Unnaturally Early. Last night was my very first night sleeping at Hall 5. And so I had quite some trouble sleeping. There were lights by my window, random noises in the hallway but most irritatingly, and my cough that was keeping me awake.And did I mention all my excitement for Singfest 08 later today?So yeah, it took me some time to drift into dreamland last night.But look at me now.I bounded out of bed at 7:45 AM today, when I usually do so grudgingly at 11 AM the earliest.Is this the power of NTU's clean, fresh morning air?Or am I just too bloody excited?Or maybe Twino's the one who's more excited?Thank God I'm well enough to scream today.Just checked in the hall yesterday and I'm going to be out for two days already. But it sure is going to be worth it. I just know it. Happening pictures will ensue.Hamlet's Hero out. Grumbling. I got something totally cool to blog about but I'm feeling too unwell to write a long post right now. Gotta get well for Singfest. Gotta get well for Singfest.Big man up there, I really got to get better for Singfest!Please? Roomies. I was cleaning my room the other day and I chanced upon this.The Treasure Box!Yes, it's the really cute box that Lizzie and Shean got for all of us at McNair! It even has Himbo written at the front!But today I would like to pay closer attention to the post-it attached to the cover of the box.A message from Nayan!It's a little note that Nayan wrote and left on my table just before we all left Singapore. Yup, just before we all left.The note reads:Hey Kev,It's 4AM in the morning and I just finished going through our room photos. Really cherish some of our great memories of the room 201, e.g.: Chinaman Kevin, Girlyman, imitating Mun Hon.Really wish I have roomies like you in uni as wellLuv ya,Nayan7th December 2008Those were good times in McNair. Sure we did have our share of minor conflicts, but I wouldn't trade my roomies back there for the world. And now when I think about it, I really miss them. I miss teasing Mun Hon's robotic movements as he wakes up early in the morning, Seng Yen's facination with online tennis games, Nayan's books which overflowed into his bed, and Nikhil's antics with the (very friendly) China girls.Mun Hon's leaving us for the UK, but I guess that everyone else is going to be coming back to Singapore real soon. We should all meet up sometime. People like you guys are real hard to find.If only I can get such cool roommates in NTU too. Guess I'll find out soon too. The Fastest (And Loudest) Year Yet. It's the 29th of July already.Nearly eight whole months have whizzed past my eyes and flew into the realm of the past already. But those were such great eight months.When 2008 started out, I was a wreck. I didn't have any idea where I was headed, or what I had to do, if I had any purpose in life left. I was hanging on for the sake of hanging on.Then my close friends around me made me realize that there always was a reason to hang on once you realize that this world in it's entirety is beauty. I realized how lucky I was to have people who were there for me to take me out for a screaming session at a karaoke booth when I was down, and who surprised me with the sweetest ever brownie cake when I needed it most.And then there was that 2 months that I spent teaching in DJ. It all began with a short phone call from Tysern, and the next minute I was back in school walking into a class as a teacher. I know that I may have gone overboard here and there as a teacher in DJ but I must say that the entire experience really made me grow up as a person. A much better person.Chong and Patrick, if it were not for our stint in DJ, we wouldn't be half as close as we are in NTU now. And life in NTU wouldn't be half as fun without you guys around. I guess thing's like these really make me think that all this was really fated to be from the very beginning.Then it was the one nad a half months I spent working at SummerHill Realty. Working at SummerHill was truly my first experience of helping to manage a business, and it really opened my eyes to a lot of things. My experience as an administrative assistant there really gave context to the subjects that I was about to study in business school and now I can see how all that seemingly unrelated subjects are relevant to my future.All the partying, heartfelt talks and yum-cha sessions in the past 8 months made time fly by at the speed of light, and here I am, a university student embarking on my whole new adventure at NTU.If there's one important life lesson that I've truly learnt lately, it's this:Life's short and time passes by the fastest when you're truly having fun. Live every moment to the very fullest.And that's exactly how I want my new life in NTU to be - to be lived to the very fullest.