Christmas Shopping

I wanted to plan ahead - as with previous years, avoid the crowds, avoid the last minute panic buying.

Yet somehow, other than Matty's Thomas the train set, I bought nothing!

Finally I went to Parkway Parade today and bought Ian, Michelle and mom some clothes.  Yeah, I always fall back to that.  Need to buy K and R their Xmas gift and perhaps one for Ian's maid who's pretty nice.  Washed my car the other day cos she thought it looked a little grimy from all the raining of late.  I am more than willing to pay, the question is always, buy what?  Sigh.

I think sporty people are the easiest.  Walk into Runners Gait or one of these friendly local sports shops.  Buy anything in there!  At least I would be pleased with a gift from a place like that :)

Ok, 3 more gifts and I'm completely done.  Cal/Riz - what to buy?  K, Ian's maid - what to buy?

ERP heart attack

I just paid $5 in ERP to go to work.  Yes, I almost screeched to a total stop to wait the few offending minutes.  Mental note to self : Never between 8:30 to 9:00am.  Never again!

Support you in the back side!

Got an email from a vendor called EVSP.  They replied to say that they "believe EVSP is ability to be your OEM/ODM partner to be support you in the back side !".

Don't support me in my back side!  

Mobile phone market leader - Samsung

Samsung is now no.1 mobile phone in 2012.

I remember a conversation we had in the aisle back in 2006 with some smart co-workers.  We speculated 2 Asian phone makers to rise to the top : Samsung and HTC.  HTC seems to be straggling a little... let's see if they make it through.

My penitential mass - week 3 of Advent. Is it Christmas yet?

The penitential services have begun island wide.  I picked out 17 Dec Monday at Novena church.  At 5pm, I  was tempted to go home.  Re-looking at the schedule of churches and dates, none worked better than 17 Dec at Novena.  Sigh.  Drag feet there.

It was raining yet traffic was remarkably smooth, a sign from the heavens.  I was there early, plenty of time for evening mass at 6:30pm.  I made mistake no. 1 - I browsed the bookstore.  Stepped into the church at 6:20pm - saw a queue for confessions.  Idea!  I can skip penitential service altogether and be done early enough to even skip mass.  God heard that thought.  Precisely at my turn, it was over. Drats and double drats.  If only I didn't waste time browsing the bookstore!

No choice, sat down through mass.  Then I made mistake no. 2 of the night - threw my stupid umbrella back into car before walking to dinner at Novena Square.  Triple drats myself as I walked in a heavy drizzle all the way back to church, just in time for penitential service as it begins.

Mistake no. 3 - I chirpily asked a warden where's the best place to sit.  She sternly replied, "inside the church - please follow our instructions".   Fine, be like that.

The presiding priest ask that we all stay after our individual confessions so that we can end the service together as one church. Right - of cos.  We were quickly directed to different sections for our confessions and I jumped up to queue at the foyer.  "It will be quicker", I whispered conspiratorially to the lady beside me as I brushed past her.  In return, she shot me a 'chao kiasu' look.

I had prepared a scribbled list and read it to the priest.  He heard me out, looked at me and asked me to "do something different between now and Christmas".  He repeated it then pressed "Do you understand?"  I nodded.  Actually I didn't.  Why can't he give me a normal penance of 10 Hail Mary or Our Father prayers?

"Do something different" - what does that mean?  The same unfriendly warden approached and asked me if I was done.  I nodded but kept walking... out of church... to the car.. drive....home.  So much for waiting and ending as one church.

有情人终成眷属

Long time Yishun climbers, he moved to Korea to work a couple of years ago, we still see her around occasionally climbing alone.  Out of the blue, tadah!, Huda gives us all wedding invites.  Awww...

Genuinely happy to see them tie the knot finally.  Congratulations Huda and Muthu!

Jo and I came, ate, smiled broadly at Huda's sister thinking she's Huda, slap ourselves, ate some more, took pictures of the bride/groom as they arrived later and then we left!  Yeah, while the banging of the drums continued, we figured she already saw us, we already ate and, our beds were calling out to us for the customary Sunday afternoon naps.

Holiday break!

I took 2 days leave, packed a small bag and traveled all the way to Serangoon Gardens!  What a great idea, I should have done this sooner.

Smile Matty! 

Ok, don't smile Matty!   Ah, much better!

Here we are at TWG Cafe for tea.

Was a great holiday.  I had zero transportation costs (no flight nor boat ride), F&B was fully catered (ate off the family like a leech), free entertainment (his name is Matty) and plenty of time to catch up on lost sleep (quickly nap when the baby naps!).

Truly an atas holiday.  Breakfast was german sausages from Pan Pacific hotel, tea breaks was at TWG cafe in Takashimaya.  Yeah, I lived like a yuppie (minus the cost).  Now I know how the atas live.  

Sleep

I love sleep, I also love playing stupid games on my mobile.  I need to quit doing that!

Speaking of sleep, I want this!

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ostrich-pillow/ostrich-pillow?ref=category

Property Tax for 2013

Yes, I love my apartment.  No, I hate paying taxes.  -__-

Please be working, oven!

I found myself rueing my decision on not getting a  microwave oven over the weekend.  Heating up dinner from the fridge is hard.  Michelle told me to just use my oven that it works the same except perhaps a few more minutes longer.

