three words

Sat through about 2 hours worth of Wong Kar Wai's 2046. It was raining outside, the cinema's air-conditioning was on full blast, and my knees were in pain.

It's a very slow paced and deep movie about relationships. And my interpretation of it can be summed up in three words; fate, timing, choice.

Reminds me of a time when I was in an active friendship/relationship with a few girlfriends. But at the end of the day, I had to make a choice, and in the process, break a few hearts. Granted, Wong's movies are not for everyone, you either love it or hate it, so I could be biased when I give it a 8/10.

Should have put on my longjohns, would have enjoyed the show much better.

When Animals Attack

Yesterday, Cookie, a cat I gave to my sis Serene, was put to death, by my own decision.

"So what do you want to do with it?" The pet handler asked.
My heart almost stopped, but I had to make the call, I can't risk having such a powerful and unpredictable tomcat staying with 3 old folks anymore.

"Put it to sleep..."

Siti cried, my sis cried on the line when she heard it from me. But we all know it was inevitable.

Whatever happened took place so fast that I'm not sure if I got it all down correctly.

After ferrying my grandma and mum to the dentist, we decided to drop by their place for awhile. Cookie, as usual, greeted us with some whining and grumbling, as if to chide us for being away so long. We all know that he must have missed Serene, who got married and moved out about 6 months ago. I played with it for a few minutes before settling down to read the papers. Cookie then went over to Siti smell her feet, then her bermudas, then her blouse. We know he can pick up our own cat's scent coz Allie, my fat cat, has been sleeping on it for the past day or so. But this is not the first time so it's nothing unusual.

Siti and mum then decided to look at some stuff in Serene's vacated room. Next I know, Siti was calling out, Kevin Help! Kevin Help! Cookie is biting me!

I got up and walked over to the room, thinking that the cat is probably playing with her, but what I saw next shocked me.

My mum was running away from Cookie, after being badly scratched on the leg by him when she tried to stop it from biting Siti. The cat chased after my mum and pounced on her, clinging on to her right arm with it's razor sharp claws, scratching and biting her at the same time. She flung it to the floor in pain. Immediately, I tried to lift it up by the fold of skin behind it's neck and shoulders with my left hand, as this method is known to relax cats. But, apparently, this cat has forgotten how to relax. It spun around forcefully, biting and scratching my wrist, causing my grip on him to loosen. Then it pounced on me, this time clinging on to my right arm and sinking it's fangs into it. I now know that this is no longer the Cookie we knew and so loved, it has lost it's mind. I thought of flinging the cat out the 14th floor window but couldn't make myself do it, having watched it come out of it's mother's womb right up to this day, 7 years later, so instead, I just bit my lip and bear with the pain, grabbed it by it's torso, and pushed it, back first, into a pile of junk, at the same time shouting at Siti and mum to get out of the room.

At that moment, the cat went berserk, clawing away at my right hand viciously. The pain got to me again as I quickly released the cat. It jumped out of the rubble and started to approach me again. I told my mum to remain still as I retreated slowly out of the room with Siti behind me. I shut the door behind it so that my mum is isolated. But now I'm being cornered by it, every sound and movement from us was deemed threatening. My concern now is for my wife hiding behind me, and my grandma, cooking up a storm in the kitchen, oblivious to the severity of the situation. I tried shouting at her to unlock the door and gate and lock herself in her room but, being partially deaf, she couldn't hear me. I guess ignorance truly is bliss! She later saw us cowering in the corner and even tried making some noise and calling the cat! I used the universal hand signal to tell her to keep quiet and to shut herself in the room. But she didn't get it.

After about 15 minutes of standing motionless in the corner, Siti called 999 using her mobile. The operator must have thought we were joking, but she said a despatch is on the way anyway.

I then shouted at my grandma to switch off the TV, and then told her to leave the gates unlocked for the police and shut herself in the room. Hearing the word police finally made her realize that we were facing a dangerous beast now. She finally did as I said.