***And that's why this weekend I'm attending the most happening music festival in Singapore, Singfest 08! And I got a weekend pass along with Hamlet and Roger!Singfest 08!Here's the lineup!Saturday:TravisLost ProphetsNew Found GlorySimple PlanCrowned KingDearestMelenie SubonoSunday:Alicia KeysPanic at the DiscoJason MrazOne RepublicStacie OrricoJamie ScottRick AstleyThe Pussycat Dolls(Check out the Singfest website at http://www.singfest.sg)It's going to be awesome and thinking about it is getting me all excited already! I'll finally get to see Panic live on Sunday! *GRINS WIDELY*Panic! At The DiscoSo if any readers are going to be at Fort Canning park on either Saturday or Sunday, let me know! I'll be a great opportuity to hang out and chill to great music!Now, I got to go back to my Singfest music diet to psych myself for the weekend!Hamlet's Hero out! When the chemistry is just right. The three kawan reunited.Times only get this good when the chemistry's just right. Right to the last drop.It's only going to keep getting better.With people like you guys around, that's definitely going to happen. Castovia It was a hard 5 and a half days at camp. We were running around all the time with little time to even get enough sleep, only sleeping for about 4 hours a day on hard surfaces.At the very beginning, it was so difficult that we were all counting down for it to end.But the magic in Castovia started working.We struggled in games together, we marched through all over Singapore together, we got soaked in all sorts of gooey and disgusting substances together, and it pulled us together.I was lucky to be in a wonderful OG. We were all slackers and we always moved slower than all the other groups, but we always somehow managed to still come up tops in competitive games with the other groups.And it's over now.But I'm old enough to realise that every ending is also a new beginning.Go Ayden! Lets do our very best to make our university lives the best ever!After all that sleep deprivation over the past 5.5 days, I really can't write any more.Hamlet's Hero out. Going with the morning dew. In less than eight hours time, I'll be on a bus en route towards Singapore. And this time, I'll be some time till I get to sleep on my comfy bed again in my nice cozy room.I'm going to miss my little brother's loving little hugs, mummy's cooking, daddy's laughter and of course teasing Keefe all the time. I've been home for so long and it's so great that I don't want to leave. It's just too comfortable here.But the clock is ticking. And time's just about up.Gotta grab my bags and go with the morning dew.Come noon, I'll be in Singapore again. Singapore, round two. This time, I'm gonna win. I'm gonna win big. Mark those words.***My freshman orientation camp is starting at 4pm tomorrow, and so it's going to be 5 days without access to the net for me.Let's see what stories I'll have to tell when I get on the net again! I've got a feeling that it's going to be good! It's times like these which you really treasure. No amount of money can buy friends like these.People,Thank you so much for sticking with me through thick and thin; through somewhat sane times and those outrageously insane and everything.I know that I'm not a master planner, and many a time I do end up organizing something at the very last minute, but you guys still made the effort to show up. And that makes all the difference.We've left DJ for so long already, but I'm proud to say that I felt as though I never left. We're still as close now (if not closer) as we were before and I know that you guys are people that I can count on, till whenever and whatever.It's going to be hard leaving you all for Singapore, but I know that wherever we go in the world, wherever we end up studying or working, we still have a place to go back to. The place we grew up - Petaling Jaya.And I know, with all you guys around, it will be somewhere that I can come back to for many, many more years to come.I wish each and every one of you the very, very best and you know I'll make the effort to keep in touch as I always do. You know I love you all so much.Lets live our lives to the very fullest and come back with more stories to tell. I'll love to hear them all. All the crazy, crazy stories that are your lives.And know that you can always come back to this blog. I'll be here. Keep in touch people!Your one and only,Hamlet's Hero***And I just realised that I didn't start packing yet. Panic panic!Really, if I manage to pack in time I would be a hero for real. Wait, didn't I pack at the very last minute the last time around? Clubbing Sober There I was - smack in the middle of the action. The strobe lights were flashing; the music was blasting so loud you feel your whole body vibrate along to the beat; and the girls were dancing, some with eyes closed, as if they were in some sacred trance from a time long forgotten, and some were trying to dance, trying their hardest to look cool with their two left feet.I looked around the room, and through the smoke, through the bad lighting and through the dancing bodies, it all screamed out to me at once. Something's not right.Something's really not right. Mood: Apathetic. Maybe that's the reason why I can't even be bothered to blog or even go on MSN this couple of days. It's a strange, yet surprisingly simple to understand mood - there's simply no compulsion to do anything. Anything, other than bum around and watch movies all day long.And boom. It hits me. Orientation's next week, or more accurately, beginning in 3 days.I better get those bags packed real soon. And get those goodbyes said.It's finally time to get this party started. When things get too hot in the bedroom. When things get too hot in the bedroom, what do women need?Harvey Norman has just the thing.Presenting, the one and only...HARVEY NORMAN CLIT COOLER!Just what a woman needs when things get a little too hot...Every woman who's getting serious action in the bedroom should get one today! And this life saving device is going for only a cheap RM29 per unit! Available at Harvey Norman at the Ikano Power Centre!Get your girlfriend one today! To the island and back again. Somehow I just feel exhausted and out of juice now. I think it's because of the recent trip down to Singapore over the weekend and all that swimming yesterday. Everything seems to be flying by at such an alarming rate now. Even college day is over now. University really is going to be starting soon, but I somehow don't feel ready just yet.Going down to Singapore over the weekend just makes me realise how much I miss my friends back there. Maria, I really need you here! I just can't shop without you! And we always have the craziest and funnest times together! I miss you so much! I guess going back won't be so bad after all as I have so many people that mean the world to me back there. The Brunch Bunch forever!The Brunch Bunch at it's finest!Brunch won't ever be the same again without the Brunch Bunch. All the jokes shared, honest Freudian slips and the good times.When JC life gets harder, the Brunch Bunch get crazier!We have the coolest of conversations. When I met up with Raksha and the others on Friday, I distinctly remember this conversation we had above so many other things.It went something like this:Raksha: I remember my brother asking me the stupidest question earlier today.Kevin: What did he ask?Raksha: He asked me (pauses for a few seconds for dramatic effect) "Why do girls complain when they're raped?"Everyone else: WTF!!!Raksha: (continuing) "... isn't it just surprise sex? Shouldn't they enjoy it?"***I miss my dearest shopping buddy, and my brunch bunch. I really do. Who else talks about rape as surprise sex?Uni is just going to be great with these people around and close by. I just know it. Binary Therapy. I never have been someone who lacks something to talk about. I'm quite the opposite - thoughts of all sorts, all colours and all shapes are whizzing around in that head of mine and I'm at a loss at what I should write about. There's just so much to say. About life, about people, about everything.It's been quite some time since I last updated my blog. In these past couple of days there just has been so much going on - outings with dear old friends, meeting old teachers, the DJ prefects installation, music, and getting reacquainted with old fiction. There's just so much going on that I somehow just need some space to retreat into and just think.I feel that finding your own space and musing on your private thoughts is something extremely underrated. I realized over the past few days that I really missed the hour or so I used to spend alone with my thoughts before I drift off to dreamland every night when I was still studying in DJ. That was so because my mother used to ask me to sleep early as I was still schooling.When I went to Singapore and started keeping up obscenely late nights, I barely had any time for myself, my thoughts, because when I laid my head on my pillow, I was already dead tired and fell straight asleep.Maybe that's why I want to travel so much, to go somewhere new, different, strange, and just find time for myself to just ponder over the wonder of my own existence. But strangely enough, I managed to rediscover that childlike wonder for the world and life that one beautiful night.It was like an enlightenment of sorts. Suddenly I felt this divine light that engulfed my entire existence. It was a golden, calming warm light, and it made me realize that whoever we are, and however flawed we are, we're still part of God's divine light.And that's more than reason enough to shine with all our might and light up this beautiful world and colour it with bedazzling thoughts worthy of the creator. A fork in the road. Another simple question: to study law or not to study law?SMU has just offered me a place in their law school, along with a full undergraduate scholarship. Should I pursue a double degree in both law and business there, or would it be better to continue on the original plan to study business at NTU.One decision, 3 days left to choose.How do I choose here?God knows.