Life For Rent

Can colleagues be friends? Can friends be colleagues?

I’ve never had a colleague that got ‘promoted’ to be friends. It just doesn’t feel right, I don’t know why. Has anyone of you mixed work with social life?

Some tell me cause friends know too much bout you and can use it against you at work. I’m not looking at it from that point, but rather from an emotional point of view. The ‘feeling’.

I get so sick of my colleagues I can’t wait to get rid of them at the end of the day. And I don’t wanna go out with someone from work and then end up having to talk bout work in the middle of a movie. I tend to think bout work and school during weekends, though I am trying NOT too. Still undergoing treatment. It is called Club Rehab.

I have serious sashimi cravings.

Music : U2 – Stuck In A Moment

A very quick posting, cuz I am really exhausted and all. It has been a good few days hanging out with mah gerl Rach and everyone else whom you will see below. It would be nice if all of us can hang around once a week to destress. Heck, don’t need to go out. Someone’s place would be cool. Like Jeff. It would be REALLY nice indeed…

My didi hasn’t been in a very good mood of late. Someone dissed him off big time today also. I think he is very exhausted mentally. He needs a good break. He loves his sleep, like another ‘pig’ born bloke I know but I think he needs more than that. I know who can ‘cure’ him instantly, but unfortunately he is not in town. It is during these times that action speaks so much louder than words..It is not hard to make my didi smile at all. Not hard. I have been saying, whoever he loves and loves him back in return, should be quite fortunate indeed. So far he hasn’t had the best of relationships perhaps. He is pricked by people in the past and I don’t know why he is always harrassed in that fashion… sigh

I got an email today. This forum is holding a prom of sorts in April.

–

Hi,

We would like to invite you to take part in the first *** Prom Nite as a contestant for our Prom King.

*** Prom Nite

Venue: xxx

Date: 15 April 2006 (Saturday)

Winners and participants will walk away with attractive prizes and lots of wonderful memories.

You have been specially selected and we sincerly invite you to take part in the contest. To stand a chance to be our first *** Prom King, kindly email your stats, contact number and photo to email@email.com All shortlisted contestants will receive a free personal portfolio package. Closing date is the 5th of March 2006.

Thanks

Regards

–

I don’t know. So close to my exams. And I don’t think I enjoy being elevated in terms of profiling this way. I refused modelling, but it has been a while someone came up with something like that. No details no nothing. I’ll consider if its not too ‘massive’ an event. But it is flattering. I think they saw my profile somewhere. But pics are always deceiving aren’t they. Well at least sometimes. But I guess that’s the only way to do profiling online.

What shall I count down to next? My exams? ewww.. When Rach returns again? Thinking bout it even before she leaves…gawd..

Allow me to introduce a new friend of mine. Cedric. He knows the close peeps around me. Actually he knows a hell lotta people other than those around me now but never mind that. He’s very funny lah! I won’t forget about this siew mai joke. When he is done with it you would wanna grab something and throw at him I guarentee you! But I think he is very sweet yeah…

This sat is gonna be quite massive in the clubs. Fri.. don’t know if I will go. I’ll be missin rach.

Also time to get serious with my skool work. At work it is also gonna get serious soon too, massive implementations coming up. Let’s see.

March : Assignments. Implementations at work
April : Exams
May : Don’t know do what yet, new skool term, on campus trip
June : Rach returns!

Hey now that’s doesn’t look so bad on paper eh?

Not gonna yada yada tonight. If I do it will never end so gonna keep it light hearted.

Some fotos to share… :

My dinner! Green curry (I didn’t even know I ordered it..but never mind).. sotong, kangkong and rice! With red bean milkshake (not nice) Shared with Jeff

Me, Ceddy, Queenin, Gerald, Rach, Jeff (Clockwise from left)

The world greatest pair of siblings

I love ceddy’s t shirt! Those I have from NUM are bold but this is, sexy.

The Orgy clan. TOC. haha.. who says orgies are all bout sex?

