The Search Is Over

I'm currently on the verge of collapsing from fatigue. At times I'll wonder, how great it would be to be able to choose the unit I'll be going. However, life is never a walk in the park - it is always filled with hardship and challenges.

4 more days and I'll be through.

Whether you like it or not, ups and downs are a norm in life. You can either lose your temper over it or stay calm to think of the possible solutions. It's your choice. Every day is a new beginning, treat it as a new chance to atone for the wrongs you have done or to improve on what you have not done correctly. Stay positive & enjoy your day.

It's weekend again. This time round, things are no longer the same. It's the last weekend before the training at OETI officially ends. The shared memories, the bonding and the friendships I'll always remember.

Eddy, Jiayi, Raymus, Benjamin, Fredrick, Kok Wei, Poon, Joe Young, Zhi Guan, Ying Hou, Aaron, Yew Hung, You Long, Ronald, KC & Tony. Thanks for the everything.

The more things I know, the lesser things I know. This may sound illogical, but that's the truth.

What's wrong with me? Perhaps the only thing I can change is myself, and my attitude towards others.

The rules and game of life, how are you going to play it?

I've finally finished reading "For One More Day" by Mitch Albom. It may just be a simple and thin book, it had me thinking about my actions towards people around me, especially my loved one.

I took for granted those little things they've done for me. E.g. Printing of documents, buying take-away from canteen, helping me to take my helmet and water bottle etc.

Never belittle those little things, they add up to a lot over time. At the end of the day, it is love, friendships, relationships and gratefulness towards others that matter.

*One day spent with someone you love can change everything*

When I was young and free and my
imaginations had no limits. I dreamed
of changing the world.

As I grew older and wiser I realized
the world would not change.
And I decided to shorten my sights
somewhat and change only my country.
But it too seemed immovable.

As I entered my twilight years, in one
last desperate attempt, I sought to
change only my family, those closest to
me, but alas they would have none of it.

And now here I lie on my death bed and
realized (perhaps for the first time) that if
only I'd changed myself first, then by
example I may have influenced my family
and with their encouragement and support
I may have bettered my country, and who
knows I may have changed the world.

Hardship will make you stronger mentally. Persevere!

Confused.

Ups and downs are a norm in life. Go through it and you'll be through.

The long wait is finally over, and it's Friday today. I am back to my normal lifestyle which do not consist of strict regiment and discipline of the army.

I'm back to my true self once again.

Next Audition Date: 29 Aug 09, Sat, 1000hrs

SAF MDC would like to call out to recruits with talents and professional experiences in Singing, Dancing, Acting or Compering (Hosting) to attend our audition at the above mentioned date. SAF MDC is also calling for recruits with good skills and expeiences in the following to attend our Artiste/Musician/Production audition.

Venue:
SAF Music & Drama Company
Nee Soon Camp
567 Transit Road
Singapore 778912

*Buses that stop outside Nee Soon Camp: 167, 169, 980. Nearest MRT: Yishun, Khatib

A shuttle bus service will be provided from 9 am to 10am from the Nee Soon Guardhouse to SAF MDC.

Things to note for the audition:

* You should be between the age of 17 - 35

* Please arrive 15mins before start of the audition. This is for you to fill out the application forms and change into dance attires (If applying for Artiste Department). Do not be late! You may need to schedule for another audition if you are unable to make it on time.

* All auditionees for the Artiste Department will be auditioned on dance, so wear comfortable shoes and dress appropriately for movement

* All auditionees for the Artiste Department.will be tested on Hosting Skills as well. You are required to audition using the script we provide, however you are encouraged to improvise.

* Please prepare 2 songs for the vocal audition. One up-tempo and one ballad. You will be tested on your pitching. You may choose to bring along a minus-one soundtrack or sing Acapella.

* If you are applying for a position in the Music Department eg. Guitarist, Violinist etc, it is recommended you bring your own musical instruments.

