Good times, good times.

Haven't had the chance to write here in awhile, and while it's only been slightly over a month since my last post, so much has happened, and so much has changed. For starters, and also most importantly, I've finally managed to get my hands on that elusive Lumix GF1! It certainly took awhile, but the I think the wait was definitely well worth it. Not much to say about the zoom lens, but the pancake lens is simply phenomenal.

We also had a little gathering between the 4th to 6th December at Downtown East. A number of no-shows, but it was still as fun as it could be. Sure, I see some of the guys on almost a weekly basis, but having everyone under one roof or at the barbecue pit after so many years really brings back the memories. And while we have all moved on with our lives, some married, some out of design even, essentially we haven't changed one bit. Jokes of old and new, stories of times long forgotten - The memories all came back to bring us back in time. If I had a chance, I would relive all those times again and again, and would trade nothing for it. Life couldn't be any better than this, and I truly am thankful for the great people that I am surrounded by. Some keep me sane, some keep me on the right track in life, and some simply keep me going.

OK before I start going all emo and start tearing at the eyes, pics of the chalet! LOL.

One of the craziest minds I've ever come across.


Doing what we do best while waiting for the rest..


Zurina dropped by!


The couple


Sounds vs Hips


Mmmmm..


Everyone doing the hippy pose


Group photo, minus Zurina

Taste of Paint.

18th October 2009 - A big day for some of us. The 3rd leg of the Singapore Paintball Novice Series 2009 was held at West Coast Park that day, and our team, the Berserkers: Sons of Odin, was in full attendance to deal out the pain.

OK well we didn't exactly get a podium position or what, but it was a good experience. Having to gel our movements on the fly for the very first time as a whole team wasn't exactly an easy task. Took a few games to get everything down, and by the time we maintained consistency, it was already a little too late. I still think we did exceptionally well though, giving most of the top teams a difficult time, but never being able to finally win them. All in all, a good experience!

Another piece of good news as well. Come 1st November 2009, Singapore paintball will cease to have the centre line! Speedball will now be able to be enjoyed by the masses! Woohooo!!

Inglorious Basterds.

Finally caught Inglorious Basterds today, and damn must I say it was one hell of a good show! As usual, in good old Quentin Tarantino fashion, almost everybody dies in the end.. LOL. The best thing is that we watched it for free, cos we each had our own free GV movie passes! Good stuff.

Movie aside, my legs are absolutely trashed today. Ladies and their endless stamina for shopping. It was a good 2 hours of walking, and the best part is that it was all within PS! Talk about exploring every single store!


K and her chicken rice.


My turn..


Before the long ride home.


Heh how often do you find a Rolls Royce parked in a HDB carpark?

Grow Up.

Today, for the very first time in close to two and a half years, I headed back to the office on my off day to help out. Needless to say, everyone was stunned to see my name on the board, listed under the category of "OT". LOL. The extra money has never enticed me, and unless they decide to give me triple of my pay for coming back, I don't think it ever will. I went back today simply because I knew that for the boss to come calling me in the morning for help, it had to be really bad, for they would usually not even think about trying to recall the officer named Stanley. Anyway, it was a quick four hours before I was done, and it all seemed to pass in a relatively short span of time.

Dinner with Elise was the programme for the night, as she was just about finishing up some stuff in her new role as Projects Officer for the upcoming launch of our oh-so-godly system. Elise never fails to cheer me up with all her rubbish. For a small little entity, she sure makes a hell lot of noise.. Always hyped up, always with an opinion, always there. The little one can get a little lost though. Had to "Morpheus" her to Clarke Quay from Funan as she was clueless about the way. LOL.

It was supposed to be Ramen for dinner, but after looking at the menu, we realised we might as well be better off eating Ramen at any normal coffeeshop, which led us to Kyomomoyama on the same floor, and that proved a very neat choice! Serving sizes were huge, a little too huge, and the food was good too! My soda tasted a little more like just syrup with ice though. Gosh instant sugar rush.


Michelle/Elise. Whatever you might want to call her, her constant chirping never fails to brighten up your day!


A bit of an overload, perhaps?