When Gerald becomes the next Singapore Idol I am gonna use this foto to blackmail him..And u saw it first here on sillypore.com!

Condoms have no barcodes and don’t make fun of me cuz I know! BleaH! The Red White and Blue. Can’t you see Jeff’s teeth is whitter than mine?!

Couple fotos for you guys.

First one is one I took secretly at Asian Kitchen of Anthony. I thought he was quite cute and I took a shot and a couple days later I got to know him proper.

The rest of the pics taken by my lousy D500 phone is at Jeff’s place with him and Rach. Really cool place he has! We had our vodka shots there before heading out to the clubs on Sat. I got very drunk yes I did!

Another is my vday dinner. Tempura made up of mushrooms, ladies finger, huge shrimps and sweet potatoes. Done by my mom. I love her when she does that U can see why I am getting fat too!

And that’s Anthony! I shall try and get a pic with him up front someday

I was conned into going for a dinner earlier. It was basically some RC’s chinese opera dinner thing! Gawd..4 hours of non stop opera..SIGH

I could have done far more productive stuff than just to sit there.. Okay I also sneaked off here and there to call friends..

I met Hamdan who happened to be in the same building for some karaoke. Chatted with him for a while and was quite astonished he was not offered a PP2. He is a speciialist in the unit I was in. It seems , there are far too many warrants hogging up space above and they are trying to cut down on man power. Without a PP2, the regulars MUST ord, either as 1SG or SSG.

The starting pay in civil service is quite good. A lot of people sign on with the intent to leave after the initial bond. Not a bad idea. Except, sometimes in a matter of years, things change. People get married, have kids etc. One can’t just leave a job like that when it is paying reasonably well. Leaving and going elsewhere on average is equivilent to about a drop of 1k in salary. Also, as you can see with the PP2 thingie, the contract may not be renewed at all, and one can be left high and dry. There is no certainty in anything. I guess one has to look far. To look beyond the enticing starting salary and leaving options open is very important. We all have plans, but it can change in an instant due to surroundings and other changes beyond our control. And usually, it does happen.

Plan a rough guide, and give room for plan B, C, D etc.. It is a good start in ensuring survival. Anyone with comments and experiences on career planning?

I wanna share a short film with everyone viewing this blog. It is based on a true life story of someone dealing with a forbidden love. With a very tragic end. I figured, why was he so foolish? A straight guy can never return the love of another guy. My didi said when one is so deeply in love, it cannot be helped. It is true, and that’s why it is a forbidden love.

I hope all couples out there, heterosexual or otherwise, will cherish that relationship they have. I have always seen it nothing short of a magical miracle (mathematically or otherwise) that two people can love one another. Being straight has its problems. Being gay, also has its own set of problems. Someone once said, gays are usually very depressed people. Agreed and disagreed. Agreed, because in its initial stages, they not only have to deal with possible rejection (from another gay, or ‘worse still’ a straight) but they have to deal with their own sexuality as well. Disagree, because regardless of sexuality, everyone’s still equal, yet different. Everyone goes through the same challenges. No one is better off, or has it easier than the other when it comes to love.

It is very sad the story ended the way it did. Maybe it is cause they were all still young and didn’t know how to deal with the situation. No one is to be blamed. But the price of a forbidden love, is very very high. I personally know, cause forbidden love is what hangs in my heart. And that is why I’d say again, cherish the relationship that you have. When you find the right person, never ever let the person go away..

Clip : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIvBX4iWxlU

Happy DJ Line-up

Fri : Princess Ann
Sat : George Leong
Sun : George Leong

Why am I even putting it up. I don’t even intend to be a happy resident anymore! *puiz*

I still think George is cool though.

Have you caught Army Daze the movie?

Well check this out! The original play, back by popular demand! And I am gonna catch it! I caught Broadway Beng, aka Sebas Tan at Happy the other day. Don’t know hokkien but I think he fits his role the best indeed. Robin Goh and Hosan Leong should swap roles I feel. What do you think?