***And just for fun, here's the 15 minute essay I wrote for the SMU law interview.Where a law is a terrible one, there is a moral right to disobey. Comment.In this day and age, where the law and courts are seen as a costly nuisance to avoid by the masses, people generally treat the law as an absolute truth - something that they must abide by under any circumstance. The hassle and cost of appearing in court make people forget that the law is there for a very important reason, a reason very close to their hearts - to protect them. And that is why I believe that under the circumstance that the laws of the land have been perverted to oppress the masses in favour of the ruling elite, civil disobedience shouldn't just be a choice, it is a duty of every patriotic individual.Social contract theory argues that we humans come out of the state of nature to form societies that protect each other because living together in society is much better than the 'solitary, short and brutish' life in the state of nature. We agree to have laws imposed on us because they are for our own good. Laws are useful because they help us better our lives. Life becomes more safe, more secure when we know that there are laws in place to safeguard our health and happiness. Laws are there to put people in place.However when a ruling elite creates laws that only serves their own ends, this whole system fails. The law is not something we abide by because it helps us anymore, but it becomes this monster, this tool for oppression, and the only reason that we abide to it is fear.And if we take a look in the history books and look at all the civilizations which were governed by a system of fear, we can see a recurring pattern - they all crumbled. Emperors and kings who subjugated their subjects were overthrown by those very people. No civilization can last under such rule.And that is why I strongly believe that because of one's love for one's country, we should have the courage to demand that our countries, our laws, treat us right.Written in 15 minutes.Maybe that's why I believe one too many rules are made just to be broken.Update: 2nd July, 3:00pmThe call came yesterday when I was gazing at the burnt classrooms of block D from the second floor of block C in SMKDJ."Hello, this is Angel Ling from SMU admissions. Did you receive our letter of offer for the law degree and scholarship?" she politely asked."Yes I have. Thanks for the offer, but I have chosen to decline it," I answered, suddenly realizing the gravity of my decision.But I decided that one needed not to have a degree in law to think or argue, and that critical thinking and legal knowledge are not intrinsically intertwined. "Err.... okay. Have a nice day." And the phone conversation came to an abrupt halt."I'm going to enjoy it either way," I thought to myself. And I have no regrets. Wanderlust unsatiated. I need to go on a trip. Since the day in which I would have to go back to school in Singapore draws even closer, I have decided that I'm going to go for two awesome trips to relax and unwind as soon as possible.But I still can't decide where to go.Care to help me on this?The first choice to make is to choose between going to Penang for a food trip and Taman Negara in Pahang for a camping expedition. Anyone who wants to come along, please contact me ASAP so I can decide soon. (:The second choice to make is to choose between going to Bangkok and Jakarta the week after. The plane tickets cost about the same, so it really depends which place is the more affordable place in terms of accomodation? Anyone has any information on this? And is there anyone out there who is willing to let two very nice guys stay over at their place for a couple of days and show us around town? That would really be awesome.So if anyone would like to tag along, please let me know ASAP, as this boy definitely needs an adventure. Either way, it's going to be FUN! Women and Men I received this in my email today and I think it really is worth sharing!*** Woman has Man in it;Mrs. has Mr . in it;Female has Male in it; She has He in it;Madam has Adam in it;No wonder men always want to be inside women! Men were born between the legs of a woman, yet men spend all their life and time trying to go back between the legs of a woman....Why? BECAUSE THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE HOME! Ever notice how all of women's problems start with MEN? MENtal illness MENstrual cramps MENtal breakdown MENopause GUYnecologist AND .. When we have REAL trouble, it's a HISterectomy!