Little Black Boy

What.

2012-01-28T10:44:00.003+08:00

It's another weekend. The last one was supposedly the long weekend, but for some strange reason, long weekends end faster than normal weekends.

The last weekend was either spent TRYING to read as much as I can, burning out too easily while reading and the random visits to random people for New Year festivities. Chinese New Year is really the one time that I feel quite lonely because most of my friends are busy celebrating and I usually just camp at home.

School just gets more and more messed up. I don't know how they seem to give so much readings that they never end. I can read and read and read and yet there's always something else waiting in line. Depressing is a mere understatement. This does not include the various presentations and deliverables. I don't know if I'm doing things wrongly or whether I'm just plain slow when it comes to reading school work. Ha, you know, I used to think I was a fast reader...

tired

2012-01-21T14:33:00.003+08:00

One of the worst ways to begin a day is to wake up with a sore neck from sleeping wrongly. The discomfort is excruciating. Coupled with a headache, I've been in a daze all day. Driving to school was scary. I could barely focus on driving and I was happy to drive on the leftmost lane at snail's pace.

It's been a long week. Starting the week (not to mention SUNDAY) with a Finance Endorsement meeting just sets a terribly wrong tone. 17 hours straight, and it would have been longer if not for certain fin secs who had morning lessons the next day. Just got out of my summarised part ii of the meeting since I can't make it for the full one tonight. Wonder how long that one's gonna take. Looking at the budget cuts and comparing it with last Sunday's budgets, I would say 5 hours?

I spent almost every week night in school. Meetings, CPR course, OBHR day... It's tiring. And to think it's only the 2nd week!!! Thank God for the long weekend. It's gonna be filled with readings and textbooks, but I'm gonna ensure that I repay my sleep debt and be well rested for the coming week.

Oh blah

2012-01-11T14:25:00.000+08:00

Disappointing.

Year 2, Sem 2

2012-01-09T21:41:00.002+08:00

The fourth installment comes with a four day week.

The irony.

School's back once again. Once again, the Social Science student is embarking on a semester of modules that looks anything unlike what most of my course mates are doing.

Social Cognition. The one module that I approach feeling daunted. After getting kicked in the butt by my previous psychology modules, it makes me more determined to fix this. The class consists of year 4s, another reason why I'm still apprehensive. They have been through so many other psyc modules and have more experience in doing all the deliverables, while it'll be the first time for me. If anything, my main goal this semester is to improve my SS mod by a letter grade. I'll go for the distinction after that.

Training and development and Special Topics in OBHR. As always, I'm going all out for these 2. If there are mods that are gonna help salvage the GPA, these would be the ones to bank on.

FT and Faci are like shadow modules this semester. Faci is probably going to be the module where I just sit and relax while FT would come and go before I even realise it.

And finally, I meet Statistics. For the last time, I hope. Let's end on a high.

With that, I begin the second half of my second year and race towards the mid-point of university life. Here goes.

Thy Sons Are We

2012-01-03T03:19:00.006+08:00

Thy Sons Are We.

These were the words emblazoned on the grandstands at Geylang Bahru. As a kid, whenever my dad drove past Victoria, I've always read out the words, either aloud or to myself. At 13, I was introduced to a song which this phrase originated from, and since then, I've sung this song with gusto every time I get the chance to.

But it's during my meetings with the boys that this phrase truly resonates within me.

A friendly visit from the Singaporean turned German student Basil, and this time, we decided on a pocket friendly place instead of cut throat $33 Nasi Padang. The cool Simpang breeze that brought along suspicions of an impending rain was just the start to an evening of nonsense. Catching up, reminiscing, and even being reminded of long forgotten incidents... it was noisy, boisterous and crude. Very much a throwback to the days when the crimson badge hung above our shirt pockets.

Dinner was followed by a LAN gaming session. My previous foray into LAN gaming lasted a meagre 30 minutes with me not getting the hang nor the appeal of CounterStrike. Close to a decade later, there I was, this time playing better and actually enjoying myself. I was not familiar with the controls, nor was I familiar with the maps, but just aimlessly walking around and shooting everyone in sight, be it friend or foe, was quite a joy to behold.

Then came the decision to play DOTA. A game I've never played before. I ended the night killing one person, and in return, I was killed more than 70 times. Amusing statistics that strengthens my resolve to DO(n')TA anymore. It was fun having my own sneaky mission where I walk one big round around the forest and singlehandedly try to destroy the tower. (And I actually succeeded!) But that said, I spent have the time re-spawning back to life due to the numerous times that I ended up dead.

A slow drive back and once again, I have to say that the radio plays the best songs at night. Debbie Gibson, David Cook and finally, Take That. I'd wait for life.

A good night of fun and laughter. A good way to begin the year with the boys who gave me the best growing up years.

The crimson badge is no longer pinned above my pocket every morning, but instead, etched in the fibers of my heart. Thy sons are we, and we will not forget.

two zero one two

2012-01-01T14:01:00.002+08:00

Hello 2012.

And so we finally meet. After watching a movie named after you and reading tons of Mayan conspiracy theories, you are finally a reality.

A simple beer and a glass of champagne. Flares, loud music and the intermittent buzzing of the iPhone with new year greetings.

As much as it's just another day divided by a social construct, a new year often promises new (and hopefully) better comings and change.

If there's anything that I want in 2012, it'll be the hunger to go after everything I want and nothing's gonna stop me.

All I Want For Christmas Is You

2011-12-26T17:27:00.005+08:00

Merry Christmas!

Midnight mass, Christmas 2011. All the weeks of animating couldn't have really prepared me for what was to come. Animating every week during the normal Sunday-s are structured affairs. I read a short introduction, I welcome the congregation, I read out the respective page numbers for the entire duration of mass. Midnight mass on the other hand was slightly different. An impromptu introduction that deviated slightly from the missal was just the start. So far, so good. Then came the general reminders. The first sign of dropping my formal tone came when I was explaining to the congregation about the how the mass entrance was to be like. Some laughter from the congregation when they heard me explain, I thought that was quite ok. Mass began and went on as usual. Preparation of the gifts provided that one line of infamy; "Cancel that". It came out so quickly, it was like a reflex reaction. But it was really the first time that I felt like myself while animating. No cloak of formality or regard for what image/sound I was portraying. And after that, (and probably with the effects of the impending Christmas high) mass became so easy. My announcements were happier and higher and I really started to have fun. Mistakes here and there, but it's something I will learn from. I was so worried about the prospect of animating for such a big mass, but looking back, it was really an experience to behold!

And the bonus, I made Father Pat laugh on stage with my "cancel". Surprised me more than anything.

After party was at Ryan's place. Big and spacious house that could comfortably fit everyone. Food, company and random banter. However, I've always liked to use a bit of Christmas night to just think and be alone for a while. It's always good to have that space where one can just reflect and contemplate. Ryan's front porch provided a nice quiet spot while everyone was inside eating and talking. Thoughts about school, how the previous semester was, how I want the next to be and how to really start doing well in my SS mods.

Since I was sitting on the porch of a big house that was surrounded by big houses, my thoughts soon drifted to what kinda job I want and what I wanna make outta it, earning the millions needed to get a big house like that. Natural progression saw me extend my gaze to the Meyer Road condominiums that dot the background. And being the property savvy person that I am, I started to weigh whether I would prefer a big condominium unit with a nice seaview or a peaceful and big landed house. After a few minutes, I couldn't make up my mind and I left that thought for another time.

A Maserati zooms past and I look at the Porsche Panamera, Mini Cooper and Lexus RX parked in the driveway. Again, I wonder about my future drive. Audi-s are nice, Merc-s are timeless but the rugged appeal of the BMW would always win me over.

The thoughts went around in cycles, a visit or 2 for each (and other thoughts) before my pensive faded into the Christmas night.

Walking around, talking to random people, random cliques. Getting their jokes or watching it aimlessly fly past. Feeling amused, bored and sleepy at the same time. As dawn approached, conversations became more subdued with the increasing fatigue and eyelids started to droop all around. A long wait for a short taxi ride back and sleep to fuel me for December 25.

Open house was the usual. Talking to people who dropped by or passing time by munching on the kuehs. A successful gambling session and my holiday gambling cost is no longer in the red. Family, friends and the season of giving, loving, sharing.

It's really the most wonderful time of the year.

Wicked!

2011-12-22T01:18:00.006+08:00

It's the week before Christmas.

As much as this means Christmas is almost here, I look further and choose to look at it as the end of the holidays. Results came out last week. My term GPA went up! A shocking grade in MPW but a disappointing grade in HCM. Bio was ok, but once again, Social Psyc came along and I took an arrow to the knee. Heh. Finally hit the big 3. Mission salvage my GPA ends and Mission graduate with Cum Laude starts. It's gonna be one uphill climb to the promised 3.4, but once I find a way to brush up my SS grades, the final destination should be within sight. 5 more sems!

