Celestial

…the Prudential financial consultant today when I was on my way home at tampines interchange for like the 5th time. Haiz… Very often I see them dressed in formal, wearing a red lanyard, holding a notepad and a pen in 1 hand, standing near mrt stations or bus interchange. You will see them normally at off work period or morning rush period. And usually, we, the green guys are normally being targeted by them. Why? Coz they trying to sell their financial plans or products to us so that we can buy. Well, the thing is most of the public rejects their “interviews” and tt includes me also. So I will normally scan the area in front of me and look out for them. And then suddenly at the corner of my eye, I sensed that 1 of them spotted me, the green guy, and started to walk towards me. Quite a few time, I tried to walk as fast as possible to avoid them but I can’t in the end. Haha… Normally (or all the time) I was approached by a mid-20s lady so I eventually stopped for them. Then I’ll listen to their questions and answered accordingly and for like 5 mins+ of chat, and they will let me off. But this time we chatted slightly different than last time.

I normally wonder why they are working on this line? I find this job is quite difficult to do since I can see quite a lot of them are working this line and so there’s competition. These pple gets their salary normally thru customers’ commissions, on how they perform in each mth or how much sales they have done. So today I got a name card from the lady and found out tt she’s holding a degree in business and I asked her why work this when she’s a degree holder? And she said she’s holding a private U degree which is a little difficult to find job compared to a local U degree holder. But I think, can’t they get a better job than this? They have to persuade pple to buy insurance, savings or life insurance or plans so that they can get commissions. And each day/month they are being pressured to hit a target. So it’s kinda weird/tough for them to work on this line for a degree holder. And sometimes I kinda pity them and so I normally stop if they managed to catch me and talk with them.

Till now, I think all these pple are working quite happily with positive thinking even after hundreds of pple rejecting them. Some just pretended not to hear them and walk away. Some just show them a palm and shake them off. While some stopped and talked to them, just like me. If I have a chance, maybe I’ll ask them more questions than they ask me questions. Probably ask them abt why they work in this line when they can get a better job than this.

Yay! Welcome to 01.01.2010!!! The first day of 2010, the new year and it’s gonna be a new life for me in the second part of the year. Muhahahaha…

Sadly, I gotta do duty on the eves of christmas day and new year day and I will also be on duty on CNY. How pathetic my duty schedule are huh? So yea, I did almost nth on christmas day or today. I stayed home all day long, surfing for more kpop. Haha… But on the other hand, I saved most of my this month’s salary. Haha…

2010 gonna be ORD year, which will be on the 7th May. And then I am gonna enter uni (which will be NTU) ard aug. So these sums up the important events for this year.

2009 is not really a boring year, although I spent my life at Gombak doing mount, dismount, standby and training and this “vicious” cycle cycles all over again and again. But I completed some of my goals and achievements which I had planned for in 2009. Such as completing my first cycling marathon of 40km, then 45km RSAF cycling marathon, Canon photo-marathon, getting my gold IPPT for my second window which was really not I wished (or even think that I can achieve) for in the past, surviving in the saf, best soldier of the month in Oct and completing my first marathon of 42.195km. 2009 is also a year when I try things which I never done b4, probably due to the influence of my section mates. Nevertheless, I’ve made more friends which comes from different backgrounds and saw all kinds of patterns in them.

In 2010, I would wish to give my very best as what I did in 2009. Hoping to get CFC, get my driving license before ORD, get a tuition job, study hard for my uni and many others.

Finally, 4 more mths to ORD. ORD LO!

Today I ran this year’s Standard Chartered Marathon. It is another achievement I wanna get in my NS time and I did it today. I would say it is the most toughest run ever. Enduring all the pain all over my body and finally ran through the 42.195km. The timing was roughly 5h 15mins. Though it is a little too long, but being my first, I think it is reasonable and I wouldn’t ask for better timing given that all the problems I faced along the run. It is truely a great experience to run with the runners today.

