Putting It Out There

We used to play spin the bottle when I was a kid," says comedy writer Gene Perret. "A girl would spin the bottle, and if the bottle pointed to you when it stopped, the girl could either kiss you or give you a nickel. By the time I was 14, I owned my own home."

Gotta admire persistence. Because rejection is hard to take. Especially when it comes from someone you know. Or, come to think about it, someone you don't know.

And we all want to be appreciated. We like being valued for what we do and who we are.

American football coach Bum Phillips lives in a world where one can become a hero or a heel in an amazingly short time. One mediocre season and a coach, even a good one, can be out of a job. Like Phillips once said, "There's only two kinds of coaches -- them that's been fired and them that's about to be fired." Sounds like they might want to make friends with rejection.

Few things hold people back more than the fear of rejection. They don't ask for what they need because the answer may be no. They don't ask their boss for a raise or for more time off. They don't ask for help. They are afraid to be the first to say "I love you" (what if they don't hear "I love you" back?). They don't ask for a better deal or a lower interest rate. They don't submit that manuscript to a publisher. In short, they don't let their wants and needs be known, for fear of being turned away, turned down or turned out.

But the wonderful truth is this: If you can accept NO for an answer, you can ask for anything. ANYTHING. When no is an acceptable and okay answer to what you'd like, you can fearlessly ask for whatever you need.

I love the expression, "I'm just putting it out there." Just put it out there. Ask. And don't worry about the response. Nobody can say YES if you never asked. Just put it out there and don't be afraid -- you may be surprised at the answer you get. Sometimes people just need to be asked. And if you don't get the response you want, are you any worse off than before?

Hey -- I'm just putting it out there.

-- Steve Goodier

Happy Dancing

Always can't resist smiling whenever I see this ...



Here's the english version ...



And it all started because of this one guy ...

14 months in the making, 42 countries, and a cast of thousands.
Thanks to everyone who danced with me.

- Matt Harding



This is his story

Up, Up and Away

The movie "Up" touches our hearts. It prompts us to reflect on life's unfinished business and our tendencies to put even the biggest dreams on hold while we go through life's ups and downs.

In a silent, flashback montage and less than 5 mins, we went through the decades that Carl and Ellie spent together, this is the first touching moment, can't help shedding some tears.

When Ellie passed away, she leaves behind a scrapbook as well as a very grumpy widower, who retreats into himself. After an unfortunate incident, Carl was about to be evicted from his home and then, he got a plan. Using thousands of colored balloons tied to the house, prying it from its foundation and carrying it up skyward, Carl intends to fly it to South America, fulfilling Ellie's dream of going to Paradise Falls, somewhere in South America.

Here comes the funny parts - Russell (a chubby Junior Wilderness Explorer), Kevin (a brillantly coloured rare bird) and Dug (the talking dog), laugh so much here.

From left to right: Dug, Kevin, Russell and Carl

More touching moments:

Russell recalling time spent with his dad - "Sometimes the boring stuff is what I remember most."
Ellie's adventure book - Carl was her adventure, not really going to South America.
Carl pinning the Ellie's badge on for Russell - "for a boy who showed true courage, going above and beyond his duties."

Poignant, emotional, endearing, enlightening, thought-provoking, and enjoyable - go, watch it.

P.S. - I love the music
 

Happy Birthday, Singapore!

Happy 44th Birthday, Singapore!!

Last year, we celebrated with Carls Jr burgers, Anderson's ice cream and champagne at a Ritz Carlton suite while watching the preview parade from above.

This year, we had a simple and delicious dinner of Teochew Porridge (but we ate rice ... lol) at Joo Chiat.

After we are done ... Imagine the 2 of us (oh, it's 2 and a half) managed to finish all that food, no wonder my spare tyre keep getting bigger and bigger ...

And watching the parade on TV ...

On our way back, we saw lots of policemen and a VVIP entourage, en route to the parade ...

Guess who!!

Clue: SM Goh is already seated at the parade. So it could only be ...