After another 15 minutes, the police finally arrived. 2 men in blue. I told them to grab a few big towels as they managed to distract the cat. Cookie then started to turn his attention to the newly arrived strangers and started to move slowly towards them. Quickly, I asked Siti to get in the room to find me a towel. She got me a big, quilted blanket. Even better. Slowly, we closed in on Cookie and cornered him into the toilet. The cop tried to capture the cat with the blanket but after about 15 minutes, they too gave up. Without the right equipment, it was just too strong and risky for us to do it safely.

After a few phone calls, I got a number from the SPCA, and they gave me the number to a guy named Francis, a professional pet-handler/problem-solver. He laughed at first upon hearing that the police were involved but said that he will be here anyway, with the proper equipment, I reminded him.

Half an hour later, this tall specky guy came, with a pvc pipe with nylon loops at both ends and a cage in his hands. According to him, he's been doing this for 15 years, so he should have seen it all.

The loop was slowly manoeuvred around Cookie, who was at this time screaming loudly at this new threat and pooing uncontrollably out of fear and desperation, and with a quick tug at the other end, choke-held the cat around it's neck. It's attempt to scratch the pvc pole and to break itself free were in vain. Francis quickly stuff the cat into the cage. It was over in about 5 minutes.

He said that in his 15 years, he's never seen a domesticated house cat gone so crazy like this. Must have been due to the pent-up sexual urge over the past 7 years, noting that it wasn't neutered. Maybe it's trying to protect it's owner's room from unfamiliar people with other cat's scent on our body. He said that this is a very dominant tomcat, judging from it's ferocity and its bulky and round head, and it will probably kill the other male strays in the neighbourhood had it been let loose. Then he asked me the dreaded question.

With a lump in my throat, I told him my painful decision, and said our last goodbyes to Cookie...

Damage assessment. I have mostly lacerated wounds mostly caused by the cat clinging onto my arm and tearing away with it's hind legs, plus a few puncture wounds from it's fangs. Some minor cuts and bruises on my legs and knees when I struggled to hold it down.

Mum was worse off. Cookie took a chunk of her skin off her arm, about the size of two 10 cent coins, and we can see the flesh and the fats from the gaping wound. Took 5 stitches to patch it up. Her right leg also has a few scratches about 5 to 8cm long.

$80 for Francis, $20 for SPCA to put Cookie to sleep, $135 for patching us up. But money was the last thing on my mind then... poor Cookie...

On my way back from the clinic, my car also ran over a bird. So I guess that's 2 lives I've ended now in just one day...

Rest in Peace, Cookie...

oh, I forgot

ManU held again, that's 2 draws at home and 3 away now...

Liverpool fought back from 2 goals down to win 2-4...

Charlton and Newcastle practised hitting the woodwork and shooting at the guys on the line...

Everton's season still going strong...

Middlesborough getting stronger season by season...

Chelsea finally got beaten...

Arsenal gunning for record 50 wins...

come what may, there's always time for sports and stuff, now back to being depressed...

rockbottom

i just had the worst day of my life

Watz Happening

Quite a few things happened in the past few days. And I've had many mood swings, much like what the ladies call PMS, haha.

I've been having 2 repetitive dreams for the past few. One is a nightmare, the other one sweet as honey.

In the nightmare, I have this very cute and adorable kitten whom I've grown to love. But it has this malady or curse that will turned it into a humongous, gargantuan monster with green eyes and veins popping out all over the place every once in a blue moon. I fought it bravely, but it was a tough fight. Coz I know this monster was actually the very cuddly kitten, so how can I kill it? I was trying my best to buy enough time so that this monster will somehow turn back to the kitten, and maybe I can find a cure for what ails it. I will try forever, or die trying.

Sometimes, I can almost understand why some people chose to stay single, and some turn gay or lez.

Well as for the sweet dream.... It's xxx rated and really too explicit to put up here la... I'll leave it to your imagination, muahahahaha.

Sometimes, I don't understand how people can stay single without a soul mate, or turn gay or lez.

I'm also very glad that I've met a bunch of fellow sports-lovers, and ran into an old friend.

