Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Monday, August 30, 2010
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Friday, August 27, 2010
Keep me grounded.
I know almost nothing about soccer, except to cheer or jeer when
the ball hits the net. Regardless, I agreed when Anne asked me
along to a soccer match between Singapore and Montenegro at
Jalan Besar Stadium. It was my one and only, once in a lifetime
opportunity to catch the Youth Olympic Games live in action, right
at the venue, amongst the spectators.
Initially, I was sitting on the fence. I couldn’t decide who I should
root for. Foolish as it seems since Singapore is where I was born
and raised. It wasn’t long before I came to a decision. It hit me
when I saw Jeffrey Lightfoot lying on the ground almost motionless.
I am pretty sure it scared the wits out of everyone. A horrible gash
was spotted on his face, and he was rushed to the hospital. My
heart went out to him. He lost his chance of clinching a medal for
Singapore. However, his team mates didn’t disappoint the country.
Congratulations there!
Little did I ever expect to be swept into the YOG craze. Nearly a
year ago, I dreaded filling in the surveys on YOG. Business Statistics
also required us to prepare a similar questionnaire. Apart from
knowing what YOG stands for, I pretty much knew nothing about it.
But here I am feeling lost and upset now that the Youth Olympic Games
are over. Cryst can relate to my feelings. It almost feels like a part of
Singapore is gone. Everything is printed on the pages of Singapore’s
history. I should have volunteered my help to the games. I should
have partaken one way or another. I should have made it my history
too. I am getting too emotional over this. Am I normal?
the ball hits the net. Regardless, I agreed when Anne asked me
along to a soccer match between Singapore and Montenegro at
Jalan Besar Stadium. It was my one and only, once in a lifetime
opportunity to catch the Youth Olympic Games live in action, right
at the venue, amongst the spectators.
Initially, I was sitting on the fence. I couldn’t decide who I should
root for. Foolish as it seems since Singapore is where I was born
and raised. It wasn’t long before I came to a decision. It hit me
when I saw Jeffrey Lightfoot lying on the ground almost motionless.
I am pretty sure it scared the wits out of everyone. A horrible gash
was spotted on his face, and he was rushed to the hospital. My
heart went out to him. He lost his chance of clinching a medal for
Singapore. However, his team mates didn’t disappoint the country.
Congratulations there!
Little did I ever expect to be swept into the YOG craze. Nearly a
year ago, I dreaded filling in the surveys on YOG. Business Statistics
also required us to prepare a similar questionnaire. Apart from
knowing what YOG stands for, I pretty much knew nothing about it.
But here I am feeling lost and upset now that the Youth Olympic Games
are over. Cryst can relate to my feelings. It almost feels like a part of
Singapore is gone. Everything is printed on the pages of Singapore’s
history. I should have volunteered my help to the games. I should
have partaken one way or another. I should have made it my history
too. I am getting too emotional over this. Am I normal?
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Choke myself.
I have much to talk about, but I guess now isn't the time. I will be hitting the sack soon, that's one. I will need to calm myself down, balance my thoughts and know what I write.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Play out like a scene.
I have been interested in short films lately. Inspiring films that find their way to my heart.
TOM NOM NOM.
CRYSTAL CHUA SHU XIAN MADE ME ADORE THOMAS DALEY SO BADLY. HE IS SUCH AN IMPRESSIVE DIVER. WORLD CHAMPION, JUST SO YOU KNOW!
And, http://www.youtube.com/user/olympicsingapore2010#p/search/0/TH8AcSHyMLQ
And, http://www.youtube.com/user/olympicsingapore2010#p/search/0/TH8AcSHyMLQ
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
We are smiling but we are close to tears.
And something I have watched ages ago. Still an amazing video, regardless.
Five hundredth.
I am sitting on the fence. Evidently, I have been reeled into
the frenzy of Youth Olympic Games. So initially, I intended
to talk about how crazy this is, how crazy I am being hooked
to the games.
Before I was able to do so, Cryst urged me to watch a video
which consist many snippets of soldiers reuniting with their
loved ones. I am probably one of the few people who have
yet to see it. No doubt I have seen this video around, but I
have never really considered pressing play. Not until tonight.
That video moved my heart and I practically had sheets of
tears washing my cheeks. Throughout the video, I placed
myself in the shoes of both the soldiers and the loved ones.
These soldiers must have been through so much hardship,
perchance even escaping the clutches of death. Their family
is the reason that kept them pushing through all difficulties.
