Tuesday, June 30, 2009

What I am going to do today.

I am taking a cue from Qiu Rong here... If I publicly announce what I intend on achieving by the end of tonight... I will get it done... So here goes nothing. 


I, Jason Yip, am going to:

  1. Book a Thursday grooming session for Sumo
  2. Confirm and finalize the Europe Tour
  3. Workout... it can be a bike ride, a swim... anything...
  4. Finish reading that article on Franchising... so I know what the heck to talk about this Fri
  5. Reach Suntec in time for dinner
  6. (Attempt...) Put the house back in hospitable conditions
  7. (Attempt to...) Figure out why the cappuccino taste so darn weird this morning
  8. Take all three doses of medicine on time... (Morning dosage down!)
There... everything out haha... Let's see how the day goes now :)

Just an update... I managed to get a booking for Sumo, Confirmed the itinerary but not finalize anything yet for the tour (Thanks fellow Travel Buddies!!), did not manage a workout, did not read the darn article at all. I however did reach Suntec in time, did clean up the house a bit and took my medicine on time... The coffee still taste like crap though... on hindsight.... crap... hmmm... 

I should just give up on the business plans I had and be a damn travel planner. 

Weight Loss

I need to loose a bit more weight if I don't intend on ripping my brand new tri-suit apart when I take a deep breath... Great... More running and cycling please... Jon, I am back to being you're new best friend :)

Monday, June 29, 2009

H1N1...

I showed all the symptoms. The initial dripping nose, followed by the terrible sore throat and the body aches... I didn't think much of it till after the movie, when the fever, giddy spells and lethargy came into play. It didn't help that my family was approximately half a world away in Milan when all this started to erupt. There was no warm chicken soup to sooth the aches away, nor comforting words to help ease the terrible discomfort I was in. I, being the good samaritan I am, decided to call a couple of those whom I spent the Sunday with to let them know of my current predicament and alert them to the possibilities. After the phone calls and 2 episodes of Will & Grace, I downed two tablets of Decolgen before tucking myself into my mum's bed and calling it a night. 

I got up only at 1 the next day (thanks for the phone calls and SMSes...) and felt (surprisingly...) much better. The fever was gone and so was the terrible headache. I decided to just pay a visit to the doc's just to make sure everything was alright... after all... I did show all the symptoms right? 

The doctor confirmed that it was most probably a normal flu though the H1N1 strain would also elicit the same symptoms as the normal flu. The only way to confirm it would be to get a more detailed check up at the hospital where they can determine just which strain of Influenza Virus I am down with. My GP's a really cool dude, so he kinda briefed me a bit on the type of flu we're dealing with here and why everyone (in the medical field to be specific...) is so uptight about this little virus. 

The H1N1 strain that we're seeing now both in Singapore and around the world is exhibiting a similar trend of infections that was observed during the Spanish flu, where the initial wave which struck, though serious was merely a prelude of what was to come. Most of the fatalities of the Spanish Flu occurred during the 2nd wave which struck when the unusually virulent and deadly type A virus strain of the subtype H1N1 (Yes!! the same darn thing we're seeing now...) mutated a much more deadlier form. 

Coming back to the main topic of discussion for this post, that being me, I am feeling much better now and hopefully will be back in fighting shape by the week's end in time for my Swiss Ironman/ Europe Tour. I am headed off to the pool now to meet up with my fellow traveller's for one final brief before we hit the road!

Till the next entry!

Friday, June 26, 2009

Michael Jackson: King of Pop


                               

                                 


Michael Jackson, the show-stopping singer whose best-selling albums -- including "Off the Wall," "Thriller" and "Bad" -- and electrifying stage presence made him one of the most popular artists of all time, died Thursday, CNN has confirmed.

He was 50.

He collapsed at his residence in the Holmby Hills section of Los Angeles, California, about noon Pacific time, suffering cardiac arrest, according to brother Randy Jackson. He died at UCLA Medical Center.