Let’s briefly describe what happen along the route.

Start point to 10km was ok to me. The feeling for running altogether is a different feeling than running alone like my 10km training run. It feels much more motivated and energetic. At the 4km mark, it is the first water station. I think this is the only place in Singapore that we can throw rubbish literally on to the floor without getting caught. People just grab a cup, drink it, and throw it on to the floor. It is funny that we singaporeans have nv done it b4. So I tried it, and I feel wow. Kinda good feeling. Lol…

10km to 21km is roughly from fort rd to the turning point of the ecp. I was feeling ok. Keeping my pace constant. Not much of a problem. Along the way there is 100 plus and banana station.

21km to 25km. This is the part that’s when my leg muscles start to cramp a little bit. Not too serious but I was watching my pace, preventing myself from exerting too much on my hamstring and calf muscles. Alone the way there are pple squeezing Dr. Joint Pain cream. It was pretty good but the mint effect last only for a while b4 I start to feel cramp again. There is PowerGel station. I grabbed 2 packets, I ate 1 immediately and the other for an hour later.

25km to 30km. I started to run and walk already. Feeling too cramp on my calf and hamstring muscles. Had to stop and do some little stretching to ease the cramp. My speed dropped drastically but pushing myself to jog slowly. I took a toilet break in the middle also.

30km to 40km. This part was hell to me. I think I spent 1h 30 mins here. Too much muscle pain, including my ankle pain. My back muscles start to cramp a little when I twist my back. My muscles are like screaming at me and demand me to stop running. And psychologically, I forced myself to run whenever I feel slightly better. At this point, breathing momentum is not a problem to me, but it is the endurance to the muscle pain and cramps or the physical pain.

40km to the finishing line. This is from the F1 race track to the finishing line at the padang. 2.195km seems nth but it is something and it feels like 5km. In the end, I ran slowly to the finishing line.

After collecting my finisher shirt and medal, I got my bag and rested for like 1h+, but feels like 30mins. Walking is now a chore to me. I walked with difficulty, like a duck, coz my whole leg is aching like hell. I didn’t even bother to go for the free massage given to us as it is quite a distance. Going down or climbing up the stairs is even worse. Need to hold on the handle like a old man and climb 1 step at a time.

After that, I went to eat subway. Didn’t feel hungry but still gotta eat. After the meal, I took a taxi home. Had a good shit and bath. And immediately lied on to my wonderful bed. Ouch… I feel pain almost from head to toe.

I was thinking, should I join next yr’s standard chartered marathon or sundown marathon? With this experience, I am thinking twice.

And I am not gonna go for run for at least 1 whole week.

Yes finally! Cowon S9! My new mp3 player! Yay!!! I’m so lovin’ it. Haha…

Y this mp3 player? Coz of its sound quality that comes out from it. I spent almost a month hunting for a new mp3 player and I found him! You can check this mp3 out from various electronic gadget previews and you can find lots of positive feedback from it.

At tt point of time, it’s competitor were the Sony X-series walkman and (of course) iTouch. However, Sony is $100 expensive and iTouch is not my cup of tea (all along).

Unfortunately, it’s kinda hard to get this mp3 in singapore. Probably the demands are not high here. Not many pple know this brand though. So it’s either you buy it on9, like Amazon, or through a local retailer in sg. And I found 2 shops in sim lim selling this.

So I buy this at $528 (quite a bomb) at sim lim. A bit expensive as compared to Amazon. But difference is the warranty. Amazon’s warranty is international whereas sim lim’s warranty is local. So if somehow I spoil it, at least I dun have to send it to korea thru mail for repair. And for this, it cost me roughly $80.

And ta da, on 15 Sep, I got this on my hand. Hahaha…

Below are some shots I’ve taken recently. Hopefully your jaws will drop after seeing this.

