朽木百哉のブォグ

A normal outing in the mid-drizzly night turned out to be what I call the most delightful adventure for a long time.

Driving along the old streets filled with bright lightings from the food and fruit stalls brings back nolgastic memories of my childhood days. Aljunied MRT station, which stands directly on where a village where I used to grow up, is not too far away from the old road I drove along.I brought Pink along and we started looking around for a place to savour the long-lost flavour of durian, and finally settled down at a stall and walked over, sheleterd with the light tapping raindrop sounds over our heads.

Pink prefers a not-so-bitter durian so we opted for the "cat hill" type as recommended by the hawker, which he gave a little discount after Pink asked him to make a better price...we ate the durian at a place with tables and chairs which looks small on the outside, but exceptionally spacious from the inside.Prying the durian open to expose the golden-yellow flesh brings delight and sends tingles to my tongue...it brings back good old memories of days where my dad / uncle comes home with a couple of red-perforated from durian spikes plastic bags, and sitting on the newspaper laid-flooring and eating durians as a family.

I told Pink that I started scolding my family when I was 3 and they offered for me to eat durians, and how my uncle teased me, calling me "ah niao" (literally meaning cat) in Hokkien when he sees me delighting on durians. The "cat hill" was really wonderful, lots of meat, dry and solid, yet hyper-appetising...we had 2, which Pink could not finish as it was really filling, and I finished the remaining little bit. I couldn't bear to finish it as it has really been a number of years since I ate durians, in consideration of the warm and sweltering weather, that these spiky fruit kings flourish under.

An enjoyable time, as what we call the "durian hunt".

What comes next? Some planning required.

An extended long period of long chat to clarify things has tainted my focus and energy level for today’s 12 hour shift.It has been a more in-depth discussion, much has been covered for some of the things that had been kept within me for the past year or so since she embarked on her hyper-advancing pay job. Not all are discussed as I felt that she is not ready to listen to all that I have to say and with consideration for the hours of the late night, and my working schedule for today. Slumber had been partially recovered with the sleeping thinker pose adopted while seated in the human-sardine can on wheels to work. A tick of pain surfaced when I was attempting to stretch neck to the right at the morning express workout session…it could be due to the awkward slumber posture in bus but somehow felt better than getting frightened for nothing when I read the time as near 8 when it was an hour behind in real time.

What a shock in the morning…thank God that I wake up automatically without sleeping like a dead swine till the sun rays sting my eyes.

The day went about pretty quietly without much complication. The issue of my voice clarity has been due to the wear and tear from my throat from constant voice projection enhancement which might need some getting used to. A series of recovery action will be good to soothe the throat and letting it rest…thus the reason for reduced speech quantity. The disgust of bloodshot gaze when I looked into the mirror horrifies me as I have really lack rest…

Just a couple of hours more before rounding up iron pumping, to wrap up the day.

Water fetching trip to the pantry had been a quick one with the quiet flow of water accompanied by the distant snooting and rumbling of the roadside machinery carrying out evening works on the road. Road widening seems to be going on around for most of the roadside works while I traveled around in bus or my little blue ride.
I need a good rest tonight after pumping out…I may be a little tired up in the mind, and to upkeep the discipline of pumping regularly to achieve results…muscles develop when I am in rest and therefore I have to pump it up to keep the momentum going, and to ensure a good night’s rest.

Looking forward to the snooze aboard Bus 72 which brings me straight home from the bus interchange here after a good shower when I am done with the final pump for the day.

Managed to unload a little from mind after catch up with a friend, whom I got to know in IRC since 1996. Indeed, different industry payouts rates are different so it would not be an equal platform to compare, considering the stress, commitment and working hour levels. It has been a challenging year for me to deal with power struggle, yet coping with the fact that some things cannot be changed over night. I still strive for speed to success and stretching myself to the furthest I can…

For a man, status and wealth the two main towers of pride and any challenges to these will strike a certain level of shockwave into the very inner soul. I am taking things easy and not comparing as I continue my working life.

Being liberated from military jurisdiction has been a great relieve, since I can’t have the best of both worlds; good money and good life…it doesn’t come in hand. Yes, there are no free lunches in the world, and there are fast food which are do not last and are unhealthy cos of the preparation speed and ingredients…what I desire is to “cook” a nutritious meal for long term benefits, but SOA is an important factor to me too.

