Back on My Feet and Back into a Dragonboat

What a way to start the day. Went for a run this morning. From SDBA to Sheares Bridge at Marina Promenade and back to SDBA. Had not ran this route for quite some time. After that, it was down into the dragonboat to begin water training. Had not physically held a paddle since last year's river regatta, and had not seriously trained for dragonboat since last year's June race.

Had a hard time trying to get the "feel" of rowing back. Twisting of the body, stretching out, catching water, pulling the water back, and of course recovery. Water fitness is practically at level zero. Have to start all over again. My lower back still hurts now. Was joking to my team-mates that I will take two weeks to recuperate from this punishment of my body, but I guess I will turn up for training next Sunday.

Although I had not been rowing for a year, I can still feel that my passion for dragonboating is there because I realize that there is only one word that I can describe today's training: Exhilarating.

Existentialism

I blog; therefore I am.

Weekend! Straight ahead!

Coming into the weekend on the back of a hectic six-day work-week. Been working since early Sunday morning. Had a major event, Grassroots and Community Sports Day at 7.30am. After that, it has been one meeting after another, cluster meeting, CO meeting, culminating in the consecutive RC meetings on Wednesday and Thursday nights.

Finally! A two-day break to rest my tired body and soothe my tortured soul.

Monday will arrive with its usual celerity, and once again chaotic stridency will run its disruptive course in the new week and I will be left exhausted and wasted come next weekend. But wait! I will be working again next weekend. Afternoon shift next Saturday. So when can I truly have a break? Better make full use of this weekend.

R.E.M.: Rapid Eye Movement

It was a cool and beautiful night. She and I walked out of a handbag shop and we fell in sync walking alongside each other. It seemed natural that I should take take her hand and so I did. I was worried that she would resist and pull her hand away. She did not. I was elated and there was this warm feeling.

Anxious to cover my embarassment, I tried to talk about irrelevant things. In the end, the conversation turned to discussion about our future. What should we do? Considering that the both of us are in a very unique situation.

We continued walking. I was walking her home, I realised. This was such a beautiful moment and it was ending soon. Oh, how I wished this walk would last forever. I contemplated kissing the back of her small hand to show how much I adore her but I thought it was not the right time. Another time perhaps, I thought.

With this thought, the walk and this precious moment ended and I woke up with a warm and fuzzy feeling. The beautiful dream may have been short-lived but I guess it will last forever in my mind.

Group (-2) Shot

The Band of Brothers

Misbehaving on Sunday

Finally met up with the gang yesterday, to belatedly celebrate Sam's birthday. This gathering was long overdue. A delay of one month. Er... Ron, we will TRY to celebrate yours in time...

Really had a good time hanging out with the gang. Highlights include making a pilgrimage to the new national library, and almost suffering from a bomb scare at the Esplanade. I guess this makes for more memories to reminisce in the future. It is a shame that Stan could not join us. We never have "full strength" during such outings, and we have already lost one brother to the land of the rising sun. But I digress. What I really relish is the jovial bantering and the whacky things we do. This is something I cannot replicate with my other groups of friends.

Damn... Really looking forward to the next time we meet.

The shortest distance between two points is under construction.

Football (Please DON'T Call it Soccer)

Had a pleasant surprise this evening when I was watching Channelnewsasia. "Live" telecast of a football match! Being starved of football for the past couple of months, this is so welcoming. Never mind that it is the Singapore Cup match between SAF and Indonesia U-23, I simply plonked down on my couch and had my eyes glued to the screen. After a while, I realized that the match was played at my beloved Tampines Stadium, a place where I have so many memories. Oh no, I am getting nostalgic again.

Missed those JC days when my fellow Tampines Rovers' fan Ben and I would go down to the stadium for almost every home match to support the Stags. No matter how well or badly the team played (in those days the Stags were not getting as many good results as today), we would stick by our team and wear the jersey with pride, even if it meant being ridiculed by our classmates...

Our passion and support were finally rewarded last season when the Stags won the League and Cup double. The feeling was unbelievable. Ben, if you happen to read this, let me know when you want to relive those fanatical days. We will go for the rest of the Stags' matches.

Now, if only Italy can win next year's World Cup. A bit far-fetched, but not entirely impossible. About time, I will say. It has been a long and frustrating wait since 1982. FORZA ITALIA!!!




Every rule has an exception. Especially this one.

Keep Running

Found out that NIE biathlon 2005 is now open for registration. My legs are itching to run again. Have not taken part in such "crazy" stuff for a long time. Did not even go for the NUS biathlon earlier this year. I am not even training regularly!!! Owing to irregular and long working hours (lame excuses). My self-discipline has really gone out of the window. Guess I must start to train regularly again, lest my fitness plunge to abysmal levels.

I miss rowing too. Must really contact my "brothers" and start training with them. Must get back on to the right track. Which is why I found today's quote apt.

"I can accept failure. Everyone fails at something. But I can't accept not trying."
-- Michael Jordan

Picture Perfect

Having a lot of thoughts in my mind. Am very confused and unsettled. So I was aimlessly surfing the internet, trying to look for pictures to soothe my troubled mind and I came across this site. Usefilm.com Here are some sample pictures.

Quote of the day

"How well we communicate is determined not by how well we say things but by how well we are understood." -- Andy Grove, CEO, Intel Corporation

Miserable Attempt

Yesterday's post was my first ever attempt at blogging. Not exactly a very awe-inspiring piece. I hope I will post better quality stuff in the future. I've always wondered how others manage to come up with interesting stuff that capture your attention and imagination. Maybe it is because I am not one who expresses myself well. That is why I keep having mental blocks. Even when I am typing this right now, I will pause and think, look at what I have typed... and just get stuck. Lost touch with writing long passages for over a year. Guess I have to make it up as I go along. Just put down whatever is on my mind.

Class Gathering

Just attended my Soci class gathering a couple of days ago. I haven't seen my ex-classmates for over a year! Some of them have changed dramatically while others remain the same. Most of us, myself included, are in the public service. We have at least one representative in almost all the ministeries! Well, in the end the catching up session turned into a mini bitching session. But we had fun. Never thought I'll meet up with them prior to Friday, but I guess now I'll try my best to attend all the future class gatherings.