2012 in a glance – The year of exploration

While reading through last year’s review to get a feel of what to write, I kind of LOL-ed at myself. It was such an exciting 2012 it just dwarves ‘11. I learnt a lot, experienced a lot of new things, I felt like this is not a wasted year, not even the slightest.

To get things going, last see if I’d accomplished this year’s resolution.

1. Disciplined lifestyle.
• Well… i initially manage to do that, like proper sleep cycle and shit. But you know, like it’s not easy this kind of things. When university life start all hell broke lose and this rule became non-existent. Come on, hall life is pretty hectic at night. Yea it affected my studies in the morning as well, but it’ll not be like this forever.
2. Driving
• Yea, I started learning, so it’s a good start 🙂 But oh well, I haven’t passed. I do hope I can get it over and done with soon! Next year license?
3. Bulking
• Been striving for this for awhile now. Still weighing the same. I do notice a bit of change in my arm size though. Tried hitting the gym a bit in hall nowadays. I really need to find ways to tear those muscle…

Hah from the looks of it I seem to have failed in every one of them. Oh shit… But this year has been a really good one. It was so eventful I’m willing to overlook the resolution and be satisfied. I had too many goals, didn’t focus and do well in anyone. That’s definitely one important lesson.

Lesson #1 – Focus on one, do it very good or don’t do at all.

A timeline of the year’s highlights
The year started off still in NS, then working, and finally ended with a school term. Yep experienced all three within a year. Didn’t feel like they were in the same period though. In between it was littered with some trips, social issues.

We should now begin from a time when all was still pixels and camouflage…

Exercise Cresendo
Another overseas trip with the army. It felt like so long ago, but definitely one I’ll always remember. Opportunity like this rarely come by. Though I don’t particularly like the Thailand ground, I treasured the chance we had to fire the gun in a foreign land. What more it’s my last one!

ORD
With the last hurdle down, it’s was time to bid farewell to the army. Bittersweet feeling, just thinking back to the times in BMT, all the fond memories and experiences. Things I’ll never get to try if i never joined the forces. I’m glad I kept a record of my times in green. Got to move on to the next phase in life, can’t idle like I did for the past two years anymore.

About work…

RS
Waited super long and finally found a job at RS. Definitely a good one. High pay, good boss, made friends in the office. But office life is boring. I really couldn’t wait for July to come, to get back to school. This made me realise how much I need to treasure the last four years I have as a student. After that it’s all work life already.

LFI
And in between the times, I got introduced to network marketing. Got enticed (to put it nicely) into trying it out. Dished out an irrational amount of money, partly by greediness, partly by peer pressure. Felt like I risked my friendships, felt pressured to do things against what I want to do in order to get back that money. In the end I guess it was a whole lot easier to just learn to let go and accept that it was a mistake. It was more important to take the courage to stop doing things i don’t want to do, just for money.
I haven’t even had the courage to tell that to the parents. But it’s money I earned myself, so I guess I don’t have to feel that guilty about it.

The people did thought me an important lesson in life, something which I guess they need to inculcate in every marketer, which I think is very very important for anybody in life. That is to know exactly what you want to achieve. It became my central mantra throughout the rest of the year (and probably thereafter) and affected many of my decisions later. (like Oogachaha, Sydney, hall etc)

More precisely in their words,
Lesson #2 – Have a direction. And do things with that goal in mind.

On the AJ front I guess things weren’t that bad either…
I parted ways with Jacus. It wasn’t a nice thing to do, but I know it was right. It is a second milestone in my sexual life. Learning to truly like someone before committing. Love is more than good looks, and kissing. Character match is vital.
Explored the broader AJ life. The life is more than just me and a few friends no? I went to Oogachaga Centre (OC) for a discussion, and went to Pink dot. They were my first times, and got me really excited. If you ask me I don’t think many youngster go OC ba. Like it’s an AJ place they never go before. It feels intimidating. AT Pink dot I was so scared I’d see people I know. I mean these are AJ friendly places, but I still don’t find it comfortable to reveal myself to people yet. Point is, I’m happy I took the courage to explore the bigger side of the AJ world.

I got to know a few guys too. Some from Jack’d, some from OC, some from orientation camp, some from club, some old school mates. Most were friends but I did date two at different times, but never dive straight in again. I merely hang out with them like friends, just more frequently.

About trips…
Made a few trips this year cos I think I should. It’s this part of my life that I feel I have all the time in the world before school starts. I went Bintan with the TK band people. I also went Sydney to find the PBK people, alone! Yup, that definitely took me some courage.
put down the money for the tickets. Got to commit to it, and I’m glad It went well. I got to experience a new place, and feel alone in a big foreign city. How cool is that! The feeling of independence was really amazing, like just me and the world. (k, dramatic…) It something I don’t know, I think many Asians don’t try to do?

