the animation that thought me communication...

A picture speaks a thousand more, they say. I suppose then an animation speaks a thousand more. As it is so with this one. I hope blogspot is able to show you the animation. It's a picture of a 'dancing girl'. Now which way do you see her spin? Clockwise, or anti-clockwise.

When I first got this picture, I saw it spin anti-clockwise. (Means apparently, I'm more analytical) and the friend who send it to me saw it spinning clockwise.

As we discuss it over IM, our frustration mounted. No HELL way it's spinning clockwise I said and my friend replied, wtf are you talking about?! It's definitely not spinning anti-clockwise if you ask him.

The spell was broken when a colleague of mine remarked, 'wow, what an interesting animation.. i can see it spinning both ways.'

What the FUCK?! Both ways? Of course I only said it 'internally' (hahaha...)

Finally, after about 1 hour, we analysed the gif file - frame by frame ... (see I guess I'm left brain afterall) and discovered how one can see it go both ways - clockwise AND anticlockwise.

It's been months since I received the picture and since then it has thought me a valuable lesson on communication. I can be right while at the same time wife can also be right. Who's to say she's spinning clockwise or anticlockwise. Both could be right - at the same time. Unless one is standing from the top and looking down we don't know for sure which way she's spinning.

In our daily lives I discovered, sometimes, NO, in fact, many times both are right.

The picture also planted the thought to me that sometimes, if i bother to calm down (hard), listen (very hard) and put myself in the other person's shoes (so so very hard) I may just see things spinning differently. Funnily, the result this is usually a very light and happy feeling!

Now that I can see our lady spin both ways, I'm happy. Hey I may even brag a little about it. It's great feeling to know that I can see more than 'meets the eye'. Knowing this truth it seems has set me (more) free and it should do the same to you too... because whoever you're having an arguement with just now, you were right. Perhaps so was s/he.

*if you're on facebook check out the 'brain game' since blogspot can't show animation

What I learn from the running sports....

You take it, step by step and lap by lap... and you improve minutes by minutes, seconds by seconds.

I'm glad I finally broke my 40min barrier to run 5 rounds in kiara park today. I'm happy

Terry Fox Run

The 2007 Terry Fox Run happened last Sunday. Though some of our friends FFK in the last minute, LiPing and I, Jit, Mom and Liang still went for it.

We had a great time.

The weather on Sunday was superb, bright blue sky but not too hot. The place was crawling with people and the whole place was oozing with a certain positive vibe! It was just beautiful to be there. The crowd was made up of much diversity - all coming in for a cause and to have some fun. There were, Chinese, Indians, Malay, French, Americans, Brits, Aussie (I only guessing from their accents and many other languages I cannot identify)....etc etc

The stores providing the endless supply of water, muffins, milo, bananas...etc also add to the 'Fanfare' mood. It was really fun la.

The run however was ok only because seriously, their organisation of the run wasn't too good. We were supposed to do 6.75km only but due to the lack of direction we did one lap of the kids route and then another one of the adult long route. We estimated later that we ran about 10km using Google earth :) Awesome technology!

Here is the kids route:
And here's the long route:


But all in all, it was still a fun day with family and friends.

Bouncing......

So I am enjoying my run. Then I see this well endowed woman running my way... aiyah... so big boobs, running sure bounce la. Why never wear sports bra? Not pain meh?

Let me tell you woman, I can identify with you this. Not that I have boobs la but I do have...

*sigh*

... belly

Well, it bounces. It wobbles. It feels weird. When I move forward, I can feel it still at the back, when I'm moving upwards, it's just bouncing downwards....it move the opposite direction of my motion.. not exactly, simple harmonic motion! hahahaha....

Thankfully, it's closer to my centre gravity.

Fear Factor

Couple of weeks ago, I went for a birthday party of a friend. We started a business together years ago but has since went our seperate ways. They went on to be successful network builders.

