Limping Marathon Runner

I received a mysterious call. It was Sam, my long time pal which I've known him since Primary 1 schooling days. We exchanged greetings like idiot, silly a******!! That's our way of showering brotherly love. We updated each other on what is new for us. I promised to visit him in Sydney, since he is in Australia now. We chatted for half and hour. More abusive languages and season greetings carried on.

How was 2004 for everyone? Have you achieve what you've set out to do in the first place? Or do you regret for under achieving? I hope everyone will have a smooth sailing Year 2005 ahead.

It has been a ride of rollercoaster for me in Year 2004. I changed my job, after going through thick and thin with my previous company for 7 years. Loyalty doesn't seem to be the most happening thing on earth now. I felt that I've had enough and I left. I'm still adjusting my life in a totally new environment. Things work differently, and so does people.

I learned how to play tennis, which is a good thing because I can't do without sports. I was able to participate in various competitve runs too. I'm looking forward for more activities in Year 2005.

Coming out of a shadow of failed relationship and mis-used trust that seems to be a permanent cast on me, I moved on. I decided to have another go a relationship. It didn't work out. *Previous postings in archive tells it all.* Yet again, I learned more on human psychology, body language and choice of words.

I learn more and more things about myself in a path of self-discovery. I look forward to Year 2005 with more goals that I want to achieve. Have you set your goals yet?

After so long, I still behave like 5 years back, where I had to perform a forced shutdown on my senses. It isn't the most appropriate thing to do. But, it has already been pre-programmed into my CPU. Its not too difficult to know that I can never be a sales person. A new year's resolution:
1) Change for the better. Remove "look-away program". Insert "smile even when you are pissed program".

I'll just have to learn again, like a Nokia mobile "insert text" in dictionary function.

Dear runners. ... . have patience... I'm currently trying to migrate my old website, "The Sotong Club" a.k.a "The Squid Club" and try to compliment my current "Limping Marathon Runner".

Last night, I was having a game of badminton with Jason and friends. I don't understand why. But, somehow, the shuttlecock just seems to find its spot on Doreen face. Poor gal. The heat seeking shuttlecock just locks onto her head like an air-to-air missile, landing with a whack! Not some pretty sensation, I'd say. Nevertheless, it's still better than getting hit by a baseline tennis ball, right in the face. After the game, we had some drinks at a nearby cafe before heading home.

Today, still following up on what is going on with regards to the Asian Tsunami incident, I can only hope for the best for those in the affected regions. I did some donations for foodstuff and medical supplies and I hope it can help someone there.

Last night, I was too god damn tired to blog. But, I saw the tsunami taking place around most places of Asia on TV news. It was too devastating to see. Familiar places like PhiPhi that I have been to, was partially reduced to ground zero. I suppose those beach houses by the cliffs... they would have been gone, by now. I was even thinking of going to Krabi and PhiPhi island again in year 2005. Another place I wanted to visit would be Maldives. It should be hit pretty badly over there too. With all these unfortunate things happening around us, no one can understand why humans cannot co-exist together without picking a fight. No more fighting and war, please. Treasure those around you.

But, what came next on TV was rather heart warming too. It was a documentary about a kid who has a tumor weighing down on her optical nerves causing her to have blur vision at first. Gradually, she has partial blindness and she has to go for an operation before she is blind totally. Swallowing 40 over kinds of pills a day is not a joke. I'm amazed at what mental strength this 9 year old kid has. She has triggered me to think even more. Again. Treasure those around you.

Another year is around the corner. Have you done what you have set out to do last year? What goals have you not achieve? In a few days time, we all have to recap what have taken place for the whole of this year and what is our resolution for year 2005. Love those around.

Conan called me a while ago, asking me out for coffee. I guess he must be feeling down.....