About school…
Finally, the start of school, something I’d looked forward to for much of my post ORD life. I yearned for it. Working day in day out in RS and LFI exhausted me and I really wanted my life back. You can’t imagine how happy I was when I finally got the break to go for the orientation camps. The hall camps and course camp. They gave me back a life. I enjoyed them really very much.

And I managed to change course before matriculating. I was so frustrated with my previous one because I couldn’t see passion or future application to it, and I felt miserable. I was really glad that I managed to get through this hurdle too, and found another course that I like. The decision to jump ship was also base on courage. The past two years I didn’t bother with finding alternative options out of fear of something going wrong and didn’t dare to try it out. This year I visited the open house again and was determined to switch course by all cost. Having the goal in mind was important.

I decided to stay in hall, despite the initial disapproval from the parents due to cost. I was very clear of what I wanted. I wanted to experience hall life. It made me stand my ground and eventually convinced them to let me stay. Without the central mantra, I’ll probably have succumbed to pressure by peers, family members.

Next, the University’s tagline this year inspired me – “The Change is Me”. That is what I wanted too. I wanted a change and try out new stuff, and that was my new direction. I went ahead thick-skinned to try out some sports in hall when I’d never done any. I auditioned for dance. I tried out things I know I’ll never have a chance to experience again in life. I really hope I can make the fullest use of the time in university to achieve something.

I’m doing softball now, getting to run on the field in boots for the first time in my life, sliding in the mud to achieve small goals, playing in the rain. It feels good, and I enjoy it. Just that I have to sit on the bench too much… I’m dancing hip hop and contemp too. Interesting performances that I’m sure I’ll never forget for life. My daily schedule is quite packed. I’m still finding a place in this competitive hall to stand confident because I’m doing everything I’m not good at. Though I still haven’t seen any result, I know it will come. Intangible they may be, they are worth the try for personal growth.

I should also be grateful to have a bunch of close hall friends that do all sorts of things with me. We stay up super late to play, cook, watch movie, drink, have spontaneous activity. They are the reason I really like my hall life.

About myself…
Somewhen work life, I thought the time is right and decide to get a new style. I dyed my hair and cut something new. I started waxing the hair, and the difference definitely showed. I was suddenly “one of the good looking guys” out there, it definitely felt good to be the new me.

And as of this year, I’m 21. Nothing too fancy for party, but it feels really good to have some family and friends celebrate it with you. The last time I had this was probably when I was 5.

Finally, there are too many “sustaining events” this year. As in stuff that happened but doesn’t really add capacity to future life. But if you ask me if there was any self improvement this year, I’ll say “Yes”. I explored sports, dance, clubbing, new look, courage to go gymming, courage to hang around other AJs outside the circle of friends. I feel like I became better.

One last lesson that hit me while reading
Lesson #3 – Do something and do it well, else don’t waste time doing it at all.

Well this isn’t much of a “glance”. haha See told you it a lot happened this year. Too much to put down. That’s all folks.
To a good year ahead~!

Donkey show what?

One day after returning from the land is smiles, I had a meet with the PBK to go universal studios. Then the Kit suddenly say he cannot go cos he didn’t apply his leave.

Like what… it was planned so long ago leh. That is poor!

The rest of us met on Wednesday morning without him. I was slightly late, but that’s besides the point. When we got in Bie started hyping herself and took picture of everything.

We took a bunch of pictures along the way until we reach the Battlestar Galactica.

Then I realize both of them don’t want to take the ride. Like what! How can you come USS without taking their main attraction?!

I had to coax and sweet talk Pau into the queue, all the way until she got buckled up in her seat. Bie refused to budge no matter what and I gave up after awhile. Once Pau’s fixed onto her seat, all he’ll break lose and I started scaring her with my previous experience. Whahaha. Dam evil. Throughout the ride she hid her head under her neck. Haiz
After that I kept bugging her to get her onto the other ride and she never gave in again. Dam!
Should’ve scared her later. Lol!

Anyway ah, that Bie go every ride also dam tense. It was getting noisy. 😛 When we first set on the Madagasca ride she was like so tensed, and it was just a leisure water boat ride for children… It eventually became her favorite ride that we took multiple times throughout the day. Dam boring ah that ride, sit liao I want to yawn. If only the Kit was here, maybe at least will have somebody to go take coaster rides with me.