***Guess now we know why the women we love go MEN-tal from time to time. But we still can't live without each other. (:And yeah, there's no place like home. Period. Pleasantville. I'm just done watching one of the most beautifully poetic movies that I've ever watched, the 1998 movie Pleasantville."Nothing is as simple as Black and White"Pleasantville is the story of how two siblings are magically transported to the seemingly utopian world of Pleasantville where things are only pleasant. Basketballs definitely go through the hoops every time you throw them, people are well mannered and awfully nice, dinner is always served sharp at 6:30 p.m. sharp.There is no fear, danger or insecurity in that world. Everything is pleasant, and it stays that way because everyone has set routines that they follow to the last detail. There are no surprises in Pleasantville. And did I mention that Pleasantville is only in black and white?When our two siblings cause disruptions to the clockwork routine in Pleasantville, the people they meet slowly start to realize that their perfectly pleasant lives are hollow indeed, and there is no such thing as a perfect life.Recently I have been pondering, wondering if my life measures up to other people out there. Why is it that some people seem to be able to live spotless lives and seem to the outside world perfectly respectable when I'm here with all my flaws glaring, often for all the world to see?And this movie came along to open my eyes back wide again. As much as we talk about creating a perfect life, a life which everyone else envies, no one lives a perfect life. We're human - we hurt, we cry, we bleed - for a perfectly good reason.Just think about it: if we never did experience heart wrenching pain; incapacitating fear and the horde of butterflies all massing in your stomach just before you deliver a speech, we never would really be able to feel and appreciate happiness and bliss when it comes along.Don't we just take color for granted?Our imperfections make us who we are, they give color to our lives. And that makes all the difference.As stupid as some of the things that I have done are, they have really still come to color my life in dazzling hues and shades that I never knew existed.So I guess the right thing to do would just to accept them, my flaws, my mistakes, my colors, and just live my life the most beautiful way I know. I don't know if any great artist could ever ask for more.And Pleasantville has beautiful, beautiful music. Yes, it's the Beatles again! (:Across the Universe - Fiona AppleJai guru deva om...Nothing's gonna change my world Nothing's gonna change my world Nothing's gonna change my world Nothing's gonna change my world Stop taking the beauty around you for granted. Life's not perfect, but it certainly is beautiful. Where did the magic go? One minute it's there - in all it's perfect glory. Perfect, pristine, pure magic. Something that makes you see only beauty in our imperfect world. So magical it makes the morning dew sparkle like the most exquisite crystal.Then like crystal, one misstep sends it crashing towards the ground and turns to a million pieces. And however you try to put it back together, you can't seem to find them all. And the ones that you find cut you so deep that crimson red drips on the cold, hard ground.And like the morning dew, when the sun rises, it all disappears. Like it never happened.But your scarred hands tell you another story.Where did all the magic go? Wild Live Blogging! Hamlet's Hero is currently at Modesto's, Sri Hartamas at the Nuffnang Wild Live Party! It's awesome! We got Tysern as the midget gorilla, Ee Fei as the caterpillar, and I'm the "Man-Cat"!The crazy three with the chicken.It's still quite early in the night so the party hasn't really begun proper but Tysern and I have already begun "attacking" the free booze here! Three cheers for free booze!And I have a tail, but it's not really visible in the photos!Cheers!Can see tons of girls in wings here! Don't know why all they can think of is wings! (: Maybe they're just lazy! More on the party tonight!More updates later! It certainly pays to be a Nuffnang user! Yay!Update, The Following Day:The update will be late as all the pictures (the really awesome ones) are still with Yi Ting!But it was awesome! What Women Want #5: The Perfect Date Well, I gotta rush off for the Nuffnang Wild Party as a "Man-Cat" soon, so I just thought that I should do a quick post on What Women Want this week.Presenting, how to make the first date the perfect date!Or maybe it's what NOT to do to make the first date the perfect date!***P.S. See! Smothering a girl with gifts just doesn't work (or maybe it's just Steven Lim)! It looks like it's cat ears. Darn you Yen Ming. Looks like you guessed right.One "Man-Cat" is turning up at Modestos tonight.And not to mention one midget gorilla too. Can't wait to see how it all turns out!See you there! I need a crazy, crazy trip. Yes. I need a crazy, crazy trip to somewhere far, far away.All I want to do now is to just pack the minimum - a few shirts, underwear, laptop, camera - all into a backpack and go off and have an adventure.I want to go to Bangkok, because it's near, it's cheap to get there and it actually seems like a nice place to visit (and I guess with my limited budget, I can't really afford to go anywhere else), and it's far enough a place to travel to actually make it feel like an adventure.I need an adventure soon. Bad. Anyone else want to come along?If we don't do things like dropping everything we have at the moment to go on a crazy, crazy trip, we haven't really lived life proper. Period.