Lt. Fred Corral of the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office said an autopsy would probably be done on the singer Friday, with results expected that afternoon.

"Michael Jackson made culture accept a person of color," the Rev. Al Sharpton said. "To say an 'icon' would only give these young people in Harlem a fraction of what he was. He was a historic figure that people will measure music and the industry by."

Jackson's blazing rise to stardom -- and later fall from grace -- is among the most startling of show business tales. The son of a steelworker, he rose to fame as the lead singer of the Jackson 5, a band he formed with his brothers in the late 1960s. By the late '70s, as a solo artist, he was topping the charts with cuts from "Off the Wall," including "Rock With You" and "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough."

In 1982, he released "Thriller," an album that eventually produced seven hit singles. An appearance the next year on a Motown Records 25th-anniversary special cemented his status as the biggest star in the country. 

For the rest of the 1980s, they came no bigger. "Thriller's" follow-up, 1987's "Bad," sold almost as many copies. A new Jackson album -- a new Jackson appearance -- was a pop culture event.

The pop music landscape was changing, however, opening up for rap, hip-hop and what came to be called "alternative" -- and Jackson was seen as out of step.

His next release, 1991's "Dangerous," debuted at No. 1 but "only" produced one top-ranking single -- "Black or White" -- and that song earned criticism for its inexplicably violent ending, in which Jackson was seen smashing car windows and clutching his crotch.

And then "Dangerous" was knocked out of its No. 1 spot on the album charts by Nirvana's "Nevermind," an occurrence noted for its symbolism by rock critics.

After that, more attention was paid to Jackson's private life than his music career, which faltered. A 1995 two-CD greatest hits, "HIStory," sold relatively poorly, given the huge expense of Jackson's recording contract: about 7 million copies, according to Recording Industry of America certifications.

A 2001 album of new material, "Invincible," did even worse.

In 2005, he went to trial on child-molestation charges. He was acquitted.

In July 2008, after three years away from the spotlight, Jackson announced a series of concerts at London's O2 Arena as his "curtain call." Some of the shows, initially scheduled to begin in July, were eventually postponed until 2010.

Rise to stardom

Michael Jackson was born August 29, 1958, to Joe Jackson, a Gary, Indiana, steelworker, and his wife, Katherine. By the time he was 6, he had joined his brothers in a musical group organized by his father, and by the time he was 10, the group -- the Jackson 5 -- had been signed to Motown. 

He made his first television appearance at age 11.

Jackson, a natural performer, soon became the group's front man. Music critic Langdon Winner, reviewing the group's first album, "Diana Ross Presents the Jackson 5," for Rolling Stone, praised Michael's versatile singing and added, "Who is this 'Diana Ross,' anyway?"

The group's first four singles -- "I Want You Back," "ABC," "The Love You Save" and "I'll Be There" -- went to No. 1 on the Billboard pop chart, the first time any group had pulled off that feat. There was even a Jackson 5 cartoon series on ABC.

In 1972, he hit No. 1 as a solo artist with the song "Ben."

The group's popularity waned as the '70s continued, and Michael eventually went solo full time. He played the Scarecrow in the 1978 movie version of "The Wiz," and released the album "Off the Wall" in 1979. Its success paved the way for "Thriller," which eventually became the best-selling album in history, with 50 million copies sold worldwide.

At that point, Michael Jackson became ubiquitous.

Seven of "Thriller's" nine cuts were released as singles; all made the Top Ten. The then-new cable channel MTV, criticized for its almost exclusively white playlist, finally started playing Jackson's videos. They aired incessantly, including a 14-minute minimovie of the title cut. ("Weird Al" Yankovic cemented his own stardom by lampooning Jackson's song "Beat It" with a letter-perfect parody video.)

On the Motown Records' 25th-anniversary special -- a May 1983 TV extravaganza with notable turns by the Temptations, the Four Tops and Smokey Robinson -- it was Michael Jackson who stopped the show.

Already he was the most popular musician in America, riding high with "Thriller." But something about his electrifying performance of "Billie Jean," complete with the patented backward dance moves, boosted his stardom to a new level.