Crocodile
presents

Army Daze
A Toy Factory Theatre Ensemble Production

ALL FALL IN!
ARMY DAZE

Cheer on and fall about laughing as our boys and their loved ones go through the Uniquely Singaporean Rite-of-Passage Experience that is ARMY DAZE, the hilarious, sell-out play by Michael Chiang.

National Service is an integral part of every Singaporean male’s journey towards manhood. Through ARMY DAZE, we salute Singaporean boys as they don uniforms and begin their march into maturity whilst celebrating how the sons of diverse circumstances come under one camp and become brothers; where the boundaries of race, age and social status become blurred into friendship, laughter and love.

Meet Hossan Leong as Malcolm Png, our innocent Singaporean Middle-Class boy-boy hero, who still says “Yes Ma” to his overbearing, over-protective mother, fleshed-out by Selena Tan. And meet the crazy, yet “Typical of our Home-Town” characters that Malcolm meets, as they all blunder into manhood together Singapore-Style! Where else? In NS of course! There’s Kumar as Lathi, who pines and pines for her sweetheart Vernon A as Krishna, Malcolm’s platoon mate, as they turn the SAF Bollywood! And there’s Sheikh Haikel as Johari, the resident Macho-RELAK of their platoon. And then there’s “see-beh stylo”, “see-beh bo-chap” Sebastian Tan, our very own Broadway Beng, as Ah Beng, and his “chin-kool”, “chin sessy”, “chin-sullen” sister Ah Huay, sassed-up by Emma Yong. Robin Goh as the “Resident Ah Qua”, Kenny Pereira brings up the rear of the bunch of disparate and desperate platoon mates.

Tortured by instructors who spout meaningless classical-Hokkien proverbs, our five friends learn how to camouflage themselves, shoot M16’s, and throw grenades with, sometimes disastrous, sometimes moving, but always hilarious results.

This is an article taken off the ST Forum :

Why not show some sympathy?

The New Paper
February 15, 2006

JUST before 5pm on the eve of Chinese New Year I boarded bus No 293 at Tampines interchange with my 6-year-old son.

I was carrying a number of plastic bags full of drinks and other things.

After I scanned my card, I realised that my son had not done the same.

I asked him why and he said he had lost the card.

So I looked for coins to pay the fare but could not find any.

I found I had only $10 and $50 notes with me.

I then approached the bus captain and asked him what I could do.

I was told that I could try to get change from other passengers.

If not, he said loudly, my son would have to get off the bus.

I had no choice other than to alight with my son, with all the plastic bags.

I can understand that the bus captain has the right to ask any passenger who does not pay the bus fare to alight, but my son is just 6 and I was carrying so many bags.

And he wasn’t polite. Did he need to raise his voice in front of so many passengers, especially on New Year’s Eve?

It has been said that bus fare increases will lead to better service, but I didn’t see any sign of this.

- Louis Chooi

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We have been trained to follow the book from day one. We see things straights. Up to diploma / A Levels we follow the rule book blindly. In the Army we Lan Lan Suck Thumb.

Why do we follow the book? Cuz we don’t wana get into trouble. Few dare to challenge and defend the unconventional. It is sad we prefer to cover our ass at the expense of others. Once or twice people speak up and stand up for what they feel is right. But at best it is unheard. At worse they get put down, lose their job etc. The bosses say “If you can’t follow instructions we shall find someone who can then.”

So even the most creative being, will become another robot over time here. Solution? Work overseas. Or be your own boss when you can call the shots.

The driver is right. He aint wrong at all. He reminds me of this SOB Warrant from my ex unit. Using every single directive to his advantage. He is one of those who will call the cops if he sees a couple outside kiss, cuz it causes him ‘discomfort’ and he is the ‘public’.

Damn I can’t believe I said the driver is right. Urgh.