The pulse to their hearts, the key to their homes. What pains
me even more was seeing female soldiers. Can you imagine
a mother living days without her children by her side?
Then you have the loved ones being surprised. It was not
the shock I see in their eyes I was crying about, neither was
it the delightful faces of theirs. My heart squeezed when their
faces tightened, their facial features pulled together, the
moment before they started bawling their eyes out. My heart
squeezed when they clasped each other so ever tightly,
taking in their presence.
It is really heartrending to see families being forced apart
just to battle in wars. The soldiers are coerced to abandon
love to stop hatred?
Stop violence.
Make peace, not war.
the frenzy of Youth Olympic Games. So initially, I intended
to talk about how crazy this is, how crazy I am being hooked
to the games.
Before I was able to do so, Cryst urged me to watch a video
which consist many snippets of soldiers reuniting with their
loved ones. I am probably one of the few people who have
yet to see it. No doubt I have seen this video around, but I
have never really considered pressing play. Not until tonight.
That video moved my heart and I practically had sheets of
tears washing my cheeks. Throughout the video, I placed
myself in the shoes of both the soldiers and the loved ones.
These soldiers must have been through so much hardship,
perchance even escaping the clutches of death. Their family
is the reason that kept them pushing through all difficulties.
The pulse to their hearts, the key to their homes. What pains
me even more was seeing female soldiers. Can you imagine
a mother living days without her children by her side?
Then you have the loved ones being surprised. It was not
the shock I see in their eyes I was crying about, neither was
it the delightful faces of theirs. My heart squeezed when their
faces tightened, their facial features pulled together, the
moment before they started bawling their eyes out. My heart
squeezed when they clasped each other so ever tightly,
taking in their presence.
It is really heartrending to see families being forced apart
just to battle in wars. The soldiers are coerced to abandon
love to stop hatred?
Stop violence.
Make peace, not war.
Didac Salas.
That is Didac Salas, 17 years of age, representing Spain
in Pole Vault(Athletics). It is the only event he participated
in, and he bagged a gold medal just hours before. I will
try hunting for a video which captures the finals soon enough.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Flavio Bizzarri.
You can read it for yourself. I'm leaving it there, anyways. It will link back to the actual video on Youtube.
Marriage.
This masterpiece below just surfaced on Facebook. I
pasted this here because I want to read this again in
the future and be moved to tears all the same.
When I got home that night as my wife served dinner, I
held her hand and said, I've got something to tell you.
She sat down and ate quietly. Again I observed the hurt
in her eyes.
Suddenly I didn't know how to open my mouth. But I had
to let her know what I was thinking. I want a divorce. I
raised the topic calmly.
She didn't seem to be annoyed by my words, instead
she asked me softly, why?
I avoided her question. This made her angry. She threw
away the chopsticks and shouted at me, you are not a
man! That night, we didn't talk to each other. She was
weeping. I knew she wanted to find out what had happened
to our marriage. But I could hardly give her a satisfactory
answer; she had lost my heart to Jane. I didn't love her
anymore. I just pitied her!
With a deep sense of guilt, I drafted a divorce agreement
which stated that she could own our house, our car, and
30% stake of my company.
She glanced at it and then tore it into pieces. The woman
who had spent ten years of her life with me had become
a stranger. I felt sorry for her wasted time, resources
and energy but I could not take back what I had said for
I loved Jane so dearly. Finally she cried loudly in front
of me, which was what I had expected to see. To me her
cry was actually a kind of release. The idea of divorce
which had obsessed me for several weeks seemed to be
firmer and clearer now.
The next day, I came back home very late and found her
writing something at the table. I didn't have supper but
went straight to sleep and fell asleep very fast because
I was tired after an eventful day with Jane.
When I woke up, she was still there at the table writing.
I just did not care so I turned over and was asleep again.
In the morning she presented her divorce conditions: she
didn't want anything from me, but needed a month's
notice before the divorce. She requested that in that one
month we both struggle to live as normal a life as possible.
Her reasons were simple: our son had his exams in a month's
time and she didn't want to disrupt him with our broken marriage.
This was agreeable to me. But she had something more,
she asked me to recall how I had carried her into out bridal
room on our wedding day.
She requested that every day for the month's duration I
carry her out of our bedroom to the front door ever morning.
I thought she was going crazy. Just to make our last days
together bearable I accepted her odd request.
I told Jane about my wife's divorce conditions. . She laughed
loudly and thought it was absurd. No matter what tricks she
applies, she has to face the divorce, she said scornfully.
