Retail Therapy

Since prehistorical times, ppl have been engaged in exchanges of barter and trade. Through advancement, we now have "mordernized" the activity into a lucrative and civilized past-time, Shopping!

Every lady's dreams to participate in shopping hauls and brawls, immersing totally into the "game" with their innate 6th sense locating the next scampering prey (which in this case, item of purchase). Blessed with a limitless credit line, the full wrath of femine empowerment will be released onto the service / retail sector of the economy thus injecting vibrancy.

What makes them tick? The shiny studs, slick cuttings, flirtatious laces, slinky shades, exquisite adornments, elegant gowns or garments dabbled with screaming colours. Not mentioning the numerous body care services that can totally pamper one till the heavens. Imagine having a full body treatment SPA session with pedicurists fluttering by the side, a hairstylist flipping the pages of the newest fashion mag for ur hair-do and having an attendee dishing u fresh cool juices with a dash of grapes and strawberries delievered onto ur lips...

I have seen husbands, boyfriends, flings dumped rotting beneath the parapets of the mannequins as their vision lurch at the "battling" partners so energised and engrossed, totally different flabergasted and bewildered individual that ever so lost in the kitchen as soldiers lost in the fields. Really have to see to believe, words just cant deliever the agony and impact of all the "lost souls" of the shopping mall. With orphaned males scattered everywhere, a pinch of relieve of singlehood shimmers above me ... for a while, when they kiss and make up at the cashier where the actual mauling finishes within a few swip and keystrokes, there's no one beside me (hahaha, lonely but intact ego and wallet)

Actually, even guys get into the mood to groove on the malls for a do over, pampering or maintenance of the metropolistical society. There have been suggestions of wardorbe revamps, makeovers and equipment upgrades. To a certain extend, purchasing and the reception of a new item is rather refreshing and provides for a temporary feeling of renewal.

Re-energized, for sure one will feel lifted and confident to make the extra mile for his/her journey. Male / Female, everybody loves a jolt of retail therapy now and then. I too have been struck before when you just feel that certain item is calling for you. No matter how much one delude, refraining even the slightest thoughts you will eventually succumb to the lure and destiny of owning that shirt, pants or item.

Shopping's my past time too! From another perspective, I love hunting for "buys" of smiles and joys. Gatherings, meetups, parties, talk cock sessions over the soccer court or coffee shops .... Big or small, major or ad hoc sessions with who I call friends.

The sight and exchange of "warm" welcomes littered with "embraces" and "smooches" on the physical and ego self are always testimonies advancements to the mellowing of friendship. Events like how I break the beds (twice!), enforcing my status as the Apocalypse of the group, getting into cranky situations where we break the rules, sweat, toiled, wailed and bled. We are still together!

My shopping trips always bring back the dearest items on the shelves. I get back the joys and mirth of YOU. With life a bed of roses with friends, there'll still be thorns which lace the memories with solace that will even carve a deeper remembrance of the events.

The 4th element of time will be ever charging into new eras and space, history has been mapped and created as of now, "Back to the Future" still remains a movie. Definatly friends are not items on the shelves for choice or collections, not trophies of glamour but customers along side who found their comrades within the enduring mass foraging for the next SALES together in arms.

PatriX

Paradox of Time

And so it is, humanity progressed leap and bounds ... salutes to the perserverance, passion and creativity of mankind to reach where we stand now. Reign supreme, stamping authority on the very ground air and sea that embraces the very exisitence. Gone were the days of tranquil, to be greeted with warm reception of the morning smiles and sincere well wishes but the routine shoulder barges and fanciful footwork of a samba soccer mastro performing his wares amist the crowd of communters. Something to ponder about, is progress a good thing? From my point of view, I see the advancement and progress is actually inversely pegged against the morality and civil-mindness.

We have taller buildings but shorter tempers, have bigger houses but smaller famillies
We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgement, more experts yet more problems, more medicine inversely less wellness
We've learnt how to make a living but not life
We've add years to life but not LIFE to years
We've multiplied our possessions but divided our values
We've communication networks so advance yet find it difficult to greet our neighbour next door
We conquered outer space but not inner space
We write more but learn less
We learn to rush but not to wait (SAF does it great)

These are times of fast food and slow digestion, big man and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships
These are times of dual income compensated with fancier accomodations and living but broken homes and divorces

It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom

A time where deceit, lies and cheats claim it all where the righteous, honest and bold are the fools
A time where everything buzzes around the economy where nothing much is done to the society

So much to say, too much to think, all talk no action, will I cease to stay?