People copied his Jheri-curled hair and single-gloved, zippered-jacket look. Showbiz veterans such as Fred Astaire praised his chops. He posed for photos with Ronald and Nancy Reagan at the White House. Paul McCartney teamed with him on three duets, two of which -- "The Girl Is Mine" and "Say Say Say" -- became top five hits. Jackson became a Pepsi spokesman, and when his hair caught fire while making a commercial, it was worldwide news.

It all happened very fast -- within a couple years of the Motown special. But even at the time of the "Motown 25" moonwalk, fame was old hat to Michael Jackson. He hadn't even turned 25 himself, but he'd been a star for more than half his life. He was given the nickname the "King of Pop" -- a spin on Elvis Presley's status as "the King of Rock 'n' Roll" -- and few questioned the moniker.

Relentless attention

But, as the showbiz saying has it, when you're on top of the world, there's nowhere to go but down. The relentless attention given Jackson started focusing as much on his eccentricities -- some real, some rumored -- as his music.

As the Web site Allmusic.com notes, he was rumored to sleep in a hyperbaric chamber and to have purchased the bones of John Merrick, the "Elephant Man." (Neither was true.) He did have a pet chimpanzee, Bubbles; underwent a series of increasingly drastic plastic surgeries; established an estate, Neverland, filled with zoo animals and amusement park rides; and managed to purchase the Beatles catalog from under Paul McCartney's nose, which displeased the ex-Beatle immensely.

In 1990s and 2000s, Jackson found himself pasted across the media for his short-lived marriages, the first to Elvis Presley's daughter, Lisa Marie; his 2002 claim that then Sony Records head Tommy Mottola was racist; his behavior and statements during a 2003 interview with British journalist Martin Bashir done for a documentary called "Living With Michael Jackson;" his changing physical appearance; and, above all, the accusations that he sexually molested young boys at Neverland.

The first such accusation, in 1993, resulted in a settlement to the 13-year-old accuser (rumored to be as high as $20 million), though no criminal charges were filed, Allmusic.com notes.

He also fell deeply in debt and was forced to sell some of his assets. Neverland was one of many holdings that went on the block. However, an auction of material from Neverland, scheduled for April, was called off and all items returned to Jackson.

Interest in Jackson never faded, however, even if some of it was prurient. In 2008, when he announced 10 comeback shows in London, beginning in July 2009, the story made worldwide news. The number of concerts was later increased to 50.

Seventy-five thousand tickets sold in four hours when they went on sale in March.

However, when the shows were postponed until 2010, rumors swept the Internet that Jackson was not physically prepared and possibly suffering from skin cancer.

At the time, the president and CEO of AEG Live, Randy Phillips, said, "He's as healthy as can be -- no health problems whatsover."

Jackson held open auditions for dancers in April in Los Angeles.

He is survived by his three children, Prince Michael I, Paris and Prince Michael II.

- CNN.com

I was a fan, am a fan and will always be a fan. I'd have to agree that he did go downhill onwards of 2001 but this was the guy that we, those in their 20s and 30s, grew up with. Rest in Peace Michael :( I feel like just a teeny bit of my childhood has just died and vanished :( Perhaps it isn't the death of a superstar that affects us all but the lost of something, someone who was in one way another an immense part of our childhood (or the part of our lives in the late 80s and early 90s...). The prejudice against him and his ups and downs.... I guess that does give Michael a very human face under all that harsh scrutiny.


Thursday, June 25, 2009

The night (or day...) is only as wonderful as the company you're keeping.

Wednesday was a good day. This "good day" comprised of a superb morning-afternoon, a good evening and a not-so-good late evening. Being the sole occupant of my house now, I have many household and non-household tasks lined up ahead of me for today so I shan't dawdle too much on the itsy-bitsy details. 