* Bring along a copy of your performing arts resume (Artiste and Musicians) and a portfolio in technical work (Technicians). Also produce a clear recent photograph of yourself, neither will be returned.

* To schedule for an audition, please call 64772847/ 64772832 to register yourself

Finally, come with an open mind and an open spirit! You might find yourself stumbling at some stations, but give it your best shot so we can identify any potential. See you at the audition!

Source: http://www.mindef.gov.sg/imindef/mindef_websites/atozlistings/mdc/career.html

I just realized something today - I have been deceiving myself all along.

I happened to come across a newspaper article reporting of a professor turning to be a cabby after being retrenched from his job.

A lack of financial intelligence & IQ are a form of mental handicap. Ignorance may be a bliss, but knowledge is power (thanks Jiayi for the phrase). I seriously pity him for the situation he is in now but that is his life, he chose to walk the path of destruction.

Most of the time, results will not be seen despite the effort put in. It often surprises you by coming at the moment when you least expected. That makes the success a sweeter and more memorable one.

The long journey to camp (to & fro) is seriously tiring me out.

A difficult journey ahead. Persevere!

Your personality type:

People-oriented and fun-loving, they make things more fun for others by their enjoyment. Living for the moment, they love new experiences. They dislike theory and impersonal analysis. Interested in serving others. Likely to be the center of attention in social situations. Well-developed common sense and practical ability.

Careers that could fit you include:

Actors, painters, comedians, adult entertainers, sales representatives, teachers, counselors, social workers, child care, fashion designers, interior decorators, consultants, photographers, musicians, human resources managers, clerical supervisors, coaches, factory supervisors, food service workers, receptionists, recreation workers, religious educators, respiratory therapists.

Source: http://www.41q.com/

The gathering was a successful one. It's great to meet up once again after being posted out to different units since POC.

The power of knowledge leads you to the darker side of the world.

I'm finally back home after staying in camp for a day. Tiring it may be, but still it was fun. The cat which followed us was cute and innocent - thanks for your accompany.

I never had breakfast at 3.30am before, but yesterday I created history. Thanks for the treat You Long.

My mind's not in good working condition, recharging is a must for now. Goodnight.

It was a slack day today, and early dismissal (5pm) was given. It came at the right time as it allows me to have sufficient rest to prepare for tomorrow's guard duty. So which means to say, I'll not be at home - will be spending the whole night in camp.

Have fun.

The long weekend break was a great one, at least it puts my mind off work and be able to focus more on recreation. I'm neither a machine nor a robot, I need my rest too.

The break's over, it's time to focus on work once again.

Happy 44th Birthday Singapore!

Ambitious & Driven

Your perfect match is someone who values success, is a natural born leader and constantly works hard to improve themselves and their life. They will deeply appreciate your ability to make them feel special. This type of person loves admiration and your giving, loving and wonderfully kind nature will make you their perfect mate. Your match also enjoys biking, hiking, working out and eating healthy--taking care of their body is a priority to them and they always look their best.This person will always protect you and keep your best interests at heart- they really want to go the extra mile to make you happy. The top traits they are looking for in a mate is loyalty and trustworthiness.They love a good challenge and are visionaries. This can hinder them when falling in love because they are very driven to find "the one" and won't settle for less. However, once they fall in love with you, they will be very affectionate and are enthusiastic about the relationship.

Analytical/Systematic

The organizer and thinker. You are very perceptive and pay very close attention to detail. You are highly critical and a bit of a complainer. You have a difficult time making decisions if you don’t have all the facts. You find it much easier to follow a routine or scheduled itinerary. People can count on you for great advice because you can analyze a situation very fairly and give a fair opinion even if it’s one that they do not want to hear. Be careful! People with this personality trait tend to be very pessimistic in nature which can kill other peoples cheerful moods. Loosen up!

Absence makes the heart fonder.

Topic: Why ignorance is a bliss?

