Light... I pray....

As I lay me down to sleep,
Light I pray for my eyes to peep,
When my eyes doth open wide,
So that the future I may view!

Random perspectives...

Today has been one of those days... Days when random thoughts just trickle into my mind... This post is going to be as random as the thoughts I encountered today...

Parents...
Aren't they just the greatest beings alive? There are people out there who might beg to differ, but I suppose I'm one of those lucky ones who have great parents... I remember those days when I hated their nagging... I thought I knew better for the things in my generation, but life lessons often leads to us to return back to them... Seeking comfort and their advice...

Sacrifices, hard work and efforts that they have put into our lives, are things that go unseen and often forgotten... But time and time again, they have never failed us... No matter how old, how feeble they are... I really love them... Wish there is so much more that I can do for them...

Work...
I truly am in the rat race... But it's such an innate part in me that I can't extricate myself out... A necessity of life? That's for sure but I don't know to what extend would the rat race be a necessity, and when it crosses the line to be beyond necessity but the fulfillment of personal want...

Went for the local musical 'Fried Rice Paradise' at Esplanade on Sunday with Yi Lin and Dan... I enjoyed it and watching it brought back memories of when I was actively involved in Theatre, when I was a student in NUS, taking Theatre Studies as one of my subjects. I wonder how different life would be if I had chosen Theatre as my core... Would I have pursued being in the Theatre and entertainment industry like Mel? But... Nah... I suppose it's just not 'me'...

Life experiences...
I truly believe in vicarious learning... Through the experiences of others... Through which, I often find precedence, and the ability to pre-empt myself for what the future may bring... Stories of success... The road less travelled... Stories of failures.... History through which there are lessons to be learnt...

More often than not, these stories though personal and intimate, help people move on... When made public, they sometimes call it Testimonials?

I wonder how many of us have an unspoken story behind us that will some day, some how shape our being? I know I do... One story of mine began on 13th June 2010 and ended on 24th August 2010... Something that I will hold close to my heart and hold dear... But it's a story that I've learnt to put in storage and look forward to new beginnings... :)

Randomness...

There's this air of restlessness around me today. I wonder what's up with it because while I have tonnes of work waiting to be done, I can't seem to get down to doing it.

There's like so many things that I wanna do, that's floating around in my head. I can't help but feel that I'm not anchored enough to achieve any of it. Perhaps its time again for me to get back down to earth and embed my feet firmly into the ground, and to remind myself that there's serious things to do. No more fooling around.

Adapted from The Economist

Anyway, read The Economist today and it said that the global economy seems to have hit rock bottom. But no one knows what the recovery process is like. V, U or W... it's gonna be a rocky road up.

That's interesting because some how deep down in my gut, I can't help but think that the worse is yet to come. With the time lags for action / reaction in the international economic borders, we're not there yet. We have perhaps not reached the depth of what U.S. felt 3-6 months back. But then again, with the China economy helping to 'hold up' the impact of recession, perhaps Asia was not meant to feel that depth.

I guess nobody really knows.

Argh... I rather be thinking about frivolous things at this point of my restlessness. I need new motivation! Rain on me!

Alluring...

Life's been a blast... I wish...

Work seems like a tunnel, without a light at the end lately... and I can't help but feel comforted when I look at visions like that below!!



I can't decide if it's for better or for worse that I have to stay within a tank with nothing to do but swim...

What's next...

Today must be a day for random musings.

There are so many thoughts going through my head that I figured there's no harm penning everything down and see what I end up with.

Fresh on the top of my mind - Swine Flu??? Man... there's the Mad Cow Disease, there's the Bird Flu and now the Swine Flu... Most of it staple source of protein to us humans... So what's next?

My guess is probably something aquatic - as it is, there's the problem of mercury poisoning in some fish like the salmon... all you need is some kinda disease in our every day fish type, the likes of sea bass, promfret... sigh...

Then next, the property market... Prices are sky high these days... even with the 'recession' and 'plummeted property pricing'... prices just don't make sense to me... Especially those of HDB flats... so freaking expensive... unless you're looking at those places where birds are too lazy to fly all the way there to lay eggs... Makes you wonder how people with a combined income of not more than $8,000 can afford these HDB flats...

Next... Was just discussing the topic of education with my colleagues today. It sure seems like it's a chicken and egg situation when it comes to the role of a teacher and that of a tutor. Either that or I'm just playing the devil's advocate (DA)...