So I tried.  Put dinner in.  Set oven to 10mins.  Leave for a walk with the 2 dogs.

When I got back, the power had tripped in the house.  Something's wrong with the oven.

Asked around.  Something about our humid conditions, condensation and heating coils - not good for the oven.

Called Electrolux.  They suggested turning it on a couple of times to max heat and see if it will heat off whatever's on the coils.  Ovens need to be used often apparently to keep the coils in working condition.  Which works well for me.  I hope the coils are ok after warming up.  I'll just have to pick up baking now.

Pets

Another myth busted.

I used to think that pets and children are perfect substitutes - you know, substitute goods in economics 101. E.g. rice and bread, coke and Pepsi.

After 1 weekend of dog-sitting, I can understand why people say that.  But yet it's not quite the same.

Yes so pets are cute.  When I nap, they nap at my feet, when I watch TV, Toby sits beside me or at my feet (I often step on him when I jump up suddenly), they follow you around and give you their sorrowful doggie eye stare.  If you fear loneliness, a dog would be ideal.

It was all very clear when Matty and his parents came by for lunch.  Matty touched the ears, the paws, patted the backs and then he held their tail and said "push" and tried to push the dog forward like it's one of his movable toys.  If I could pull my phone out for a photo, I would have!

With the kid and the dogs together, we only had eyes for the kid.  The poochies somehow knew their place, so Toby would leave the minute Matty comes near while poor Josh just sat there and tolerated Matty's molest.

I did get a pretty restful weekend, nice to get a chance to wind down as the year draws to a close.

But I was glad to give the poochies back Sunday night.
Then I spent 3 hours cleaning the house so there is no funky smell, the carpet is back out, the throw cushions are back on the couch again.

Reflection

Not Reflections the gorgeous condo where I had the privilege to visit twice in recent weeks - thanks J, your new pad is awesome!

But self-reflection.

Let's start with my thoughts same time last year : http://feldreams.blogspot.sg/2011/12/looking-back-on-2011.html

So I achieved 3 out of 5.  *clap clap* 

What did I not achieve :

• Job - it's been a little slow going.  My efforts to kickstart anything has not come up to much.  I don't know what else to do but to keep praying and to trust in the Lord.
• Sports - I overdid it with 15 events in 2012, but in the process I now have a string of personal best records : 4:22 (full mara), 2:04 (half mara), 0:53 (10k), 6:51 (50km).

My goals for 2013

• Stay prayerful - more Him and less me.  It's a battle I often lose.
• Be close to family - this one is easier with I/M & Matty than with C, and especially hard with mom.  Needs work.
• CaFE.  The last quarter of 2012 has seen a flurry of activity and the team is now much more close knit.  It's great.
• Sports.  I am contemplating : 

• First half 2013 : North Face City Run in Mar and Borneo marathon in May.  Actually I'm already registered for these 2 races!
• 2nd half 2013 : Half Moon marathon in Sep while attending Steph's wedding in California, and Taroko Gorge marathon in Nov, Taiwan.
• Backup plans : Safra AHM (if I don't go to California) and either Stanchart marathon or Taipei Marathon (if I don't do Taroko Gorge, and if I need to babysit Matty while I&M run in their first Stanchart)
• Break the 2 hour half marathon target that eluded me this  year.

• Discipline.  This is a common refrain.  Every year end I say this and every year I fail miserably.  I will try harder.
• Not intending to focus on human relationships.  I feel if I am successful as a christian, then I should accord the same treatment to all people - whether friend or not.  Yeah, in short, I think being a loner has been easier this year.  Zero expectations worked very well.  

Psalm Chapter 118

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, his mercy endures forever.

Let Israel say: his mercy endures forever.

Let the house of Aaron say, his mercy endures forever.

Let those who fear the LORD say, his mercy endures forever.

In danger I called on the LORD; the LORD answered me and set me free.

The LORD is with me; I am not afraid; what can mortals do against me?

The LORD is with me as my helper; I shall look in triumph on my foes.

Better to take refuge in the LORD than to put one’s trust in mortals.

Better to take refuge in the LORD than to put one’s trust in princes.

All the nations surrounded me; in the LORD’s name I cut them off.

They surrounded me on every side; in the LORD’s name I cut them off.

They surrounded me like bees; they burned up like fire among thorns;

in the LORD’s name I cut them off.

I was hard pressed and falling, but the LORD came to my help.

The LORD, my strength and might, has become my savior.

The joyful shout of deliverance is heard in the tents of the righteous:

“The LORD’s right hand works valiantly;  the LORD’s right hand is raised;

the LORD’s right hand works valiantly.”

I shall not die but live and declare the deeds of the LORD.

The LORD chastised me harshly, but did not hand me over to death.

Open the gates of righteousness; I will enter and thank the LORD.

This is the LORD’s own gate, through it the righteous enter.

I thank you for you answered me; you have been my savior.

The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.

By the LORD has this been done; it is wonderful in our eyes.

This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice in it and be glad.

LORD, grant salvation! LORD, grant good fortune!

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD.

We bless you from the house of the LORD.

The LORD is God and has enlightened us.

Join in procession with leafy branches up to the horns of the altar.

