sonofboatquay

quandary

2006-07-15T08:09:00.000-07:00

Definition: A state of difficulty, perplexity, doubt, or uncertainty.

Example: Don . . . told me of the quandary that the authorities were in. Should the ruins be left untouched or should they be reconstructed for a new wave of tourists?

How well quandary describes the state I am in regarding the place that I am staying in now. To A&A or to renovate or to sell or ??? what a state of quandary I am in ...

Buddha Chants & Songs - links

2006-02-26T01:45:00.000-08:00

Buddhanet Audio Downloads http://www.buddhanet.net/audio.htm

A chanting session by the community of monks at Wat Luang Phor Sodh Dhammakayaram, Thailand
Chanting Leader: Phra Rajyanvisith, abbot
http://www.concentration.org/b_chants.htm

玉佛禅寺
http://www.yufotemple.com/juequn/jq_fyt_yp.asp

佛音网站
http://www.foyin.com

Dharma-Online
http://www.dharma-online.com/

Buddhist Studies for Primary and Secondary Students (But as relevant to an 80 years old as it would be for a 3 years old)
http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/buddhism/index.htm

般若文海
http://www.bfnn.org
http://bookgb.bfnn.org

http://www.immmusic.com/

http://paginas.terra.com.br/arte/chungtao/

http://tamhaovan.multiply.com/music/item/11

http://www.fraughtwithperil.com/blogs/rbeck/archives/000662.html

http://www.tubf.org/modules/debaser/genre.php?genreid=1

http://www.awarenessplace.com/music/newchant.htm

http://www.buddhist.org.sg/16home_cn.htm

Dharma Resonance: Buddhist Music&Hymns
To Engage, Motivate, Inspire and Touch through music
http://www.dharmaresonance.com/index.htm

21Jan06 - My New Life Resolution

2006-01-20T12:10:00.000-08:00

G'day my blog,

It has been 7 tormenting weeks & in fact a lot more, since I last posted on you. boy ... that tender ... that damned tender ... it had been such a torment... drained the shit out of me completely. You won't know how badly I want to get my life back again ! Yes, my life, my business, not other people's businesses, but what matters to me most - my life, my family, my unfulfilled aspirations & dreams...

Starting today, I am taking 2 weeks leaves, spanning across CNY, and I won't be back to office until 6/2. Starting today, I want to really use this 2 weeks to recollect the past, and give some serious thoughts about what's next. Most importantly, do I stay on in this company, or do I throw in the letter and bail out ? something I need to seriously ask myself...

By the time I step back into office on the 6/2, I would have a clearly thought out mind on my decision, and the "apparent" options now are,

stay on as a tsm and face that same arsehole
move on to do a sdm job in delivery
or bail out

Given what had transpired, I don't think I can stay on, and I am really inclined to bail out.

The big question I need to ask myself - touch my heart and ask myself, what do I really want to do that will make me happy and successful?

I need a mirror, someone that can show me the way. that someone, my "gui-ren", where are you ?

If I am to bail out, do I have the courage to bail out without a fall back plan? would I have my wife's support? Perhaps, the other questions would be why are such things bothering me? HEY ! where was that young and daring soul of yours ??? where has it gone hiding !!!??? find that back !!!

I am calling this post "My New Life Resolution", cos it is really my life that I want to start afresh, not just for this new year, but NOW, from this point on, at this point in my life, do not wait anymore, touch my heart and ask myself deep inside how do I want to live my life for the next 30 years. Do I want to die a regretting old rag or do I want to live the rest of my life a fulfilling one without regrets ? touch my heart...

祈愿

2005-11-22T07:46:00.000-08:00

请合掌,一起念,

我诚心祈求:

身和敬: 我的行为要端正, 不做非法的事.
口和敬: 说话要客气, 不若事生非, 要清净口业.
意和敬: 与人交往相处要诚恳, 友善.
戒和敬: 我要遵守戒律, 绝不做犯法的事.
见和敬: 我要尊重和接纳别人正确的见解.
利和敬: 誓不損人利己, 争权夺利做危害团体, 人群的事.

