Is everyone here make believe?

Maybe, I've been able to take care of everyone else so well that they forgot that I too need to be cared for. Perhaps I've been so reliable, so dependable that it scares the shit out of people whenever I seem helpless. Perhaps, I am seen to be able to take care of myself so well, that it is highly expected of me to do so to the point that any deviance from that, results in some catastrophe of epic proportions.

Fuck me.

To trust you must confess

All attempts to falling asleep has so far failed. Even going out for a couple of puffs hasn't quite helped in settling the nerves. I guess, as of late, I have been rather jittery. A lot has been going through my mind and hence, sleep hasn't come easily for me. Even if I do eventually find it, I'll end up waking up every now and then. Random thoughts sears through my mind each time I try to lay in slumber. Being who I am, and being trained to be what I was supposed to be, scenarios play through my head- possibilities are just endless. Such is the curse of a highly imaginative mind.

The thing about me is that trust does not come easily for me. I am not sure why; in fact, nobody is. Discussions with experts of the mind has yet to yield any conclusions. In fact, I have always found it to be a struggle to just trust what one tells me- that all changed until I met chubs. But that has changed much as doubts begin to fill me head- its worst once it fills one's heart. But faith has done its part in disproving a lot of the doubts that fills me.

As of now, work has kept me occupied. Thankfully, my job demands that I am to be present else Murphy's Law might just ruin my career. Career- never had I once thought that I would be in this line but I am. At least I now have something to work with. With any luck and the grace of the Almighty this might prove to be a fruitful aspect of my life. Though it is not what I had dreamt about doing when I was a kid, it is close enough. It's similarity, for a lack of a better word, is so close that the only difference as of now is the clothing that I am in at work.

I guess at some juncture in life, people get scared. It's a matter of how you deal with that fear. This is even more so when one stumbles onto perfection- you'd be especially scared that you might just one day lose that for good. That said, taking extra precautions just to hold on to is not always justifiable. Often, we do too much of it and end up hurting others. That perfection could be easily tarnished and possibly mutate into a horrible nightmare.

Slowly, I am grasping at the fact that I am no longer a student. Slowly, I am accepting the fate that I am now an adult. As we grow older, we tend to get more and more clueless as to what we are doing or how we are supposed to be doing things. That's when routine comes into play. But routine being routine tends to dull the best of people. Hence, the need to strike a balance comes into play. That's when everything gets frustrating- you're often going in blind when trying to find that balance. Too much and one becomes obsolete; too little and one ceases to become an anchor.

As of now, I am adhering to the old adage thought to me by some war veterans that I have had the pleasure of having chanced upon- slow is smooth; smooth is fast.

So maybe tomorrow you'll find your way home

Lately, I have been becoming more and more impossible. If there's one thing I could attribute it to it would be the changes that's happening to me and to all those around me. These past couple of months have seen very drastic changes- death in the family has only made it especially apparent. The loss is especially apparent whenever I look at my dad. He is taking it really hard. 

All around us, everything is changing. As for me, I'll be starting my new job tomorrow. Chubs can vouch for me when I say that I am actually excited. Yet, amidst these changes, I fear that things might not actually be turning out for the better. Perhaps that is me saying so because I am slowly being forced out from my comfort zone. Everyone eventually moves out from their comfort zone- how fast that happens for them differs. As for me, I am thankful that God has allowed this transition to be a slow and gradual one. 

The only easy day was yesterday. This is the motto that has been reinforced during BUDs training. First time I heard it was from my JC rugby teacher. It was reiterated during my days in the army. I have held on to that saying strongly as I move on to things, relishing every moment of it because I know that no matter how tough things can get, not matter how uncomfortable the situation might be, there is an ending. Whether it is in sight or out of it is a different story altogether. 

Nevertheless, changes has turned me into an angry person. I am the sort of person who asks "why?!". Specifically, I am the sort of person who asks "why the fuck?!". I am in strong need of a trigger to diminish that anger. That trigger came in time for me just now as I wandered aimlessly before breaking my fast and after breaking. You see, I am someone who needs some sort of a pattern to get on with life. Even in chaos there is pattern. That said, I do make do even if there are patterns. As long as there is some sort of a routine to get me by. Even if I go on to a certain situation that breaths uncertainty or even hectic chaos, I need to know if there is something for me to fall back on. The lack of this causes restlessness from within and this restlessness eventually affects everyone in a very very bad way. 