I met up with JJ in the morning to catch the newly released Transformers Movie. JJ and I met up for a quick lunch and poured over the details of the trip before heading up to the cineplex. The movie was really action-packed and was pretty good in a "adapted-to-blockblaster-movieish". I was never a big fan of movies (or their sequels) with too much resurrections, so my only beef was with the fact that a number of the robots were supposed to be dead and destroyed already and with only a single piece of the all-spark remaining... how could they keep on bringing back to life (OR reusing the darn robots...) robots such as Grindor/Blackout, Scavenger/Demolisher, Bonecrusher/Anonymous Buffalo H Mine-Protected Vehicle etc... These are the little things that I guess I notice in the movie which no one else does. Michael Bay did mention that there would be no mass-shifting in his movie... so... why the the all-spark cube in the first movie shrink to such a small size... ANYWAY... the movie wasn't too bad and I must admit that despite the minor discrepancies it was a good watch. (Doesn't mean I'll pay to watch it again though..) 

The afternoon was spent running random errands which included meeting the tour agent to discuss the details for my upcoming trip. The meeting was rather fruitful... and I now have 2-3 more countries on the to-go list. :) As I have adopted this "Thou shalt not drive to town" mantra, I had to rush home to pick up the car before heading to school for my DSO briefing. 

The briefing went pretty well and I am really looking forward to cycling to exhaustion on a exercise bike with a needle in my arm. Don't think I'll give it up for anything in the world, well maybe perhaps running a marathon with a catheter up you-know-where... HAHAHA... I seriously doubt the local scientific will be thinking of that anytime soon.



After the briefing and a great dinner with a couple of my team-mates (Bzzz Bzzz Bzzz *hint hint*) JJ and I headed to Zouk for our inaugural Mambo Jambo Anniversary Party. The crowd was good and the competition was fun to watch, despite the fact that I was tickled by some of the performances on stage. Hossan Leong was a great host and he did a wonderful job of getting everyone up and about and more importantly... into the mood for the long night to come. However... what was really disappointing for me was the quality of music during the night. Somehow... I did expect a bit more. The music was really abrupt and (just an opinion...) I kinda felt like I was in my living room listening to a compilation of mambo songs played out one after the other... :(

Anyway we left the club at about 5 and headed home soon after... I got up only at 3 p.m. today. So much for a great Thursday huh? Anyway... Just ONE more peeves that I need to get off my chest. Neutreogena Shaving Gel/Moose SUCKS! I should just have stuck to Gillette. I look like war scarred soldier equipped with only his bayonet and bar-soap for his shaving needs. 

Till the next entry... 



PS: I really need to remind myself that clubbing is a 2 day affair. Party = day 1, sleep in = day 2.... 

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Appeal on Parking Offence Notice

Yes, I finally got it. A 50 dollar fine for parking in the darn handicap lot. The parking facilities in my area are such that if you arrive after 11 p.m., you get to park... at the bus stop beside the polytechnic. Anyway, my appeal letter is attached below. Let's hope that some kind soul behind the computer screen will be empathetic enough to let me off with a warning letter. So that's the first issue that got me peeved today. 

Dear Sir/ Mdm,

The HDB estates in my area, comprising of BLKs 8**A, 8** and 8** are currently having their lifts upgraded. The ongoing construction work has unfortunately occupied a number of the parking lots available in the car-park. This, coupled with the fact that the parking lot in question is extremely popular, results in us residents not having enough lots to park our vehicles. Most of us have little choice but to park our vehicles in the handicap lots and other restricted lots overnight and move them only early the following morning. We do our best to avoid parking in the restricted lots but at times there really is no where else for us to park our vehicles. At 2.00 am in the morning, there usually are no lots for us to park our vehicles and more often than not, the handicap lots are also occupied by some of the residents with no where else to park. As this is my first traffic offense in my three years of driving, I appeal for your kind understanding and hope that you can grant me this one chance and waive this fine for me. I have learnt my lesson and will make an effort to come home earlier so as to avoid parking in the restricted lots.

