19 Apr 2006
The little torments of a little life... 10:16 pm
How can one's good intentions be overthrown by the evil of others to be allocated a sphere in Purgatory or lower?
O Virgil, anyone, can you provide the cool to my flame?
Uncle T
17 Apr 2006
The Triduum of Bliss 10:37 pm
I am currently listening to the CD of the REginaCoeli Choir of SVDP. Their own CD. How proud I am of them, having been honoured to spend a short year with them. How their spirit and faith brings them beyond the stereotypes that society creates. Praise be to Him for the gift of their voices, and their spirit. I can get you their CD if you wish.
It's been a tiring weekend, yet one that was of bliss, of great Easter joy. I wish my current fatigue didn't hinder me in narrating the happenings of the 3 holiest days of the Liturgical calender. I will do so within the next few days.
I am truly blessed, having the privilege of feeling immense joy, one that is very rare in our lives which we build upon the foundations of material motivations and rewards. Little miracles in my little life.
A quiet happiness is slowly creeping back in, as I reverently give thanks, in gratitude.
Uncle T
14 Apr 2006
zzzzzzzzzzzzzz 12:07 pm
I stayed for Lenten Vigil last night;11pm to 6am.
I looked around for something to hold on
I needed stability, and this gathered in the horizon.
Walked towards it, and last night, arrived.
Apprehension, excitement, beat in my breast,
But like no other than the pounding of faith.
I came to seek, but shall I find?
Nothing. I became desperate. Gave way to
Despair. I pleaded for a voice, none
Came but the slash of dismay.
Then He came by
With his boldness and faith,
With such freshness I nearly buckled.
He spoke the message,
The wisdom that the trappings of society
Cannot fathom. No.
It was, is, a call to arms.
No, not a battle of ego as we know
But one that finally conquers all
Like of Calvary.
Morning. The Passion gently melts
But not shall this smarting wisdom.
Like metal in mouth,
A taste so foreign,
Yet one I can never run from.
So help me.
Uncle T
12 Apr 2006
A day in the life of.... 11:38 pm
A staple remover...rubber bands...ink stamp...guess the profession...that's right! My current freakin' job.
There are certain things that are not exactly going my way at work. But what the heck! I seem to forget (for about half a decade, mind you) that not getting things our way is an apt opportunity to learn. Turning adversity into a decent situation is training towards building character.
Yup, character is sometimes the one thing we who aren't born into the "greater age", grey matter with silver lining. Character was what we built in my alma mater (ha. hmmm...what about the intelligence bit...)
Being taking runs in the evening after work. Its nice to run in the solace and comfort of darkness. Surprisingly not intimidating. It centres, cleanses.
Well, my princess is having her final paper tmrw. She will.
How?!?!?!?! Should I head east, or west?
Uncle T
9 Apr 2006
Gentlemen....can you hear wat is calling...? 5:02 pm
For those interested what I currently do at work:
-Uncle Yew, the warehouse's 65 year-old relic, just went on a China tour with his missus, therefore I am taking over as a stand-in at the warehouse. I now realise how much his 33.5 years of experience means. I did Day One of cashier duties on Saturday and it nearly turn disastrous. Book keeping, dealing with impatient truck drivers, and freaking trying to tally the day's accounts. Sai kang, as Yong calls it.
-On a happier (its just the lesser of the two evils), my manager has assured me I will be part of the administrative and operations upheaval, which was the initial draw of this internship. Let's hope that goes on fine. It has been so far exciting.
Uncle T
Yup, the Carebears 4:50 pm
Yup, it has finally come full circle; the Carebears finally KNOW we are the Carebears.
A little background in a broadstroke: Lucas started calling the gang (Ian, Russ, Kel, Joe and I) the Carebears with a rather mocking undertone, but all in good humour.
So Yong recently re-ignited this Carebear talk and we realised dear Ian did not know of this nomenclature. So, our dear Joe Saw (truly, he should work for Mediacorp!) researched on the cartoon series (Carebear) and have assigned us each a character that best suits our personality. I got "Do your Best" Bear. -_- haha.
Yup, that's me...with the big tummy
Uncle T
8 Apr 2006
A Pleasant Friday evening indeed... 12:58 am
Refreshing. That's what it was this evening. In a short time, we managed to assemble all of the Carebears (heh...can see Ian cringing...) this evening. I had a delightful time.
I first met Joe and Kel for dinner. We entered a Jap restaurant, drank their water, read their menu, and left. So much for social graces. But what the hell, satisfying our tummies was the greater motivation and we headed for Sakae at Millenia Walk instead. Ian joined us thereafter.
Soon, the whole gang was there, including Yong and Ian's kid brother. After a decent wait for a table, we managed to sit in NYDC Suntec, all seven of us. Desert was served, with much laughter and childish banter. Therein lies the simple joy of just chilling with close friends; no frills, no pretence.
As we dispersed for the evening (yup, me with the car literally dropped them off. Sorry Joe!), I drove (sped) home feeling refreshed by this familiar company. Being in the presence of old friends does allow one to lose our masks.