You are my God, I give you thanks; my God, I offer you praise.

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, his mercy endures forever.

How important is sleep?

Had lunch with some HP folks and we started out about health and somehow morbidly veered into dying suddenly and the rise of cancer as no.1 killer.

K's point is we don't sleep enough anymore.  So the body has no chance to detox, hence our cells go mad and turn cancerous overnight.  And then it rapidly escalates cos of the high toxins in our bodies.

Get 8 hours.  She said pointedly.  Mayo clinic thinks 7-9hours. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/how-many-hours-of-sleep-are-enough/AN01487


Ironically, runs contrary to what I always say - you can sleep when you are dead!

Hmm... perhaps she does have a point.  I should sleep more esp now that I've been blessed with a very comfortable home of my own.

It's winter!

I miss the cold wintry mornings of Taipei... 

Phone rehab

Matty is on phone rehab.  His parents think it's too not good for his eyeball development to be squinting into a small screen.  So now he suffers from withdrawal symptoms, a couple of times a day, he will scream for "poone, poone, poooone!" and everyone looks away uncomfortably.


I should try this one day too.  Phone rehab ie, not screaming for pooone!

Standard Chartered Marathon 2012

I started out without much confidence, especially since my left calf was hurting (now I know it's a shin splint - due to excessive racing says physiotherapist).  But as the race progressed, I could tolerate the pain and ran quite smoothly.  At 30km, it was an easy 3:11 for me.  For a while there, I imagined I might score another PB.

Then the left calf gave way, and starting from calves, to knees, to hamstrings, to thigh muscles, every one started to cramp.  For the first time in all the years I have been racing, I stop to accept muscle rub, three times during the race.  Twice, I pulled down my calf guards to slather on the cream in a valiant attempt to sooth the pain.  And I gel myself to puke-dom, I consumed 10 gels this race!  Sam the Canadian, looked at me with horror and asked me how I kept it all down.  I don't know Sam, I was too consumed with pain from the 31km to the finish line!

So yes, the race was lost at the 30km mark.  First the pink-ballooned 4:30 pacers sailed by me, I tried to, but failed to keep pace.  By the 33km mark, I was reduced to brisk walking.  By the 40km mark, the 4:45 pacers ran by, all I could do was stare and keep walking.

In the end, I did enough to equal last year's timing of 4:47.

I went to the agreed meeting spot of the war memorial after the run.  Sat on floor and couldn't/didn't get up until Sam came over.  And then miraculously, Zilsons came by to drive me to a steak lunch and home.  I am so blessed.  A had left earlier as he hurt his knee again - but of cos he chased a 4:11 timing incensed by being forced into the over 5hours start pen.  HY, SS bettered their last year's timing and Peter completed his first ever marathon in a grueling 7:14 battle.  The first marathon is never easy.

Glad we all overcame our pain/ghosts.  Until next year, Stanchart...

My prep kit - 2 days before!  Talk about being well-prepared.  See my knee tapes all neatly cut and ready? 

隔墙有耳!

I was tagged on a Facebook picture at the Run for Hope race some weekends back. Someone commented about a runner behind me - a stranger none of us knew, and guess what, stranger replied!  Opps!

Onsite Climbing Gym

It was yet another wet evening.  Jo and I decided to check out the new 15m lead climbing wall at Onsite Gym instead of being 2 slugs - even though she tempted me with dinner and peking duck instead of climbing!

I got there first and Ah Beng was behind the counter wearing a tshirt that reads Staff (gosh, I don't even know his real name anymore), he now works for the gym.  Oh!  I was busy trying to find Zi's rope to climb on.  Finally found it, all dusty and grimy.  Jo arrived.  We peered at the routes.  Looks do-able.  We warm up on a 5c - boring.  We progressed to a 6a - boring pumpy.  We stare at the lead climb routes and changed our minds!!!  Just don't like the feel of the routes there.  It's flat, boring and just pumpy - no features nor contours to add any real fun.  Yishun has contours, overhangs, underclings... Lots of torturous fun that is so lacking.

So we put the dusty rope back on the shelf unused and left for Geylang's 扳面.  Ah Beng was astounded - we only did 2 climbs and left!

I am thinking I need to check out Kinetics gym ahead of Jo getting pregnant.  As much as I prefer rockclimbing to bouldering, I am also anal about my belayer!  Hopefully I like Kinetics since I don't fancy the other alternatives to Yishun.

Kinetics will probably only be sussed out in January.  For now, everything is still focused around my marathon-ing.  There's Stanchart on Sunday and the MR25 ultramarathon Dec 30.  In between, there's the holidays and watching Matty celebrate his second Christmas.

This is an interesting take - first time I took a second look at something off this website

http://therealsingapore.com/content/it-myth-small-countries-cant-have-partisan-politics

Brooks Run - 9km

An nice evening race at the Marina Barrage with my usual run kakis - Peter and Alex.

Alex had hurt his knee at last week's trail run with IMD so he was going to just run slowly with us.  When Peter shot off like a jack rabbit at the start line, Alex followed me instead.  Great.  He tried to pace me to drag me up to a faster comfortable pace.  I almost fainted.  I can manage a 5:40 - 5:50 pace, but anything faster is unsustainable.  So I would strain then falter, surge then drop between 5:15 to 5:50 most of the way unless it's too dark to see anything.