The fact that parents these days are spending so much $ on their kids to hire tutors for specific subjects, I'm just wondering if there are teachers out there who will take advantage of the situation and take the easy way out -

Scenario - "Your kid is weak in the subject, so you got to find him a tuition teacher. Otherwise he may not be able to catch up in class."
So question:
DA: Is it not the teacher's responsibility to teach and teach them well? If the student is weak, are the teachers not paid to do the job of educating and ensuring that students under their charge do well?
T: Well, teachers have workload these days that is way too heavy. The focus on 'teaching' has now diversified into 'education' which consists of multiple aspects e.g. ECAs, Projects, School enhancement initiatives, Public Relations, presentations / proposals etc. All these on top of lesson plans for at least 2 subjects, marking for numerous classes, exam paper setting, class adminstrative work especially for those form teachers. Never ending work...
DA: So does this mean that MOE is incapable of addressing the needs and the short falls of the educational system? Revamping of the curriculum numerous times does not seem to be helping the educational system in anyway?
T: That would be food for thought, as well as something that as a professional and civil servant, I cannot comment. However, parents are so 'kia-su' these days that they are willing to pay for tuition so that their kids can have a headstart. So enrichment classes and tuition is becoming a part and parcel of any student's lifestyle. Call that stimulating the economy, as these parents are pumping $ into the educational industry ceaselessly...

Oh well... Tell me about it... food for thought. Makes me wonder what kind of parent I'll be in the future... But for now, I'm just going to make do with what I have and take things in my stride. Can't plan too far ahead these days... HDB flats that cost $200K 10 years ago is now $500K. Algebra that was once studied only in secondary school is now being taught in lower primary.

La-di-dah-di-dah....

Insanity!

The weather has been INSANE!

Lately the heat has been too much for me to take, so much so that I'm holed up in air-conditioned places 99% of the time... i.e. 80% in my bedroom.

Just this morning, walking to office from the mrt station was a horror. I could feel myself trudging through the dense air, filled with minuscule atoms of H2O. It was so horrible that for a moment, I felt like I know exactly how a siew mai in a steam basket feels.


Anyhow, I hope the weather lets up soon because the horrible temperature is making me into a horrible person too, with my snappish temper!

Eat, Pray, Love...

Have been trying to squeeze in time to read the book whenever I can, during 'leisure'... But as you might have been able to tell, there's not much time for leisure given that I'm still reading this book after 3 weeks.

Whatever time I have when I'm not at work, I was definitely not at home and 'Eat, Love, Pray' was a book intended for home... However, this book has been most insightful and thoughtful... literally...

Just to share one part of it. Or bits and parts of it rather, to make a 'story' out of what I would like to share - Part 16:

Depression and Loneliness tracked me down after about 10 days in Italy....

They come upon me, all silent and menacing like Pinkerton Dectectives, and they flank me - Depression on my left, Loneliness on my right. They don't need to show me their badges. I know these guys very well. We've been playing a cat-and-mouse game for years now. Though I am surprised to meet them in this elegant Italian garden at dusk. This is no place they belong....

I say to them, "How did you find me here? Who told you I had come to Rome?".....

"It's not fair of you to come here," I tell Depression. "I paid you off already. I served my time back in New York."

But he just gives me that dark smile, settles into my favorite chair, puts his feet on my table and lights a cigar, filling the place with his awful smoke.

Loneliness watches and sigh, then climbs into my bed and pulls the covers over himself, fully dressed, shoes and all. He's going to make me sleep with him again tonight, I just know it.

--------------

I loved the way she described it with such analogies.

After reading this portion of the book, I'm glad that Depression and Loneliness have taken sabbatical leave and have gone on a world tour at this point in my life. And I hope that they won't come a-knocking on my door anytime soon... =)

Hrm...

Decided to drop by my Face Book after sending out a series of e-mails, and working on some artwork @ 1am in the morning...

Clicked on 'boxes'... somewhere which I've not visited for a loooooooooong time, because after the network site revamp, I've forgotten that these additional applications that I added a while back still existed...

Happened to see that I added this Chinese Horoscope and not that I am a BELIVER, it's still just nice to read for the fun of it all... And my outlook for this year coincidentally says:

Outlook for 2009
Quality of life first! That will be your motto for this year. You will do your utmost to take more time to live and to live well than to earn money or to climb the social ladder. And you'll regret having forgotten to live for so long. Profit by this teaching of Epicurus: "When one is young one should begin to philosophize, and when one is old one should not be tired of philosophizing. For it is never too early or too late to work at the health of the soul."


