The Box with Thick Brick Walls.

My friend remarked, "Banglas are weird unlike us, we are so normal..."

Are we that normal?

Some phrases to think about.

Mcdonalds n Hello Kitty Stuffies.
Food Courts n Tissue Paper.
Clipping Nails n Public Transport.

Im tired and the list stops here for now.

Maybe Im not tired, Im just desensitised towards the so called "not normal" actions around us.

My Beatles.

Rush.

When I come up.
When I rush.
I'd rush for you.

I'd rush for you.

Shake the Disease.

The haunting track from the 80s that shot 4 punks to stardom back then, as highlighted on Youtube, they used objects for their music way before stomp, the use of basic synthesizers that's household in techno n trance clubs today and many other landmarks. Beautiful Lyrics. Worth a listen, a portal to the 80s.

Music Makes U Loose Control.

Some bands need a second listen.
Id brand Depeche Mode n U2 under that category.

But there are some bands where you don't need to figure the lyrics, the feel of the song sends you racing home to download and play it on repeat, loosing count of the number of times you've heard it.

Starlight by Muse.

One of those thingys.

Bubbles.

A delayed obsession.

About 5 years back, the craze for bubble tea was sky high, maybe I tried 2 cups during the period, but was never really hooked or even bothered. Now "Sweet talk" is the pit stop on my way to the train station every time I bookout.

I guess it's a bit late to catch the craze but I just love the taste of peppermint milk tea with pearls.

Faith?

And so I reply to my bunk mate that I'm planning to spend some time at the temple today and he replied asking, "What are you going to pray for?" I was just about to shoot back at him that one doesn't need "something to pray for" when heading to the temple when I realised, I actually had a motive for heading to the temple.

I tried covering the guilt on my face by passing a shallow joke by replying, "for world peace...", but the topic didn't end there within me. It's sad how I go to the temple only when something disturbs me unlike how it was in the past.

I guess I have no excuses to cover my shame.

Er...

My friend tried this test and the celebs displayed looked like her, I think mine kinda screwed up big time, but it's fun. PS : I guess I couldn't have chosen an even more screwed up mug shot from my BMT days months back.

http://www.myheritage.com

Bored at 1211am.

Goodnight Lovers.

Simply Excellent.

I just caught the DVD a few minutes ago and Im still in a mood of ecstasy, unlike previous tour concerts, this goes back to basics, featuring their hits from the 80s with just a handful from the post 90s. The crowd is excellent just like the one from the Kop end of Anfield. If you dont know Depeche Mode you missed the 80s revolution. Period.

The ending was rather sad cause for the first time, they chose to end the concert with one of their slow songs instead of the ever famous "everything counts". With Gahan and L Gore singing with backs facing each other and crying fans dying to reach them with the tip of their fingers, something tells me this could be one of their last.

Happyness.

The last cycle in camp was spent discussing our future. For the first time, I spent a night staring blankly, wondering if everything was going to be as rosy as planned, I was left rather blurred or should I say suddenly sceptical with all the "what ifs" which lie ahead of me.

I suppose everyone hits this tone at some point of their life, despite having found that someone, I think Ive done the right move by pausing things rather than add onto the current confusion within me and screwing everything up.

Every time I see a huge ass car, I wish I'd be able to afford it some day. Im writing the synopsis of a potential script these days, and everytime I start, I hope it's not my last. I have had alot of dreams, suddenly hitting a block and I thank god this mental strain is occurring now rather than later and yes for once I'm appreciating NS.

I was supposed to head down to NP to give my friend a first hand experience of the wonderful Chicken Cream at SIM and say hello to my mom, but I was too tired, so we headed to Punggol for Nasi Lemak instead and had a bubble tea each.



Headed to watch "The Pursuit of Happyness" with her and yes it was truly the movie I just had to watch now. Not really for the feel good element but I don't know, I just thought it was one of those movies you had to watch, to help you thank god for your position or warn yourself against complacency.

I told her I plan to marry at the age of 30, tonight I was wondering if marriage really was as crucial as it looks. Its one of those nights I suppose.

Strange Love.

Strange Love
Depeche Mode

Therell be times
When my crimes
Will seem almost unforgivable
I give in to sin
Because you have to make this life liveable
But when you think Ive had enough
From your sea of love
Ill take more than another riverfull
And Ill make it all worthwhile
Ill make your heart smile

Strangelove
Strange highs and strange lows
Strangelove
Thats how my love goes
Strangelove
Will you give it to me
Will you take the pain
I will give to you
Again and again
And will you return it

Therell be days
When Ill stray
I may appear to be
Constantly out of reach
I give in to sin
Because I like to practise what I preach
Im not trying to say
Ill have it all my way
Im always willing to learn
When youve got something to teach
And Ill make it all worthwhile
Ill make your heart smile

Pain will you return it
Ill say it again -- pain
Pain will you return it
I wont say it again

Me.