Below are some shots I’ve taken at Games Convention Asia 2009. Great cosplayer there. And kinda tempted to try cosplay also. Haha… But it needs quite a sum of money and time to make the costume. I wish to be a Jedi or Clone troopers…

I also took some photos at Super Import Night 2009. I haven’t upload the photos yet but uploading soon after I editted some of the photos.

In both events, I’ve learn pretty much about portrait photography. And I kinda like it. Hopefully, I can have more chance in doing this. Really fun taking photos of people.

I finally jumped 235 cm!!! YES!!! A pathetic improvement of 5 cm, but I still managed to achieve my target. Haha…

My result was:
SBJ – 235 cm
SU – 42
SR – 10.0s
PU – 12
2.4 – Around 9m 30s

Official result wasnt out yet though… Is either announced much later or never. (Yea, till now still not out yet) So now I gotta wait for my next month pay to see whether there’s any ippt incentive. With the results above, I have achieved GOLD though… Haha… So happy!!! :D:D:D

Also, I have registered for this yr’s standard chartered marathon, 42.195km… Another event which I wanna achieve… So gotta keep training, esp on cardio, even after ippt. This also gives me the reason and motivation to keep fit even after ippt.

So other than crazy for fitness, I also went into learning driving… Registered up early this month and recently passed my BTT, so now taking FTT. Then after that is to learn driving and finally TP. Target is to get my driving license by this yr. So yea…keeping my finger crossed.

I don’t know why, but I just crazy abt it. Tt again, not really… But actually capturing those things in the sky… It’s kinda difficult to capture them for the first time until I can get the technique right. I’ve been shooting them twice but I, must say, still not very good at it. First was kinda sucks… Timing and some settings wasn’t right. Second was slightly better though. Haha… Probably I went to research on it, esp ClubSnap forum. Sadly, I cannot take photo for the last 2 shows which is the rehearsal and the actual show. It would be definitely nicer, better and longer.

My IPPT is coming up abt 3 weeks… Gotta train up and maintain my 2.4 timing… The previous one was a near-gold man… Just tt #$%^ing 4cm for my standing broad jump. Dammit!!! I just can’t jump far!!! Now, I am training it by doing loads of squats exercise almost everyday… Hopefully, I can jump further this time… At least, 235 cm… Haiz…

My PC transplant operation completed ytd after a transplant operation on my comp’s old graphic card.

The 7600GTS graphic card had just went malfunction on 6 July at ard 2300H. I was using the PC when it suddenly went into a “stroke” causing my screen to went froze. I restarted the comp and it shows sign of post-stroke symptoms. System went slower and shows green pixels on the screen.

On 13 July at ard 1300H, I began the transplant operation. I took out the graphic card and decided to test the component whether it is the one causing the malfunction. And it turns out correct on a test system after showing the same sign. Within hours of searching the right parts, given the “blood type” and the others necessary info, I found the right transplant at ard 1500H at Sim Lim Square “Hospital”.

It turns out to be the XFX 9800GT graphic card. It is 1 of the best card that suits my PC. Though slightly more expensive than the other “donors”, I trust donor XFX more.

At 1630H, the graphic card has arrived to the PC. I immediately transplant the new parts into the PC. About 45mins later in the operation, re-sitting some vital parts in the PC to make way for the new card, it is finally completed.

To prove the operation has officially succeeded, I activated the PC.

And it is running brilliantly.

I observed the PC till now to see whether there’s any complication after the transplant, which usually there isn’t any. Games, checked… Videos, checked… Performance, checked… Overall, system healthy…

I shall now announced the PC has successfully completed the transplant operation and it may discharge now.

Reported by Dr. Tan W K

Sigh… My comp just freeze while surfing the net. Coz this happens b4 and I solved it by resitting the gfx card, I did it this time again. But this time, the problem just got worst.

