Checklist

It's a matter of too many things to do and so little time.

I got to settle some of my civillian stuff and assignments from OCS.

The thought of me being in OCS isn't that scary as I adjusted to the style of OCS.

Can't really fathom the thought of me leading a platoon for now. It's me feeling a bit unprepared and a lil dizzy at the same time.

Anyway, I'm just jotting down a checklist the stuff I have to do before book in.

It'll serve as a reminder for moi and for ya readers to see how time will not wait for my tide to drown me in a tsunami.

~ wash my uniforms and underwear
~ go to Beach road to sew name tags on new uniform
~ do my written assignment for OCS
~ flatten my beret
~ go bunk shopping (get air freshener, shaver blades among other things)
~ get white singlet for book outs (YAY! shopping)
~ fill in life insurance application form (compulsory for officers)
~ write & decorate my OCT journal (have to backdate)
~ read my novels I got from TIMES
~ watch downloaded season of 'Desperate Housewives' (Think 10 x 1hr episodes)
~ watch downloaded American Idol 4 & Amazing Race (Think 3 more hrs)
~ blog a proper entry with photos of my official first & last outing with my SISPEC section
~ do my field pack 9 ziploc bags labels
~ plan how am I gonna organize the above into 1 day

If only a day consists 78 hours, sigh,
Benjamin

Selection

How the fuck I got selected for OCS ?

I really don't know.

There are peeps in my bunk who desire more than me.

But I got selected instead and I'm fucking scared.

I'm physically weak as compared to those gold standard buff officer cadets.

I'm scared I will break down and just die. Seriously. Honestly.

I feel shittily scared from the horror stories I hear from Alex, Ivan and Eric.

I dunno what to expect. Argh!

Confused.
Benjamin.

Tweaks

Just a lil snippet of info of what mini horrors I did in my morning.

I couldn't sleep as my body alarm startled me that I should already be exercising now.

The strange marvels of what regimental armylife can do to ya.

So I couldn't fall back to sleep.

Thus, I updated the pictures on my blog & re-arranged a few links.

Scroll down the right sidebar.

I feel a wee bit accomplished.

Bah! The sun is rising and it's glaring straight into my eyes.

I think I should head back to my fluffy sheets with air-con at full blast.

So nice being a civilian for these few hours,
Benjamin

P.S. Note that photos are so much of how I look like now i.e. old and dumbo-like

Mind the bookworm

Let me first declare that I'm a shopping whore.

Someone bitch-slap me. SERIOUSLY.

Within like few hours, I've like spent another 100 bucks and considering that is 25% of what I earned in a month, I'm like so pathetic.

I purchased a wireless IR headset, a novel at Kino and 'Kung Fu Hustle' vcd.

And a buffet meal at Siam Kitchen. I REALLY REALLY need to cut off my fingers.

Shopaholic woes aside, I met up with Ivan, Kumar, Poh & Alex (& his gf joined us).

The best thing that Army gave to me was this best bunch of buddies.

We had lunch and chatted about our rueful existence in the armed forces.

I still think they are the best brudders that I can ever find. The BMT days are still the BEST.

Your friendly Hooters Bouncer trainees


Annual General Dorks Meeting


Lemon Puff Boys back together (Ivan still reluctant to smile)


Me n the Officer who will soar in a few years


My twin - Same birthdate, tooth n signature


A matter of you figuring out who signed what

Had a jolly good time in all catching up. See ya guys in a few months time.

Can't wait to hear updates. It's rather interesting to see how all of us space out into different vocations, each with a story waiting to unfold.

On interesting news about me (or not so interesting after you're gonna read what I wrote) is that I'm declaring myself a .....

BOOKWORMBOOKWORMBOOKWORM

I really dunno what has gotten into me but after digesting all the Dan Brown books, my mind is wandering off to satisfy its crave.

Somehow, my mind is subconsciously wanting me to read about anthropology, consumerism and psychology.

Off I went buying books & novels and come to think about it, it ain't that awful since I'm feeding my mind with information about the human mind.

I'm seriously considering applying membership to one of the various bookstores, Kinokuniya or Times. Borders is a no no.

I can imagine how much I'll safe in due time if I can pay 10-15% less for every purchase considering the amount of books I 'consume'.