Some say that the watch you wear describes you, others base it on your clothes, some mark you by your nails while a handful through your education. I think that it's your desktop that describes you best.

I noticed this when I was running through the rehearsal for Naresh's engagement at Suntec and my desktop was projected on the screen. I just felt everything there was a give away on me.

I don't know, everything there seems to make sense. Nevermind.

The Little One.

It's always nice to see how little ones can always bring a spark to any home with their constant loud thoughts and banging. My niece decided to join me for dinner at the dinning table, initially she got pretty irritated at me for acting as though I was trying to steal her prata. The snap above shows how much she cared by the third try I attempted.

I think my mom's been enjoying her Saturday most, spending her time away from the monotony and instead did some origami, colouring, baked ginger bread man and even impressed me by making artificial roses.

The Weekend.

It's been really long since I last enjoyed a complete weekend thanks to my shift duties in the base, so yup I took an off for tomorrow so I'd get to come home today and spend Fri - Monday morning at home.

Actually not quite at home thanks to the plans already lined up:

1. Catch soccer with the guys, it would be a special one cause Nivi is playing after mths thanks to a broken collarbone he suffered.

2. Catching the "Study in Australia" fair cause as I was telling Funky n Nivi, I'm not too pleased with my initial choice and am weighing my options of enrolling into another Uni.

3. Clubbing at an Indian Club for the first time in my life with some people who keep me sane.

4. Rehearsing for Naresh's engagement while nursing a potential hangover.

5. Grabbing a haircut before I land myself into some trouble in camp and ofcourse getting some stuff for camp as usual.

6. The never ending laundry.

Man meets Blade.

I don't really know many with the same problem I faced in BMT and FDC, which happens to be having to lug along a shaver and shaving foam to the toilet along with the usual morning favorites such as the tooth brush and it's wife.

Having to shave is one thing, I didn't mind a few quick swipes through my secondary and poly days (which I hardly did because I just loved a little bit of a stubble or goatee through my poly), but having to get an extremely clean shave, now that's a league of it's own.

You see, I didn't mind suffering a little less sleep, having to see my puffy face in the morning at the mirror a little longer, but what I hated was the minty feel the moment the ice cold water hits your face after the shave.

So, 2 weeks into my BMT after all my complains, my dad got me the Gillette Mach 3 Turbo (below).



Well it wasn't too different from the Mach 3 I suffered with previously, but the adverts for this shaver claimed this shaver sent some vibrating pulse out, causing hair to stand, thus making it easier to achieve a clean shave. Sounded good to me and I took it to camp telling myself I didn't have much to loose.

After one shave, I came out just as frustrated and with just as many cuts. The shaver was no different, in fact it was even more frustrating cause the shaver actually vibrates, allowing my friends to have a good laugh at it claiming it felt more like a sex toy than a shaver. It's easy for them to make a joke outta it cause half of them lasted a week with just one 50cent disposable shaver to shave the tiny sprouts at the bottom of their chins.

So yes, I suffered with it daily till now, whereby things aren't as strict as it was in the past, but I still shave in the morning before heading to camp at the start of every cycle, once every 3 days in other words.

One day I open the papers to see advertisements of the new Gillette Fusion (below) sprayed over every section of the newspapers.



Unlike the previous shaver, this one no longer vibrates (thank god), instead it has 5 blades instead of the previous 3, and has an additional blade on it's own on the other side to help beat tricky edges. I bought this new gadget 3 days ago.

My Verdict?
I loved the 5 blades, smoother than ever, no cuts, no minty feeling. I loved it so much, I turned the shaver over to try the new feature of one blade on it's own for the tricky edges.

I was left with weird sideburns and 2 cuts. Once again leaving me irritated by the new feature! I think Gillette should give up on the features and just produce a shaver with 10blades on one side.

The irony of it all is, every guy would know that the best shave is not achieved by a three hundred dollar electric shaver, not a Gillette, and no! not the 2 50cent coins some are famous for, but rather the 10cm long fold able shaver which uses half a 30cent blade at the barber shop you and I were brought to as a kid.

300.