It started out when someone named Sukaimi of the roadburners left a msg on my wife's blog. Followed the url and found out that they are actually a group of healthy living and fun loving runners who just love to run. Check them out! Its amazing, the feats that they have accomplished, like the 120km round Sg island run, its unbelievable! Next year, I'll join them for sure. We've exchanged contacts and agreed to take part in some team events, soon. I'm a waterboy, can help in the swimming part, I'll leave the real hard-work of running to them, the elite, haha.

Also, from the roadburners blog, saw Wendy's blog. She is a cyclist and loves to participate in cycling events. Since she's Malaccan, her melayu is very cim. I think my CT will gain much when she gets to know Wendy, can improve her pidgen bahasa melayu(baku, malaysia, whatever!), heheh. She's been bugging me to get us a pair of bicycles for years after she gave her's away and mine got stolen, but, due to a lack of 'motivation', I've not done so.

Leonard-me-Ken-ChinWee

Remember Ken, he was the mastermind behind the 'distraction' for my guitaring deficiencies during a talent-time competition, and the lead-guitarist from my 2nd band! We've lost touch for a few years now, but we ran into him yesterday evening at PS. He's still very much into writing his own stuff now with his current band, and took part in competitions like Asian Beat and even got into the semi-finals! Good for you Ken. He even asked out of courtesy if I'm willing to play drums for him again should his drummer have problems. Heheh, sure Ken, anytime. Double pedal, paradiddle, even sing, just like old times, no problemo!

So, battling monster, sexy dreams (or izit real?), the sporting vibes are back, the musical contacts surface again... it's gonna be exciting!

Shut Up, Kevin!

Sometimes, I should've just kept my mouth shut, or my hands tied, in this case. In an email convo with Sukaimi, I mentioned in passing my affinity to swimming. Next I know, he was telling me that he needs a swimmer to join him in either a biathlon or triathlon relay event, closing the sentence with "can you kev?"

If you can see me now, you will probably think that I'm a flea infested ape or something. Cos my whole body is itching for such a challenge. And all the scratching in the world won't help.

Can I?

I can't answer that, yet.

But, shall I? Will I?

Yes! Yes!

I almost signed up for this year's event on my own, but thought better of it, cos I know my weakness is in running, and, without devoting any time at all into training, I am just lying to myself.

I used to swim almost everyday. Zero impact, whole body workout, no sweat, low cost. Just lovely.

And I had once cycled from Farrer Road (borrowed a friend's wobbly bicycle there) to West Coast Road to meet my friend Mansur, then together we pedalled over to East Coast Park for a BBQ party, then its back to West Coast with him, before riding alone back to Farrer again to return the bike. I cycled on the road with an unsteady bike, young, fearless, but foolish.

But comes to running, I've lost alot of my endurance. Even short distance, the best I could ever muster for 2.4km was in my NS Army BMT days, at 9mins21secs. Nowhere near good. Moreover, with my sore left toe and loose knees now, no way I can do it.

So now the ball is in my court. Registration closes in 2 days. Event takes place in 16 days time. Swim 800metres only. Sentosa some-more.

Can you Kev?

(just shut up and do it, kev)

Roadburners

Just made contact with one of the Roadburners, Sukaimi. Very humble guy, and in my book, that's Cool, with a capital C.

He invited me to join him on another 10km run, this time at MacRitchie Reservoir. Thank you, bro, but I'm not sure man.

Let's see. In the past few months or so, what have I (not) accomplished?

