That’s what it is today. The last day of the first half 2008. It’s time for a half time reflection of what I’ve done so far…
NOTHING... that is.
I had a full year of plans when I began 2008, and was expecting the year to be more fruitful than the last. Turns out I have either not fulfilled or is forfeiting some of them. Along the way, I picked up new plans and stuck to the new plans instead.
E.g. I planned for us to have a baby this year. Looks like it’s not going to happen. Then sometime in March, I thought it might help both of us if we start going to the gym. Healthier parents will sprout healthier babies, no? This goal somehow coincides with my obligation to pass the annual post-NS (National Service) physical proficiency test. So in terms of this new goal, I’m somewhat 1/3 of my way to the target.
E.g. there were plans to restructure how the company works. Initial plan was that I’d head the administration while my GM will continue with his marketing and sales portion. Along the way, I realized we can’t really separate administration from the sales operation, in terms of leadership. Therefore, I let the GM assume his role as head of administration as well, while I will lead the administration through him.
Other than this, it’s also a big year. My dad is turning 60 and I’m still trying to reconcile the family back together. Hope his birthday bash in China next month, when all his kids will fly over to China, will help.
We made plans to head for Urbanscapes 2008 on Saturday…
... but that plan DIDN’T HAPPEN!!! Wails~
Instead, we ended up heading home early after some long fruitless hours at the Zara sales and picking up some dinner. I figured it was probably a little late by the time we left KLCC.
So we got 5 movies to enjoy for the rest of the night…
Kung Fu Panda ... started off light with some funny animation. Eastern Promises ... some serious shit. Not for the faint of heart. If you like to catch some bloody brutal violent Russian mafia shits with a lil bit of free-willie, you’d like this one. Starring Viggo Mortensen who played as Aragorn in LOTR. Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead ... dark and twisty. Despite sad misfortunes backfiring some ill intentions, I enjoyed the wicked sense of humor. The Spiderwick Chronicles ... light yet adventurous. I had this lil kink for faeries and orges, but this movie was rated “PG” so there was no naked faeries. Bummer! The Ruins ... if you like Attack of the Killer Tomatoes crossed with Apocalypto, you might like this movie. Lots of blood and explicit scenes, but killer vines don’t seem to scare me a bit.
I know… that’s some weird combo. To be honest, I have no idea how we ended up with this combo of titles to such extremes, but overall it was a good mix of comedy and tragedy for one night.
Although… I did end up wishing I had some whiskey at 2am.
I am glad…
... I did my undergrad in Boston
... I can help my dad in his business
... I partied before I married
... I met and married my wife
Though sometimes I wish…
... I had taken the offer for architecture undergrad program
... I had a digital camera during my 5-year stay in U.S.
... I had been a better brother
... I knew about blogging much earlier
Have you ever thought how you valued each chapter of your life? Or how you categorized each choice you made or how they turned out? If not, you can do the same exercise like I just did to find out where. Simple… just name 4 or 5 things you’re glad you did, and then the same for what you wish you’ve done.
When you think about the items for each group, not only will you realize how far you have come, you will also know what else you’re missing. If exercised periodically, it serves as a re-assessment of the goals and even as a reminder of those you still want to achieve. Take a step back, and you may even get an answer of what really matters in your life.
Once you have a collection from different years, you may also find the changes in yourself… in your priorities and your goals. Five years ago, I would not have thought I’d get married. I wouldn’t have known I’d take over dad’s business. I was such a party animal! Five calendars replaced off the wall, I now prefer quiet Sundays at my home balcony.
Question: If you should name a singer/band to describe what generation you belong to, who/what will it be?
Me: The Stone Roses.
While the band I was in during junior college years played mainly Teenage Fan Club, RHCP and some blues, none of my bandmates shared my devotion for this little known British band in the early 90’s. I learnt about this band from Singapore’s pioneer indie rock magazine BigO. The first of its kind at that time, the music of The Stone Roses were both rockable and danceable. Before there was digital rave music, there was the Stone Roses. My favorite were I Wanna Be Adored and I Am the Resurrection.
... an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1984. They were one of the pioneering groups of the Manchester indie music scene that evolved during the late 1980s and early 1990s. The band’s original lineup consisted of Ian Brown (vocals), John Squire (guitar), Andy Couzens (guitar), Pete Garner (bass) and Alan “Reni” Wren (drums).