Spent the last 2 days in Marina Bay Sands.

Day 1 was joining Yan Pin in his Orchid Suite on the 51st storey. Amazing views, nice room and good company. Dinner at the utterly expensive Raspura Masters. It looks like an 'atas' Koufu. Chicken rice that cost nearly $8 and Ban Mian that set me back by $6.20, it's one food court which I would be glad to avoid. Gelare waffles and a trip to the supermarket. Beer, Bailey's and Milk. Bailey's and milk make a surprisingly good combination. It tastes more like a goodnight drink instead of an alcoholic one. The Skypark is fantastic. Overlooking the city skyline, bustling with people and the mere knowledge that I'm 60 floors above the ground on one massive structure that spans the length of 3 hotels... I'm quite proud that my country has something like that.

Taking a walk around the grounds in the wee hours was serene. Looking at the CBD and wondering which building I would want to be working in in 2 years time... Marina Bay Financial Centre, One Raffles Quay etc etc. Time really flies. I remember Marina Bay as the place to fly kites, and the city skyline meant nothing to me at that time. Now, there's a massive IR and Raffles Place is a potential workplace. The floating platforms that house Avalon and LV. Looking at the lasers and blinking lights that light up Avalon's dance floors and the feeling the bass thumps, it's really different seeing a club through its glass facade. Not being there physically, but instead as a third party watcher, it was a visual sight to behold. Then there's LV. With it's glass exterior and wood interior, it was oozing a totally different appeal as compared to its loud and flashy neighbour. It was neat, quiet and clean. For some strange reason, I felt a calm awe as I was looking at the LV pavilion. Simple, yet attractive in it's own unique way.

I returned to the room and dozed off, missing sunrise and the morning swim. A trip home and barely a few hours later, I was back in MBS. Wicked! The lead actress was really a joy. Colourful sets and witty scriptwriting made up for the less than memorable songs, till now I can only recall defying gravity well.

And now, I'm on my new bed. It's not as comfy as the one in MBS, but wherever I go, home is always gonna be the one place where sleep comfort does not wholly rely on material reasons. That said, sigh, Pasir Ris! Haha (;

The random

2011-12-14T18:06:00.004+08:00

It's December, but I've been going back to school fairly often. It's either to settle SS stuff, or the OCSP meetings. Though my only consolation is that whenever I go for either meetings, I find some time to sneak in some gym time. Makes the trip to and fro more 'worthwhile'.

Saturday morning was spent caroling at SGH. They had some sort of gathering there where they wanted us to carol and spread the Christmas cheer. Truth be told, to most of those at that gathering, we were more like a 'live' radio playing in the background. However, the ward visit turned out to be more fruitful. Nurses tapping their feet, people mouthing the words to the songs, and even some who took the effort to peek out into the corridors just to watch us.

It's slightly more than a week to Christmas. Then it'll be New Year. And then it'll be another semester in school. Time flies, but hey, what's new?

Work trip

2011-12-04T14:07:00.003+08:00

I'm back from my Sosciety EXCO retreat!

I don't think it should be called a retreat, it was more of a work trip than anything else. Spending hours sitting in what looked like a messy circle and discussing what we want to do for our term was tiring, but fun at the same time.

I quote Lester (while watching the Sorcerer's Apprentice on TV):

"He sounds like that guy in How I Met Your Dragon"

While I spent time playing FM whenever the meeting digressed or when I was generally bored, I spent most of the time filling in the blanks for the relevant finance proposals for the respective events. Me being me, I always proposed the lowest amount of funds that I felt was necessary for an event. Though that all changed when I met my upper study to review the budget with him.

So many events, so much work, 1 year. Let's hope it all goes according to plan.

Back to December

2011-12-01T02:03:00.004+08:00

It's December.

The one month where everyone seems to be in festive mood. For me, December has become a time where I take a break from November's studying and feel lost because life usually loses a bit of 'meaning' after the exams. It's like that void. I always feel it when the time comes to not study anymore. (I'm talking as though I was studying THAT much)

Exams were ok. Results would paint the most accurate story. HCM was 2 hours of insane flipping, Bio was 3 hours of regurgitating whatever nuggets of information that I had made the effort to store, MPW was all the different psych modules dressed up in a business suit and Social Psyc was a sneaky pulp.

So, it's Batam tomorrow. A mere consolation of a holiday, or should I call it a work trip. Batam is a time to sit down with the rest, decide what is to be done for next year and slowly do up the budget proposal. Totally not looking forward to it, but I literally asked for it. So here goes, after hanging up my purse after 6 long years as treasurer from sec 1 to jc 2, here I am, locked and loaded.

December's always a sneaky month, probably because expectations are always high for it to be a riot. And since surprises come in good and bad, there's always that chance of December going awry in an instant.

Here's to the last month of 2011. (:

100

2011-11-23T22:41:00.001+08:00

100 MCQs.

Serious stamina required.

I'm taking a break tonight.

Ka-ching

2011-11-19T14:35:00.005+08:00

Amidst the never ending hours of reading my notes and textbooks interchangeably, I always stop and wonder for a second or two.

"Where is this all leading to?"

Yes, I am in my Sophomore year, with both my majors declared, and yet, this question perennially bugs me. I know the career I want, I know what kind of life I would like to lead, and I know what I want to do on the side as well. But all these plans and aspirations aside, there's always that tinge of uncertainty that begs the question of whether this is what I really want.

When I play Mousehunt, it's more than just clicking once every 15 minutes and waiting that second or two to see if I got the mouse I want. I do derive some pleasure, albeit a cheap one, from that simple act. However, I find myself spending more time at the marketplace. Looking at the price of raw materials, calculating the profits I make when I sell things I craft from buying those raw materials and combining them. The joy I gain from selling things on the market and earning virtual goal far outstrips my joy in catching the various mice.

I think it's just me. I like to make money. My dad calls me "Penny wise, pound foolish", I am a self confessed thrift. Yet, when spend, I splurge. But other than that, I really save and watch my spending with a keen eye. It's probably an attribute I learnt from my paternal grandparents, or rather, grandmother to be more exact. A woman who is so generous to her grandchildren, yet, very (and I mean VERY) thrifty when it comes to herself. On the other hand, there are my parents. Thrifty folks, that's without a doubt. However, they have been able to finely balance the act of being thrifty, yet allowing themselves calculated lee-ways to also make relatively expensive purchases that they want to do so. The stark differences always amaze me, and my dad has always lamented the fact that my grandparents do not reap the joys of having worked and saved so much because of their thrift consciousness.

I wonder if I'm going to end up like my grandmother...

Hit me baby one more time.

2011-11-17T15:49:00.003+08:00

I'm brain fried from doing my index sheet for HCM.

So I'm here. Over the past one and the half days, while doing my index sheet, I've given my iTunes free reign. I usually skip the songs that I don't feel like hearing, and thus, usually end up only listening to a handful of my entire music library. However, deciding not to press the 'Next' key has indeed paid off. I've heard and rediscovered so many nice songs in my playlist that I've neglected for a long time.

One of the few songs that struck me was Billy Joel's 'And So It Goes'. I remember it was the song I learnt during my short spell in TPJC choir. What amazed me the most was how simply the lyrics and the accompaniment was simple, but yet, the final product is one that is so meaningful and hard-hitting. Old favourites, lost tunes, and even listening to certain songs for the first time ever. The Prince of Egypt, Richard Marx and even Linkin Park songs, the genres are so different, yet being able to appreciate each on its own is nice.

Maybe I should stop hitting the 'Next' button on my iPhone as well. Hm.

One more down.

2011-11-13T23:27:00.003+08:00

Another semester in SMU is as good as gone.

And for some strange reason, each semester seems to pass by at a faster rate as compared to the previous one. Despite saying this, summer felt like it happened ages ago. USA, Soci Camp and all seem like a far and distant memory, yet this semester feels as though it never happen. Weird.

It's study break week from tomorrow. One week to clear all my readings and hope they stay in there long enough to help me for my exams.

Bidding has been long and arduous. It's an insult to injury when you miss a bid by a mere 32 cents. Well, right now, I'm throwing everything I have and crossing my fingers in hope! Looking at my current balance, summer is inevitable. And since I didn't get my Korean BSM, summer is an option that is open to me!

Dine like a Jumbo

2011-11-09T23:15:00.002+08:00

Dinner in my house is usually a buffet spread. There is no fixed time, nor is there a fixed place. If there's something on TV that the diner wants to watch, you just grab a plate of rice, the respective dishes and just camp in front of the television screen. If not, you have an alternative spot, which is the dining table.

