Coming of Age

"We thought this would be a suitable gift for your coming of age" A bicycle.

It was like waking up from a dream. He reeled me in, like a dog running into a glass screen. Was it wrong of me to believe he was going to give me a car? Regardless, the bicycle was what I wanted. I could imagine it now...

Firing start - BANG! And it's off

And the crowd roars - GO PINK RIDER

And who's that .....

VROOM VROOM!!!

Ok, my initial thoughts on this........ Why do I look like SUCH A DORK? Those other cyclists look so spiffy with their bikes?

Firstly, I can almost see a pink streak at the speed for one of them is going, and all i get is wind pushing be backwards. Yes, you heard me, i was being pushed back.

Secondly, my helmet is 5 sizes too small, thus it just sits on top of my head. Oh gosh, talk about a bowl haircut....

Thirdly, my backpack was a huge weight on my shoulders. It was so much heavy as it were embarrassingly HUGE. As a man who is officially 18, why am i mistaken as a dorky international school boy?

*Sigh* My Tour de France dream is now over. But there are upsides to this story. Being the man that I have become in the past 18 years of my life, I built the bike..... (Note: 95% assembled by factory)

If it weren't for my trusty workmanship, the bike would still be in it's box.....Ok, there were some mishaps... I did recieve counsel from the instructions booklet. And i forgot to tighten the steering before I rode to work today...

It was 9am, and I was riding, happily to work. "Weeeeee!" *ring ring* "Entering Turbo Mode: Vroom vroom!"
There were no witnesses to testify i did any of the above.......

It was exhilarating. Going at 5 km/h, i was living on the life on the edge. As my ride tore up the streets, i found elbow was nudging my rib. At first, i thought it was because i had entered a slipstream and I was naturally reducing air resistance, as do all professional cyclists do.

On further observation, I found my steering was aligned slightly to the left. I pushed it back into place. "The bike mustn't have been capable of handling such speeds I endure everyday. But it's ok, I’ll slow down"

It got worse, and when i had reached halfway, i was forced to walk my bike to work. As i walked, many cyclists whizzed past me (Looking way cooler than i did). Some turned their heads at my direction: *smiles and waves* "Flat tire....that was close...."

It's not like I can tell them: "Funny thing, i got this bike the other day, and i didn't screw in the steering tight enough.......by the way, it's my first time"

I guess today was a clear reflection of how manly I am. Building a bike, using the instructions on a last resort basis (or after 10 mins.....ok, 2 mins), going at high speeds in a school zone, refusing to ask for help, nor acknowledging my own failure at any of these. All i can say to this..

*grunts*

The Five Temptresses

One man's dream is another man's nightmare...

Yesterday, i was working a normal Saturday dayshift at TZ NB, and 5 girls came up to me. "Seven dollars please" one of them said. Typical high school girls going to take photos, nothing wrong with that.

"Can you make it Ten dollars?"
"Sure. That's another three dollars"
"Can't you just give us ten dollars? The other guy last time did it for us?"

Surely the integrity of TZ staff was better than this. Or is it?...

"OK, so you want me to put ten on your card?". She nods, with puppy dog eyes. "Can you pass me your card?"

I am a man. What am i to do when there are five girls, giving me all their attention, asking me to do something "everyone does" SO EASILY. So as a TZ employee, providing A+ customer service i did it.

I picked up a pen and wrote 10 on her card, not knowing my small act of defiance would lead to a three hour battle.

Regardless, i resisted temptaion, despite how persistent they were. I pity any of their boyfriends, because they were viscious with the whip. They were pretty tactful in the way they approached/hunted their prey. The way they asked for free games, for my number, for plush toys.
There was no end to their demands, none of which i satisfied. Why would i give them free toys? Why would i give them my number? So they can badger me about how i OWE them toys?
Please....Do i look that desperate?

On a side note, i genuinely thought they were good people and I look forward to seeing them another day

5 Years From ...NOW

People tell me of their dreams, and we're they're heading in life after school/uni. And i think to myself, Can life really be that easy? If it were, i would have dropped out of uni and own my own little cake store Patisserie Tsuruya, and make a little fortune. But that is obviously not the case.