Yours Truly,

Jason Yip 
S87*****H

The second incident is the last minute cancellation of my meeting with the tour agent. Apparently he had some last minute thing which cropped up. That makes two cancellations in... three days. The clock's ticking and my patience is wearing thin too. There's just so much to do in... so little time, less then two weeks to be exact. Let's hope tomorrow's meeting realizes. 

For the less informed, there's this Channel 8 show called the Ultimatum on TV every weekday nights at 9. 


With the exception of a handful of the actors and actresses, three to be exact, the rest of the them are just so bad... I cringe every time they talk or move. Argh.... 

Till the next entry. 

Monday, June 22, 2009

Monday Blues

Here I am as I sit down at my comp in my rather empty house hacking away at the keyboard. Its finally Monday and I am now officially back to being a bum with my own time back in my hands to waste. I must add that so far, I haven't let myself down yet. 

I woke up at about 11.30 am. Got to my phone only to realize that the darn tele-device was locked in the car about a 10 min walk away. I called the travel agency only to realize that the guy whom I was supposed to meet wasn't in the damn country. So much for honoring a commitment, which seems to be a common occurrence with the individuals around me these days. As mentioned in previous posts, there is little one can do by getting aggravated or upset. I believe the fault always almost lies in the "victim", the marginalized individual, the one being taken for a ride, the one who is eventually depicted as an unreasonable, petty, self-centered individual; the one typing this entry. I am, in general a happy-go-lucky person who gets along pretty well with most living things that exist and share the living space around me. However, it is sad how many often misinterpret laughter and carefree behaviour as a sign of weakness. 

I like challenges. I enjoy a good fight. Bring it on. 


Sunday, June 21, 2009

Change of Heart

Sometimes, the path needs to be walked alone. No more waiting. No more grand training plans. Period.


Anyway, I have my stuff scheduled already. All all that's left is to make them happen :)

Sweet Dreams are made of this...

And what a night it was :) You really are pretty good at picking out the latest edition of most of the guide books :) *Grins*

Ok I really need to start biking soon, like soon soon... :( 

Friday, June 19, 2009

The 24 hour Chronicles of Xiao Huang

Lunch?

Xiao Huang perched on my finger

Xiao Huang looking all puffy and pissed. Apparently its a sign of sickness... :(

Introductions between Bird and Beast

On Thursday, I succeeded in catching three songbirds whilst I was assisting in the conduct of the IPPT test. The first two birds, including Xiao Huang, were easy to catch. However, catching the third and largest of the three, took me about half an hour. One of the two songbirds had a little bump on its head, so I decided to let it fly off. The last bird to be caught was rather aggressive and upon discussion with the rest, I decided to let it off too. 

I was all for the idea of keeping this cute little bird as my new pet. The guys in the office took turns constructing a little nest for it made out of toilet roll and old cardboard boxes and feeding it fruits and giving it sips of water. I found an old A4 paper box and placed the bird and its newly constructed "home" in the bigger box. The bird was really adorable, no doubt about it, squealing and squeaking like clockwork at regular intervals. What was more fascinating however was watching 14 over young adults, fitness specialist of the army, fussing over the tiny creature... simply hilarious. 

I brought the bird home, and cared for it through the night. For the very first time the next morning, I was awoken not by the callous ringing of some electronic alarm clock or as a result of a brutal pawing session by Sumo, but by the gentle tweets and cries of the little bird, which had been affectionately named "Xiao Huang" by two of the PTIs in Camp. I browsed through some articles on the net before finally deciding on feeding the bird small bits of dog food soaked in warm milk and bits of papaya. Xiao Huang chomped down on the food rather aggressively, which was a good sign to me, before closing its eyes and snoozing off whilst still chirped on my finger. 

I had to leave in the afternoon for a haircut so I locked Xiao Huang in my balcony. I left the window open (my bad...) for ventilation purposes and closed the balcony door to stop my every-so-famished dog from consuming the poor bird (note pictures above...). 