There are lots of people around me who seem to be stuck in emotional runts over the past few days. Kinda affecting me a lil as well. Is it the full moon?

I count, off hand, 6 of my friends who are simultaneously stuck in some sorta emotional tie ups. I think only Anthony and the bf is as good as ever it seems. But he has his problems work wise also. What is wrong? Is it the full moon’s influence on all? I hear break ups, problems, and all around me. It is not good. It is depressing. My closest frens, one after another.

Even for me, aint in an excellent mood cuz of a certain character. But I will live through that. I juz dunno why there is so much overwhelming negativity among my frens.

One of my good friends is gonna come out to his mom via the movie brokeback mountain. How cool is that? He said his mom has been hinting sorta like the “boy ah do u hv something to tell me?’ kind. Don’t they all ask the same thing? *L* So she is definitely ready. Whether she can agree it or not that is a different thing from acceptance. I wish him all the best, and I shall see him on Sat, at a club downtown. Hope to have good news!

The germs in the office finally got to me. Am okay though, just lost my voice. A dog who can’t bark is not a happy dog. Not a happy one at all.

But I think of happy stuff too. Very blessid to have an Anty didi who is so sweet. Anthony who’s just as sweet though I hope he pays more attention to his bf. I’ve been nagging at him. *sigh* Luckily I aint his bf, else I would have been more than jealous a long time ago heh heh. Jeff, whom I went for desert with last night. He is REALLY REALLY nice and all. The one thing I see in his relationship, and his bf, is almost the same as mine. I see it all go painfully the same way somehow. And how his bf doesn’t appreciate and understand him, like how mine was. And I was telling Jeff stuff, that I won’t say here.

Let’s see. I came up with something. It is highly debatable but I am putting my views up front.

Monogamy VS Truth/Honesty.

What if I say, in any relationship at all, straight or otherwise, you can only pick one out of the two. Which will you pick?

You cannot have 2, and potentially you may have none either but if you had to pick, which would you. Think bout it for a while.

I am looking at it from a perspective that humans just aren’t made to be monogamous. No, they aren’t. Period. We have exceptions but they remain as such, exceptions. I remember I was tripping in my dreams one night and I was talking to an imaginary fella next to me (I know who it is, but I shan’t say who) and I quote unquote what I said exactly “xxx, if we ever be together next time and you wanna lay lay with people and all, it’s fine okay, just tell me beforehand.”

Yes, before and after makes a difference.

I view truth and honesty as of great importance. Monogamy, a good to have maybe, but unfortunately non existant literally. I would trade (though not the equivilent of a business deal) monogamy with trust and honesty. I have learnt a lot out of Sam and Gary. It was something just 1 year ago I would never have accepted. Yet I wonder, what is monogamy worth? Are you ‘paying’ for something that does not exist in the first place?

The argument would be then, how do I know truth and honesty even exists? In a contraversial way, the least one expects, the more one gains. Come to an agreement, and keep that agreement sealed with love (yes I still believe in love). “The only way to get rid of a temptation is to give in to it”. And since that can’t change, why not just embrace it fully.

I choose trust and honesty. Why? At least with it, then I know what he says or does comes from the heart. That he means it. I don’t want a sweet sms that is off a song or something that is too good to be true, that can be written by someone else instead. Talk is cheap. I wanna know what he does or says comes from the heart. Regardless of it being sweet or bitter.

As for monogamy, let me know if it’s there. I tend to go along the way of my partners and all. Some of my friends have seen the wildness and the beast in me unleashed. Yet another sees a side of me that I didn’t even know existed.

In short, talk to your partners people. If it is irreconcilable differences faced, crying more than laughing, I suggest from a third party’s view, it aint worth it one bit. Let him do what he wants. Let him let you do what you want. Lay the cards out, and see if all is acceptable. Be true. Be honest. Be truthful.

I’m heading to bed… thanks Jeff for the night at NYDC

Some pics to share from Sat.

NYDC @ Wheelock