Catching Up

(Post-blog: This happened on Friday night at Suntec)

In the space of time, we lose many friends along the way whilst gaining new ones.

It's a process everyone goes thru and even though the existence of Friendster and WWW brings everyone closer in a network, the kinship has vanished through the potholes of the time portal.

Catching up with Aaron & Felicia is really amazing.

Receiving the 1-2 punch

Reminiscence of the poly days where we would gather at FoodCourt 6 and just yap about any topic be it how illegally poly-short that skirt is or reminiders of what to bring for the next tutorial.

It's been close to a year since all of us caught up.

The last time was graduation where it was a flurry of goodbyes with everyone and anyone with hardly any time to spare for a decent conversation much less a farewell photograph.

It is endearing to know they are coping pretty well themselves.

Aaron, who is enjoying his stint at the Civil Defence as a Fire Response Specialist, recently passed out and basking in the sway of time of block leave like me.

Only distinct fact is that his block leave started WAY back LAST SATURDAY while mine just started this WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. And the fact still lies ahead that we have to returned to regimental-hood (SUNDAY NIGHT).

Sigh.

Colgate would have been proud of us

Mr Aaronic + Mr Sardonic

Felicia on the other hand, is working for my alma mater (Primary School) as someone (I don't know the details) .... It borders along the line of an after-school tutor but working under the honchos of the management. (I wasn't paying THAT much attention....)

What I did perk my ears up to was how Feli was choking up her bank account with her BF to start a business plan and which if I told ya, I have to kill ya.

I wish her luck for her endeavours as it seems she has thoroughly work through most of the details and I hope her future business will rocket into lucrativeness.

Black & White superhero-smile duo

3 of us updated one another of our lives as like it was at FoodCourt 6 again, only this time without wearing our stupid marticulation passes and that we were much more older.

If only food at FoodCourt 6 was THAT appetizing !!!

Feli was maxed out from work since 7 am and Aaron is reading up how to become a professional clown (how apt).

It's been a while since I dispense much timely sardonic wit to close friends. How I yanker for yesteryears of youth.

Gwen joined us mid-way while we were fooling around with texas BBQ sauce & mustard-looking curry sauce.

Whaazup Dawg!

The latest technique of how to stretch our brainpower

Missus Gwen now works for Aaron previous internship job at Maybank which they have *ahem* much gossip about *ahem* the working environment there.

As we left Cafe Cartel, satiated with how each of us are doing well, I can only wonder a few years down the road, when Felicia will get married, Gwen becomes a careerwoman and Aaron earning big buxs as a scary white clown.

Reliving the good times,
Benjamin

Life is all about Simplicity

I guess one can say I lead the life of a simple person.

Big dreams as an aspiring youth, hanging out with friends and just bumming around with any time to spare, I guess that is the lifestyle of a simple person.

I've been thinking.

There are so many things going on in this world.

For people my age, teens morphing into teen superstardom, starting up businesses on their own, excelling in their own sporting arena and contributing to society through community work.

For me, I'm merely an amoeba in existence.

Not leaving any inch of legacy behind.

Achieved nothing of significance so far. Zilch. Nada.

But I guess that's what I am.

A face in the crowd, struggling to stand out from the faceless society I exist in.

Hopeful that I'll carve my way one day.

Not that I'm counselling myself of how miserable a simple life is but I have to assume a large majority of us lead the simple life and are happy the way they are.

I'm pretty satisfied with my life now.

Closet group of friends & indulge in my own infatuations of TV & books.

I guess life does have a path for one to follow, be it set in gravel or gold.

Maybe maturity is hitting me hard in the knees.

Appreciating the simple things in life like relationships has started to dawn upon me.

Today, I met up with my bestest friend, Jun Mian.

We haven't been catching up much but as we met and ate at Phin's Cookhouse @ Bugis, we shared, listened and conversed.

It's been a long time since I had a witty acerbic conversation with anybody.

After dinner, both of us waited till my cozzie Daphne got off work.

Daph tried to 'matchmake' me with this colleague of herd, codename 'E'.

Well, me and 'E' vaguely interacted in some sorts and I find her rather pleasant i.e. potential to spark off some chemistry.

Before you get any ideas, I would like to the maintain the idea that I would like to know 'E' further before I make any assumptions or say anything in this blog that would cement any allegations.

And thus that hences my quotient in my spider-web-filled love life for quite a while now. After all, army is sucking the essence of leading a simple life with decent r/s.

Speaking of which, for those who read my blog regularly (like monthly), I'm shifting out of SAFTI and into Khatib camp to train as an Artillery officer cadet.

I won the lottery !!!

A new beginning as I look forward to completing my professional term in a new environment.

Well, it's been a laidback reflective Thursday for me.

Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication of my life,
Benjamin

Bo Liao Ben

Stuck at home with a groaning blister, a lazy Benjamin surfs the net while bored out of his mind.