I can basically read 1 Dan Brown novel in less than a day. I'm fast. =)

And to answer some of lifes' question of my future career, it has wound down to a multiple-choice question.

A. Business - Advertising
B. Banking & Finance
C. Law
D. Social science - anthropology, consumerism, pyschology

My Answer: ( ? )

It occured to me that I can fill up my university application in the upcoming few months and if time allows, I will then slowly evaluate all my pros and cons.

Too much distractions for now as Army engulfes moi.

Reading & shopping soothes my nerves.

I already can visualize leading a bachelor's life filled with thought-provoking books, a good laptop to do e-shopping (for clothes) and a fridge stored with chocolates.

Ah, the power of the mind.

Your yuppie-pyscho-analytical-shopaholic-crazed-guru,
Benjamin

P.S. MSN messenger shut down on me suddenly at about 11 pm +, I apologize to those who were adruptly shocked at how I ended all convos. It wasn't me. It was Bill Gates who pushed the button.

Shopping is my stress relief

Boo Ya!

I'm out of my fortnight imprisonment and into the daylight.

I kena guard duty on Hari Raya Haji for a minor dismeanour and coming out today can only be described as:

SHIOKKKKKKKKKK !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

With that off my chest, many things have occured to me for the past odd 14 days or so.

A sneaky rat entered my cupboard and munch on some of my rations.

I was a little freaked out (read: Hertzberg theory on hygiene factors) that I couldn't gather my thoughts straight even though it was lights off and loads off stuff needs to be organized before field camp.

And then there was the chiong sua where camo was on and it was time to roughen my testicles.

Slight encounters with the supernatural (which was eventually my mind playing tricks on silly ol' me) and the wild (2 wild boars penetrated the perimeters of my section's camp site).

And then, there were some odd disscussions with somebody where I'm perceived to be something I'm not. Not going into details about that as of now.

Then some confidence obstacle course which the company underwent to boost our courage (yeah right) but most of us end up in rope burn misery and bruised balls and blue blacks.

Followed by the un-highly anticipated 'happy hour' BBQ nite which turned out to be a lull sham as um, nothing happened at all. Except for the long queues clambering for lamb chops.

Followed by the spa-retreat cum guard duty where I was able to relieve myself with a schedule of 4 hrs sleep & 2 hrs zombie walk.

I thought a lot and thought a lot more about anything and everything. Like what lies ahead after BSLC, army and university and what was my CNY shopping list. Futuristic bimbo stuff in short.

All in all, that was a summarized version of the turn of events that chalked my 2 weeks.

The next 12 hours out from that dreadful island, I became an advocator to the joys of shopping.

The wonders of passing on your bling bling to some random person over the counter to get something you desire is rather HEART-STOPPING.

But it is a little HEART-WRENCHING as the notes in your wallet wilt down to a few crisp purple notes.

In half a day, I've achieved my heart's desire of getting what I want (NOTE: NOT WHAT I NEED) for Chinese New Year stuff.

I'm suffering from backache now from all that fast paced shoving and walking down the streets.

Frankly speaking, I would have purchased more if I had the finances to.

- Quiksilver red/white/black boardshorts
- Flesh Imp denim jacket
- Topman green/brown striped polo tee
- Rip Curl slippers
- Rip Curl leather wallet
- Guess light blue tee (on visual display)
- Levi's Type 1 jeans
- Loads of Antropology/ Social science books

Okay, I may sound like a spendthrift but these are the things I so wanted to grab off the shelves but I practiced self-restraint. = )

I need to save up some moolah for my university days.

Argh, the trial and tribulations of shopping for what one needs and what one really wants.

I have to attest that shopping have relieved the built-up stress that antagonized me in the last two weeks. Whoopie !

- Benjamin

Self-discovery

I have this rather unique approach of thinking and I apply it to whatever I do.

"Use the pessismist to find the optimist in me"

Whenever I'm handling a task that seems tedious or mind racking, I always like to tell myself that I will falter eventually.

But upon due completion of task, I will gain in morale and postivity to strive even harder.

i.e. My final year project presentation finals where I keep depressing my hopes of making it to 1st or 2nd place due to lack of manpower and I was essentially a 1-man show doing the backstage work.

The eventual result of my team not clinching last place was satisfying. An overwhelming relief of achievement, I must say.

Hence, people around me doing the task gets very easily demoralized due to me.

