Deserted

From now on, I shall take a long break from blogging. The links will still be functional; the gateways of other people's blogs. What man plans, it will never come to pass.....I learnt that the hard way. :'-(. I shall need some time to myself. To sort my life, forced to think of backups. I shall live day by day.

Soon, the Treetop Community will be split up studying different courses in uni. Realistically speaking, there is close to zero chance of ever seeing the Desert Rose again. Just wanna pray that the rest of T.T.C and the Desert Rose will always be safe, and all the best in their future endeavours.

Goodbye.

Back to Army

After 2 weeks of languishing at home, I have to go back to Stagmont Camp. I wonder what my future vocation will be, which is being decided by my warrant officer's superiors. Meanwhile, I will probably be doing office job from 8 to 5, tentatively until June. (when the new batches of fresh recruits arrive).

Travelling from Pasir Ris to Choa Chu Kang is going to be quite expensive. (everyday in fact). Argh. The reality of the adult world. Maybe I should go find a place to rent at Choa Chu Kang. :(.
Note: If you can see this post, it means that Blogspot isn't screwed up.

Wet Blanket

Just received an SMS from my sergeant, who told me not to go out unless absolutely necessary; there might be surprise house visits conducted by the army. Damn. I can only wonder how come they are so free to pay me a visit. What am I, an insignificant private at the moment, to them that they must bother with me?

Initially wanted to use this hiatus and plan for a T.T.C gathering. Guess I have to shelve it for the moment. I am keeping my fingers crossed that they will come once or none at all. Meanwhile, my future vocation is being decided by all the high-ranking officers.

Cuchi and Me

Can empathise with my old rabbit. Two lonely males in the house ain't a good thing; in fact, I am not so much different from Cuchi:

1. . Cuchi eats, sleeps and does the rest of his daily business in his hutch; my house is just a slightly larger version of his cage/hutch.
2. Cuchi eats the same diet of "Healthy Rabbits" everyday. I follow (actually forced to) a strict regime of veggies, potato and salad. Converted to a strict herbivore like my rabbit.
3. Both are sleepy creatures.
   

Had my pathetic dinner of potato, organic tomatoes (that looks like grapes) and carrots in front of Cuchi. He just opened one eye at me, yawned (they do yawn), and proceeded to sleep. Can almost sense his amusement; that old pet must have been laughing at me eating the same organic food as him. :(

Alone, Again

Most guys will be swearing and dreading Sundays, as they have to book in and spend 24/5 with other guys. "National Slavery" seems more appropriate in our minds than National Service. Had a couple of things to settle this week, since it is a blessing in disguise that I was kicked out of my course:

• Be thick-skinned, find out from my three seniors; Raymond will benefit as well.
• Find the teachers during weekdays.
• Spend more time on the Word, since God gave me 2 weeks of rest. (to view it in a positive light)
  
• Hear the tapes which have been gathering dust since time immemorial.
  

That NUS lecturer in Sunday times is one heck of a brave fellow. (some calling him foolish). I know exactly how he feels, except on a smaller scale. Looking back, I sure wish I am reborned as an ostrich, burrowing my head in embarrassment. :) I am just glad that the Desert Rose is online. Meanwhile, my deserted rose has probably decayed and is reforming as part of our ecosystem as I speak. Frankly, that guy's courage is commendable; I prolly would have froze or peed in my pants if I was in his place. The only regret I had was me embarrassing the Desert Rose. Sigh.

Moviefest

Have been watching Land Before Time and HBO series on Band of Brothers over a span of two days. Meanwhile, I am starving slowly from the lack of proteins and fats in my diet. Just hope that the ban will be lifted soon, preferably right after my 2nd visit to the Chinese physician. Then I shall indulge myself in all the forbidden foods.

The only meal I looked forward is two slices of bread with jam. That's how pathetic my diet is currently. Urgh. The "snake" better be dead by tomorrow, as it was starved together with me. Just as the serpent's head was crushed, so will the cobra be trampled upon.

To Kill the Snakehead

Went down to Ang Mo Kio to consult this Chinese physician, who proclaimed to be an expert in treating "live snakes" (as it, shingles, is called in Chinese). Had just finished the course of antiviral drugs as prescribed by the 24hr clinic. Apparently, that doctor had seen worse cases before, judging from the horrific pictures of patients in a photo album. :S :S

Had to abstain from meat and oily, heaty food. Gosh. I am forced to become a vegetarian, eating the mother-horrendous "chye sim" ...Yucks. @#$%^&*(). Pickled Lettuce is my most-hated veggie, and I am forced to eat those disgusting greenies.

Waiting for my reinforcements of potato and carrots from my mother, who hopefully can make my dishes more interesting instead of that veggie. Life of a vegetarian sure is tough. Wonder whether it is superstition that I have to abstain from meat, but nevertheless it is better to be safe than sorry. Stupid snake.

Health, Hygiene and Fitness

Strange how people often take these for granted; especially me. Stricken with shingles due to my "heatiness", I was unfortunate to be given an O.O.C, with two weeks rest at home. Seems to be a standard procedure for every doctor to give 2 weeks rest for shingles.

Fate has been whimsical of late. If fate ever exists...I do not know whether I should be view it as half-full or half-empty. I think the sheer boredom will drive one to insanity, unless one does something fruitful. 2 weeks of MC+doing Admin work from 8 to 5 until June=time not to be wasted.

Ken Toh asked me recently whether I still thought of the Desert Rose.

At times, when I was blankly staring at the ceiling during BMT. But not as frequent. Not as much. Army really clears your confused, adolescent, childish, ____ (whatever description) mind. My fleeting infatuation is nothing, compared to the love our parents have for us (though the word "love" is general, as there are many classes, such as agape, phileo, eros, etc..more on that in the next topic, if I remember). It pales even much more compared to the love my Father has for me, which lasts forever.

So I told him, "No, not as much.No point thinking of it. Got many things to consider first, no need to rush in this sort of things...."

An Unhappy Birthday

Reeling from a splitting headache, that caused me to vomit several times. Urgh. Saw two locems who clearly lack compassion. My father had to argue all the way with those two bozos just to get 1 day of MC. One of them gave 1/2 a day; the other 14 day, both of which are extremes. If I was given the latter, I would be Out Of Course and posted to be a rifleman. I will rather be studying than exercising the whole day.

Booking in tonight by 10pm. Hopefully the MO will be more sympathetic and view my circumstances appropriately. Please don't let me be O.O.C...

Sigh. Supposed to be spending my birthday watching Miss Singapore Universe Finals and preparing to book in. Unexpected.

Pain

Contracted shingles in my army camp, which I do not know how. I was told by my mother that the virus responsible belongs to the same family as chickenpox. Oh geez, I dunno which stupid bugger is walking around spreading shingles...arrrghh

Symptoms include a tingling pain in the affected areas before a clump of rashes appear, spreading along the nerves. (I was anxious to find out more ). Discovered that people who contracted chickenpox are usually immune for life; that is until age and a weakened immune system set in. Some dormant virus (chickenpox) which never got wiped out may come out from the nerves and change in form to afflict the carrier with shingles.

The strange thing is that I never got chickenpox before. Arrrgghh...now welts are forming, causing pain and itch. I desperately need to see the MO on Monday......whoever that bugger who spread to me....@#$#, you shouldn't even be walking around in the first place...arrggh