• April: The JP Morgan run, I really pushed myself. A pity I forgot to time myself properly for the 5.6km run cos from the time the air-horn blared, I spent about 10 good minutes trying to get to the starting point proper. There were just too many 'fun walkers'. I guesstimated my time to be about 30 mins or so of running time. That's not too bad for 5.6km of hop-scotching and zig-zagging through those walkers, strolling abreast their friends and blocking the way of those serious runners. My hips and ankles felt like burning from all the lateral stress.
• May: The New Paper Big Walk was much better. It was about 7km plus, down from the 10km or so due to the big hole at Nicol Highway. We completed it in about 45 to 50 mins, no jog or run, just very brisk walking. But my hips and ankles are still feeling abit sore from the JPM run, well at least my knee was ok.
• Aug: Nike Run. Decided to give it a miss.
• Sept: Terry Fox Run. I couldn't even make it. Work. At least I am represented by CT.
• Sept: Sheares' Bridge Run and Army Half Marathon. Planned to run the 12km even though I know I'm working that night. At the 4km mark halfway up the slope of the highway, my knee, right instead of left, felt loose. Pain. Decided to run 5km only. The remaining 1km plus or so was the longest I ever took to do 1km. My body is weak, my mind, feeble. I have let my friends, family, and myself down. I almost felt like performing the harakiri.
• Oct: Singapore-Johor 2nd link run. Signed up for it, but, damn, why must all the runs be organized on Sundays, which I work? If I were to take leave for each of these runs throughout the year, there won't be enough of them! So I decided to give it a miss again. Different event, same excuses. Work, poor conditioning, blah blah and blah.

So, you see, Sukaimi. Eager as I am to join you, I think I should follow my head and not rush into it. I plan to go back to more running during my days off, to build up my strength, endurance, and confidence again. And I must do it alone. I am my worst enemy, my greatest rival. I hope one day, I'll be good enough to join the roadburners.

Superman flies again

Yes, I'd like to look at it that way.

A true fighting spirit, a Hero, his spirit can now finally fly free, forever, away from the wheelchair, those life support systems, and that cruel thing called FATE. I'm glad, but not without a tinge of sadness...

I remember it like it was yesterday. Just 7 years old, going to the movies was, for me, a super-major event. It was at Capitol Theatre, I was a dwarf among the super-massive crowd waiting to get in. We got the circle seats, what I would call a big balcony, and that means an unblocked view of the super-humongous screen, a birds-eye-view of those below us, and the majestic dome of Shaw's Capitol Theatre above, one of its kind in Singapore. Unforgettable...

You fought a good fight, and lived a life worth remembering. You will live on in my world as Superman. Thank You Christopher Reeve. Thank You Superman, for all the great memories. Au revoir.

Can't sleep well? Well, start by sleeping less!

I just read about someone wondering about having more hours in a day.

Well, may I suggest that, like me, he starts off by sleeping less! Some experts believe that it is actually beneficial for those suffering from insomnia. And my own personal experience tells me that it will improve the quality of your slumber, especially if you are a light sleeper who can hear an ant sneeze in your bathroom even while asleep.

Of late, I've been turning in early in the morning, anything from 3am to 7am. But I slept so well that I can't hear the phone ring, my SMS alerts, door-bells, my cats wrestling, my neighbour's dogs barking, and no dreams or nightmares. I wake up after no more than 7 hours of almost being in a state of hibernation, where all my senses are fully rested and refreshed, and finding myself able to last longer and do more.

When it comes to sleep, its not the quantity, but the quality that counts.

Oh, talk about sleep, it's time to wake her up. Another long day for her. Mmm, breakfast at McDonald's! Sounds good...

24hrs Swenson's

Ya, in my dreams, that is. It's past midnight and I'm thinking about ice-cream? After sending 'fresh grad' Azlina to Sengkang and 'lucky girl' Lulu back to her posh River Valley Condo, it's already close to 1am. What ice-cream? 7-11 have la.

But after seeing her tackle the super-long Q and standing whole day, must bring her somewhere to makan. So we ended up at the Prata place at Thomson Road. It was rather packed, so no choice, park the car abit further. This 2 Prata shop side-by-side, but how come one so bloody packed, while the other one like, ok only har? Never mind, we'll come on a weekday to try the packed one next week.

After we're done, we know why. The food is not bad, but its nothing fantastic also, that means... the packed one must be damn bloody good, right!? OK, next week, die-die must try!

Goose Down! Goose Down!