We finished in 52mins.  Went straight to Big John who's managing the post-run rub downs and he got us a masseur without queuing.  I like!  Peter appeared shortly, he managed a 1:02mins (controlled his pace after the initial bit, so it was a good time).   We got our rub downs, thanked John.  Then we descended on Geylang like some hungry dogs.  First we wolved down 3 bowls of 手工面 - heavenly!  Then some 油条with 豆花 before we gave up.  If a particular friend is around, bet we'll go for third round of hokkien noodles.

And to think while standing at the starting lineup, we were complaining how we lacked a life, it's a beautiful Saturday night and we chose to spend it sweating with 4000 other sorry, sweaty and smelly people, running in the dark, at a very nice scenic place.

Alex is right.  I doubt I can run a good timing at the upcoming marathon.  My buildup this year is not enough compared to last year this time.  I will be lucky with a sub 5hr.  So that's my revised goal.  Sigh.

Gasp! I overslept!

I woke up to a very sunny room, grabbed alarm clock in panic, 11:26am! GASP!

Terrible!

First thought, can I take today off?  Second thought, afternoons got 2 meetings!

Panic!

Slinked into the office subtly... Everyone's in.  100% caught.

Ashamed!

I need to work on my self-motivational talk better.  Comeon, Fel!

The Quest for the perfect job

The little start-up I am working for is hiring another product manager.  We are not getting very many good candidates.  But I notice a lot of jobless people due to restructuring/reorganizations.  The economy is certainly not doing as good as the outward appearance.

Mid week Run and Lizards

I asked HY and Peter to join me in this week's mid week run, figured can run from home to end of Fort Road ECP for about a 12km run.

Woke up at 6am to a spectacular lightning display.  On fears it might pour as it did yesterday, I text both HY & Peter and went back to lie down.  When Peter didn't reply, I thought I better call him just in case he's en-route.  Indeed he was.  Worse - he's already at Eunos.

*Deep sigh*  Got dressed and within 5mins the man arrived.  I regret asking Peter to come!  Then he called, I snapped into the phone : yeah yeah, coming down! And he said, no no, I need bathroom.

I had insecticide-sprayed a baby lizard I found in the other bathroom.  Peter nonchalantly used the bathroom, then picked up the not-quite-dead-but-wiggling-in-death-throes lizard and flushed it down.

Then we set off.  A very grumpy me and Peter.  The lightning went away, the expected downpour didn't happen, it was a very pleasant morning and a very enjoyable run.  I kinda felt ashamed of my snappiness and my so quick failure after Sunday's sermon on humility.  So we went for a quick breakfast.

Then Peter helped me remove yet another lizard carcass.  Trapped in the border of my dustbin chute.  Must have slammed the chute closed against the lizard last week.  I first discovered the carcass Saturday and was waiting for it to dry up into powder before I attempt to remove it - might be less gross that way.  Peter scrapped that body off for me.  How gentlemenly.

I have had no vermin and overnight, 2 lizard bodies.  Thankfully removed by Peter the exterminator.  He was really sweet.

Time to work.  And a reminder of humility, Fel, humility.

Happy birthday to me!

Possibly the best birthday I've had.  Yet so busy!.  The Year of Faith talk was Fri night & the workshop for the team on Sat afternoon.  My little video for Fri night ran very smoothly - thank God.  Did not boo-boo in front of our guests, the speaker nor his Grace the Archbishop.  By the time we stacked chairs and packed our stuff, I got home at 11pm.  Decided to skip Sat climb, relaxed a little and then went to the Sat afternoon workshop.

Ian/Michelle bought me a nice expensive yuppie dinner at MBS followed by VIP tickets to the Jersey Boys.  Oh the music's still ringing in my ear, O what a night!  We had seats right up front - the best of the best of the best, chimes Michelle.  I think she was quoting some movie line!

Sunday - the day I turn 42.  OMG, I am old! Another too early morning - thankfully Peter came to pick me up for Run for Hope - a 10km non competitive run for cancer research.  No timing bibs, we stood in the first row at the start line so we can get ahead of the walkers.  I ran a nice 5km split then got jammed behind the 3.5km walkers when the run routes merged.  Met MH at the 7km mark, yelled at her, she's still heading out, yeah, that means she's at the 3km mark!  Haha... The last 3km was a mess of kids and walkers, so it's a slow finish and I still managed 1:00.  Peter met Vivi along the route - and they slow jogged back. She controlled his pace back - Peter apparently ran very fast, then slow to a walk to hyperventilate in cycles for the whole run.  We both tsk tsk him for not controlling his pace.

I declined lunch cos I had to attend morning mass as we have dinner plans, this time with Matty. Vivien wanted laksa, so we ate across the road from my place.  After mass, I took a short nap & overslept!  Thankfully Ian called me at 5pm to wake me up.  Dinner was an expensive buffet - called Plates of Pleasures at the Pan Pacific.  I had 1 order of wagku beef & 1 of the lamp chops and it was fantastic.  Wished I could stuff more down.  The desserts were fantastic too, I had 1 crepe - shared a little of it with Matty.  He loves fruit like me.  Eating with Matty is a messy affair, and he can only sit for a while and then he says "up!" and want to leave to run around.  We rode the lift up, and down and ran around the hotel swimming pool in circles.  Then tag Matty off to Ian/Michelle while I stuffed my face with more food.  Messy.

