Friday (26/8) ....

1) Finally achieved Gold for NAPFA
2) Haircut at my usual hairstylist's
3) Watched Home United beat SAFFC 5 - 1 over TV Mobile , with a hat-trick from Number 9
4) Ate my most most favourite Taiwanese sausages and siew mais bought from a pasar malam

I know that I contradicted myself when I said that I wouldn't go for it again but I kind of straightened my thoughts and told myself : look , this is not impossible and is something within reach. Don't condemn yourself. Do it for yourself and for those who have faith in you. So I went for it and clocked a C timing for 2.4km. Not exactly the best of run but the end justifies its means. In the process my shuttle run was sacrificed but I regained the grade I wanted for standing broad jump. ABBBCC is my final standing and got me the gold I wanted. Fitness is done temporary for the time being. Let's hope I show the same resilience and perseverance in my academic studies. An omelette cannot be made without breaking a few eggs. This time round it does not implies that the process must be violent but instead breaking the barriers be it tangible/intangible to achieve the desired outcome. I believe I can do it.

I didnt get my gold.

I was really disappointed because I thought I was on my way towards clinching gold after doing fine throughout the stations. On a good streak even , having three new personal best with optimal results in my pet stations namely sit-ups , shuttle run and new addition --- pull-ups. I died in my 2.4 km , clocking the worst timing ever in my entire life. I wasn't being arrogant when I said that I am gunning for gold and it was really achievable considering that I attained silver in the first test in May due to being tied down by pull-ups only. Now by retaking just for the sake of gold I am being burdened by 2.4 km. It was excruciatingly painful and I wanted the gold badly. Guess I have only myself to be blamed , after all I haven't been training in my cardiovascular endurance ever since May when I did the test. These few months I have been only focusing on working on the strength and muscular endurance in my upper body by hitting the gym and pull-up bars in school. Ms Lee asked me what happened and I wished I had the answer. Oh well.

Decided I won't go for it again. Not because I fear but I don't want to be burnt out as a result and retired early in the night at like.. 8+pm ? when I can actually do more work for at least another 4 hours or so. Not in the right frame of mind too , right now I just want to do well in studies. Considering the opportunity cost , academic results should still be the top priority. I want to get into university to study my favourite subject. As for fitness , I am still part of the 9 week enhanced batch so still have equal chance together with the rest of the silver/gold NAPFA recipients to excel in the army. I am aiming to get into command school , either OCS/SISPEC and academic results played an important role too. Fitness and academic results are important to a guy --- that's how realistic the system works.

To be frank I feel rather sore but I won't regret. Will pick off from where I left to train up in full force at the end of the year. However , I do not know whether I have the time because most likely I will be working after prom , which very much a coincidence fall on 5th of December. Probably can only do static workouts like push-ups , sit-ups etc if I work. Will like to earn some money .. need to have some cash with me because the army pays us peanuts and I can't be forever dependent on allowances from my mother. Probably do some roadshows and some promotion stuffs to earn some quick bucks. Or maybe go back to Cold Storage again. Shall see.

Today's preparation determines tomorrow's success.

The deserted court stood a solitary figure with the morning breeze ruffling his hair. Eyes focusing on just the basket , he gained momentum after dribbling to and forth between his legs and launched into his specialty ------- around-the-world reverse layup.

Marked out at the top of the key by an imaginary opponent , he took his chance after faking a shot by sinking a jumper which caught the marker off guard.

Perfecting the free-throws. Over 75% shooting rate from the charity line.

Countless shoot-outs around the perimeter. The go-ahead three-pointers & the gravity-defying fadeaways.

Rounded it up with a typical , neighbourhood style layup which exude both cockiness as well as confidence. (a one handed layup + touching the board before landing the ground -- I dunno the name for this stunt)

It feels good to be back on the once familiar court again. It's been months since I last played my most favourite sport ----- basketball. The feeling is fantastic , to be able to use the time which according to the norm should be spent participating a very much redundant treasure hunt and sing-along session but I opted out for this much needed and overdued full work-out. Kinda reluctant to leave but like what General MacArthur said when he and his troops were being driven out of Philippines by the Japanese : "I shall return". For sure I will be back , not to Philippines but to the court. Probably a few months later.

I have decided to retake my NAPFA to gun for the gold award. There ain't much odds because currently I am lacking of just 1 point to be awarded the gold. So basically the main focus is to break personal records. This is an example of just focusing on overcoming yourself instead of the competition. Maybe to some people , most people I think , it sounds radical but I think the real opponent of oneself is not any other people but him/herself. And I don't mean to the extent of self-mutilation but rather , to stretch to the maximum or even beyond it. The outcome may surprise people around you , including yourself even.

"Impossible is nothing" ----------------- Adidas 's latest slogan. It echoes my sentiment.

Was at amk library today with my friend to study.

I happily thought I will be able to get a table on the second level (don't really like to study at the cafeteria on the 1st level) but I was wrong. Maybe because we were rather late but all the chao muggers were already there camping out. They were showing every sign that they were there probably since morning when the library opened : dishevelled appearances , sweaters lying around and books + notes + stationeries strewn all over the table. I salute them ---- because I have not reach that stage yet.

Pretty conducive environment we had there at the library. The ideal environment is National Library but because of the distance and time needed to travel is really not worth it. So we make do at amk's. It's actually not that bad , just that we have to shift around a few times because of noise pollution created by various people. When we finally plonked down at a pretty quiet place to start serious revision , a housefly had to come and buzzed around. The benevolent side of me decided to leave it alone and hope that it will fly off but no , it did not appreciate my kindness and keep snooping around till it really got on my nerve. Decided that enough is enough and so I caught the damn thing and sent it to the rubbish bin.

Hang out there till 6:30 p.m. before we call it a day. Obviously is a lack of stamina we have here , but then again seeing my friend's sian look and with due consideration that my stomach was growling for food , we took our leave. I think we should try camping out at the lib from morning till evening next saturday. Better prepare some food rations to keep the energy going.

Recent results and happenings are rather encouraging but I know I shouldn't be satisfied with stuffs and should aim higher. I am abiding what I always preach + believe in : that one must constantly improve in all areas he/she is capable of to achieve even more.

On a much lower note , 60 years ago on the 6th August 1945 , An American aircraft B-29 Enola Gay dropped an atomic bomb called "Little Man" over the central of Hiroshima. This action took away about 140000 lives including those who died of radiation poisoning. The first and only use of atomic bombing in history. 60 years later , in retrospect , have we really achieved a better world ?

This is something worth to ponder about.