But that trigger came not a moment too soon as I stepped into the McDonalds near my house as they started playing Have a Nice Day by the Stereophonics. Almost immediately I feel an incredible amount of peace and calm that bubbled up from within. You see, songs have a great impact on me- I relate songs to certain moments of my life. Androgyny by Garbage brings me that certain amount of calmness whenever I am at range. I remember singing that song in my head despite the incredulous amount of gun fire going around me- that lead me to getting marksmen. There are certain other songs that have been designated as triggers for me that have a certain effect on me. As for now, I am a tad too lazy to list them all down. In fact, I can't really remember them all right now. Perhaps you could do an experiment on me and see which song suddenly brings about a smile on my face- a smile which spells, without any typos, calmness and serenity from within. 

I am like that- weird. We all live by triggers. It actually takes a huge amount of effort to trigger of my rage but when it is triggered off, its really a huge amount of rage that needs to be under controlled. So far, Chubs has been dealing with it extremely well but I fear that she is getting tired of dealing with it. So yes, I do have to keep it under check from time to time. Perhaps its because I care, too much sometimes, that such things happen to me. It's ironic however that you get angry because you care. 

Out of all these mumbo jumbo, perhaps there is one conclusion to it all- I am actually The Incredible Hulk. Right now, however, I just feel like more of The Incredible Bulk.

State of Repression

How happy is the blameless vestal's lot! The world forgetting, by the world forgot.
Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind! Each pray'r accepted, and each wish resign'd

As with every traumatic experiences, my coping mechanism has always been the same- repress! But apparently, that has done more harm than good especially to those around me. Those who has attempted to is still attempting to get close to me has found it more and more uncomfortable it is the closer they get.

Truthfully, nobody is who they seem they are. What they do, what they say and what they say they do are totally different things. And with everything, there are always 2 reasons to do it- a good one and the real one.

With each death, I see my dad wither away gradually. Over the span of 2 decades, he has lost his dad 19 years ago, his nephew, about 10 years ago and his mom a couple of years after. Yesterday, he lost his younger sister. Knowing him, he is not someone who would reveal how he really feels. What is noticable though is the state of limbo he is in. I've noticed it before- the one where he tells people that he's alright and behave as though he is alright but deep inside, he, and we-his family, knows that he really isn't okay. One day, I'll be just like him- or perhaps I already am.

I remember growing up thinking I don't want to be like him at all. But slowly, and surely, I am growing up to be my father's son. I've grown to see that he cares dearly for the people around him. If it's one thing I've learn from him is the most important lesson- "Better me than them". This sacrificial trait of his has been ingrained deeply into me. I don't know if I have inherited it through nature or nurture. Then again, whether I have indeed inherited this trait of his is up for others to decide.

But yes, it is very obvious of him to have done so through the many overtimes he took on just so that we got more money. Through the setting up of a branch of a weekend religious school so that kids in the neighborhood can gain knowledge at a more convenient place. He knows everyone and everyone knows him. He even struck up a conversation with one of the caretakers at the cemetery yesterday- apparently they know each other. So yes, my mom has commented it before (in jest of course)- he knows way too many people. But I guess that's just how he is. That trait does not exist in my elder brother. I think it exists in me. It definitely exists in my younger brother although his circle is still expanding.

So yes, it has begun. Im at the stage of my life where my peers are getting married and my parents and their peers are withering away. That point of life where we replace our parents has begun. I hate this. It's ironic how we are always looking forward to something without realizing that death too is in the future. Why can't we just look forward to today, to right now- the present. There is no death in the present. There is only the living and those who has passed on. In the future, death awaits.

Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps...

Perhaps, I've been living the wrong life all this while. Or maybe there is something more to the last 4 years of my life than it being just a phase.

Take me on I'm in the mood for something dangerous

It's been really quite awhile since I've written anything here. It's not that there's nothing to write about- there's plenty! Perhaps its because each time I think of something to write, I am in no capacity to do so; not that I am drunk or anything. Even my grandma has commented on how "busy" I am- always rushing from one place to another and from one thing to another. I guess it's kind of hard to find me sitting still but when I do, I'd have to get off my ass and get on with something because somebody else wants to do something. So chilling and having nothing to do is really a luxury which I would like to spend with another soul. Unfortunately, that is too boring as many would have done that alread by the time I am free. 
 