我发愿: 誓要牢牢记住佛陀的教诲, 严格约束自己, 宽容待人, 和大家和睦共处, 精进共修, 同上佛道.

南无佛南无法南无僧

Born Free

2005-11-17T16:05:00.000-08:00

"Man is born free;
and everywhere he is in chains.
One thinks himself the master of others,
and still remains a greater slave than they."

-- Jean Jacques Rousseau

Advanced Open Water @ Pulau Aur

2005-10-31T07:05:00.000-08:00

Went for AOW over the weekend of 29-30 Oct. Done it at Pulau Aur with Apache Diver. Done 5 skill dives:
- peak buoyancy performance
- navigation
- night dive
- deep dive
- drift dive

However, find the dives a bit pian-jia... done a few, never perfect the or do more practise to the skills, but move on to leisure dive oredi... find it a bit wasted. I would rather do a few more practises to improve the skills ...

Perhaps it is about time to do some basic equipping such as the mask, snorkel, and fin; and perhaps get a set of long tight shirt to replace the wet suites...

Nevertheless, it was a good getaway. Look forward to more dives in the months ahead.

Where shall we go next ? Redang, Perhentian, Permangil, ... ...

Mosquito in Betta breeding tank * damned *

2005-10-06T22:13:00.000-07:00

Lessons learned, folks.

Betta fries are too young to devour the mosquito larvaes. So cover the breeding tank tight.

Mosquito net helps to keep the larvaes from flying away, but it apparently does not prevent female mosquitos from entering to lay eggs.

Lately, I have 3 massive attacks of hatched larvaes waiting to escape the net. scare the shit out of me ! wont want to be a dengue spreader. Spread insecticide to eliminate the mosquitos, but I'm afraid some betta were sacrificed in the process too. * weep *

To betta breeders out there, do note ! don't take the moss lightly. those moss kills ! I mean, literally !

1st Oct 05

2005-09-30T09:44:00.000-07:00

time now: 12:45am. just passed midnight.

9 months gone. PBC goals still far from complete. worry ...

work out a propostion for our house A&A. detailing the analysis, etc. very much like a solution document...

that dumb financial integrity class - get it done ...

2 SSM clases to complete - don't drag ...

My triple spawn betta fries. the survivors seem to have relinquished, but might still be ok. the tank position and lighting makes it hard to have a good view of what is inside...

oops... didn't block off the two male bettas. probably pretty drained of their "power" by now... need to part them 1st thing tomorrow morning...

now, what to plan for tomorrow ? go platnet fitness ? any yoga class in the am ?

wealth mgt class - when ? check AAS web site --> 13/10, 7pm.

hey ! allocated 5000 china sky ipo. hope to make a gain soon once it starts trading on 3/10, tt is this coming monday ... ! Alert !

chk with MW, can go back to opus & use asg ? get her blessing...

next week Oct liao, time to resume aikido classes ! --> friday classes, 7/10.

read courage to be rich (chinese edition), by mark o.haroldsen.

kena told my communication f***-up! ch** b** ! what the f*** is wrong with my comm? just because i dun wanna suck-up ??!!

hope to do succesfully - doggie style ...

advanced open water - on ? weekend of 29/10 @ pulau aur... $350...

toastmaster @ tpy - 10/10 next meeting ...

DNA of success - we were all borned to be successful. look no farther. the DNA of success is here, right within you. bring it out, Just Do It !

--- pause ---

Triple Spawn - 18-Sept-2005 (Sunday)

2005-09-17T16:32:00.000-07:00

18-Sept-2005 (Sunday)

Day 7.

All that were planned to be done were done yesterday. One more important thing that I was supposed to do that I forgotten to wrote down yesterday, i.e. to cover the baby tank with mosquito net.

Heng ah ! If not, I could be breeding Dengue mosquitos, man ! You see, the fries are too small at this stage to devour the mosquito larvae. If the precautions were not taken, the larvaes would turn mosquito is a couple of days and the consequences could be disastrous. Especially when there have been at least 4 Dengue fever cases in my immediate neighbourhood lately.

