I had a lim-kopi session with an old friend whom I haven’t met in a few months. We would go out for supper once every few months just to catch up and talk. It is indeed boring staying at home all the time, so I was glad to be able to go meet him for a chat.

And then the first shock came when I realized he got attached. It’s like all of a sudden, although I soon realized I was at fault for not noticing his new facebook photo; although there wasn’t any faces in that photo, but the nature of the objects in the photo gave some clues. But that isn’t the point of my blog post.

Through talking I realized my friend is kind of a free spirit; I’m not sure how free spirited he is as compared to Georgie, but he is quite a spontaneous person in the sense that he might go on holidays without planning much details like where to go; whereas I am the type to plan so that I know where I can possibly go. I like the feel of being in control.

Which brings me to my main point, that is, your partner has to be similar to you in these sort of character issues. I mean, if your partner is someone who likes everything planned nicely, then she is probably not going to be happy with a spontaneous trip where nothing is planned. So you will end up having to look for someone with the same temperament?

And that it is not wrong if your partner feels differently; they just have different ideas from you.

Ok I do not know what is the point of writing this in a blog, but I just thought I’ll share this quite duh observation. Kthxbye.

I bought my iTouch 8GB on Sunday 26th June 2011 through the Apple online store. It is a refurbished unit sold at $248 nett, and I bought it because I needed a non-camera phone due to my working requirements; the Air Force is a military organization hence information is sensitive there. It arrived yesterday, 28th June 2011, which is quite fast since it took them only one working day to send the iTouch out for shipping. DHL Express ensured I received my iTouch first thing in the morning at 9:15am.

You didn’t read wrongly, I bought an iTouch whose purpose is to replace my iPhone. In the next few days, I would get the CPeel adapter that would “convert” my iTouch into an iPhone by giving it sms, phone and GPRS capabilities. It might not be as great as an iPhone, but at least it can still be used.

I wanted a phone that I can use my whatsapp on, since it makes no sense if my friends send me whatsapp messages but I can only read them on the weekends. The other possible contender is the Blackberry phone, yet it does seem that you require a Blackberry plan for most of the functions. Since I am unable to purchase a Blackberry plan, I might as well do this modification so my iTouch can serve the same purpose as my iPhone.

The refurbished iTouch is nicely wrapped and secured to the iPod box through film wrap.

The contents inside the box are shown above. Since I have the USB cable already from my iPhone, I kept it as a spare in case the existing one gets spoilt. The earphones are also kept since I have my in-ear phones that I bought for my iPhone.

When I buy the Cpeel Adapter, I would then take more photos to show everyone.

The DSTA 10, which is how I named the 10 of us who went for Industrial Attachment last year, meet up for food and ice cream tonight. It had been longed planned; the last time we met as a group was on the last day of our Industrial Attachment and we went for a round of drinks.

It was a time of nice catching up, although not all of the 10 are there; there are only 7 of us, and the HR ladies who helped us during the IA was there as well. Hence it became some kind of informal feedback session about the process of applying for a job at DSTA in our final semester.

We went to Saizeriya, apparently a Japanese restaurant selling Italian food like pasta and pizza. The branch that we went was the City Square mall one, at Farrer Park Mrt on the NEL or purple line. The food wasn’t that great, or rather it sucked, but it is cheap so I guess it’s not that bad huh?

I had the mushroom soup, which was so-so. I liked the Reeds Cafe one at NUS better. I also had the seafood spagetti, which plainly sucked because the seafood wasn’t fresh and the tomato sauce didn’t enter the noodles so the taste was just meh. There was this thing where you can add $2.40 for free flow of drinks, but the drinks was just not up to standard. The soft drinks are not fizzy enough and tasted rather plain. Overall a disappointment; probably saved by its price.

It’s nice to catch up with everyone again. It seemed that only one of us went back to DSTA to work out of the ten.

Of the ten:
1 back to DSTA
4 Air Engineering Officers
1 possibly LTA under MRT branch
1 in Keppel FELS
1 in HDB
1 in Singapore Power
1 in the midst of applying for the Singapore Police Force

It’s a little weird how we didn’t end up going back to DSTA. One of the reasons is that they gave some of us a really hard time during the first interviews, so much so that it was appalling to see the difference in the intensity of the interviews. Being a former intern does not give any privileges too.

In another weird way, all but 1 is working in the private sector? Ok maybe 2, since Singapore Power is also private. The rest are in the civil service. I wonder if it has anything to do with our initial decision to join DSTA as an intern.

But no matter what, it does seem that it would be hard to meet up again once we all started working. Perhaps we would be so overwhelmed with work that the next time we meet is at least a year later?

Hopefully we’ll still find in ourselves the energy to come together and catch up. Perhaps a few of us would be driving already by then.