1. Ignorance is bliss because if you don't know something, it can't hurt you. As children, people are themselves and get along much better. The more we age, the farther we lose who we are and begin to restrain ourselves for fear of others. As we grow older, we become increasingly aware of pain and suffering, and the more we know about everything wrong in the world, the more we lose our innocence and become less 'blissful'. I read once that when we lose the innocence of childhood, we become compassionate. That's the start of adulthood. We loose our ignorance and bliss with innocence, but we gain knowledge, compassion, and understanding.

2. If you have ever read Ecclesiastes (a book of the Bible for those of you who don't know) it is rather easy to understand why. As the human mind becomes wiser and learns more about the world around it, things lose their value. Certain things that were so awesome loose their awe because you realize that there is so much more out there, and many times, you realize you can't get to it. For example, babies. They really get a kick out of playing with balls or playing "pick-a-boo". But as the child ages, they learn more about the world around them and those childish games loose their value. As you become wiser, there seems to be less value for everything. I have experienced this. I used to get so excited about parties. But then one day I asked myself, "What happens after parties? What happens after i get that first 50 billion dollars and reach world wide fame?" What do you think happens after you become famous and rich? What else is there to possess besides love after you have bought pretty much every physical possession you could ask for? As the mind becomes more complicated, it takes more to bring happiness to it. If it is true that ignorance is bliss (which I think it is), is it not also true that poverty is bliss, for if you are poor, you have more to live for. You have more goals (wealth, for example)to aim at. Once you are at the top, the journey has ended. Is the journey not also more blissful than the destination?

3. Ignorance is bliss because knowledge is pain

4. Ignorance is bliss because it's easier to support something blindly than exploring all the options. It's also easier to act on instinct and learned behaviors rather than to think about what they're saying/doing.

5. What a silly question. Why do you crazy people spend so much time thinking? The world is bundle of sunshine and rainbows where Jesus protects us from all the big baddies out there like Muslims, Pagans and Gay people, because they're all evil and we Americans are all good. Hurray for America! Let's all go to a picnic and eat watermelon. (cough-sarcasm-cough) Get it? Ignorant people can be happy because they only need to see one side of an issue. Without real knowledge of a situation assumptions and generalizations can be fabricated to any ends you wish, and as the ends most desirable all lead to happiness, an ignorant person may invent a happier world to live in than that of the world they actually do live in. Basically, if I could be ignorant, I think I would, it beats anti-depressants anyway.

6. Ignorance is bliss for bliss's sake. Personally, I think that far more pure happiness can be got out of truly understanding something. Otherwise, why would we thirst for knowledge? It's just the half-way point that hurts so much. Having said that, there's certainly a few things that I should have kept schtum about because telling people brought far too much pain for all sides. There I go again, contradicting myself. I suppose that ignorance must be bliss if one is ignorant of one's ignorance. Once one becomes aware of it then that blissful state is lost and the only way of regaining it is to seek for the ultimate truth.

7. Ignorance would feel like bliss because those who are ignorant have no clue what the heck is going on. When you are ignorant, you don't realize that there is wrong in the world, that wrong is being done to you, or that you are being manipulated or controled by those who abuse others ignorance. The government preaches ignorance, advertises it everywhere, and bombards us with propaganda, so that when we are happy in our ignorance, they can go about controlling the world without us worrying about what they are doing. Some would say "Well, if your ignorant, it wouldn't matter, so why care?", but I think otherwise. If we all choose to follow blindly in ignorance, the world could evolve into a fascist world order lead by a small elite secret society (which could be in the near future, looking at the kids of today), and then the bliss that we know would quickly transform into a blind obedience. We would become slaves to our state of "bliss". sounds fun, right?

8. Though plenty of the options above did mention this, none of them actually FOCUSED on it.

Ignorance is bliss because I'm happier that way.

A prime example: I would be much happier not knowing that the saying, "Don't let the bed bugs bite" originates from the fact that there are thousands of dust mites living in my bed, eating my dead skin cells.

If I were ignorant to this fact, I would be happier, and as such in a state of bliss.