Now I gotta use my laptop for surfing and light gaming. Shit la… Laddat cannot wow liao. Sian…

Some figures here to show:
10 more months to ORD!
3 more batches of PTE to see.
6 weeks since I last blogged.
7 months at mindef since I posted out.
Cycled 45km at National Runway Cycling & Skating 2009 at PLAB.
Took 2 hours and 20 mins to cycle 45km.
6 days since MJ died.
Promote to CPL in 2 weeks time.
And most importantly, our section DC kong kong coming in in 2 weeks time! Yay!

H1N1 flu virus showed up suddenly in the month of june, starting from some western country. And in just a few days, the virus came to SG and spreading pretty fast. Recently, few of the SAF camps personnel has reported suspected flu virus and Tekong is one of them. The virus seems scary but in my camp, we are so delighted to get it. This is so tt hopefully our camp will close down and tt we only need to do mounting duties only. That is work 1 day off 3 days. Sounds gd huh? But on the other hand, we may be quarantined if we got the virus and tt means we gotta stay in. Nevertheless, the decision on what’s gonna happen is not something we can control.

Even when the virus flying all ard, it seems no singaporean are afraid of getting the virus. Everyone’s mindset are either
– sooner of later we will get it since the symptom of the flu is undetectable in the early stage
– get it then say since I now havent got it
– what’s there to be afraid? Our medical so zai. Sure no problem de.
For me, I choose option 1. Coz it is really useless to worry abt the flu as the flu virus does not show any symptoms in the beginning. And some more it is contagious at that stage. With all the temperature taking stations being stationed ard singapore, they simply trying to detect pple who has carried the flu for some time already, which I think is useless.

Now no more of H1N1… Moving on…

NRCS 09 held at PLAB. I cycled at total of 45km which is 3 rounds ard the PLAB camp. It was an eye-opener coz we are allowed to cycle on the runway. No different from the normal road, except it is probably 5 – 6 times wider. I find it is harder to cycle as compared to ocbc cycling route. Probably due to the circuit route. Psychologically, the runway is so long tt it demoralize me a little. Some more must cycle 2 runways in every round. But I still complete the route in 2h 20 mins. It took quite long as compared to the 40km route which I finished in 1h 50 mins. Extra 30 mins to cycle 5km.

15 June was World Blood Donor’s day and I went to Bird Park as I got free pass to go there. 1 reason tt I went there is so tt I have a reason to bring out my D90. Haha… Had a great time playing with my dslr and enjoyed browsing the birds there. In total, I’ve took 619 photos there. Came back home and after deleting some bad photos, now left with 452 photos.

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen seems to be the latest and hottest movie currently. Be it the cool robots, the Optimus Prime, the Bumblebee, the new robots, etc, but most importantly for most guys is to see Megan Fox. Haha… Well, I agree she’s hot and sexy, and I heard, especially the motorcycle scene. It seems to be there on purpose so tt all guys in the cinema will drool (or nose-bleed) on tt scene. Haha… And I was shocked to see there’s a movie review on ST after a day or two after the release tt the movie was given half a star. I mean, how can tt be? But tt doesnt stop me from watching it. I SO WANNA WATCH IT!!!

July should be a magical month as HP and the Half Blood Prince is gonna show in 2 weeks time.

Now… Some youtube videos:
Daughtry new singles, No Surprise.

Great group dance move by Super Junior. And it is in Korean. Got a problem?

Tt’s all! Bye!

I have been slacking for the past 3 days behind my own iron gate. Supposed to go out on the weekend but in the end cancelled. Sigh… Oh well, I am used to tt anyway and nv really think abt it.

So I’ve been wowing all day long, watched some movies and been surfing the net on my hobbies and stuffs. Somehow I felt (or actually I am) I just wasted my long-waited long weekend.

(After searching for some YouTube videos to share here, and now is 12.30am. Shit!)

This is Light On by David Cook. Great song.

And My Life Would Suck Without You by Kelly Clarkson. Yay!

And I just added a game under Program section as I promised so many months ago. Sry!

Tt’s all folks. Tml mounting… :S