2008 - Warning: EXTREMLY Long Winded Post! If you think my older posts were long u aint seen nothin' yet! Even the title is long!!!

It started with lots of promise and excitement... pity it turned out to be one screwy ride. Thats right, I'm talking about the thing that is the year of two-thousand and eight.

Why was it "screwy"? No, its not my own problems, but the worlds'... just how many terrorist attacks and wars happened this year? And whats up with the fickle economy? Any world issues like poverty, pollution or genocide resolved?

But enough of the world. Stop! Ben time!

Personal year:



+ Kickstarting the year with with Trackers(A 2 month Christian discipleship programme) , and the marvelous India mission, 2008 was off to a good start. Trackers spiritually refreshed me and i was off to face the next step with confidance.


Yeah I know this is a bad pic because not every Tamtam is here but i wanted to show how Stef looked before she got pregnant! Haha now shes returning back to this yay.

+ Also, my new church Life-group (thats cell group for you non pmc-goers) Tam Tams are a great bunch of ppl, and i always look forward to friday nights to hang around with them.

Off to the next step: Working


-/+Working was really really over in an instant. My dad's cafe changed management lol, so both father and son were out of a job very quickly. I had a stint at wedding banquet waitering. That was the worst 2 nights of the year for me. It also made me not trust employment agencys anymore. Overall it was a gd experience, and best of i learnt how to make cookies, and use a coffee machine properly.

Then came poly. I can't remember how i felt when i first came to my new school. I think it was something like;"meh, new school. whatever. Hey look! Girls! woohoo"



+ The new friends i made in school (unless u are in Ympact, if u are reading this you're probably one lol) were pretty cool. Yeah, there were a few ppl i never talked to initially, but i guess now we're ok.

- Then came politics. (dun ask, i also dunno lol)

+ Uh well. Things are "better" now i think. Still got you guys as my friends. You all, yes, everyone in i803, or the few ppl outside class that i came to know, are still cool.

- It still sucks to think that next year the classes are gonna be reshuffled.... oh noes.... uh well. Hope you all stay with your new best-friends next year, and have a good year ahead.

- - - Got a new job. It sucked big time. Wasted my holidays. October must have been the worst month ever in my life. I actually laid awake at night thinking of how im stuck in a dead-end job, how stressful is it to go through a day, and whether i can escape. I didn't know i will get working blues at such a young age. I missed alot of tamtam sessions and one voice sessions. Lesson learnt: Don't work at an atas restaurant

.

+ Uh well. Ah least it gots me moneh to buy a Vox Tonelab!!! yays! Guitar flamboyance +9000 exp!!!

I was supposed to go back to work during holidays. But discovering then im not bound by any contract or rules, I pontanged work and went church camp and caroling. Hopefully my employers and colleagues can forgive me. Sorry boss!


-/+ Camp L.A.H.: I was a group leader. I got a little complacent, thinking my "success" as GL for R.A.W camp (yes we love acroymns) means that lah would be smooth sailing. I thought wrong. Me and Pei Min had to take care of each individual group members' needs and problems, so it can be pretty trying. I guess God was trying to show that being a SGL next year, i would face my different personalities and issues, and I can't get complacent. Leading (or should i say, serving, because thats essentially and very importantly what being a group leader is) ain't a walk in the park, and I'm gonna need lots of guidance from God.


- And i was accused of... doing something wrong. WTF??!?!?!? Yes, bold the F in that, its what i genuinely feel. I'm really really really sorry for offending that person, it was not on purpose, but srsly, what the hell? And no, its most likely not you, dun worry.... Nvm you all don't need to know what happened. Disregard this paragraph!

+ But ultimately Camp L.A.H. was great, as being gl really taught me alot on Love, Acceptance and Humility. The sermons weren't as impactful as Ps.Aaron's previous ones, but the corporate worship and tahaning the games were pretty refreshing.


- And planning caroling and practicing was tiring. Turns out i didn't do much for Ca rolling comm, jsut the publicity and a bit on the programme. Trying to memorize guitar chords and STILL screwing em' up during practices and the actual days itself was demoralizing for my big ego... And Dawn was pretty strict too, which makes me worried about how the younger ones might feel about her.

