It's been a long time since the last blog.
This weekend has been kind of a recharging weekend. Had a tough time at work last week, and was a little in the pits. But taking the time away from work this weekend, going to Harry's, going to performance group, was a good way to shake myself out of the doldrums. There are things to do, and moping around isn't gonna get them done :)
One of the things I did this weekend was to run a 10km race. It was surprisingly easy, and i was quite pleased with the 49 min time since I was still hacking like there was no tomorrow (finally caught the flu bug that's been going around). Made me realise how de-stressing running had been. And it feels good to be healthier and fitter. For one thing, my complexion has definitely improved... fewer huge zits... (having said that, Murphy's law dictates that I will now break out horrendously tomorrow). They also had free massages! And it was a real sports massage... which made me realise how excruciatingly tight my thigh muscles were. Time to get some physiotherapy.
Performance group was fun today. While I still couldn't do forward rolls properly (which is strange, considering I used to be able to do them in JC), I did manage to get off a handstand and a feeble attempt at a cartwheel. Learning aerials is also a different way to think about body awareness and lindy hop.
And Harry's was good last night. Even if we did spend some time talking about boob bibbies and assorted other geeky stuff that annoyed P to no end. Well, maybe that's why it was better than usual ;)
Ok, time to sign off before this degenerates into more blather.
Here's to the new week!
Sunday, August 21, 2005
Monday, August 01, 2005
31 kilometres and counting...
That's how far I ran this week. 7.5km on Mon. 9km on Wed. And 14.6km on Sat.
Amazing to think that I was at 3km a run and 9km a week only 4 months ago. The human body is an amazing thing. Resilient.... and yet so fragile. Lance Armstrong's story always amazes me. How a person can come back from testicular cancer, to win the Tour de France SEVEN TIMES running, is simply amazing. Guess that is a testament to the strength of the human mind as well.
Was at a National Day Dinner last night (yes, that's part of my job description now). They had some very professional entertainment on stage, including a famous singer from Taiwan. While I enjoyed some of the acts, what hit me was how much MORE some of the other guests were enjoying it. Try as I might, I couldn't completely enjoy it like some of the dialect speaking aunties and uncles at the dinner.
That's one of the things i've always been struggling with. Am I a banana? :P My family all speaks dialect and we all come from very modest backgrounds. I still recall the story of my youngest aunt eating a baby rat. Heh. But I've also gone to the US, spent 4 years there. And while I don't spend much on eating out, i do go to chi-chi (to quote Ming) with friends (like ..... Les Amis) which my family usually won't go to. That's part of the reason why I've always been interested in Asian-American culture; I identify with the same sense of duality that pervades Asian American literature and culture.
Also got to meet a charming man at the dinner. We hit it off right away even though there was a 40-50 year age difference. And guess what we connected over? Chocolate :) That's one of the things I like about this job. That it gets me out of the office and allows me to meet so many different people, both great and small. Keeps one humble.
Ajantis is dreaming of Royce White Chocolate...
Amazing to think that I was at 3km a run and 9km a week only 4 months ago. The human body is an amazing thing. Resilient.... and yet so fragile. Lance Armstrong's story always amazes me. How a person can come back from testicular cancer, to win the Tour de France SEVEN TIMES running, is simply amazing. Guess that is a testament to the strength of the human mind as well.
Was at a National Day Dinner last night (yes, that's part of my job description now). They had some very professional entertainment on stage, including a famous singer from Taiwan. While I enjoyed some of the acts, what hit me was how much MORE some of the other guests were enjoying it. Try as I might, I couldn't completely enjoy it like some of the dialect speaking aunties and uncles at the dinner.
That's one of the things i've always been struggling with. Am I a banana? :P My family all speaks dialect and we all come from very modest backgrounds. I still recall the story of my youngest aunt eating a baby rat. Heh. But I've also gone to the US, spent 4 years there. And while I don't spend much on eating out, i do go to chi-chi (to quote Ming) with friends (like ..... Les Amis) which my family usually won't go to. That's part of the reason why I've always been interested in Asian-American culture; I identify with the same sense of duality that pervades Asian American literature and culture.
Also got to meet a charming man at the dinner. We hit it off right away even though there was a 40-50 year age difference. And guess what we connected over? Chocolate :) That's one of the things I like about this job. That it gets me out of the office and allows me to meet so many different people, both great and small. Keeps one humble.
Ajantis is dreaming of Royce White Chocolate...
Sunday, July 24, 2005
Long time no see
Not much to blog about today, just some random thoughts... and Link madness!
Funny video... with extremely campy lyrics/cheesy singing
Yummy sushi or... is it yummy cookies?
