Friday, April 29, 2005
My my, one does get quite an insight from Blogpatrol! Since installing this nifty little tracking gadget on my blog last weekend, i've come to realise that Where's the Chocolate, Dude? has been averaging about 94 visitors a day! (And that's VISITORS, mind you, not hits. The counter doesnt count you if you hit the site more than once a day)
My my, this is wonderful. -ego boost- i had no idea i'd so many readers.. i figured only my close friends would bother to come and tolerate the crap i write in here. And i didnt even update since the weekend cause i was in camp!
Yes, i've decided: i shall strive to continue to provide you, loyal reader, with more read-worthy, scandalous, juicy, yummy, intellectual, insightful posts! Because this blog isnt one of those secret diary things for my to post my innermost feelings.. nope, this blog is for the people, the nation, and the republic of singapore. -fanfare-
Oh, and thank you for all the birthday wishes! Granted, it wasnt the best of birthdays, but its nice to know that so many people are thinking of me. :) Cheers to our friendships!
he rocked the party at 9:28 PM |
Sunday, April 24, 2005
my birthday present :)
he rocked the party at 9:49 AM |
I've just turned 20 half an hour ago!
-applause-
And though yes, i'll start my birthday off with the exciting act of booking into camp for the second week of Commando Officer Conversion Course, and i'll have no candlelit cakes, no big pile of presents, and no council guys "poling" me against the rugby pole,
but i've got the best birthday present in the world.
-grin- Yes dear reader, excuse the mushy posts of the past few days, but its my blog and i'm entitled to indulge. So hah. -sticks out tongue- I could have blogged about last week's COCC details, about how torturous it was, how long and draggy the lectures were, how fun rappelling was, how jialat the surprise turnout was, how shagged the 5, 7 and 9km socs were.. but frankly i dont give a rat's ass about them.
The weekend spent with YOU, was the best birthday weekend ever:
Who talks to me every night before i sleep, to give me strength for the (shitty) COCC day ahead?
Who sends sweet, simple and surprise-filled sms-es when i most need them?
Who greets me with a paper bag filled with a box of brownies and a T-shirt?
Who spends the day with me bumming around the house, lazily watching vcds?
Who gushes and gets all delighted over cartoon birds?
Who snuggles up to me and makes any movie enjoyable?
Who has the time to accompany me to smelly sweaty beach road to buy army stuff?
Who feeds me gelare and waffles while im reading career guide?
Who has the courage to have a Vietnamese birthday dinner with my family?
Who do i wanna hold under the stars sitting by the esplanade bay, reliving first date memories?
Its you...
Thank you for giving me the best birthday ever.
he rocked the party at 9:25 AM |
Saturday, April 23, 2005
So they just elected a new Pope.. hooray for Catholicism!
I just realised that if you add a "piah" after the word "Pope",
You get "popiah"
ahahahahahah.
he rocked the party at 2:12 AM |
Sunday, April 17, 2005
Some movies are "okay", the ones you watch on tuesday so you only have to pay $6.50 and forget what it was about an hour after it ends.
Some movies are good ol "slam-and-bam" action ones, (in more ways than one, ahem) where you watch with you guy friends and leave your brain at the door.
Some movies are funny, the kind you cannot watch with a girl cause she'd think you were having an orgasm by the way you were squirming with laughter.
Some movies are scary, the kind you'd watch with your other half, (like Shutter.. -grin-) just so she has an excuse to bury her head on your shoulder.
Some movies suck, the kind you look at the trailer and know you'll never EVER watch it.
And then there are the movies which make you wanna do something simply cause they have such a big effect on your life.
Jurassic Park was one: it made the young 8-yr old me crazy over dinosaurs. Ask me to name 10 dinos offhand and i'll name them, tell you about their feeding habits and whether they existed in the Triassic, Jurassic or Curtateous period. Heck, i even have the toys.
Honey was another: the one that revitalised a hip-hop attitude and inspired a tired, jaded NSF to go for dance class.
