Burden Self-Inflicted

Perhaps it was because I had an income, I began to take interest in the micro-management of my family matters during army days. From processes, infrastructure to finances, I started to assume some responsibilities.

Now that I've a larger pay check compared to army days, I progressively become more proactive and will readily devote a large portion of it towards upgrading the standard of living of the family as a whole. I feel that it is necessary because it helps to bring everyone together, keep their daily expenses in check and improve their quality of life.

Then JD made some very interesting observations:

1. Why am I the only person footing the bills when nearly every family member has an income?
   
2. Why am I the only person assuming responsibility if it is truly necessary?
   
3. Exactly how proactive are they towards following through the processes you've laid down?
   
4. Do they even appreciate what you are doing?
5. Last but not least, will they do the same for you without being told?

Well, it seems like the selfless part of me needs some gentle reminders from the selfish part of JD.

4D3N

It's been quite a while since I last wrote an entry. So much has happened this whole time that it's hard to put in words. Life relentlessly throws challenges at you, and besides lamenting, all you can do is to brave it through one at a time.

Mid last month, JD and I managed to sneak 4 days worth for ourselves (thanks to public holiday). I have yet to receive all the photos from him, but a diagram would basically sum up what we had decided to do with that amount of time.

Worried

05:00 Woke up for the 3rd time to check my phone but still no replies from JD. Been trying to call him since over 5 hours ago. Did something happened to him?

06:10 Still no replies. Perhaps there's some problem with my phone. Tried messaging myself and calling myself. Works fine.

06:30 Decided to call him again, but no answer. Can't sleep anymore, so might as well head to work.

08:20 I'm extremely early for work, feeling sleepy. Then it struck me, he didn't sleep the night before. "Kevin, you're darn darn foolish... He chose mahjong which in turn chose sleep over you".

New Gadgets

I just got a bad scolding from my Dad for being late for dinner. But all that is fine because I managed to accompany JD to the PC Show 2008 where he got himself a set of 2.1 stereo sound speakers, an AIO photo printer and an ultra value-for-money notebook PC which he's been eyeing for quite some time. I can see he's extremely happy. I'm gonna give him a call now, and I bet $100 (with myself) that he's playing with his new laptop already.

Waiting To See Him

Waiting is such a terrible thing to make one do. You can wait several hours but the other person has no inkling the torture you're going through. I remember last September I had a similar post like this, and now it's repeating after about 9 months.

"Kevin, you're darn foolish... He chose mahjong over you".

Time Allocation

Today I signed up for voluntary work. Partly it's because I feel like doing something meaningful (which I've been wanting to since a year ago). Partly it's because of JD.

I used to allocate loads of my time for him, so that I could work around his busy schedule and that would mean we likely have more time together. Then as time passed, it got abused. He took the move as a right rather than a privilege. In the end, the one getting hurt is myself. So now most of my time shall go to voluntary work, piano classes, family, friends, CO and OTs.

Office Politics

I'm losing faith with the organisation day by day. The more I walk the ground, the more I realise people holding key positions are sitting on the fence. Either they have lost focus of their primary objectives or they are blinded by the mundane of administrative work, they are not doing enough to ensure benefits of our clients.

Indiana Jones

This evening we caught the comeback of Indiana Jones, one of my favourite childhood movies. Like its predecessors, audience are in for a fun-thrilled adventure ride with this whip-lashing archaeologist. Already 65 years of age, I can't help but wonder if Harrison Ford could still pack a punch as before in the trilogy. Alas, only 10 minutes into the movie, the pace picks up, and I knew I'm gonna enjoy this movie.

I think both Steven Spielberg and George Lucas did great with this reprise of Indy. It gave fans all around the world the chance to see Harrison Ford under that fedora once more and perhaps the last. The most symbolic representation of this is towards end of the movie [spoiler alert] when a gust of wind landed the fedora before the feet of his son. Jones Jr. picked it up and was about to wear it when Indy grabbed it and wore it immediately.

All in all, I give this movie 5 stars. And I'm sure JD who hasn't caught any of Indy's movies before agrees with me.

After the movie, we made our way home when all of a sudden a fleet of traffic police appeared on the roads. Together they cleared vehicles and pedestrians leaving a long empty stretch. Moments later, an convoy of more traffic police surrounding three sedans whisked past the crowd of curious passer-bys. I start to ponder if I were the VIP, lots of people will have to make way if I intend to go do some private shopping, perhaps say the PC Show...

Misses

After not seeing JD for close to two weeks. We finally met tonight for a short while.

Vesak Day

Thanks to this extended weekend break, I get to hang out with some friends whom I haven't seen for a while (two of whom over a year ago) on a Monday afternoon. As per our usual hang-out activity, it was Party World for 4 straight hours.

The good thing about going to KTV with a mix of both genders is that you get to sing duets (I don't mean you can't do that too with a bunch of guys). When there was only half an hour left with still a long list in-queue, we tried to cover the first verse and chorus of his song. I think this is what we call - stretching the dollar.