Ran 13.4 km the other day.... in sunny weather and in 1 hour 16 minutes. Feels good :)
But am i crazy to be pushing my body this much when my knees are already giving me trouble? For those who do not know, i suffer from loose kneecaps, or in medical terms (Patella Femoral Syndrom). This means that my knee gets painful and achy when I put too much pressure on it.
Strangely enough, the knee has improved since i started running. I honestly need to get to the doctor and start physiotherapy though.
Read Rich Day Poor Dad the other day. It's an interesting read, and it was nice to know that I was doing some things right. While it wasn't the eye-opener that everyone has made it out to be, it did make me aware that I should be financially astute with everything that I do. Must... save... more for next move :)
Ajantis and his list of errands...
Funny video... with extremely campy lyrics/cheesy singing
Yummy sushi or... is it yummy cookies?
Ran 13.4 km the other day.... in sunny weather and in 1 hour 16 minutes. Feels good :)
But am i crazy to be pushing my body this much when my knees are already giving me trouble? For those who do not know, i suffer from loose kneecaps, or in medical terms (Patella Femoral Syndrom). This means that my knee gets painful and achy when I put too much pressure on it.
Strangely enough, the knee has improved since i started running. I honestly need to get to the doctor and start physiotherapy though.
Read Rich Day Poor Dad the other day. It's an interesting read, and it was nice to know that I was doing some things right. While it wasn't the eye-opener that everyone has made it out to be, it did make me aware that I should be financially astute with everything that I do. Must... save... more for next move :)
Ajantis and his list of errands...
Tuesday, July 12, 2005
It was a dark and stormy night...
A friend complained that my last post was too arcane :)
So here's something completely random.
Songs playing on my Creative MP3 player while running tonight :
All Saints
Pure Shores
Gimble
Demons (acapella)
Counting Blue Cars (acapella)
Craig David
What's Your Flava
Nelly
Hot in Here
Batter Up
Indigo Girls
Midnight Train to Georgia
Ghost
Closer to Fine
Swing Tunes
Regular Joe
If I Didn't Have You
Let's Call the Whole Thing Off
Chuggin a-luggin.....
So here's something completely random.
Songs playing on my Creative MP3 player while running tonight :
All Saints
Pure Shores
Gimble
Demons (acapella)
Counting Blue Cars (acapella)
Craig David
What's Your Flava
Nelly
Hot in Here
Batter Up
Indigo Girls
Midnight Train to Georgia
Ghost
Closer to Fine
Swing Tunes
Regular Joe
If I Didn't Have You
Let's Call the Whole Thing Off
Chuggin a-luggin.....
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
This is the run that never ends....
2.5 rounds around Bedok Reservoir! 2.5 X 4.3 km = 10.75km .... in 1 hour and 2 min :)
That half marathon is looking more achievable everyday.....
I blogged a while ago about how running is relaxing cos it's the only time my squirrel-like demented little brain actually stops firing on 8 different cylinders. At once.
So strangely enough, while running today, my brain was dwelling on public policy. And the ramifications thereof.
How do we truly achieve networked government? It is right that each department owns and champions certain functions. This allows for deep knowledge and advocacy by a department. Decisions that run across different departments can be reconciled by senior management. But what happens when it happens across different Ministries? I keep thinking back to the issue of hot dog stands in Singapore. Some smart soul suggested that the government permit this in Singapore. We agreed. Except that URA, the function owner, limited the timing and location of these mobile food vans to minimise disruption to the public, thereby preventing these entrepreneurs from even coming close to making a profit.
Another question : How do we ensure efficiency while giving autonomy? If too much is devolved, then economies of scale are lost. But if we take autonomy away, then we are unable to make truly effective and efficient decisions at the ground level. This could then contribute to greater efficiency at the macro level. One example this plays out in is in HR. If I don't trust line managers to judge properly, then I would impose strict conditions and rules. Yet, this might keep them from selecting and grooming the right kind of people. Where is this ideal tipping point, of pareto-optimality that allows for maximum effectiveness (rather than efficiency?)
Ok, this is getting a little too cheem. I was gonna say something about levels of power, but will leave that be for now.
Ajantis is in a daze....
That half marathon is looking more achievable everyday.....
I blogged a while ago about how running is relaxing cos it's the only time my squirrel-like demented little brain actually stops firing on 8 different cylinders. At once.
So strangely enough, while running today, my brain was dwelling on public policy. And the ramifications thereof.
How do we truly achieve networked government? It is right that each department owns and champions certain functions. This allows for deep knowledge and advocacy by a department. Decisions that run across different departments can be reconciled by senior management. But what happens when it happens across different Ministries? I keep thinking back to the issue of hot dog stands in Singapore. Some smart soul suggested that the government permit this in Singapore. We agreed. Except that URA, the function owner, limited the timing and location of these mobile food vans to minimise disruption to the public, thereby preventing these entrepreneurs from even coming close to making a profit.