Earlier this week, i was telling my dad confidently, "I'm going to quit Timezone by February next year". The next day, i get told i got the Asst Man. job, and i can accept, ONLY if i intend to work fulltime for at least a year.

My story so far - I've dropped out from Pharmacy, with the intention that i'll begin my studies in Chiropractics in Feb '09. In the meantime, i've been working ~30 hours a week at Timezone, and even applied for Assistant Manager. With the grace of God, i've been offered a contract by Timezone to take up this position. However, there are a few conditions.

If i want to take the perks such as increased weekend pay, sick leave, 38 hours a week, i will be required to work with Timezone for at least a year. Wait.......i only want to work for at max, another 6 months, and they want to squeeze out another 6months on top of that...

So this is where i stand, on the crossroads with two options, both with its pros and cons

1. I take up the position as Asst Man. at TZ, get more hours, more money, looks good on my resume
But by doing so, i forego my ministrial commitments, have less leisure time to socialise, receive more stress, and be forced to wait yet another year before starting my Chiropractics degree...

2. I refuse the position as Asst. Man at TZ, have more time to do things i want (like go on msn for once?), be able to attend to various ministries, have less stress on my shoulders and be able to start Chiropractics with people younger than myself
The downside however is that some new guy will be transferred from somewhere to be manager, to order us around. On top of that, i will have less resources financially.

Thinking of my future, the second option is highly recommended
TZ Asst Man. salary: $42k p/a Chiro Graduate Pay: ~$55k p/a
Asst. Man. title adds no bargaining power to my resume as a graduate chiropractitioner
If i were to stop work entirely, as i plan to in Feb, i believe God will provide (excuse the cliche)

I've decided that i can no longer be the half-hearted fool i was in the last semester. Trying to share my love to TZ and Pharmacy, and to a lesser extent, Labelle, other friends and the ministries i was involved in. No. That's not good enough. I shall be comitted to Chiropractics, and church activities ONLY. If that's not clear enough:

Chiropractics + Church activities = Richard

OR

Chiropractics + Church activities + Girlfriend = Richard
Chiropractics + Church activities = R i c h a r d - G i r l f r i e n d Chiropractics + Church activities = c h a -(g) -(l) -(f) -(i) -(e) -(n)

When the answer is rearranged: G N C HE FAIL

So logically, i'm not supposed to get a gf until after Chiro, a 5 year course...i'll be like 24. But then again, being a Chiro has it's perks...

*Approaches girls*
"Hi there, i'm Richard.....Dr Richard Chew"
*Richard leaves with an entourage of women*

Life On The Other Side

I received a letter in the mail today. Bachelor of Pharmacy - withdrawn early...

This must be the second week without uni; without homework, without lectures, without friends... As a drop-out, my life consists of sleeping in, eat, work. An endless cycle, and for what? For money? To feel i've contributed to society? To wake up to another day of work?

No, nothing of such obscurity. It's to build a foundation for my abounding future.

Sounds like a typical drop-out rambling on about his pipedream. "I see myself as a famous singer hitting the Top 10 hits within the next 2 years".

My bad for playing the drama queen, in the previous post especially. I was exploring different horizons in writing techniques. An Emo style was quite suitable for the subject at matter.
My apologies.

But truth is, i'm not depressed one bit. I do miss my friends in pharmacy, but i can't see myself dealing drugs for the rest of my life. This was my decision, and my path has been redirected to chiropractics - living to find a cure without drugs.

Although it is not everything in my life, i've been spending a lot of my time working at Timezone Northbridge. And i took a step further to challenge one of my superiors by applying for the position Assistant Manager. Oh gosh, he won't like that. It'll be pretty cold when he takes me home....

My life is not in a complete mess. Apart from my constantly changing sleeping patterns, combined with my shifts to work, and my recent entrance to Timezone politics, i'm increasingly reaching a point of destruction. But this is subsided by light reading of a book and the Word each night. To have a moment of peace after a chaotic day, week - priceless.

Hidden Within the Shadow of New Horizons

Long time no talk from me. Much has happened to me in the past 8 weeks, and it has greatly affected the rest of my life. Small things that happened snowballed into something bigger than i had anticipated. But now everything has changed.