After my haircut, I rushed to a neighborhood bird shop and asked the owner for some advice on how to house and care for my "precious ". The gentleman took one glance at my photo, shook his head and advised me to free the bird. Apparently this little bird fed on the nectar of large flowers, something which I obviously couldn't provide... 

As I made my way home, I started making plans to free Xiao Huang. As soon as I entered the front gate, the silence which greeted me immediately triggered alarm bells in head. I jogged to the balcony, peeped into the box and realised the Xiao Huang too had made plans for itself that very afternoon :) Have a happy life my sweet little thing :)

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Happy Endings only bring about Happier Beginnings

I am left with just 3 more days of ICT before I am out. Not that I haven't been out at all, taking into consideration what I do for ICT, but out as in free from my responsibilities type of out. In all honesty, I thoroughly enjoyed almost every single day of my ICT. From the "talk-cock" sessions prior to in-processing the RT men, through the long and rather mentally strenuous conducting of lessons, to the chillaxing after-debrief activities, I enjoyed every single moment. The company that I have been keeping the last 1 and a half weeks has been thoroughly refreshing and I must admit I have learnt a lot during my short stint there. Thanks to the wonders of Facebook, I am pretty glad that we'll, or at least I'll, be keeping in touch with the whole lot of you till we next meet again in a year's time... *hint hint*

This entry isn't going to be long because the long hours of FCC life can take quite a toll on one's active blogging lifestyle. Before I hit the sack and call it a night however, I must post a terribly gruesome experience I had at the cookhouse today whilst having dinner with the guys prior to the start of our "work-day".



R.I.P
Random Mynah

The above is the commonly seen Javan Mynah. Pesky, smelly and a potential carrier of some future Avian Flu Virus, it certainly isn't the most lovable of creatures. Anyway... we were having dinner when one decided to swoop in through an open grill gate into the cookhouse, in hopes of getting a quick fix in the washing area or something. I was watching the bird as it flew in, drifted upwards and then struck the ceiling fan which sliced off its left wing. The doomed and stricken creature went careening out of control as the wing broke off (like a doomed airliner) and fell to the floor as the rest of the Mynah went crashing on to the table right in the middle of three SGTS who were having their dinner. The bird, I think..., then rolled off the table onto the floor. The sight must have been a gruesome one I think for I... decided that I wasn't strong enough to stomach such a sight. After a lot of "Eeeewing" and "OOOOOoooing", a tough Guardsman took it upon himself to remove the dead/ dying creature from the cookhouse. I shed two drops of tears for the lost bird, just in case you guys start getting the idea that I am some cruel cold hearted bastard without a care for anything soft and fluffy in this perfect world of ours.

With that last random paragraph, I shall now call it a night :) Till the next entry!

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Change of Plans

The whole ICT routine has somewhat screwed up a bits of my training program. The company's great, there's no doubt about it. It feels really good to be amongst old faces and in that all to familiar uniform all again. The one good thing, pertaining to my training program that is, is the availability of a rather well equipped gym just 20 steps away from where I sit now. I should probably take this time to built up some strength and compensate the lack of long distance training with some resistance training. I ain't too sure how it'll turn out but that's the only alternative I have for now. One can't have the cake and eat it at the same time I guess. I should probably write a bit about the run I did with the guys here yesterday do. It needn't be a long paragraph, just a couple of words (maybe sentences...) will suffice. The run was hot, humid and painful. The pace at which we were running at was slightly faster then what I am used to and the weather, by golly... the darn bloody weather, was most definitely not what I was used to. We ran out from our camp, through the underpass into ECP and U-turned at the Chalets just after the Seafood Centre. Words fail, yet again, the agony I endured during that short yet painful run. On a lighter note however, I think the run went rather well and it was fun, in a sick, twisted sort of way. After the run, we proceeded with this "hot-cold" treatment. I do recall hearing about such a treatment before but I ain't sure just how effective it is in helping the body recover (faster). Moving on to the other updates, the trip plans are (I think...) coming along pretty fine. It is getting a bit frustrating sourcing out for cheaper deals when I last recalled that being PART of the contractual agreement (Or was it restricted only to the company matching the lowest rates in the market... whatever it is... its pissing the hell out of me...). Sometimes, I feel and this is just a personal opinion, even when one is paid to do the job, it pays off in the long term if the individual in question is more forthcoming in advice and takes some initiative in moving things along. Its almost 1.40 pm now, so I am going to get some rest before hitting the gym and kicking off the day. Till the next entry :)