+ But everything paid off. We had tons of fun. We friggin' sang on a big stage *with fail P.A. system according to my parrents :(* in Orchard! We entertained ppl in houses, and most exciting of all we gave a surprise performance for the kopitiam near church. That was uber cool. And it was the only time i didnt really screw up guitar lol.

+ Not forgotting the new Ympact friends i made, through RAW, LAH, Tamtams, caroling, or just wasting time at the lounge.

Thats it for me.

Back to the cruel world.



- Religous persecution in India right after we left. And in the state of Karnataka itself. And Orissa too. Scareee.
4000 Christians arrested in a peaceful march in New Dehli
Official no. deaths: 40-50. Real estimated: >400. I don't care if that includes Hindus. No one deserves to die because of religion.
>12000 displaced.
Nuns raped. Churches and houses burned. Death threats to pastors, including the one who took care of us.
Persecution of Jesus' fellowers is inevitable. Hopefully things are getting better there.



- Rising food prices + Rising fuel prices + Rising commodities prices + Rising every damn thing prices + Sub-prime crisis + Raped banks + Lower employment + Black October + Stock Market pummeled + Rising dollar + Volatile economy + I can haz bailouts???+ Recession!! = One screwy economic year.

- War in Georgia
- New old War in Gaza
- Cyclone Nargis + Junta apathy
- Sichuan Earthquakes
- Indonesia mudflow
- Messed-up Thai Politics
- Poverty rising
- No one gives a damn about pollution anymore
- Somali pirates
- Melamine
- Terrorism: Pakistani Marriott hotel, Mumbai attacks
What else have i missed

=================================================================

This is all that most of us can remember. However, let us take comfort in the joy we found in the slightly better things that happened in the past year

The sad part is, i cant find anything, so i had to google search. :/



+ One heck of an Olympics (had to coincide one week before term tests. urgh) Woot Phelps, Bolt
+ SINGAPORE WINS MEDAL!!!!!1111
+ Lots of old bands releasing new stuff e.g. Foo Fighters (ok that was 2007. Hard to find good news k???), Black Keys, AC/DC, Metallica, Oasis... I didn't really get to hear the new stuff
+ Afghanistan situation improving
+ US Aids rates falling
+ Sub-Saharan African economy improving
+ Fuel and food prices went back down later part of year. Ironic, huh?


Okok, can't think of anything else. How about MY own good news?

+ TRACkers
+ India trip
+ Made new friends in school, Trackers and church
+ First guitar pedal: Ibanez Smash Box (might sell it now lol see next pt.)
+ Vox Tonelab LE!!! woohoo
+ RAW camp
+ Camp LAH
+ Carolling
+ Officialy becoming gay by making a blog

Thanks be to God, for blessing me with all these, even though times were getting tougher and things were more stressful.

If you have actually read the whole post: Congratulations. You have no life You are a good reader and i really thank you for taking the time to read through this

Wishes for 2009: For it to be less crappy and more peaceful. That my studies will get better, and also everything else about me too. And Obama: Everyone has put their hopes on you. Don't screw this up man.

Camp LAH + Carolling

Group 2 is (from left to right): Lois, Anne, Joel Ong, Wayne, Ben, Soritong, Weisi, Cherie, Pei Min

Not in picture (sorry!): Samuel Kiong, Yong Wei, Gloria

You guys rock

Carolling!!!

Ice cream saves lives + Random Pictures of the day! (watermelon edition)

I won't be posting for a week or so. Church camp.

Yeah my dad's fine. Don't worry about him. Thanks for your concern

My bro and his gf brought back ice cream from Ice Cream Gallery.... shiok lor. Got whiskey and raisin flavour, and alcoholic mudpie. Damn strong alcoholic stuff. DAMN NICE. Now i know why i was so down the past few weeks. Its not because of term tests. ITS ICE CREAM WITHDRAWL!

This is real: Everyday i look into my fridge, with the faint hope of finding some frozen proccessed flavoured milk.... but alas, it was not to be. Slowly i lost the will to live, as ice cream was my lifeblood. I thought it was chocolate, but even the chewy gooey sweety chocolatey stuff was not good enough... ICE CREAM KEEPS ME ALIVE.