Actually, to us, 9 Aug is more than celebrating the nation's birthday.

It's our first date, 4 years ago, when we went to watch the fireworks together.

That's when it all started :)

Mind Movies

What Exactly Is a Mind Movie?

A Mind Movie is a short 3 minute video filled with powerful affirmations, and emotionally inspiring images. By watching this video twice a day you are commanding the universe to bring you the people, and resources required to make your dreams a reality.

Thousands of people have already discovered the life changing power of Mind Movies, and have decided to make their own. (Often with truly unbelievable results)

A quote by Napoleon Hill, the author of "Think and Grow Rich"...

"Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, It Can Achieve."

Check out this awesome mind movie from personal development junkie, Alex Cattoni. Want proof that this works? She’s only 23 and she’s already managing a multimillion dollar company, lives a lifestyle only CEOs dream of retiring into, and is a world class photographer.



Want to know how she created her mind movie?? Very easy, if you have ever done presentations for work using Powerpoint or photo slideshows for wedding using Windows Movie Maker, etc, it is along the same lines ... You can make your own mind movie too ...

No One to Phone

One afternoon after the death of her grandfather, Carol lay huddled on her bed, sobbing forlornly. Her mother sat beside her and asked, "What's the matter, honey?"

"I miss my grandpa, and I miss talking to him about my problems," the girl said.

"I know, dear," sympathized her mother. "I miss him too. But can't you talk to me?" Carol shook her head vehemently.

"Why not?" her mother persisted.

"Because you're what we talked about," sobbed Carol.

Children may not always confide in their parents. And adults may choose not to confide in many of their friends and family. But it is important to have someone with whom we can be emotionally intimate.

Tragically, it has been estimated that the majority of men, and many women, have nobody they could phone at 2:00 in the morning if their lives fall apart. They believe there is nobody who really wants to hear from them in a crisis. Too many of us are utterly without close and intimate friends.

The philosopher Goethe once observed, "The world is so empty if one thinks only of mountains, rivers and cities; but to know someone here and there who thinks and feels with us, and who, though distant, is close to us in spirit, this makes the earth an inhabited garden."

Who can you be vulnerable with? Is the earth, for you, more like a lonely desert or an inhabited garden? The difference may simply be in whom you feel free to call at your most wounded moments. Do you have such a person? And are you such a person for someone else?

As it has been said, "A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words."

If we are to find the kind of friend who knows the song in our hearts, we must also BE that kind of friend. And since good friends take time to grow, today is a good day to work on those friendships.

-- Steve Goodier

Take Lots of Breaks to Get More Done

What if you could get more done by working less? Everyone wants that, right?

But that’s obviously not the way most of us work. We think that in order to get more done and be more productive, we need to increase our effort and time.

That’s the obvious, intuitive answer. But the less obvious — the counter-intuitive approach of working less and taking more breaks — gets better results.

Article by Zen Habits contributor Jonathan Mead


Continue reading ...

Gran Turismo

Gran Turismo 5 for PS3 ... coming soon




Gran Turismo Mobile for PSP ... Oct 1 2009 ??

Ice Age Weekend

Watched Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs over the weekend.
Quite a funny show, lots of laughther in the cinema ... hahaha

Got a new character in the movie, Buckminister or Buck for short ... Like this part ...

Buck: "Listen! The wind! It’s speaking to us."

Eddie: "What's it saying?"

Buck: "I dunno. I don't speak wind."

Wahahaha

And there were some heartwarming moments, too ...

When Ellie the female mammoth gave birth to a little baby mammoth, so cute ... and named her Peaches, after the codeword they use if Ellie was going into labour.

And Mannny the male mammoth cuddling little Peaches ... so sweet

This aptly remind me of my baby girl, coming in Sep 09 .... oh, my :)

End Of The World

Will the world really end on 21 Dec 2012?

Watch these interesting documentaries on Youtube, posted by fellow blogger MoMo

Breathless

A couple of days back, was in the library when a small blue hardcover - "breathless" by Lurlene McDaniel, caught my eye ... Picked it up and read the intro ... Here it goes:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You don't know me yet, but please read this before you begin.