PS. Parking in town is not only costly, but inconvenient, especially when you know not where the carpark freakin' is.
Ian my man, all the best with you SPH internship. Nail it bro.
Uncle T
7 Apr 2006
These past couple of weeks... 3:34 pm
Work
Aye, I have started work and coming into my second Saturday working hald day. Yup, that's what this job entails, and more. My paymaster is a listed shipping logistics firm. But where I work at, Keppel Distripark, is a far cry from the HQ's office, with instant coffee dispensers and all in its waiting area.
I work at a container warehouse. Diesel from perpetually working forklifts, dust and dirt, all clog the air. Similarly, it has clogged my lungs too. Thus, I'm on MC today for sinus inflammation and the like. But I guess I am learning stuff from this enviroment, I would say a kind of learning that I may never get a chance to encounter later on in life.
Hard Revolution...not bad.
Just finished a book (as in, JUST), titled Hard Revolution by george Pelecanos. This book came into my possession after Dilane decided to try start a book club, and this was the first book we exchanged. And i lent him Voltaire (which is still virgin new). Ha. To think boys at our age starting a book club, but its fun I guess; not many people I know share about what they read and stuff.
Decent read, revolving around the lives of suburbia on the backdrop of civil rights movement in 1960s America. Nice thing about this book: its author writes utilising much cinematic ideas and movement of plot. Suspense is created rather subtley. Wouldn't call it an outright thriller, but subtle hints allows the reader to be engaged. The plot is broken into sub-plots, and finally (rather casually, actually) are woven together. Pelecanos also allows the plot that focuses on the development of Martin Luther King's movement and the plot of the individual character to run parallel through the book.
Today!
Some scenes of looting and mayhem from the book still linger in my mind. Anyhow, the day is coming to a close, and still no date for a Friday evening. Well, there is soccer downstairs at 6. And the thought of going to work tomorrow...not going down too good with my fatigued limbs from jogging....
It is so unnerving, stranded at this junction, not knowing when will the next turn come, and where will it head. "Patience", overused. For how long can it be drawn on? It isn't an endless reservoir of supply, this "patience". But I guess there is no better alternative, is there?
Uncle T
22 Mar 2006
Getting there... 11:35 pm
Dilane and I sang at Singapore Arts Cafe's open mic tonight. We decided to take the opportunity as a precursor to April 24th. We had Kelvin (Di's cycling buddy) and our own manager cum critic Mingfeng, there to watch us.
Crowd wasn' good, but it was a learning experience. Mingfeng did give his dollars' worth, very valuable critcism and pointers we will work on; still some distance to cover. But other than that, Di and I have both agreed it was a performance we both enjoyed.
I do hope the music plays on, and we achieve what we are capable of.
Internship begins...finally!
Well, I'll finally be starting something "contructive" and definitive (how about that Yong? haha). I start on Monday, 6 days a week, at the Keppel freight port. I am certain the lessons I'll learn there, invaluable for life, especially under the charge of Col Seen.
Cheers to that!
Uncle T
21 Mar 2006
Harmonic Breeze, 24 Apr '06, Esplanade Concourse 12:38 pm
LASTING IMPRESSION...
Welcome. That is what the duet of "Lasting Impression" intends to do with their warm, romantic sound this 24th April evening. The two, Nicholas and Dilane, coming from varied musical experiences, bring together a sound that is an amalgamation of individual ideas and character, producing music that is harmonically subtle and musically sensitive. However, the band regrets the absence of their third member, Clarence, this evening who has contributed tremendously in the musical arrangements of the songs tonight. Nevertheless, join "Lasting Impression" for an evening of Harmonic Breeze, serving up a menu of Broadway favourites like "On the Street Where You Live" and "I Got Rhythm".
Enter this evening of Harmonic Breeze, coloured with a unique flavour of classical, jazz and pop, and allow "Lasting Impression" to welcome you into a thearetical world of the memories, surprises and moods of Broadway, right here in the Esplanade.
Uncle T
I've Got Rhythm 12:31 pm
Cleavage? WHAT?!?! 12:31 pm
While I was off work two days back, I decided to join Yong for lunch near her workplace. And so, I was on a bus down.
I stood up, facing the rest of the passengers. I just woke from a nice afternoon TIBS-bus nap, ready to alight. My nonchalant gaze somehow fell in-line with a girl's. For no particular reason we locked gazes for a split of a split-second, and as it is common, turned away. Something so ordinary was turned on its head. Here began the saga.
From the corner of my eye, I caught her decidedly using her shawl to cover her cleavage in her halter top outfit. I was enraged! Yes, we guys have a reputation for being magnetised by a nice bosom, but in this case, I didn't even get that CHANCE!
Well, she thought I was checking her out, and did that not-so-discrete cover-up. I was enraged, seeing it very much like an insult, really.
Ah well, luckily there was a decent lunch with good company to make up for all that.
Uncle T