***And did I mention that I'm dreaming of getting cool gear like these guys for the trip? Haha, we'll see how it goes. A week spent. Let's party, baby!It's been nearly a week since I left SummerHill Realty and I'm writing this post with mixed feelings. One one hand I'm glad that I now have the time to do a lot of the things that I really wanted to do this week, and on the other I feel that the past week could have been still so much more.This is how I spent the past week:1. Reading Or more accurately, reading all the motivational literature that I have scattered around my room. I'm still trying to finish "Awaken The Giant Within" by Anthony Robbins and this new book I bought, "Secrets of the Millionaire Mind".Yup, more money wouldn't hurt.I found that reading really helps give me this calm sense of focus that I really need, and it's always great to learn something new. While some of you out there may argue that books don't really teach us anything new, they really serve as good reminders of the things and the habits that we should practice to live an enlightened life, and that's exactly what the doctor ordered.I've been reading more than traditional books too! I've also been reading some ebooks and trying to master photoshop too (which explains the above photoshopped picture)!2. ExercisingYep, I'm still trying to get that buff body and while I'm not quite there yet, I'm quite happy with what I've achieved so far. Guess I still have to continue cutting the carbs and running more!I'm also thinking of increasing the types of exercise that I'm doing these days. The more I think about it, the more that dance seems like something that I should take up. Any nice, sweet, dance teachers out there want to coach me? (:3. Watching TVWell... technically I haven't been watching TV, but I have been sitting in front of the computer too for hours on end watching episodes of Gossip Girl (yes I know that I'm pretty slow here!) and Pushing Daisies, as well as the occasional movie or two.I must say that as unproductive as TV is, Gossip Girl and Pushing Daisies are really two great shows to catch! But now that I'm done with them it's time to spend time more productively!4. Preparing for the Nuffnang "Wild" Party!Yes, I'm invited! And it's going to be one cool party! The only problem is that I have no idea what I should wear! An animal costume? I don't have one!Anyone out there can help me? I've been thinking of a Beastmaster-ish furry costume complete with fur underwear but I really don't know of any good fetish shops where I can get that kind of wear nearby! Help anyone?Furry underwear along with a big cat, anyone?Guess I got no choice but to run all over town looking for something later today!***To all Nuffnang bloggers going to the party too this Saturday, see you there!Hamlet's Hero out.***And this just made me think of our dear Mr. Chuah somehow.Gah, mathematicians. Project Trafford: Snack Attack! Gone were the days when snacking on potato chips was an uncool past time reserved only for those a little too rounded at the waist.These days, snacking on just a LITTLE TOO MUCH potato chips can result in a very nice trip to a famous football stadium, far, far away.Yup, you get to go to the home of the Red Devils, baby!And when I am talking about far, I'm talking about a different time zone here. (:If you have been following the development of Project Trafford, I reckon that you know what I'm talking about - Mr. Potato's latest competition, promising a free trip to Old Trafford, the home of the Red Devils, Manchester United!The top 30 Football Point Collectors of this competition win a Total Football Tour to Manchester United inclusive of Stadium and Museum tour worth RM 15,000 each!What's more is that the top 5 monthly collectors of Football points get collectors jerseys personally autographed by football greats such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Michael Ballack, Fernando Torres, Nani & Cesc Fabregas!Find more details on the contest at the Mr. Potato website here!Since when was eating chips at home ever this fun?Mr. Potato and Man. U - Can you ask for more?The contest is really simple! All you have to do is to just keep buying Mr. Potato and keep the proofs of purchases! The more you collect, the more you stand to win limited edition merchandise and also the free trip to Old Trafford! All for just eating and collecting Mr. Potato wrappers!But I'm a poor, poor boy, who doesn't have all the money in the world to splurge on chips all day long... So what do I do?But if you know me, I try anyway.Didn't I say that I tried?Click here for the first video!And click here for the next scene!We all tried! Watch it all!Hamlet's Hero out.