We conquered the whole park pretty early before the day ended, cos there wasn’t much queue that weekday. It got boring after that cos we’ve been to everything. So we started photo maniac-ing and walking around. The park over and over again. They purposely keep going to the mummy region…

They got good bod la. But that’s the only thing lor.

Before the day ended we walked past the shriek place and a guy in costume was shouting “Donkey Show, last show starting!”
We had no idea what it was going to be about. We were like bored anyway so we went in lor. We haven’t been to any of the shows anyway. It was totally regretful! We were staring at a screen of the “noble steed” singing some songs, then was supposed to dance to it. Then after that hear him talk cock and another song and the show ended. Like what… Immensely boring.

The show girl was the only person pillar-ing the whole show and it wasn’t easy to hype up all of us reluctant audiences. I could see her worked dam hard but it was sadly unappreciated, people were walking out on her. Haiz, blame it on the management for having such a programme. She could very well do a much better show than this.
The show was quite unnecessary.

After a whole days walk at the park our legs were tired and we head back to Vivo for dinner. We talked until ten before parting. After this they have to fly back to their Aussie land again. Haiz… Should visit them there ah.

Meet PBK

It’s the CNY season and those people studying abroad are flooding back to the country or reunion. The two women came from from Australia too.

So that evening after finishing a house visit to another relative’s house, I went out to meet the PBK after not seeing them for so long.

Nothing’s changed much la. Pau and Bie haven’t turned potatoes, and Kit’s just the same. We had dinner and walked around Marina Square. I was just here the day before…

Although we didn’t do much (there wasn’t much to do there), we managed to have some fun. It’s nice to see them again.
We were thinking of going out again before the two aussie-bound women fly back. That’ll be sometime after I’ve come back from Thailand. We’re thinking USS. Hehe I don’t min going there again. 🙂

One last time before they fly

In what seem like a desperate attempt to spend as much time together as possible before the Boss and Shrimp fly off to separate places in Australia, we met up yet again for the second time this month. We met up at Dhoby Ghaut to catch a movie and have lunch.

Shrimp suggested Burlesque, and I immediately said ‘yes’ to it. Yea! I’ve been wanting to watch the show for awhile already and now is the perfect time for me to have a taste at it. The whole show is fronted by Christina Aguilera, one of my favourite singer. I must watch it.

I would say I was greatly anticipating the show, but it did not satisfy me very much in the end. It wasn’t at the standard I thought it would be at. Some things I expected and got very satisfied by, particularly the amazing singing parts by Xtina and Cher. I was also surprised at how well Xtina looks on screen, and her good acting skills justify her presence in the show.

However, the movie was a little draggy somehow and half way through I wonder when it will end. Then there’s the songs. I can’t help but feel that some songs are not sung at the correct time. Singing “Something’s got a hold on me” at the start? That’s so weird. I would prefer that it was sang after Ali got to know the Jack guy.

I still like the film nonetheless. Xtina’s voice helped a lot in an otherwise (what I consider) average film.

We then settled our lunch at a local Mos Burger outlet. Then we realise we had nothing to do. As usual the verdict is to go Shrimp’s house. It’s the latest fad among… us. Her mom volunteered to come fetch us. Halfway through the journey we sense that she wanted to divert us away from their house and to her own shop instead, so we obliged…

We later found out that she didn’t want us to go her house because we apparently made a mess there the other time. If I remembered correctly, the only mess then was this fur cover thingy on their sofa that got pushed to the ground. It did it, sort of. But it’s not entirely my fault ‘cos the dog wanted me and I was on the sofa, and it accidentally dragged the thing to the floor. I even offered to pick it up and Shrimp was the one that told me it’s alright to just leave it there. Hmp!

We sat at their shop in this shop house place near Katong there for quite awhile, doing nothing and Boss keep fussing about boredom and wanting to see the dog. I thought it was inappropriate since the mother already quite explicitly show her dislike for us to be there.

In the end we still head there… we did the usual – play Bridge. Then it was time to go, we took a lot of last minute photos before going separate ways. There was quite a lot of them I thought was quite nice. =) They will be stored away safely in the memory lane.

Haiz… I wonder when it will be the next time when we meet. The girls are both overseas studying now and it will be hard to some together again. Time will tell.

The Shrimp returns

It’s one day after New Year, and tonight it’s finally time to get back to work. For now, it’s a meet up with the PBK to mark the return of the Shrimp from Australia for summer break. Good life she has hor…

Like the last time we went to Shrimps house again. This time there was less of the dog thing because I strongly opposed the idea of going to her house during the planning period. Anyway the dog came after me less this time too ‘cos I was wearing a jeans instead of a shorts like last time and didn’t really feel as much of its brushing.