Just thinking this morning that I am finally getting it right.  Placing family on a higher priority and expecting zero from friends, is indeed the right formula.

Oh I love Matty...

Passport and nostalgia

I just received notification that my passport will expire soon and I was to renew it.

Flipping through the pages of it, I feel sad to have to renew it since it carries with it memories of very many pages of Taiwan custom stamps (reflecting my years when Taiwan was home), a China VISA for the time during the Olympics when VISA-waiver was stopped across board for fear of being swamped out by the world, my first & only trip to Japan (when Tokyo was my intended destination and not just a transit to the US), my Australian VISA for my first & only travel-to-run-marathon-trip in Brisbane (Gold Coast Airport Marathon), my Indian VISA for my first and only visit to the Golden Triangle of North India... AWWWWW

The last years have been good.  Thank you Jesus!

An old friends gathering

Met up with old friends from school last night.  I have not seen these girls since 1994!  Everyone is now a mother of at least 1 kid.  Sigh... Yet it feels like no one has aged to me cos I recognized them all at first glance.  Until we pulled out old photos and couldn't recognize each other in it.  Haha..

It all started last week when I got a call out of the blue.  Jane is an insurance agent and I bought my first policy in support of her right out of school.  When my cousin (who now manages my insurance policies) updated my new home address and phone no, Jane noticed and called me.  Everyone now lives in the east coast area and so we met in a restaurant in Siglap - lucky me!

It struck me that our lives are so different.  The dinner conversation was a little reminiscing, and a lot of topics totally irrelevant to me : PSLE and the education system today, the maids levy situation, costs of bringing up children, property prices, mother in law problems... Yes, they are all stay at home moms or they work part-time.  I know, sob! they achieved 太太-dom and I am so envious!

It was boringly pleasant.  Although, they remembered my birthday and we shared a slice of cheese cake with a loud birthday song - to my embarrassment.

The only time my blood pressure rose was when someone started complaining about teachers.  Singaporeans, for the last time : teachers teach academic subjects, parent impacts values.  If you delegate values and character building to the teacher and your child goes astray, whose fault is it?

And after a while, everyone jumped into their Lexus, Audis, or waited for their hubbies to pick them up in their poshy cars.  The evening ends and I return home feeling, what a banal night!

Hill Training Run Route in Singapore

This is the route coach Alex created.  He even pre-ran it before he took us on it.  How sweet right?

Third last weekend before the marathon, still time for a nice 4 hour long run of all the hills in this area!  I was experimenting with coffee before a run.  Drank a cup of espresso and yeah, it seemed to work reasonably well in terms of better endurance.  Until I suffered from caffeine crash after 2 hours.  I just walked a lot - felt really tired.  And everyone was so mad at me for lagging far behind everyone.  They kept yelling at me to stop being lazy.  Sigh, there is no sympathy these days.  After about 45mins, I recovered enough to resume running and gradually didn't feel so tired again.  Need to tweak this caffeine as a performance enhancer a little more.  Will try again next 2 weekends with the 10km runs (Run for Hope and Brooks).

Here's the training route.  It is fantastic.  Many peaks to keep going at, mostly shaded by trees and breath taking views of Singapore.  It is possibly the nicest route I've run in Singapore.  Also the most painful run I've endured this year.

My third half marathon this year

First 2 half marathons this year were the Adidas Sundown and the Safra army half.  I clocked 2:08 in both.

When Linny offered me her slot at the GE women's run, I was quite happy about it.  It's a chance to try for a sub-2hour half marathon and also my first time at an all women race.

At the start line, they ordered "all men to please leave the route now".  Interesting!  All women races was really nice.  No armpit smell, no jostling and lots of free space to run.

At the 11km mark, I peered at my watch and it read 1:03.  A little slower than I was hoping.  I had to run a severely negative split to succeed now.  At the 14km mark, Simon and Peter popped out unexpectedly and jumped in to run alongside me.  Well, at least Simon did.  Peter happily sprinted ahead thrilled with all the women runners (still has not figured out how to pace).  Simon would pass me his drink bottle every couple of minutes, I could see envious looks from the other women.  Haha...  At the Barrage, they peeled off with a loud "good luck!".

I made my move then.  Upped the pace but there were a few small slopes and blah blah blah... excuses..my second 11km took me 1:00.  Not good enough.

Ah well, next year's goal.

Busy til the end of the year

As it is when it gets close to Christmas and New Year, people start to organize gatherings and meet-ups.  I feel terrible, but I'm too busy to slot in anymore gatherings!

My priority is family and my committments and seeing how I somehow accepted free slots/signed up for a few more races between now and Dec 30...

I meant to do Newton end Oct, relax through Nov, race Stanchart Dec 2, chill and walk through the Dec 30 ultramarathon.  But I can't relax now cos Nov is also a month of races - every weekend is a race.  It is exactly like Oct.  I'm crazy.  Yes, I know.
http://feldreams.blogspot.sg/2012/10/busy-year.html

On a positive note, Christmas is almost here.  I love this time of year.  I sing Christmas carols out loud as I run.  The air's cool, the mood's cheerful, and my run kakis broke out into gangam dancing last night.  Just hilarious.