Who knows what i am currently studying? Pharmacy? Well, today, i officially deferred from pharmacy for 6 months, with no intention of continuing to study the course. Yep, you heard me correctly, i am officially a pharmacy drop-out. Ouch, that's harsh on the ears....

My lack of passion to force myself to study for another 3 years opposed my plan to continue pharmacy.

So what to do now?

I don't study anymore, which then allows my time to be spent playing guitar hero, pokemon on DS, chatting on MSN and like many others, sell myself on facebook.

But for what?
To test my ability: staring at an LCD screen for 8 hours straight?
To befriend every known monster called pokemon?
To add as many people as possible just so i can look at the number of friends i have?

All this seems so insignificant now. I don't touch the Wii/DS too often, i hardly go on facebook, and if i'm on MSN, i'm appering offline. I do however spend most of my time now at timezone.

Am i becoming one of the timezone regulars, spending my cash on games to let time fly pass me? Is reality too harsh that i have decided to run to my happy place, with my pokemon?
I used to think the TZ regulars were drones, with no lives. Yes, it is inevitable that i will now join that horde.

If you see an asian man, with scruffy hair, bags on his eyes and the distinct blue TZ shirt, tell him- tell him you care

Momentary Interval

I'm currently in the break, between my two sets of exams. My first three exams: Human Biology Theorey, Chemistry and Pharmaceutics. I think i failed 2 of the three exams, which means supps...

No need for the finer details. The gist of it is i decided to go play basketball, go shopping, and got sidetracked by technology during an all-nighter.

I now have a break, almost a week's worth, to rest - not too much though. i should be studying of course. NOT TRUE. I've been working everyday after exams, and i just spent a solid four hours going through blogs and facebook... Hmm, i think i have finally mastered the art of procrastination... Too bad it takes me NO WHERE in life.

But tomorrow's going to be different. I'm going to wake up, go to work to sign some papers, come back, and then study. Maybe i'll play a few games at TZ......

*points at pile of chemistry lectures*
"I feel like tearing it up, and setting it on fire so i'll never look at it ever again, but i know i'll need it for the supp" - Lex

The Hour Is Near...

It's that time of the year again. Holidays are soooo close, it's as if i could stretch out and grasp it with my hands. But it's untouchable. Like a mirage at taunting me. I know it's real though, even if i can't reach it yet. Because there's something standing between me and paradise...>EXAMS<...

Why are they so frightening? Is it because they count for so much in my unit? Or is it because the guy next to me smells funny?.....Hmmm...i think it's because he keeps glancing over at me <<

Today is officially the first day of my exam, yet i sit here only to dawdle, and ponder on my life thus far. It's been about 3 months since my last log, and to some, i have disappeared from the edge of the Earth. Why is that? Hmm....Maybe it's because nothing interesting has happened. I only went to a few parties, a few camps here and there, got a girlfriend Labelle - ended it, had a fallout with a good friend of mine, starred as Jesus in a musical production - The Choice......but none of which is noteworthy, surely not...

I caught a glimpse of those comforting holidays - "30% OFF SALE" at Myer. If i survive my exams, i shall go on a shopping spree - either to reward my "hard work" up to this year, or to drown my sorrows as i set myself up to repeat my first year in pharmacy.....I hope i'll have friends

-> "Hi, i'm Richard. I failed last year, so i'm repeating 1st year again. Wanna be friends?"

Word on the Street is....

Good evening everyone. I've been finding it difficult to maintain my Yr12 routine:
Eat, sleep (~9 hours), play soccer

These days have not been so carefree as those in the past. Uni-life is full of life, meeting new people (girls, unlike my high school...), and a lot of self-regulation. If you lack self-control, like myself, you'll be like me. One of those students who are dying/struggling like a mangled cat.

I come out each day with around 5.5 hours of sleep, forcefully waking myself up at 6, to catch a bus to Curtin. Also, we are to attend all Tutorials, Labs, and Lectures at our own digression. We are no longer spoon fed, like told there is an assignment due, or given specific instructions. NO, none of that in uni.