Anyway for her birthday, after a couple of beers, they decided to play 'fear factor'. What's the 'fear factor' ? Eat whatever is served to you.

We have FIVE contestant - the bday girl also la - and the loser down one beer.

Deng Deng Deng.....

Hahaha.. a used sanitary pad! Eat the 'leftovers'

Ewwwww.

Actually it's just tomato ketchup and a delicious piece of chicken. It's no wonder we often hear, crocodile, snake, rabbit....etc all taste like chicken. In this case, also chicken. Real one. I know looks like nuggets from... nvm la.

Contestant, ARE YOU READY?!


Someone said at this point, aiyah I drink beer easier la. Can just drink ah? Of course not, then where's the fun for us the spectators? Where's the fun in that FOR us? Must Eat!


Ack-tua-li, quite tasty..... taste like chicken la! hahaha of course la. it is chicken. :P I guess it's all in the mind isn't it? Is durian tasty or stinky? In this case, the challenge is greater for the woman and so here it is.. she gladly down the beer (wash off the 'blood' taste').

Terry Fox Run

Wife and I are really enjoying our runs for the last couple of months. It's a new sport we picked up. Besides the exercise the obvious physical benefits - more stamina, stronger legs, great way to lose weight - it's also an excellent way of de-stressing. We've found running to be almost always refershing. After a good 30mins-1hr work out, we feel that we can take on the world again!

So what better way have fun with friends and family and raise funds for a cause? None other than the Terry Fox run. Terry Fox is a guy who ran, with one leg, a marathon a day for a consecutive 143days, totalling 5,373km while he was suffering from cancer. He was forced to stop when his condition worsen. He died about 1 year after he was forced to stop.

Wow! What determination.

A gang of 9 of us will be going for this year's run so friends who are reading this and would like to join us for the run do gimme an email or put a comment here. The run is just 5km and 7km. Run, jog, walk, crawl, cycle, rollerblade is welcomed as long as you support the cause - by buying the tshirts.

For more information here's the link again.

Terry Fox, Determination

Gtalk post - my house also got water!

2:07 PM friend:
hey
u there?
sorry had a discussion just now
i will come to your place to swim later... u go ahead with your guitar lesson if timing is not right, after swim we can go yum cha if u want
i can swim alone.. wanna check out your pool, need to shower at your place too after swim if it's ok with u

2:22 PM me: sure
usual rules applies
no underwear supplied. water got

Context:

A week ago we were all supposed to do some runninng together. I said sure and invited her over for dinner as well, as wife was making curry! Yummy, which so deserve a post on its own. She was hesistant because after the run, she said, she has to go home and shower before dinner. I was like why? So I replied that you can shower at my place. FYI I told her, my house also got water (ie. not only your house got water to shower la, my house also got! don't play play I got water ok! ).... I just don't have clean underwear for you!

On the other hand friend, I can understand where you're coming from.... after a run, when I'm drench with sweat. I hate to have a shower with no clean underwear.

It simply sux!

Medicine

A SHORT HISTORY OF MEDICINE:
"Doctor, I have an ear ache."
2000 B.C.—"Here, eat this root."
1000 B.C.—"That root is heathen, say this prayer."
1850 A.D.—"That prayer is superstition, drink this potion."
1940 A.D.—"That potion is snake oil, swallow this pill."
1985 A.D.—"That pill is ineffective, take this antibiotic."
2000 A.D.—"That antibiotic is artificial. Here, eat this root!"

The ironman.

Just read a blog entry from a friend about her brother... So inspiring man.

I think someday I hope to do the ironman. The reason is simple

Train for years
Suffer 1 day

BRAG for LIFE.

wah so lomantic ah...

Me and wife were doing groceries last week and we bumped into a friend, whom I have not seen for a long time. I was at the phone at that time, so he said 'hi' and went off. So after I got off the phone I called the guy up and ask him if he is free to catch up. To which he decline because he said he didn't want to be a 'lightbulb' admist my romantic date with my wife....