Bad behaviour in the elderly

So just because you're older, you think you can throw all courtesy to the wind and get away with bad behaviour?

First my mom starts behaving badly.  Now my uncle too?  It's a daily test of patience.

Mon - I arranged a nice slow ride to Gardens by the Bay for him on Monday evening.  Asked Peter to come along for the fun of it.  Planned the route and to be honest, Peter and I are a little excited about it.  Uncle doesn't even show up.  Had to call Peter in a hurry to cancel - thankfully Peter's a good friend who takes last minute cancellation without fuss.

Tue - Asked him along for dinner with Ian/Michelle/Matty.  Restaurant is near home - at East Coast Park.  Long delay, finally he replies to say he has already eaten.  It's been years since he last met Ian/Michelle and he's never met Matty, but clearly, that does not matter to him.

Wed - Asked him along for cycling with my usual cycling group.  Rode really slow along the PCN until F2 carpark.  Uncle trailed behind on his foldie.  I looked back, waited and he has done the Houdini on me, again.  I went back searching for him.  No sign of him.  I just knew he wandered off without much consideration for others.  He did.  When asked about it much later at home, he nonchalantly mentioned I didn't need to worry.  *tear hair out*

I never expected him to ride with the group at our pace.  I explained that.  Just ride easy along the park, meet the group for supper, talk to the big happy group of fellow cyclists, like-minded people, it will be fun.  Definitely healthier than staying home and trawling the web for nonsense.

Thu - Hesitantly told him I was eating with Michy and Matty while Ian works late.  Uncle asked to come along. Told him to take the MRT and meet us at NEX.  He text back to say he is at my home, insinuating I was to pick him up.  It would take me a long time to battle rush hour traffic east and then back up north.  I texted him back to say IF, you want to join us, please take the MRT and leave soon!  He did.  Thankfully.  And he was mostly good.  Until after dinner, back at Ian/Michy's place when instead of being gracious as he should as an elder, he started boasting about his 24-room home in Thailand and how it's all marble flooring.  It was 10pm, Ian hadn't had dinner and so before he further insults anyone, I announced loudly we are going home.

Fri - Skipped out of dinner with Uncle.  Reached the end of my tether.  I got home late, almost 11pm.  Saw that he used my washing machine to do laundry.  Unhappy.  When I commented that I would be happy to do his laundry for him if he asked me, he boasted that washer-cum-dryers (which is what I have) have been around for 10 years.  That was not my point!  I was not boasting about my appliance, I am expressing concern that he operated it without knowing it's features since it is a little more complicated than a normal washing machine.  To top if all off, he started to boasted that he brought 5th uncle into my house to view it - yes, very good, now strangers are in my house in my absence.

Sat - He decided that since I was busy with my sports on weekends, he will go stay with his daughter.  I should be happy except when I got home, I saw he threw the guest bath towel onto the kitchen floor, just in front of my trash bin.  What did he use it on?!  Should I throw it away now?  What a nice departure gift... not.

And he wonders why he's such a pariah with the family.  The extended family is huge and yet after 2 weeks here, he met up with just 1 cousin?  Everyone else he called was too busy to meet up with him.

I am pretty sure I shortened my lifespan by a day or two just in my last week .

Comparing disasters: Sandy vs. Katrina

http://holykaw.alltop.com/comparing-disasters-sandy-vs-katrina-infograp?tu2=1

He's family, regardless!

Embarrassing adult relatives: Scowl! "Psst! Can't you chew with your mouth closed?"

By alisonpoulsen

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Everyone has some relative who has bad table manners, belongs to a crazy cult, or drinks too much. We tend to be hardest on those closest to us, wanting to eradicate their bad habits. Yet, showing embarrassment and disapproval tends to draw out the worst in those around us, and may reveal that we care too much about the family image.

Our relatives don’t define who we are and besides, no one is perfect. Life is too short to worry about the imperfections in those around us. Generally, a sense of humor can help us overlook our family’s extreme political views or incessant bragging.

You’re better off not trying to change adult relatives or to get them to see the light. If they haven’t changed in 20 years, they are not likely to change now. The exception would be if they became deeply motivated to change within themselves.

Abusive behavior or language, however, is another matter completely. It’s important to speak up or leave when someone is aggressive or acts inappropriately, such as name calling or exercising harsh criticism. When you respond to a verbal attack, you could say, “When you call me names, it’s denigrating to both of us, and makes me want to leave. If you have something to say to me, say it respectfully.” If they can’t stop their belittling behavior, then it’s time to limit or stop spending your time with them.

Harmless personality quirks, though, can be seen as a source of amusement rather than providing you with a mission to correct them. Challenge yourself to use your wit, creativity, and humanity to overlook imperfections and to bring out the best in those eccentric family members around you.

You’re only given a little spark of madness. You mustn’t lose it.

                                                                  ~Robin Williams

by Alison Poulsen, PhD

A nice run route at the Marina Barrage

A nice 11km run route suggested by coach.  I meant to take Cara there, but the meeting overran by an hour and she has to catch a flight, so we compromised with a run 6km run from the Trader's hotel through Botanical Gardens instead. 

