My Life on a Wednesday morning.

9.00am- Woke up sharply at 9.00am

9.05am- Brush teeth and notice a pimple growing just below my nose, squeeze it out since its ripe.

9.15am- Breadfast; 2 slice of bread coated with Hazelnut Chocolate and butter plus a glass of milk.

9.23am- Change into PT kit and off for a morning run. It much cooler this morning due to a cold front.

10.00- Making that final burst 300m away from the finishing line, along East Beltline Road. Step into the toilet just in time before those hazardous material came out of my butt. The heavy dinner last night just sink all the way to my rectum while running.

10.10am- Feeling really shiok to relieve those pressure. Head out to the letter box to check if my Naval Federal Savings account documents in here. NO.

10.15am- Got home and kept myself busy by cleaning my Sugar Gliders cage. Must be all the good food I gave to them every night cause they tend to produce lots of poo this few days. Luckily it don't smell and its dry. Decorate it abit and put my "worn for 3 days" T-shirt in the cage to help them recgonize my smell and built that "Pet to Owner or Owner to Pet" bonding.

10.30am- Blast the radio on 1003.7 FM , heat up the stove and started cooking for tonights dinner. Will be staying overnight for guard duty with an Engine man "Xiao Mi". For tonight, I will have Pork Chop, Cheese Egg omelette, Sardines and Apple. Realise I have use too much salt to wash the pork chop prior to marinating two days ago cause it taste kinda salty during the taste test.

11.00am- Finish cooking and time to start on the most dreaded task of any chef...WASHING THE PLATES. Although there is a dish washer in my apartment, I have apprehension on its ability.

11.20am- Started typing the title of this blog "My Life On A Wednesday Morning"

11.43am- Started typing this line... "11.40am- Started typing this line..."11.43am- Started typing this line..."11.43am- Started typing this line..."11.43am- Started typing this line..."11.43am- Started typing this line..."11.43am- Started typing this line..."11.43am- Started typing this line...

"DO YOU HAVE A FEELING THAT YOUR EVERYDAY LIFE IS ROUTINE OR A CLOSED LOOP? BREAK FREE FROM THAT LOOP TIME TO TIME OR YOU ARE NOTHING BUT A COMPUTER PROGRAM"

Emergency recall!

Just when I was about to enjoy my evening after a hard day of work, a shagging evening run and meal preparation for Tuesday lunch, I recieve an urgent call from Dave. Our section was suddenly recalled back to base for some urgent matters that Dave don't even have the time to explain to me over the phone. My first instinct was "SHIT! What happen?" It must be something big have happen to warrent a total disruption of our guys precious resting time (its tough work right here in Peace Praire). I was having the worst case scenario in my mind and was observing if Kok Meng and Ricky handphone rings. Kok Meng is an Engine man and Ricky is an Electrical Instrument man, if both their phone ring for a recall, some really BIG and BAD and BURING must have happen. Relieve to hear non of their phone ringing... A quick change into my coverall and of we go! RTB! Return to base.

Ricky and KokMeng enjoying their video games

We (Me, Gary, Leng Chuan and Dave) reached base in within 30min together with our EO Captain Bertrand. Already, I could feel the hectic pace the base have suddenly become. David was already sweating it out disconnecting some of the hydraulic actuators, Mr Clive and Serene, our tech store guys, came back in this late hours to prepare component that was suddenly requested by our counterpart involving in a International Military exercise call RED FLAG at Neveda. The next job will be up to us to take out the that component from an existing aircraft, a process call "Cannibalizing" which is nothing as gruesome as it sound, just a maintainence practice of swapping internal component coupled with tons of paper work. We guys pretty much goes into autopilot mode to get the job done.

Just when the activity start to heat up on our side, with the forklift and container ready for the aircraft component, we got a call from our guys that there is no need for the component they requested earlier. Suddenly it felt like an Anti-Climax. All the heat of the action just goes into sub-zero. However I look at it in anothe perspective, although it was somehow a wasted trip late at night, this situation tested our pace when there was a sudden recall. I felt that our guys have responded really fast, just 30 mins to get changed and head 19 miles back to base. Not much physical contribution from us to our guys at Nevada but at less it was real assuring to have our presense in the base at such short notice.

It was already 12.30am when we left the base. Bertrand suggested for an early breakfast before heading home. Off we went to Waffle House to get some Caborhydrates and Fats that was burn off earlier on, plus a few cups of decaffinated coffee to call it a day. Learn my lesson not to drink coffee unless I want to toss and turn in bed...

Reached home at around 1.30am. I only need to get back to work at 1pm later on thus have sometime before bedtime to spend with my 2 Sugar Gliders pet. Need to built those bonding with them as they are still quite afraid of me...

Old Car is gone, Handicapped again.

The 1993 Ford Taurus, the End of its RSAF PP Det "Encik' Legacy

After many days of distress with the car repair plus a US$49 dollars ads on www.autotrader.com, my 1993 Ford Taurus is finally sold to a 37 years old teacher and mother of two and her boyfriend, a USMC Corporal. She is the first buyer that drop by to look at the car and she is getting the car for her 17 years old daughter who just got her lesson. It was really a one shot one kill deal. The deal went through at a favourable price of US$1100 but I gave them a good will discount of US$50, knowing the problem the car face and the cheap cheap price I got the car for when I first brought it at US$800 only. A real friendly family, Mum's a teacher, Boyfriend a US Marine who is going on a second tour of duty to Afghanistan and a 17 years old High School girl.

Probably is the SALESMAN blood in me, I offered to bring the family to Walmart to get a bottle of Radiator Coolant and a bottle transimission oil. We return from the shopping trip and quite surprise that the car was leaking radiator again! The deal have not went through yet and now this damn car starts leaking at the wrong time. A bit of quick thinking and I told them it might be the radiator plug that was not fix properly when I drain the cooolant earlier on today, so I went a head and pretend that it was really not tighten. Radiator was top off with new coolant again and off we drove back to my place. I was praying real hard throughout the journey that it stop leaking when we get back. In my mind, I am already preparing that this deal will be called off.

Reached home with a slightly hot engine, probably due to the new coolant. Luckily this time round, there was no leak at all! It could the the radiator plug after all, I guess. However, I played a bit of a reverse psychology, advising them that its ok to walk away from the deal if they are not comfortable, telling them Singaporeans are very honest people and moreover I am in the Military and Ethnics is one of our core values. Thank goodness they stick to the deal with a bit of sweet talk and customer service.

Selling a car here is much more convinient than doing so in Singapore. The first thing is the great advertising service provided by Autotraders.com, for just US$49, you can run you ads online and in their freely distributed magazines till the vehicle is sold. The other option is to just pay US$39 and have the ads run for 2 weeks. Its a wise choice to choose US$49, just US$10 difference for a 'Run Till Its Sold" ads sure beats anything. Transfering the ownership is as easy as the seller signing on the Title Registeration certificate, the buyerpaying the money and driving the car off. The buyer will have to complete the transfer himself at a Tax Office located in various places in the Dallas/ForthWorth metroplex. Unlike Singapore where both party have to go down to LTA to Q and effect the transfer, its much more trouble free over here.

Right now, I am again without a car which is as good as without a leg. Gonna depend on my roommates and friends to hitch a ride to the work place. However, earning a profit from this old grandpa car really made my day. Got to give some credit to this old granpa car, at less it bring me from point to point with only a battery failure sometimes ago. A bit of background information about the car, it was driven by many RSAF Encik in the past and its nearly as old as the Peace Prairie Detachment since its setup in 1996. The last two owner is me and 1SG Goh. If the legacy was true, both of us should have a chance to become Warrent Officers in few years time. Ha ha...

The Texas National Flower!!!

This is the National Flower of Texas, the "Texas Bluebonnet". It grows in abundance during the Spring times which is still at less 6 to 8 months away from now. Unfortunately, I have lost the picture that Encik Foo send to me before came to Texas, it shows our mighty RSAF Chinook outside the Aircraft hanger with a huge field blooming with the Bluebonnet flowers. The sight is really something to behold and much much anticipated. It should look something like this...

..Except with a CH-47D Chinook in the background, giving a touch of military might admist a shower of peaceful colors.

Thinking of starting a small garden in my balcony or at the workplace. The sight of flowers sure make the day brighter and much more cheerful. It relaxes the eyes admist the tons of boring, routine paper works and calm the mind that have been under constant words attack from irritating bossy people.

Just fix up the cracked radiator tank of my car today with some sealant. Got to wait for at less 24hours for the white sealant to set or cure before sending my car for a ground run and a leak check to ascertain everything is back to normal before heading to Walmart to get some seeds and soil on Thursday. Praying hard that my old Ford Taurus will survive through this calamity.

Sometimes I feel that my old car, which is the oldest car in PP Det right now, is like a UH-1H Huey Helicopters among the more modern helicopters such as the Super Puma, Chinooks, Apache, Fennec. Kinda unique but in need for replacement.

Last year, the RSAF last fleet of UH1-H Huey choppers were retired from service after more than 2 decades of good service for Sembawang Air Base and the Helicopter community. Although the last ceremonial flight was mark by poor weather, it does not taint and dampen the legacy this trusted old machine have given to countless of it former pilots (flying), soldiers (troop lift) and the grease monkey technician like me who get our hands dirty and oily to give it that few more extra years of reliable service. Read the link below about the retirement and the numerous milestones this old and often seen in war movies helicopter...

BYE BYE HUEY

My car is wet! Its peeing in its pants!

Chain of Events

Thought it was just another routine Sunday dinner meeting with the guys, I drove my old Ford Taurus out to pick up Bertrand and Joanne with Trainee driver Eng Wee and Instructor Ricky following closely behind in their black Mitsubishi Galant. Both our cars split up outside The Summit apartment where I turn in to pick up Bertrand and Joanne while they head to Vista Pointe, meeting up with Leng Chuan and Dave.

I ended the first leg of my journey outside Bertrand's house and gave them a call for my arrival. Joanne step out of the house first and greeted me with a smile. She came to my side of the window and in a very very calm and quiet tone told me "Er...Ric, I think you car is leaking in front." I guess she does not realise the severity of the findings cause I was like jumping out of my car immediately and heading straight to the front of the car. I was confuse and shocked while she was still kinda calm. Bertrand came out and he was really concern about whether the car could even safely move at all and advised me to just park it at his apartment overnight. It turn out that my car radiator is leaking and its forming a pool of coolant right outside Bertrand's house. We call for the rest of the team,The Black Mitsubishi Galant piloted by Eng Wee and Ricky and a Silver Acura Integra piloted by Leng Chuan and Dave, over to salvage to the situation.

So it appear that we got a team of professional technical team right now to assess if its a GO or NO-GO for this old grandpa car to be drove back to my Apartment. We got an Air Frame man - Eng Wee, 3 Rotortunist- Leng Chuan, Dave and me, an Electrical Instrument man- Ricky, an Engineering Officer - Bertrand plus a very sharp eye for detail DCC Joanne. Joanne was commended by Bertrand for her vigilance in spotting the leak and calling off the mission. She will be duely rewarded with another round of Hanasho/ SEOUL Garden meal the next time. With the enormous technical support, I was much much more relieved.

In the end, the decision was made to drive the troubled vehicle back to my place, closely escorted by the Galant and Integra. Before heading off, the radiator was top up with a gallon of water plus a extra gallon in the car boot for emergency use along the way (Water courtesy of The Bertrand's and Joanne's Company). Thanks to the escort by Leng Chuan, Dave, Ricky, Eng Wee, Bertrand and Joanne, my car was drove back to my apartment uneventfully.

We continue on our Journey to a Vietnamese restraunt for our dinner but in my mind, I am kinda worried about the seriousness of my car SNAG.

FINDINGS

Today is Monday and its the end of another day of work and Peace Prairie Detachment. Got home early and decided to rectify the snag. Thanks to the years of service in RSAF, I have well trained eyes in inspection and removal of compnents. After removing a panel, the ECU console, the radiator pipe and spilling a small pool of coolant on the ground (opps!...even an expert make mistake too), I finally spotted the source of the leak! I thought in the beginning it was some pipe that was broken but now it turn out to be the plastic tank attached to the side of the radiator that was leaking whenever the car engine was running. A small 1.5 inch hairline crack was the source of the leak. Going to get some high temperature sealant or epoxy to seal it up, and hopefully the old car will give me another few weeks of trouble free driving before I sell it off as advised by Leng Chuan...

"Better to sell it when you can still contain the problem rather than waiting for the big explosion which leave you nothing for returns."

Ant Colony, Finale!!

Looks like they have stop digging and start living...

This is so far the first picture I took of the colony without turning on those blue LED lights. I just place the colony in front of the window and with the aid of the sunlight shining through the blue gels, this photo was taken. Pretty amazing huh?

Sunday Program

Just gonna spend the whole sunday at home playing videos games that I have not touch on for months! I aiming to complete the SUPER ROBOT WAR ALPHA 3 within this year. 73 stages in all and I am only at Stage 40, long way to go man.

Will be heading out for fishing in the evening and also getting some soil and seeds from Walmart to start a Garden at my Balcony. Really need to start some healthy hobbies like Ant rearing and gardening instead of spending the whole time in front of my lap tops and tv games.

The weekend sux!

What the hell! Can't we people have at less 48 hours per week not dealing with our work at all? I mean, we should have the Human Rights to enjoy our Weekend either in bed, fishing, video games, calling our GF, shopping, binge eating etc etc etc. This weekend totally sux cause we guys gonna go back to base in a nice, cool Saturday morning to work on some BS stuff (not even aircraft work!) when I could seriously take some rest or go to the gym to train up. Getting more and more BS in the work and I wonder am I a technician, a clerk, a computer system administrator, a janitor or just data miners? Maybe an accountant. Just how many shoes do we all have to wear? Tsk tsk tsk...

Btw the way, the Ant Colony tunnels have been completed. Looks like the Ants are getting cosy in there and slightly slacking too. Thinking of putting in a small worm and get some action going.

Bill Boards and sign in Dallas

You find numerous handicapped parking lots around Dallas! At office carpark, restraunts, factory, air base and almost everywhere there is at less 3 handicapped parking lots. Thats how much the Americans care bout the handicap. Go look around our multi-storey carpark, just how many handicapped parking lots are there?

Heres me, been Artistic.

A common sight in the United States... Big, High Billboard advertisment to attract the attention of drivers along the highway!

Help! Its falling and its heavy!!!

Ant Colony, Day 3

Its been 3 days since those creature started tunneling. They have earlier prove me that they are intelligent and communicated well enough to link up mid way while tunneling from 2 sites. Lets see what other trick they have up their sleeves.

Hmm. Not bad, looks like they have linked the center tunnel, or CTE tunnel to tunnel B on the right. This is like linking CTE to TPE (tunnel B) via PIE. I observe no major changes in tunnel A on the left which looks like KJE, BKE linking to the south of CTE via AYE forming a U shape. A small tunnel have been started on the left side but currently I have no familiar Singapore road names to gave it. Notice the top right hand corner of the colony looks like a big mess but on closer observation, its actually 2 tunnels, one on the foreground and one on and background.

My two hardworking subjects making changes at the edge of their world.

Some slackers at the bottom. Sleeping? Chatting? Or just day dreaming?

Whatever that was dig out did not go to waste. It was reuse as decorative purpose above their colony. Those blue crystals also act as their food source. Hmm, I suspect that due to the confined space of the colony (like Singapore), they can't afford to store their food in the tunnel risking their creature comfort.

Extreme magnification of my subjects at work.

Ant Colony, Day 2

Just look at the progress my little creature have made!!!

Day 1.5, we got tunnel A and B

Day 1.5, they split the work and dig from two sites.

They just don't give up!!! After almost 24 hours, this ants are still working. No salary, no bonus no OT.

Day 2, Tunnel A and B have joined up perfectly. This prove there is communication between the two site contractors. Looks like they have digged a third central tunnel and some sub-tunnels.

Ant Colony, Day 1

The Harvester Ants have finally arrived in my Mailbox this afternoon. Kinda weird to see living creatures been send through a mail but this is US, many weird thing can be done here...








As expected, the Ants are stored in a plastic vial with 2 little holes for them the breath but not to escape and run around my house when I open the postage. A small piece of Instruction/ Warning serve as a indeminity for the company if I mishandle the ants and got bitten by them... You can't sue the ants and you can't sue the company so HANDLE WITH CARE!







Now the tricky part here is "How do I get the Ants out of the Vial and into their man made colony without any of them escaping before I close the lid? Well, just place the entire vial of Harvester Ants in the fridge for 5 mins. The cold literally slow down their metabolism and you could see them suddenly going slow motion after 5-10mins in the fridge.






Its time to pour this inactive Red Harvester Ants into the Kingdom I have brought for them From today onwards, they shall call me their God and untill death do we part. In any case, I'm sure to outlive them for many generations as ants usually have a really short live of 3 to 6 months. They look kinda disorientated initially when I pour them into the "Aquarium". After a few drop of water into the tank to revitalize them, they started to do what mother nature have program them and their ancestors.... DIG DIG DIG!!!

Two infant tunnel created in their first 2 hours of residency.

Tunnel Entrance on the left

Tunnel Entrance on the right

Progress in tunnelling was pretty slow but I don't need to wait for at less 24 hours before they start working. It was slow tunnelling work thanks largely to the surprisingly social characteristic of Ants... Some work hard on the digging, while some slack in one corner doing nothing but nimbling at each other legs...kinda like having sex. Maybe this ants actually have their own shift work system which explain why some ants are resting while some are working? Time will tell. Stay tune for more pictures from Day 2.

RT-men Saturday Mission: Get a car!!!

Our mission to get Dave's first car in United States bring us at less 15 miles away from home to DON HERRING, MITSUBISHI dealer at Plano. Dave have been looking around for a year 2000 Honda Civic for several occassion and have rejected many deals along the way. This time with cash on his hands, determination and a slight desperation, Dave together with the RT-men; Leng Chuan, Hwa Chuan and Riccardo decided to make it a "DO IT or DIE" car-buying mission today. The RT-men is present to give our 2 cents worth of advise and moral support (Leng Chuan), our Eagle eye inspection and quality assurance of the Honda Civic (Hwa Chuan) and the bargaining skills (Riccardo).

THE CAR.

This is the 2000 Honda Civic EX equipped with a 1.6L VTEC Engine to give it the roar at high engine rpm. Its a rare (or maybe non-existent) car in Singapore because it comes in a coupe configuration a.k.a 2 door "Ah Beng" car. Whats make our target today even more "Beng" was its total Blackness.



THE QUALITY ASSURANCE.

The body work was in good condition, all the lights were working except for a discoloration of the rear-left signal light... instead of red, it was orange. The engine was very responsive when I twist the throttle valve on the engines. It rev nicely and smoothly to approx 7000rpm which is more than normally needed for everyday traffic. Knowing that our good friend Dave drove a WRX back in Singapore, we do ensure that there is not gear slippage when launching the vehicle from stand still. This black horse got an excellent acceleration for a 1.6L car and good braking feel. It may not be a Subaru WRX but its good enough for the price of US$6955. Also to mention that it have a clean history courtesy from CAR-FAX, No accident, no tickets and no drive by shooting (joke).

However the passenger side powered window does not wind down as when we press the window button on both the driver side and passenger side door. This become the main focus in the bargaining process and of course a major obstacle to our mission.



THE BARGAINING.

Leng Chuan working hard to Psycho Juan for a good bargain

Dave and his carrot...

Meet Juan, the only Hispanic sales man working at Don Herrings Mitsubishi, Plano. Our mission now is to barter or bargain for a discount for the car. Commission is very important to this salesman so driving a bargain with them is like driving against the wall, either our hammer is harder or his concrete is stronger. This car gonna set us back by 6955 + T.T.L (Tax, Title registration and Licensing fees) of 300 total, and due to the powered window issue we are pushing for a price of US$6500. "I'm gonna consult the boss" he said and took down our bargaining details before calling the big boss. Big Boss decision was a firm NO NO for the bargaining but we were relentless. Requested a KBB (Kelly Blue Book) quotation for the market value 2000 Honda Civic EX and price came out to be US$9330 for a excellent condition car.

Juan score the first goal by telling us that the price of the car, was way mark down in to compensate for the condition. The engine was excellent, handling is good, clean record...

The RT-men team equalize with the power windows issue and broken dash board compartment handles. We are sure that when Don Herring brought the car from the previous owner, they should have already brought it at a "Erected Windows, Broken Handle" values. We are not ready to let them double strike with their pricing on us.

Juan passes the ball to Big Boss, who appear to look like the "American Bald Eagle"" and Big Boss score a convinient second goal by saying the price is the best we could get and no where else will we be getting such good condition Honda Civic at such good price. Man...all sales man say that.

RT-men decided to take a longer look at the car during Half-Time.

The second hand start with a inital salvo from the RT-men, equalizing again within the first minute. We told Juan we are keen to buy the car but the power window was a very very big Hesitation Point in the purchase. Juan went off the discuss with Mr "American Bald Eagle". Looks like our chance of winning is coming.

Before the players from Don Herrings could even react, we step in again and treaten their defense with fact that we are not asking for a price lowering for the broken dashboard compartment handle. Finally, Mr "American Bald Eagle" score an own goal during Injury time by giving us a 100 dollar discount for the price of the car. This also effectively lower the tax by a few dollars.

THE AFTERMATH and FRUIT OF LABOR.

The battle was won!!! But we almost spend the next 2 hours to clear the paper work and purchase GEICO insurance online. Good thing about the system in United States is that you can purchase your insurance online, that means no more taking Q number and Q-ing and than Killing your time away.

Don Herring MITSUBISHI is awarded by MITSUBISHI to be the BEST dealership for its brand in Texas, Dallas and they sure deserve this title just by the sheer number of Evolution IX on display right in front of the air-condition show room...



For just US$ 28,000, you can drive alway with any one of this sports car. This is why we question what kind of crap or trash the Singapore government is giving Singaporean when they the amount they spend on a Toyota Corrolla couldget them an MITSUBISHI EVO IX right here in the United States. And the irony is both countries have to import this cars from Japan. So much for Democracy and Human rights or equal rights when we are deprived of such beauty.

Lastly, something that may not come to Singapore at all, the 06 Mistsubishi Eclipse.

Old SBC Drama

The actors have become older, the kids in the show are as old as me, Ai Yo Yo 老师 have grown in size. But one thing for sure, our memories are refreshed when triggered by old pictures and video and it make us think of the time when we we just little kids. No worries about career advancement, stress from the bosses, beating the rush hour traffic, paying the bills, getting back stab by cunning people, getting push around in the work place... Those were the days when I have a crush on this thai girl in my primary 5 class and the time I got my first public canning right before PSLE and when I cried before getting the math result cause the whole class was ridiculously stress out about math results. So enjoy the following SBC (Singapore Broadcasting Corporation Video clips) and hopefully it brings you some good old memories.... and see if you can recgonize those actors and actress... back than there was not American sitcom and Hongkong or Taiwan drama and SBC Drama were the best of the best during that period. Very original story lines...

Mi Li Ye 迷离夜
Wu Jiao Ji 五角基
Samsui Women 红头巾
Pian Yuan Shao Nian (Ah Beng and Ah Lian) 边原少年
Yang Guang Lie Che 阳光列车
Guang Huai Fan Shi 关怀方式

The Ant Kingdom have arrived!!!

The birth of a new kingdom
under the closeful eyes of "Kisses" and "Freedom of Speech" guardians

Oh yes! My Ant kingdom have finally arrived! But where are my subjects? My kingdom citizens? My worshippers? The ants? They should now be in the United States mailing system, hopefully arriving at my premises this weekend to populate this deserted and totally undevelop territory.

Unfortunately, like earth, the kingdom was created with a minor flaw, a little crack at the edge of that world... a natural flaw or in our context "manufacturing flaws". It made me so mad at such poor quality control that I wrote an E-mail to the online merchant...

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Riccardo Tan [mailto:rseaf@sbcglobal.net]
Sent: Tuesday, August 08, 2006 11:27 PM
To: 'orders@aquatic-store.com'
Subject: Defective Ant Works illuminated

Hi there,

I have recently purchase the “Antworks” illuminated and it was delivered to me through USPS on the 8^th of Aug (today). However, upon opening the package, I discovered a flaw in on a corner of the product. Please refer to the attached pictures for more details.

It appear to be an internal crack in the plastic cause by manufacturing fault. Although the crack does not affect the functionality of the product, it is still unacceptable and from an aesthetic point of view, an eye sore.

I like to know how I can get a replacement for the damage product. Will also appreciate if an arrangement could be made to have a percentage of refunds if I choose to keep the defective product as the Harvester Ants I ordered might not have a home to stay pending the return of the defective product and shipment of the replacements.

Below are a my order details to aid you in addressing my concerns.

Jian Wei, Tan

1717 East Belt Line Rd Apt 2021

Coppell, TX 75019-4247

The package's Delivery Confirmation ID is 9102805213907181559699

E-mail address: majmoron@yahoo.com

Sincere,

Riccardo Tan J.W

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

However customer service rules the day in my case, instead of having to return the product to exchange for a new one as stated in their term and condition, they decided to send me another AntWorks Illuminated, Free Of Charge!!! That really means a lot to me as a customer and as a token of appreciation I have decided to advertise this product and their company to all you readers out there...

http://www.antworkstoys.com/

Happy Birthday Singapore

Happy birthday to my beloved, much missed and occasionally much complained about, SINGAPORE! You are now 41 years old and just look at how fast you have grown!!! Back than in 1965, "THAT WAS A TIME, WHEN PEOPLE SAY THAT SINGAPORE WON'T MADE IT" but WE DID!

Singapore came real far since than, we people "BUILT OUR NATION WITH OUR HANDS". STRANGER WHEN WE FIRST BEGAN, People from different races coming in harmony, making what we are today, thanks largely to early intervention by our government to promote racial harmony, equality and to deter and punish those who are out there to break that bonding we have built for so many years. We got our Ah Mat, Ah Neh and Ah Beng plus Ang Mo playing a big role in moulding our country through the years from the early construction and "Todays China Style" manufacturing back in the 70s and 80s to the modern R&D, Banking, service orientated industry that have characterised Singapore in the 90s and millenium.

So what ring my mind whenever people in America ask me about Singapore? We are not just a little dot on the map which is smaller than the entire Irving City in Texas, Dallas county. We are truly ONE UNITED PEOPLE that have survived and transform an island ,that could be just about any Indonesia undevelop island, from a DAYONG SAMPANG fishing village into a modern city that can compete among the best the in world!

You can just see the proud face I have whenever I told the Ang Mos I am from Singapore and how much praises they have for Singapore for its multi-racial diversity, the variety of food, the weather, the safety low crime rate. It seems that when I was in Singapore, I just treat my country like a house I stay in. And now, right here in the US... Singapore and as a Singaporean is a unique identity that I feel proud of carrying around.

Personally, I love my country for the food and YES, I dearly miss all my favourite food and even those ordinary food we always take for granted at the coffeeshop. So much so I can compile a list of food that I wish is right in front of me now,

1- Roti Prata from Causaurina, near old thomson road
2- Kwey Chap
3- Cha Kwey Teow, Waterloo Street
4- Hainanese Chicken Rice, down stairs!!!
5- Hokkien Mee
6- Chilli Crab, Ang Mo Kio Seafood Junction
7- Ice Kacang
8- Popiah
9- Laksa from the snack store at Yishun Central
10- Mee Pok, Anywhere!

Although its 9th of August right now in Dallas, due to the time zone difference... the Peace Praire Detachment held our National Day observance parade on the 8th of August instead. It was a simple ceremony where we recite our National Pledge, sang the National Anthem and presents long service medals and promotion certificate to some of our well derserved service man. Ha ha...don't know why but I tend to Sing the National anthem louder here than back in Singapore... maybe with a bit of American accents when reciting the pledge...ha ha.

Going Canada in September

I am currently planning my backpacking trip to Toronto, Canada from September 22th to Oct 1st. Lots of things to prepare as this is my first backpacking trip. Have just brought a internal frame bags a.k.a big big backpacker bag in preparation for the trip those you see Ang Mos always carry around. Other than money, I will need some outdoors camping stuff as part of my trip will bring me to Madawaska or Algonquin Park, a popular backpacker outdoor camp site located at a very very scenic wilderness which I soon will discover. A sleeping bag, a propane fire bottle, small cooking wares and a small tent will suffice. Of course not forgeting lighters and Swiss Knifes. The next destination will be Niagara Falls just south of Toronto.

My plan is to embark on this trip alone and join in other backpackers at a backpacker hostel call Global Backpackers at Toronto City for the camping trip. Its always better to go in a group than alone. Lots of homework to do at the moment especially the budgeting stuff. Thankfully the Internet provided most of the information on price of accomodation, approx price on food, city transportation, airline tickets price. I try to keep my budget tight for this trip, target to spend below US$1000, so probably will get some MREs from the guys back in base to keep me filled throughout the adventure.

Lugi Guard Duty Again!!!

WAH LAU EH!! Riccardo want to complain liao... Why I kanna another of those guard duties where the next day duty personal do not come in at 8am to take over! Damn... its been 3 times in a row since I came here and yesterday I was pretty worked out when Jonathan told me he can only come in the take over my duty at 12 because he is heading for a medical appointment in the morning. Unfortunately, the other guard duty personnal was an ACS (Air Crew Specialist) who know nuts about taking over guard duties which involve accounting for publication, tools and clearing shit load of bull craps paper work.

Can't blame Jonathan cause he too never expect Friday to all of a sudden becoming a sports day. Normally, in an ideal scenario, the morning shift will come in for work and take over the duties from me and Jonathan will head in at 3.00pm in the afternoon. Seems like not many Ideal scenarios happening for me... sigh.

So here I am, I got to bite the dust and hold the ground till 12pm today while the rest of the guys went for Detachments Sports activities. I think I will join them if I am not too tired, thanks to the late 4.00am sleep this morning and the 8am wake up call from Andy to have breakfast and the interuptive 9.15am PA annoucement " Paging for Guard Duty Personnal, please bring over the Ops key". Wah lan eh.... they don't have legs to walk over huh? Although I got tons of Stamina and run below 9mins for 2.4km IPPT, lim peh did not have enough sleep yesterday leh....what happen if I walk over the Ops side with the key and buang into a tree? Than have to write report! Than the organization have to come up with another safety net ( more like a safety wall) to prevent occurence... than more crap in the future!!! Than the future become bleak again... than someone knock into the tree again... its a cycle.

Sigh... whatever I wrote was the "Devil" side of my mind. Now the "Angel" side of my mind tells me to put everything in good perspective. Sometime a person view point, attitude and perspective in a situation will dictate how good or bad a scenario turn out to be. Hmm... at less I get the surf the net for free? At less I got a free Breakfast from Andy this morning (Thank you Andy)? At less I got to write this blog entry today to vent my frustration? At less I got to do some travelling to Canada research. At less I'll learn to take it easy

新的不来，旧的不走。 New Stuff come, old stuff goes

Like an old car which have travelled many miles around the country, giving its owner trusty performance, many good sight seeing and risking through numerous racing competition... the old car eventually, like a human being, will have to Rest In Peace. Good things never goes on forever and so my 3 years old New Balance 706 X-Training shoes have to call it a day. Does feel a bit sad that its gonna relegate to the shoe racks forever but at less I won't throw it into the trash bin for sentimental reasons.

Makes me appreciate good running shoes

My 706 have taken me through the 10km relay races during Air Force school times in AETI, it help me clinched silver medal in both the 5km and 1.5km races, losing each time to the same fighter pilot trainee. The good old shoes have ran many 2.4km fitness test and thanks to it, many S$200 cash award for getting GOLD during the IPPT test. The prime of its time is two 21km half marathon where the New Balance 706 faithfully survive through the half marathon in 2004 and 2005. Even with all this accolades, the most important thing it did to me is disciplining me to maintain a healthy lifestyle by running at less 6 miles per week.

Sadly I could not bring it to the next level. The old shoes draws its last breath 2 days ago during a routine threadmill run and have to be lay to rest.

Things don't look good in its last moment of life.

Althought I aim to use it for a full marathon but it seems too late. "I DID MY BEST, AND I HAVE NO REGRET".

Introducing now, the next generation, the New Balance 716 will carry on its predecessor honour and bring "MORE GOOD YEARS" which I rather trust the shoe than the our own Government...

Baru Sekali! Berjalan Jauh!