And there was last night's You Got Served: Screened during Movies By The Bay @ Stadium Waterfront with her as lovely company. The shitty script and lacklustre acting were probably reasons why it wasnt screened in Singapore cinemas, but what the heck: the dancing was incredible, the music made me groove on my picnic mat (much to a neighbouring couple's annoyance), and it inspired yours truly to go for dance class today! (which i didnt la, due to a sudden onset of sore eyes during church! grumble. But aiyuh, there's always next week then.)
I miss dancing. Really I do. Dance was what gave SJI scouts a victory over ACS (i) during the IJ campfire in Sec 4, Dance was the inspiration for countless teachers' day concerts, dance was what i taught to 1000 J1s during Orientation, dance was the icing on the cake during my 18th birthday, dance was the thing that introduced me to the scandalous world of clubs, dance is what keeps me bouncing on a mundane MRT trip, dance was what gave SAJC Gold during SYF in 2003 and this year, dance was the X-factor that sealed the victory for a successful Open House, dance was the spark that ignited countless friendships, (hello Glen, Hui, Cynthia, Jessica, Jaime and Second! haha, just to name a few..)
And of course, dance is what led me to YOU. :)
he rocked the party at 2:44 AM |
Friday, April 15, 2005
Her: I dunno how to cut fruits!
Me: That's why i love you!
he rocked the party at 10:38 AM |
We had this Officer sharing session today, where Battalion 2IC said something which really struck me:
Bn2IC: So which is tougher, your Commando training, or your OCS training?
Me (thinking): Its obviously Commando training..
Bn2IC: Definitely your Commando training right? How many people were left by the end of BCT? (to the uninitiated: Basic Commando Training)
Me (thinking): Approximately 200..
Bn2IC: Around 200 right? Now do you think, if these 200 people somehow made it to OCS, would there be a chance of at least 90% of them making it through?
Me (thinking): A resounding "YES". Pondered about this issue before back in BMT.
Bn2IC: Gentlemen, my point is, OCS is actually a really easy course. Its actually very easy to earn that one black bar on your shoulder. (hidden meaning: So dont think you're all such big f***s.) However, doesnt your shoulder feel really heavy now, even with just one black bar? The real challenge is NOW, gentlemen, when you're here, entrusted to lead the men of 1st Commando Battalion. These guys are the cream of the crop, any one of them could have easily passed OCS. But the fact is that you were the one who's commissioned, thus YOU'RE given that responsibility to lead them.
Interesting thoughts, aint it? OCS, for all its glamour, prestige, and showmanship, wasn't much of a challenge, to be frank. Not saying that its a bad thing, i DID learn quite a bit back there, but at the end of the day, the challenge lies in how i perform back in Commandos. It doesnt matter how many people salute or greet me, that black bar doesnt count for anything till i can prove it.
I so want to be DY S2. But even if i dont get posted to that, i think its going to be a pretty exciting journey!
I miss my OCS Bravo Plt 2..
he rocked the party at 10:19 AM |
Tuesday, April 12, 2005
this silly gabanzoo of mine.. aint she cute in glasses? :)
I shall be seeing YOU in an hour!
he rocked the party at 2:58 AM |
Monday, April 11, 2005
"It's all the little things that make you beautiful to me."
The more time you spend with someone you love, the more you miss her when its time to leave. Even when its just for 4 days. Hmmm.
I'm so not looking forward to going back to Hendon. Bleargh.
Good luck for your exams dear..
he rocked the party at 8:40 AM |
Sunday, April 10, 2005
that lucky guy with the pretty lady..
he rocked the party at 9:58 AM |
Cpt Neo and his immortal phrase, "Kan-nah?!"
he rocked the party at 9:57 AM |
The hunks
he rocked the party at 9:56 AM |
Undoubtedly, our favourite pic :)
he rocked the party at 9:52 AM |
SA Councillors, once again
he rocked the party at 9:51 AM |
Alright, excuse the unimaginative title. Blogger's block comes when an event so spectacular, memorable, enjoyable and significant as this, there's just too much to blog about, hence the post (and the title) becomes comparatively mild. Hmmm.