***Update 11:00 am, 17th June 2008:Here's the fully compiled team video by team Ho-Liao!Enjoy! Busy busy. Been busy with organizing the recent party and father's day as well as a whole lot of other assorted things like woodwork and swimming. Hamlet's Hero still has the blogging bug in him, just you wait.I'm going to be harder, better, faster, stronger when I'm through with this. The Map A little note from Mr. Chuah to show you where the party will be:The map of the place is in the link below=)Jalan SS21/38Click here!- Chuah Chongxian***No updates yesterday as I was out catching with Nimalan, who has just come back from the UK, and the gang. So I guess I didn't sleep too early or do my reading that night, but I guess it's ok because I had something legit to do, and not just surfing the web aimlessly for hours on end. I exercised though...Can't lose this momentum! Gotta keep it up! Going to prepare for tonight's party after work today! I guess I'll come up with the next task on Sunday.Again, What Women Want may be slightly postponed this week! But I'll still be as interesting as ever!My (ex-) students, SEE YOU AT THE PARTY TODAY!P.S. For you older peeps, THERE WILL BE A PARTY SOON TOO LAAAAH! Kevin gives you his word. (: Reading. "Reading is to the mind what exercise is for the body"- Joseph AddisonI've been sleeping early and exercising for two days now and I must say that it feels great! Work feels better and less stressful and I'm happier and more cheerful overall! Even my mother commented that I am more optimistic and happy these couple of days. I guess I'll do me good to keep it up.Anyway, on to my next task. Task for day 4:Make some time (at least 30 minutes a day) to study and learn something every day.Yes that's the task, and its really easy to get into it because I have SO MANY unread books in my room (yes I know I'm really blessed)!I've always been a fan of self improvement, and reading is one very good way where one can learn more as well as improve one's self. Just think about it, almost any problem that has been faced by mankind has been written about in detail somewhere (by perhaps very bored people) and all that we have to do to learn about it is just to pick up a book and read!It's really sad that a majority of people stop reading once they leave school. That's the sad, sad truth though. The fact remains that a successful education should not ensure that one does not need to depend on books anymore, but that one has inculcated a habit of reading.The world is constantly changing and becoming increasingly competitive, and you're just going to be left behind if you don't read! Surfing the web for useless, random information doesn't count (yes, I know that Wikipedia can get really addictive), because most of the good stuff out there is just so hard to find. It really is so much better getting a book (or an ebook for the tech savvy) because it really is able to teach you so much better.I'm reading a book titled " How To Get Rich: Using The Power of Your Mind", a book on memory training as well as Donald Trump's "Fortune Without Fear" and they really are wonderful.Going to continue on my reading now so pick up a book if you haven't already!Hamlet's Hero out! A little announcement from Mr. Chuah. A little announcement from Mr. Chuah (chongx.blogspot.com):Just a quick reminder to those who are still undecided=)Who's invited: All of Mr. Kevin's, Mr. Chuah's and Mr. Tysern's students from DJ!Date: 14th June 2008, Saturday.Time: 5.ooPM onwards.Venue: Field in Damansara Utama, near the Nursery(SS21)We will get a detailed map out on my blog very very soon!So please be patient!Yes I shall reveal the dress code for the party!! XDFor the Guys, you are required to wear a decent,revealing,skimpy singlet with any of your favourite colour!Wait a minute, singlets are already revealing, skimpy and definitely not decent!Mr Tysern is going to wear this on that day! Suits his personality, a sickoOr you can choose to be like Mr Kevin, all buffed up with his chest muscles!And of course, you can be decent like me, holy like cheese! O.O *the singlet is too tight till my tits pops out-_-*Don't worry girls, we didn't leave you out as well! =)Since we didn't have female models, you girls are required to wear a top with cartoon or kiddy characters! Example, you can wear a Sailermoon top, or even our all time favourite character, BARNEY! O.OPrizes will be given to the best dressed male and female! So don't miss out! And of course don't be a party pooper!!Let's try to make the dress code thing to work out for the first time!*from my experience, most people wont come dressed, oh well!! please do us a favour okay? =)*One more thing, please confirm our attendance on my blog!! We need to estimate the amount of food to be prepared on that day! And yes, if you are planning to bring any food, please tell us what are you bringing=) Many thanks!