Enough of the latest epidemic, back to my betta fries please. The other thing I did was the turn the partitions 90% so that the short side of the partition is the side sitting in the sand bed instead of the long side. This effectively creates a "screen" between the partitions but no longer segregates them anymore. Water can circulate better between the partions and the fries from the 3 spawns can mingle better, i.e. free swimming to any part of the tank wherever they like best. :D

As last view yesterday, there are lots of fries all over the place and it is exciting. I think I am finally getting it. yeah !

There is a downpour this morning and it is still raining now, although it has "mallow" a lot. Good rain as it gives fresh water to my other tanks - the top tank where my last 1+ months spawn was, the earth pot where my older spawn + neon tetra was, the maiden tank where I kept the moms, and the papa cans where I expose them to the rain to absorb the ingredients of heaven and earth.

I read somewhere before of westerners creating outdoor summer tanks. Hey, mine are outdoor summer tanks all years round, and guess what, they have all the best ingredients that mother earth provides - the Sun which mades the plants thrives, the rain which provides fresh water and breeze of coolness, the sand bed that absorb and neutralise the nitrates, and of course the tender loving care of their papa - me. hee hee...

Triple Spawn - 17-Sept Saturday (cont')

2005-09-16T17:33:00.000-07:00

Saturday 17-Sept-2005. Good Morning ! Rise & Shine !

Day 6. I have decided to remove the males 1 day earlier. This is perhaps already stretching the limit. I have read about 7 days being the limit but I have yet to personally tried leaving the males in the bredding tank for so long. Guess I have come this far and 6 days is it.

What I have done in the past is around 4-5 days, i.e. once I started the first feed to the fries. But let's see how much fries I have left this round. Regardless, it will be good lessons learned.

- Need to get the males' cans ready for them to move back. Intend to put some fresh water in but retain most of the black water. Black water will be good for the males.
- Need to take care not to nest the fries out too when removing the males. will need to use an intermediate tank to do the transfer, and "rescue" any fries that got nested out with their dads.
- That little red males that is temporarily occupying one of the can needs to be moved out. rental due, my friend.
- Need to give the males a good feed
- and for the fries too, a good serving of microworm will be yummy.
- next, shall I leave the partition in for now, or remove it ? let's see how it goes ...

Triple Spawn - 10-Sept Saturday

2005-09-15T06:09:00.000-07:00

Saturday 10-Sept-05

I bought two pieces of plastic board, cut it up, and used it to partition the new tank into three. The stale water were removed and new fresh water were added. The sand were cleansed too. This is how my tank looked like. Well, it was actually taken on the 12-Sept, 2 days after it was set up.

Three females that were selected were released, in the evening, into the respective partition, for the designated bridegroom to arrive on the next day.

Sunday 11-Sept-2005

The three designated males were released into the respective parition.

The puple male with the blue female occupied the left-most partition.
The sloppy black male with the cambodian-reddish female in the middle partion.
The green-back black male with the cambodian-beach female in the right-most partition.

A series of chasing, courtship, buidling of bubblenest begun. All the fishes were apparently rather horny and couldn't wait to get into "action"...

Monday 12-Sept-2005

Big bubblenest nest were built by each of the male, and spawning were apparently undergoing smoothly, cos' all the 3 nest were filled with eggs, lots of eggs. take a look...

The bubblesnest of the right-most pair.

The bubblenest of the middle pair,

The bubblenest of the left-most pair,

The three females were removed on that evening and given a good feed. Their jobs were done and leaving them in there too long will only subject them to the attack of the males, who now focus solely on taking care of their spawn and passing on their genes.

Tuesday 13-Sept-2005

"Officially" Day 2 of the spawn. All were well. The 3 males were left alone. Minimum disturbance to them.

No feeding of the males since Sunday mornining, when they were feed once when they were first introduced into the breeding tank to get intimate with the females.

Wednesday 14-Sept-2005

Day 3. The fries should had hatched by then, but not free-swimming. The males would be taking tenderly care of their offsprings. Again minimum disturbance and no feed.