There is no hard and fast rule about the whole family gathering and eating together. This all adds up to each of us eating at different times and places. That said, I don't really have dinner at home these days. I'm either out, or in school. More often than not, Sunday is the only day of the week that I dine at home.

I was done with school at about 7.40pm today. Took the train to Paya Lebar and decided to call my parents to see if they were around the area to fetch me. Thankfully, they were at Parkway. When they picked me, I found out that the whole family had yet to eat dinner as well. And since we were in the East, my first suggestion was Jumbo. My parents usually reserve Jumbo for occasions or that once in a blue moon craving, so I wasn't really expecting them to accede to my suggestion. My sister agreed and it was soon left to the 2 heads. Once my mother gave the green light, dinner was set.

4 people sitting down having dinner by the beach. Catching up on school, work, the random house/car... it felt really good to have some family time. My parents are way more relaxed now than I've seen in recent times, though I expect that to be short-lived with my sister's impending PSLE results. But, at their age, just sitting down there and having dinner with their 2 kids, I must imagine it to be quite a feeling. My sis has grown up quite a bit, and she can join in the jokes and banter. The car ride back, windows all drawn down and just feeling the wind ripple through the car... it was a good night and a good escape from school with those who have known me my entire life.

I might not have agreed with many of my parents' decisions. But I guess at the end of the day, they've done quite a good job.

I mean, hey, look how awesome I turned out to be? =P

Unto Us A Child Is Born

2011-11-02T09:10:00.004+08:00

Once again, it's a Wednesday morning. It's another bio lesson that goes on and on, and here I am seizing the chance to jot down what's happening.

The semester is coming to an end. I find it bittersweet. As much as I am happy that they year end festivities are coming, the looming exams are not bringing me any joy. I've 2 presentations this week, followed by a final one next week. That would be followed by 4 exams. Yes, 4. Biotech exam is probably the only slack one. HCM, MPW and Social Psyc are very heavy mods and it's really daunting.

On a brighter note, little Loh is born! It was not long ago that the Lohs got married, and now they are parents! Congrats (: It's been great knowing you 2 as individuals, and then as a couple and now, as parents! Seeing the joy on Noel's face and hearing the excitement and pride in his voice, I couldn't help but feel so happy for him! And then little Loh rolled into the room, all wrapped up and sound asleep. They really look adorable when they are tiny and asleep. And then she woke up with a cry similar to a lion's roar. Ah, small kid, big voice! (:

Life has this uncanny habit of throwing you the nicest surprises at the most unexpected times.

Let go.

2011-10-23T02:55:00.005+08:00

You know the feeling of a snowballing effect?

Like how when one thing doesn't really go right, and before you know it, everything starts screwing up and the whole world seems to be going against you?

I'm feeling that way now.

Mass today was atrocious. Terrible. The homily was just silence to me. I don't get it, or rather, I do get why one of the biggest parishes in the east district gets such lousy priests. We get good ones, yes, but only to see them go away to other parishes. I thought Fr.Pat was bad enough, the new priest makes Fr.Pat's homilies look decent, and I'm not even exaggerating. His tone, his delivery, everything was as interesting as listening to a vacuum cleaner droning. He might have delivered the most content heavy and relevant homily, but his delivery is a massive F. I cannot imagine having to sit and listen to either one of these guys every weekend. Not only am I not learning anything, but the thought of just counting down to the last word of each homily is not a good feeling at all. I just feel bored and nonchalant. Maybe it's just me, but if I could listen to Fr.Iggy's and Deacon's homilies, I could safely say it's the fault of these 2.

Then there's life outside.

I don't get it. I really don't. And to a certain extent, I think it's the end. Yeah, making it once was something, and I'd never ever say I regret the second time. But maybe, just maybe, three is a number that is out of reach. I'm not giving up, but I've come to a point where I should just let go. Let go until nothing is left, nothing at all.

It'll send misery sweeping through every atom in me but, well done, I'm letting go, you win.

I lose.

The Lion King.

2011-10-17T20:07:00.002+08:00

Home is no longer alone.

Yup, the whole family is back. Mum and sis decided to cut short their trip as my sister's skin problems were aggravated by the hot and dry weather in India. Despite the painful scratching and the rash outbreak, I think my sis was more pleased to leave India and be back in Singapore. Heh, further reinforces my stand that I do not want to visit India. So the freedom of cooking my own meals and living my own life has once again ended, and so did the dishwashing.

The semester is still flying by and the exams are coming soon. Projects, presentations, reports loom above me and yet I still found a free Sunday night to catch the Lion King in MBS. It was a lively production. Full of colour, laughter and amazing voices. Having watched the motion picture eons ago, it was a nice refresher to a well-loved story. Timon and Pumba combined many local elements in their script and brought the story to the audience.

Lion King reminded me of Phantom in some ways. Despite the differences, I still prefer Phantom. Phantom might not be as funny, nor was it as colourful, but Phantom appeals to the senses by touching on a totally different emotion. Phantom makes you root for the underdog and brings you through the painful journey between the fine line of love and hate. I take nothing away from the Lion King, but Phantom set too high a bar. Come December, let's see how Wicked fares.

Bio

2011-10-12T09:22:00.002+08:00

Here I am, in biotech class. The most important lesson that I've taken away from this class is the reinforcement of the obvious fact that I'm not a science person. Despite that, I'll make an exception for cars and mobile gadgets, but that's as much sciency as I'll ever get.

It's October. And I'm in awe at how fast this year has been. It was not too long ago that I was enjoying my first uni winter holidays. Since then, one sem has come and gone, and so has an entire chunk of the year which the school terms as summer.

I actually typed "cancer" in the place of "summer" in the above sentence as my prof mentioned the word "cancer" just as I was about to type "summer" and the word just took the place of another.

The prof is talking about cord blood. Despite the fact that I find it pretty amazing, I'm obviously not amazed enough to pay full attention as seen from the fact that I'm blogging in class.

I'm bored and sleepy. Home alone this time is quite a new experience. The previous times that my parents were away spanned a maximum of 3 days I think, this time, dad's gone for a week while mum and the little sis are gone for 2 weeks. Doing the laundry, hanging them out to dry, making my own meals, doing the dishes etc etc. It's not exactly very easy eh? Going home at night after school, and doing just a few of the household chores, definitely not relaxing. That said, I do enjoy the freedom to do what I want to the house, I do enjoy the solitude and I do enjoy being independent. Yes, I detest doing the dishes, but it's a small price to pay. On hindsight, I need to learn how to cook proper food, I've been having the same 'dishes' for the past few days.

A few more days... but for now, bio goes on and on.

October.

2011-10-03T03:15:00.003+08:00

It's October. It's mid term break.

Quite a bit has happened recently, yet this space remains blank. I don't know whether it's because I'm tired of blogging and keeping a log of my life, or whether it's because I'm plain lazy. 22 years of history would suggest the latter though.

Part (i) of y2s1 has passed. And so has my only mid term. You know the tests where you come out of the examination room feeling nothing? Like, it's not a bad test, but neither was it particularly good? Yeah, I felt that way. Though at dinner, an email from the prof that kinda asked the class if the mid term was difficult made me a little sick inside. Hm, well, the grades would tell the story, and till then, I shall patiently await without letting this weigh me down.

Back to the sem recap.

I ran for SOSCIETY elections. Yup, it's the student body for Social Science students in SMU. It was quite a shameless process. Making a poster with my shameless face, printing posters and shamelessly sticking it on school pillars, shamelessly making a VOTE for me page on facebook and finally, the shameless canvassing of votes from potential voters. With all that said and done, voting window came and went, and I got into the exco! I initially wanted to be VP, but since I didn't get it after the internal elections, I just decided to be Finance again and help out since no one wanted it. Well well, treasurer for 6 years from sec 1 to j2. I guess it's only a formality that I complete my SMU testimonial with yet another treasurer-like entry. 1 year, let's hope it goes by without any hiccups.

School has been rather decent. Bio is definitely not my favourite class, but it's okay. The other lessons aren't too bad as well. For now at least. Come December, my grades would tell the true story.

135

2011-09-18T23:56:00.003+08:00

"Hello Sir", I said, not expecting him to recall my name.

He smiled, winced for that split second.

"Chris right?"

I was so surprised.

"4H right?"

I was quite impressed.

"2005 batch right?"

My jaw dropped.

Yup, that was Mr Khooky as we all know him. He didn't teach me when I was in VS, but he was one of the few teachers who was in-charge of NPCC. Yet, I was so impressed and touched when he remembered all the details.

