The last few hours of my Friday night is about to end as the dying flame of my unfortunate weekend will be cut once i finished up this post, shut down my laptop and proceed on with my less-than-4hours of sleep. Yes you didn't it wrongly, this post may just mark the pathetic ending to the closing hours of my weekend, as I am geared up, not only physically in terms of my tech gadgets and books to keep my next 2 days packed, but also mentally with regards to accepting the stark truth that i have to put through the ordeal of yet another week of NS without much deserved rest at home. My bad omen indeed turn out to be a reality, as I was required to serve my 2nd confinement on a Sunday, coupled with a last-minute call up to be the duty signaler on Saturday, though the later spells out to be something fortuitous, rather than dismal (haha maybe thats what you get from forging an improved relationship with your ps, who has changed stupendously from one who can't stop tormenting your life, to someone who needs and recognised your help :)
It will be plain stupidity if i just end this post with that paragraph of updates, just so that i can fulfill the cardinal requisite i set for myself of a post a week, so i thought of just sharing some insights i have with regards to the life of a 2nd-year soldier.
I could still remember that at around 330pm today, we have cleared our weekly standby area upon a swift inspection by the platoon sergeants, and have gave our 'worn-out' bodies a good wash and donned in our civilian clothes, awaiting for the elusive order to fall in and book out. As usual, we were just lazing around in bunk after getting all things prepared and i just happened to ask Jin Yang, "God damn, this week has just passed like that and do you remember what we have done?" For me, i clearly have no idea what are the things i have accomplished apart from the daily ritual of sending out of arms early in the unearthly hours and working pass the RO timing before the armskote is cleared and we call it a day. That may just summed up my 'training schedule for the year!' as an armskote man...
Then Jin Yang replied me, "the only significant even i can remember is the CO dialogue, who was really thought-provoking and an interesting free-for-all discussion". It really struck me when i couldn't even recall the things i have did for the past few days, even when i am still physically in camp and hours away from booking out. And the only way i can make my time in Cougar more fulfilling is to create my own training schedule, which essentially consists an eclectic mix of movies (ranging from chic-flicks like 'no strings attached' to the more philosophical ones like a beautiful mind'), books (that spans from fiction stories to insightful books on LKY and life), drama serials and podcasts, that aims to enrich my NS life as much as possible - and that's really life is for me now, at least for the coming week ahead :)
Optimism is crux.