Thursday 15-Sept-2005 (Today)

Day 4. The fries should be free-swimming by today and today is a critical day. They must be given their first feed of microworm.

I have prepared additional tub of microworm cultures starting on Sunday in anticipation of this day. The microworm were harvested and put into a clean tub of tap water.

Care were taken to introduce the microworm into each of the partition, with as little inteference to the water surface as possible. This were done first thing this morning.

Saw a few fries when I got home today. Can't see all cos' I had placed plenty of floating plants in the tank. The fries will be fine, resting and anchoring under the plants. The experienced males will be fine and competent in their endeavors. I have ease of mind.

Latest by Day 7 (Sunday 18-Sept) the males will need to be removed. Their jobs will be done by then, the fries would be free-swimming and won't really need their dads anymore. and also by then the males would have starved for 7 days already and any longer would arouse their appetite, and they might just eat up their own offsprings. So don't wait to take them out any longer than that.

So much for now. Good Luck !

Microworm for Betta fries

2005-09-10T02:23:00.000-07:00

If anyone out there would like to have a microworm culture, leave me a comment. I am happy to share the culture for a token fee.

This is passing it on. I got my culture from a kind soul before, and I am happy to pass it on.

Cheers !

Aggro List !!!

2005-09-09T05:44:00.000-07:00

1. Out of the rat race in 10-15 years time ! today: 09/09/2005.

2. Build up our asset column ! Build up my pipeline ! Create my cash flow !

3. Utilise our house asset to build a second asset. Source for a real estate, commercial or industrial (shop house, office space, retail floors) to create a pipeline !

4. Rent out our current unit - generate cash flow ! Rationalise and move to two flats next to each other. Basic renovation needed !

5. Better home for my children ! Better home for my parents ! Better home for us ! Better condusive working environment home for me !

6. Buy back our two ancestral house in Boat Quay in 10 years time !

7. Own a one hectre plot at Leisure Farm Resort !

8. Own a stake at Bandar Nusajaya !

9. Build up the family's financial intelligence !

10. Build up the courage to be rich ! To be financially free !

11. Give ! Rekindle the generousity in me ! Charity ! In rememberance of my belated grandparents

11. Focus on a few ! Focus Focus Focus !

"Busy"

2005-08-07T19:02:00.000-07:00

Wish List for our home

2005-06-25T06:21:00.000-07:00

- the roof needs to be secured to prevent any potential leaking and the decay of the wooden beams

- the back of the 2nd floor to extend out to create more rooms.

- the flooring downstairs needs to be re-done cos' it is obvious that there is a change in the floor levering at the kitch area.

- the wall of the kitch needs to be fixed and re-tile to rectify the cause of the crack of two sides of the wall.

- the front gate to be change to wooden ones to creat more privacy. Now, any passer's by can look directly the house and there is little privacy there.

- all the window grills needs to be change to step basic security.

- the front balcony to be converted to bedroom space

- sound-proof and tinted glasses to be used in front to creat another level of privacy. Some means of a short wall / screen to be put in place to discourage peeping into the 2nd floor from outside.

- the basic kitchen layout, shelves, cabinet, to be done up to provide a ergonimic cooking environment.

- possibly extending the kitchen out to create more kitchen space, but this will reduce the washing area space. not preferred.

- change the doors to all the rooms.

- add at least one toilet on the 2nd floor, preferrably attach to our bedroom.

- re-layout the rooms of the 2nd floor. Need to plan for the children's rooms. Can't have the boy and the girl continuing to share a room. They are getting older now.

--- end of 1st edition : 25/6 @ 2135hr. ---

Updates on my betta breeding experiment

2005-06-25T05:25:00.000-07:00

First of all, Good News ! I have got 2 pairs of betta spawning.