Victoria 135. 135 years of Victoria. Looking all around, you see men of all ages, meeting old friends, talking, laughing and joking. Held at the Old VS, which is now the People's Association, the place was fitting to host such an event. Strolling through the grounds while waiting for the boys, who as usual, are always late... even though I never studied there, I could feel that sense of Victoria in the air. Browsing through old yearbooks, looking at photos from the past, it was like taking a trip back to the good ol' days.

The not-so-fantastic dinner with the boys, meeting more old teachers, the shocking auction, the one song that will always be in my heart. I won't put a price on such events. It just means so much to me.

It will always be the best 4 years of my life, and I think nothing will ever top it.

week 4

2011-09-08T01:36:00.002+08:00

I don't recall the end of summer, yet it's already week 4 of the first semester.

Classes have been generally alright. Social Psyc is interesting and the prof is really good. The only downer is that it's the module that presents my only mid-term for this semester. And as much as I haven't studied much, it would be pure depressing to flunk it knowing I had nothing else to study for. Here's the first of many self-reminders to myself to start studying for it.

HCM is another enjoyable class. Friendly prof with interesting class activities, it helps me tide over the blues of having a Monday night class. Night class is an entirely new experience. To start when the work day ends, and to go home when the streets are asleep. The short walk from school to City Hall is actually one that feels so calm and slow, a far throw from that exact same path in the morning where it's all bustling and busy.

Biotech is just science. That one word explains it all. Science = greek.

MPW has been okay so far. Cynical prof who argues for the sake of arguing. He said that himself. He's quite fun, but the previous lesson was all Research Methods, not exactly a very good friend of mine. *Recalls the horrors of RMSS*

Week 4. 4CUs. 4.0?

HA.

Think of Me...

2011-08-18T03:10:00.002+08:00

Listening to the Phantom soundtrack, I miss the Venetian.

The beautiful lobbies and lifts which play these wonderful tunes all the time.

Think of Me...

Another summer day, has come and gone away...

2011-08-14T00:55:00.004+08:00

Well well, time to wave off the cobwebs and blow the dust away.

It's been a while, but I'm back on the eve of sophomore year.

It's been one ride, 120 days of summer. I'm actually very surprised at the number. Yes, it was obviously a long summer since it spanned from April, but to come to a figure that is almost 1/3 of an entire year! That is alot of bumming time!

Summer started out with a trip to the States. It soon became either bumming or camp preparation. Well, if anything, here's something I've to remember for the other summers. Never start summer on a high, because right after the high comes a downhill. Gravity never spares anything.

Camp came and went. The camp that must not be named. I'm still happy that I survived the 3 days. On finale night, I was running on pure adrenalin that the whole thing had ended without any fatalities. And the fact that I had such an 'on' bunch of freshmen who made it look as though they enjoyed camp was an added bonus!

So here goes. I wanted to end my summer by doing something crazy, but things didn't exactly fall into place. Even if it did, I doubt I would have done it.

And here goes... hello Autumn =P

S p a c e

2011-07-07T23:51:00.003+08:00

I'm giving this space, space for a while.

It's always been my safe zone, a public one nevertheless, yet I've said (almost) everything here.

Freshmen Camp. Bidding.

I guess these 2 are the most pressing issues in life now. The rest, can wait.

Tomorrow will come and time will tell.

Right now, I'm going through hell.

lazy bone

2011-06-17T22:06:00.001+08:00

I'm actually lazy to blog.

I want to blog about my US trip, but it seems like a whole chunk of memories and events.

Did I mention that I went for a Malaysia day trip as well.

Hm, I should really put it down while it's fresh... another day perhaps =X

Idiot.

2011-06-03T23:16:00.003+08:00

"Idiot", I muttered.

And then it struck me that I might as well be talking about myself.

Thank you for the memories.

2011-05-25T10:20:00.002+08:00

I'm back and reality is slowly starting to sink in.

I shall try to blog about each individual city that I visited in the weeks ahead, but now, I shall just sit back and collate my thoughts about the whole thing.

After my Europe trip last year, I was actually telling myself that I wanted to visit as much of Europe as I can before I move on to another continent. Yet, the 23 days I spent in the US made me question why I waited this long before I made the trip there. I still think Europe is more scenic. The building more medieval, the feel more rustic and the environment a lot more 'different' (for the lack of words). Yet, the US was also 'different' in many other ways. I lived in a city that felt nothing like the city state that I grew up in. I saw different types of people, both good and bad. Taking the public transport around is really a good way of getting to know a place more intimately. The way the locals behave, the way they work, the way they get about their daily lives... no bus ride was boring, even though I fell asleep on some.

Well, it was a trip of new experiences. Traveling around in domestic flights, road trips amongst many others. And it'll be one that I'll fondly look back upon for all my life.

Thank You Uncle Sam. We'll meet again someday.

The End.

2011-05-22T09:49:00.000+08:00

I'm back.

USA 2011 is over.

This is just sad.

Paramore: The Only Exception [OFFICIAL VIDEO]

2011-05-10T09:49:00.003+08:00

No matter what happens, one thing will not change.
And I hope it'll never change.

That song says it all.

The Only Exception.

USofA

2011-05-08T08:18:00.002+08:00

I'm in the United States of America!

San Francisco, Seattle and Vancouver down.
Right now living the simple life in Lubbock, Texas.

Next up, San Diego, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and finally, back to San Francisco once more.

Up down. In out. Left right. Tick tock.
Nope, I don't know.

Discover a different U

2011-04-23T00:59:00.008+08:00

Singapore Management University

School of Social Sciences.

Freshmen Year, 2011.

SMU - Discover a different U

And so it begun with Unda. The blue house with hydro powers and the (lame) quest to save something. Yup, it wasn't worth remembering what that something was. Freshmen Orientation Programme was a good welcome back into the academic fold. What made it more interesting was the fact that for the first time in my life, I had cohort-mates from a wide age range. Over the years, it was the random retainee who would be an age anomaly in class, but that wasn't the case anymore. Younger females, foreign students, others who were returning to school after sabbaticals amongst the plethora of reasons. FOP was messy, fun and refreshing. It was a time to goof around, a time to just mingle and have fun. Minus the stuffy tent and the fact that I was missing a few World Cup matches, everything else was good. 3 days in ECP OBS with sun, sand, sea, flour, chincao, screaming my guts out in front of the container maze....

Paige. Lynette. Yilin. Thio. Clement. Zhuang. Joshua. Kenneth. Jian Wei. Alvin.

Convocation came and went, so did that sardine night in Zouk. SMU was fast approaching, but the end of the holiday didn't feel anywhere near. The summer was slowly ripening and there was that tinge of unexpectedness in the air. Next up, Social Sciences Freshmen Camp.

And so I went for that camp, knowing that the people I meet are probably going to be the ones whom I'll be seeing time and time again for the next 4 years. I declined pre-camp dinner and was left to go to camp on the first day not knowing anybody. Everyone whom I had kept contact with from primary school, secondary school, junior college, even the army, no one was going to the same faculty as me. With that, I trudged into the School of Social Sciences early in the morning only to be disgusted by the odd green camp t-shirt that I was given. Fast forward 2 days. Fast forward through numerous talk cock sessions, posing like fools in the botanical gardens, slacking our way through the amazing race and many other activities. SS camp was gone. Yet, it left behind that good feeling that the next 4 years didn't seem that bad after all. Wavehouse on the other hand, was, zzz.

Claire. Pam. Santi. Lydia. Daryl. Tim. Phang. Crunch. Justin. Peng. Rachel.

Right.

And so the 9 month holiday came to an end. 4 day school week was a joy to behold. Till I came to school and realised that most students do a 3 day school week with a mega weekend. Wet blanket, yes, but the sem had to go on. AW sucked away time like a perennially on vacuum cleaner. LTB meant meeting after meeting. TWC was slack. RMSS was boring and cold (literally). Sociology was all fun and laughter, but I came out of every class feeling paranoid and unsure about the world around me. Please note that that wasn't a positive thing. Datelines, exams, assignments, meetings, tests, meetings, board game, essays... they came one after another, with a few making repeated appearances. 13 weeks came by in a flash. And with its egress, December greeted me.

Leadership & Team building. Sociology. Research Methods in the Social Sciences. Technology and World Change. Academic Writing.