- Chuah Chongxian***We spent all last night planning this party at Tysern's place, so trust me that it's going to be good! Confirm ASAP so that we can prepare enough food for all!It's going to be worth it!Think about it, in which other party would you get to see us three in singlets?Make sure I see you there! Working Out Still no replies from the email thing. ): Guess some people don't check their mails daily... But it was a fun exercise anyway.Sleeping slightly earlier was really good for my system and it really paid off. So that's it, I'm going to do what I can to stick with this for 30 days. And today would be day two already. So, that's 28 more days of the sleeping early thing to do.***So what's the next big thing that I'm going to try doing for 30 days too?Task for day 3:Simple, it's what I always wanted to do if I had the energy to do so - work out.I'm pretty happy with my figure, but one can always improve on what we have right? So I'm going to do just that - sleep early daily so that I'm fully energized to work out on a daily basis. I'm going to at least get out of the house every evening, if I have nothing on and run around my housing estate and work out.So many times I have been so close to the legendary 6 pack abs that I always tried for, and so many times that I have ended up giving up half way because of my extremely nocturnal sleeping habits. It's going to work this time cause I'm going to make sure that I'm sleeping enough, well rested enough, and working out.Tysern's laptop is beeping now and running out of juice real soon, so I got to go.If you ever see my sleeping late and not working out in the evenings for the next 30 days,MAKE ME GET OFF MY BUM.Hamlet's Hero out. Sleeping Right. day I sent both letters out yesterday, but it seems to be a slow email day for me today. Didn't get that many emails concerning the property that I'm advertising on mudah.com.my either (yes, I'm trying to close a property deal quick so I can buy my Macbook for school!).Guess some days are just not email days.So I'll just save the writing about yesterday's task till when I get the replies. I also sent another email to a friend that I've not been in contact lately. Let's see if I can keep this up for 30 days, this whole a random email a day thing, and see just how it turns out. (:***But enough about emails, and on to the next 30 day trial that I would like to attempt. This was one of my main new year's resolutions for the past 2 years, but I never quite stuck with. Ready?Task for Day 2:It's SLEEPING EARLY (or at least EARLIER than I usually do), only for the nights where I have nothing of particular importance to do. Yup, I'll make myself sleep before 12 today. (:Why do I feel that sleeping earlier is important?Simple, because I get a lot grumpier and much less productive when I'm tired. When I'm tired, I can't concentrate so well, yawn more, and generally act like a 1000 times bitchier as compared to when I have had a good night's sleep.And ever since I got a job that required me waking up in the mornings (yes, I do by default wake up in the early afternoon), my habit of sleeping late made me progressively a more tired and grumpy person. So, as Yoda would put it, sleep earlier I must.And yes there's one more main reason I need to sleep early. Being tired is one of the main reasons (excuses) that I have for putting off exercise. I want to exercise! But it's just so hard to push myself to work out when all I can think of is just lazing around!The problem is that I'm really a night owl! I can find all sorts of things to do at night, be it talking on the phone, doing some photoshop art, or completing a blog post. I like to think that I'm more productive at night, but the fact still remains that I have to wake up early. And being tired the whole day is a total bitch. I can't stand it anymore.I've tried many times to start sleeping earlier, but this always seems to be the pattern where it all breaks down:I start off motivated and I manage to sleep early.I still manage to sleep early for a couple of days. I am mighty pleased with myself.*POOF* Something pops up! It could be an overdue assignment, a late night party or a midnight phone call... and I wake up real late the next day. And I just can't sleep early that night. I am demoralized. The whole thing fails.This time it's going to be different, cause I'm distancing myself from the primary evil that keeps me awake at night! The INTERNET (and PHOTOSHOP)!And the other thing is that I'm going to be more flexible this time, in that it's ok to stay up on nights where I actually have something valid to do (which chatting and rambling on endlessly online are not) and to make it a point to catch up on sleep the following night. Guess that should do wonders to alleviate my sleep debt.Sticking with books, rather than the net before I sleep would do wonders too. I'll cut down the temptation to do something else, open up another 'last' wikipedia page and play that 'last' flash game. Yeah, books aren't evil. (:Will report on how this goes tomorrow.Gotta get to my books and get ready for bed (I'm actually so ready that I'm already on bed),Hero out.