By the river.

As we were sitting on the river bank just chatting about random office stuff, she mentioned that I should apply for that position. Not my kind of stuff I must say. There have been a number of people recently who have been taking up more important and noble roles, and I feel that these people are good choices and have what it takes to lead. I know that I myself would have no problems working with or leading a bunch of people, but purposely doing shit to get noticed just isn't my way of earning it. I'd rather let my own actions speak for themselves, because more often than not when you try too hard, you just end up falling flat on your face.

Which brings us to something else. Leadership. You either are cut out for it, or you're not. If you're not made for it, there are certain things you can do to build yourself up, or at least to mask your incompetency. No matter how much you try though, if you do not grow up, if you do not start behaving like an adult, much less a leader, if you do not stop being childish, if you do not stop bawling over shit that people can't be bothered about, if you do not start dressing right, NO ONE is going to take you seriously, and no one is going to give a flying fuck about you. That might very much explain all those failed attempts recently aye? Like I said, if you address these problems, you might stand a chance against someone who was born to lead. The sad truth is that usually those that are capable do not feel a need to prove themselves to anyone, hence they take the back seat and let those that have something to prove make a mockery of themselves. I know where I stand, and I know what I'm capable of, and I don't need to prove it. It is, however, getting increasingly difficult to tolerate the shortcomings of those that are trying a little too hard.

Sweet Dreams Are Made Of This.

Last night I dreamt once more of something that I cannot bring myself to remember. All I recall is that you were there, and we were walking. Just that alone is enough to make it something special.

Arrivals

I don't know if it's a good or bad thing, but it has been a really long while since I even said anything. To someone at least. In fact I haven't uttered a word since I received that really cold message on my phone, to which I could only respond "OK". There are certain ways to go about doing things, and some things, you just can't resort to that god damned SMS. Cos that's just taking an easy way out, and it leaves your friends wondering what they even mean to you.

Now that I seemingly am not going to Sydney anymore, I've suddenly found myself with a whole lot of extra time during the end of the month, with nothing to do. Planning anything with anyone else is gonna be tough too, cos my initial travel dates were all spanning only weekdays. Urgh.

Well enough mucking around. At least I know where my priorities lie now, and one of them just happened to arrive at the store! Say hello to my little friend.


A Jackson Case!


Jackson RR5FR in metallic pink with silver bevels!


Mmmm.

Well anyway, that wasn't the only thing that arrived. Just the other day the postman came by my place with 3 huge boxes. I was real excited of course, as I was expecting the team's paintball gear from the US. Haz was excited enough to come over and catch the unboxing process as well.


3 huge boxes!


The Berserkers: Sons of Odin are in business!


New Empire 2009 E-Vents!

Still Loving You.

Scorpions - Still Loving You

Time, it needs time
To win back your love again.
I will be there, I will be there.

Love, only love
Can bring back your love someday.
I will be there, I will be there.

Fight, babe, I'll fight
To win back your love again.
I will be there, I will be there.

Love, only love
Can break down the walls some day.
I will be there, I will be there.

If we'd go again
All the way from the start,
I would try to change
The things that killed our love.

Your pride has build a wall, so strong
That I can't get through.
Is there really no chance
To start once again?
I'm loving you.

Try, baby try
To trust in my love again.
I will be there, I will be there.

Love, your love
Just shouldn't be thrown away.
I will be there, I will be there.

If we'd go again
All the way from the start,
I would try to change
The things that killed our love.

Your pride has build a wall, so strong
That I can't get through.
Is there really no chance
To start once again?

If we'd go again
All the way from the start,
I would try to change
The things that killed our love.

Yes I've hurt your pride, and I know
What you've been through.
You should give me a chance
This can't be the end.

I'm still loving you.
I'm still loving you,
I need your love.
I'm still loving you.

Powerless.

There is no worse feeling in the world than when you're dealt a situation, and you're totally powerless against it. In fact, it isn't really a situation at all, it's more of an answer, where everything's final and no matter how much you try, there simply isn't anything that can be done.

People sometimes ask me what the colour of the sky in my world is. It's a little difficult to answer now, considering it's in pieces all around me.