My wife and I hadn't had any body contact since my divorce
intention was explicitly expressed. So when I carried her out
on the first day, we both appeared clumsy. Our son clapped
behind us, daddy is holding mommy in his arms. His words
brought me a sense of pain. From the bedroom to the sitting
room, then to the door, I walked over ten meters with her in
my arms. She closed her eyes and said softly; don't tell our
son about the divorce. I nodded, feeling somewhat upset. I
put her down outside the door. She went to wait for the bus
to work. I drove alone to the office.
On the second day, both of us acted much more easily.
She leaned on my chest. I could smell the fragrance of her
blouse. I realized that I hadn't looked at this woman carefully
for a long time. I realized she was not young any more. There
were fine wrinkles on her face, her hair was graying! Our
marriage had taken its toll on her. For a minute I wondered
what I had done to her.
On the fourth day, when I lifted her up, I felt a sense of
intimacy returning. This was the woman who had given ten
years of her life to me.
On the fifth and sixth day, I realized that our sense of
intimacy was growing again. I didn't tell Jane about this.
It became easier to carry her as the month slipped by.
Perhaps the everyday workout made me stronger.
She was choosing what to wear one morning. She tried
on quite a few dresses but could not find a suitable one.
Then she sighed, all my dresses have grown bigger. I suddenly
realized that she had grown so thin, that was the reason why
I could carry her more easily.
Suddenly it hit me... she had buried so much pain and
bitterness in her heart. Subconsciously I reached out and
touched her head.
Our son came in at the moment and said, Dad, it's time
to carry mom out. To him, seeing his father carrying his
mother out had become an essential part of his life. My
wife gestured to our son to come closer and hugged him
tightly. I turned my face away because I was afraid I
might change my mind at this last minute. I then held her
in my arms, walking from the bedroom, through the sitting
room, to the hallway. Her hand surrounded my neck softly
and naturally. I held her body tightly; it was just like our
wedding day. But her much lighter weight made me sad.
On the last day, when I held her in my arms I could hardly
move a step. Our son had gone to school. I held her tightly
and said, I hadn't noticed that our life lacked intimacy. I
drove to office.... jumped out of the car swiftly without locking
the door. I was afraid any delay would make me change my
mind...I walked upstairs. Jane opened the door and I said to her,
Sorry, Jane, I do not want the divorce anymore.
She looked at me, astonished, and then touched my forehead.
Do you have a fever? She said. I moved her hand off my head.
Sorry, Jane, I said, I won't divorce. My marriage life was boring
probably because she and I didn't value the details of our lives,
not because we didn't love each other anymore. Now I realize
that since I carried her into my home on our wedding day I am
supposed to hold her until death do us apart.
Jane seemed to suddenly wake up. She gave me a loud slap
and then slammed the door and burst into tears. I walked
downstairs and drove away.
At the floral shop on the way, I ordered a bouquet of
flowers for my wife. The salesgirl asked me what to write
on the card. I smiled and wrote, I'll carry you out every
morning until death do us apart.
That evening I arrived home, flowers in my hands, a smile
on my face, I run up stairs, only to find my wife in the
bed - dead. My wife had been fighting CANCER for months
and I was so busy with Jane to even notice. She knew that
she would die soon and she wanted to save me from the
whatever negative reaction from our son, in case we push
thru with the divorce.-- At least, in the eyes of our son---
I'm a loving husband....
The small details of your lives are what really matter in
a relationship. It is not the mansion, the car, property,
the money in the bank. These create an environment
conducive for happiness but cannot give happiness in
themselves. So find time to be your spouse's friend and
do those little things for each other that build intimacy.
Do have a real happy marriage!
If you don't share this, nothing will happen to you. If you
do, you just might save a marriage. Many of life's failures
are people who did not realize how close they were to
success when they gave up.
A CHRIST-CENTERED MARRIAGE IS A MARRIAGE THAT IS SURE TO LAST A LIFETIME.
So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate. Matthew 19:6.
By Stephanie Hamilton Brown
pasted this here because I want to read this again in
the future and be moved to tears all the same.
When I got home that night as my wife served dinner, I
held her hand and said, I've got something to tell you.
She sat down and ate quietly. Again I observed the hurt
in her eyes.
Suddenly I didn't know how to open my mouth. But I had
to let her know what I was thinking. I want a divorce. I
raised the topic calmly.
She didn't seem to be annoyed by my words, instead
she asked me softly, why?