I’ve done up some slight modifications to my blog. I guess that was rather redundant to say since anyone who reads my blog would probably realize the change in the colour from black based to white based. I have had that design for a very long time already. When I checked the CSS file, it seemed that it was created in 2007, although I didn’t think it was that long. I thought it was in 2009 or something. Should be about 2 years already.

I poured through some books and websites to come up with my design. It took me a long time to come up with a new design because I was procrastinating. Since my new computer came and I installed my Adobe CS4 on my computer, I thought I might as well do it.

It is considered a slight modification because most of the parts are still under construction, especially the links at the top. This is because I have not created those site yet. I have also not properly done up the side bar, as well as the about me page, which probably needs a lot of updating and planning. I want this new design to encompass who I am as an individual. This blog will not only be a blog but a home page. I have also decided to blog more regularly, although I might find it difficult once work begins.

Since I have already bought a new computer, it is also time to learn C# to start building my financial planner software. Hopefully it would be good to use and other people can then use it to plan their finances as well. I dare not hope people will use it, but as long as it makes my life easier, I suppose why not? It would also be an interesting experience that I can talk about with other people, although it is a rather nerdy topic. I don’t go around telling people I can design simple websites, and that I once created a tuition site. Some people might be impressed but some might just think “meh”.

Overall I hope to finish the design of the blog within the next few days. Hopefully I can then begin programming my software by next week!

I’ve just bought a new computer courtesy of Zong Yao as he helped to select the various parts that form the CPU. Other than the monitor and a graphics card, I bought the rest of the components, including speakers, keyboard, mouse and the CPU. It’s an i5 processor at 3.30GHz with an 8GB RAM. So far it has already been using RAM more than what my previous laptop can handle, and I can at last enjoy the Aero interface properly, although it’s really not a big deal.

I went to Wai Kit’s house early morning yesterday as we are using his car for the day and he has no driving license. We then drove to Toa Payoh to pick Zong Yao and Jia Hao up, before going to Toa Payoh Central for lunch. It has been a long time since I was there, and some things haven’t changed since, while some parts like the underground food court has already been renovated. We had prawn mee for lunch, $11 for the four of us as we ate the buy one get one free prawn mee deal.

Next we drove on to Sim Lim Square to check out the prices of each components and find the best deal. Actually Zong Yao did the work as he is the one who understands all the parts of the computer. We then made our purchase and had to wait about 3 hours for both computers to be assembled for us. There are two computers as he also bought a computer with the same configuration sans the keyboard, mouse and speakers.

We went to Burger King (seems like the typical chill out point whenever we go to Sim Lim Square) and I had a regular Coke + waffle cone ice cream. As usual, Jia Hao ate a MEAL for a snack. We walked around Sim Lim Square to kill more time before collecting our computers. Then we drove to my home to drop off my new computer, and then drove back to Wai Kit’s house.

Since the car isn’t mine, I had to take a bus home again, reaching home at about 8.10pm. Then I had dinner before setting up my computer and installing Windows 7 on it. Then I went to install all the various programs I had in my laptop that I wanted to use in my new computer. I realized that there were many engineering software installed that I would probably not use, so there were not many vital programs to install. I suppose it is time to also install Visual Studio and build my Financial Tool.

I’m happy with my new computer as it is much faster and better than my laptop, which is unfortunately dying slowly. I hope that I can use this computer for 5 years at least.

Jinzen – a term coined in the popular Anime series Bleach, is the process in which a Shinigami communicates with his weapon or Zanpakuto. In some ways, I like to think that their weapon is an extension to their souls, and hence it is part of who they are. Therefore what I meant by the title “Entering Jinzen” is to get into a state of calm where you feel at ease with yourself and hence you can “communicate” with your soul.

Where the traditional method of entering Jinzen in the anime is to place your Zanpakuto over your lap or in front of you (see insert image), humans perhaps have a variety of ways to go into your own state of calm. Some people might choose to do Yoga, some might sit down and listen to their favourite music, or others may prefer to go for a short jog round the neighbourhood.

I can’t seem to concentrate and reflect when I am listening to my favourite music, as I would be enjoying the sounds than entering a state of calm. Jogging is also out of the question since you have to concentrate else risk hitting fellow joggers or cyclists. Occasionally you have to look at the traffic when you cross a small road.

So my preferred method of choice is the swimming pool, where there are not many people in the pool. This gives me the time to relax and think about whats happening, even giving me the time to think of new ideas and concepts. I don’t have to worry if there’s someone else interrupting my pool session since no one really swims since they are all at work.

But the main thing is this: Swimming allows me to shut off from noises coming from the world today. You can’t really hear what’s going on above water when you are in the water. So one of your senses can afford to relax – you won’t get disturbed too.

Plus there’s something about getting into the water and having that sense of buoyancy that makes it really relaxing. In addition, you do not tire yourself out as easily as if you went for a jog.