Drove down to the Expo to fetch her and some stuff she's buying, quilts, pillows, bolsters. Bolsters? Why in the world she wants a bolster for?
When I was younger, I could never sleep without one. But for the past 8 years, I never needed one. What for? I have something much more satisfying and interesting to hug, plus, its warm!
Then again, there are some really good deals here. You have pillows and protectors that are anti-everything. Dust mites, fungi, germs, you name it. And the pillows are 50% goosedown, who cares what makes up the other half. And only $10?(Use to pay a few times more for these) You accept plastic? I'm gonna get me a truck load of them! Yes! I just saved myself some money by spending some. Now Let's go for some Swenson's icecream to celebrate!

Morning Rush

Slept at 3am and woke up at 6 this morning to a flurry of activities. Felt like I was running about with my bed still attached to my back.

1st I sent the crazy one to Singapore Expo for a little stint. But not before some nice bedroom exercises. Reached there too damn early, none of the eateries were opened yet, so I decided to head down to Bedok nearby for a quick one before sending her back there again, 25minutes to and fro, kopi, kaya bread, half-boiled egg.

Next, I went on down to Wisma to send the damn Sony NetMD for a checkup. Sony stuff use to be synonymous with quality. Well, not anymore. This damn thing costs me around 500 bucks, and its been nothing but pain for the past 2 years or so. I should have done my homework before I got this thing, what with all those ATRAC3 format nonsense, the klunky software, and the dodgy docking station. Why does Sony always come out with their own proprietary formats? Remember the doomed Betamax? It says it'll play mp3, but I only found out later that it only does so after the software has imported and converted them into its own atrac3 format. A waste of time and resources. They were not opened yet when I reached there, so I went over to Citibank to drop a cheque and walk around Taka and Wisma. There were so many schoolgirls in uniform walking around. Is that what they do these days? Go window shopping before heading for class?

Popped by the Hello shop for a looksee. Wow, the Samsung E800 looks good, tiny, handy, and is a dead ringer for a certain Siemens phone. Also saw the Motorola Razr V3, awesome! Too bad they locked it in the display case so I can't tell if it feels as good in my hands as the Samsung.

Back at Sony, the girl asked me if she should set the agreeable repair costs at a threshold of 160 bucks before having to call me. 160! Hell no! I thought at her. I'd rather spend a little more money to get a solid state memory player or something with expandable memory that plays real mp3 files plus many other formats superior to your bosses' damn atrac3. Of course, I politely declined, giving the very sweet girl an edited version of my thoughts. "Whatever the cost, please give me a call, can? Who knows, if it costs too much to fix it, I may consider getting another one of Sony's latest and bestest!", I patronizingly said. After a little bit more of chat and laugh with her, I decided to look around the shop and see what are Sony's latest and bestest.

SAB100, SAB200, SAB300, DAV-SR2... man! From around 500 SGD to a little above 1k, you get a DVD player with built-in decoder and amplifier, complete with 5 speakers and a subwoofer! Clean, simple, uncluttered. Suddenly my Kenwood separates look like pieces junks, a blast from the past, a monstrosity that appears in my worst nightmares. Damn it, I'm gonna get rid of the wood and get myself one of these shit.... wait ... didn't I just cursed and swear at them for a certain piece of junk? Oh but these fall into a different category, Kevin. No buggy software to deal with, no silly conversions and imports, plus they are value for money, for 1 grand you can't even get some cellphones, Kevin. Oh no, now I'm talking to myself.

Walked around abit at Tangs and Far East Plaza, before I headed down to Tan Tock Seng Hospital to pass some 5up3R K0Nf1d3N71AL documents to HR's Shanti. CH's future depends on it. Oh, there's this Smart Car I saw parked outside Tangs, really small and cute! But I still think the Daihatsu Copen is nicer.

Next up, lunch and papers at Burger King. This nice elderly lady at Far East handed me a flyer from BK, some Alaskan Wild Salmon Burger. Yeeee-ummy!

Megadeth has released what is supposedly their final album, The System Has Failed. Read an article about Mr.Megadeth himself, Dave Mustaine, the man who is forever angry. Have not been following the Heavy Metal scene enough lately to know that he had a severe nerve injury to his left hand. Doctors said he'll probably never be able to play guitar again. But look at what he's doing now.