Most people believe they have a clear idea of what's right and wrong. Many say they know how they'll act, or how they'll handle an extreme situation. But to be honest, no one knows. Not really.

Even if you say, "I'll never do this or that!" it actually might not be true. Because none of us truly knows what we'll do when the circumstances become so overwhelming and complex that we can't even tell right from wrong. And then there are the totally unforeseen situations, when life deals cards you never expected, or when something that's considered wrong morphs into something right and your mind determines that what once was the rule is not written in stone. Even if this has never happened to you, I'll bet you understand exactly what I'm talking about.

This is what happened to me. I thought I had standards. I believed in my absolutes. I did for most situations. Then I didn't. As time went on, my world turned gray and my absolutes became murky. Right and wrong dissolved into what I knew I had to do.

Please don't judge me until you hear my story.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Well, did this arouse your curiosity enough to read the book? Well, it did for me and I find it a good and short read (by my standards, not sure about yours)!!

You can check it out at the library if you are slightly interested. Hehehe :)

A relaxing weekend

Well, that was last weekend ... Went with my missus to Spa Dor, she did facial and i had a tui na massage, gua sha and cupping session.


My back ended up like that :D

According to the masseuse, my body too heaty, that's why the colour is so purplish red. If do this more often and eat less heaty, deep fried food, then will not be so jialat. But that means less KFC, less nasi lemak, less laksa and more $$$ on massage ... wah piang eh!!

Maybe a cheaper alternative ... no heat that a few botak coconuts can't cure ... hahaha ... 95 cents only, from NTUC fairprice, cheaper than those at pasar malam, only that u got to chop them open yourself ... kekeke

Look at these cute doggy

This pic reminds me of the dog Marley in the movie "Marley & Me".

Happy Rainbow: Look at these cute doggy

I did it my way

And now, the end is near;
And so I face the final curtain.
My friend, I'll say it clear,
I'll state my case, of which I'm certain.

I've lived a life thats full.
I've traveled each and evry highway;
And more, much more than this,
I did it my way.

Regrets, I've had a few;
But then again, too few to mention.
I did what I had to do
And saw it through without exemption.

I planned each charted course;
Each careful step along the byway,
But more, much more than this,
I did it my way.

Yes, there were times, I'm sure you knew
When I bit off more than I could chew.
But through it all, when there was doubt,
I ate it up and spit it out.
I faced it all and I stood tall;
And did it my way.

I've loved, I've laughed and cried.
I've had my fill; my share of losing.
And now, as tears subside,
I find it all so amusing.

To think I did all that;
And may I say - not in a shy way,
No, oh no not me,
I did it my way.

For what is a man, what has he got?
If not himself, then he has naught.
To say the things he truly feels;
And not the words of one who kneels.
The record shows I took the blows -
And did it my way!

freecycle - changing the world one gift at a time

A couple of months back, i chanced upon this SgFreecycle group, which is part of the Freecycle Network that started in Tucson, Arizona in May 2003 by Deron Beal and has since spread worldwide, to over 85 countries, where there are thousands of local groups representing millions of members -- people helping people and "changing the world one gift at a time".

What's that all about?

In a nutshell, it means to give away stuff you do not need at home to other people for free, instead of throwing away and ending up in landfill, wasting resources.

I have been selling my unwanted stuff online in Yahoo Auctions (which has since closed down) and eBay. So, i was thinking ... why not do my part and give some stuff to others for free, if they need it more than i do ... Hmmm ... pondering and scratching chin

Alright, i started to look around for something that can be my first gift in this SgFreecycle group.

Got it!! My Sony PlayStation One game console ... It's been lying around for a couple of years, rarely used, as there were no more new games since PS2 and PS3 came out and i got myself a PSP. LOL

Oh, well, i took it for a test drive to make sure it is still working good, did a clean up and packed all the accessories and games ... and posted my first post and went to bed.