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

In Camp Rantings

In all honesty, reservist isn't turning out as bad as I had anticipated it to be. The fact that I am able to sit down and pen out my thoughts before the work day really begins (@ about 2 - 3 pm) should give you a good idea just how well everything is turning out. Its amazing how time flies and just walking around the camp, which I once had a stint at approximately 2 - 2.5 years ago, certainly puts this "time-flying phenomenon" in perspective. Contrary to popular belief, I ain't working with the newly enlisted individuals here but those returning for ICT or RT, HENCE... I need to be nice. Besides, I haven't really done this before so its pretty interesting just tagging along and watching the others go about doing their stuff. The dude here are really nice and really hospitable, which again was something which had me pleasantly surprised. Most of them are around my age so its pretty fun just bumming around with them and doing... stuff...
I intended to head out for a morning swim today before cycling to camp but getting out of bed at 9.30 am certainly didn't help with the realization of my glorious plans. I did however, manage to finish another episode of Pushing Daisies before heading out. The ride was unbelievably short, with me cycling a grand total of... 5.3 km from my home to my camp. I was expecting at least 10 km. The rear derailleur is giving me a bit of problems and it doesn't seem to switch around smoothly. I really need to get that one sorted out before I proceed on anymore long rides with the Fondreist.
Anyway, if you really need to know, I am just sitting at the comp, in my lime green running attire waiting for the rest of the guys to come in. A number of them are already in camp but I don't have a clue as to where they are. So, I am going to sit here and continue hacking away at the comp. With any luck, this might just turn out to be my longest post ever... for this week or month at least.
The plans for the Europe trip are somewhat on track. I have now a basic itinerary done up and a simple costing list provided to me by the travel agency. I feel however that this agency should be slightly more forthcoming in their information and show a bit more enthusiasm in helping its customers plan the trip. Rephrase: in helping its customers source out the best deals for the trip. Anyway, my mum and I made a call this morning to the company and hopefully they'll start getting their act together.
Its now the 9th of June and the trip is approximately just 3 over weeks away. I hoping to slot in a "full dress rehearsal" sometime this week or the next. I don't feel comfortable flying off and participating i the longest race in my life without really getting to know the gear that I'll be racing with. This again, leads me to another checkpoint in my to-do list before the trip. I need to sort out: my wetsuit; how to pack the bike; my bike servicing... and a whole host of other stuff. Not to mention keeping focus and maintaining some form of consistency in my training, which I admit, I have been doing a terrible job of. On another note, my goals for this upcoming race aren't too lofty either. I think I might need a coach for the year-end training. For that race... I do have some ambitious goals which needs fulfilling. Sigh... alright most of the guys are coming in already. Till the next entry!

Monday, June 8, 2009

Mind Fucked

Of all the things to happen, this was the last thing I'd expect. To mind fuck myself into oblivion. I don't want to do the race in Switzerland anymore. That session with myself at the bus-stop... I am pretty much a goner... 

Sunday, June 7, 2009

Fizzling out.

I ran about 1.5 km to the pool... warmed up for about 400m proceeded with a 2 km fast swim... stretched... intended to continue for a 10 km paced run... but... I just shut down... after starting out for about 1.5 km... I just stoned at the bus stop... wondering what the heck I was doing as I stared up and down the lonely road. I was dizzy and kinda pissed about the whole situation. My body hasn't been feeling right these few days... and I just can't seem to eat anything. And I ramble a lot when I don't feel too right. 

I am going to head out for dinner but I am going to come back and finish that darn run before the night is over. 