Here's the Marina Barrage route in detail - excellent views!

Eat healthy!

Last week :
Me to friend - you ate 23 plates of sushi?!
Friend - steady eh? (smug look)

This morning :
Me to uncle - you want some cereal (for breakfast)?
Uncle - I want nasi lemak! (indignant look)

I need to surround myself with people who eat healthy.  Seriously.

What do you think about during long runs?

A US friend of mine thinks of business ideas as he jogs.  He is currently incubating a start-up from one of his ideas and I wish him every success!

I have always found long runs very cathartic.  Over the years of solo long runs and hence long hours of thinking : 

- I've changed cars (2005) from my Toyota to Nissan Sunny

- decided to end a friendship with a person who was a leech (2005 and amazingly, I forgave/forgot and re-learnt this lesson in 2010).  Guess it is true : a leopard never changes its spots. 

- psyched myself through the most difficult years of my life (2005-2006)

- talked myself through job changes, work problems, emotional problems...

- admired and loved Taiwan during my jogs in very different scenic conditions there

So yesterday when a friend asked me what goes through my head during the long runs, I had no answer for once!  

Ironically 2012, I clocked a record number of hours in terms of training/racing mileage, yet most of it are not solo runs.  I have been blessed with running kakis (in plural). We LSD together, go to races together.  It's been a little support group that I truly appreciate.

These days, I chit chat or listen to music over the runs.  No real  logical thinking happens anymore.  

Is this a good or bad thing?  Good, I would say.

Dicey days ahead

I realize I suck at human relationships.  My alien uncle coming to Singapore and wanted to stay with me.  But his daughter now lives in Singapore and she has a spare room and welcomes him.  He prefers to stay with me.  My own family thinks it's not right, plus they worry for me since I stay alone and he has been mentally unstable in recent years.  I would prefer if he spent some time with his daughter and granddaughter - that's the right thing to do.  For all my emailing/SMSing, I fail.  He's still going to be in my hair.

This morning I prayed for patience and tolerance.  The next 2 weeks are going to be rough - it's a first for me in my new pad.  As Michelle puts it, I can't strut naked around.  Not that I do, but then I caught myself doing that, thought of Michelle's words and had to laugh out loud.

After my early morning conf call, I listened to Hillsongs for a bit before going to work.  And today's readings from Psalm 145 :

I will extol you, my God and king;

I will bless your name forever and ever.

Every day I will bless you;

I will praise your name forever and ever.

Great is the LORD and worthy of much praise,

whose grandeur is beyond understanding.

One generation praises your deeds to the next

and proclaims your mighty works.

They speak of the splendor of your majestic glory,

tell of your wonderful deeds.

They speak of the power of your awesome acts

and recount your great deeds.

They celebrate your abounding goodness

and joyfully sing of your justice.

The LORD is gracious and merciful,

slow to anger and abounding in mercy.

The LORD is good to all,

compassionate toward all your works.

All your works give you thanks, LORD

and your faithful bless you.

They speak of the glory of your reign

and tell of your mighty works,

Making known to the sons of men your mighty acts,

the majestic glory of your rule.

Your reign is a reign for all ages,

your dominion for all generations.

The LORD is trustworthy in all his words,

and loving in all his works.

The LORD supports all who are falling

and raises up all who are bowed down.

The eyes of all look hopefully to you;

you give them their food in due season.

You open wide your hand

and satisfy the desire of every living thing.

The LORD is just in all his ways,

merciful in all his works.

The LORD is near to all who call upon him,

to all who call upon him in truth.

He fulfills the desire of those who fear him;

he hears their cry and saves them.

The LORD watches over all who love him,

but all the wicked he destroys.

My mouth will speak the praises of the LORD;

all flesh will bless his holy name forever and ever.

Long tail marketing

I wished I paid better attention during statistics class in school.

Never knew how linked it would be to business.

Was chatting with an ex-HP colleague and he brought up the idea of long tail marketing.

It's made popular by an editor from Wired magazine.
http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/12.10/tail.html?pg=5&topic=tail&topic_set=

Yeah, I think such things over long runs.  Ideas, dreams...  And yeah, it helps that I have smart people around me where we can discuss these thoughts.  Thank you Jesus.

I realize I have not been reading for a while.  Time to go Amazon shopping...

My Bike is serviced and good to go!

My tubular tyres and rims were coming undone at the last ride.  How dangerous!  Thankfully I rode all the way back at our usual 35kph uneventfully.  Last Thu I took Speedier into Integrated Riding to fix the wheels and for his first ever servicing.  They found a leak in the valve of the rear tyre, so had to purchase a new tyre.  Picked up Speedier just before the ride, didn't have time to inspect him, went to the usual Wed ride.

So after the ride/run/supper last night, I did my usual wipe down of the bike and discovered a thick layer of muck on the chain - arghh... Integrated Riding must have put grease on the bike chain.  Took bike downstairs, degreased and hosed.  Had to repeat the process 3 times!  Should have just taken my dishwashing liquid to the chain.  Could have saved me time!

Mental note to self - tell bike shops never to help me grease bike.  Wax lube which I purchased as part of a mass order is simply awesome.  It's so clean!

While scrubbing the muck off, all I can think of is : I sure love living here.  Integrated riding is a 2min walk away.  I can hose my bike down even in the middle of the night without worrying about waking up the neighbours or making a mess.