But i still find some joy in the world. Friends with weird- i mean, interesting personalities, many older friends to help us out when we're lost, and times when we can just relax. It is during these times where i can recuperate my losses from sleep deprivation, work-related stress, and uni-pressures. Photos like these after setting up a CS store for 2 hours definitely makes it worth it. We also went to upstairs utopia for bbt....


My Little Story
So i met this girl, Sarah is her name, and i think she's the meanest girl in pharm. She came to NB on sat night, but didn't come into TZ to say hi, so i was like, "ok, maybe she's eating, and leaving soon. fair enough".

Her friend, Labelle comes into the store with a friend, and tells me, "Sarah's outside. She was telling me you work here, and said 'He must be gay' ". So how would one react to this.

Word on the street is, Richard must be gay. This came from his friend, Sarah, so it must be true..

I thought we were friends....

My initial reaction, i laughed, probably cause she saw that photo of David and i making hearts. Acceptable, but borderline. Can't have people making connections between education history and DDR.
She calls me Sunday night, and we tlak about stuff, but i'm at work. To cut her short, i asked her about the false rumours circulating around. She denied everything, but assured me she would never say anything like that.

Monday morning
"Hey you, i confronted Labelle on MSN last night about what she said to you. She was wondering why you got all offended for"

Ok, well some girl i met recently (one week ago), told someone i'm definitely gay. I can't exactly say i wore my happy face

"She was asking you if she could get free games. 'Sarah said you work here. Free games' "

"Sarah said you are definitely gay"
"Sarah said you work here. Free games"
Anyone could misunderstand what was said. Look how similar these phrases are.....Identical?

The moral of the story: Speak louder when inside TZ / Get to know your friends better
Btw, Sarah is an awesome girl, who did nothing wrong, except for not saying hi....


Quick survey: Whose eyes has a lighter shade of brown? Caroline, or Richard?

O-Day

Orientation Day is the day where 1st year students are inducted as official students on campus. A day where freshman can run around and get lost, to get to know the campus. Not for me though. O-day is marked "Free Drinks" on my calendar.

At Curtin, i was one of many unfortunate students to have their orientation on the same day as the guild orientation. This meant i would be sitting in lectures, listening to course outlines whilst others outside were getting free drinks. A double dose of boredom and dissatisfied expectations sparked into rebellion.

At the first recess-like break at 10:30, everyone in the Pharmacy course headed down for some biscuits. As we walked, my eyes couldn't help but trail at a grassy hill. Something did catch my eye though. A huge can of some sort -

Before anyone could stop me, i was sprinting up the hill. "I've never seen you sprint faster in my whole life", Lex commented. I was running for my life, or love.....Love for FREE Red Bull

Long story short, Matt and I went around looking for free stuff, and got back to the lectures 30mins late. Not bad, considering we walked away with 6 cans/bottles of drinks each, plus other freebies, including a Lipton Ice Tea bandanna. Please don't mistake this for stealing. They were using these gifts to bribe us to join their club. Without the additional drinks/lollies, their gimmicks and charm of the personnel would have little, to no effect on me.



UWA O-Day was quite similar. Except i got less drinks. But i was representing CS (Chinese Society). Why help out a rival club of Asia? Was it because James (Hotness) Moss asked me to? I wish....Not really. It was my other love. They let me wear a CS shirt. I couldn't resist. Regardless, CS has won my ongoing allegiance. I'm going to try out for committee in Curtin, most likely as a 1st year rep.

On other news, I recently joined Facebook. It's for business. The P Brothers can cover more territory. This means there is potentially more clients that will no doubt, increase the level of sales and the Ping industry can rebound from the drop in profits that has occurred in recent weeks.

V Day - Cease Unrequited Love

Valentines Day is the day where couples come out to celebrate the joy of being together, celebrating through gifts of chocolate, flowers, and photos. But Valentines can also be a day of something new. A day where one can confess their true feelings to another. But a thin line must be drawn, and the rules must be laid down on both sides.

Like the ceasefire on D-Day, it was based on the greater good. This greater good does not include two people, who happen to be single, asks one another to start a relationship out of desperation so that they would not be lonely. A short-term excuse will not deter from a messy break up.

Then there is the legitimate love sick puppy who is head over heels towards the other other, only to be accepted out of pity. The greater good is not served if a relationship is based on pity.