PatriX

Do you have what it takes

A typical blog entry will have to include the mundane tasks and happenings, I too went thru much this week. A rather hectic, stressful but eventful period to the finishing line of my attachment but crawling towards the commencement of my semester. To end is just for readying another start, so meanwhile during the transition it'll be nice to do some reflection.

Those who know, I don the rank and have been tasked to lead the formation of signals. In 2 years time, I'll have a platoon of 30 plus either stabbing needles into voodoo images of mine or cheering me on for their welfare well taken for? Do you have what it takes to earn the authority sending out orders for compliance. Best military leadership to confer onto my shoulders, how true is that? With that award / milestone I attained, I am as well fall harder if a munity slams straight in my face.

Attended the wedding of kai's sister wedding, a thought of leading a life together with someone. The level of commitment and compromise in order to plough through the "fields of marriage" to eventually reap bliss and a utopia of love. Actually thought through the amount of courage to pop the question, its not "hey, wanna apply HDB together or not". That verse is an actual sterotype SG guys to geeky bookworms always losing out to those savvy talking, loud mouth, promise you the starts multiple partners expatriates. (no choice, girls always like bad guys)

Sitting at a banquet was the bride's JC classmates who belonged to the academic elites of attaining their Phd, striking of successful careers with majority of them retrieving their CARpark redemption from the waitresses. Dining above majority at 60th storey overlookin the skyline of the CBD, it was a lustrious event of joy and laughter celebrating the love of 2. Here I wish the male and female lead of the night a blissful marriage follow a journey littered with stars and the silvery moon.

On my way back, I saw an advertisment. Rallying for officers into the SAF, baiting the young men/women with the attractive scholarship awards. Honestly, how many can be considered as good leaders? Came across peers and pals, I have to admit, not majority are cut for the job to lead. Sometimes I wonder if I made the right choice to take a chance upon others.

Anyway, the point I wanto drive at ... Leadership to a certain extend can be inculcated into a person. But eventually, there will always be limit to where one will go if he/she doesnt have what it takes. I believe someway or another, a leader is born. Not as in upon concieved, that foetus has the right set of DNA replicating the best traits of a true leader. A number of factors like upbringing, personal characteristics/personality and the environment of social interactivity plays the role of nuturing a leader.

An altrusitic view, I hope the future man/women enlisting into the corps will have what it takes ...

Meanwhile, I'll keep on living ... maybe one day I can ask someone "Lead a life with me...."


PatriX

Cant take eyes off YOU

Typical rush hour morning, brisking amist the torrent waves of human traffic for my ride. Sights were focused on the route of advancements onwards my bus terminal as the mundane nature of 9 - 5 workers begin their morning rituals. In every stage of achieving and completion of a target / goal / objective, one will most definitely have to travel.

Binocular vision gives us a near 180 degree perspective of the journey infront. How abt the other 180? Maybe thats why they always say there's another side of the coin, or my say; Look on the bright SIDE of life. More than ever, in our ever changing and transforming society, many are swept along by the ever changing tides and more than often enroached, embedded in the rat race. Slow down, you'll see peers overtaking. Feeling left behind, a sense of emptiness or loss may either spur into enlisting amist the chase for admission to the "Creme da la Creme" or jack the hand brakes for a quiet moment. The sad thing is, once you stop, most probably you'll get a stampede of comments getting you back into gear for the material chase.

I have my views on who I wanto be, what I wanto do, what are my commitments and most of the time, an unrealistical challenge towards myself to stay the same; being different from others (Totally self condictary, guess the grey matter within are corrroding). Who doesnt want to shine atop the platform where he / she stands in the limelight, touching the lifes of others. To lead, so much has been said on the different forms of leading ... do I have what it takes?

Getting back on the journey, we keep track on what and who we see in front of us. To avoid the obstacles by making a detour or facing towards the challenges, to hit upon an opportunity or rekindle a historical link? For me, thoughts will just flood the memory banks clouding my motor judgement at times but well I dun walk into lamp post or drains as yet. An eventful day, a glimpse struck me off "PatriX Realm", I got into another focus. First time, my attention was drawn towards an individual. I admit I was guilty of commiting the strict penal codes towards being a stalker. The sides, her back ... yes its a HER, I am just but human right, the testostorones kicked in I guess.

Curtaining amist the bodies, everything was locked on momentarily ... senses, thoughts ... "whose that" I wondered. Like a drama coincident, she halted my queue. Wearing a gentle gaze, basking her face into the aurora's gift with the rays bouncing of the radiance from the soulful eyes. A draft lifted her locks, highlighting the youthful aura of the angelic silhouette.