9. the way i see it is that what i don't know can't hurt me,
it's as simple as that. Take relationships for example; i don't want to know how the one who broke my heart is doing, i don't want to know that he's moved on and found someone else while I'm still dwelling over it. I don't want to know that it's one of my friends and that i don't know who to trust.

10. Ignorance is in fact bliss, what you don't know, cannot and will not hurt you

11. Ignorance to me seems to be staying in the dark, knowing you are staying in the dark, and yet choosing to stay in the dark. There are a number of things that were said previously, by the previous comments, that are a core factor of it...the idea of staying in the dark is so much easier than slaving over finding a light AND staying in the dark is much more secure than finding a light and finding out what ultimately is reality...which might not exactly be what we hoped, or like. But this does not mean that ignorance is truly blissful, simply because staying in the dark is no better than being blind by choice.

12. Ignorance causes innocence. When you do something wrong without knowing it or without knowing a reason for doing it, I don't believe it is really wrong.

Also Ignorance protects from pain and hey, everyone fears the unknown. So in a way, if we are ignorant, aren't we really just afraid? It is that fear that is destroying us. Not the ignorance itself.

Source: http://allphilosophy.com/topic/1658

Miraculously, today's dismissal was early (5pm). Well, it was all because of the National Day Celebration in camp. Buffet (mee siam, fish cake and chicken wing) was served as a reward for taking part in the parade.

Bronco ATTC final theory test is finally over. I managed to get 94/100 without putting in the effort to revise for it. Pro huh? I know I'm thick-skin, but that is called working smart by memorizing the answers.

Long weekends ahead. Enjoy.

Tomorrow's parade. Just a typical, normal parade. Nothing much to look forward to.

There will be always downs in life, no matter how you try to avoid them. I'm glad I've learned to overcome them. The storm is over and the weather is back to normal once again.

I know, my temper has been very bad lately. My apology to those whom I've offended.

Savage Garden - Truly Madly Deeply

Verse 1

I'll be your dream
I'll be your wish
I'll be your fantasy.
I'll be your hope
I'll be your love
Be everything that you need.
I love you more with every breath
Truly madly deeply do..
I will be strong I will be faithful
'Cos I'm counting on a new beginning.
A reason for living.
A deeper meaning.

Chorus

I want to stand with you on a mountain.
I want to bathe with you in the sea.
I want to lay like this forever.
Until the sky falls down on me...

Verse 2

And when the stars are shining brightly
In the velvet sky,
I'll make a wish
Send it to heaven
Then make you want to cry..
The tears of joy
For all the pleasure and the certainty.
That we're surrounded
By the comfort and protection of..
The highest power.
In lonely hours.
The tears devour you..
I want to stand with you on a mountain,
I want to bathe with you in the sea.
I want to lay like this forever,
Until the sky falls down on me...

Bridge

Oh can't you see it baby?
You don't have to close your eyes
'Cos it's standing right before you.
All that you need will surely come...

I'll be your dream
I'll be your wish
I'll be your fantasy.
I'll be your hope
I'll be your love
Be everything that you need.
I'll love you more with every breath
Truly madly deeply do...

Chorus

Had Bronco ATTC practical test today. I did not study for it, but surprisingly... I passed.

Anyway, I was totally worn-out today. At times I will question myself - waking up so early in the morning (weekdays) to report to camp and then make my way home again just to do something I detest so much. Two years of my life will be spent on repairing/maintaining armored vehicles (tanks).

There are many things in life which are beyond my control. I do not have the authority to ask them to stop or prevent them from happening. It takes great courage and perseverance to stay optimistic in the face of uncertainties and difficulties.

Optimism is all I need.

Sometimes I will wonder... why is that the initial passion for music disappears once you have achieved a certain standard? The motivation for improvement is no there.

Enlightenment needed.

I've just completed a 4.3km run today. So proud of myself. It doesn't matter whether you get prizes or not, most importantly is that you enjoyed the whole process. That's far more fulfilling than winning.

Here are the photographs taken during the event: