Pictures from my Home trip

Back to Dallas

Hello everyone, I am back to Dallas after 1 week plus home trip in Singapore. It was a short and sweet holiday for me ( and for my good friends back home). Thanks to the festive season, there is no shortage of party, food and booze to go around with. Rest assure that I will be posting all the photos taken with you guys after I get some sleep later on from the Jet lag.

The short week surely was pack with activity from "chionging" session at Dragonfly, 3 house warming party, a Christmas eve party, my family reunion dinner, movies and a farewell dinner 1 day before I flown off. Really appreciate the time you guys and gals spend with me, thank you thank you.

The return flight on SIA SQ016 make a stop over at South Korea Incheon Air Port. Throughout the flight, I have 2 occasion (during take-off and during landing) to chat with a young Air Stewardess who came from Malaysia. Her name is Yow which translate to Rao in Chinese. What a rare surname. Chat about the ranking system if the Air Stewardess, how long she work, where she from, where I am from, What work I am in, about San Francisco and whether I can be a SIA pilot. Sad.... the entire flight crew was changed during the 1 hour stop over and I never meet her again. Very sweet girl, when I mention it was snowing outside, she was really excited and said like a little girl "Wow, its snowy...I like snow". The last word exchange between me and Miss Yow was "Happy New Year". Ahh....cannot forget her sweet smile and voice.

Next leg of flight to San Francisco took 9 hours and I have to camp 6 hours at San Francisco Airport for the United Airline 0456 flight at 1830hrs which was delayed an hour due to foggy condition. So the flight only took off at 1930 and reaches Dallas at 0030 local time. Ricky picked me from the Airport and we head off to IHOP for supper. Got some updates from him about work and the RSAF car accident in Arizona.

Whee....I am still wide awake! Thank god its Sunday and I will be working at 3pm on Monday so I have more than 24 hours to tune my circadian rhythm back on track.

Favourite 80s Song, New Orders - True Faith

This is a real classic, although the MTV was kinda weird in the beginning with people slapping each other but still one of the few great 80s song. Don't hear clubs playing this song anymore otherwise its will be nice to dance with.

True Faith? How can we judge faithfulness of someone to ourselves or someone else? Is it a quantitative or qualitative? Does spending long time together represent faithfulness or just that we don't have any idea where to go at all? If we only meet once a week, how do we represent our faithfulness to each other? The short hours spend at Dinner, the movie or in the bed?

Today True Faith is Benazir Bhutto. She came back to save her country despite the obvious danger of assassination. She was assassinated by a combine shooting and bombing during a open rally in her home country Pakistan. Her faith for the good of her country and its people certainly cost her life.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/28/world/asia/28bhuttocnd.html?hp

Once a store room with a spoilted desktop

While the kingdom was abandon for months and years, the territory was slowly devoured by the rampaging invaders from neighboring kingdom. Surprisingly not a single act of pillaging and arson was evident in the now desolate Kingdom. Somehow the invaders have run out of space within their own walls and came with no swords or spears but boxes and boxes of excess supplies of the Golden Years to be stored in this Kingdom. The Kingdom hereby is renamed the store room.

But in the corner within the walls lies the key of knowledge and entertainment of the former ruler, its here where he rules his Kingdom, demonstrate his artistic flair of digital arts and collaborated with overseas pirates for Anime, MP3 and music. Its the PC. Alas, due to months of inactivity the hard drive dies a natural death and never to boot up again.

The Ruler return after a 1 years absence to restore his favorite corner within the walls. Together with a Toshiba laptop, a Trendnet router and the whole of this morning...he restore connection of his former kingdom with the outside world once more.


But for now, the Kingdom is still a damn store room... hahahah

SteamBoat at Renhan and Angela new apartment

I hope I could post of the Christmas eve gathering at Alfred's and April's place but I haven't get the photos from Alfred yet. So fast forward to Christmas Day itself where we brothers are invited to Renhan's new apartment for a house warming c.u.m Steamboat lunch gathering. Nice apartment, really spacious and very thoughtfully designed.

Slurp!!! Seafood buffet! I love the pig liver. Renhan woke up early to shop the grocery for the seafood steamboat.

Big Bro and 4th Bro patiently waiting to start the makan session while staring in thin air.

Good food is nothing without a great company of my bros and their wife. From left to right, Eddie, Renhan, Angela, April and Alfred.

Renhan's Daughter...Baby Celeste having her lunch out of the bottle. Much much more healthy compare to our sinful diet of the day.

Funeral in my neighbourhood.

How coincidence can it be? I came back to my apartment welcomed by 2 Chinese funeral. 1 under my block and another one at the next block across the road. Got startled up from my bed early this morning by the funeral musical procession bang trumpets and cymbals. For the first time in a years, i was woke up by something other than my alarm clock and there is no way to snooze it.

This is a Uniquely Singapore experience not to be found in tourist brochures. It serve to remind us how fragile life is and it often end with lots of music and a 500 degree flame...dust to dust, ashes to ashes.

Life is about balance of Material and Mental Wealth. Material = Shelter, Food and Water which is a life sustaining force for Health. Mental = Compassion, Wisdom which is our spirituality. When a human pass away, he/she no longer needs the Material of life but the action of his/her Mental continue to live on in our world from the people compassion have touched and wisdom have guided. When someone mention that our spirits still linger on earth after death, its not exactly ghost we seen in movies or stories, its just the results of what he/she did, be it the good or the bad that carry on through others life. Thats Spirituality in my own worlds.

What is Love??? I can't explain it... ha ha. Thats something we all don't really understand right?

RSAF serviceman involved with Accident

http://www.straitstimes.com/Latest%2BNews/Singapore/STIStory_189336.html

THREE servicemen from the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) were involved in a car crash that killed an elderly American woman in Arizona, US, last Wednesday.

The car, driven by Mr Teo Ming, a Singaporean, collided with the car driven by Ms Jacqueline Faircloth-Bair, 64.

The New Paper reported that there were two other passengers in Mr Teo's car who escaped unhurt.

Ms Faircloth-Bair died shortly after she was sent to hospital, while Mr Teo was treated for minor injuries.

A spokesman from Singapore's Ministry of Defence said the men were in Arizona for training and they were off-duty and driving their own car at the time of the accident.

He added that the men are assisting the authorities in the US with investigations. -- TNP

*Above extracted from Straits Times Online

I hope we don't have to take chartered bus to work from now on....

Back to home!!!

Phew....finally finish setting up the home wireless network in my apartment. My sis have subscribed to Starhub MaxOnline while I was away but was always confined to using the internet near the router because there is not wireless router at home.

I brought back a Trendnet Wireless Router to setup a home wireless router to free my family from chaining themselves to the 4 ft network cables. After struggling 2 hours with settings and troubleshooting, I could almost shoot myself for not realizing that the router does not connect to the Internet because I failed to restart all the device, from the Cable Modem to the Router and finally the laptop I am typing on now.

So now, I am back online wirelessly with my first blog in Singapore. Time is short for me in Singapore and 1 day have already pass since I landed. It was a good first day in Singapore. Went to re-contract my dads Starhub mobile lines (under my name) with a new, discounted Sony Ericsson K850i for my sis. Next I went to the traffic police department to get my replacement driver's license which was lost in USA. Than my family head down to my Uncle Yong Tau Fu store at Aljunied for lunch before heading back home for a rest. The evening was spend with my 2 brothers, Alfred and Eddie, chilling out with a can of beer and couple of winning Eleven 9 games on PS2.

This morning, me, my sis and dad headed to Prata Place along Sembawang Rd for breakfast. Mum is tired from work so she is still in bed. I super miss having prata for breakfast. Its been almost 9 months lor. My Singapore Saturday routine was running in the morning and Prata and Teh Tarik to replenish the energy.

I sense a strong prata presense here. 1 Kosong, 1 Onison and 1 Teh Tarik

Human beings are at the top of the food chain while wheat from prata are the lowest in the chain.

Ok got to go now. Heading out for lunch and than to Peicong's Christmas gathering.

Leaving for Singapore....soon

I typing this today from my base on the last day of work before I hike an American Airlines flight to Los Angeles later on in the evening. Next will be SIA SQ001 all the way from US soil back to Singapore. Weather predicition for 30% precipitation (fancy name for rain) in Dallas and I hope my flight will not be delay. I wonder how much my country have changed or how much I have lost touch with it. I am eager to learn how everyone of my friends and family have changed or how much I have lost touch with them. Most of all, I hope for pleasent surprises and a jolly good Christmas celebration back home, with family or friends.

1 week is really too short, now I realise. I only have a single weekend to spend upon touch down for I will be taking a morning flight on Saturday 29th back to US again. Already there is plan on my mind to change my return flight to Sunday 30th instead so I have at less half a weekend in Singapore.

Wish the jet lag don't hold me back from all the activites. :)

Sun Rise In Peace Prairie Detachment

A CH47D preparing for a morning sortie in the background.

Kawaii Neh!!!!

Passenger are advice not to look up when going through the underpass.

Man's Best Friend and Mattress.

A gift wrapping guard duty

Its Sunday and I'm on Guard duty. No one is working on Sunday obviously and I am by myself and have to whole luxury of spare times to do what I want. No movie watching today, no Nintendo DS, its a whole day dedicated to gift wrapping.

This is my work desk and I spend hours right here in a small corner of the base cutting, folding and sealing gift wraps. Its easy task if you are not really particular of presentation for the content beneath the wrap is whats matter. Seriously, I never wrap so much gift in a single day and I almost felt like I am some kind of Store assistant during Christmas Day helping customer do gift wrap. Now I know why some store actually charges money for doing so. Its pretty time consuming.

Few hours, a lunch break and many hours later...



Voila!!! Every gift neatly wrapped and tagged to the correct recipients. I actually prepared extra Christmas gift in case of contingencies. Every gift have a gift tag on it but I leave most of the "To:" empty while "Riccardo" is written on all the "From:" section except the gift for my mum where I wrote my Chinese name instead. Its kinda satisfying feeling to know that my Sunday have been put to good use besides serving the Nation by doing guard duty in Base. Its not really well wrapped and masking tapes are sticking out in every corner.

Everything neatly back to the big Oakley bag I brought along. Wah...its already sunset. Time flies, it begin in the morning and ended in the evening.

Decided not to buy take-away dinner outside the Base and have Cup noodle and Apple for dinner tonight. Ok, looks like everything is almost prep up for my home trip. I got the Christmas gift done up, my passport and air ticket are in the hands, all its left is to pack the luggages. Monday will be an off day and 1 more working day on Tuesday before I say Sayonara to USA... Mmmm....Chilli Crab is almost within my grasp!!!

Song Of The Day: Madonna, "Like A Prayer" 1989

Santa Riccardo coming to Singapore

3 more days to go and I will be on my way back to Singapore for my second home trip. Its been almost 9 months since my last home trip and Singapore still feel refreshing as ever to me. Unlike the last one, I am really looking forward to Singapore this time round. With the festive Christmas period during my 1 week plus stay in Singapore (from the 21st to 29th December) I was invited to attend 3 Christmas party from Saturday onwards, just one day after I touch down in Singapore.

First off will be house warming cum early Christmas gathering at Peicong and Aijuan new apartment on Saturday evening. On Christmas eve I will be heading to my dear brother Alfred and April apartment's Christmas celebration at his new apartment at Sembawang and also to Renhan and his wife place later on in the evening. Phew.....seems like everyone is getting married and getting new apartment.

Whats a Christmas celebration or gathering without present? As a more than 1 years resident in the US of A, with the great shopping outlets all around the place...there is almost limitless gift idea to choose from. So Mr Riccardo will be Santa Claus back in Singapore this time round. I might not be a worshiper of the true meaning of Christmas so to me its a day where we exchange gift with each other in appreciation and gratefulness of the friendship, brotherhood or intimate relationship for the past 1 years.

Of course not to forget the family bonding of my Dear Sis, Mum and Dad who all deserve all the quality time I can give during this festive period. I am going to bring them all to a nice restaurant (Chinese food of course!!!) for a nice quality family Christmas Day dinner to make up for all the family time lost when I'm away.

I am not spared Guard Duty for this weekend even with my home trip looming in the background. Well, the few shopping excursion have net almost 15kg of gifts for friends and family and thats gonna take time to wrap. I don't think I have the time to go through the scissors, gift wrap and masking tape when I'm back in Singapore so I decided to tackle this necessary Christmas chore during the Sunday guard duty. At less I got the whole day and all the stationary supplies I need in base.

Watch me transform 15kg raw shopping items into neatly wrapped present in tomorrow blog.

So looking forward to my home trip because of her too. Alas, I guess we both finally could have a little spark going back in our relationship. Somehow that period of separation and cool down period helped us both to understand each other better and reignited my affection for her back again. When work and lifestyle overwhelmed my daily thoughts of her and I almost loss her from my mind...she came back into my life again from a simple message on a post card. I only regret that with only a week in Singapore, I just have that little amount of time to spend with her that I wish I could have 1 week more in Singapore. But I know in my heart, its all gonna be good from now when we both put our heart and soul in it.

Adult and Children in a deserted town, a ghost town

What if we squeeze 40 adults into a small Ghost Town and they have to work together to rebuilt and revitalize it while at the same time live, eat and sleep with each other? 20 adults of 20 different country. They probably kill each other, divide into groups and build fences or someone will proclaim king and enslave the rest of the unfortunate residents. In the face of land without law, fear and skepticism rules. Everyone wants to be the leader and everyone wanna kick someone out during the town meeting each week for a million dollar in prize is at stake in the end. Welcome to the tv serial "Lost" or reality show "Survivor".

1 town away is yet another Ghost Town populated by 40 children all below the age of 12. They name their town the Bonanza City and it was recently broadcast on CBS. An interesting reality show "Kids Nation", 40 kids been challenged to live in an abandon town far away from civilization and their parents for 40 days. 3 of them become homesick and gave up while the remaining 37 work together through the daily challenges. In the end, there is no bloodshed but a creation of bonding and great friendship and tears of goodbye. The show teach us all that in the adult world of office politics, rivalry, power struggle, jealousy and backstabbing, its the children that show us all what real cooperation and team work is for someone who have not even pass their PSLE.

http://www.cbs.com/primetime/kid_nation/

Kairi, The Yanny, The Wolf, Yes I am...

A blog from a girl of faith name Yanny,

http://www.mercyfallout.blogspot.com/

2007 Forth Worth Alliance Airport Airshow

Fort Worth Air Show 2007

Another crazy MTV - Wen Bie

What is love?

Love is patient and Kind.

Love is not jealous or boastful or pround or rude.

It does not demand its own ways.

It is not irritable and it keeps no record of being wronged.

It does not rejoice about injustice

but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.

My tuition student is now an RSAF Pilot

Man...time really flies. During my Polytechnic days, I juggle between my Mechatronic studies and giving tuition to 4 Secondary School kids who have a tough time comprehending Math. One of my ex-student was Darren. Bright kid who just need a bit of guidance in his Math homework. I did also teach Darren younger brother with Math too but somehow he is more towards the Artistic, Right Brain area of talent.

Its been almost 5 years since I first started tutoring Darren. He was recently commission as 2nd Lieutenant after passing his Air Grading Course over at Australia. Early next year Feb, Darren will be heading to France to train on the A-4 Skyhawk which should lead him on to piloting the F-16 Falcon or the future F-15 Strike Eagle fighter jets.

Ha ha... The tuition teacher becomes a Technician while his student went on to be a Fighter Pilot. But you know what?I am really happy to know he is doing well in life and embarking on a prestigious and exciting career as a RSAF fighter pilot. Too bad, he is not coming to the Helicopter community else it will be really great to see him with the Chinook.

The people we met in our life affect the outcome of the future differently.

A 5 min blog to kill the bored Vampire in me

5.07am early in the morning. When everyone is getting up ready for work and the rooster is cuckolding... here I am, on my bed with my Sony Laptop blogging away and getting ready to sleep. That's the reality of my life this week working the graveyard shift like ghost and zombies. Work at 6am and got home at 3 to 5am in the morning. When the sun rise, I go to bed.

Good thing I still love garlic and the sight of the Cross cause no discomfort to me. I check my pulse, yes its still beating and I have not succumbed to 4 days of darkness. One more day to go, and it will be the weekend! Oh, speaking about the weekend remind me of my Saturday guard duty in Base. A day of just just staying in the base with a partner from 8am to 8am next day. Well I already have plans for this 24 Hrs stay at my workplace.

First, I am going to finish the entire Season 4 of "Cold Case" which should burn away 4 hours of the day. Next I gonna buried myself after lunch on my Nintendo DS Lite from RuneFactory to Legend Of Zelda Phantom HourGlass. In the evening, if its not too cold, I'm intending to go for a evening run around the base before heading out to buy Dinner. Finally surf the net a while after dinner before hitting the bed....Zzzzzz.

Thats how the guard duty is carried out.

Oh did I mention I will be doing guard duty again next Sunday? Well, its not too bad doing 2 weekends because I will get a day off on Monday on both occasion. So a guard duty on Sunday 16th, Day Off on Monday 17th, will request another Day Off on Tuesday 18th and finally fly out of Dallas on Wednesday...a 18 hrs flight back to Singapore to meet all my family, friends and the wonderful variety of Singapore food! So looking forward to that 1 week break in Singapore.

Brought so much stuff during Thanksgiving shopping for Christmas gift back in Singapore that I need to dedicate next Saturday as gift wrapping day. Need to prep those presents before flying back on the 19th December. There will be a early Christmas cum house warming at Peicong new home on the 22nd and on a Christmas Eve gathering at Alfred+April house. Looking forward to the Gift exchange ceremony.

Tired liao...going sleep...ZZZzzzzzZzzzz

My first E-Bay USA sale!!!

2 x 512 MB Laptop RAM for Sale! Which equals to 1GB! Its DDRII and its fast! Free Shipping to anywhere in United States and Singapore

My Favorite Animation is now in 3D!!!

From the Creator of "The Nightmare Before Christmas", "Corpse Bride", "Edward Scissors Hand", "Batman Return", "Sleepy Hollow". Acclaimed Director Tim Burton now brings you "The Nightmare Before Christmas 3D"!!! First shown in 1993 as a stop animation or clay animation film is now remake in 3D with all the original creative dark themes of a Tim Burton's work.

Repairing a Chinook

I was at JRB with the newly posted guys and gals to have their military ID made and also do some shopping at the BX when I chance upon a old fellow name Mr Kelly selling some die cast model of military planes and helicopters. The Chinook helicopter capture my attention most probably because I am working as a rotor and transmission technician on it for the past 3 years and have develop a love-hate relationship with it.

Mr Kelly is such customer orientated salesperson, he offered to open up the packaging to show me the model. His shop is closing down and all the model is going for 50% off. This Chinook will be selling at US$25. Sadly the forward right wheel fell off when he took it out of the packaging. Mr Kelly attempted to fix it up but slipped his hand breaking off 4 radio antenna on the left side of the Chinook and a IFF antenna on the top of it. Mr Kelly kept blaming himself for his old hands and apologized to me. In the back of my mind, I was already thinking of an exit strategy to get out of the shop, maybe my hand phone ringing will be a good distraction? But Mr Kelly was one really sincere old guy and maybe a bit desperate to sell all his stuff ASAP. He offered 15 dollars for this set of Chinook which now require some super glue repair. Well, I saw the sadness in his eyes for screwing up his own sales so I shook his hands and close the deal at 15. Gleam in his eyes I saw and a good deal for me at 15. Just need a couple of minutes rectification.... isn't I a Chinook Senior Technician?

Its refreshing to see a White Chinook for a change.

Missing IFF antenna

Broken HF Radio Antenna

Right landing gear ripped off from hard landing.

The missing landing gears. An 'Air Frame' man job

5 pieces of broken Antenna. Jobs for the 'RC man'

Wheels back to where it belong using a small amount of Super Glue.

All Antenna delicately stick in place.

Hmm...something is still missing....

Yup! Always need RT man like me to fit up the signature 6 blades of the Chinook.

This model kit will be my humble little contribution to my RT section at Peace Prairie Detachment. We have a cabinet with a flat square top to place this one on.

Laksa...taste like home

Tiger Princess a.k.a Ah Lian Jie Jie made a bowl of Laksa for me today. It taste like Singapore, felt like Singapore and make me suddenly miss Singapore (for all its food obviously). I gobbled it down in 5 mins without even considering taking a picture of it...what a pity.

Pictures Of The Week

A warm Dinner of home cooked Fried Rice is a welcoming relieve for all of us out in the cold. Thanks to all you guys and gals who came over after dinner to support our action.

Happy Post-Thanksgiving Day gift from Officer J.Payne (Pain lah) from the Irving Police Department. Price of Parking in FireLane? US$130...

Endured 15 hours of Cold on Thanksgiving Day

After 15 hours of survival in the coldest moment of my life in USA, the tickets for the Sony laptop was finally handed out to the line of people Q-ing outside Best Buy at 3am. We thought we were just not far ahead in line to get the Laptop and that 15 hrs wait and torture could have not worth it.
Alas, somehow God saw out perseverance hanging on to our sanity in the cold freezing night, with warm clothings and unlike those with tents, we were sitting in the open. We all were not disappointed with all the effort and we all got the ticket! Our Sony Laptop at US$399.99!!! YAAAAAAHHHHHOOOOOO!

The warriors that survived the night and got what they truly deserved. The Holy Grail of BestBuy "Black" Friday sale! The Sony VAIO Laptop.

I am number 18 in the line but not the last. 37 VAIO laptop were available in this store. Speculation earlier on said each store only had 15. So I was really luck I guess.

Very well written instruction on how to collect my laptop full of congratulation notes.

The journey all begins on Friday afternoon at 2pm when Ricky, me and Garfield headed out to scout for a BestBuy store to "Camp" for the day, expecting to be the first in line since we are almost 16 hours ahead of store opening time. Call it the Singaporean Kiasunism. We were so damn confident that we will be first in line but soon got shocked by the fact Singaporean are no longer the most Kiasu people on Earth. There are already a 30m line forming out of all 3 BestBuy store in the neighborhood and most came well prepared with chairs and even pitch tents! Really frustrating and the thought of giving up is already at the back of our mind. Than we decided to make a last try and headed to one really Ulu location BestBuy at Grapevine with only the Airport and Rich people houses in the vicinity ( don't think Rich people would wanna Q early). The Q looks shorter here and we setup our base. In everyone thought, even if we don't get the laptop, this will be an interesting experience. Its 3.00pm now...

There we are, the few guys at the end of our lines.

Me, Ricky and Garfield, its our first time in life Q-ing up long hours to shop and so are our 3 next door neighbor down the line. Together, we formed a Coalition of "Keep each other entertain, Talk cock Sing Song and Stop Line Jumper" forces. Introducing the Coalition member....

Riccardo from Singapore

Ricky from Singapore

Garfield from Singapore but looks like from Japan

Michal from Poland

Jason and Jill from USA!!!

We are actually quite ill prepare for the occasion. Me, Ricky and Garfield only have 2 layers of clothes top and bottom and we are already feeling the cold in the mid afternoon sun, Michal did not bring a chair. On the other hand, Jason and Jill are in right winter clothings. Ricky and I have to drive back to get some more warm clothings and thanks to Jie Jie for giving us a blanket each on the way back to Best Buy. Since Michal got no chair to sit on and no one gonna stand for 15 hours or sit on the cold concrete ground, I offered my seat to him while Jason got another seat from his pick-up and offered to me. So everyone had seats and everyone is happy.

So the next many hours into the evening we all chat and did a bit of cultural exchange. We talk about the difference in Military privilege with Jill (the women) who use to be in the Air force and also the kind of sentencing in USA and Singapore for different crime committed for now she is working with Police against Sex Offenders. Shocked and disgusted to know that in one of her cases she actually have to call in the SPCA because the offender is having sex with animals! Some even as small as a Squirrel! Damn.... Jason work as a aircraft mechanic for the 737 and we of course got lots of common topics in the line of work. We compared salary and working hours. For he only work 3 days a week, 16 hours a day while we work 5 days a week (going to be 6 for this month) and usually ends up 12 hours a day. US$80K per year compared to US$40K. What a difference. Michal shared with us Poland, culture and government and he tried to challenge us that Polish pay alot for car. Singaporean of course drive the world most expensive cars, all for the wrong vehicle class.

Nightfalls. All this talk cock session really warm the atmosphere up...mentally but in reality its getting colder and colder. I reckon its almost 5 degrees celsius. Even with the blanket, triple layer clothings and my winter socks. We often have to take turn to the car to get some warm from the heater. The line is getting longer and longer as well and I was wondering are they all coming for the laptop too? We all start counting down the hours the temperature counts down too every passing hour. Its so cold that I can hardly feel my toes.

It snowed for a while and stop, and snow and stop. Thank god it did not rain on us cause it sure will be worst to be wet in the cold. If I gonna Q again in the future, I make sure I bring a tent to stay in for the wind chill is torturing. Close to 3am the time when the ticket will be given out, I wonder if its the final test for all of us, the wind kept howling at its felt like piercing needles when it blows over the exposed skin on my face. We endured that terrible 10min of wind chill that felt like freezing.

The ugly side of human being was revealed when the BestBuy stuff arrived and ask everyone to form a line to get the tickets. Shit happen....a couple of F***kers from the back of the line suddenly rush forward and jump all over in between the lines in front of us. There was a moment of chaos when the right people in the Q were shouting and telling of the line jumper. In front of me was 2 Asian guys who looks like Korean or maybe Chinese like us who think that just because I have the same skin color as them and looks kinda like them that they can take the liberty and just walk in front of me.(in fact they look like shit head by jumping the line). Now this few trouble makers are not gonna get away with it that easily for we all have Q many hours in line not for some joker to sneak in. So everyone else is shouting "YOU ALL KNOW WHO IS YOUR NEIGHBOUR AND WHO IS NOT!". Those who have the rights to be in the line start pointing at those who are not and telling them off. A girl was pushed in the ruffle by another women whose not suppose to be behind us and she broke down in tears. The 2 Asian got repeatably call of by us but kept ignoring us. I was really mad and I just pulled one of them in the shoulder and shout "You better get back in line or I will call the cops". I wonder if they even know English at all because their face look clueless.

Eventually that 2 dork did bug out of the line not because of us but the professional BesyBuy store staff who went down the line and make sure the Q-jumper are sorted out of it. All goes well happily ever after since than. Not only do we all get the laptop, we manage to get other stuff in the store that is on our shopping list. For me? The Laptop and the Western Digital Passport 160GB Red Edition.

Yup, thats my second laptop. My older but much better specs Toshiba will be given to my family back home, mainly mum and sis.

Flu and Shopping Season

Ahh.....splitting headache, extreme fatigue, a slight sore throat and a block nose, this are all the symptoms of getting the flu. This few weeks in US is call the flu season and I don't know why untill I got a slight sore throat last week ending up a full blown flu yesterday.

Thats not fair, I said...I have always keep my body fit and healthy through lots of run and a good diet. Maybe I did not go for my regular run for the whole of last week except for that early morning run with the Emperor but WHY WHY WHY did I get down with the flu. Now I am just feeling really tired no matter what I do and the though of getting MC for the whole week linger on my mind.

Thanksgiving Day is this Thursday and on Friday, its called the 'Black Friday', an evil day where many merchandise store from electronic to toys and from hardware to clothings are having really huge discount on lots of item. That evil forces will lure huge number of Earth minions from all around the United States Of America to part their money with stores like Best Buy, Circuit City, Toy R Us and Walmart. A real time Google Map Satellite image will produce pictures having millions of dots representing human beings crowding around shopping areas. You get to find really dark deals like a Sony 15.4" Laptop loaded with Windows Vista Premium for just US$399 (usual US$899) or a Casio Exfilm 7.2MP camera at US$139.99 (usual US$179.99) or a Western Digital 500GB SATA Harddisk at US$59.99 (usual US$119.99). Here is a Thanksgiving Day ad leaked out from insiders of BestBuy,

http://downloads.bfads.net/BFAds-BestBuy.pdf

Alas, some of the very evil deals out there comes in limited quantity to ensure not too much "blood" is shed. It common to see lines forming outside each stores 12hrs before the Thanksgiving opening time reminiscence of the "Hello Kitty" line of Singapore. This lines people just like Zombies only have a singular objectives in mind, to grab the limited stock deal before others get it. Just like Zombies, they operate through the night, and could go without food, waterand sleep for that long 12 hours.

The Flu and Shopping Season are over lapping each other. I got the flu, and its 4 days before the shopping season starts. It will be my last Thanksgiving Black Friday shopping experience in USA and I sure don't wanna miss a moment (or deals) of it. It will be the very first time in my life I ever Q up for long hours to do shopping. On my list right now are,

1- Sony 15.4" Laptop from BestBuy US$399.99 from BestBuy
2-Seagate SATA/300 320GB Internal Harddisk Drive from BestBuy
3-Casio Exfilm 7.2MP Digital Camera at US$139.99 (usual US$179.99) from Circuit City

So the plan is me and Ricky will be to join the Zombies, Q-ing up at a Irving's Bestbuy at 5pm on Thanksgiving Day till the store open on Friday morning 5am. This should help us get the laptops and my Seagate harddisk. Next we will scramble to Circuit City right next door and get the Digital Camera. Finally I will head home and catch up some sleep because there is a chance that I will have to work night shift on that day. Next day will be Saturday morning and I will head down to San Marcos with couple of friends to do some Thanksgiving shopping of clothings and apparel for myself and Christmas gift for friends back in Singapore.

I pray that my flu will recover and I will have the strength to survive an evil indulgence in shopping from Thursday to Saturday.

Birthday on the 16th....

Today is my dear Sister, Rachel, Birthday! HAPPY BIRTHDAY RACHEL!

and new update to my blog right side navigation tab,

- Pokemon Theme Song
- Baby Cherilyn blog, http://www.allaboutxinyi.blogspot.com/

The Emperor have left!!!

Yeah!!!! The Emperor have left!!! I rejoicing for my dear Boss and Supervisor who have to entertain him for the past 5 days. Someone (no name mention) came back after sending him off and give us all a big heave of relief. Our very senior 'Obi Wan Kenobi' mood and expression this few days tell me its a torture to entertain or 应酬 with the Emperor. 'Darth Vader' light saber was really no match for Emperor fiery sarcasm on stage. Darth Vader look really sian when Emperor addresses us all clone troopers a second time, a second day.

With the Emperor returning to the Empire, we finally have more room to breath and life return back to normal for us. Come to think of it, I suddenly think Emperor looks like....

Don't know what to say man. Looking at him remind me of the Emperor. Hmm...I think there is this one HK actor he also looks like. Forgot the name liao

Happy Birthday to Me!!!

Have been pretty busy with work that I forgot to celebrate my Birthday with a treat to myself. Not really a big deal at all cause I still have many Birthday to come unless the Earth is Annihilated by some Aliens with Big Saucer Mother ship that need a virus and a nuke to be destroyed.

My Birthday was on Monday and today I am 26 years old. I could still vaguely remember the day that I landed on Earth 26 years ago, it was a big bang and than total darkness.... next thing I knew I was looking at lights from the ceiling while lying down in a glass cage. A small little note was sticking on the glass cage, Welcome to Earth dude, for the next many decades of your life, you will see the ugly side of human beings, the most volatile creature in this galaxy.

That note must be written by some very pessimistic creature or that little brat in my neighboring glass cage who probably have gone through a miserable 26 years of his life today. The truth is, everyone have a the good side and the bad side. If we could all tolerate the bad side while fully appreciating the good side, I think the Earth will be a peaceful place to stay now. Needless to say, we should all be conscience whats wrong with ourselves and correct it before someone get hurts.

Sadly I was not able to cash in my "Birthday-Off " on Monday thanks to the 'Emperor' visit. Last year my "Birthday-Off" also kanna makan because it falls on Sunday. Well, there is a popular saying in the SAF; "Off Is A Privilege, Not An Entitlement". So I say, lets not take it too hard lah. At less I still get a long distance Birthday wish from my dear bro Alfred and my dear Sis Rachel and a quite a short official Birthday celebration from all the guys in the base during last Saturday BBQ. Captain-B, David and Xiao Bai shared the celebration with me. Lastly, I got a present from my Da Jie!!!

Surprise!!! You got a present and a card! I'm so happy I became light-headed.

Hmm... it fits me really well! I love it. Just look at my smile!

This will make a statement at a Texas Hold Em game.

Seriously...I did not expect "Jack Skellington" before opening the present today! Laughed myself silly when I realize that my favorite background for photography got such close relation to my Birthday present. THANK YOU JIE JIE!!! If you are reading this, just wanna tell you I love this T-shirt!

This is my last Birthday in the United States and I do miss the time I had with my family. We always celebrate each other Birthday each year even if its just a simple cake cutting session. Mum, Dad, Sis and Me. As time goes by we headed out for a really nice dinner at a nice restaurant but will still still to the family tradition of having the birthday cake at home.

Crazy Dance

Just completed a MTV of my two Dear colleague, Ah Peng and Adriel dancing in our base. Felt satisfied that I finally make this very funny video clip which I have on my mind the moment I see the raw footage of this 2 dancing king. Dress in coverall and dancing while doing the daily boring task of Standardization of the SOAP machine, they sure have a cheerful outlook of work.

Maybe I should broadcast this clip worldwide to show people the bright and humourous side of working in the Air Force. Alas, we are from a secretive organization and any pictures or video be in good impact or negative impact is strictly not allowed to be broadcast online. So no video here today untill I seek the proper permission from 1st, Ah Gong, 2nd Ah Gong Deputy and finally the cast in the video clip.

Heading out for dinner with Garfield now....

Abuse of Rights.

Have anyone in your company ever abuse his rights and make use of company fundings, facilities or services for personnel gain? Isn't it unethical? Even if he or she is the director or CEO, does it mean that he/she could use resources for anything other than the benefit of the company? For example, a exotic car showroom manager taking a short thrill drive of a car supposedly for sale or maybe the manager of a car workshop purchasing parts for to replace the damage ones from his personnel vehicle under the expenses of the workshop? How about the long forgotten issue of NKF's Durai buying Business class air ticket for traveling using public donation?

And to make it worst, some people within that company, that workshop or that charity foundation knows what happening and its wrong. Sadly instead of speaking up against the abuse of power by that particular person, they decided to keep it quiet for the fear that been a whistle blower means a sure declaration of resignation from the company. The power of money and job security unfortunately for most people not to highlight it because those to be prosecuted held immerse power within the organization. Its either a winning case against an unethical human being or a self-suicide for the brave one to stand out like a torn of a rose.

So no one is going to expose anyone and someone gonna do the cover-up. "Lets Just Forget This Episode And Move On" kind of action will be taken and that singular incident of abuse will suddenly be written off the record which soon will be repeated for "The Wolf Is Not Hunted, Why Would It Be Afraid To Raid The Farm For Chicken Again?"

If you are an employee of this company, will you have a clean conscience working when you know such things are happening. If you are a shareholder and heard rumors about abuse of rights for personal gain and the subsequent cover up, would your confident in the company take a beating. What if you are a tax payer???

Canteen

Oakley Canteen. BIG EYE SUNGLASS!

Ok I admit, I am crazy about Oakley stuff and never was before I came to USA. This is my latest collection, the Oakley Canteen shade purchase through www.usstandardissue.com , a special program made just for US military and federal government personal to purchase Oakley product at discounted price.

Walking into an Oakley Outlet or a merchandise store almost certainly catch my attention on at less a few product. Never have I been so "brand" crazy in the past, probably a fatter wallet and a sudden priority place on personal imaging sparked a dozen of purchase from Oakley. First it was Sunglass or shades as some would like to call it, to bags and luggage ( got 2 of them now) and now finally into Oakley clothings. I'm afraid, sooner or later my whole wardrobe will be nothing but Oakley stuff. Nothing catches my attention more than an Oakley Outlet whenever I go shopping.

To suggest that its just the brand playing the part in a purchaser decision like mine is an understatement. Most people will swear to the quality of the sunglasses collection Oakley got and will so much to choose from there bound to be a dozen that suits you. The world largest sunglass company can't go wrong in this area isn't that right? I think the next good stuff to get from Oakley will definitely be the bags which is make to last with style. Got myself 2 Roller Duffel from travelling and the only thing I worry about is getting checked by custom every time because its pretty eye catching. Hmm....maybe they just curious how it look inside?

Oakley Big and Small Roller Duffel. Can roll, can carry and can detach front compartment bag.

LOW PRICE! Thats something I will never never find in Singapore. The price of regular Oakley sunglass and bags are appox 40% off those from Singapore and when it comes to factory outlet selling discontinued model or surplus, expect almost 70% lower price than what you would find back in Singapore. And with the current US currency rate plummeting, its getting cheaper to shop right here.

So, I have 7 months more to go. Gonna stock up on Oakley stuff (clothes, bag, accessories and couple more sunglass) before I come back to Singapore. Already thinking of getting a laptop hand carry bag, Juliet sunglass (made of titanium), couple of lens of my half jacket and Canteen sunglass, a jacket, some t-shirt and lots of short sleeve shirt which is very suitable for Singapore weather. I will really miss the shopping here, not just Oakley but other of my favorite brand like Levis, Nautica and Polo Ralph. However Oakley still rules at the top of my list!

A nice Halloween Picture

Texas Chain Saw Massacre!!!

SCREAM!!!!

A little pumpkin in an Ambulance