And, one more : when I ask to borrow a bike, kind-hearted folks just drop it off since I'm so close to our meeting point at East Coast.   Thanks to K, my uncle has a foldie to explore the area when he arrives next week.  Work off some of his excess energy so he won't be preaching aliens/conspiracy theory to unassuming Singaporeans.

Matty

Matty and a slice of fake (rubber) bread.  

"Bread for me, why thank you!  Seem to have difficulty pinching a bit out to eat.  What?  It's fake!!!  Protests!"

Top city skylines

HK is no. 1?  And Singapore didn't make top 10?  I suppose it's all very subjective.  Even if you remove my bias, I still feel our new skyline with the Helix bridge, the Flyer, the spaceship-like Marina Bay Sands, is simply breathtaking.

I am blessed enough to get to appreciate the view every morning as I drive to work via the Sheares Bridge.  At the top of the bridge, as the view opens out, I still stop to thank God for His provision.

http://sg.news.yahoo.com/top-10-city-skylines-20121022.html?page=1

Engadget writeup on Greenwave lighting

Company I work for made it to Engadget!  Woot!
http://www.engadget.com/2012/10/22/greenwave-reality-ships-wifi-light-bulbs

Old friends

I just saw a post on FB by a friend, "old friends are like wine, the older they are, the better it gets".  In my heart, I started to say a quick prayer that she does not get hurt really soon.  

Human relationships are completely fallible.  It will happen, don't hold your breath.  I learnt this lesson many times over, the hard way, over the years.  The older/closer/better the friend, the greater the chance of that friend failing you, simply because you are more open/vulnerable to that person.  

It is best to expect nothing from friends, and when kindness comes, you will be genuinely happy about it.  Best lesson of all, adopt Job's attitude (Job 1:21).  
^{The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD!”}

The lazy runner

Race no. 2 in the month of Oct (month of races) - Nike We Run SG.  Asked Alex to run ahead cos I didn't feel like sprinting 10km!  Memories of being winded beyond tolerance from the Safra run!  The coach clocked 49mins for the 10km run.  He was complaining of being tired from cycling.  Haha...

My plan was to start slow and then speed up after 5km or so.  But everyone was going pretty fast.  On many occasions, I literally slowed the pace and trot along just to catch my breath.  As my results shows, 2265 people finished ahead of me!  Fast!

With this race down, there's just 3 races to the end of the year.  Newton 30km, Stanchart 42km and MR25 50km.

I watch too much Korean TV

All started with Ian/Michelle watching this Korean series called 同伊.  As they relate in all seriousness, they once asked a dinner guest to go home early - so that they both can continue watching!  I thought they were joking, little did I know... After they were done, I was handed the disks with a "good luck".  Hmm...  

Initially, all Korean men look the same to me, I kept needing to stop to think, now who's he again?  Before you can say 'bibimbap!', I was in too deep.  One night I watched til 3am, ok ok I'm not proud of it but since there's really nothing much going on at work anyways, I took the next day off and continued with Korea hour.  Yesterday too.  I was happily watching and then had to stop in the middle of an imperial decree on dethroning the evil queen and reinstating the good queen, because it was dinner time with Matty!  

The kid is such a fussy eater. Ask him what he wants and he'll say soup and corn.  He rejected rice with soup last night and Michy had to get up midway through dinner in an Indonesian restaurant, buy a cup of corn from MacDonalds for the little guy.  

I am so tired now - between Matty and 同伊.  But be glad, there is peace in Korealand.  The good queen is back in place and the evil queen downgraded to concubine because the wise king was concerned for the crown prince's well being if he sent the evil queen away.

Do not be afraid

Gospel Lk 12:1-7

At that time:
So many people were crowding together
that they were trampling one another underfoot.
Jesus began to speak, first to his disciples,
"Beware of the leaven--that is, the hypocrisy--of the Pharisees.

"There is nothing concealed that will not be revealed,
nor secret that will not be known.
Therefore whatever you have said in the darkness
will be heard in the light,
and what you have whispered behind closed doors
will be proclaimed on the housetops.
I tell you, my friends,
do not be afraid of those who kill the body
but after that can do no more.
I shall show you whom to fear.
Be afraid of the one who after killing
has the power to cast into Gehenna;
yes, I tell you, be afraid of that one.
Are not five sparrows sold for two small coins?
Yet not one of them has escaped the notice of God.
Even the hairs of your head have all been counted.
Do not be afraid.
You are worth more than many sparrows."

Runner's diarrhea

And I thought it's just my sensitive digestive tract.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/runners-diarrhea/AN00376

How life should be...

Last night's reading was particularly touching.  So obviously my life is far from the ideal...

Gal 5:18-25

Brothers and sisters:
If you are guided by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
Now the works of the flesh are obvious:
immorality, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry,
sorcery, hatreds, rivalry, jealousy,
outbursts of fury, acts of selfishness,
dissensions, factions, occasions of envy,
drinking bouts, orgies, and the like.
I warn you, as I warned you before,
that those who do such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
In contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, generosity,
faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
Against such there is no law.
Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified their flesh
with its passions and desires.
If we live in the Spirit, let us also follow the Spirit.