What a night! Yesterday was Christmas Day. I had quite a day of events going on, meeting different groups of people.
Early in the morning, I had breakfast with Donkey since she just came back from Korea. She shared what she had seen and experienced over there. Reminding me what big asses Polar bears have. "They have a really really big ass!!!! You know?" Yes.... .. I know what a Polar Bear is. After breakfast, I gave Donkey her X'mas gift and we went to look for some bags. She needed a new laptop bag. As for me, I needed to replace my old Converse bag. You guys should see the bag.. . . it should not be holding together any longer than 4 months..... The straps are really .. . .. . I should not be too descriptive because it was a gift to me on my Birthday 2 years ago. But, its cutting my shoulders like scimitars. So, we couldn't find any good ones around the area, Donkey left for home. I really have lots of time till my next appointment, I went to my fav bookstore to read magazines... to catch up on some articles. I bought DaVinci Code too.

Time Check. 1.30pm. I should be meeting Jaws for B.T.'s house warming. It's quite a cosy little lovenest. But, personally I do not like the location or I should say the people hanging around the location. I never liked that neighbourhood due to specific reasons. I met Chris, a Yoga Instructor. Mmmm .. . Yoga. Nothing bad about this yoga stuff, really. I guess here, our locals' interest in certain things are as short as a 100mA fuse .. .. "Poof" .. You're gone. No, I'm not talking about the instructor. Its the general public. We have bubble tea, wake boarding, yoga, pilates, clubbing, and more. People should know what they want and not follow 3 little blind lab mice.

Jaws and I left the party at around 4pm and looked for our objective of the day. Since Jaws is into Salt-water aquarium, we went to shop around. Seriously, as a diver, I do not support sale of sea living creatures in any way. They belong to the open water. Not in your 4, 5 room, condo, semi-D's living room, sea anemones and fishes all cramped in a 2 feet tank. So what if you have a 10 or 20 feet tank, free for clownfishes to roam? I stress... they belong to the wild. Of course, my friend Jaws has a huge tank at home. But, still, no support here.

At 5pm, I was first to arrive at Alex's place for a mini-Sec School gathering. More of a discussion and DVD watching of video and photo shots taken on his wedding. I did part of the editing, along with Ngiam. I was early since we only agreed to meet at 7pm. When the crowd actually arrive, we had some food and watched the DVD. Wilson did his wonders by turning the whole party upside down with his "Eddie Murphy" laughters. Right after the movie, Ah.. .. EPL... I'm not really into soccer, but the rest of the guys are!! Tons of swearing and cursing from them:
NBCB - Ever so popular Hokkien little magic word
PDC - Not PrimaryDomainController, but Torn Underwear in Hokkien flavor
D or T - works either way, Cantonese version of the F word
No, it wasn't a real EPL. We made our own clash of Liverpool vs Man U. on XBox. Poor thing.... . I was referring to the wives of these hot blooded males, wildly tapping buttons away on XBox gamepads. These wives are just sitting there and chatting by themselves. Not exactly a soccer fan myself (though I'm a sports fan, I watch almost any sport), I usually chat with them. Oh. .. Wilson and Karen brought their little sweetheart (their daughter), and needless to say, all attention was on her while she was opening up her X'mas present. Well, this couple ended the night early because our little sweetheart is getting Z monster's sleepy eyes. For the rest of us, we did a "Royal Rumble" and a "Chicago vs 90's All Stars" match before we called it a night. We did a pretty quick sum up on our BBQ plans for 1st Jan 2005. Operation "EPL Vulgarities" ended at 2330hrs last night. .. We had our fair share of cursing at a 29" TV. Hence, Operation "EPL Vulgarities" was successful, if you ask me.

Celebrating the Christmas festive season at work, we only have to work half a day for today. People are doing gift exchange .. .. Surprising, I received a gift from AGB. End of the year. End of Year 2004 is here soon, which is just a week away. Usually, at this time of the year, I guess no one has any mood to work (holiday mood). So, just after 1pm, I met up with Beng and Kitty for lunch and immediately after that, I head straight for home. I was dead tired. Probably because I am still recovering from all the cough and flu that has been bugging me for days.