2011 and my 3 day school week was in place. The first week of school introduced me to the wonders of a 3 day week. Never in my life had I felt the liberation of the week come early on a Thursday night, save for the random public holidays that fall on Fridays. But to have it on a weekly basis was simply astounding. I got used to mono-tone in Political Science. I was wow-ed in Psychology class, but cringed at the readings every week. I felt at home in MC. CT turned out to be the mad class that felt more like a disco. BGS was just a formality to end the week after 4 rounds of class participation. Like semester 1, the weeks flew off the calendar with ease. Readings were lost to the hands of time, and so were my grades. I owned some, I got owned by some. I found out that my effort had a negative correlation to my grade. Odd trend, yet one that had the uncanny habit of biting my in the behind when I tried to put it to test. The anticipation of summer, the longing of the end, yet, the daunting of the finals. It was a rushed finish, yet, a finish nevertheless.

Introduction to Policy and Political Studies. Psychology. Management Communication. Creative Thinking. Business, Government and Society.

And that wrapped up my Freshmen year.

SMU is love-hate. There are things that I utterly detest, yet there are things that remind me why I'm here after all. I like the vocal culture, yet I cringe at the whoring during class part. I enjoy the competition, yet I baulk at my very own worry with regards to the bell-curve. But that said, I can't imagine myself in either NUS or NTU.

Sophomore here I come.

Actually, the highlight of Freshmen year was rediscovering U. Yup, U.

Not yet.

2011-04-15T18:39:00.002+08:00

One day stands between me and summer.

Memorising essays isn't one bit fun at all.

Can I just skip this part and go straight to summer?

Every Singaporean Son

2011-04-09T22:17:00.003+08:00

It's the weekend before the exams, and my head has been throbbing the entire day. I've refrained from taking Panadols, but if it persists, I'm just gonna pop the pill and head to bed. Back to school tomorrow morning, it's gonna be useless if the headache keeps on haunting me. Either way, 6/7 of this week was spent in school, judging from the headache, clearly, it's not a good thing. And I somehow feel more cranky.

It's quite a Saturday for the Armed Forces I dare say. BMT POP in the morning, followed by OCS Commissioning Parade in the evening. Seeing Darryl's POP pictures, it's nice to reminisce my own POP. As much as I wasn't marching in the rain with the rest of my company, nor did I ask my parents to come as I was just a useless by-standing recruit, it was a day of liberation. Though I felt miserable that I couldn't complete my BMT well, I guess it was one of those things in life that just screws up on Murphy's command.

And then came the Commissioning photos. Okay, this one has always, and probably, will always be a painful one. As much as I know everything worked out for the best despite that disappointment, some part of me will always look back and wonder how differently things would have turned out if I had signed on...

Keep the wheels in motion.

2011-04-05T00:17:00.005+08:00

And so I switched off.

I didn't want to be mean, and that was the easiest way. The noisy room slowly muted and my vision shrunk to that of my 13-inch monitor. A faint sound from afar, a chorus of laughter that echoed through one ear and egressed at the other. While the rest focused on the last interviewee, I was doing the exact opposite and let my mind wander far away from the happenings inside that GSR.

And so I delved into the world, where a simple line or two magnifies and paints a strikingly vivid picture of life; one where my thoughts were laid in font and form. I saw, I connected, I clicked and I assumed it. It soon became a whirl, lost in my sense, my mind went on an odyssey of its own. The images came fast and furious, links drawn within split-seconds and emotions connecting like long-lost friends. It was as though the whirlwind of happenings, thoughts, assumptions, worries, confusions, distractions, hopes, fears were finally mangled in something tangible.

Like a black hole, it was a sorry path of no return, yet I relished in the realism of it all. It felt crappy, yet I felt alive. It consumed every ounce of me and I ran through countless scenes and even replayed a few. And soon, I was brought back crashing down onto the Earth. The void that I was basking in, disappeared, and instead I felt the verisimilitude of the present. THE void that actually matters. Too many thoughts, too many mental processes in way too little time. The chaos tangle wasn't fun.

I'm so keeping my focus.

The idle mind is the devil's playground. True that.

One down.

2011-04-01T01:47:00.002+08:00

And so the formal lessons for year one have ended.

Now, that was fast. Hm, I'll put year one in a post after my exams?

The End of Freshmen

2011-03-27T21:54:00.005+08:00

And so the insane week comes to a wet end.

Yup, I see rainbows all over Facebook, but sadly, I didn't get to see one from my place. Another reason to detest living in this ulu north east. Though oddly enough, Ruth who also stays in Pasir Ris claims she saw it. Hmph, as though staying in Pasir Ris was not bad enough, I'm actually staying in the non-rainbow side of Pasir Ris as well. How bad can it get?

I digress.

Back to the insane week. 3 presentations. I've covered MC in vivid detail in the previous post. Wednesday presented my final CT presentation. CT is all about making it funny and somehow trying to make the routine presentation seem 'creative'. Creativity is hard to define, thus, making the presentation look anything lesser than what a presentation looks like should fit the bill. Confused? Don't worry, many people are still appalled that I take a module called 'Creative Thinking'. Yes, if you just joined that list of people, it's a module that teaches me how to think creatively. Oh, the irony, tell me about it. Heh.

Finally, BGS presentation. The last one, and the one that I was least prepared for. I've never paid attention in BGS lessons. Only paid attention when they talk about something general that is outta the readings, and I swop in and class part. Well done, I dare say. Takes skill, mind you! So being the lost soul I was, it is indeed amazing to note that I was still lost despite being the one who put the presentation together with my classmate's input. A smoke bomb here, a joke there to throw the audience off, a canon camera gimmick in pure desperation, and my part was over. 30 minute presentations are weird. I speak for like 6+ minutes and spend the other 24 minutes smiling at my class and trying to pretend as though my own presentation is interesting and worth hearing. It was an awesome job, just I would still call it worthless and boring. Heh.

And now, I'm left with the final school week of year 1. Fast ain't it? Freshmen year is gone and it's time to be a sophomore. Time to get done with that psych essay and the polsc opinion piece. After that, it's the road to the exams. Get something decent and summer beckons. Oh yeah.

An idle mind is the devil's playground

2011-03-24T02:37:00.005+08:00

And so, here I am, at 2.37 AM in the morning.

The keys on my keyboard rattle slowly and the fan disturbs the still air in my dark room. Yup, I am awake but I'm not doing anything at all. I am tired, but I'm not sleepy. I want to read my sources, but my brain is too tired to absorb anything. My keyboard illuminates the room, but my thoughts lie in darkness.

MC on Tuesday was one heck of a nerve wrecker. After my paired speech with Joshua a fortnight ago, the stage was set for my individual speech. But along with that stage came the expectations of everyone in class. From my classmates, all the way to my professor himself. The task was fairly simple. Choose a quote and come up with a 4 minute speech. There were no guidelines, just decide on whether you want to entertain, educate or possibly, do both! Now, how difficult could that be?

That's what I thought. With each passing "congratulations!" to my Prof's assessment which promptly ended with a "I'm already looking forward to your individual presentations!", I felt the pressure build up. It slowly became more of what everyone else expected of me. Yes, it even usurped my very own desire to get good grades. I felt the pressure to score well, but that felt so small next to the pressure of living up to the expectations.

Suddenly, the simple process of picking a quote didn't seem so simple after all. So I randomly selected a quote. A quote which I had no idea what to talk about. It felt like a challenge, something that could take my mind off all those expectations. The 'challenge' soon felt like another burden. Days went past, and with each passing day, the growing realization that I may never think of a proper speech weighed heavily on my mind. Slowly, an idea here... a thought there and the speech started to take shape, but at that speed, it'll probably take me a semester to fill a 4 minute void.

The night before, I panicked. Never, ever, had I panicked at the thought of having to give my class a speech. My script was bare. Encouraging friends, anticipating classmates and a panicky speaker-to-be. Macbook in hand, I paced up and down my hall. In my mind I ran through the rough idea that I had, and built upon it bit by bit. Pausing every few seconds to pen every epiphany down. I didn't write a full script for my first speech and I was not intending to write on for this either. By 2 AM, I had what looked like a decent attempt at my quote.

Decent wasn't what everyone was looking for, but considering it was the eleventh hour, it had to suffice. Read, re-read, edit, re-read. That was all I did, in exactly the same number of times as that, and I went to bed.

Morning. Class. Speech. I made the audience laugh. I made them jump out of their seats (literally). I teased, I advised, I shouted, I lied. 5 minutes 50 seconds, and I was done. I didn't feel as good as I felt after I did my first speech, but I take consolation that even though my script wasn't as fantastic or as crafty as those of my classmates', I know no one in class could have delivered such a normal speech in the manner in which I did.

Arrogance? I beg to differ in all humbleness.

My grades for this final speech have yet to be released. But despite the disappointment, I take away some pride. I chose a quote to challenge me, and it did. Yet, I stuck to it and didn't give up and change it. I panicked, freaked out and totally felt lost. Yet, I'm proud to have friends who were there to encourage me and even give me ideas. Lastly, I know I did my best and I could ask nothing more of my self.