I simply told him, ' Elo friend, when you get married, you can get to be romantic like this with your wife every week.. it's called buying groceries!'

Which brings me to realiased that...

1. Before you get married, going to the supermarket to get groceries seems like a 'romantic' idea.

2. After being married, groceries is another thing we have to do. I'm not using the word 'chore' because that word implies I dislike it. No, I don't dislike it but neither would I say I look forward to it.

Another thing I found out about supermarkets are: Real woman are found in supermarkets!

When we were 'boys' our 'bird watching' areas are mostly like to be clubs, pubs... (ok at least me ok?). Skin was in abundance so were hormones and other intoxication. I learn that those short skirts, tight dresses, and make up are mostly facades. Heck, I learnt later that pushup bras can make any girl have longkang! (I was fooled for so long!!!!! Another thing, for the price they pay for a good bra, I'd expect it to be able to do my presentation AND make coffee besides just a nice cleaveage. On the other hand, sigh....nice cleaveages are nice tho). Anyway I digress.

In the supermarket, woman come in all shape, sizes, height - with and without make up - in all permutations and variations. Their thoughts for their family, how they hunt for the best value, best quality, best nutritional food..etc are just so - wow! Their nurturing instinct is just phenomenol. Week in week out, they just labour to care for their family. After 1 year of doing groceries (not a lot but still), I've not met a woman who looks tired in the supermarket. They are on a roll... I suppose it's pretty similiar when us guys go into our gadget shop (be in Mac shop, electronic goods shop, car showroom....) Even with the younger girls (and their bfs) they seem to display higher IQ when it comes to supermarket shopping.

So naturally, at home in the kingdom of kitchen they are default rulers. Highly esteemed and untouchable.

Sokay, nehmind, I still rule the kingdom of TV and sofa.

We got a baby!

A baby-g :) for Lip's birthday.... and among other things the staff got her

1. a pack of ikan bilis
2. nescafe 3-in-1
and lastly

3. KAMPUNG KOH CHILI SAUCE!!!! (the original one from setiawan okay!!!!)

So here's to you again Liping, wife, best friend - Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday Li Ping!

Happy Birthday wife.... looking to celebrate your 100th with you :)

with lots of love! your hubby, Eric

Mizuno Wave Run 2007

Got my t-shirt and my number? yes


Got the shoes? Yes!


Got the sports drink to 'refuel'? Yes!



Got the qualifying medal? YES!



Work up at 6am, had 1 glass of apple juice, 1 glass of milo + coffee, a bit of chocolate and raisins and we're off to the 2007 mizuno wave run. Ronnie was roaring to go by the time he came to pick us. I'm not sure about Li Ping but I was still trying to wake up.

By the time we got to Padang Merbok it was 7am. Although we were 30mins early, the place was packed! Unlike the subang run, the crowd in this run looked 'serious'. There weren't a single 'unfit' looking person (except me) around! So at this point, wife and I decided that we shall try not be last and qualify.... hahaha kiasu man!

Walking to the reporting point, people were already doing sprints warm up and stretching -the atmosphere was charged! When the horn was blown, 2000 runners charged forward.

Apparently, this run is the hardest of all 10k run in KL. The route, which includes two hills in bukit tunku, is no joke! Most of our route is sloppy, with some 'mercy' flats threw in intermittently

I started well and got to the drink station which was placed at about 4.5km at 35min +/- . Right after the drink station, came the part with the steep hills. In this part of my run, I took almost 50mins to finish 5.5km, not spectacular but ok considering my first hill run. (We never trained on hills before)

During the run, because I also carried the gatorade, I think I drank too much! hahaha and carrying the bottle with it contents kinda affect my stride also. It was at the 8km mark after I throw away the bottle that I discovered how much easier it was to run without anything in my hand. Hmm.. the swing of the hand does have an effect on overall body balance (duh!)