Army stuff piled untidily at every available nook and cranny on his desk and floor, Benjamin just feels too complacent to clean much less arrange.

Benjamin blames the blister.

Benjamin hasn't had his lunch yet and is awaiting a meal of wonderful proportions from heaven to drop on his lap to curb his hunger.

Benjamin hasn't had much sleep yet as irritating Starhub personnel is irritating home to find his brother who doesn't live at his home anymore to pay up bills.

Benjamin is so bo liaoto take up internet quizzes to define his philosophy in life.

You scored as Justice (Fairness). Your life is guided by the concept of Fair Justice: Everyone, yourself included, should be rewarded and punished according to the help or harm they cause. "He who does not punish evil commands it to be done." --Leonardo da Vinci "Though force can protect in emergency, only justice, fairness, consideration and cooperation can finally lead men to the dawn of eternal peace." --Dwight D. Eisenhower More info at Arocoun's Wikipedia User Page... Justice (Fairness) 100% Hedonism 95% Existentialism 90% Strong Egoism 80% Kantianism 75% Utilitarianism 45% Apathy 35% Divine Command 25% Nihilism 15% What philosophy do you follow? (v1.03) created with QuizFarm.com

Benjamin is writing from this other point of view because he also does not know what he is actually doing, except for the fact of hunger, fatigue and boredom, all consumed into one blind faith to blog.

Still waiting for heaven's reply,
Benjamin

(Update 2.09 pm: Food indeed lands on Benjamin's lap, his aunt placed a delicious oily plate of fried rice with lap cheong on his aching thighs.

Benjamin is thankful that his prayers were answered.

Benjamin is hateful at the American public for not voting for Nadia Turner which in turned, eliminated her from American Idol.

Benjamin's stomach is bulging from the excessive oil but he will not bulge from his wheely laptop chair to go anywhere but decides to stare at the leftover oily plate for now after he has blogged.)

Abrasions

It's my block leave now, just completed the 23 (32) km route march.

The journey was practically endless, stretching at incredible distances to deceive everyone.

All I know now is I'll be spending my few days of block leave nursing the freakin' big blisters on my foot (i'm limping like a leper).

The worst is that I have some rashes/abrasion around my balls/arse area.

I can't sit straight much less walk properly.

Not much in a mood or energy-ful to blog much ....

Scratching my groin as I blog,
Ben

Navex with pixs Galore

It's been a looooooooooooooong week.

Schedule of SOC, Navex, SOC and SEOC is a lil too hectic for me.

My shoulders are still in recovery mode & my legs are battered to its' brittle bones.

Will be resting (aka sleeping) for the remainder of my pathethic weekend.

A recap of the whole entire week first.

CRAP LOADS OF PHOTOS FOR YOUR VOEYURISTIC PLEASURE ........

Last Tuesday n Wednesday, there was an uncontrolled navigation exercise where we had to explore the depths of the jungles of Mandai & Marsilling.

I was grouped with the bunch of fellow cadets who are going to Artiliery.

Yay!

I'm really glad that I get to go to a new place with some of my best pals, especially Terence & Alvin.

Detail 13 - Future Arty Troopers

Back on track to the Navex, it was really shagedelic but fun.

Scenic shot - looks like we're at the Mekong river

Checkpoint Charlie - Frigging hard to find

My OCS buddies that kept me going throughout - HamHam & OnOn

Terence & Me

The full load on the shoulders was no joke. Getting lost and finding your way out was frustrating but it was a test of mental resilience and the urge to tear the hair out of the navigator who is leading the pack.

We got lost loads of time & only thru luck & chance did we oriented ourselves to the check-points.

The first exercise was EASY PEASY though we holland-ed and too shagged out. 75% completion but I was still satisfied nonetheless.

The 2nd exerise was held during the night. Moving around in the dark is eerie and espcially if you were me, who was at the back of the pack with TH, you feel like something is creeping on you.

Eerie.

But we conquered the night !!!

Random friendly ghost trying to scare wandering cadets

Our detail was the first to reach the end point. Go Arty bombers !

The final exercise in day 2 was 'siong'.

I didn't know Mandai/Macritchie area was so large and sparse.

Being the basher/forward man, I ate up uncountable number of spider webs and stumbled onto many potholes.

It took us 4 hours to reach the first checkpoint.

I was famished by the time I got there

The frigging MGR was wrong & the sun did us in. Fatigue brought us to new levels of just sitting by the murky stream and watch the mudskippers skip.

The second checkpoint was a godsend.

We have declared ourselves lost and dead tired.

Engery-less and no motivation to push on, Terence, Tian Hai & Michael's casual trip to the toilet turned out no so casual after all.

They found the 2nd checkpoint !!!!! Just by peeing at the right tree.

Advice to future navigators : Sometimes unzipping and aiming ur dick head to a general direction will make you find your way to certain things it wants to find.

2nd Checkpoint - Blowing the Moon

Wen Yao & Me - Garang navigators to the end of the earth

Glad it was all over when the horizon greyed and it was time to ship off to proper civilization.