Bands influenced by the Stone Roses include Oasis, Blur, Pulp, Suede, Coldplay, Manic Street Preachers, Stereophonics, The Bluetones, The Charlatans and The Verve. The first album of the same name “The Stone Roses” was a big success. It was the first and last prominent album. This was followed by the a series of unfortunate events including changes of the original members in the line-up, and a long legal battle to terminate their five year contract with Silvertone before the second “Second Coming” was released.
Remember this crazy mime of Torn? This is a full song version of the mime also by the same Johann Lipowitz… complete with appearance of Natalie Imbruglia.
I love it! Hahaha this is classic!
Johann, whose real name is David Armand, is also part of Comedy Central’s sketch The Hollow Men.
Some girls hate it. Some love it. It depends on your capacity to meet up to the ‘anything’ she has in mind. In my case, it’s plain ‘I-hate-to-pick-the-wrong-answer’ anything…
From experiences with the 4 (or was it 5?) ex-girlfriends and finally now my wife, deciding on an answer to a simple “What shall we do tonight?” has always been mixed with several layers of sublimal trick questions. After a bit, one will realize it takes some screening through a multi-layered checklist before you’d want to answer anything.
... Did you forget what you promised her before?
... Is it an important date tonight?
... An ex-pet death anniversary?
... Am I forgetting what she hates?
... Will it be too selfish to do what I want?
... Is that a test or an offer for my choice?
“Anything you want…” was always the easiest answer, but there can be negative implications:
1. You’re too lazy to think. You don’t care.
2. You may end up spending more than you thought.
3. You’re ignorant of new happening places. You have no life. You’re boring.
So I stopped with the ‘anything’ answer. Over the years of courtship and dating phase, I did some homework to avoid being stuck with not knowing where to bring a date. Sometimes an idea can be repeated with a little new twist, like ‘I heard there’s a carnival there’ freshies. It worked out fine.
After marriage, things started to take a different turn. There’s no more excuse. You’d soon run dry of idea. More effort is needed to spice up the life of facing the same face everyday. From “Let’s go to the same old places again”, it will gradually move to “Anywhere is fine, as long as it’s with you…” and then to my current spot… asking her “Where do you feel like going tonight?” before she asks.
I kid you…
Seriously, it’d come to a stage when she’d understand you’re just being human and can’t always come up with Casanova ideas all the time. In time to come, she will know the meaning of ‘reasonable’ and will even suggest something for you. In my case, I do mean it when I say ‘Anything you want’... I just want her to get what she wants. I’ve never refused any reasonable proposal.
It gives me a better bargaining power after she gets what she wants. Heehee…
Aaaahh… A quiet weekend morning at the balcony with my coffee and some cigs…
This is something I do for 20-30 mins on weekend mornings… some kind of ritual I’ve been following for the past year since we moved here to KL. While I’ve been accustomed to waking up early on work days, the habit persists on weekends.
It’s a moment I get for myself, to think (or not to think) and enjoy the peaceful bliss I seldom get. This morning, it brings to mind the hectic lifestyle most of us choose to live in Southeast Asia. Still a far cry from Jazz’s island life, this is the best I can get from a balcony view. Still too noisy and the air is bad too. I do wish for a quieter lifestyle, away from the highways and smog. Who doesn’t? It’s the ultimate dream for most of us wish for. Peace and quiet.
So why not?
It’s not just about the money, to be honest. As an urbanite, I live by the challenges of the cities, through business. My current challenge is to re-establish the processes and systems of Dad’s KL business so I can eventually run it anywhere, even when I get back to Singapore. Thanks to the new age of electronic communication, I think I’m not too far from this goal.
But the ultimate dream is to be living on an island or a beach. I would love more quiet moments instead of these mini weekend escapades… with the sun, the sea and the salty breeze in the air. However, I also know my urbanite ways will be hard to lose even in my search for the sun and sea. So my only hope is a urban/beach fusion lifestyle, something that is still possible in Southeast Asia, where beaches are often found within kilometers from the cities. A more realistic dream would then be an urban beach establishment like the resort/restaurantWeekend House Alley of Kamakura, Japan. (All thanks to Monocle for this idea!)
The Weekend House Alley in Kamakura, Japan.
Am I dreaming of the impossible? I think not. It’d be this dream, like the others, that drives my motivation in life.
Hahaha this is classic!