Games Games Games. I surfed Internet for a while, playing some games. It'll be a joke to tell people that I spent Christmas eve alone, playing computer games at home. Well, that's me. I never like to take other people's precious time, especially for times like this where they spend it with their love ones. My most sincere wishes to everyone out there! A Berry Merry X'mas. .. . . . Just an hour away.. Ho Ho Ho

I can't wait to meet my Sec School friends tomorrow night.

while date=23dec2004
{ *sniff*;
*snort* - running nose fluid back up;
*sneeze*;
*snort* - running nose fluid back up;
*sneeze*;
*sniff*;
}

I've been pre-programmed with this code during the entire day. Yes, I still have running nose. No, I did not try to inhale the fluid back into my nose. I used tissues. Eh.... well. .. . I probably just did the "Gravity defying act" for fluid dripping from my nose a couple of times. Ok. . . .. less than 20 times.

As scheduled today, a bunch of male colleagues are getting ready to speed of right after work for some munchies. Right after that would be a bowling session (something that I have not done, in ages). To make matter worse.. .. . Roland is also sick (going home), Willy needs beauty sleep (going home), MPEG needs godknowswat (definitely going home). So, who's left? The 3 musketeers ( alternatively you can call us the 3 stooges, because we are such clowns of the year) - Commando, HaHaHalim and Muggs (That's Me). We dropped the idea of bowling due to poor attendance and did some shopping instead. Shopping was Commando's idea. He got a pink Tshirt (how "colorful" can you get?) and a short sleeve shirt. Hahahalim purchased a long sleeve shirt. Me? Window shopping. Girls on a shopping trip? I've heard too many stories. 3 guys shopping together? First time. We took dinner and chatted. Jokes and some serious stuff. We had a great time.

Tomorrow is X'mas Eve. Half day for me. I'll be meeting Kitty and Beng for lunch. Following that, I'm meeting SpaceCadet for shopping a last minute X'mas gift (how thoughtful .. . last min). Let's see what I will be doing for X'mas count down.. .. . probably listening to some X'mas songs, let my imagination run wild on some fireplace with burning logs. I like Vonda Shepard. I still like her songs and those in Ally McBeal.

Today's my off day since I had to work on last Sunday. Guess what. I still get calls from my workplace...... I.T. = No Life. Okay. Anyway, I'll be going over to look at some backpacks and catch a movie with Conan at around 9.30pm. Since he has free tickets to watch Ocean 12, why not? BTW, I think he wants to have a look and feel session with my Railmaster. Although he has been talking about upgrading his Tag Heuer, he claims that he'll still give his Tag another couple of years before he "write off" the watch.

This morning, I had to work for the last saturday for Year 2004, because starting from next year, we will be having a 5-day work week for our company. It was pouring when I was on my way to Coco's place to see his baby little girl, Calista. I met up with Leslie and Christine at the subway before heading over. Coco's little girl is really cute. Well, this word cute only applies if the baby:
1) hasn't pee-ed in pants (pooped....is even worse),
2) isn't bringing down the whole estate with his/her cry,
3) the baby isn't yours.

Of course, at times, even if your kid can cry like a fire trunk siren or poop like Dumbo, you'll still love him/her simply because you are his/her parent.

I watched National Treasure at around 6.40pm and I didn't really liked the show. The only part about this whole movie that I loved were the riddles. Shucks..... I still need to work tomorrow, Sunday, due to a power migration at my workplace.

I saw a Fossil watch today. Most of the watches are more suitable for teenagers on the "trendy and wild" side. I was looking for something more.... .. . smart, dress looking. I found one. It has a silver colored, rectangular faced watch with a black strap. I like it a lot. Looks like this will take over the place of my Omega Railmaster before it arrives. :)