The purple male's spawn is 3 days old now and I can already see some of the fries almost free swimming. But I think this male has lost quite a number of eggs due to a sabotage by a female that apparently didn't get to spawn with him. I was actually quite shock to see the beach female swim up to the bubblenest (already heavy with eggs) and wiggle feriously in attempts to destory the bubblenest. No wonder I saw the bubblenest in diff. forms and shapes when I chk earlier the day before. The male must have been very perseverant by rebuilding the bubblenest again in previous sabotage attempts. Luckily the male managed to drive that female off, if not the consequence could have been more disastrous. But I guess the damage had been done, I didn't see as many fries as I would have observed in my past spawns. But I reckon it is probably destinated for nature's selection to be in play. Lesser fries to compete for space might means that most of the fries from this spawn will grow up successfully.

Now as to which female was the mother of this spawn is still a mystery. Why I say this is because I had thrown all six females into the breeding tank to create the mood of competition inorder to entice the spawning. I had removed three lower ranking females leaving the last three candidates that were most ferocious. I believed it is the metalic blue female that is the mother but I can't be 100% sure. How I derive that - that beach female "destroyer" can't be the mother, the other beach female still looks heavy with eggs, though the metalic blue looks fat too but it does not looks heavy with eggs. Thus my suspect is it is the female that had succeeded in spawning with the purple male.

Right at this instance, the female had all been removed, and the purple male is all tender loving care, closely guarding his spawn. The breeding tank is in good condition, green water, plenty of water plants, conditioned sand bed. Good broad surface water plant to provide shade & shelter for the fries, and in partial exposure to good sunlight to stimulate infusoria growth. Infusoria will be crucial to the fries in the very 1st few days of growth.

I am planning to remove the purple male next Saturday (2 July), one week after the spawn, but I will observe and see if I need to do it earlier.

Hooray to the purple male !

Now, another better news, that 1st male of mine that didn't managed to spawn in many past attempts, had succeeded in doing so. I threw a fat red female into his earth pot only with the intent to arouse it but not to spawn. But I guess the two were so ready that by the next morning, they were curling all over each other. Now all other fishes in the earth pot had been removed, including the red female, and the 1st male is closely guarding his precious offsprings.

Now, what is most interesting is this - this male actually moved his eggs to diff. locations 3 times ! Had anyone seen such things before ???

The pair spawned under a small floating plant. But after I put a big water hycinth, that is after all the other fishes had been removed, the male actually moved his eggs to this gap between the stems of the water hycinth. And then, this morning when I think I scared it by peeping his bubblenest (which is successfully heavy with eggs), I think he got a shock and actually moved his eggs again to another water hycinth leave a few leaves away. Amazing right ??!!

Well, I hope he doesn't lost many eggs in between the 3 shifting.

One conclusion that I can finally draw on this, this 1st male is not impotent after all, I concluded that it is a mere mismatch between this 1st male and that 1st female. So the problem is most likely with that 1st female after all.

Similarly, I am planning to remove the 1st male from his earth pot sometime next Saturday (2/7) when his fries becomes free swimming. By then, I am also planning to move his fries into the breeding tank where the condition should be better for the young fries. The 2 batch of fries will be about 1 days diff. in ages but I reckon it should be fine and should not cause any conflicts. Besides, the breeding tank should have enough space for all.

To update on how all these came about. After several initial unsuccessful attempts, I got fed-up and last Saturday (18/6), I went to serangoo north and got 2 more male (the purple one and another black one), and 5 females. The results is apparent, and the conclusion is most again, don't leave all yours spawns in one pair of bettas. Always have backup pairs.

Once I got 2 successful spawn going, I am planning to do so with the 3rd male. I am planning to spawn it with that beach female that is heavy with eggs. But I am running of tank space and I need to work something out before I attempt the 3rd spawn.