A visit to Bandung has resulted in positive time to spend with my parents. Just the three of us (albeit in a tour group) and me having an entire room with a king-sized bed all to myself. I could literally sleep in any way I like and dress in any way I like. Most of the time, I wasn't even wearing anything. That felt sort of liberating really. That aside (seriously, stop thinking about how I look like inside my room!) I was presented with such clarity. That was all sorts of realizations came about- my age, my parents' age, my life and where it was heading, how my parents' life has been like. Time and again, I do think about such things. In fact, there are times I that "sneak out" in the middle of the night to my old neighborhood (it's a 10 minutes drive/ride away) to just sit there and think about things. At this point, some of you might find me a bit weird to do such things but yes, I do do such things to wind down without having to worry about encroaching on other people's life/time. 
 
This is very typical of me to stray off from what I was writing about. Back to the story. So...during an escalator ride in one of the factory outlets, I caught myself staring at my dad. In my mind, I thought about how old this man has gotten. I used to look up to him but havent ever since Sec 2- but that was because I outgrew him in terms of height. Lately, I feel as though I am more of an equal than his child. Instead of believing everything he tells me like I used to, I challenge him. And I am talking about the plethora of topics we both have. That does not usually happen at home because more often than not, my elder brother will just insert some idiotic comment which inevitably incur my wrath. 


Same thing happened with my mom. This was the woman who gave birth to me; who fed me (very little and thats how I became an underweight kid from an interesting huge and heavy baby). I used to do everything this woman tells me. In my mind, she knew everything. But overseas trip has shown that she does not know how to bargain. Each time she gets ripped off, her only excuse was that she pitied the person. My only response to her was that I'd rather she pity herself as she was getting ripped off. 


Things became clearer when my parents behaved really child-like during a cultural performance- in a good way that they immensely enjoyed themselves. First, my mom kept irritating this performer who happened to be a fat girl with a really loud voice. Eventually, my dad joined in the fun and kept shouting "mok!" every time she came on stage. And then, it was a mass angklung performance where my mom and my dad participated enthusiastically! To think that I thought they were this stern parents when I was growing up. 


We all grew up thinking that our parents are boring and they will never be as cool as us. Somewhere, I've read that the only reason they became boring was because they had to work to take care of us, to pay the bills, to keep that shelter above our heads and to make sure that we have enough to eat all the time. One should never think of how uncool or boring their parents are. Their sacrifices for us have been immense! In fact, each time I think of a way to repay them for what they have done for me and my brothers, I feel overwhelmed. Guess I shall take it in my own stride. 


I do hope that I am not too late in taking the opportunity to savor every moment that I get with them before God decides that he loves them more than I do and decide to them them away. We all went through that stage in life where we always hated our parents at some sort of an extent. That stage was known as our teenage years. I know of friends who have missed their chance to be able to savor what I do. 


At the age of 25, I still do not know what I'll do without my parents. It's really a mix of emotions that I get. As we get older, we make drastic attempts to turn back time- to be young again. I do not know why I was so eager to grow up only to find myself trying to be a kid again when I do. It's a contradiction. I wish somebody would have told me that there's no rush in growing old. 


So I have graduated. After about 15 years of education, I am finally not able to use the excuse of "school" as a way to escape the presence of my parents as well as my siblings. I guess that's how life is like- the older we are, the faster time goes by. 


But amidst it all, I am eternally grateful to have found someone would seems to have connected my past, present and future together into a singularity. Each moment spent with chubs is a great one. Well, I dont know why I said that because it's too damn cheesy. Perhaps because when you've finally found someone that is able to do that for you, the connection bit, well, I suppose you are set! The arguments and the quarreling especially from the petty stuff just blurs out into the background when you look at the bigger picture of things.


I can imagine how it must have felt for my parents more than 28 years ago before they got married. I am now, in their shoes.


While we are growing up, our parents are growing old.


I realize some of my thoughts are not well represented. Somehow, they all seemed better in my head.

It's been one week

Each time the inspiration to write something comes about, it withers off just before I reach any terminal to pen my thoughts down.

Hopefully I'll find my muse again soon.

We are the spark, that once would ignite a pilot light, burning deep in your heart

The few that remains by Set Your Goals has been ruling my playlist as of it. I'm not too sure what's gotten me to listen to this song over and over again but it doesn't ring some truth in my life- proving others wrong when they think that I can't.

Lately, I've been watching a lot of war documentaries. Wars and conflicts has always fascinated me in this profound way. Even after serving in the army, I can actually explain what it is that fascinates me. This alone is enough to label me as some sort of a war junkie which I can assure you I'm most certainly not.

