Soon...

It's been too long since I last updated..Will be back soon with a new post.

Cookie

The Motorola (dunno wat model but super damm old skool) has finally failed me!
And so left me with no choice but to get a new phone. Been eyeing this phone for some time but the then-still-usable motorola phone kept it at bay.
It all began one fine afternoon when a friend called and I answered,
"Hello."
silence...
"Hello."
no reply...
I put down the phone.
Same number called and I answered...repeat the first 4 lines and then I hit the phone a few times, still no answer then I switch to speaker mode...

Wah lan de!! then I was able to hear him...
I thought it was a one-off thing but apparently my receiver was busted!! Means that I can only speak on the phone through the speaker. Wth right!?!
For the next couple of weeks speaking on the hp lidat, wlw, makes me look like some Mat or Ah Beng who wanna let the whole world hear my conversation sia. My lightning-quick-cat-like-reflexes had to be activated to keep changing the phone to the loudspeaker when I want to listen and then to the mic when I wanna speak. In the end, it got even worst. Use speaker oso cannot hear the person on the other line. So I thought, this can't go on! The hp has lost one of its 2 basic requirements: to be able to talk on phone PERSONALLY...So Konferm! must get new phone already...and so, presenting to you

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THE LG KP 500 COOKIE

Setting me aback at $328, I bought it in gold. It comes in black, brown, pink and gold. The store didn't have black, which I initially wanted. The brown with red lining on its sides just didn't match I feel, bright pink was totally OUT of the question, alas, gold it was.

For one, I'm not the kind who knows much about gadgets or tech stuff. When some people buy phones, they really look at the specifications and fucntions in extreme detail. Me? Things I look our for when I choose a phone:-

1) Cost

- realistically (if ders such a word), even if the phone is super nice and good but got no money, still can't buy rite. I won't beg and borrow just to get a phone. So this was a slightly-above-my-budget phone. My budget was $300 actually ;p but compromise abiiitt.

2) Beauty and Size

- It's gonna be so close to me the whole day (right there tuck nicely in my pocket), closer than anybody and longer with me the whole day than even my girlfriend is gonna be. Practically, almost 24 hours it's gonna be by my side. So, it's got to be something that is pleasing to my eyes and comfortable being selit-ed anywhere on me. (no no dirty-freaks, I dun intend to put it there.)

This phone is slightly bigger than the usual handset. Shaped like a PDA but less bulkier and weighing at only 89g, it's probably the lightest touchscreen phone ever.

3) External memory card

- Must be able to insert external memory card. Important to store the contacts, music, videos, messages and many other stuff. At least ringtone can be some nice sounding music from my MP3 rather than some apek-sounding default ringtone from the phone's memory.

The feeling of getting something new always excites. Quite a number of new stuff this year. First, the bike, then the iPod and now the phone. Wonder what other new things are coming my way...

Ooopps...gtg now, my new LG KP500 Cookie is ringing ;p

PiC(s)niC...

Mizfits had one hell of a good time picnicking at the Botanic Gardens. We were supposedly there for a concert at the Shaw Foundation Symphony Stage but oh well, we ended up enjoying ourselves couldn't care less for the concert. It was games after games accompanied by good mackerel otah, grapes and keropoks...

Not forgetting the loads of pics we took. So many beautiful places to keep clicking away. All cameras were kept busy throughout the evening.The bandstand, a superb place...We'll be back there...

It's been some time since the Mizfits went out on an outing like this other than the usual lepak chill makan sessions. The weather was kind. After sudden rains in the evenings for the past few days, it was bright and sunny with no signs of rain at all. Place was packed with foreigners (caucasians mostly...) enjoying the Sunday outdoors but it was still bearable as compared to picnics at Changi Beach which is packed with malays mostly...eh no, malays ONLY, really really lots of malay families. I've always enjoyed small-scale picnics with a small crowd and lazing with good food and kecoh games.

On to what's up in the coming weeks...Assignments are gonna be due soon, presentations are breathing down my neck and I've got my religious studies exams for the next 2 Sundays. Not taking into account Literature exam which requires me to read at least a novel and critically analyse it. Lots to do, find the time, it's gonna be rush hour!

Newton Active Run 09

After a super long lull period from serious running, I participated in the Newton Active Run 09. Held at Sengkang, it stretched 10km on mostly road and a couple of clicks in the park. Good, cloudy Sunday morning was such a great boost to the starters. First wave started at exactly 0730. The route was mostly flat but there was ample space for all runners except at the park where it was a little squeezy. Set in the heartlands of the fast-developing quiet Sengkang, the view throughout the run was nice with great ambience. The newly opened Sengkang Riverside Park boasted beautiful landscape park view. Definitely a place to stroll.

I started about 5 minutes after the first wave. Didn't even have time to warm-up. SGrunner Tekko was at the starting line taking pictures while waiting for the 2nd wave. And this is courtesy of him.