The Shrimp has an Inception movie. And it’s not pirated! Which means it’s bright clear view with subtitles. I wanted to watch that show for a long time already but never had a chance to, and there she has it lying on the TV console collecting dust. Atrocious!

I asked her to lend it to me but she refused. Pfft. Selfish. Nevermind.

I taught the Boss and Whale the card game bridge ‘cos we were bored and they didn’t know how to play it. Boss is kind of blur with the whole situation during game play, which was kind of funny.

And today I learnt that the Boss is going to go overseas to study soon. Gasp* another one leaving the lovely little island in pursue of education. She’s going to Australia, like Shrimp, but going another state. These people are rich….

We are already planning to meet up another time already. Once more before she leaves, and Shrimp’s summer break ends.

to Expo with PBK

I met up with the Lameo again this week. Guess it’s ‘cos we haven’t seen each other for too long, and the meet up we had last week was really fun, so people want to make plan for another meet up this week just to see my face again. Ohoho. They just can’t get enough of me.

I woke up late today ‘cos I over snoozed the alarm… (I was tired) So I was late to meet them by forty-minutes.(Strangely, I always do when I’m meeting them.) However I managed to argue my way out of apologising to them. Hah, which is what i always do with them, for fun lar.

Shrimp’s mom set up a stall in the food expo at the expo (duh…) selling their company’s… food. So we all decided to head over there to see Shrimp in action working her summer part time job. The food their family sell is nice… but it’s kind of expensive for its kind lar, so I didn’t buy anything to bring home.

Quite a bit of the time we were waiting for her to finish her business with the ever coming customers before we could head somewhere else to explore the food expo together. Boss was bored and ended up helping out in the store. Me and the whale became traffic obstructions standing there…

It’s definitely nice to see them again. Actually I too was eager to see them again la. After this I have to head back to camp again. Haiz…

PauBieKit

After going out for three days straight, I’m starting to feel a little tired and reluctant to go out today. But then the last time we went out together was more than a year and a half (or so) ago, and  I was still slightly angry with Whale at that time over some things so that wasn’t really enjoyable. Then the last last time we met each other was after ‘O’ Levels, so today was really an important meetup.

I wanted to fly kite initially, only to realise at the last minute that we couldn’t. Whale said he could only meet us slightly later because he must attend some dragon boat competition, as a spectator. … As if those people in the competition furiously digging their paddle in the waters care about that one more person sitting on the bench cheering for them while they are minding their opponents right… The Boss’ plan was to go to Shrimp’s house after lunch. Lousy event planning can…

Anyway so I met up with the Boss and the Shrimp for lunch at Suntec first, while waiting for that whale to swim back to come meet us at three. We were indecisive in choosing the place to eat (just like how it was two years ago, never change), but we eventually settled for Swensen’s. Things kind of picked up quickly and naturally when we met. We talked like we haven’t not met for so long.

Then we went to Shrimp’s house. We were suppose to meet that whale at the train station la, but then we found him at Shrimp’s door step. That guy go wonder around the whole neighbourhood to find the house la… His favourite hobby. We got into the house and saw her dog poodle leapt up onto the “cage” fence to welcome the mistress home. Looks cute la. Poodle mah.

Cute neh~

But I was scared to touch it la. The whole day at her house I didn’t get near the dog at all. I don’t know why I keep avoiding it. It’s not that I’m scared of dogs, I not even scared of bugs or large animals like tigers, but I will avoid dogs and cats… I think maybe it’s I’m scared of hurting them, so I don’t when to carry them and all that. End up I didn’t even want to touch its hair. Then the whole day they keep bringing the dog over to me to “scare” me.

We played Monopoly Deal,watched a bit of movie (actually we didn’t even look at the screen at all. The cd was just playing and creating some background noise that’s all), and played with the dog… Then come dinner her maid made Nasi Lemak for us. I say it’s ultra nice. Seriously. The fragrance of the rice is very overpowering, and the chicken is soft and crispy (thigh meat mah). Can compete with outside famous Nasi Lemak Stalls. It was seriously very nice and filling. I not even trying to nice talk my friend, cos she is not even reading this.

These were the only things we did the whole day but the whole time I though it was fun. Except the dog… I liked what happened today, and hope it happens again. I believe the communication between the people is the strongest factor that determines how much each and every one enjoys what they are doing. It’s really not we do that matters. In any case, today’s meet up with the PBKs kind of lifted me from the emo I was feeling from yesterday’s meet up with the bunk mates.