The God Damned Flu.

Seems like the flu has been catching up with some of us lately. I myself am down with it, and nearly called in sick yesterday morning thanks to the god damned flu. Slowly but surely, the rest of the office is catching it too, and it won't be long before we start seeing multiple MCs listed on the board...

The other day R was saying that she was falling sick as well, and yesterday, she decided to drop me a call, but I could hardly hear a thing. I already knew she had a sore throat, but I had no idea it was that bad. Hearing her cracking voice on the phone, it just didn't seem right to keep her on the line so long, as much as I wanted to talk. I just wished I could have done something, but yeah there's nothing much one can do when you're half an island away, at work, and fighting the flu I guess.

On a brighter note, looks like that trip to Australia during the end of September is going to happen after all! Sydney's like totally new to me, and I'm really looking forward to it! But of course, people who know me better, know that it's not really the location that's gotten me all excited!

Hell Yeah

Sydney here I come!!

Action-packed Holidays!

And so, today marks the final day of my 2 weeks of vacation leave from the office. It definitely feels like a bitch to have to drag myself to work again, after such a long break. While I may not have moved around much during the break, at least I managed to catch up with friends that I've been meaning to see for some time, and also got round to doing some of the things that I've been meaning to do. The last 4 days have really been the main highlight though - 4 days worth of non-stop indulgence, headbanging, and paintball!

The Shift Team had lunch at Mandarin Oriental's Melt Cafe on the 21st of August, along with the Unit Managers. The lunchtime buffet spread wasn't exactly the most spectacular of buffets, but it was time well spent with friends and some good desserts. It had been some time since I last saw them, as I had been away from the office for so long. After the lunch was a little speech by some of the bosses, some prize giveaways, and also a bowling session at Marina Square. After everyone had either left for work or gone off to their own programmes, Me, Tony and Elise headed off to Mezza9 at the Hyatt for some cakes and martinis. Elise refused to admit that the strawberry shortcakes there were better than Bakerzin's though! LOL


Tiffany was real drained from night shift, but she managed to pull this pose off anyway.. LOL


Pretty Moon with her little concoction of ice cream and strawberries


Almost the entire team, all smiles!


John, Tiffany, Michelle, Sylvia, Angela and Hwee Boon


The little girl I always tease about her height.. LOL



The same night that I got home, I managed to catch R online and we were talking about how we had not met for some time, so we made some flash arrangements the next day to meet for a movie and a little shopping. She had to go shopping for a present for a 2 year old boy's birthday party that she would be attending in the evening. And so, we caught the insanely silly Bruno, which kind of left some scars in my eyes I think... Never have I seen male genitals being flashed right in my eyes before on the big screen.. ROFL. After that was shopping at Takashimaya, where we settled for a Mega Bloks toy for the little kid, after aimlessly walking the floor countless times..


Taking some time off the kid's shopping to get herself some hair clips


Shopping for kids' toys too much can sometimes bring out the kid in you!


Some of the things that we considered getting..


Done with the kid's shopping, we decided to pick up a sunflower for Penny!

So yeah, it was a movie and some shopping, and I made my way to Wala Wala early for what was to be one of the most epic, insane, headbanging Wala Saturdays ever. Penny was going to celebrate her birthday there that night, so the turn out was going to be bigger than usual, and big it was! Somehow, there were lots of big groups there that night also, and this usually always meant more energy, and more headbanging!


Penny with R, with the sunflower she bought.


R & J.. LOL


"Some of those that work forces, are the same that burn crosses.."


The usual suspects, always with something to say, always with a head to bang.


Dancing in the moonlight, R calls it. LOL.


The Wala gang!

And so after a long and crazy night of headbanging, I dragged myself home to prepare for my next day's programme, paintball! Met up with Robert for some skirmishes with the guys from Ares, and did some snapshooting drills with Robert after that, where I promptly had my ass handed to me on a silver platter. LOL gotta start working on those snapshooting drills.. Gregory from Ares was cool enough to bring his DSLR, which he caught some awesome shots with!


Whooo love this shot!