I avoided her question. This made her angry. She threw
away the chopsticks and shouted at me, you are not a
man! That night, we didn't talk to each other. She was
weeping. I knew she wanted to find out what had happened
to our marriage. But I could hardly give her a satisfactory
answer; she had lost my heart to Jane. I didn't love her
anymore. I just pitied her!
With a deep sense of guilt, I drafted a divorce agreement
which stated that she could own our house, our car, and
30% stake of my company.
She glanced at it and then tore it into pieces. The woman
who had spent ten years of her life with me had become
a stranger. I felt sorry for her wasted time, resources
and energy but I could not take back what I had said for
I loved Jane so dearly. Finally she cried loudly in front
of me, which was what I had expected to see. To me her
cry was actually a kind of release. The idea of divorce
which had obsessed me for several weeks seemed to be
firmer and clearer now.
The next day, I came back home very late and found her
writing something at the table. I didn't have supper but
went straight to sleep and fell asleep very fast because
I was tired after an eventful day with Jane.
When I woke up, she was still there at the table writing.
I just did not care so I turned over and was asleep again.
In the morning she presented her divorce conditions: she
didn't want anything from me, but needed a month's
notice before the divorce. She requested that in that one
month we both struggle to live as normal a life as possible.
Her reasons were simple: our son had his exams in a month's
time and she didn't want to disrupt him with our broken marriage.
This was agreeable to me. But she had something more,
she asked me to recall how I had carried her into out bridal
room on our wedding day.
She requested that every day for the month's duration I
carry her out of our bedroom to the front door ever morning.
I thought she was going crazy. Just to make our last days
together bearable I accepted her odd request.
I told Jane about my wife's divorce conditions. . She laughed
loudly and thought it was absurd. No matter what tricks she
applies, she has to face the divorce, she said scornfully.
My wife and I hadn't had any body contact since my divorce
intention was explicitly expressed. So when I carried her out
on the first day, we both appeared clumsy. Our son clapped
behind us, daddy is holding mommy in his arms. His words
brought me a sense of pain. From the bedroom to the sitting
room, then to the door, I walked over ten meters with her in
my arms. She closed her eyes and said softly; don't tell our
son about the divorce. I nodded, feeling somewhat upset. I
put her down outside the door. She went to wait for the bus
to work. I drove alone to the office.
On the second day, both of us acted much more easily.
She leaned on my chest. I could smell the fragrance of her
blouse. I realized that I hadn't looked at this woman carefully
for a long time. I realized she was not young any more. There
were fine wrinkles on her face, her hair was graying! Our
marriage had taken its toll on her. For a minute I wondered
what I had done to her.
On the fourth day, when I lifted her up, I felt a sense of
intimacy returning. This was the woman who had given ten
years of her life to me.
On the fifth and sixth day, I realized that our sense of
intimacy was growing again. I didn't tell Jane about this.
It became easier to carry her as the month slipped by.
Perhaps the everyday workout made me stronger.
She was choosing what to wear one morning. She tried
on quite a few dresses but could not find a suitable one.
Then she sighed, all my dresses have grown bigger. I suddenly
realized that she had grown so thin, that was the reason why
I could carry her more easily.
Suddenly it hit me... she had buried so much pain and
bitterness in her heart. Subconsciously I reached out and
touched her head.
Our son came in at the moment and said, Dad, it's time
to carry mom out. To him, seeing his father carrying his
mother out had become an essential part of his life. My
wife gestured to our son to come closer and hugged him
tightly. I turned my face away because I was afraid I
might change my mind at this last minute. I then held her
in my arms, walking from the bedroom, through the sitting
room, to the hallway. Her hand surrounded my neck softly
and naturally. I held her body tightly; it was just like our
wedding day. But her much lighter weight made me sad.
On the last day, when I held her in my arms I could hardly
move a step. Our son had gone to school. I held her tightly
and said, I hadn't noticed that our life lacked intimacy. I
drove to office.... jumped out of the car swiftly without locking
the door. I was afraid any delay would make me change my
mind...I walked upstairs. Jane opened the door and I said to her,
Sorry, Jane, I do not want the divorce anymore.
She looked at me, astonished, and then touched my forehead.
Do you have a fever? She said. I moved her hand off my head.
Sorry, Jane, I said, I won't divorce. My marriage life was boring
probably because she and I didn't value the details of our lives,
not because we didn't love each other anymore. Now I realize
that since I carried her into my home on our wedding day I am
supposed to hold her until death do us apart.
Jane seemed to suddenly wake up. She gave me a loud slap
and then slammed the door and burst into tears. I walked
downstairs and drove away.