Another question : How do we ensure efficiency while giving autonomy? If too much is devolved, then economies of scale are lost. But if we take autonomy away, then we are unable to make truly effective and efficient decisions at the ground level. This could then contribute to greater efficiency at the macro level. One example this plays out in is in HR. If I don't trust line managers to judge properly, then I would impose strict conditions and rules. Yet, this might keep them from selecting and grooming the right kind of people. Where is this ideal tipping point, of pareto-optimality that allows for maximum effectiveness (rather than efficiency?)
Ok, this is getting a little too cheem. I was gonna say something about levels of power, but will leave that be for now.
Ajantis is in a daze....
Sunday, June 26, 2005
Through the looking glass
Life is weird.
Caught a strange sight on Channel 8 last night. On Saturdays, there is this variety show, with one of the segments being a competition. In the past, it used to be little kids karaoke-ing their hearts out (overly made up sequinned 5 year old girls trying to act sultry... ack). Now, it's morphed into some kind of dance competition.
So the usual hip hop groups come out and do their thang. Some good, some mediocre, some average. And then suddenly, I see a young teenage couple on TV. Dressed in ballroom attire. Yes. Ballroom attire. That means tight black pants, ruffled shirt, and some frilly little dress.
They start dancing to rock around the clock, which is rock and roll and swingable. Except they are NOT dancing swing. They are dancing some weird melange of West Coast Swing and Ballroom. Given that I HATE west coast swing and posey-ball room, this of course is close to the ultimate nightmare (i exaggerate, but you get the idea). Watching them was like driving red hot nails into my eyes. And to top it off, they were doing aerials. Yes, a pair of 14 year olds doing all these lindy aerials. Aerials which few in performance lindy class have been able to do.... yet.
Ok rant over :)
Other random thoughts :
1) Read Rich Dad Poor Dad this past week cos my boss has been talking about it. It's an interesting book which provides you good food for thought. Essentially, it's saying that we should be smart about money. Let it work for us rather than the other way round. Be careful of the liabilities and assets that you are taking on. Be smart in taking risks. Be disciplined.
In other words, easy to say, but hard to do. Nevertheless, it did make me realise that I need to work harder at being financially savvy. Took a look at my stock portfolio again and realised that things could have been done differently.
2) Highlight/funniest moment of the week : Staring at footloose's boobs on the bus to Milennia Walk in a misguided attempt to raise her self-esteem. Yes, footloose, our relationship has reached a whole new level! What will H think of that? (Actually, H found it quite hilarious)
Well, time to go. Signing off.
Ajantis is peering eagerly in the mirror.
Caught a strange sight on Channel 8 last night. On Saturdays, there is this variety show, with one of the segments being a competition. In the past, it used to be little kids karaoke-ing their hearts out (overly made up sequinned 5 year old girls trying to act sultry... ack). Now, it's morphed into some kind of dance competition.
So the usual hip hop groups come out and do their thang. Some good, some mediocre, some average. And then suddenly, I see a young teenage couple on TV. Dressed in ballroom attire. Yes. Ballroom attire. That means tight black pants, ruffled shirt, and some frilly little dress.
They start dancing to rock around the clock, which is rock and roll and swingable. Except they are NOT dancing swing. They are dancing some weird melange of West Coast Swing and Ballroom. Given that I HATE west coast swing and posey-ball room, this of course is close to the ultimate nightmare (i exaggerate, but you get the idea). Watching them was like driving red hot nails into my eyes. And to top it off, they were doing aerials. Yes, a pair of 14 year olds doing all these lindy aerials. Aerials which few in performance lindy class have been able to do.... yet.
Ok rant over :)
Other random thoughts :
1) Read Rich Dad Poor Dad this past week cos my boss has been talking about it. It's an interesting book which provides you good food for thought. Essentially, it's saying that we should be smart about money. Let it work for us rather than the other way round. Be careful of the liabilities and assets that you are taking on. Be smart in taking risks. Be disciplined.
In other words, easy to say, but hard to do. Nevertheless, it did make me realise that I need to work harder at being financially savvy. Took a look at my stock portfolio again and realised that things could have been done differently.
2) Highlight/funniest moment of the week : Staring at footloose's boobs on the bus to Milennia Walk in a misguided attempt to raise her self-esteem. Yes, footloose, our relationship has reached a whole new level! What will H think of that? (Actually, H found it quite hilarious)
Well, time to go. Signing off.
Ajantis is peering eagerly in the mirror.
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