Perhaps this fascination comes from the fact that a crisis or conflict can really band humanity together. It's weird isn't it that we can't do it peacefully but need something horrendous such as this before we try to achieve any form of humanity. Perhaps the show of humanity is only pervasive through inhumane acts.

But why the need of such cruelty? Each time I watch those documentaries, I can see how even after years the events that took place is still vividly seared in the minds of the veterans. Like a world war 2 pilot said, "let me take you on the flight to Berlin" as he goes on to describe his experience on that ill-fated flight which didn't end so well for his friends.

Why do we need impending doom of any sort before we decide to bring out the best in us? Why can't we continually live and love? This whole thought is ironic coming from someone who does forgive but not forget.

Perhaps we need a vehicle to progress the good in us. Without such impetus, we would just accept what is status quo.

Perfection...

...through silence

But there's still tomorrow forget the sorrow

With just a few days to go before I end this chapter of my life, I couldn't help but thing how different things would have been if I had signed that document. Many times, I have felt that I do not belong but I press on knowing it would certainly make my parents proud. My dad has been constantly asking when is the convocation ceremony. It seems likely that I am the only one in the entire family who would actually have a degree. Not out excuse but purely by merit. Sure there are many who will look down on what I have achieved but it is an achievement after all. I can only hope that my children will progress even further.

More often than not, I feel out of place. Gone is the face that used to scare many only to be replaced by a rounder one. I most certainly did not see this coming. My friends used to call me "garang" or "siao on". Towards the end, I even got promoted to just "siao". My subordinates would call me "the robot" for my lack of intimacy with them. But it certainly got things done.

I miss the smell of gun powder with a mixture of cigarette smoke smell at the end of each battle. The only "spoils of war" that anyone would only hunt for would be a shade to rest under as well as some water to quench their thirst. They were lucky that I do have the time to drink so much because they usually run out of water by then.

The constant sound of friendly machine gun fire was enough of a morale booster to push us on way beyond any human limits. Lately, I am more tired than anything. These past few weeks have been rough. Physically and mentally I am drained out. I am nothing but the shell of my former self. This is the person who used to be able to run 5km in under 20minutes. Once, I even clocked 15 minutes flat, a feat I have never been able to repeat especially after I am parachuted into the civilian world.

I have resigned to the fate that I will never be able to do any of that again especially after being rejected again and again. Those were the days where I would ace at everything I did. While many found themselves pushing hard just to make the bare minimum I was, for only that period, in my comfort zone.

Nothing could ever replace that. I tries to find another outlet ever since 2008. Rugby never quite proved to provide me with what I need. So I remain angry and restless. The only solace that I can find in this life is trying to be nice to others. But my kindness usually gets mistaken for my weakness. Time and again, I sometimes feel redundant of not a hazard in the life of others. Sometimes I wonder if the only changes I bring to others is for the worse. I do not belong here and prolly never will. I am sure there are others like me whose only intention is to bring comfort to the live of others because we have been through much worse.

I despise those who claimed to have served the nation even though they have never knew what its like to be donning green. Worst are those who ridicule us for what we did. We live in a society that does not appreciate its warriors. For those who have ridiculed many like me, you will never know the true meaning of valor and honor. The them, what they went through is a liability because they are a liability and hence they were denied from donning green. They have defiled the true meaning of serving one's nation.

We do not "play war in the jungles". The only reason why these boys in blue have a job is exactly because we "played war". They wouldn't have country to "keep safe" or to rescue others if it wasn't for us.

I am lost.

Shouting at the mirror, trying to find a hero

Lately, I've been getting that awful feeling that I've already grown. For me, I've never paid a visit to any of my relatives without my parents. But a trip down to my gramps in the premise of running errands for my mom changed that. Having my grandma telling me how hard it is to be old is especially heartbreaking with her tearing up as she's telling me about it. This is the grandma who never quite liked my dad when my mom chose to marry him nor did she quite like me and my brothers when we were young. Now, it seems like I'm in pole position for favorite grandson.

I'm not sure what it is about me or the effect that I have on many but it seems very easy for them to open up to me. So I stayed for awhile to listen having not sure what to say or how to react.

