Pasir Ris Park on a Sunday. Real pretty!

Is it ritual to blog about my week? I have things to say, but like many other things we do, you need to get into the mood for them. This post wasn't going to happen until PRETTY talked to me. And I will give her something to mull over for the rest of the night / morning.

So, thank you, Mei Yi, for starting me off. : )

I said that if you began with zero expectations, your lowered paradigms will make you happier by virtue of you being easily contented. Not true. Expectations aren't absolute. But I will stop harping on expectations. It's silly.

With a great workout on Sunday and a constant correspondence with a lovely lady preceding the weekend, I though it would be great. Me and Derek ended up upsetting our close friend early in the week. Didn't intend to, but we still made things a bit sour for a lousy 3 days. It wasn't just us that made him unhappy, but it was strange and it also reminded us that relationships are intricate/ delicate. It got us to value each other a bit more. And to be more tolerant of each other.

I interrupt with a personal message for my darling Derek ( I shall call him Batman) :
Dear friend, you've been greater than great and it's simply fun having you around. I don't mind your eccentricities these few days, they're are spontaneous and amusing. Thank you for taking all my stupid insults and bastardy ways and weird gestures and going to the toilet so often and making you chop my seat in class. You do a lot for me. And I want to be great to you too.

So. Let's get Married. ( I will let you choose which side of the bed you sleep)
Say yes?

Yep. I hope mentioning our hiccup with our honey wouldn't make things bad. It was really uncomfortable in that time. But it taught me something. The first episode of Season 2 said that sometimes, the best thing is to do nothing and things will right themselves. And it came true on Thursday. It was a good turning point that brightened my sacred day.

It also showed that guys have lousy sensitivity. None of the other guys sensed anything even though we totally didn't talk. Not astute enough.
We need to be receptive and emotive creatures, an AFI if it isn't. (area for improvement).

There was something that made me a bit thoughtful. It started with the janitor who cleans the guys' toilet on our floor. He's an old man and looks rather thin and like he's been living a hard life. Walked into the toilet with him scrubbing the urinal. The toilet had just been cleaned and I was a bit reluctant and apologetic to make it dirty again. I felt a mixture of being disturbed, and righteously angry on his behalf.

This occupied my mind for quite a while.
We need to show people like him and others who do such menial jobs some appreciation, if not a lot. Scrubs just now did mention how important was a janitor.

It's like a learning point, added on my stint as a part-timer at UWCSEA in the holidays where I worked like an extra helper who does everything. From carrying heavy stuffs, to setting up stages and drum sets, and also clearing messes and changing dust-bins and 'playing' in the garbage centre...

Nobody enjoys doing those demeaning work. And we all really savour the tiny morsels of appreciation that those people we're getting our hands dirty for. The caucasians we meet are always friendly and caring and they greet us kindly.
Something small like that would really 'make our day'. Like what Derek say, and I wrote down, we can aim to make a difference to somebody.
We should stop being embarrased and ashamed of and for them. Hm.

Next. I'm not a believer in horoscopes or those predict-your-fortunes thingie, but it definitely is a booster to hear that you're gonna do fantastic on what date what date; you're gonna end up with a windfall. March is my power month, according to my birthday write-up. Does that mean I'll say through the Block Test? I must be siao. No pain, no glory. No sacrifice, no victory (transformers).

Karate on Friday was great. Being a Black Belt has some privileges. I don't have to pay fees anymore. But there are some other parts to it. Standing in the Black Belt row in the front and facing the entire dojo, I have to do everything right and can't skive occasionally even when my limbs want to stop. The drill bit and the kicks were real strenuous. But my spot at the front can be seen by everyone. So I have to push.

(Outdoor Training Pic)

Sensei already highlighted that Friday was kumite night and I thought that the numbers of people who showed up was a bit disappointing, but they turned up eventually.

I refereed for Jason while he fought his 10 men in preparation for the upcoming grading. He was an explosive fighter all the same and I admire the way he rushes into bigger and stronger opponents with his fierce face. He was quite hard on his opponents. I think he wanted a hard fight. Was kinda protecting the juniors from him. But so is Christopher. The people Michael sent over from Christopher's side were mostly limping. His low kicks are real strong. They even shook Sensei.

I fought Jason first when it was time for the Black Belts to. I went slow, and took some of his punches. Quite forceful, but okay. Then I stepped up a bit and went harder and gave him a few kicks, some of them hit his head or face. Not sure. Next was Christopher. I know him and exactly how to defend myself against his low kicks. He was a bit drained, but still haven't lost it. Caught him with my left round house kick across his face. Sorry.

Last was Hariz. He is big and he can use it to hurt. I messed with him a bit and gave him a slamming kick down on his head, the last bit. But not too hard.

It was a good night.

Today, or rather, yesterday was CIP. Collected a huge load from one block alone. Don't wanna talk about it. But it was still quite nice, with Derek with me.

I'm CIAD. Calling it a Day.

Good bye Everyone.

Parting shot:

Crystal drew me picture in my notebook about all the things I would have thought, done, said and would do in a long big drawer. I think our memories are some like that, and very much precious too. We need to treasure our previous works and make sure they aren't in vain. And get a good laugh some times.