Right. 2pm. Usually, at this time on my days off, I'd still be in bed. Now that I've had my lunch and read the papers, maybe I should go for a movie... carpe diem!

Days to Remember

Today is a good day to remember. Remember the messy looking girl I mentioned in an earlier post? Well, I've now known her for about 14 years or so now, and this is how I met her. Almost like a in a movie, if I may say so myself.

8 years ago on this very same day, we signed a contract. Something we thought would never happen. But somehow, things fell into place almost all by themselves, everything worked itself out. It is a very long story so it'll have to wait.

Since my CH is now loafing around waiting for her 2 year course to commence, she's actually trying to make herself useful by giving tuition and taking up some part-time job. Now she knows what working late till 11 plus and arriving home past midnight feels like. But I think it's good to experience as much in life as possible while we are still young and able, doing different things.

Let's see. Since my primary school days till now, I have grabbed every single chance that come my way to try out different jobs.

1. Selling "mah piew poh!" in the evenings door to door in old HDB blocks
2. Worked as your friendly neighbourhood newspaper delivery/payment-collector boy
3. Worked in a furniture factory
4. Waitering in Chang Jiang Shanghai Restaurant in Goodwood Park Hotel
5. Waitering at the Poolside Steamboat Buffet Restaurant at Allson Hotel
6. Worked at Toys'R'Us at Forum Galleria doing everything from housekeeping to cashiering
7. Warehouse Store asistant at Motorola
8. Data entry clerk
   
9. A Pizza Hut Delivery Guy I was
10. A short unsuccessful spell as a Part-time Insurance Agent
11. A supervisor in a company manufacturing CDs
12. My current job
    

Unfortunately, depending on how you look at it, I have been slogging away at my present job for 7 years plus. As long as my CH is enjoying her favourite past-time of job hopping, how can I afford to do the same? I wish I have the resolve and boldness of someone like Mr.Miyagi to venture out to do my own thing.

One day, when I have no debts to settle and no bills to pay, I will probably join discovery channel or maybe those whacky guys at Greenpeace and lead a more dangerous life.

Heart of Steel

GODS OF WAR I CALL YOU,
MY SWORD IS BY MY SIDE.
I SEEK A LIFE OF HONOR,
FREE FROM ALL FALSE PRIDE.
I WILL CRACK THE WHIP WITH A BOLD MIGHTY HAIL.
COVER ME WITH DEATH IF I SHOULD EVER FAIL.
GLORY, MAJESTY, UNITY
HAIL, HAIL, HAIL.

Heart Of Steel
~ Manowar, Kings of Metal

Build A Fire A Thousand Miles Away
To Light My Long Way Home
I Ride A Comet
My Trail Is Long To Stay
Silence Is A Heavy Stone
I Fight The World And Take All They Can Give
There Are Times My Heart Hangs Low
Born To Walk Against The Wind
Born To Hear My Name
No Matter Where I Stand I'm Alone

Stand And Fight
Live By Your Heart
Always One More Try
I'm Not Afraid To Die
Stand And Fight
Say What You Feel
Born With A Heart Of Steel

Burn The Bridge Behind You
Leave No Retreat
There's Only One Way Home
Those Who Laugh And Crowd The Path And Cut
Each Other's Throats
Will Fall Like Melting Snow
They'll Watch Us Rise With Fire In Our Eyes
They'll Bow Their Heads
Their Hearts Will Hang Low
Then We'll Laugh And They Will Kneel And Know
This Heart Of Steel Was
Too Hard To Break
Too Hard To Hold

Stand And Fight
Live By Your Heart
Always One More Try
I'm Not Afraid To Die
Stand And Fight
Say What You Feel
Born With A Heart Of Steel

Thrill of the Hunt

I've been busy lately, night and day, running like a headless chicken down poorly illuminated halls and corridors, chasing dumb meat, and getting spooked by fiery fiends that come out of nowhere. Take that, you fugly mutha****in son of a bitch!

And my adventure I will share with you should I emerge victorious from this hell of a hole. But do remember me in your prayers should you not hear from me within 2592000 seconds...