Waverley has such a nice fuzzy feeling to it, in large parts due to the sentimental link.

So when comments I left are responded with "Thanks ger" and "Smart girl", I don't know whether to laugh or cry. It's usually followed by a sheepish "Er, I is guy".

See, it says here it is also a boy's name what! Quivering aspens, ok?!

Some silly websites say it means "to wave". Duh, does that mean Washington is "to wash"?

White Supremacy

Once again, white is good, yellow / dark is bad.

Why is it so difficult to shake off the "white is GOOOOOD in everything" mentality?

Don't we have talents locally? Are yoy saying that we don't have enough qualified people? If yes, then shouldn't the question be: how come we don't have enough qualified people leh?

Sick and tired of these knee-jerk effect, and the inability to plan for the future.

It's Back!!!!!

It's back after 4 years!

I'm putting my money on Brazil ($10) and Germany ($5).

Woohoo!

Saying Thank You

I don't understand why some people find it so hard to say thank you.

I say it all the time: to the karang guni man that buys my newspapers, to the hawker that just gave me back my change, to the Pizza Hut phone operator that just took my order. Heck, I even raise my hand to thank the driver that lets my car pass first.

I mean, it doesn't cost me anything, and nobody would be offended by it. If people expects it, then I'll just give it to them! It's not hypocritical; it's just being polite.

Why can't everybody practise it so that this word can be a nicer place?

Much Has Happened ...

I'm back. Looking at my own blog, my last entry was 20 Feb. That was over 3 months ago. Many things have happened.

Feb 28: my last day at the god-forsaken place

Mar 1 - 31: a well-deserved but financially irrational break

Apr 3: the start of a new life

As for now:

Health

• knee still hurts, although not as much
• temporarily dumped Commonwealth for Jurong
• stomach still flatulent, although not as much

Baby

• still no sign of the little fella

Work

• much smaller company
• next to no politics
• but basic salary cannot sustain me
• wondering when the sales and corresponding commission will come
• but overall still happier

Finances

• extremely bad shape
• bank account was already so minute
• now every month still must top up because of deficit

Mood

• while glad that I'm out of the hell hole, but still moody, or maybe even worse
• seems like the last episode(s) have caused such a major dent in my life/progress/confidence/self-worth
• stakes are so high that I'm so afraid to fail again
• so afraid that if I fail again, I will never have the mental strength to get up
• have become resentful, but keep reminding myself not to be
• very touched that I have friends around me who take a serious interest in my well-being
• besides Wifey, Elliot is the other one who has witnessed my deep-thinking/sorrow/my feeble perk-me-ups

Lessons

• financial awareness - now I can account right down to the last cent
• politics is a way of life
• learning to forgive is a near-impossibility
• there are friends that care
• then there are friends that you think are close, yet you hesitate in telling them your financial difficulties
• mental strength is like latent heat - you can't see it, but it's what makes the difference

I WILL SURVIVE, AND WILL LIVE TO TELL!