So I entered Jinzen today in the pool, and I came out happy, relaxed, and excited. I’m going to change the look of my blog – finally.

I decided to just do this free Tarot Reading for fun from the Free Tarot Reading website. Below are my results:

Card 1 (The Lovers) : How you feel about yourself now »
You want love or a new love in your life and a new relationship is in the offering. Even if you are not thinking about love, you’re in for a surprise. If faced with a choice this is an important one and could affect the rest of your life.

Card 2 (The Sun) : What you most want at this moment »
The cards suggest that what you most want at this time is some joy and pleasure in your life, perhaps a long needed holiday in the sun to re-charge your batteries. You may have been through a period of challenges or a time of limbo and inactivity. The Sun heralds an ending to difficulties and a time to celebrate with friends and loved ones, a time of pleasure and good news around children or the conception or birth of a longed-for baby.

Card 3 (The Empress) : Your fears »
You are feeling insecure, perhaps have money worries, as a parent you may have concerns over your children, or perhaps it’s an unplanned pregnancy. There are people around you who love and care for you and they will give you support. Try not to be over protective and do not resort to emotional blackmail, it won’t do you any favours.

Card 4 (The Fool) : What is going for you »
This is an exciting time with much potential for fun and good times. Your confidence should be high, it’s a great time for new possibilities. If you are considering leaving your job, home or relationship, in time you will. An unexpected desire will be fulfilled, even before you express it!

Card 5 (The Moon) : What is going against you »
You are frozen with fear, lack of nerve and confused as to what it is you actually want. You are allowing all your fears and anxieties to hold you back when you should be opening your mind to new and unexpected possibilities. You do need to be careful however, as there are deceitful people around who may seem charming but are only out for their own gains. If in a clandestine affair beware, your secret may be exposed.

Card 6 (The Chariot) : Outcome »
Conflicts ending in victory! Keep charging ahead this is a time of change, travel and success if you stay committed to achieving your goals. A journey relating to work is imminent and if you’ve had your eye on that new car it will soon be yours.

I got a nice surprise on my birthday when Keira and Nelson came to surprise me at my door step. That’s the present that they gave me and its five small cups representing sceneries about Japan in the four seasons. Mazin also contributed to this present. Thanks!

It looks nice isn’t it? =)

Once again I’m writing this ahead of time, setting the post to automatically publish once it hits the 7th of June. It is almost like a yearly tradition where I just write a little stuff about myself to commemorate this very special day each year. And as usual, like tradition, I don’t know how to spend the day since it is always in the middle of the holidays.

I suppose I have nothing to complain about since my birthday doesn’t fall on the exam period at least, and it always falls on the school holiday period (for the last time in my life). The thing about school holiday periods is that it tends to go largely unnoticed if not for the new invention called Facebook. Plus even when people notice it is confined to a friendly “Happy Birthday” being posted on the wall, something I am guilty of as well.

And as the clock strikes twelve, I become 25. A quarter of a century old, or two and a half decades old. Or for fellow NSmen and IPPT takers, I am now an ah cek category, where my test results are bounded by Cat Y instead of Cat X, making it easier to pass. I’m glad I finished my last Cat X IPPT last Saturday on the 4th of June 2011. I’m happy that I would not have to do any Remedial Training!

The past year saw me through much hardship in terms of school commitments. The schedule was made so busy that there wasn’t time for anything else and frankly it was quite frustrating. I’m still glad it paid off well since I’ve graduated with the honours I have always aimed for. The other day I was looking at the about me section of this blog and in it I wrote about my short term goals. I’m happy to say I have met those short term goals, and perhaps it is now time to make other short term goals.

The past year also saw me completing my 42.195km marathon, a feat which I promised to do and I eventually did. It’s more than a run; it’s about setting goals, planning my way to reach them, actually doing it and proving that as always, it is mind over matter; that my endurance level is still strong.

The past year saw me through few things because I spent most of my time on my FYP, and getting really irritated with it. Haha.

But since God made our eyes in front, I guess we have to look forward. Soon I’ll be going for my commencement ceremony in July. Maybe I will go crash the CAC camp and get to know more freshies. And then I will begin work in August, drawing my first paycheck! Life is still quite meaningful and exciting in this year ahead before I turn 26.

Happy Birthday to myself!

Finally this marks the end of the transiting period for my blog! Having moved to a temporary host while waiting for this host account to be set up, it is indeed a troublesome and long wait. Throughout this period of time, my spam plugin wasn’t working because I didn’t want to go through the trouble of getting another API key for it, so there were many spam comments that reach my email, and hence I needed to manually delete them. Thankfully those days are over now that the official blog has the spam plugin reactivated again.

Perhaps the next thing to do is to create a new skin for this site. This skin has been with this site for a very long period of time? I’m guessing like two years already? I would also need to revamp the site and add in additional sections to make this more representative of who I am as a person.

Till then!