Thanks koko for saving my life! And his girlfriend.

Anyway, i noticed i did not put any pics lately. Heres another instalment of *drumrolls* RANDOM PICS OF THE DAY!

Went to get tuner and pedalboard bag with Jason. Thanks Jason for sacrificing precious Red Alert 3 time to come with me! Went to Waterloo street cause i wanted to photo the temples there. Turned out the there was nothing much to photo about the temples, but there were hell alot of pegions! The floor was filled with bird poop, but i bent down to shoot anyway.


Why are they all facing the same direction? So that i can take their photo! heh heh no lah they were following a woman who fed them stuff. Scary xia, i thought they will attack her and steal the food, monkey style.


Jason watching some Japanese hippie raggae/folk buskers. They were selling cds for $10. We decided to waste money and buy it. But he has the cd now, so i didnt get to hear it. Should be good.



World's coolest microphone stand. Period.


WATERMELONS!!!!!!!!!!!!111111111oneoneoneoneone


Finally, some watermelon pics!




This is the only one surviving. Everyone else died


The entire vine. As you can see, only one refuses to give up the fight to grow in Singapore's climate. Keep growing, my minion. One day you will be a good fine elegant adult melon. Good enough for me to eat! Muahahahaha




This is a very small one. Poor thing died young. R.I.P.




This is the survivor, 2 weeks ago. Look how small it is, it's shorter than my dad's rolex watch.



Pwetty Flower. Notice the dead buds. lol



The sticks around the vine attracts curious visitors like this lil' dragonfly. What they find facinating about the stick i don't know. They can stay on it for hours. You can always find them hangin' out. Theres also alot of other insects like ants, butteflies, moths and stuff.




This is the baby photo of the big juicy watermelons you eat after lunch. Can you believe they were this small??? Pretty cool huh? BTW this ones dead of course haha.

I will not be posting for a week because of church camp. cya!

They tried to make him go to relapse i said no no no

Damn it i'm sick of relapses. At around 6.15 am today my dad went into *another* seizure. xian.

Why is it that every "holiday" my dad has to go into some kind of seizure? And early in the morning when i want to sleep? super xian...

Thankfully its not too bad. The seizure around 6.15 am. Apparently he was well enough to go church, thank God. Didn't go hospital this time (we felt there was no need to). Mum didn't panic like last time (now its like routine liao lol), and my brother was around this time.

Just some background info: about 6-8 years ago, my dad was a train wreck. Dunno what happen, it was like multiple diseases come and simultaneously attack dad. Brain stroke, intestinal bleeding, diabetes, and other stuff all one day conspired and said "hey lets whack Ben's dad at the same time!" and sent dad all the way to the ICU, and even death for about 14 seconds. But for some reason ( or maybe its divine intervention) he recovered fully. No stroke, no intestinal bleeding, nothing. Its like as if the diseases said "screw it" and left dad. Thank God.

But the stroke is still a little stubborn. Apparently the *church-famous* seizure in july was just a "side-effect" or "minor relapse" of whatever.

Hopefully the last one is also something minor. Dammit im sick of seeing him get into fits early in the morning.

And I'm sick of going back to bed after that to start thinking about what would happen if he just died. Horrible sickening feeling.

Side-effects be gone!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Had uber-Carolling practice today. I was pretty happy at first, singing the songs and smiling and stuff. But then i had to play guitar....

I never screwed up so bad since i first played in Church. I messed up just about every song, and everyone could notice it, especially Dawn, our conductor. I didn't know why i was so nervous. I played in front with an electric guitar so many times, but strumming the classical guitar is very different. You can't screw up, unlike playing electric guitar in a band where you can make mistakes and no one will really notice. I guess i will have to quit electric guitar until Christmas and focus on strumming. Strumming is really sian


On a lighter note: Joseph from NZ is back!!!!! for 2 whole years!!!!! We got lots of catching up to do dude.

Term tests: Bloody aftermath

Term tests are over... but i feel like the mugging has just started

Everything was a big wake up call. I can point my finger at what took away my studying time: church, carolling, c.d.s., lack of sleep, guitaring,....

but i got no one else to blame but myself for not working as hard as i could.