The last km got easier because it was all downhill, I increased my pace and finished it with a bit of a sprint - all the energy left in me! Praise God we all came in before qualifying time. Ronnie, Eric and Li Ping timed 65mins, 81.5mins and 85.5mins respectively.

After the race, I came home and had a GREAT bowel movement. So GREAT I think it may shave off a couple minutes for me! (maybe got 1kg?) Point to self: Off load before run.

Anyway it was a great feeling completing the 10km run. Even more so when all of us qualify which we did not in Subang :)


Li Ping's account:
Was terrified of this run. In the end, got a medal for finishing within qualifying time. Quite proud of myself. I ran quite well the first 5 km until the water station. Tried to pick up speed on the first half as I know the hills are coming. Tried to run up my first hill too fast. Had to stop to walk for a bit to recover. Also the energy drink they serve didn't go down well...or maybe I was just over-pushing myself on the hills. Tried to run as much as I could but ended up walking some. At the 6km mark when the guy said it was all downhill, I started running again. Ran all the way pass Tugu Negara and thought that I was nearing the finishing mark. See see....there's another 2km to go and we encounter our 2nd hill around Istana Selangor. I was busted then alredi so walk most of the uphill and tried to run. I realised after a while that a brisk walk type of run goes up hill easier than walking. So tried running as much as I could. Last km...ran all the way. Tried to pick up speed but was too tired to push too hard after the hills. Wanted really badly to stop and walk but decided to just finish running. I reach the finishing line at 1:25:30 and got a finisher's medal to show for it. It feels good to qualify on the toughest 10km route in KL :)

The lost ring.

Recently, I learnt how to swim. Yes! After almost 3 decades living in this planet, I am finally able to. Better late than never I guess.

And so we went swimming yesterday - I wanted to try out my new goggle.

It is fun doing this new thing called swimming, it reminded me when I first learnt how to cycle. The feeling that you can actually float and glide and move on water feels quite cool :)

So you can imagine the super anticlimax when I discovered that I lost my wedding ring in the pool after I got out. Yikes! All the joy of swimming vanished. The happy-o-meter dipped to the extreme negative. Heck I felt panic! My ring?! Where is it? Such a big pool!

After quickly grabbing a torch light from the apartment, we went back to the pool to look for the ring... my precious :) (can't resist that one!)

Wife was super calm, dunno why. I acted cool but inside almost crazy liao.

Such a big pool and such a small ring? Where do I start? Luckily being the noob swimmer, I only swam a few areas so we started there. I even ask the guys in the pool to help.

No luck.

It was already nearing eight, the light wasn't very good but I wasn't about to give up really - since the pool was to close at 10pm. I swam back to where I first jumped in and looked there.

And there it is, what was lost is now found. When I surfaced with the ring in my hand, I held it up and shouted across the pool to Li Ping," Yeah! Found it!" Joy beaming from my face, so bright I thought it was morning! hahaha.

The guy in the pool congratulated me and I thought to myself, wow I'm so blessed :)

Best Char Kuay Teow in the world.

I promised chief to do this review some time back and it's about time i do it :)

On my way to celebrate my 1st anniversary (in july, yalah i know long time ago d) we stopped by at Sitiawan for makan. My colleage recommded a place called 'huey kong shi'. Her direction is as follows: from Lumut go straight then see KFC, go futher a bit then turn left.

I know it isn't much to follow but somehow we manage to find the place. (aiyah sitiawan small place mah, i think they only have 1 kfc) The place looked like one of those hidden corners in a small town. With streams of car going to the stall to order, it gave us a hint that this stall was good. We were certainly not dissapointed.

Turns out the CKT there was excellent. Cooked over coal fire the taste of lard, chili prawns...etc is well balanced and very 'yam mei' (flavourful? frangance? what's the proper word to describe this?) After my first bite, I ordered another one to-go.

Later, I went back to take some photos and watch the uncle do his 'magic'. I noticed that he had very percise strokes when mixing the ingredients and adjusting the heat from the fire. He made the accuracy looked simple! A bit like doing kung fu, except with the wok plus he got a belly.