We live in a world of logic law and order and anything which is absurdly fast is something I want to be part of, such as career hyper advancement in a short period of time.

They say that to shorten the speed of success, one has to compress the amount of effort required within a short period of time. Just how do we do that? We have to learn it from the minority successful people who are filthy rich in the world. At times I really wonder; where do their money come from? For now, there will be a need for me to stay focused on what I want and stake my entire abilities into it to get what I want in life, for glory, glamour, wealth and happiness.

I can feel the improvement when I slow down on my talking speed which mum was reminded of MRT whenever I conversed to her…dad couldn’t comprehend what I was trying to say thus we talked lesser; not because we are not on good terms… As working days go by, I further realized and understand that I am good at what I am doing and shouldn’t be comparing so much with people around me, especially those highly-paid top executives in society.

Life still goes on despite the catastrophe that occurred during my course of life in the forces, and really glad I am able to improve on my speech quality in my current work, which could’ve never been resolved should I remain in the forces for life.

Still need to learn how to improve on projecting my voice making it clear for comfort hearing to people I am talking to, especially my loved ones.

Starting to feel the weight getting heavier on my eyes…it must’ve been the air con and lack of rest these few days…have I overexerted myself lately? Or do I need train further train up to keep myself more beefed up to endure through times where more endurance are required?

As part of upkeeping discipline of training, I will continue workout later after work and get sufficient rest tonight for the next series of 12-hour shift.

Eyes started to twinkle and get dry as I sit in front of the PC doing work, while trying to keep my focus and alertness up.

“It’ll be over soon”, yes indeed…looking forward to hit the gym later, hopefully I can have the gym to myself, and be rejuvenated after workout and bath so I can get a good snooze on bus / MRT, whichever is the choice.

Energy level seemed to be wobbling up and down like a blob of jelly that has been affecting my concentration level to be needle sharp at times, and yet wobbly bobbly at times and seemingly unable to carry out my work swiftly and quickly.

This calls for a “full package” workout and a good rest at home after that.

Well, bodybuilding still continues and I have to workout on weaker muscle groups like the front deltoids, trapizus, calves and forearms.

Aircon went shut when I was working out half way in the middle of intense that caused gradual body gleaming with perspiration. Workout was a great one as I need to spend more effort working those weaker muscle groups which movements had been uncomfortable but I really need to pump on them to ensure growth. The muscles are smaller with fewer ligaments, thus development will be slower…I need to dedicate one day especially to train this group of muscles including the abdominals which need a fair share of effort to shape them up.

Compared to smoking, this is a good alternative as it only costs me energy, determination and consistency while building up self-discipline to train on a regular basis, no matter how many distraction factors are around me, such as binging on snacks, getting engrossed in computer games or the like, and the best thing is, I don’t need to spend a cent since there is gym at NCS which is the main factor to keep me going to workplace earlier too.

It has been part of my life for the past 3 months that I had been training diligently; even people around me notice the change in my body sihoulette, unfortunately attracting unwanted attention in some places…well this is inevitable, so long as I do not get into trouble because of my more defined physique. This is the forth.

I can’t imagine myself slopping back in the couch and turning be a couch potato again, but there is a need to keep a lookout on all those food I take in…healthier choices with a balance distribution of vegetables, meat and rice will be a good combination, together with diligent, tough training and proper rest, minus vices such as drinking and smoking, all wrapped up with a good rest every night. That still needs to be worked on. Heard that massages are good for relaxing and aiding muscle growth too but to what extend is it mythical / factual, this requires some serious readups.
The adrenaline that I get from weights training results in confidence boosting, better energy level and looking better in clothes.

Yes, training is tough, but it’s all worthwhile when you train proper and rest adequately after the workout, and not overexerting the muscles when working out a more frequent basis. My training frequency is every day but alternating between muscle groups every other day to ensure they have adequate rest between each pumping session.

I’m not all so up to become those hulky guys who are so big and huge, but at least to a certain level of development with a good set of washboard abs. I’ve always envied those guys who are able to workout to have a good set of abs without seemingly much effort to get them into shape. As a matter of fact, ab muscles are one of the toughest group to develop as they are smaller in group and respond slower to exercises.