At the floral shop on the way, I ordered a bouquet of
flowers for my wife. The salesgirl asked me what to write
on the card. I smiled and wrote, I'll carry you out every
morning until death do us apart.
That evening I arrived home, flowers in my hands, a smile
on my face, I run up stairs, only to find my wife in the
bed - dead. My wife had been fighting CANCER for months
and I was so busy with Jane to even notice. She knew that
she would die soon and she wanted to save me from the
whatever negative reaction from our son, in case we push
thru with the divorce.-- At least, in the eyes of our son---
I'm a loving husband....
The small details of your lives are what really matter in
a relationship. It is not the mansion, the car, property,
the money in the bank. These create an environment
conducive for happiness but cannot give happiness in
themselves. So find time to be your spouse's friend and
do those little things for each other that build intimacy.
Do have a real happy marriage!
If you don't share this, nothing will happen to you. If you
do, you just might save a marriage. Many of life's failures
are people who did not realize how close they were to
success when they gave up.
A CHRIST-CENTERED MARRIAGE IS A MARRIAGE THAT IS SURE TO LAST A LIFETIME.
So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate. Matthew 19:6.
By Stephanie Hamilton Brown
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Swim like your life depends on it.
Call me fickle or whichever word suitable. I rooted for a couple of swimmers who gave their all at the Youth Olympic Games. I had the intention of elaborating each and every favourite of mine, but decided against it when I considered the hassle. So I am just going to list them all and do without much details.
They are fine swimmers despite their deceiving looks in these pictures.
(Not in any particular order.)
http://www.singapore2010.sg/public/sg2010/en/en_games/en_games_bio.html
Nicholas Schafer, 18 years of age, Australian
Clinched two victories, one silver medal, and one bronze medal.
Chad Le Clos, 18 years of age, South African
Clinched one victory, and three silver medals.
Anton Lobanov, 18 years of age, Russian
Clinched one victory, and three silver medals.
Ivan Levaj, 18 years of age, Croatian
Ivan Biondic, 18 years of age, Croatian
Andrii Govorov, 18 years of age, Ukrainian
Clinched two victories.
Balazs Zambo, 18 years of age, Hungarian
Clinched one bronze medal.
Peter Bernek, 18 years of age, Hungarian
Clinched one victory.
Last but not least, I have a favourite amongst my favourites.
Flavio Bizzarri, 17 years of age, Italian
Clinched one victory, and one bronze medal.
They are fine swimmers despite their deceiving looks in these pictures.
(Not in any particular order.)
http://www.singapore2010.sg/public/sg2010/en/en_games/en_games_bio.html
Nicholas Schafer, 18 years of age, Australian
Clinched two victories, one silver medal, and one bronze medal.
Chad Le Clos, 18 years of age, South African
Clinched one victory, and three silver medals.
Anton Lobanov, 18 years of age, Russian
Clinched one victory, and three silver medals.
Ivan Levaj, 18 years of age, Croatian
Ivan Biondic, 18 years of age, Croatian
Andrii Govorov, 18 years of age, Ukrainian
Clinched two victories.
Balazs Zambo, 18 years of age, Hungarian
Clinched one bronze medal.
Peter Bernek, 18 years of age, Hungarian
Clinched one victory.
Last but not least, I have a favourite amongst my favourites.
Flavio Bizzarri, 17 years of age, Italian
Clinched one victory, and one bronze medal.
Friday, August 20, 2010
A thunderstorm after a nightmare.
It was supposedly such a good night. The weather was cooling, and I was snuggled up in my favourite blanket. I slipped into a dream, and it was supposedly such a good dream. There were professional dancers amidst professional dancers breaking it down on the dance floor. My vision zeroed in on Rick Malambri, and I knew what my dream was about right off the bat. When I caught eye of another dancer, he horrifyingly turned into the ice cream man from Legion. It happened so fast I was caught off guard, and that shook me up from my nightmare.
Wherever my fingers take me.
When I actually make an effort to write, I often do so under certain influence. I won't list them, but however minor they are, they would still affect the content of my posts. By influence, I meant external influences. It will not happen today. I am going to glide alongside my feelings, wherever my fingers take me. Right off the bat, I am upset. I didn't cry, just so you know. But if it is any easier to understand, the unhappiness I am feeling right now doesn't make me want to break down and cry but it will gather some tears in my eyes. I am well aware of the reason behind my lousy mood, but I will keep it just there. I wouldn't want to read this in the future and think how foolish I ever was.
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