The next morning, i log in to my email inbox and got a shock ... Wow, i got over 80 unread mails !?! Seriously, for a moment, i thought the spam filter was not working ... hahaha

Well, looks like my Sony PS One still quite high in demand, ya ... Then, i realised my mistake ... I put in my post that "first to email and collect gets the item" ... Now, thinking back, why did i put that? I also dun know, maybe for convenience sake, as i did not expect to get many responses, so just give to the first person who ask for it.

In actual fact, after reading through all the emails (Yes, i read them all and in the end, it came up to over 100 emails in total), i realised that those who responded falls into 4 groups:

1. Those who are nearly always online or just happen to be at the right time when i posted (the first email was just shortly after my post)

2. Those who genuinely want or need the item and would state their reasons in the email

3. Those who are just trying their luck to see if they can get the item since it is free (no harm trying but please be more polite when asking)

4. Those who think they already own the item and want to get it (huh !?! wtf)

As you can see, i would love to give to people in Group 2 as above ... but since this was my first post and so, due to my inexperience, i have to honour my words and ended up giving to someone in Group 1 ... But, it's ok lah, still benefit someone, though not the way i expected it to be. So, ok, next time would be better. But somehow, i still feel a bit sad and guilty that i have to disappoint those people in Group 2.

Since then, i have gone on to give away more items:

- hard disk
- power supply
- mp3 player
- portable VCD player
- table lamp
- phone accessories

I have been having fun, reading through all the emails and then deciding who to give the item to. So, to those whom i have given stuff to, hope you enjoy using them.

I will continue to do my part for Singapore Freecycle Network!!

If you are interested to do the same, can just hop on over to the Yahoo group (click on the link above), all you need is a Yahoo email account to get started, giving or receiving. Most important is to have fun and enjoy yourself, giving things away! Woo Hoo ...

Cheers and happy freecycling!! :)

Inspirational Video - The Don't Quit Poem

A Life that Matters

They said he died.

One morning in 1888, Alfred Nobel, inventor of dynamite, the man who had spent his life amassing a fortune from the manufacture and sale of weapons of destruction, awoke to read his own obituary. Of course, it was a mistake. Alfred's brother had died, and the reporter inadvertently wrote Alfred's obituary.

For the first time, Alfred Nobel saw himself as the world saw him – "the dynamite king," the great industrialist who had made an immense fortune from explosives. This, as far as the general public was concerned, was the entire purpose of his life. None of his true intentions surfaced. Nothing was said about his work to break down the barriers that separated persons and ideas. He was, quite simply, a merchant of death, and for that alone would he be remembered.

Alfred read the obituary with horror. He felt that the world must know the true meaning and purpose of his life. He resolved to do this through his last will and testament. The final disposition of his fortune would show the world his life's ideals. And at that time came into being yearly prizes for chemistry, physics, medicine, literature – and the famous Nobel Peace Prize.

If you were to read your own obituary today, what would it say? Do others know what you stand for, what you believe in and what truly matters to you?

Dr. Philip Humbert asks, "What remarkable, extraordinary and amazing things will you do with this wild and wonderful miracle, your one and only life?" I believe that the question should also be asked this way: "What will you do with this wild and wonderful miracle, your one and only DAY?" For it's increasingly clear to me that the decisions I make every day, even little decisions, will decide how my life will eventually turn out.

Hopefully, I won't wake up to read my own obituary. But I have already begun to write it – day by day, moment by moment. And if I live a life that matters today, then my obituary will already be written in the hearts of those who know me.

-- Steve Goodier

Simple and Meaningful

Playing with fingers

What can you do with your fingers? when you get bored ...

Love from a Chihuahua

A Chihuahua puppy was born in Japan with a large, clear, love-heart-shaped pattern in his coat.

The puppy was born in May as one of a litter to a breeder. Shop owner Emiko Sakurada said it was the first time a puppy with the marks had been born out of a thousand she had bred. She had no plans to sell the puppy, which has been named 'Heart-kun'.

The long-coated male Chihuahua puppy was born in Odate, northern Japan.