What I am planning to put in place,
- I have secured a microworm culture source. Arranging to pick it up tomorrow morning. That will tie the fries over the crucial 1st week of their life.
- I am planning to get a net to cover up the breeding tank once all the fries are moved into it, and when the father has been removed. This is to prevent mosquitos from breeding in it. The young fries won't be able to eat up the larvaes that such tender age and you won't want mosquito infesting my home due to it.
- I need to get more wild almond leaves to condition and sooth the adults fishes. Fresh water from the tap is not the most ideal for these fishes. I need to rest the breeding pairs too and this is what I believed the best thing to do for the bettas.
- I am hoping to get another 2 feet tank, fill it with sand and water plants, to create another ecosystem for my fishes, be it the females bettas, the neon tetras, the guppies or the barb. In time to come, when this new tank is ready, it can either be used as a refuge/rest place for the females bettas, or as another breeding tank. But if I am to do this, I would need to think about where to put all my other smaller tanks that I had shelved at the lower deck of the tank stand right now.
- I am hoping to get some duckweeds once again. This can be quite a nuisance as it can multiply too fast and too much, but if I use it right, it can provide plenty of 'rest spots' for the bettas.

So much for now. Hope to post some digital shots of the spawns for all to admire.

Cheers !

My Betta breeding tank

2005-06-12T18:25:00.000-07:00

In the process to relocate the neon tetras from the breeding tank. had put 15 tetras in there. had successfully removed 8 to my earth pot so far. 7 more to go.

Have been putting the female in continually to stimulate the male. The male has been making better bubblenest now. The last 2 was a failure.

Pondering why he was not as "horny" (not making big "attractive" bubblebest), .... the food? the location of the tank? the exposure to sunlight? the human disturbance?

Have been conditioning the pair for the past days. The female looks ready, but obviously not impressed by the male. Both have been fed well. giving them dry blood worms (live ones would be best), plenty of it, to give them the strength and protein to "show down".

The female is in again this morning. purpose: drive the male nuts and make him makes bette bubblenest. also getting the female familiar with the tank, and the hiding places.

once the tetras are all go, we will be set to go. Now is to see how best a bubblenest can the male produce. I am counting on you now, boy.

般若波罗蜜多心经

2005-06-04T06:47:00.000-07:00

观自在菩萨行深般若罗蜜多时照见五蕴皆空度一切苦厄
舍利子色不异空空不异色色即是空空即是色受想行识亦复如是
舍利子是诸法空相不生不灭不垢不净不增不减是故空中无色
无受想行识无眼耳鼻舌身意无色声香味触法无眼界乃至无意识界
无无名亦无无名尽乃至无老死亦无老死尽无苦集灭道无智亦无得
已无所得故菩提萨埵
依般若波罗蜜多故心无罣碍无罣碍故无有恐怖远离颠倒梦想
究竟涅筑三世诸佛
依般若波罗蜜多故得阿耨多罗三藐三菩提
故知般若波罗蜜多是大神咒是大明咒是无上咒是无等等咒
能除一切苦真实不虚故说般若波罗蜜多咒即说咒曰揭谛揭谛
波罗揭谛波罗僧揭谛菩提萨婆诃

1. 曲名：般若波罗蜜多心经歌手：齐豫专辑：所以变快乐

"table of contents"

2005-05-24T08:59:00.000-07:00

so much things to write about ...

- my primary school, Teok Ayer. my bunch of friends, all boys, went swimming together before I knew how to swim...
- my ancestry - Hui'an. stories told to me by my belated grandma
- my family tree ... does anyone still knows anyone these days ?
- Aikido
- betta breeding, microworms, tank conditioning
- financial intelligence
- dreams i ever dreamed
- BQ - our 'ancestral' home in SGP. will we be able to possess it again one day ?!
- PLW - one missed steps == thousand years of regrets
- PP - once our home ...
- conquests dream
- self discovery ...

Miscelleneous Sunday 08May

2005-05-07T19:29:00.000-07:00

Anyone heard of Network 21 before ? A search on the web site tells me that it is a MLM related thingie, i.e. related to Amway, or is Amway. Any clues?

It is a downpour outside right now. I kinda like rainy days sometimes. The rain is filling up my outdoor tank. Hooray !

One accomplishment today. Finally my grandpa's tomb has been fixed. The soil has been filled, and the contractor has planted some plants to hold the soil together so that it will not erode in the future. The tombstone has been cleaned up and it is only until today that I realised grandpa's tombstone was that nice when it was first done loooong away. The cracks has been cemented also. but it going to cost me $450 ... :( But, it is our family's feng-shui, and we should not take it lightly. I am glad that after so long, it is finally done !