Like how I whined a little of putting on camouflage and going to the jungles to 'chiong sua'. I get an adrenalin rush upon completion when I get back to the bunk and wash off my camo.

It just alarms me that I have this school of thought.

I don't think much people adopt this method of thinking whenever they are doing their stuff but I guess it helps that I acknowledge this is the way I work.

Oh well, thoughts of the week that've been buzzing me.

Intensive training has begun to fit in the schedule and as compared to what I went thru in BMTC, SISPEC is like 10 times more 'garang' and 'siong'.

Sadly, I'll be confined for the next 2 weeks so when I book in tommorrow (or later tonight if you are so anal on timing), I gotta bring loads of food & self-entertainment (i.e. porn magazines and blow-up dolls as such).

Another discovery that I've made besides my pessy/opti school of thought is that I'm becoming more anal as I age.

I'm more attentive to details, more fussy on timing and more belligerent to anybody that irks me.

I just have to bitch about this but I have this bunkmate who asks REALLY dumb questions.

"Why is my cock so itchy?"

"Have you ever wonder why is there so much pubic hair at the urinals?"

I'm really okay with him and such, as I know everyone is different. I'm eccentric in my own ways and I acknowledge the fact that he's eccentric too but it came to a point when he chipped my shoulder.

Scenario: Lunch at the cookhouse
I just sat at table with my fruit on half the plate that I eat my lunch on.

Stupid Qn Pal (SQP): Why is your fruit on your plate?
Me : (Just continued munching my atrocious lunch, ignoring his qn)
SQP : Why you so funny one ah ?

SQP made that comment with the other 5 people that sat on the table that he just insinuated me of being funny with my food. That IRKED me.

I rebarked.

Me: Well, you do a lot of funny things and I don't comment on them.
SQP: You make a lot of comments too. I was just asking a question.
Me: (continued munching my atrocious lunch, ignoring him, again)

I guess you wouldn't know about the scenario unless I can give you some background info.

SQP is an eccentric person, wears only his underwear to polish his boots, sings songs that irritate me to the core & he sings them non-stop and he asks dozens of DUMB questions.

Okay fine, I'm mean. Eccentric person he is I guess and I accept a person no matter what 'unique' personalities they have.

My relationship with him rather okay, tipped neutrally on the teeter tatter scale.

Oh and another discovery.

I have this innate ability to make people hate me for me.

Whenever I get to know strangers, I always try to to build a bond with them to breach the awkwardness and know them more as friends.

When that bridge is established, out comes the crappy sacarstic Ben.

I will suan them as the days of knowing them gets longer. Seriously, I believe my past life was either a lime plant or an old hag that is deluded with life.

I have officially irritated my Sgt to the point where he openly asks me to shut up in front of 40 over people , as if to sense that I was gonna speak up even though I was tight-lipped.

Sigh, the journey of painful self-discovery continues.

See ya in a fortnight,
Benjamin

P.S. Thru reading my blog, you can see how I apply the pyscho Pessy-Opti outlook on meself. I gripe about SISPEC but now, I'm starting to see the light from the end of the tunnel. Yippee!

Post Mortem

What can I say about the newly ravaged 2005?

The weather is friggin' cold and it does not bode well for my outfield training.

I'll be freezing in my parka and mud will be splayed all over my boots.

Some bible-waver calls this Tsunami the first awakening or one of the 10 (or 11) signs that Armaeggedon would be approaching.

I guess for me to convert would take 2 more signs before I wake up early in the morning to patronize the Holy Trinity.

After today, my weekends will be practically burned.

Schedule is packed like hell and me ain't gonna have decent civillian time anymore.

Boo Hoo! I guess my sunday will be spent lounging around at home.

Lately, I've been burning my brain cells trying to think. Alot.

One of those thoughts strayed to what I would do prior after NS and before Uni.

During that interval, I've given some thought of me backpacking.

Not to quip my desire to visit some third world country and "empathize" their suffering but rather, just some time for meself.

Some sort of "flag" for independence I guess for meself.

Oh well, just a thought for now, I guess I'll make some of my thoughts into concrete when my expiry date for slavery is over.

Can't wait for that day,
Benjamin

Photos at Kel's house where I played with his birdies (pun intended).

Now that's what you call a birdbrain



My first kiss of 2005



The very gorgeous looking & obedient cockatoo