Wishing the trip will never end, only when the bus stopping for passengers where my concentration will be temporarily tore away for the prevention of missing my destination otherwise the back of hers was infront of my mind. Flowing and winding to the usual route, I was anticipating her alight so I could get a frontal view. But time and again, her fidgets only managed to skip the beats of mine as my wish of getting off together was getting closer ...

Alas, it was time to get over the morning crush ... just as I rose to the spirals down, my prayers were answered. The match played into extra time where I blishfully endow the endomorphines into overtime. Floating n gliding stealthfully, I guess my gigiantic frame took over the role of courage and made notice my presence. Ego taking over, I overtook on the pretence nothing happened at all ... I was like "goodness, you blew it! told ya to shrink down ... did you listen... NO..oo..oo"

Hope has always been mankind's trusty ally for all the ordeals we came by through history, guess fate spared me of a crushed morning. Just as I was able to betray my ally, I forsaked my pride as an egoistic boy pluckered up courage and made a turn to see her for the first and last time.

As she came into view, I was greeted back with a perculiar smile of acknowledgement. Fate's cruel, heaven play tricks, lifes a puzzeling piece of mystery, could u believe that a teen crush was the someone who lighten up my day! A simple greeting embossed with a pint of cowardice, I didnt even got a contact. Then and there, I won and lost ... a milestone till now I wanto document for she was, is and always be the one;

cant take my eyes off YOU

PatriX

Wishes can come true, are dreams meant to?

Sparkles of ripples by the stream
You grazed across, it aint a dream
Just too good to be true
Cant take my eyes of you
Everything was a blur
Flabbergasted, loss of reaction
Devastated, I stoned loss in translation
Heart is drenched in wine
With only you in my mind
Dont know why I didnt ........

Really unlike the staunch nature of mine, but I admit defeat and quite a loss of composure. Its been a long time, such a period where this wierd tingling feeling struck me. Think I lost standard for this post anyway, but I guess this entry will serve as a memory. A milestone? Not the ambient nature where one would conjure within the romantic confines of movies or stories, nevertheless a special moment.

Serendipity they call it? Nah, I never had been that lucky anyway ... Just hopeful and glad that someone made my day. Who can that be? You'll never know....

PatriX

Reason of Existenance

"War of the World" - depicts the fragile and arrogant nature of mankind. Once within the comfort zone of our exisitence, homosapiens began to percieve enplaced high up top on the food chain. Unknowingly, will there ever be a supreme being watchin over the pitiful and pathetic organisms who cant even get harmony and sociality into their biological mindset. In turn, always conspiring against each others well being and exisitence.

Supreme ruler of Earth or just chumps who find joy empowering own-kind with multiple chores and duties ever since birth till death to release all the responsibilities?

The reason to fight on, to stay on, to reign and to rule....

The law of nature - never to retreat into the shadows of defeat, not going down without a fight.

Even bugs flee upon showered by DDT, in the case of being stamped on, they make sure ur shoes get smudged. Adrenaline, our fight or flight hormone have pushed on our survival for centuries eversince civilization? or even before... When cavemen get threatened upon a rampage by the mammoths, they get their spears to whack the fella or off the heels and run like yelping dogs.

I am much more of a simple guy. Never ever had face life threatening, race exterminating alien invasions or global warfare. Riots and social unrest are just topics I flip and concuss in history classes. The only stuff that bothers me is like, what to eat for meals, where to go next, who I wanto meet in the future, what I wanna do, Am I realli worth my salt of existenace.... - ppl say I think too much and burden upon the mental till an unecessary scale.

Maybe thats what makes everyone different? Hope I will be proud of myself, eventually.

Anyway, this post is to congratulate my buddie DEMING. For his near 2 years of patience and perserverance finally paying off. Reunited, after a seperation of 1 year 8 months, no face to face talk time! It was totally like having a cyber relationship with only phone calls to soothe the strains of companionship.

It comes to the reason of existenance I pin upon. HOPE. With hope from both parties, they gritted on and pinned upon all their dreams and promises for reconcilation.

Hereby, I send my deepest and sweetest wishes to Duckieee and Regine. The best is yet to be.

Stones taught me to fly
Love taught me to lie
Life, it taught me to die
So it's not hard to fall
When you float like a cannonball

The Rat Race -- wheres the cat ?