Maybe, just maybe that is my purpose on earth. I'm not sure what it really is because all the things that I have a liking for turns out to be a fruitless pursuit. Then again, God doesn't give us what we want but what we need. But I just can't seem to land on what I need. Perhaps it's not exactly what I need. So I stay patient and push on to hopefully finally realize what it is that I actually need.

I guess, I have been reliable to many. I'm basing this on the feeling I get from others based on my actions. My secondary school teacher has always told me to do good whenever I can while I still can. My mom has taught me that it's ok if you suffer as long as you are able to bring joy or comfort in the life of others. I guess this is why I don't seem to be able to quite find others who are reliable when I need them so. Friends wise, I know tons of people. But having a steady bunch whom I can even call best friends is still far from even manifesting even at its most simplest form. Maybe I am destined for the life of a lone wolf. Maybe not. But as this very juncture, I am still unsure.

It feels as though my presence is some has brought nothing but misery. No prizes to guessing as to why I don't really put in that extra effort to actually get close to anyone. When you get close, you'd get hurt. The closer you get, the higher the chances of you getting hurt. That hurt comes from how much I am affecting the lives of others. In a bad way at that. Being up on this rooftop by myself gives me some closure on things. This is where I can to talk to myself and also to god. I do not ask why im in such a predicament nor do I ask what I'm getting out of this. But I do hope for some inkling as to what I am supposed to learn from all this. As to why I dream of such dreams.

All my life, I have mostly dreamt of nothing but fighting. Lately, those dreams are becoming more frequent and more real. Yet, I do not know what it is I am fighting or who. All I know is that I am fighting for people- to protect them from the impending harm of which I have no clue what it exactly is. Lately, those dreams are getting more and more real- I even feel the pain. Sometimes, when whatever it is that I'm fighting does get to me, ill find myself with some scratches on myself. Thankfully, that has not happened for quite some time recently. However, I am not quite able to remember what it is I dream the moment I wake up except that I knew I was fighting.

Other times, I'd just dream of some random things. Maybe it's to do with what I've experienced over the course of my day. But every time I wake up, I wake up with this realization that I've learnt something new- be it in terms of me know how to do something or just that sudden availability of knowledge which I have not even attempted to acquire over the course of the day.

What I do need to learn right now is even more patience. It is undefinable that particulate tank is exceptionally vast. But I haven't the slightest clue why I'd burn it up do fast these days. Maybe I could perhaps attribute it to my frustrations as to which I am pretty sure will deplete slower once I am able to recognize it in order to deal with it accordingly. Right now, it's that frustration that maybe, others can really rely on me to be able to depend on me and that a reversal is not quite possible. Once I am able to accept that, I should be able to take things in a better stride and deplete my reservoir of patience slowly.

Patience is what I need to learn.

It's the way you do the things you do that makes me fall in love with you

Each morning's ride to work presents a 20 minutes worth of serenity to me. That is ironic because the ride to work is actually through annoyingly heavy traffic and that results in a lot of squeezing through traffic at high speed for me in which I have to remain constantly alert else I might become part of the statistics. Now try imagining me saying all of that in just one breath.

During this morning's ride, I found myself thinking about how much time has actually flew. Going back to my JC for a runabout game of rugby made me realize how old I've gotten. One of the signs that initialized this realization was that one of my men, one who served with me in the army, was actually running one of the food stalls there. I said initialized because that was the beginning of many realizations. A long chat with my teacher there made me realize how much older everyone is getting. In the blink of an eye, he has already passed 40 although he doesn't look like he has aged one bit. A lot of our teachers are going to retire by the end of the year and my very own form teacher has actually already passed on. On top of that, friends or ex-schoolmates are either getting married or are already married. Some girls from my secondary school already have kids! Although my inital reaction would be to question their haste in doing so, that only leads back to me in questioning about the time that has passed.

A conversation with chubs left me speechless to know that it was actually more than 10 years ago since I was actually a secondary one student. And I though secondary school went by quickly! Time and again, I have to remind myself that I am already 25 and if I do make something out of myself now, I will forever be late. Then again, I have always considered myself a late bloomer.

So on this fateful morning, I wondered about what I have done with my life. Just about all the things that I have ever done before, I have always considered my 2 years in the army worth mentioning. Sliding down the mountains of Taiwan, trekking through the dense forest of Brunei and even having the chance to see the Northern Lights are some of the experience that can never be replaced by anything else no matter how good things get. Then again, no one experience can exactly replace the other.