After a few rounds, I have paint on my mask. LOL


thePwnagerator.

And finally, we come back to today.. Apparently R & J didn't get enough the previous time, and so arranged to meet for a nice quiet lunch at Ichiban Boshi at Suntec City. Now this was where I really screwed up.. LOL Elise had initially made arrangements for a buffet at Ritz Carlton and had reminded everyone about a week before, but stupid me totally forgot about it and went for lunch with R instead. I decided to check with Roy if he would be in the office later on, only to find out that they were at the Greenhouse at Ritz Carlton having their lunch. Major bummer.. But I did go down after lunch anyway to have a short chat with them and also see my former supervisor! The day before, R was kicking up a racket about how nice the sunflower that she had bought for Penny was, and even had thoughts about keeping it herself.. LOL so Mr Ninja decided to get one for her, but had to travel to all 3 florists in the area just to get it.. Haha was well worth it though!


R, always happy to see Sunny.


Little Sunny, always a pleasure to look at.


It may look like all the food is on my side of the table, but it's not! We were sharing this! And Ichiban Boshi has the best Cha Soba ever!


A photo with Sunny to wrap our little meeting up.. =)


My former supervisor, Pearl!

All in all, I think that although it was shortlived, these 2 weeks have been really fulfilling and have really allowed me to catch up with my life, and the people around me. It has thrown me a little deeper into some other thoughts though, and sometimes you just wonder whether those thoughts are worth thinking about, and whether some things are worth going through all over again. But that's for some other day to think about! TONIGHT WE DINE IN HELL!! yah right.

C Day. =D

I tend not to get too excited about anything most of the time, in fact more often than not, if there is anything particularly interesting happening, the expressions on my face might make it seem like I was either indifferent or dreading it. Yesterday was different though.

Started off with an early morning paintball session at Red Dynasty. Met Haz there cos he was meeting Ian to collect a Dye Jersey, which didn't look that bad. Spent the rest of the day sliding around the field with Robert, and practising some really hardcore snapshooting, which left me with a number of bruises on my arms. Well at least they were on the arms and not anywhere else, cos that means you're not playing tight enough. I did suffer a shot to the knuckle though, and that one hurt like a bitch. The shot promptly tore the skin in the area, and all I saw was a mix of orange paint and red blood. After washing that down and taking a break, I took another hit to that same spot AGAIN. The one day that I decide not to wear my gloves, I get hit in the knuckles. What irony.

Anyway, that wasn't what made my day.. Met C later on in the day to catch Public Enemies, and the very fact that I got to see C was already enough to excite me. She was a little late so I was walking around the place a little, and when she finally came along and I turned to look at her, everything was like in slow mo. Everytime I see her it's like she looks better and better. LOL. Had a nice little coffee session at TCC, quiet place to catch up over some good drinks and finger food. The Russian Earl Grey she was having just wasn't my kind of thing though.

The movie was up next, but I think I may have set my expectations a little too high for the film. I don't know why, but anytime I see a flick about gangsters during the 1930s era with their fedora hats and overcoats, I automatically have the same expectations I would have after watching stuff like The Godfather. While it was still a good show, it felt a little rushed in some parts.

After the movie was a nice dinner at Sushi Tei, where they called for the last orders a little too early. I can see why most people say the Paragon one is one of the best Sushi Teis, but that's if you're speaking solely on the whole atmosphere and ambience of the place. The staff weren't exactly the most helpful people around, neither were they that much friendlier. LOL. C was nice enough to peel my prawn cos I was having a little trouble with it. I have never had problems peeling prawns before, but this was one tough nut (or shell) to crack. Haagen Dazs wrapped up our dessert, and it wasn't long before we called it a day.


@ Sushi Tei, browsing the menus.. Mmmm prawnnnssss....


I was having trouble peeling the prawn.. So I enlisted some help.. LOL


Gasp. Stunning.


Our little indulgence to wrap up the sumptuous dinner.


I demonstrate my abilities to make my index finger disappear into the light. LOL. And you can see the damage at the knuckle area from my 2 consecutive paintball hits..

All in all, an afternoon and evening well spent, with someone special!