I mean, i saw how good i can be at studying. Towards the last few days i could chiong pretty well. But its not enough to just wake up before the tests/exams itself. I had this problem since primary school. Just about every (maths) teacher has scolded me for only paying attention and working hard towards the end. Well i guess i got to stop being so immature and finally face reality: i have to study everyday. Im most likely at the bottom of the class, and probably around the bottom of the whole course too.

Not that i'm not capable of getting good grades

I'm prepared to face the result. I know i will DEFINITELY fail DFund because i totally neglected that subject. I'm prepared for a 2-hour long lecture from my mother and "that look" from my father when the see the results. I'm prepared to get admonished by all the tutors. I'm prepared to, well, die. I deserve it after all.

Its not like i'm gonna cry about it or whatever. Thats the stupid way to work things out. I'm pass that long time ago. I just need to buck up. I'm hoping that my friends around me can provide some kind of accountability in terms of studying. They have been doing a good job waking me up at lectures so far. Keep it up guys! ;)

There is only one thing that I'm really depressed about: I can kiss university dreams goodbye. You guys can have those places. Theres not a cat in hell chance i can catch up with everyone in two years. Uh well. Life sucks. Shit happens. Bear with it. :)

Dfund comic

This was drawn a nong nong time ago (you can tell)

Its to cheer up everyone at I803. Or those taking dfund

With The Help Of

Here I am, all alone again
I've been through this old familiar pain
But I still have my two feet on the ground
Nothings gonna bring me down ( i get back up)

With the Help of God, I'll survive
With the help of true friends I'll make it out alive
With lots of faith and lots of prayer
Things are going to change

I've been through this a hundred times before
And I'll face it a hundred times more
No one knows if we'll still be friends
But its time to make amends

With the Help of God, I'll survive
With the help of true friends I'll make it out alive
With lots of faith and lots of prayer
Things are going to change
Things are going to change
Things
are gonna change

Ben's first proper blog post + secular music + watermelons

Blogs are for ppl to talk about their daily lives. I don't have a life so i don't blog. But what the heck.

Came to school late. I slept only for about 3 hours, because i stayed up lated to write a boring essay about secular vs Christian music to One Voice. Got scolded by a senior for sacarsm. do'h. Sincerely sorry.

I'm too lazy to talk about the article. Here is just some main points taken from the ongoing discussion:
-Everything is permissible but not everything is benificial. Cor 6:12 (this is a verse in the Bible)
-Be wary of being "demonically" influenced music, especially shock metal.
-Nothing wrong with secular music as long as it does not harm you or others

http://www.av1611.org/crock/pod.html

Here is an article about the band P.O.D, who are Christians (but not playing in the Christian music industry). But its soooo funny. The author was ranting and rating about minor points about POD. He even mis-interpret some of their quotes. But there is some truth.

But come on: Little Nicky movie is satanic? Jimi Hendrix "bloodshot eyes and messing up song sets" were demonic attacks? (its drugs lah. Thats how he died.. Theres a book warning of the danger of confusing epilepsy and scientific diseases with demonic possesion). Calvin Klein? My cousin says: This guy needs a girlfriend.

Yeah its true that POD should not support satanic bands, use occultic symbols, talk bad about conservative Christians yet promote other "filthy (his words not mine)" bands. But bottom line, they are humans who make mistakes and sins. They are not in the Christian music industry, so its okay if they feel they want to leave God out in some of their songs.

My dad asked me why they can't remove their tattoos. And he's an expert on tattoos himself... surely he knows that those tattoos, even with the best surgery, will leave uglier scars all over their bodies? "then cover them," he said. Okay, i too think that they should not brazenly display their tattoos. But you can't hide your past, just like how born agains like Neville Tan(sic?) or Glenn Lim should not hide their past. Different issue altogether.


Okay lets blog about my day.

Went to school late because of afore-mentioned article. Tried my best not to sleep in school (only had a good 3 hours rest) but for some reason i only slept 15mins in biochem.
Bad enough. 15mins overshot. Will try harder tommorrow. keep it down to *close eyes, lean down, but still awake when teacher says something important*, and then to no need of sleep at all.