Ever wonder what spurred the growth of entrepreneurs; I see so many reading upon "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" and all those financial / management or leadership books. Seriously speaking, have anyone came out with a book that recorded upon the events that "I did it with the help from (so and so)". From my perspective, I reckon to succeed, each will have his/her own unique management/handling and success story. None of it will be the same.

The only chap raking in big bucks is the Jap who managed to CONvince everyone to understand the game of escaping the finacial loop? Humans are weak in the mind, but once they manage to overcome the mental barrier, skies the limits! Recently stumbled upon issues, Lance Armstrong's "LIVE STRONG", Roger Bannister's "4 min mile".

Mister Armstrong -> survival of ordeals, obstacles... how many can get thru testicular cancer, falling into life threatening conditions yet bounce back so high up.... so way high up clinching the Tour de France upon his recovery.
"... before then, I was only living but now I LIVE STRONG."
- Lance Armstrong

A maestro of sheer determination, passion and dreams! A gentleman that deserves everyone's salute and respect. If everyone holds his perserverance, nothing can fail us at all. A true example I admire of!

Roger Bannister, I dun think many of us will know of his presence. But he was the first guy who managed to crash the perception where human beings cannot be conditioned to hit 1 mile(ard 2.4km) within 4 min. Just like previously when ppl fixed upon the misconception that the earth is round until mister chris proved them wrong(was it him or some other guy)?

From Roger, humans are followers. We see things can be done, we follow and claimed that it's a success story of our own. Rich kids like Adam Khoo who bragged upon the fact of his success story where he shrugged off his prof's suggestion of getting down to earth owning a job before striking it out. But anyone considered his family's so freaking rich he can afford to lose.

Singaporeans, all converting to AMERICA dream full time. What they want is $$$, $$$ and $$$. Many can forsake time, passion, friends, relations. Like dot coms and bubble tea, once they see can work, everyone swarms in ... thus saturating the market and overwhelming the "trend" and dilute the stock value of the busniess. In turn, everything crashes and they blame it on government and competition.

Originality is what I seek
Dare to be different is what I want to be
Laugh and jeer at me
I'm special because there'll be no second ME

PatriX

Sweet dreams are made of these.... --Sunday, June 26, 2005

As you gaze around, shadows and the blanket of the night encroaches... The mind relaxed, reminisces of the days happenings then lay down to rest as the lotion of slumber soothes the aching muscles.

Gradually, as the mind swirls with vivid images floating around then settling to a tranquil, silent state. The transittion may well be some of the most complicated n unique chemical reactivities inhibited with the human mind, but everyone, everyday have experienced before.

- A series of images, ideas, emotions, and sensations occurring involuntarily in the mind during certain stages of sleep.
- A daydream; a reverie.
- A state of abstraction; a trance.
- A wild fancy or hope.
- A condition or achievement that is longed for; an aspiration: a dream of owning their own business.
- One that is exceptionally gratifying, excellent, or beautiful

Dreams, a predicition of whats gonna happen in the future? A supressed hope, desire to achieve? Happenings of another portal? Mambo Jumbo that was conjured up by the complicated brain?

"Sweet dreams" -> what can be described as sweet? To be immersed within a candyland fill with chocolates, candies, marshmellows, soda filled pool with the surroundings littled with adorable critters and butterflies fluttering their lustrous dresses. Or speeding on the tracks burning rubber with high speed screeching INITIAL D maneuvers on your dream car? Busking at the white sandy beaches of Hawaii with grass skirts swaying while enjoying ur husk of cold coconut juice? Dropping free fall off cliffs and speeding towards hard concrete pavements as you enrage your senses with an overdose of adrenaline

Different interests, comes up with different meanings of what sweet dreams are. My life is like a dream, clearing obstacles one by one ... experiencing the journey pikcing up different "passengers" that board my bus of life.

Similar as in reality, it can speed at devilish speeds where everythings a blur and things are done just for the sake of being completed. Or it can just lay at a stand still for traffic junctions that I must make decisions to cont advancement, make a L/R turn or Astern. Breakdowns are frequent when age catches upon machinery too, therefore consistent fine tuning with love and car then the bus can carry on the journey smoothly.

As ppl board, bonds builds ... the catalsyt, time, will either ferment the relationship into vintage wine or tarnish the quality and the whole thing sours. Crumbled, they disengaged and try another bus.

My journey so far has been enriching! Not really silver spoon life, but lifes been fair to me. There have been bitter sensations behind the throat which one cant seem to rid of. Life's havent been a bed of roses and I've got the fair share of thorns but its always laced with sugary bits that urges me to forage forward for a better tomorrow.