This explains why my second serviing of CKT taste exactly like my first one - awesome!

ahhh.. joys of ckt.

Race Day - Subang 10km

The day started at 5.45am for us when the 1st alarm rang (We have two). I was really too excited to sleep properly the whole night and was ready to get up. However I decided to give my body all the rest it needs so I lie back down on the bed. Unconsciously and without much effort, Psalm 23 came up in my mind and I recited it.

What a way to start the morning!

Just after about 5:50am, I got up. Sat on my throne (wash hands first ok!) and then fixed myself 1 glass of apple juice 1 glass of milo. For energy, I ate up 1 mini sneakers bar and 1 mini mars bars. Leftovers from the KK trip. 'Yes, dear' was playing on the TV.

At 6:25am Jit and Kavi arrived and we made our way to Ronnie's house where we all meet.

We reached Ronnie's at about 6:50am. After a short introduction, everyone - Jit & Kavi, Ronald & his friend Kenneth, Viviana, Rosalyn, Ronnie, Liping and I made our way to MPSJ. The excitement is building up as we can see Jit talking, running and jumping. His excuse - needs the warm up :) The veteran runners - Ronald and Kenneth was cool. Ronnie Khoo is also cool. At this point, the three ladies: Kavi, Rosalyn and Vivianna decided that they're going to do the 5km distant.

Prompty at 730am a gun was fired, signalling the start of the run. Wife and I decided that we're going to take it easy at the beginning and stayed right at the back. We can see a large pool of people surging forward. What a sight! We started slow and then wife stopped to tie shoelaces... and we must be really taking it easy when I see that the police bike trailing us! hahaha.....

The morning air was cold. Since we do most of our training in the evening, we could still feel that our muslces were tense. The slow start helped warm us up and we got on to a good pace 5mins into the race. It's a good feeling to start slow, catch up and over take people. As I look around during the run, I was just happy to to know that all those training paid off!

I think our pace was about 7mins++/km. We put many people behind us but still there was so many many many many people in front of us. There's just this long trail of human traffic. At the same time, there were many many runners overtaking us.

Throughout the race, the scenery was okay. USJ does look quite nice in the morning. I also found out that running on asphalt also gives more cushion than running on concrete in Kiara park. There was this part though, the factories were burning stuff and the air smelt foul!

At about the 6km mark we caught up with Jit, who hasn't been well for the last 2 weeks. Poor chap. He was still positive as ever. Somehow I had more fuel today so I ran ahead then.

Soon I found myself pacing this young couple. College kids -girl in blueshorts and blue top, guy in black shorts and yellow top. Whoever you are thank you! While I was panting, they were talking! While my legs were hurting I think they were 'dating'! Somehow they don't look like they were pushing..

Although I was unfamiliar with the route, the signs were clear. In fact I just followed the crowd. Kinda like a herd la.

The last km was the toughest really. I thought the last kilometre was coming up when I saw MPSJ looming ahead. Oh glorious MPSJ! So I started running faster and faster.... Arrgh to find out that I have to run past MPSJ all the way to the end and then make a U-turn back. Ooi play cheat! Hahaha.

Nevertheless, I pushed on. The last 300m run was super painful but it was well worth it when I finished my first 10km run in 71mins. Jit came in at 73mins and then wife at 75mins. I was so proud of her when she crossed the finished line. Kenneth is the champion among us coming in at 61mins with Ronnie close behind him. All in all, we felt really good completing the run.

Liping and I are happy with our time as we aimed to come in at about 80mins+. After cooling down, streching and some free drinks. We finanlly get to ajourn to the main event of the day - breakfast.

Awesome. I really had fun today. I0years ago, I wouldn't have thought I'd enjoy running at all!

the 10km run

Long long time ago, in a land not far away from here (in Singapore), a boy used to be (one of the) last in school runs. He avoids running at all cost and the dark side has told him that he cannot do it....