An ignorant local journalist branded this movie as a "never ending music video". If that silly comment has been stopping you from watching this show, trust me I think you are missing by far one of the best movies of the year.

If this movie were a music video, I'd say its one of those videos you'd just love watching on Mtv. It's just so full of memorable quotes that I don't even know where to start.

Hope.

Red (Character in The Shawshank Redemption)
I find I'm so excited, I can barely sit still or hold a thought in my head. I think it's the excitement only a free man can feel, a free man at the start of a long journey whose conclusion is uncertain.

I hope I can make it across the border.
I hope to see my friend, and shake his hand.
I hope the Pacific is as blue as it has been in my dreams.
I hope.



The picture above signifies the day I passed out from Pulau Tekong as a private on 130906, I remember the mixed emotions we had on that day, but what sticks strongest in my mind is the volume at which we sang as made that final march to the parade square with duffel bags in our hands.

"Today is our POP!
PO - PO!
Today is our POP!
PO - POP!

No more revellies!
No more SOC!

No more seargents fucking me!
PO - POP!"

To me this song actually signifies a sense of hope. I dont think the seargents fucking us or revellies ended for many after our passing out, well yes maybe the SOC bit, but then again it was just a song of hope which we chose to believe was true at that moment. Well atleast I did.

Now I see my seniors taking every chance to shout "ORD oh", whenever walking past us. Sometimes I wonder if it's really that beautiful a thing to ORD or is it just the beginning of an endless tunnel of shit just like post POP.

Adios Barca.

After the final whistle was blown, everyone was quick to point fingers looking for the reason for Liverpool's historic victory, raising names such as Benitez, Stevie G, Carra and some people even claiming it's Bellamy's teasing runs in the first leg.

I think the biggest reason is visible in the photograph above. The town from where The Beatles emerged, these scousers can disrupt any team with their taunting chants and songs any day, making the dwarf Anfield (as compared to the likes of the Nou Camp or Old Trafford) a fortress like it once was.

This is Anfield.

Oh Darling.

Ok Go.
A Million Ways.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbdbVhBGETQ

A living example which brings to light that even the dumbest thoughts can look ultra awesome when executed with conviction.

Im hooked.

Strange Love.

Despite her wonderful tertiary education, she refused to work till her children had grown. Now she wakes at five, prepares a complete breakfast and then moves onto lunch for her partner. Showers, changes and leaves for work by eight. Spending her time on the bus catching up on the sleep she's been deprived from, smsing her three children different famous quotes which she believes will fit their lives.

She reaches work, unselfishly strays away from her colleagues, without spending the time caring about herself, she quickly finishes for mostly vegetarian meal, and then once again checks up on her family, spending the time alone reading a book or two on gardening and gets back to work.

It's the end of the day and she is home, she prepares dinner for all and watches a little tee vee before she once again hits the sack.

Her weekends are hardly any better, she wakes at the same time, this time to read the gita and do some yoga, after which its off to cleaning the home or taking care of her 2 grandchildren who are over. Cooking for whoever that's home or visitors that come over.

All this is done without complains for years now. You know she cares for you, she doesn't have to ever say "I love you", infact she never did, but you and I just see it.

UB 40.

Now that's what I call easy listening.

Despite feeling all Rastafari and stuff,
it makes me feel easy.

And So I Took a Nap.

Since my poly days, I'm one who hardly slept at night. I wouldn't brand it as insomnia, despite having to be in class at ten, which I faithfully followed, I used to sleep later than the folks, sometimes as late or should I say as early as when morning came.

No. I didn't sleep late only due to the assignments, whenever I went to sleep early, Id just toss around with my mind starting to wonder, something I didn't really enjoy so it became a habit of mine to sleep only when I knew I had to.

Then came NS, for the past 8months or so, Ive been maintaining this same habit of mine with the motive of maximizing the little time I spend out of the airbase. Being me, I wouldn't want to admit this has been taking its toll on me but I think it has been.

And so today I decided to take a nap thanks to the wonderful weather and a strenuous previous cycle at camp at 3.30pm, I don't know if it was gods will or my stupidity but I totally forgot about the 24hr clock and so instead of setting an alarm for 1630hrs, I set it at 0430hrs.

This resulting me in finally catching up on all that sleep I was deprived of, finally waking up at 8.30pm simply cause my mom asked if I wanted dinner. I don't know if I should feel pissed that I wasted a day out or feel happy cause I'm energised finally but despite sleeping well, I think I have a screwed up body clock at present and nothing around me is helping it.