Hey! That's exactly what I have been advocating to my friends this year! That says it all... WORK LIFE BALANCE! =)

Heh... I'm on the right path... Now I can shut down my computer and have a nice little dream about me going around the world on a holiday! Nites world! =D

Life Light...

Work's been tough lately... But then again I tell myself that it's the same for everyone, especially in such market conditions.

However, it's in times like this that one keeps looking towards the sense of gratification in what one does... It is often asked, where is it?

It sure takes alot of perserverance to strive. Life is like a game of mahjong - Work at your cards, you might get a half color out of it. With some luck, you might get some flowers which aid your games. With the right players, they might help you to achieve a full color game. WITHOUT both, luck and the right people around you, you can forget about getting anywhere...

My whole life seems like a 1/2 double game, made out of own effort... Just waiting to meet the right people and the right timing for the opportunity and the luck...

Where are they?

Eating right for your blood type?

Had dinner with Bel yest... she was going on and on about how she's supposed to eat this, and not supposed to eat that. The thought of it simply kills me! Until she mentioned that she's since lost 1kg since she stuck to her 'diet' of eating right for her blood type...

Which of course, would get any vain, attempting to lose weight individuals curious...

Did a google and checked out their website for more info...

For Blood 'O' Type -

Apparently Type O's can be powerful and productive. However, when stressed Type O’s response can be one of anger, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. When Type O wiring gets crossed, as a result of a poor diet, lack of exercise, unhealthy behaviors or elevated stress levels, Type O’s are more vulnerable to negative metabolic effects, including insulin resistance, sluggish thyroid activity, and weight gain. ---> Ooh... explains my weight gain since coming to this job...

Apparently this seaweed known as Bladderwrack is super good for me... and will help in weight loss! ---> Yippee!! Now I need to find out where to buy and how to eat it... Hrrmm...

Type O’s most often described in ways related to the following characteristics; responsible, decisive, organized, objective, rule-conscious, and practical. Interestingly, Type O’s also scored significantly higher than the rest in “sensing” – using the 5 senses to gather information, and in the sensing-thinking combination, indicating that they are more detail and fact oriented, logical, precise and orderly. ---> Interesting...

Type O diet, which focuses on lean, organic meats, vegetables and fruits and avoid wheat and dairy which can be triggers for digestive and health issues in Type O. Additionally, he suggests that Type O’s avoid caffeine and alcohol. Caffeine can be particularly harmful because of its tendency to raise adrenaline and noradrenaline, which are already high for Type O’s. ---> Noted... I can live with that...

Type O’s benefit tremendously from brisk regular exercise that taxes the cardiovascular and muscular skeletal system. But the benefit derived surpasses the goal of physical fitness. ---> Ok... need more effort in that department...

Key lifestyle strategies for Type O individuals:

• Develop clear plans for goals and tasks – annual, monthly, weekly, daily to avoid impulsivity.
• Make lifestyle changes gradually, rather than trying to tackle everything at once.
• Eat all meals, even snacks, seated at a table.
• Chew slowly and put your fork down between bites of food.
• Avoid making big decisions or spending money when stressed.
• Do something physical when you feel anxious.
• Engage in thirty to forty five minutes of aerobic exercise at least four times per week.
• When you crave a pleasure releasing-substance (alcohol, tobacco, sugar), do something physical.

---> But I usually crave for oysters and foie gras... Hrrmm...

In anycase, shall give this a shot! Anything for weight loss! =D


As for Rob, here goes:

Key lifestyle strategies for Type A individuals:

• Cultivate creativity and expression in your life
• Establish a consistent daily schedule
• Go to bed no later than 11:00 PM and sleep for eight hours or more. Don't linger in bed, as soon as you get up, get going!
• Take at least two breaks of twenty minutes each during the work day. Stretch, take a walk, do deep breathing exercises or meditate.
• Don't skip meals
• Eat more protein at the start of the day, less at the end
• Don't eat when you are anxious
• Eat smaller, more frequent meals.
• Engage in thirty to forty five minutes of calming exercise at least three times a week.
• Plan regular screening for heart disease and cancer prevention.
• Always chew food thoroughly to enhance digestion. Low stomach acid makes digestion more difficult.

Cheers to new resolutions...*Yet again...*

Revamp!

I have a sudden urge to revamp my blog... Haha...

By revamp I think I do mean changing of the header board... to add some personal touch? =P

Hrrrmm... shall sleep on this urge...


*More to come....*