Nevertheless, it was a magical night of glamour, glitter and glitz, which i shall never forget.
The place: Swissotel's Raffles Ballroom
The people: I dont believe i have ever seen such a large congregation of good-looking people at one place before. Not even at grad night. I do believe OCS does have a knack for making its Officers attractive enough to bring beautiful dates. Ego insists that the both of us were the best looking of the lot, common sense is telling me not to push it. Hahah.
The programme: Boring, the case for all SAF functions. What else did you expect?
The table: Jon, Joe, Jason, Chun Wee and yours truly, with our very very very very pretty dates
The doorgifts:
For the gentlemen - OCS Zippo Lighter, which cant work. And i dont understand why they want us to smoke. And a really cool-looking jackknife, which cant be closed once its opened. Sigh.
For the ladies - a feline shaped pendant
The date: That Special Lady, who made the night, and who makes my life, simply wonderful. -grin-
The menu: A 7 course chinese dinner, if im not mistaken. Including yummerific Shark's Fin Soup which no less than 3 girls refused to eat! Of course, Special Lady who claims to be "vegetarian", happily slurped it down and declared that its ok cause its "seafood" -grin- Its silly things like these that make me love her.
The flower: A corsage for her! Which she couldnt wear, sadly. But we settled for it to be pinned to her bag anyway.
The after-party: Coco-Latte, with old-skool r&b, Hoegaarden beer, and a sinful flaming Lambo with Jon and the guys! Bloody peer pressure..
The significant moment: at 2.45am, when i finally said those 3 words. Thank you for being so patient...
Pictures all available for your viewing pleasure.. Check out the photos Many pictures of Jon and Gen, Jason and gf as promised too!
Yes yes, i know this post totally sucks. I'll just let the pics speak for themselves to tell you what a wonderful night it was and make you jealous.
Sidenote: Oh, my new photo album is up! Not really developed yet, only has 3 albums of ACPC, Comms Parade and Comms Ball, and has absolutely no captions. But I'm under pressure to deliver for all you faithful readers.. so here it is:
this brand new album!
he rocked the party at 7:42 AM |
Thursday, April 07, 2005
Packed my bags, and left OCS for the last time together with 17 other Commando officers, in the back of a kitbag filled tonner, just like how we came into OCS for the first time, so many months ago.
OK i admit: i AM sad to leave beautiful, luxurious, crawling-with-"crabs", spacious, sprawling, big-comfortable-bed, corny-joke-filled, SAFTI MI.
But at least now, we're back where we belong. As shared with fellow officers, OCS taught us how to have the "say" in our conduct, bearing, and actions. But our roots will always lie back in good ol Hendon Camp. -grin-
Homely feelings indeed, moving our stuff into the (messy) Officer's Mess, speaking to possible future OCs and past commanders, having senior officers offer to lend us their mini fridge.. there's something in Hendon which makes us feel like part of that big family in which all its members don the red beret.
Of course, not everything's rosy and peachy: was a little irritated at a wasted day today, because certain people dont know how to manage our time, reinforcing that little fact that the army will always, always be inefficient and time wasting. But what the heck. I should've seen this coming anyway..
Officership comes with more than its fair share of SAI KANG. (to the uninitiated, this translates into "fatigue work")
Let's hope the next few weeks will be as relaxed as this week though. I could get used to this officer's life. -grin- Where the days, however tedious, will end in nights where i'd be rewarded with the company, however short, of this silly lovely lady of mine.
2 more days to Comms Ball!
he rocked the party at 9:24 AM |
Tuesday, April 05, 2005
Bitter: I got rejected by UPenn today. Was kinda expecting it, since i'd been deferred since december, and i've had no alumni interviews whatsoever, yet a small part of my heart kept praying for a miracle. Sigh. It was a beautiful dream now, wasnt it. That painful twinge of wanting something so badly and not getting it hurts more than i expected it to. Perhaps I am not accustomed to failure. But that's life i guess. Puts things into perspective.
