Rambling

I didn't think much about what I've done in 2008 but when Runnez left a comment on my blog recently, it got me thinking. Not to blow my own trumpet, but I did have a pretty eventful (though not dramatic) 2008. In fact, the last 2 years have been life-changing. Since graduating in 1996, my life (outside of running) is probably best described as mediocre. I did pass the Certificate of Legal Practice exam (which passing rate is in the region of 25% every year) but other than that, I just muddled along with little sense of purpose and meaning. Career-wise I wasn't really going anywhere, but I wasn't exactly making any concerted effort to improve it either. I wasn't living in hardship, but I wasn't living it up either. Harsh, but true.

All it took was a simple advertisement in a local newspaper around December 2006, in which a Singaporean legal firm was looking for lawyers to join them. I decided to test the waters by sending in my application and to my surprise, they responded. I went for an interview in January 2007 and was promptly offered on the spot; but due to some difficulties I only managed to obtain my Employment Permit sometime in late April. After tendering my resignation and serving out my notice period, I started my 1st day in the 1st week of June 2007.

Since then, my career, dare I say, has been in an upward progression. It was a fresh start, with no excess baggage, or encumbrances from the past. I found that I was competent in what I did, and I regained the confidence and self-belief that I lost somewhere along the line during my legal practice years in KL. Money was pretty good too- no matter how one puts it, money is important. Only snag is that before I can be admitted to the Bar here, I had to, inter alia, take 8 months off to study this particular course on a full time basis. No 2 ways about it. So I took a sabbatical from August 2008. Not an easy decision, but I felt that my long-term future would be further secured once I passed the course.

I believe that Mrs Rabbit and I became even closer too now that we're here. Released from the shackles of our obligations to our respective parents, we were free to live our own lives. When we were in KL, it was always shuttling between both sets of parents, leaving little time to ourselves as husband and wife.

So here I am now, at this point, about to start the 2nd term of my course, having passed my exams for the 1st term. As I said before, short-term sacrifice for loooong term again. Still, it is by no means easy. The grass is always greener on the other side and I feel like a slacker, not being part of the work force.

Mind you its not as if I've been very free either. It was difficult getting into the study mode again after 10 whole years. Additionally, taking care of the baby is a 24 hour undertaking, especially when I'm not working. We are yet to resolve the issue of how to take care of her once we both are working again.

The baby has been crying plenty since we returned. Putting her to sleep is taking longer than expected. Even if we carry her, it takes a fair amount of placating before she finally stops. Her cries have become louder too. Physically, there's nothing wrong with her- she has no temperature, and I checked every part of her body to ensure that she had no bruises, cuts, or (heaven forbid) broken or sprained bones of any kind. Her stools are fine too. So, with our very limited knowledge, we can only conclude that she is not used to the new surroundings. Maybe its the air, or the smell that she doesn't like, and it is obviously something she cannot articulate any other way than to cry.

At the moment, I can foresee the next 6 months to be filled with the following:-
- attending lectures (every Tuesdays and Thursdays);
- taking time to study;
- even more fatherly responsibilities once Mrs Rabbit completes her maternity (in March);
- exams. End April to 1st week of May.
- doing all miscellaneous (but no less important) matters related to the household. I don't know what they are as yet.

Once the lectures begin next week, I will have a better feel of how best to manage my time and throw in a minimum of an hour's worth of running. Ideally I would like to run twice a day of an hour's each, but we will have to see.

With the Kuala Lumpur International Marathon tentatively set for 28th June (2 days before my birthday), I am seriously considering running the full distance. That means that training cannot be haphazard, and must be highly structured, and most importantly, I need to get my head around the long runs, and doing at least 6 35k runs.

Managed to run 11k yesterday at an easy aerobic pace. Was on course to repeat the same today but at around the 8k mark, I was hit with a massive stomach ache. Thinking I needed to hit the loo, I ran to a nearby petrol station but the ache stopped by then. When I started to run, the ache returned again. After stopping and starting a few more times, I decided to call it a day and took the bus back to my apartment, where, in the comfort of my bathroom, I proceeded to finally do the deed.

Well, that's it for now. The next term break is 21st February, and I expect to be back in KL from the 20th of February onwards, until 1st March. KL-ites, see you then...