Take this moment to recollect what our childhood dreams were, how many had been forsaken at the expenses of the realities? Would you still smile if they came true or will sneer at the naiveness of your childhood fantasies? Meanwhile, cast down all the chains of commitment and dream a little dream of .....

PatriX

You know I cant smile without you -- Saturday, June 11, 2005

There's so many definition of YOU. YOU can be something one had yearn for, fought for and sacrifised time, effort, heart and soul for. A first class Honours? The dream Ferrari dream car? A bank account with the balance amount truncated due to overflow of following zeros behind ... Strike the lottery? So many many different you I have in my life.

"humans are contradictory and mindless creatures" - quoted from a laid back genius. With so much distractions and ever changing environment impaled within everyones life these days, who can differciate a saint from an insane? An act of kindness like loosening the purse strings for donations, you may end up being CON by MLM companies...(1 big reason I hate them). But when U apply plagurisium and reap the rewards getting away, others will cheer you for the hero! This world is undergoing evolution at such a pace, I am lost in transistion.

I feel sad when you are sad, I feel glad when you are glad ... wasnt life much simpler those days when my angel smiles. Sometimes memory flash floods hits me hard, totally overwhelmed reliving the blissful moments then the blurry farewells... Without the pain, never will ppl know how much they had gained

YOU - you left me for someone else ... you forsaked my efforts and said good bye, YOU are so cruel, did you ever know the blood and sweat I toiled? When i saw you left me, ur shadows slowly fading within the crowds, I felt lost ... I was confused, jaded at a total loss of words. If you chaps are guessing I got ditched, you are half right! I got ditched by success!!! When i saw the "E", I was really hit hard by the truck!

Guess its only part and parcel of life that one will not get everything he/she wants in life. I will set that as a milestone of my journey! Graditudues to all who showered me with condolences, it would be a totally different ball game the next time I get back to the court of success, meanwhile enjoy while everyone is still happy.

p/s: I still miss you

A place I own

Some of the posts I wanna import from my previous portal to this place I can call my own

Reliving the days ...

Operation EndureLINK was successfully accomplished 030795 at 1000 when every man RTU back to their respective spots. Another annual 3 day 2 night getalong session commemorating our historical links to JSIST's DCIS (Dip. in Comp Info Sys).

As per normal, the decor of the chosen Downtown East chalet was drapped with damp towers, the 4 limited pillows transferring ownership once each leaves for the loo or smoke, uncovered mattresses which marked the battlesites of testosterone or lets say "friendly" sparring of physical dominance. Summing the sights of the room I have 1 word -> "carnage", proven in theroy; guys are messy, but as long as the fun comes, why bother!

The attendance was realli not that suprising. Nonchalant with the females that literally cut all ties to their tertiary history, I guess all had fun with one another. For a while, I thought females are so much more emotional creatures. During my younger days in my polytechnic, they always seems to shower concern and tact to one another. Praises, encouragements, jovial greetings with sweet chirpings of the hottest gossip always seems to revolve around them. Compared to the guys, we were rowdy, bear grudges, constants disagreements and upsets, more inclined to gore and trashings.

With the sharp contrast, majority could most definitely peg the future of the both groups.
Girls -> always friends forever, my shoulder will always be there for you.
Guys -> step on my tail then you crash and burnt for eternity, read my lips and show the fists
Currently, from my sight of view ... the girls have always been so politically trained. I dont really hear of much gatherings on their part. Maybe its due to the spoilts I reaped for the 1B01/02, but U still miss her. Isnt it wierd? On the surface where everyone smiles to you, but when the shows over "Till next time...". If the meetup was a fun n enjoyable one, I'll come again, otherwise "sian, must cook up excuses -- "I gotta babysit my baby cousin" "

I am not branding all females or sterotyping anyone in particular. Its just some of the views I have came across from many during meetups where the visual and body languages show, not forgetting the innovative "fly kite" excuses from the regulars. Life is like a show, some get the lead, some play the support, some get the backstage where others get the audience role. Costumes, cosmetics, props and masks are the basic necessities of a great "play". How much will you pay for a great show?

Me? I'll give nothing at all! No masks, no props, no fakes ... 100% heart, soul and passion. Thats what I'll give for your truest friendship.

What will I give for Love? Something ... something which not many can accept, not really worth much to individuals but misery loves company. For love, I'll give my LIFE! Right now, I am "fortunate" with no agreeing females daring to take the offer. Thanks girls!

The food, the drinks, the shares of spoilts and laughter ... every was swell and dandy, thanks for the smiles dudeS !