I did a lot of things than I can or have ever mentioned in those 2 years. Most importantly, I did a lot of growing up. It is a pity that I am not able to continue on that path ever again. I genuinely loved what I did no matter how tough things got. I am always the first to volunteer for anything and if I don't, I get volunteered. I don't know if its because they hated me or they really trust me but whatever it is that needs to be done, I'll get choosen anyway. I am not exactly complaining about it because whatever it is that needs to be done, I'll rather do it myself than to watch others helplessly fail at it.

I suppose there are other things about my life that's worth mentioning about as well. Let's start from primary 1. I was in the Boy Scouts at the age of 7. My dad insisted that my brother and I joined because it'll help to build our character. I was actually excited to join but that excitement died down a year later when I was asked to join the school's brass band. So from the age of 8 to 9 years old, I managed to master the hornet, the trumpet as well as the trombone. Then I had to start all over again because switching schools meant that I spent lesser time travelling. To think that I went through all that "interviews" to becoming a prefect. Yes, as hard as it might sound, I was actually going to be a prefect. I guess my grades are decent enough. That and I was well like by everyone so the school plotted against me because they wanted people to hate me hence they decided to make me a prefect.

That opportunity did not come to me in the new school. Having to start afresh, first day of school was rather awkward and confusing. So much so that I joined the basketball team. Last I heard, the school's basketball team is actually doing quite well. But I soon got bored of that and somehow, out of sheer madness, I was made to join the school's volleyball team! This was after I asked to join the soccer team or the badminton team. The only reason why I wanted to was because they got to get out of class early whenever they had competitions- I really envied my friends who got to do that. But somehow, fact gets stranger than fiction. At first, I was made to join choir. Well, I guess at 10 years old, nobody really cares what a young boy wants or doesnt. Then, I joined the Harmonica erm...gang? Im not sure what they are called. Troupe? Band? Then the ultimate happened! I was made to join the malay dance troupe. That is the epitome of What The Fuck?! Well, I was the only other guy there surrounded by all the girls whom I thought were actually nice looking (not anymore since most are either fat, married or have kids by now).

So eventually, at 12 years old, I decided not to join anything and just have fun. That plus "koping" a lot of medals from the annual school sports meet. That habbit of mine went on until JC. Well, I guess I'll leave that as that for now. Shall document some more of my life soon. But there's only one thing that I have always wondered....why the hell are the girls my age married already? Isn't it too young or too early?

Raindrops keep falling on my head

Today I found myself laughing hysterically amidst the chaos that was the sudden heavy rain and crosswinds coming from all over the place. Oh! And the flooded roads too!

God I miss that feeling as though I am going to die at any moment.

I hope youve had the time of your life

It's been an hour since training ended and I'm still at the grandstand near the lower fields. In a way, it's always been quiet here. I think I've spent more time here than at any other part in the school in the past 4 years.

Today, is officially the last training for the season. Sunday will just be a team run before the final showdown on Tuesday. I'm going to miss this- all of this.

I still remember playing for NTU even before I officially matriculated. The first tournament I've ever played was in KL. That was the first tournament I've played after 2 years of no-rugby thanks to the army. In a way, I'm not really complaining because I excelled in so many things in those 2 years- none of which could be replicated in my 4 years in university. But I've managed. I supposed the hardest part of this segment of my life is staying up the entire night just to write a thesis. Yes, I did it in just a period of 24 hours. With a lot of help from chubs of course. Still don't know what I'll do without her. I guess she's made my university life a lot easier with her presence in all the ways she could afford to.

Well, moving on, I'm still here. Sitting on this big giant styrofoam pallet which nobody knows it's exact purpose. Maybe it will be my magic carpet or something that will carry me back through all the years that have gone past.

Time has moved too fast for me. Everyday is a struggle for me to savor every moment with the people that matters to me. Truth be told, I am not looking forward to the next stage of my life. Or the next few stages for that matter. While there are certainly a lot of things to look forward to, things that you are not are on its way as well. During my final year in uni, some of my friends parents have passed on. While it is hard for me to imagine such a scenario, it must have been even harder for them. For me, it is still a scenario. For them, it's a reality. The Bandung trip with them will sort of serve as me claiming all the time lost of not spending with us. Since my brothers are not going, it'll just be the three of us. Funny how they choose to go on their anniversary. Funnier still that they actually lit up when I told them that I'll go.

