power beyond measure

Nelson Mandela wrote, "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

a new cage

Nomination day came and went. So the PAP was not returned to power. My constituency is being contested. Which means I will be able to vote. The bad part is I have to work also that day as I have been appointed a counting assistant for the polls. So I will literally be counting the votes that return our Prime Minister to power! A waste of one good day that I could have spent with my darling or could have gone on holiday. On the bright side it is one of those once-in-a-lifetime things (I hope) and I will be getting paid + 2 days off-in-lieu for my efforts. So I guess that does make it up somewhat.

Agnes and myself met up yesterday and first went to the SPCA. It was near closing time so we did not get to stay long. I managed to play with some of the cats and even 2 of the dogs. I had wanted to check out the small animals but time ran out. After that we went down to Serangoon North, where we vought some turtle food and a spanking new cage for Mimi and her brood. We then went down to Hougang Mall and Agnes bought some stuff from Giordano and Watson's. It was then over to Thomson Plaza where we had dinner at Pizza Hut. We then headed home where Agnes helped out in the regular maintainance and setting up of the hamster tanks (and cage).
The pups have grown so fast. They are now able to do all the stuff that the adults do. We then watched a little TV and rested in the room until I had to send Agnes home. After I got home I did more alterations to the tank. Now there is this mass of tubes protruding out of the other side. But they seem to like it and it seems stable enough not to fall off so that is good.

Politics in asia is always a bit different from the rest of the world. Like in Thailand and the Philippines for example, there are all these protests and all against leaders who are actually trying to do good things for the countries. Thaksin is a good and able leader. He could have just sat back and let money come to him , but instead chose to serve his country. He made Thailand more competitive and attractive to trade with and in. But his enemies decided he was no good and decided to get rid of him no matter what. So he decided to step down but still thet were unhappy. I have no idea what good it did anyone to have him step down and put an end to all his reforms. The same thing elsewhere in the Philippines and Indonesia. When ever leaders try to implement reforms they get ousted either by political meddling or an uprising. No wonder these countries find it hard to stamp out cronyism and corruption. And no wonder foreign investors are wary of investing with all the political uncertainty. In a sense countries like malaysia,singapore and brunei are better in that they provide some sense of security and stability for domestic and foreign trade to happen.

Work has been ok. But somehow I feel restless. Just that I dun quite feel fulfilled in what I do. And I think it shows sometime in my work ethic when i 'eat snake'. I will decide by June what to do next. I just cannot be doing what I am doing now for much longer.

The question of going back to study has been on my mind since last year. I would like to but firstly there is the financial aspect. I will probably have to give up my car and cut back on lots of expenses to pay for my school fees. Also I am not sure if I can cope with part time studies on top of my day job. I have tried it before and it is really taxing to do both at the same time. To study full time would be ideal but that is not an option available to me at this point. And lastly it would mean that I would have to cut back on my time spent with Agnes even more which is already at a premium presently.

Agnes and myself have been discussing our future together. But it is neither here nor there at present. She is still unsure of whether she is gonna pursue her Phd or not. And there is the little matter of The Proposal. Agnes has been 'hinting' she wants an elaborate proposal. So in the meantime she does not seem keen to talk marriage until I formally propose which kinda puts me in abind. I dun want to 'have' to propose just to get things done, but that looks like the way things are laid out now. It kinda loses the romantic aspect when things have to follow a prescribed sequence. But that is only my opinion.

My car now resembles a boot sale. There is so much junk in the boot and in the car itself. There is now more tissue boxes in there than I will ever need. Not to mention car cleaning stuff, books,files, bags,sand(!) etc. Looks like I am gonna have to do something about it sooner rather than later.