Looking back, be it an A+, A, A-, B+,B, B- etc... I feel as though I've already achieved a lot. And with that feeling, I shall put my thoughts to rest and leave the brainstorms till dawn.

One more year closer to death.

2011-03-20T02:23:00.008+08:00

And so the hatch day came and went.

I not only had both my birthday meals at Swenson's, but both meals were at the same exact Swenson's outlet. Thankfully, and I dare say surprisingly, they did not screw up my orders this time. Though the waffle was hard and crispy AGAIN.

Here's the long list of people who wished me. Facebook was amazing, I've never woken up to 160 new email notifications from Facebook alone. SMS, phone calls, choir... Ah, it was a good Saturday. Since I'm bored and I don't feel like reading my psych articles just yet. Here's the list of everyone who wished me!

Dad, Mum, Sis, Audrey Tan, Qazim Zim, Ben Ow, Jingwen Rebecca, Paige Fong, Siow Wei Jie, Shaun Neo, Sam Yang, Alvin Lim, Seet Heqiang, Mirabel Tay, Goh Yilin, Kriffith Fernando, Joseph Choy, Iggy Skeen, Mohd Shah, S Bhuvan, Ng Wee Hoe, Bryan Chang, Chua Li-en, Tan Peng Yong, Ann Lee, Lim Zirong, Webster Lim, Glen Roberts, Tobias Satria, Lim Yan Pin, James Nayar, Rubin Abdeali, Simi Daiji, Syen, Arjun Subra, Pollyna Lai, Elizabeth Tee, Joshua Goh, Ignatius Tan, Elizabeth Tang, Gerald Nah, Mark Roberts, Li Meixian, Wayne Tan, Chuang Hongzhou, Johnnie Ang, Kiren Thanapalan, Deeben Raj, Kwek Hwee Ling, Eileen Kyle, Jordan Liew, Tan Jing Ming, Goh Shi Hui, Hakeem Kasban, Yeo Jun Yu, Lester Sim, Khyrul Anwar, Zherming, Amelia Bay, Seah Wan Peng, Cassandra Lee, Linton Phoa, Marcus Tan, Hemma B, Melly Chiam, Sandra Lee, Shaun Sim, Suresh Kumar, Tiffany Sim, Tan Qing Hui, Theophila Lan, Karthik Sajir, Jon Chua, Elden Low, Joel Lee, Chloe Sim, Andreas Hendarto, Joel Lau, Basil Corera, Godma, Makato Kawaguchi, Shaun Sng, Marc Ong, Phua Si Liang, Alexi Lim, Colin Chu, Ng Aik Leng, Jason Yu, Muhd Danial, Tan Terry, Fabian Wong, Vanessa Lee, Tan Yu Xun, Tan Ding Li, Srijit Jeshua, Nurnaim Osman, Joshua Samuel, Juliana Chia, Priya Rathini, Mahesha Subramaniam, Darren Yong, Julius Lim, Jared Oh, Nicolette Michael, Clarie Lee, Jeremy Yeap, Zul Awaruddin, Michele Song, Jian Wei, Jansen Ng, Stef Khoo, Marilyn Tan, Joanne Tay, Kathleen David, Melissa Tjahaja, Vince Tan, Sean Yang, Dan John, Xiong Jieru, Clement Chan, Er Zhen Yew, Teo Yong Sheng, Song Baoyun, James Max, Hema Latha, Harry Cheong, Lee Min Quan, Ng Yu Ting, Sonika Dhaliwal, Vanessa Ann Natalie, Desmond Cheong, Daphne Leong, Saran Raj, Rachel Lim, Bernedatte Chow, Adriel Choo, Alvin Yeo, Derrick Chen, Jeremy Sudian, Kok Tsung-wei, Jonathan Ng, Dennis Zhu, Nickolas Tan, Jaysanker, Delon Toh, Lee Seekiat, Lynette Wong, Diana Tan, Daryl Lee, Jung Soo Ho, Aloysius Boo, Hong Zhen Yi, Daniel Chan, Krishnan Morvil, Pang Tiak Hui, Chew Ann Siong, Nathakumar, Christine Teo, Crystal Lin, Addison Bain, Kian Sin, Alex Boy, Wong Han Teng, Rahman Jalil, Siva Nessan, Edmund Ong, Prem Kumar, Shan Ram, Lim Rachel, Muhd Zahir, Prakash Raj, Lin Yisen, Adeline Ng, Carmelita Tan, Kenneth Wong Lim, Timothy John Chandra, Daryl Lim, Sam Koh, Gerard D'Rozario, Lydia Low, Fiona Pang, Yee Zhi Rong, Bridget Shoo, Valerie Wee, Tan Yuhan, Boon Guo Ping, Sharavana Rama, Veronica Sng, Ernest Pak Kiu, Loh WeiJie, Justina Lim, Tan Yong Jian, Karthik Rames, Randy Goh, Kenneth Kwek, Carolyn Tanu, Mark Krygsman, Claire Tay, Justin Pang, Joshua Goh, Jon Lauw, Cousin Vic, Cousin Kasturi, Cousin Shobhana, Aunt Papa, Sean Tan, Melinda Hoe, Pamela Chua, Fiona Lim, Jovian Wong, Nitha Sri, S Komar, Sentill Anand, Vania Tanoto, Greg Yeo, Ben Yeo, Amanda Tan, Winnie Goh, Noel Loh, San Yap, Darryl Leong, Joanna Ortega, Eunice Png, Pris Chang, Anna Chang, Duane Ang, Anton Lee, Gerald Yeo, Paul Soh.

Wow. I really appreciate it (:

The picture above shows the bag that Daffy, Prissy, San and Bryan got me! It's made from recycled tires and sand bags! Really unique. DANKE =D

22

2011-03-19T12:35:00.001+08:00

2011.

2 + 0 + 1 + 1 = 22.

Well done.

Unto Us A Child Is Born.

Shoo.

2011-03-13T23:54:00.001+08:00

Goodbye bad week.

I shall be happier this week.

This, I promise myself.

Fuck.

2011-03-13T14:20:00.001+08:00

Strain.

Stress.

Buckle.

Fuck. Yes, there, I've said it.

Squeezed dry.

2011-03-11T21:38:00.004+08:00

When you're drained tired, nothing feels right.

Everything feels like a drag and there's no mood to do anything.

I hate feeling like this, c'mon, snap out of it.

Where's sunshine when you need it?

Roach.

2011-03-08T21:25:00.002+08:00

Inch by inch, it crawled. Slowly making it's way across the lift lobby. A light breeze sweeps through the stale night, and the wings flutter gently. A false alarm.

It's a nightmare to come home after a long meeting in school only to find a flying cockroach hanging around the lift lobby. Worst still, it was hanging out near the doors of one of the lifts. My steps which were fast and furious till I sighted this monstrosity, retarded to a light and controlled feet shuffle. No way was I going to snap it out of it's zen-looking crawl and send it into the night skies.

I circled the pest; my eyes tirelessly darting from it to the lift button. I reached out and depressed the button. On this tense night, even the usually soft and mellow bell sounded like a sharp, piercing scream. Thankfully, the beast was still unperturbed. 2 swift steps and I was in the lift. Muscle memory from all these years meant I could press both the buttons to my floor and the 'close' without even taking a glance. The lift doors were closing, I made it.

But no, as the doors were closing I heard the incoming sound of a bicycle chain. A woman cycled through the lift lobby and startled the unassuming roach.

This must have went through the prick's mind.

"Mayday, mayday! We have reports of enemy incoming. Need a safe place to hide. Oh wait, look there's a lift to hide in!"

The next third of a minute in the lift was my worst lift-ride ever. My bag and my free arm was everywhere. Every inch of air around me was being swished in the hope of keeping that gross creature off me. The doors opened and I emerged.

I had kept the desperate bug off me. I was victorious.

):

2011-03-02T09:22:00.003+08:00

1 Political Science Essay

1 Psychology Essay

1 Management Communication Paired Speech

1 Management Communication Individual Speech

1 Creative Thinking Visual Representation

1 Creative Thinking Presentation

1 Business, Governance and Society Presentation.

1 Political Science Paper

1 Psychology Paper

1 Business, Governance and Society Paper.

I don't know where to start. I don't know how to start.

But I do know I need to clear them one by one, asap.

Looking at that list, I can't help but feel stressed. It feels like a burden and it's seriously weighing me down. Spencer used to keep on saying that if you think you can, you can and will do it.

But it's difficult. I feel tired and demoralised.

Guts.