As with many things, I do not know how much time I'm left with. Everyday is a struggle with savoring it since every moment could just be the very last. For rugby, Im only left till Tuesday. It's a definite. I am going to miss it a lot. Maybe someday I'll get to live it again through my son if he picks it up. I don't think I'll force him to but I'll just hope he does.

To the rugby team, it has been one hell of a journey. For all the highs and lows, I will not trade it for anything else if I was given the chance to do so. For the times we had to train in darkness. For the times that we suffered in matches. For the moment that I got to lift the trophy. I am going to cherish it all-all of it.

Life goes on and the only easy day was yesterday.

Come the 27th...

When the Washington Sentinels left the stadium that date, there was no tickertape parade, no endorsement deals for sneakers or soda pop, or breakfast cereal. Just a locker to be cleaned out, and a ride home to catch. But what they didn't know, was that their lives had been changed forever because they had been part of something great. And greatness, no matter how brief, stays with a man. Every athlete dreams of a second chance, these men lived it. 
- The Replacements


Come the 27th, there will be no tomorrow for me. I missed that moment last year. This time around, I've got my second chance. There will be none of that after that..

I want to go somewhere...anywhere..

They do this for a living too

So live your life that the fear of death can never enter your heart.
Trouble no one about their religion; respect others in their view, and
Demand that they respect yours. Love your life, perfect your life,
Beautify all things in your life. Seek to make your life long and
Its purpose in the service of your people.

Prepare a noble death song for the day when you go over the great divide.
Always give a word or a sign of salute when meeting or passing a friend,
Even a stranger, when in a lonely place. Show respect to all people and
Bow to none. When you arise in the morning, give thanks for the food and
For the joy of living. If you see no reason for giving thanks,
The fault lies only in yourself. Abuse no one and nothing,
For abuse turns the wise ones to fools and robs the spirit of its vision.

When it comes your time to die, be not like those whose hearts
Are filled with fear of death, so that when their time comes
They weep and pray for a little more time to live their lives over again
In a different way. Sing your death song and die like a hero going home.

I'll stop the world and melt with you

Most of the time, whatever that I have planned out in my head, doesn't always come out right. Like speaking or writing for instance- it's all beautiful and smart and basically everything nice when it's in there but when it comes to communicating it, well, it just gets lost in translation.

The weekend saw me staying up for more than 24 hours. After giving up from trying to settle into the night, I decided to surf around youtube. The stuff that you can find in there can be pretty amazing. Apart from the usual retardness that you can find, you can actually find entire movies if you're lucky enough. Lucky because they usually get taken down pretty quickly.

And so, I found this documentary about the war in Afghanistan. It's a pretty complex and delicate situation which many of my friends have simply and narrowly-mindedly resigned it to as the war against terror. Then there are others who thinks of it as just a war for oil.

Well, let me educate you all one thing about life- war generates the economy. And it is a pretty damn good generator I must say. Look at World War 2 and the Cold War. The drive for war machines saw numerous people gaining employment and businesses everywhere booming. What we now enjoy are the fruits of technological advances that came about with those two wars. Then, in the 90s, there were hardly any wars and we suffered several economic crisis. 2001 saw another war "invented" out of necessity. It actually saved the deteriorating economy. Well, that is also subjective thanks to mr.inflation.

So anyway, that's one of the main reason why they went to war. And that poor country is being used as a poor scapegoat because face it, nobody likes an extremist or hardlined government. And being who they are, it's just like taking candy from a baby. But that's only in respect to the fact that they are and will not retaliate an offensive by bringing it to their doorsteps. Because they simply can't afford to do so. Anyway, more than 10 years later, the Americans are still at it while the homeboys are still carrying the huge "FUCKOFF!" banner.

So after making one big oompahloompah round, I shall come to my point. I was watching this documentary titled "Invasion of Marjah". Never heard of it? Well, it was Obama's trick-play to drum up support for the war efforts in Arff-Gun-Knees-Stun. Well, if you have the time to watch it, you should. I know many will bitch and moan about how it is just another propoganda film. But then, many have never been to war so many will never know what it's like to be in one. This is especially the case for this kind of war. Ever since World War 2, wars have never been fought in some distant battlefield but right in the homes of many. Well, history shows that this sort of war is actually the sort that has been fought all along. The difference is that nowadays, we really try not to kill the civilians. And if we do, we actually punished for it. Gone of the days of plundering and looting the city in the total war strategy called fuckall.