Anyway as usual didnt understand anything. ate lunch and dinner. Went to management of enterprise quiz. It was hard. Went home and blogged.

See? my days are boring. So lets blogged about something else

My dad is growing watermelons!!!!!

THEY ARE LIKE SO CUTE LAH!!!!!! they are as small as marbles! But many of them died for the cause :(

But theres this survivor which is growing. Can't wait to eat him. muahaha

My brother suggested writing a blog for the watermelons.

HUH!?!?! coming from my brother its shocking.

Will consider it. Probably after tests.

Peace

Google Image Search Meme

Way before i even thought of creating a blog, i saw this on LZ's and Andrew's and enjoyed this meme which they posted. My turn! BTW I copied the urls, so if you get any error messages in place of the picture its probably the source site's fault, not mine.

The rules:
1) Answer questions and type into google image search
2) Post any picture from first results page or Post the first picture that comes up.


1 - Age at Next Birthday: 18




haha lol

2 - A Place I'd Like to Travel: Kenya



elephants are sexy

3 - My Favourite Place: Alone in my own little world*



*BUT NOT looking at little girls as this pic might suggest!!!!! NO WAY

4 - My Favourite Objects: Electric guitar


Yes it looks cool but is it playable? Strings look intact, so its more like an autoharp. Coincidentally, my guit is a squire


5 - My Favourite Food: Chocolate



Damn these looks good

6 - My Favourite Animal: Dogs



Psychic Dawggie is reading your thoughts
Thank you Rolf Hickler, whoever you are

7 - Your Favourite Colour: Black



Hei Hei De

8 - The Town Where I Was Born: Singapore!



This picture's really nice. Makes me think of how i always zoom past the city and take for granted the beauty and coolness of it.

9 - The Town Where I Live Now: Kebangan.
Boring rich man town

As i predicted, Kebangan is so boring and insignificant that i can't find any proper pic of on google. So i took this one instead. Somewhere within the globe is kebangan. Find it yourself.

10 - Name of a Past Pet : ND

My past dog named N.D. ran away. Maybe that son of a bitch went to North Dakota?

11 - First Name of a Past Love: Rugby
(sorry to dissapoint ppl who want to find out my dark love secrets. All i can say is: :p)...


...instead, i decided to make it up to you guys by posting a picture of naked ppl streaking down what is supposedly a rugby field. Don't get horny now

12 - My Best Friend's Nickname: The Messiah (real name Jesus).
Yes cliche answer i know. Sorry


The Mormon Tabernacle Choir? Its a huuuuuuuuuuuuge choir which believes that a Jewish Civilisation lived in North America way before the current Americans did.... so weird....
Nightpro Symphony Orchestra sounds like a prog rock band. Who knew Mormons were so hip?

133 - My Screen Name / Nickname: ummmmm.... srv_at_heart??????




woot Stevie Ray Vaughan. Guitar legend which left the world too early

14 - My First Name: Ben



No prizes for guessing this Ben's surname

15 - My Middle Name : Yong Quan

Like... wtf???????

16 - My Surname: Leong



Psychic Liang Qing Ru controls your thoughts: yOU mUST bUY iMPACT rED aPPLE nOW.
Jason must be so proud.

17 - Bad Habit of Mine: Come late for school

To Ben, there is.
Thanks Rod Maclean, whoever you are


18- My First Job: Ball-picker/ Ball boy




I got dengue after my first paid "job" day of picking rugby balls. o.o

19 - My Grandmother's Name: Rosie


Sometimes i think of Mama and wonder if shes fine. But after that think about my dementia stricken Po Po, and know that Mama is way better off then her. *start emoing*
Thanks Maurice Sendak, whoever you are

20 - My College Polytechnic Major course: Biomedical Informatics & Engineering



Too tired to add comment

This meme took muuuuuuch longer than i thought....

If u've seen my past posts u would know that this is gonna be a photo/picture heavy blog. Thats why I'm looking for a blogskin thats simple, has no navigation, and is picture friendly (i.e. Big space for posts). Something like this current template, but not so plain. Anyone can recommend anything? ... Thanks