the entry of little elaboration

these last few days of 2004 have been great, with me accumulating memorable experiences without having to try too hard to source for them. ideas, sentiments and emotions are running amok through my mind right now and if i were a columnist, i would probably be able to churn up write-up after write-up because i just feel so inspired. unfortunately, time is short and the mind is weak. hence, these cursory notes...

Christmas at Metta Cattery
--i steeled myself to clear cat shit for the 1st time. didn't want to puke too much in response to the unbearable stench
--5 kittens sleeping together in a basket. occasionally stretching and pressing closer to their siblings just radiated so much love and serenity that i was transfixed to this Awwww Kodak moment
--Paddy seemed to grow attached to me. loved watching him using his paws to turn himself around so as to rest in a presumably more ideal position on my lap
--Siew Ying walked all the way back to cattery, just to save another stray cat from being potentially torn apart by huge dogs

Boxing Day watching Nobody Knows
--turned out to be a film in which i emphatically stressed hao kan hao kan to friends who haven't watched as it was the best i could do for a show in which i longed to extol its virtues but yet had to restrain myself, for i'm not sure whether they are just obligatorily fulfilling their conversational turn or are seeking feedback for a show they would consider watching
--recently finished Children in Exile, a book that illustrates how children suffered under the Khmer Rouge regime. Like the eldest son in Nobody Knows, these children had to shoulder heavy psychological loads on their puny frames and turn resourceful so as to salvage a living. Humbling to learn that innocence isn't necessarily equated to childhood
--no resolution in sight for the kids = haunting ending

Tsunami disaster
--feeling surreal, perhaps because i'm in NS and am not really exposed to the full brunt of media coverage and heartlander discussion.
--kinda dreaming that SAF would organise relief parties among its NSF personnel and that i could volunteer and try to make a difference in the rebuilding of homes and nations. and i do feel confident that i would be better qualified than most Singaporeans, with my YEP experience. it's good to feel that i have something to offer in turn of humanitarian aid

Battalion dinner
--Ming Yong became high and rambled on nonsensically about vomitting in Chee Kean's bed and swimming and the time of night. Amusing to watch and to prod him on in his foolishness
--Was responsible in taking care of him, dragging him to the toilet to go bathe after he had puked on his and Daniel's beds. Me not bad!
--Picked up some valuable tips with regards to Puke Rescue Care: 1) swallow panadols to prevent hangovers and 2) force drunken friends to drink warm water
--I suspect my branch mates would misregard me as a good and sober drinker. hee

New Year's Eve
--Power Station rocked! Kinda saw Cai Hong in a different light, with reference to the Tsunami incident
--Angeline: "Why do you always have to phrase your questions so negatively?"
Indeed, am not quite so smugly self-assured these days as I was this time last year *wry grin*. I think i have always known why (hint: reintegrating into NS life) but haven't had the heart to admit things to myself yet. Her comment was a refreshing slap that cut things down to the chase. Shall remind myself to dwell more on the positive side in 2005
--I wanna sit down one of these days and write a gloriously long entry about how i still believe in YEPs, despite its many limitations
--I think i need to relax more and go with the flow in certain aspects of my life and to adopt more initiative and even kan-cheongness with others

New Year's Day
--dinner with my family. probably talked to my brother way more than all the words conveyed between us in 2004. i hope to do something about this unhealthy, dysfunctional relationship with my only sibling
--i resolve to be a better son and brother.

Pokrao lao ma chum num
Tang kum yai rak sa mak sa man
Laun mit jit chen ban
Sa ran ren you took poo took nam

Ang kwam klom kiew kan pen jai daow pra sirt see
took sing pra song jong jai
hug set som dai doy samak kee

(Thai version of Auld Lang Syne)