Saturday, June 6, 2009

Saturday Evening

It was a rather relaxing day. No bikes, no runs, no swims... just pure chillaxing time with the family at home. I spent the bulk of the morning sorting out the itinerary with the travel agency and liaising with really helpful people who are going out of their way to help make my upcoming trip a success. Interestingly enough, its the very school which I am matriculated in that doesn't seem to be too forthcoming in their "support". Anyway, its their resources and their time and there's nothing I can do about it.

My hamstrings are killing me but I am hoping they'll pull through the night in time for a nice long morning run tomorrow. Again, just a plan but a good and healthy plan nonetheless. Nic and Jon have gotten their rooms in TH already and I am still left hanging as to whether I got in or not. I shan't comment too much since... I don't have any answer yet. 

The D-Day Celebrations and Commemorations telecasted life over CNN did leave me with many thoughts... on that war, that battle this very day 65 years ago, and the choices I am making in my life now... 65 years on. Coupled with the little chat I had with my mum earlier in the morning... There's a lot to do. 

Anyway, I am going to walk the dog, down some ice-cream (or a cup of coffee...) before hitting the sack. Till the next entry!

Friday, June 5, 2009

Brick Training.

It was a ride that was almost not to be. There were survivors but there were also those who succumbed to the warmth comfort of their sheets and the cool comfort of the early morning breeze. For those who did break through the first barrier and succeeded in planting their two feet firmly on the ground, the morning had only just begun. One can only take comfort in the fact that, they're up so darn early, there's no vehicle on the road yet to contend with; no blistering heat (cause its bloody 5 in the morning) and no worries about what is to come (because its still too darn early to think about anything...). Everything functions and moves like clockwork. Teeth brushed, check; shoes packed, check, bike done, check... and before its possible to realize anything... you're going down coastal at 35 locking in your first loop. 

The past few training sessions have started to take its toll on me. The long runs and bikes are starting to get to my body. The dull aches and creaky arms... at least something is being done. This morning, the plan was to log in a 140 km bike ride before heading for a 5 km run. However the treacherous traffic conditions along Loyang and Tampines Avenue 1 rendered it impossible to complete a loop around Selarang without getting killed... a teeny bit of exaggeration there but hey... its Singapore Roads that we're talking about :(. Eventually we settled for a 70 km fast ride and a 5 km hard run, just to get used to the transitionary "I-can't-run-cause-my-legs-are-screwed" syndrome. JJ was kind enough to help us along with the run, shouting out our pacings and distance left to finish. After the the short, quick yet deceivingly intense workout, we headed to Mac's for some SME before parting for home. I knocked out pretty soon after reaching home and only got up to pick up my sis from her tuition-ing stint in Commonwealth.  

The flu situation in London doesn't look too promising but we're hoping it'll clear in time to come. Other than that, I think we're about set to start packing and prepping for the trip of the year! Till the next entry!

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Wednesday, Friday... Thursday... Updates

Again, my arms are aching and my mind is numb. So this post shall be brief and straight to the point. In fact, I shall even post in point form. :)


  • Mambo was good. Company was good though I kinda sucked. More practice needed.
  • Training is coming along fine thus far. More, however needs to be done.
  • Europe trip plans are coming along fine. I think. Darn that hotel in Zurich. 
  • The closet drawer snapped. It needs fixing.
  • I need to service my bike. I need to settle my wetsuit. Soon.
  • I can't wait for transformers.
With that. Sleep tight and don't let the bed bugs bite. 

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Whose line is it...



This video serves as a reminder to those out there insist on criticizing civil servants and union members. They don't have it easy alright? They get long hours, bad days and get forced to attend these little "rock concerts" to get their moods up. What's worse is how they're forced to scream an encore at the end of take 1... Enjoy :)

PS: Did I mention about the raving reviews? haha go check out the comments on Youtube :)

Monday, June 1, 2009

Take that Desaru and Faber.

I am gg to own this hill... one day...

Tired

I need to sleep and I need to start having a plan that works. A schedule I can follow...