Now Reading: The Relationship Principles of Jesus

By Tom Holladay. Online info from publisher here.

Picked up this book from the bookstore set up at church on Sunday. Hopefully this will inspire me to have better relationships with people around me. Book review in 2 months' time!

Tapioca Chips

I woke up today feeling awesome about myself, and about my plans for the day. I have several to-dos which I listed the night before and very confident and determined to complete them before the Thursday sun sets into the nice cool night, setting the mood for a greatly anticipated relaxing weekend.

ALAS!! No wait. I meant, WAH LAU EH!! It was not meant to be. (Who the heck uses "Alas" nowadays anyway.) Customer service obligations would send me zipping across island highways from Woodlands to Hougang to Katong and back to Hougang. Add quirky weather of sunshiney drizzles, and heavy traffic at some stretches of the road, the driving left mental skidmarks in my already frustrated mind. Only some TLC like sniping someone's head off in a game of Counterstrike would help.

But, because I went to Woodlands, I drove past the Old Chang Kee factory which is now selling my favourite festive snack, tapioca chips. In original, tomato, sambal and of course curry flavour. Because I went to Katong, I saw several new restaurants and cafes which will be a perfect weekend outing for me and the wife.

Sometimes life throws a wrench into your plans. Other times, procrastination will do it. It is now 7pm and my list is only a quarter completed. That is because I am too busy eating the chips, and typing up this post.

I need an upsized dose of caffeine, to plough through the remainder of the list.

DISC

About 15 years ago, I took the DISC test for the first time and was convinced that I was a SC personality. In short I was a structured person who didn't like risks.

I retook the test recently (NOT the same exact test with the same questions) and found out I am now more DC. The same structured person but this time with some dominance.

I embrace change. I hate corny silly one-liners like "if you fail to plan, you plan to fail" but I totally agree with "the only constant in the world is change". I don't hate this one as much.

But to go from S to D in 15 years is almost like going for an ah gua surgery where you still keep original parts but you add more stuffs to satisfy all worlds. I still remember how it was like 15-20 years ago. I definitely know how I am right now.

The wife said maybe I WAS a DC person already. Just that I behaved more S "outside of home" and/or now that my english has improved since 15 years ago, I understand the questions better and/or, know myself better.

Perhaps.

On a related note, I took a colour personality test too and I am declared a Red, which basically means D if translated on the DISC scale. I wished I was a green really coz that is my favourite colour and also very trendy what with green initiatives all over the world. Global warming is real.

Personality tests can be fun. It is a bit like opening an ang bao. You know there is money inside, just don't know how much. It is sort of getting an identity. But being defined like this can be dangerous too. What if I really am a DC by nature who thought I was an SC and so convinced that live my life out going against part of my nature? I will feel confusingly unhappy thinking, "I don't like what I am doing but I know this is how God made me. So I will suck it up and just do it like the shoe ad says." (yeah, Nike commercials were really hot 15 years ago.).

I wonder what I will be 15 years from now. DI for Delusional Idiot?

Miserable Movie Experience

Cathay Cineplex in The Cathay has always been a favourite place for me to watch movies. Not because of the location (In fact I wish they were nearer to me in Toh Yi) but because of the comfy seats. It is more comfy than any other cinemas I have been to in Singapore. Of course nothing beats home because at home, I can remove my shoes and/or shirt. Or even shorts if I so fancy (don't worry this post won't get more 50 shades of grey than that).

Recently, we decided to try out the Platinum Movie Suites, the Gold-Class equivalent of Golden Village. And it was FANTASTIC.

Right from the exclusive club looking entrance, to the modern classy deco at the lounge, the setup just makes you feel the ticket is worth the 400% extra. We were thoroughly impressed. And for people like me who watches movie at home half-naked, I was glad I wasn't too underdressed (I was in my Sunday best).

The experience offer not only motorized control for the desired recline on that classy leather seat, but also butler service which will serve you your favourite movie snack, while your eyes focus on the action going on on the silver screen. All at the price of the food of course. But at $10 for a tasty burger, and $5 for a nice cup of coffee, its well worth the epicurean experience.

I must say that the whole experience was really good and memorable and we are already planning to go again. Soon.

Oh yes, we watched Les Misérables (wiki). I was really hoping for a dance off between the Gladiator and Wolverine. Ten out of Ten.

Thankful

Today, I went on my routine rounds on the road. One of my stops is at this bus and comfort taxi depot along Braddell Road. The boss of the canteen is a nice man who always try to talk to me if he has time. Nothing different today except when I arrive, he was out in his van and he was trying to shift his van to allow a new wrecked car to be towed in.

Curious, I asked what was going on. He began to explain that this incoming wreckage which crashed earlier the day is going to be here 'permanently'. 

"Permanently?". 

"The driver of this car died in the crash."

He continued to say that its nothing new actually as he pointed to some of the other wreckages further back. Drivers of some of those cars died in their respective accidents too.

There I was standing in front of this relatively new looking despite the awful dents and cracks, car whose owner less than 12 hours ago, was alive and probably grumbling about Mondays. His now lifeless form is probably somewhere surrounded by crying loved ones. His spirit may now be somewhere waiting for judgment. Maybe even still recovering from the fact that he will no longer enjoy the earthly pleasures, like love, beer and apple products.

Maybe he was right next to me when I was standing in front of his car. Or even sitting beside me while I am typing out this post.

<Cue chills>

Earlier last week, news of a young mother died from internal injuries, leaving behind 3 young children and their dad. People who know them were shocked by the news as she was in her early 30s and seems healthy. She wasn't sick or even showing signs of sickness. Things just happened for that family. And they were not believers. 

Some divine being doing human population control? Cosmic accident that happens by chance? 

All of us live out most of our days taking life for granted. I do. The first words out of my mouth some days are "Hey! Drive properly lah you *********er ***hole." Other days, "Hey wake up! Time to go to work!". Never "Morning God. Thank You for another wonderful day!"

Evening God. Thank You for another wonderful day!