2011-03-01T21:14:00.003+08:00

"Your heart's talking to you, Barney. Do you have the guts to listen to it?"

Lily Eriksen, How I Met Your Mother.

Laughter and warmth in a nice package. Can't ask for more.

It's nice to see a human side in HIMYM.

Plea

2011-02-27T23:55:00.003+08:00

Here's a public plea to none other than the amazing Chris Raj.

Part (ii) of Year (i), Semester (ii) is here.

Please study hard.

Get a nice 3 and above.

And then have a good summer.

From,

Chris Raj.

Mid term break, where art thou?

2011-02-26T13:43:00.003+08:00

I remember my JC class gathering on Monday. It was the start of break week, and we were all chilling at Wala and looking forward to a break that meant work, but also gave us the opportunity to slack a little.

It's Saturday now, break week's gone. I'm finishing my wretched book review. I wasted 2 days reading a pathetic book titled "Things Fall Apart". After a while, I got confused with all the African names, confused with all the African dishes and got annoyed that the lead character killed himself. After making me read that painstaking book, the prick conveniently hangs himself and leaves me to face the book review alone. Thanks for being an ass Okonkwo.

So the week went by. MC meeting, BGS meeting and CT meeting all sardine-d into Thursday while Social Science Camp meeting was the wrap up on Friday. Oh yes, I'm doing Progs for the camp. I like the Harry Potter theme, it's a vast universe and if anything, I'm well-versed with that universe to concoct activities to fit the theme. But now that I'm in the orgcomm, I've this terrible feeling that I've to break my no-meetings-during-the-weekends rule. Yes, depressing, but I think it'll be a good process with lots of learning and fun.

Friday night with the Lohs and Sandrine. Dinner at Charly-Ts was quite decent. I didn't like their macheese though, the one at Overeasy is still better. Chicken was really good, the meat wasn't really tender but it was okay, and salmon was just salmon. Garlic rice was pretty good too! No Strings Attached was lighthearted and funny. It was amusing how deadly silent the theatre was during the sex scenes. As in REALLY quiet. Like no one was breathing or anything, I think my popcorn chewing was considered as noise pollution during those scenes.

So the US plans are going on. Still in planning stage. I was bent on seizing the SIA promo to SF, but for some odd reason the promo doesn't apply on 29th April. So I'm probably gonna switch to Cathay instead and fly there on the 28th, and I'll nicely reach there on the night of 28th to crash and wake up to the weekend. It doesn't hurt that Cathay is $400 cheaper than SIA. Texas soon after with the Changs, and then the glitz of the Vegas strip. Road trip down to SF once more to wrap up and then it'll be home. Now, that's a lot of planning, booking, packing, paying and spending. POSB's gonna bleed and mum's gonna scream. (:

Hello weekend. And because it'll go by in a flash, goodbye to you too.

Things fall apart

2011-02-22T12:29:00.004+08:00

Sometimes, things need to fall apart to make way for better things.

Zoey Pierson, How I Met Your Mother.

Better things coming my way?

And I'm reading a boring book called 'Things fall apart' for my PolSc book review.

Losing it.

2011-02-21T00:32:00.004+08:00

It's mid-term break week. And here I am, greeting it with a mix of relief and sorrow.

Mid terms were a fiasco. No other way to put it. BGS was totally my fault, I thought I could come up with some arguments being 50% prepared, but when the paper actually asked for factual information, I kinda died. Mad rush to google and read up more, but to no avail. I think my paper is a patchwork of paragraphs (YES WHOLE CHUNKS) copied off the readings, and chunks that I copied off Google. Crap. Seriously. Well, somehow screwing it towards the end and mousehunt-ing and fb wall posting on my classmates wall did make me feel better.

But the more upsetting one was Psychology. I didn't finish the last chapter on Memory, but I read through all the other chapters. I've totally no clue as to why there were things that I should have remembered but I totally forgot. The lobes of the brain, the different parts and their functions, I could recall them while staring at my notes, but come the test it was all a blur. I guess I didn't 'mug' hard enough, but my intellect has always seen me through the rest. Well, my non-existent intellect I should say, considering how it epic failed me last Saturday.

Irritation. Annoyed. Worried. Lost. Garh.

It's break week and I've a list of things that I wanna do. Force me.

Psych me up!

2011-02-13T23:00:00.001+08:00

I'm gonna wake up early and revise psych tomorrow.

Woah. Now I'm psyched up.

Damn, that didn't work at all.

Welcome back, Timbre.

2011-02-12T12:47:00.004+08:00

Kick me, but really, it's mid terms next week?

No, I'm not shocked at the fact that there are tests coming up, but I'm more shocked that it's already mid term! School weeks really feel non-existent when it stretches a mere 3 days! Let's see BGS on Thursday and Psych on Saturday, doesn't seem that bad when you look it at this way. BUT when I look at the amount of info I have to cram in for psych, it takes my breath away (nope, not in the Top Gun way).

OH wait, I've a psych presentation in the coming week as well. Bummer.

Well, last night was good and chill. Timbre with the VS boys. Beer, pizzas and buffalo wings. I chose the ones that were either stacked on top or the ones at the corner of the plate. You see, the chili sauce was generous in the middle section of the plate. =X 53A sounded really good last night. I guess they've really improved since the last time I heard them.

Heh, we were wondering when was the last time we went there... and remembered it was on the night of my 21st birthday. My oh my, it's been close to a year. Things were so different then. I was close to a different bunch of people, I was uni-less, I used to look across the road and wonder if I would make it to SMU... yeah. And now, look how everything has turned out.

You know, sometimes I wonder if anything is ever gonna last. Well, as much as I would like some things to be different, life now is pretty alright I would say?

Prochristinator.

2011-02-08T23:28:00.002+08:00

It's 11.28pm.

And the night has just begun.

I'm so dead.

Procrastination has claimed it biggest win.

Die-ing

2011-02-07T20:13:00.003+08:00

The Chinese New Year weekend is gone.

Bak kwa, tarts, prune kueh lapis, sweets amongst many other. I'm satisfied, though the hong bao collection has somewhat decreased. If anything, I guess it's just feeling the festive mood and watching families streaming around everywhere.

CT idea journal, Political Science opinion piece and Psych presentation all coming up. Oh, I left out the mid terms.

Seriously. Having a headache during a meeting is crappy. I blame the stupid jam at Suntec on the way here...

Why do I Love You

2011-01-30T12:10:00.002+08:00

Next week my 3 day week becomes a 2 day week.

Please read that line with a sad tone. I've an essay and my CT Journal to hand up the week after. And till now, I've not come up with the 6 ideas that I intend to build upon. Worrying to say the very least. I wanted to get it all done today, but looks like I've to keep it for the CNY long weekend. As for the essay, I've pretty much decided what to do. So I'll just do my research and churn that one out.

And as always, week 4. Goodbye.

It's amazing how I curse when I get 9/10 for my psych quiz, but I rejoice when I get 3.5/6 for my PolSc one. Well, 3.5 is a vast improvement from my ownage 1/7 which I got in my maiden PolSc quiz. I'm still awaiting my first graded assignment for MC and BGS hasn't thrown anything at me yet. 3 more lab rat sessions at the very least. 2 mid terms up ahead. Hmmm.

Friday was a nice way to end the week. Overeasy with Noel, Winnie and Sandrine. Followed by another trip to Laurent's Chocolatier. Once again, no souffle. Service standards are really poor at that place, but I guess we keep on returning there because the souffle is really that good.

Here's to creative juices!

Welcome back littleblackmac.

2011-01-24T21:59:00.004+08:00

Welcome back littleblackmac.

You've been missed.

Hm, I should buy my mac a black skin right? Okay, join the queue, RAM still heads it.

Forcemua.

2011-01-23T23:13:00.002+08:00

I shall study smart from this week onwards.

WAH WAH WAH...

It's thrash when I know that I'm willing to bet against myself.
Hmph!
Find a way to force me.

Old School

2011-01-23T12:50:00.004+08:00

And after a long time, I'm back blogging on the Fujitsu.

Yes, the AirPort on Mac went kaput on me last Thursday. It just hung and after the restart the hardware had already died. Shocking considering how my Mac had NEVER hung on me before. And because I didn't invest in Apple Care protection plan, I'm shelling out $300 for repairs. Sigh, I was actually saving that money to increase the RAM capacity and now I've to push that back again. Well, I could still afford the RAM upgrade, but spending so much money in a month seems sinful... so I'm just going to delay that purchase.

The death of my Mac meant insane class participation during Thursday's BGS class. Without a laptop to distract/keep me company, I fulfilled my 4/4 class participation within the first 10 minutes of class itself. Sigh, my disappointment at the lack of a laptop just reminded me of how much of a slave to technology I am.