So yes, because I couldn't sleep, I found such an interesting documentary which has led me to another one which I will definitely watch soon. By the time I realized that I actually needed to sleep, it was already 7am (the documentary lasted an hour and a half) and I had to get ready for RT(read Ranger Training). I realized that if given enough push, I could actually get a decent timing for my 2.4km run to actually get Gold standard. In other words, that $400 money prize could actually be mine. Unfortunately, I tend to run faster and train better when there's somebody pushing me to do it. In army lingo, we call it, "kena fuck!"  I guess it is kind of nice to be coming back into this sort of envinronment. Everyone is bounded together through suffereing. I've been meaning to write about how the greatest force or power on earth isn't love but hate but I just haven't had the time to do so. I really hate it that I do not have time to do things that I love.

Perhaps that day will come soon. Right now, there's only two things to concentrate on- Rugby and FYP. Saw how I prioritize my things? Yep...I am indeed screwed. But hey, it is my last season. And having missed the last one, I was actually extra careful(read lazy) in all my club matches. It's finally time. After years being in the team, it's finally coming to an end. Honestly, I think I have to find something else pretty quickly to fill up this new found void. The last time this happened, after finishing my last season of rugby in secondary school, I actually put on 10kg worth of mass from all that weightlifting. After JC rugby, I actually grew one size up, again from weighlifting. Those were the days that an L size shirt actually fitted me rather snugly. I honestly wonder what will come out of this after the 27th of March. I guess, just like any other thing, I'll have to wait and see.

You're my number one...

It's been awhile since I've done balls-to-the-walls training and I can't help but to feel good about myself afterwards. I feel good and hungry! But I shall discipline myself not to snack on anything for the moment to lose this tubby tummy of mine. Right now, I can't help but to feel like a telly-tubby with this tummy of mine. In fact, I am pretty much convinced that everyone is watching it like a TV. I think I'd like to be Po- at least I get to be cute too!

Right now, my legs can't help but to tremble in fear from not wanting to be strained anymore than it already is.  I miss those days where parts of my body actually can't function properly after a session. There was just once I fell sitting down on the stairs of CCK stadium. Instead of panicking, I simply laughed it off with my then-gym buddy and sat there for 5 minutes in full view of curious passer-bys who must have thought that we were just crazy. I also remember the time that it took full effort of whatever motor function I had just to press the button of the lift. Animalpak.com used to give great inspiration then. Nowadays, time is of the essence- I do what I can, when I can. Damn school..

Turning a quarter of a century has been pretty amazing. First, I got "kidnapped" to go for a trip. Not knowing what I was going to be doing, chubs had to constantly command me on what I was going to pack. But once I was told to pack my gloves, I knew that the weekend was somehow going to get awesome-er! Being the annoying sonnaofabitch I am, I whined all the way till they let me drive IF I shut up. Well, that seemed to shut me up for awhile especially when I somehow "got lost" along the way. We eventually end up at our destination after a bout of being part of the (say it quickly!) wherethefuckarewe tribe. 

Day session ended up in tragedy as chubs actually did a mini somersault upon jamming her front brakes at a upslope U-turn. I actually thought I was going to deal with a twisted knee and a broken ankle! Thankfully, it was all an illusion because the shoe came off partially. Phew! Afternoon session was quite a bore because everyone went extra slow all because it was a big group! And also, almost everyone else, except for the guide ,mr.musclemania and myself, had 90cc pit bikes. But the view was breathtaking nonetheless. Sure it's just Malaysia. But if you got to the top of a mountain on a bike, I think you'd pretty much be impressed of yourself as well.

Well, the day had to end but it sure ended in the sweetest video I have ever gotten thus far. It doesn't take much to make me well up but it sure is hard. But if you pushed the right buttons, you're definitely in store for some waterworks. Unfortunately, I can be quiet a private person especially when it comes to this kind of things. I have to actually trust you THAT much for you to be able to see this because you know...I hate to be ridiculed. Yep, the irony of that; the amount of ridicule I dish out is simply unacceptable. I should be nicer to people.

Well, there's still a long way to go. Right now, there's 3 things that I have to deal with- 1) finish school (fyp included) 2) find a job 3) finish my rugby season on a high!

Turning Japanese

There's simply no words that I can use to describe what happened the last 48 hours. It has all been one big blur of perfection. I guess, I know how a perfect moment really is like right now after so many affirmations.

Turning 25 has truly been an awesome event in my life.

Thank you chubs. (:

                                           "For you a thousand times over"