It's only cool when you survive the ordeal

Shagged out & waiting for the lift to heaven

Thursday was Chemical Defence and I kinda chao keng.

The last time I wore the gas mask, no less than 10 mins later, all my mucus flowed freely and overflowed to the point where it become mucusy-drool.

Thank the heavens I don't have a pic of that.

Since I have to be a sai kang warrior, I had to go anyway. Some pixs:

Me & KS - Self-proclaimed Yan Dao Kia

Forcing KS to say I was the ORIGINAL Yan Dao Kia

Standard attire of officer cadets for dining out

Met James there, fellow SISPEC Echo warrior. Hoo Hah!

The closest I got to 'wearing' the gas mask

Even more bo liao /misc pictures in camp:

Auditioning as the next stripper for the new casino opening

Muscleman Wee & Me - I feel puny in his prescene

HardCore Colin & Me being goofy

Me wearing peak cap - Commissioning date: Oct 1st

Gay Ho (Ex Spade buddy), Me & HardCore Colin

Francis & Moi - Excursion to Bukit Chendu

Got my pay last week and splurge on a frameless specs that I've been eyeing for MONTHS.

Mr Fong aka best fren should know since he beat me to the punch, I've been wanting to look like an intellectual and getting the specs would give me that look at the very least.

If I'm not an intellectual being, at least god damn hell I look like one the very least. :P

Intellectual jailbird mugshot

Designer specs that comes with a dent in my wallet

Hope you enjoyed these photos, it was the most I could get before I'm leaving them soon for Artiliery.

Photosnappyhappy,
Benjamin

Back after the Break

This blog entry is long overdue.

I haven't blog for the past fortnight as I was too exhausted after all that exertions at camp.

FYI, I got appointed as a CPC, cadet platoon commander.

It's tough being a CPC, people look to you for directions and instructions and sometimes, I'm just simply clueless.

And I have to foresee what's upcoming and assure them (and myself) by second-guessing or making assumptions for now.

Being the CPC has its perks, since you arrow people to do sai kang.

I co-ordinate and maintain composure, and I guess I'm getting into the swing of the vine, accounting for strength and disseminating information.

Besides my upgrade of 'role' momentarily, I've survived countless field camps.

I've gone outfield so much that I can estimate one gallon of my blood being donated to those pesky mosquitoes and lifesuckers.

Glad to say I've survived through all the key events w/o dropping out !

I've 1.5 more weeks to go till the end of Service Term 2 and I can't help looking forward to the end of my tenure as CPC and the fact that .....

I'm getting out of SAFTI !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yayyyyyyyyyyyyy !!!!!!!!

No more expensive cab rides to the western horizon of Singapore.

FYI again, I have 99% confirmation that I'm getting a new vocation.

Yes, I'm gonna be an Artillery officer cadet in training.

That means no more chiong sua i.e. fire movement or digging trenches the size of basketball courts ANYMORE.

Countdown of 2 weeks and I can't wait for a new beginning honestly.

Reason why is that I just cannot form close bonds with the people in my platoon save for a few.

The guys in my platoon have formed such tight cliques that it's hard for me fit myself into the jigsaw.

Who knows, maybe I have a flaw in my personality that makes people snort about me behind my back.

Oh well.... what can I do about it.

At least my good pals Terence & Alvin is joining the new revolution of the artillery front with me.

I'm only hoping for 2 things:

1)More weekends to myself
2)More nights to devote to intellectual pursuits i.e. reading

People would say I chao keng and choosing the easy route out.

Honestly, all I just want is the 2 above because I believe I have done my part and contributed enuff to the organization as it is.

I feel that I deserve the needed respite if it comes in the form of another format and who knows, Artillery might be even more siong.

I'm just placing a gamble by choosing to go to a support arms wing where I really have no clue how tough the training regime is.

Hope for the best and closing my eyes for the worst.

On a look at the sphere of my personal life now, I feel that I've starting to lose ground with them.

Will call them up next for a catch-up session.

Also on the reality TV front, which I'm updating myself on Bittorrent files:

Survivor Palau: I admire Steph's strong guts and determination for pulling thru all 8 elimination legs. I really want her to win !!!!

And I foresee plotting and backstabbing ahead. Drama for me to absorb, my cup of tea.

Amazing Race 7: The brothers got eliminated. Damnnit. They are such a funky duo and it is such a pity. Not that I'm anti-foggies, but it's high time Meredith & Gretchen get eliminated, I cannot foresee them in the final 3.

American Idol: If I had to choose the winner, it would def be Nadia Turner. She has style, spunk and soul. Don't think she'll win as she's placed in the bottom 3 for the last 2eps. I want Constantine & Bo to be out, and yes I'm anti-rockers.

I've yet to catch up on my Desperate Housewives, The OC and Alias, and btw, I'm booking in on Monday.

Whoopie, a well-deserved rest.

Signing out,
CPC Benji