Back to the fish tank, I am gonna get some betta soon... but I still feel that I lack a good secondary tank, i.e. another sand-beded, planted tank for the females & the livebearers... let's take a resolution to get one, $20 for a used one from the Salvation Army. would that be the right price ?

Planning for June holidays. I am worried whether that tender is gonna be issued then... it is gonna spoil my holiday plans .... bette apply leaves early !

Tank preparation for Betta breeding

2005-05-06T18:36:00.000-07:00

boy ... am I excited...

finally I have setup a tank, and I am conditioning it to be ready for betta breeding, once again. kudos !

got this tank from a neighbour that is moving away, and it has been collecting dust for a few weeks. read about planted tank sometime ago, finally saw this magazine over the weekend on planted tanks and it triggers the urge in me to 'just do it' !

so i drove all the way to changi beach on saturday evening, and collected a whole plastic bag of sand to fill the tank, and went to farmart to get some water plants to start planting the tank. the tank is no where close to a display set, but hey... who cares ?! I am preparing it to be used eventually for betta breeding again ! hooray !!!

got a few swordtail to populate the tank now, also transferred a few guppies from my earth pot over to it to be very sure that the sand, the plant, the tank, the water, the outdoor condition (under direct sun) can be conditioned and can substain life. ha ha ha ...

then come my secret recepe, went to the spot that I know of and collected a whole bag of dried wild almond leaves, and turned the whole tank into a nice orangish color. boy... I can tell that the fishes in there are now very comfortable, very like their natural habitat, and they sure loves the sand-bed, and plants, and the space to go around.

am I excited that I am steps closer to getting the tank ready to start some serious breeding !

what's next -

ah .... re-start the microworm culture again ! the betta fried won't surivie the 1st few weeks w/o a good feed of microworm. ... painful lessons from past trials ...

... and get the breeding stock ! discovered this tug away farm (literally outdoor farm where this fellow breed plots after plots of betta ! bear in mind, plots NOT tanks !) in seletar years ago. will go find it again perhaps next sunday. hee hee hee ...

oh btw, aquarama is round the corner, let's see what stocks I could get there ! oh boy oh boy ...

Lost ...

2005-04-25T11:49:00.000-07:00

Lost, if I may say. exactly how I'm feeling now. spent a whole life searching and I still dunno where my harbour is.

what exactly am I good at? what would I do that will make me trully a happy person?! how can I not be any the mercy of the monthly pay check? how can I get out of the vicious cycle?

quesions ... tonnes of ...

let's say I'm working in this MNC, a 3 letters company. full of buzz, and full of people who are ignorantly arrogant too. but unfortunately this business unit that I am in is probably a dying trade, commoditise, competitive, low margin, cut throats more often than not, and hard to meet quotas...

ignorantly arrogant --> you encounter bunch of people who does not know the trade and yet act like they know the whole industry, lead you down the wrong path, and commit you to unrewarding task.

there are no focus on this business, everyone kinda frown on our line of business, and no one will put the feet down to say let's close down this business and focus our energy on more lucrative ones. a bunch of "talkers" but no "walkers".

......

13's and 12's

2005-04-25T11:39:00.000-07:00

The 13’s and the 12’s

I was told that my family branches from the 13 brothers family…. So the story goes …

I once wrote ...

2005-04-25T11:33:00.000-07:00

** 12/10/2004 **

I would like to start a blog of my own to capture stories told to me by my belated grandmother. I missed her ...

My grand parents came from the Fujian province in Southern China, Huian / Ho-Long. ... more to follow ...

Chinese New Year

2005-02-11T07:35:00.000-08:00

I am right now viewing the videos of the CNY celebration I had at my place. Almost the entire family (on my mom's side) was invited. It was rather rowdy but fun. boy ... the whole place was crowded ! I did a count, there were at least 45 people and the place never look so packed ! But it was good fun, and good for family bonding.

For instance, I never I have a pair of nieces (twins, in fact) that are in the National Gymnastics team. They are the daughters of my eldest cousin.