So the first showed no love between the two, and the latter showed love that was one-way. Would it be considered "Good" if two people confess to each other, and have genuinely felt the same way about each other got together on V Day? The once thought unrequited love is now two-way, so theoretically, this would truly be a beautiful thing.

But the difference is, this is reality. Hypothetically speaking, what if one of these were as popular as a P? Would that not create conflict in interests? If so, would this really be noted as the "Greater Good"?

If friendships are going to turn sour, furthering a relationship would not be the best thing, but would you fore go true love for the sake of friendships? Or are a few friendships a worthy sacrifice for a chance of true love....

This is a decision many of us are refusing to take, procrastinating as long as possible, but i tell you this, ignorance is bliss when you're running around in circles, but what if it catches up to you.....

Valentines Day - All Is Fair In Love And War

Worked with my assistant manager tonight, James Moss. When i first arrive, he tells me "This is the most depressing night of my life". Why?

1. He could be out with one of his friends / girls
2. The constant sight of couples intimidated his loneliness
3. He was not working with someone he desired (aka. a male like me....)

The night went pretty well though. A steady inflow of customers kept us on out toes, but we still found the time to joke and wrestle in the store. One customer thought there was too much love when he witnessed Mossy sitting on top of me. If only i got out of that headlock....

After work, we headed off to Pot Black, not to play pool this time, but to play table tennis. Moss was named champion at the Chinese Society tournament, and i had little experience, so it was obvious who would walk away victorious. Nonetheless, the closest i got was 11-8. The furtherest was the last match, 11-0. As punishment, i had to lift up my shirt whilst he smashed the ping pong ball into me....I wasn't going down that easily, so he was forced to chase me, in which we ran around the table tennis table at least 20 times, before my i felt too tired to continue. It was 2am afterall.... Best part of it, he shouted me table tennis AND ice cream.

On other news, a man was stabbed and bashed on the streets of Northbridge, across the street from Timezone. This occured at around 10pm (14-02-08) and witnesses are being questioned on the incidence. The victim had his neck slit, with blood overflowing, and died on the scene.

Happy belated birthday Nadia, which was on the 5th.

It sure has been a roller coaster week for me. Work has been extremely tiring, and frustrating, especially when obnoxious drunks come into the store at closing, demanding to play Daytona. When i refused, they tipped over my bucket of mopping...There is a stain under the pinball machine to mark this particular event.

Chinese New Year has been pretty cool. Red packets, and all these lion dances. Boom, ba-boom. The drum beats are so mesmerising, and the firecrackers are deafening. The best one was at Old Shanghai on Sat, where my sister's bf was in. I heard it was good luck to pull off the lion's fur when they are performing, so i mingled with the crowd, and - *grabs, pull* Yah, and i yanked myself some gold fur.

There was like a Men's breakfast at church on Sat morning. Open to all men, and i'm a man, so i joined in. It was a barbecue, and payment was by donation. Regardless, i ate SO much. I had TWO huge plates, filling it up with four different types of sausages, bacon, buns and egg. The fattiest breakfast i have ever had, and by the end of it, i was rolling around on the ground, unable to sit up. As a result, i was able to go pass lunch and dinner with that one meal. But i still had two ice creams - Bacio and Jamaican Chocolate. I like chocolate....

Gong Xi Fa Cai

Epitome of Stinginess

The Justice League event is held on the last Sunday of every second month. On this day, VIP members will be able to take advantage of double credit, and depending on their card, a number of free games (5 for blue, 10 for gold, 15 for sapphire and platinum). To get the free games however, you are required to upload some money on your card, most likely to take advantage of the DOUBLE DOLLARS promotion. Not me though.

I turn up to TZ, chuck my bag in the staffroom, come out to the counter:
"Hey Huong, has it been busy?Yeah, whatever. Anyway, can you activate my FREE games?"

I thought that was perfectly OK, but Huong thought otherwise. She also believes if i were any stingier, i would be stealing. That's a pretty harsh call, i mean, i could get free games anyway with my staff card, so what's the difference if i got free games on my authentic Sapphire?