Just started running with the trusty Ipod, when I saw Firdous and Shankar walking in. Started slow, not wanting to risk any cramps so early into the race. Picked up the pace at the 3km mark and then I joined the 1st wave pack. I came for this run, not expecting to set any specific timing. My target was just to complete it under 65mins. Felt good at the u-turn point and increased my speed till the start of the run in the park. Oh god! saw a gentle slope but so-not-semangat to run up fast. Slowed down at the park for 1.5km. Once i passed by the starting point, oklah, confidence came back. Saw Samuel, my GESL mate and he was already sitting by the roadside waiting for his gf. I must be quite slow ah...Started running faster and aha, met up with SGRunner Haffiz 300m before the end. Motivated him to push all the way to the finish line, and pushed we did. I surged all the way to the finish line. Gun time: 1 hr 02 mins

Goodie bag consisted of the running t-shirt which looked not so bad. Supposedly included was the "Certification of Race Completion". It was in the goodie bag but wlw! it's just a piece of paper and you had to write your own name on it! wakaka!!

ok ok...now for the highlight of the day. After an hour of running and the legs are all wobbly, a dip in the pool was heavenly. Sengkang Swimming complex is coool!! Machiam the pool at Jurong with slides and all, it has an indoor swimming pool too. Although the slides ain't much of a variety compared to Jurong's but well, it's the best in the east side. Worth a comeback!! I'll bring you there k, you'll love it for sure..

oh, a group pic after right after the run, courtesy of Haffiz

iPod-ed

I've officially owned a black beauty.

Yeah, the 8GB Ipod Nano was a gift, courtesy of the one who thought that it could be a worthy replacement for the absence...but definitely no.

It's gonna be a 2nd best option though. To accompany me through the loooong rides to and fro school. oOoOo....so far, this thing is gereks!, to say the least. Audio is good, user friendly, but I'm still getting a hang of the downloading of songs (ooops...) into the player...from iTunes shop la. But the fact that it is so slim and light, once tucked into my pocket, it is barely feel-able. Gotta keep checking out for it, lest it slips out. Placed on my palm, it's as if it could be easily crushed with one clench of the fist.

Nevertheless, the iPod has somehow revitalised my long lull from running. Now I'm tempted by the Nike + iPod sport kit.
http://www.apple.com/ipod/nike/run.html

As glad as it may seem that I have an iPod, it definitely can't replace your absence. Nothing can.

Red Arion

It's the new ride! Say goodbye to the Orange Phantom Phoenix and HELLOOO to the Red Arion! aka Honda XR125L. 3 weeks on and it has definitely served me well. Excellent fuel-consumption, comfortable, stealth engine, not-so-bad looks and easy to clean (right??). But with time, I'm gonna make it look better. The tail lights, head lights, signal lights, handle bars and macam-macam lagi might just be changed. Stickers will definitely make it cool ;o) Dudes are giving me lotsa ideas.
It has brought me places never before made possible, cut down travelling time alot lot lot lot and of course, most importantly, made me feel good.

Moving on, school's pretty relaxing this sem as compared to last year's. Schedule is good with Fridays off, long breaks on some days and last lesson ending at 1530. Assignments are beginning to pile but thank god, they're manageable.

As for my running, oh well, since the start of the year, hasn't been running much. If i can even squeeze 2 runs a week, it's good enough already. Evening runs have been dominated by tuitions. I'm only left with Sunday mornings which can be kinda lazy sometimes thinking that it's one of the few days that I can wake up late. So, the long runs has only been limited to 10km runs. The running calendar looks busier than ever this year, with small events taking place and organisers from all kinds of companies and groups. Running events are sprouting like mushrooms all over. Safari Zoo Run, Feather Run, CCs are somehow getting into the fray with the Newton Active Rrun, SubUrban Run and also a biathlon with the swimming leg in the pool. As much as I'm trying to resist the temptation of joining any and every run that's available, the hasty mind just wants to join and run, even without proper training. But one thing for sure, I'm setting my sights on doing a sub-5.30 marathon this year. Makes it sound machiam easy liddat..i'll be working on it. First upcoming marathon, Sundown Marathon: Sub-6 haapi alreadi.

Happy or Not??

And so, it's the new year...

2008 was a year filled with rollercoaster of emotions and happenings which makes it incredibly difficult to forget for the rest of my life. As much as the not-so-good has happened, so have the very-good-things. Well, for all that have happened, I believed it was for the better.
Things may not turn out the way we want it sometimes and when that happens, we sigh, fret and keep complaining how come things are always going against us. What we (including me) fail to see is the good that came out of it. The way we react to situations, how relationships grow stronger or how better life has been. Our individual wants may be beneficial or be of satisfaction to ourselves but there are times when what we do will affect others around us in a negative manner. What's good to one may be bad to another. Sacrifices may have to be made in order to not affect others.

Which brings me to the nexy question: Is personal satisfaction achieved from making and seeing others happy OR when we ourselves feel happy with what we have done or accomplished, sometimes at the expense of others??

"Happiness is what happens to us when we try to make someone else happy"
- Anonymous

True or False?