This weekend, he is going to face that challenge again. Yes, I will be facing my old fears. But this time with a bit of difference, as a friend aptly put it:

What drives you? Jesus' fuel
Jesus' fuel... give you extra kilometers


Okay I hope that works. Plus I have also been practicing. As you can see from the chart below. Of course I label all of them 'easy' la....what else would they be called?



(Actually, there's long, trail, short, easy, chicken rice and nintendo. I have no idea what's the difference so I just put all of them easy)

Another point to note is that my wife has suddenly improved and have been running so fast I can't catch up with her. I was quite dissapointed with myself last week for not improving. I sulked and sulked and there was this tension between us. Thankfully it's much better now. I come to realiase that it's 'me' I have to challenge. Comparison just makes one feel bad about oneself all the time. As for 'me', 'me' has been improving, slowly but improving.

On a brighter note, it's a good feeling chasing skirts again... as soon as I can persuade her to wear those short skirt tennis players wear for runs or those shorts. Ahhh.. such spiritual reasons I have written in my blog.

Uncle

As we were stretching down today, I started a conversation with one of the regulars in kiara park. He's a nice chap and really down to earth. Being a 'guru' he naturally encourage us to keep going which was very welcome.

We look at him, he look like he is in his early 30s. Shapely muscular legs, washboard abs, defined arms and bursting with energy. My jaw dropped when he said he was 41! The floor sounded a thud when my jaw finally dropped when he says he can finish a regular 10k run in about 30mins. It's 'normal' runner standard la....

wah seh, 30mins man.

Somemore his body quite the tekong okay. Uncle got washboard abs ok! So okay la. I'm running :)

Haze!

Arrrgghhh.... @#$%$^%^%&%^ stupid haze is back.

Every year this time Indonesia exports haze to our country.
Every year about this time I get sore throat, sniffy nose... as with the millions of msians due to the haze.

Eh? Isn't this what economist called 'externalities? They produce something that's harmful not to themselves but to others - shouldn't there be a charge on this?

arrrggh. It's like that irritating auntie that comes visit you every year and won't go away!

I wish I can switch on a giant fan and blow it back at them.

I am God's Beloved

I have always known that God loves me since I became a Christian some years ago. Yeah, I tell myself that he loves me a lot. How much is a lot? Well, God gave me His only son mah.

Somehow it's more head knowledge than heart felt conviction. I mean what does it really mean when we say that God gave us His son?

"He gave us His son lo...." Then?

I believe that if we truly believe that if He gave us His son, our lives would be radically transformed. Or if I put it bluntly, I think that many of our lifestyles reflect that we don't really believe it. Sorry I don't mean to point finger at anyone, if there's one person who I know isn't displaying that enough - it's me. :) In fact, I felt like I've just accepted Christ yesterday, everyday these days.

The truth don't set us free... believing in the truth does.

Imagine if you need to sacrifice your son/daughter. That's tough. Your only son/daughter - that's pushing it. Your only son/daughter that you so loved - that's SOOO hard. Yet God didn't spare him did He?

Imagine that, He didn't even spare His only beloved Son for us to redeem us so that we may be imputed with righteousness and along with that.. ALL the promises of God.

On top of that He deposits the spirit in us as THE gurantee that He'll be back for us. The spirit! That same spirit in the olden days will kill the 'not so holy person entering the holy of holies. Does that make us more holy? ...Now that we can contain THAT spirit?

So when some people feel that they can't ask God for say the job promotion s/he's been wanting because s/he don't feel that it's right. Now think about it, if God can give you His son, the Holy Spirit, the promises - would He withold something as 'small' as the 'promotion'? We don't believe that He really loves us that much do we? Yet we believe that He gave us His son.

Somehow it seems God's work, His grace seems to end at at salvation. But that is not so my friends! God is love and Grace is a teacher!

To God, who is able to do exceeding abundantly, above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.