On the same day, Shirley came in, slapped me around a few times for not picking up her calls. Unfortunately, she had to leave at that moment. But before she left...

Shirley: "I have to go now"
Richard: "Oh, you like just got here. Have you used your free games yet?"
Shirley: "No........Why? Do you want them?"
Richard: "Well if you're offering, how can i refuse?"

So i swiped Tekken 5 times, and she left...........

I don't believe that was an act of stinginess. Why waste 5 free yellow swiper games? I was willing to have them, she was willing to give them, so there is nothing wrong with that. Thus, i truly do believe that i was not being stingy, rather, i was being grateful. Yeah, i like that word.

Ten Days In A Row

David and i did our driving test yesterday. We FAILED...

Nah, we completely destroyed it. David got 30/30, i got 29/30

We then went to Eternity to get David's hair cut and dyed. We met SO many people while we waited for David. People from Grace, family from the PKingdom, David's sister and co. The hairdresser mentioned David had a large support team. Well he did have me, and that counts for the majority....

On Tuesday, i enrolled into Pharmacy. Got my student ID done. It's horrible, and i am going to conceal it the depths of my wallet. The first time i looked at it, i thought, "Am i really that black?" Turns out, i am. I thought the whole photo was a shade or two darker than the normal, but i was wearing a white shirt, and that was wh- grey....

Today will be my 3rd day in the 10 consecutive days i've been rostered to work. What joy. Only because my manager is going on leave for 2 weeks. That should mean i can give away more free games. Well, not really, cause last Saturday i got my first official warning for mucking around. A lengthy cleaning roster followed, whom David, Mary and Luvena marginally witnessed me complete.

Happy Australian Day. Enjoy the fireworks display on my behalf. I'll be stuck at work, but i'll know when it finishes. I won't hear the fireworks itself, but when it does finish, there will surely be a horde of fellow Australians screaming at the top of their lungs, "HOW AWESOME WERE THE FIRE WORKS THIS YEAR!" All i can do is smile and take his word for it....

I'm Dealing Drugs....Legally

Uni first round offers came out Today / Last night at ~9pm. Not that i would know. I was too busy playing Mario Kart on DS. The first thing i did today, went downstairs - to procrastinate, I think not. I came downstairs to shake my brother's hand. "Happy Birthday!"

Returning back upstairs, i decided to check uni offers.
First Preference: Pharmacy (Curtin) ACCEPTED
Second Chiropractic (Murdoch)
Third Commerce / Science (UWA)

Hmm....Funny thing is, my preferences went in increasing order, my first being the lowest at a dismal 85.00. On the contrary, something as "simple" (Not that i would know) as Midwifery had an astronomical cut-off at 99.60........Questionable indeed.

Not to worry, a Bachelor in Pharmacy will only be added to my other academic achievements:


On other news, TZ has new Mickey Mouse plushies. They are just adorable, with big heads, and looks as if he is praying/begging. It is a must for ALL Mickey and Disney fans.

Addicted....

Many people believe that i am addicted to a so-called DDR. I get scolded for doing dance sequences from behind the counter, my manager has a laugh watching it in fast forward, and James makes connections between myself and Dan (a previous employee).

• Dan played DDR - Richard plays DDR
• Dan loves taking photos - Richard loves taking photos
• Dan is gay - Richard must be gay...
  

You might be proud to hear that i was at TZ for a few hours, but didn't play DDR at all. I played manly games like Tekken 5 and and Maximum Tune 3.

Ok....When i say a few hours, i mean 6 hours....It's like my second home. My manager believes i should just live in TZ by setting up a bed in the Tech room. I just can't get enough of the place. So they were wrong. I'm not addicted to DDR, it was TZ all along.....Well, i work there. Isn't that awesome to love the place where you work. In spite of my stinginess, i still occasionally work for free. That's showing a lot of dedication, and i still spend money there...

I have officially made a profit at TZ. I've been paid more than i have spent at the place. And i won myself a toy.....Ok, i lied. My manager won it for me....

I'm off. Where? To youth group. Pot luck today. But that's in like three and a half hours....So i'm going to TZ. It'll be a short visit..... 3 hours is short......

Listening to Addicted - Stevie Hoang