Pumping and looking hunky is not all enough, so I’ve combined it with running during off days when I’m on a shift workweek, since it’ll be impractical for me to go all the way to my workplace to access the gym no doubt it is free, with consideration the costs involved in bus fares. I could take a walk for free to access the gym near my home and pay $2.50 per entry to use the gym.

Therefore, one of the best way which happens to be the most challenging would be to do the workout with dumbbell amidst the comfort of my room and limited space.

When you take the measurements of your various parts of body, and seeing the numbers progressing as they grow more defined and increasing in size, keeps you motivated and determined to go on to reach a higher level of muscle development.

This is one thing which I have always been most confident about myself that has never failed me.

Just had lunch at SSDC with a few colleagues and it has been quite a while since I really sat down to eat a meal proper throughout this year of shift working life. It has trained me to be pretty adaptable to work all hours around the clock though.

Time really flies. Been in NCS for a year already and learnt lots of things here…

Will be going for a gym session with one-week pass given by fitness consultant from Planet Fitness after work today, so scheduled for lunch workout has been postponed “for use” in Planet Fitness later…

I’ve always enjoyed working out in gym, being able to feel and see the muscles grow, develop and forming to change the shape of my physique.

Off coffee for the day as I do not want to feel the “mental slop back” after effect of caffeine has worn out, unless I get really sleepy from digestion phase which will require 2 hours to complete…it should almost be done so I can do a full-fledged workout later.

It’s almost time to do measurements and take a picture of myself to see progress and improvements in my physique from working.

Been getting back home later than usual recently due to going out after work…staying at home can be all so boring…walked past some furniture displays outside Eastpoint when I went to walk a little to see if there are any nice deals to grab there during off day yesterday…still having “ideas” on that S630 Samsung camera which Challenger had a $100 off + 1 GB SD card deal for their 1 year anniversary. The sale’s over so it’s a good way to “restrain” my expenditure.

About the furniture, I am desiring to have my own home, that’s why am looking through some nice once which have been on display…gotta make some plans to have my own nice little cozy home where I can have my own space with minimum disturbance from the outside world too…this is what I call my very own sanctuary.

Overdrive has been subsided as I have been eating well lately, still a little more to catch up on my rest. Sometimes I hope that I can really relax in a quiet place close to nature, such as resting quietly near a valley with the comforting sound of water flow and rustle of leaves caressed by gentle breeze running through them….that has to heavenly….

For once, my mind was blank without being able to come up with a title for my entry this round…probably due to lack of proper rest the day before.

Awoke to the gentle beeping of the alarm from Momoku clock at 5AM, which I rested till 6AM before I finally woke up. The night was a warm one which I woke up in perspiration, and even with a fan directed at me last night, the air churned out was really warm. Thank God that the air con broke down too, as it would incur hefty utility costs to use it…so, body has somewhat gotten used to the warmth.

Maybe it is partly due to the increased bloodflow, new constructed blood vessels thus I perspire pretty heavily with the slightest increment of body temperature due to warm weather….anyhow, I’m used to it and sometimes I feel pretty awkward in this “enhanced body” too…

I was terribly disgusted at H's remark about admiring my wing when she told me that when I casually asked how has she been via email…getting attention for such things are not what I had been training for…maybe I should wear a looser-fitting top; that reminds me that I may need to get new, bigger-sized shirt / top…anyway…that’s the afternoon disgust I got…for the first time I got the wrong attention and felt like being visually “molested” by a member of the opposite gender.

People can be such complicated “biological machines” compared to machinery and mechanical parts or IC on PCBs.

Goal accomplishment style

There are some who are willing to “throw others into fire” for to get their own goals; such are considered selfish

Team Leader: willing to help people around them and want all to be happy and fulfilling their own goals together; such are considered as a leader with a good team player spirit.

Rugged Individualism: will do everything on their own to get a sense of accomplishment; individually, as described by Herbert Hoover, US’s President in the Great Depression era.

The Hermit: Stays in seclusion, lives life on their own and doing things to accomplish goal by remaining low profile in society. But again, their personality might make their goal intention somewhat mysterious. Remember the “Cho Holocaust” in US? That’s one real sinister example.

One short chapter. More will come, to uncover the complicated dimensions of human life.