Still, its a good wake up call nonetheless. Its time i stopped procrastinating and wasting my time away in army like what i've been doing for the past 4 months or so. Application essays need to be planned, teachers have to be begged for testimonials, certificates have to be compiled and photocopied, driving test HAS to be taken, stock markets have to be studied, and other university options have to be explored! Berkeley in the University of California is now my numero uno choice, as well as USC, NYU, and of course, a re-application to The College at Penn to study economics in the sneaky hope that i'd be able to enter Wharton (oh, that unattainable dream school) through the back door. (deb deb deb, help me out here.. should i? our dreams of study and party arent shattered just yet!)
Sweet: Ladies and gentlemen, i'd like to announce that it's official, dated this 5th of April 2005 at 11.10pm.. that I've given my heart to you, you, you. :)
he rocked the party at 9:55 AM |
Sunday, April 03, 2005
"The President of the Republic of Singapore, reposing special trust in your loyalty, courage and good conduct, charges you to carry out your duties with due diligence and perseverence, as commmissioned Officers of the Singapore Armed Forces."
Few words could describe the feelings running through our hearts as those words were uttered.. in that magical moment when we were commissioned as officers, memories of the past 8 months flashed through my mind, recalling the laughter, the tears, the sweat, the grime, and the cameraderiae of OCS.. simply euphoric.
Yes dear reader, yesterday was the parade of a lifetime, the one event which has spurred me onwards for the past 8 months (and for the rest of my platoon, 10 months, since i joined ocs halfway), the one event which every junior cadet eyes with envy and awe, which every parent wishes his son to march in, which the past chapter of blood, sweat, tears and bugs in ears has led towards:
The OCS Commissioning Parade.
The entire day's drizzle had anxieties running high, and had me visiting bunks urging platoon mates to do a rain dance so that it'll pour in the afternoon and not during the parade. Thankfully, the heavens smiled on the graduating class of 56/04, and the drizzle cleared up just in time to make way for cool, crisp evening. (albeit a little humid..)
The parade was wonderful, went pretty smoothly and tho it wasnt a perfect one, it was, in my opinion, an excellent one. All the fumbling hands from the thousand "homat senjatas", the blistered feet from the endless "henta khakis" had finally paid off. What was especially memorable was our "14, one two", that is, to march 14 steps towards the crowd and berhenti (halt) together, and the silent "YES! Nice one.." running through our heads and we saw the admiring smiles and heard the spontaneous applause of the crowd.
The pride sweeping over me was overwhelming as we did the slow march up the grandstand as well, allowing me to march right next to strategically placed family members and a certain pretty lady who took time off studying to come watch me. And of course, the immense joy and elation upon the announcement "Presenting to you.. the newly commissioned OFFICERS!" with peak caps flying high into the sky and my platoon engulfing me in hugs and jumps, in their (successful) attempt at preventing me from joining the other commandos in their group hug in the centre of the parade square.
And yes, big THANK YOUs to Kim, Peter, Merrilyn, Perry, Guan Yuan for the funnest post-parade chill-out session at Coffee Bean, and also to Junwen, Chang King, Jonathan Jacob, Chong Nyen, JiTing, Xiaohua, Nat, and everyone else from 1st Commando Battalion for showing up.. you guys make a guy like me proud. :) And of course, the little lady that makes every day special: you, you, and only you. (ok, mushy)
And at the end of the day, the pride in the eyes of my parents', made all the crap i take being in the army, all worth it.
More pictures will be up soon! (yes yes, i know i keep saying that.. its cause ive just aquired a new image hosting site and am busy uploading all my pics up, and thus havent linked it yet.. long story, easy excuse.)
he rocked the party at 9:18 AM |
mua and the 3 J's: jon, joe and jasper (not to be confused w the friendly ghost)
he rocked the party at 9:11 AM |
affixing the coveted ranks..
he rocked the party at 9:09 AM |
spot the red beret!
he rocked the party at 9:07 AM |
