Yo, children of 4 Integrity, Happy Children's Day tomorrow! I dedicate to you Destiny's Child "Stand Up For Love" video and song. Here's wishing that in our lives, we will see an end to hopelessness, giving up and suffering. Let's all stand up for life!!

Music Video:STAND UP FOR LOVE (by Destiny's Child)

Music Video Code provided by Video Code Zone

A brush with disappointment

It was not planned. I had not expected it. Today, I walked into a class full of unmotivated young boys and girls who were rude to the core. I asked that they accord themselves self-respect by conducting themselves appropriately. I should have known better. They didn't care . . . Most looked resigned and totally uninterested. Some thought by being defiant, they could somehow draw some meanings into their existence.

I was tempted to blow my top. Good thing I didn't.

Now, what could be bugging these spirited souls? Energy, they sure have a lot of . . . If only they could learn to channel it to doing the right things.

Vagabond gone

Went to get my ice cream supply and also to check out the vagabond last seen residing along the nearby vacant shophouse corridor. This is my fourth check already. Nope, he's no more living there. His dirty-looking plastic chair is still there, but the row of shop house units have recently been white-washed. Guess some new tenants will be moving in soon. Perhaps someone had beaten me to it and got the Ministry of Community Development to put him up somewhere comfortable. Hmmmm . . . hope so. His gangrenous feet need looking into and good grief, how does one pass time seated all day in an uncomfortable chair?

What is your excuse this time?

I finally completed marking your narrative essays. I wanted to keep my word to you that I shall have them graded and returned to you tomorrow during our lesson. But you know what? I counted only 26 scripts turned in. This means that 15 of you either didn't bother to write the essays or could not be bothered to hand them in. What excuse did you give yourself this time? You were too tired? Too distracted by your other subject revisions? Nothing to write about? . . .
You did promise me that if I let you off that Tuesday afternoon, you would exercise self-discipline and complete the task at home. What became of that promise?

Let me share with you the thing about refusing to put in that ounce of hard work and sacrifice to meet deadlines and turn in work reflecting your best ability put in. Many amongst us think that when the time comes for us to write that essay to save our lives, we will be able to do it. But you know what? . . . That self-drive and discipline that are not put in practice for too long will fail you in life and be your stumbling blocks. Procastination is a terrible thing; it will become your bad habit and a difficult thing to shed.

Like I've told you many times in jest in class: how we would shudder when that surgeon who is supposed to operate on us had flippantly said, "Wait . . ." while he attends to some other unimportant whims that distract him? Or if he had not given of his best when he was assigned a case to attend to?

People, take pride in doing your best in all your undertakings! Focus. Exercise self-discipline. You'll be surprised that you can find time to accomplish set tasks and still have time left over to pursue other things.

Try it.

Get Amped

I did the unthinkable today ---- brought the boys to a 'Get Amped Fighter's Jam Party' at Suntec City Mall today. I had to see first hand what the online games fraternity like about their virtual preoccupations. Wow . . . the queue to register for the sparring took an hour and 15 minutes altogether. And you know what, all players who turned up were males. The only females were the organisers, 2 other mothers and myself! The players' ages? Well, all of them were Primary and Secondary School students. I'm not sure if their parents know what they are doing on a Saturday afternoon when the year-end school exams are just around the corner. According to my 2 other sons, their brother is supposed to be quite a 'pro'. I am not very sure about that ---- he got knocked out pretty fast. His excuse was that he unfortunately drew a match line-up against a super good player. Anyway, . . .they had some kicks meeting some avaters face on at the venue. I let them stay on to watch the other 'good' players at work for a while. When it was time (my reckoning of reasonable dosage of this kind of activity), we left. I treated them to bubble tea and McDonalds. I was happy that none of the boys threw tantrums nor showed me the stink eye. Virtual games, . . . I reminded them ---- they must remain just light past-times. The reality is: your family, loved ones, studies, jobs to hold down and a whole life of experiences waiting for you to savour!

Lonely hearts club

I see men --- all types --- walking hand in hand with nubile Vietnamese girls evidently out to make the best money out of their social visit passes to our country. I wonder . . . What goes through the minds of these men? Okay, most of the girls are very attractive, groomed and dressed for lustful eyes. And from what I can see, they really seem to treat their paying males very well: lovingly hooked arms, walking discernable half-steps behind . . . and all. They are coy, demure and certainly smile a lot. Probably sing well too, some of them. Must be wonderful mates for drinking and karaoke sessions or just simply to take strolls under the neon lights of the entertainment establishments with--- trophies to boost one's feel-good and man image. How else do you explain why old men and middle-aged ones flock nightly to certain habitats to part with their money in this manner? If I know us Singaporeans, it must be considered money well spent. These foreign ladies of the night must be quite something. Perhaps, like hearsay, they are a whole lot gentler, understanding and nicer to our men.

Well, men, I hope you know what you're in for . . . STDs, possibly strains to family commitments, and defintely the transience of all these fleeting experiences. There is only so much that lonely hearts can be assuaged in this manner . . .

Hello, View here,

Look guys, i wish we could settle this hoodies things fast.
Come on, cooperate
those who give money le, THANKS ALOT.
Those who have not, please , PLEASE , give alvin soon.
We are not desperate, but we seriously been doing this thing for over a month le.
I wish for your cooperation,
Thanks , =)

Neglected

Had information that two fine young men I know are wasting their lives away. Not entirely their faults, I believe. They are a sad tale of a family torn asunder by divorce, and I'm sure it is not and will not be the last we'll hear of in our society. I had hoped fervently that the kids would find strength somehow to pick up the broken pieces brought on by the adults. But alas, that is not to be. Jin is now in ITE, but not mixing with the right crowd. Zhan, I understand has been retained, and has made it a habit to stay away from home till the early hours of the morning. I heard that they have done cigarettes, engaged in disruptive behaviour in school, and heaven forbid, those are all the vices that I hope they are indulging in. Their care-givers, I'm sure are grieved by their behaviours. I wonder if they ever regret fighting for custody of the two. The estranged mother does not want to show it, but we all know that she is bleeding in her heart.

It's really pointless dissecting the matter over and over again . . .asking all the "what ifs" and mouthing all the "I told you so-s"

I feel helpless. Besides the power of prayer, I wish that I could do something . . .

Duty dinners

So sorry about missing our 6 to 7 pm full session again. Got recalled for me wifey duty at some work dinner with the Significant Other. I was actually quite tired after a full day of workshop at a hotel near our Singapore River. Thoroughly enjoyed the wonderful motivational speaker and her tons of wisdom. Also took an invigorating brisk walk along our river enroute to the nearby Central MRT Station. Yes, all in my nice power suit and three and half inch heels! Had to summon help from one of the daughters when a heavy downpour held me up on my walk home. After that, I managed a little MSN with some of you. Please don't be discouraged. I'm still fine-tuning our online sessions and look forward to using this platform to engage you in EL and etc discussions. If anything, it'll be a good way for us to communicate!

About "duty dinners" --- I generally do not enjoy this kind of socialising. I'm an introvert, really. Surprised? The Significant Other is not very cooperative. He has been known to drag me to private dinner invites with moi as the only female!! He has that much confidence in me as a social butterfly and intelligent companion! zzzZZZZZZ . . . . .

I'm tired. Will be meeting an old friend for lunch tomorrow. Ah . . . I look forward to it. The young ones at home are also looking forward to it. With evil mother out of the house, it'll be FREEDOM!