So the iPhone battery has been drained everyday since then. Chatting, surfing, and the usual phone functions all being used simultaneously. Life without BOTH the macbook and the iPhone would really be unimaginable.

Well, back to the Fujitsu. It feels funny using it all over again. The bigger keyboard layout, Windows OS and a small trackpad amongst many others. I keep on swiping my fingers on the trackpad thinking it's my Mac and I keep on hitting 'Alt' instead of 'Ctrl' because the Mac's 'Ctrl' is located where the Windows 'Alt' is. But it's also a throwback... this laptop contains so many things of the past 5 years. Pictures, logs, videos... It's quite the time capsule I dare say. So well, here's the walk down memory lane that I didn't ask for. My post photographs are usually pictures taken by me on my holidays, but since I don't have my Europe pictures on the Fujitsu, guess I'll post something from yesteryear.

With all that said, week 3 is gone. As always, I'm unsure if that is good or bad news.

why?

2011-01-18T21:32:00.003+08:00

Psych is by far my most interesting module this semester.

PolSc is by far the most boring module this semester.

Yet, during every Psych lesson, I'll always slip into a 10 minute nap.

That said, I stay awake for the entire PolSc lesson.

Yes, despite it's boredom.

I just can't figure out why.

See you again.

2011-01-17T14:44:00.005+08:00

I'm reminded as to why I hate goodbyes. See you again is a phrase that magnifies the waiting time between the present and 'again'. Ah.

Well, scenic tennis in Kallang was scant consolation, but consolation nevertheless. Remind me to snap a shot the next time I head there. Sure beats the MRT track that YCK Tennis Courts have to offer.

it's slowly sinking in.

2011-01-16T20:24:00.002+08:00

Twas a good day.

That was an understatement.

Family.

2011-01-14T22:26:00.004+08:00

All my life I've been against having kids. Always thought it'll be a pain.

I mean, really. Here's being honest. I'm one pain of a child. I won't really blame my parents if they agree with me. I'm demanding, difficult, stubborn, expensive and for the lack of stronger words, annoying. I look around and I see all the money my parents spend to try to make me happy, and I realise if only they didn't have me in the first place, they'll be able to spend the money buying everything else they wanted. Well, I've said all the above to my parents before, and no surprise, they totally denied it and said they don't mind. Politically correct answer huh?

That's what I thought. But hey, somehow it seems different now. And no, it's not because of the pro-family advertisements the government has been churning out, nor due to baby bonus/ tax incentives etc etc. Simply, it's because of Modern Family.

In 20 minutes, it shows the joy of being a family. And for me, it's the joy of having kids around the house. The difference between all 5 kids in the show. Well, Lily doesn't do much... but the 3 and Manny! How they annoy their parents, all the things they do that only kids can pull off, how they drive you up the wall and yet make you melt... gosh! The main family is really hilarious. The husband is a big joke, the wife is really a mother and the kids are monkeys!

Really, that's one nice family. And now, I think a family is considered complete with kids! Sadly, Singapore makes it an economic challenge. ):

That ALL said, I'm happy with the family. BUT extended family that includes uncles/aunts/cousins/nieces/nephews etc etc. Still a big NO NO. Hmph! So far, that has shown me it can be more trouble than it's worth.

zZz

2011-01-14T12:08:00.000+08:00

I should stop waking up so late and wasting away precious mornings.

week 2

2011-01-13T20:45:00.003+08:00

And so, week 2 'obliviates' into time.

2 down, 11 to go. And come to think of it, it's actually quite fast.

Lessons this week were generally good. MC was interesting, Psych was ownage with a perfect 10 quiz but PolSc was owned with uno for my grade. BGS was uneventful, but maxing class part grades for the week did make it worth it. Urgh. I've come to realise this pattern. The subjects that I generally fare badly in are the ones which I either have no interest in, or, I do not like the person who is taking the subject. And the very same thing is happening again. Shucks.

Back to the Blue Dustbin tomorrow. Once and for all satisfy the canteen food craving of the JC class. Amongst those that I keep contact with/don't mind keeping contact with, only a handful are in NTU/NUS while the rest are all in SMU. Guess in a way that facilitates the 'keeping-contact-with' part.

Tip toe. Dance the line. Keeping it all in. Gimme a sign.

King Kenny

2011-01-09T19:41:00.003+08:00

Kenny Dalglish.

The last year that he led Liverpool to the Premier League crown was the year that I was born.

Work some of those old magic again and show me why they adore you as King Kenny.

When the weekday seems like it's the weekend already

2011-01-08T11:51:00.002+08:00

I thought Thursday night was good. It was like this bubble of joy within me that was ever-expanding at the thought that there is no school till Tuesday. Organizing my folders and files for the new semester, catching some Modern Family. It felt like a holiday.

Friday was even more awesome. Gosh, if every Friday was as good... TGIF would take a whole new and wholesome meaning instead of it just signaling the coming of another weekend. Lunch with the good ol' T14 boys at CJ. It's funny how I went back to the place I have no attachment too. It's just the wonderful people that I met and the few teachers who remain. Quite a surprise when the VP remembers you as well, heh, well, I did have to see him a few times. =X

Sadly, JC term has not begun. So the canteen was closed, wrecking our plans to relive our glutton days of eating dishes from more than 1 stall per meal. The random rubbish talk, disturbing Komar as per usual and finally heading to Far East for chicken rice. Well spent afternoon man.

Night was even more awesome. Bak Chor Mee, Porridge, Chicken Wings, Oyster Omelette and Teh-O. Shanghai was a good movie and She's Outta My League was so hilarious, I'm beginning to believe that laughing A LOT is a healthy way to begin the weekend. Clara, Darren, Noel, Sandrine and Winnie. Gosh, it was really good fun.

AND NOW. I'm looking at the list of work due next week. Kick me.

2011-01-06T21:16:00.002+08:00

Goodbye Week 1.

A 3-day school week is oddly liberating. It comes, hits you and goes away forever. Year 1, Sem 2. Overall, it's been quite a good start to the sem.

Tuesday is MC and Psych. MC was pretty interesting. Mark Chong does speak well and he does make the lesson quite lively and a lil' wee bit interesting. It's gonna take way more than stuff like passive/active voice to interest me further. But that said, it seems like a good module to take something away from. Psych on the other hand was pretty fun. Ivy Lau is energetic and lively. I daresay she seems to have more energy than all the 19/20+ year olds around here. Good interesting lesson, though the bummer to the mod is the amount of reading that I have to do. The textbook is probably the main reading material, and boy, it's thick. Garh.

Wednesday is CT and PolSc. CT was okay. Nothing creative about it, just go there, talk rubbish with all the people I know. Probably gotta Class Part and do up a decent journal. It'll be disgusting should this mod bring down my eventual GPA. PolSc. Okay, it was as good as a vacuum cleaner observation. Tobias just drones on and on and on. I'm so proud of myself that I didn't fall asleep during the lesson. It's rumoured that his grading is pretty slack, so if this is gonna be the trade-off, then I'll gladly take it.

Thursday is BGS. Quite a boring lesson. LooKS is a Wham! fan. I'm sure of that. The way he speaks, woah, really Careless Whisper man. But googled him up, guy has his own law firm. Quite the richie. He seems like a nice guy, but I was talking rubbish throughout his entire class. Lucky for 1 or 2 familiar faces in this mod, settles the problem of finding a group!

And so that wraps up. Well, it wasn't a bad start after all. Despite all the sian-ness and doom that surrounded that last few days of the holidays.

Y1S2

2011-01-03T18:20:00.001+08:00

Crowded trains with no empty seats.

A heavy bag with books and a laptop.

A white card that opens the doors to hell.

School's in.

2011

2011-01-01T00:52:00.002+08:00

Yes, first post of the '11.

The new year comes, the new semester comes, a whole new start to the cycle. Once more, I'm reminded how I'm just a hapless slave of time who has to consult the bugger every time I wanna do something. But that always be the case, because time yields eternity as well.

I wrapped up 2010 with the post of my facebook status. Now comes 2011. Wonder what it'll look like this year? I could foresee some repeated words, and I would hope the new ones are words that I actually want to be seen as replacements for the ones that are no longer there.

No resolutions for me, I never stick to them anyway. A sucker for self discipline, I'm off better with rough ideas and random moments of brilliance. The latter doesn't come that often though. But if anything, here's a small advice to myself.

Stay the same.

December was...

2010-12-31T22:16:00.004+08:00

At the start of the holidays, I set out with 1 target. That was to make December a good month.

And now, it's 31st December 2010.

It's been a good month. One with good company, good food and good memories to take away.

Here's to everyone who made it happen (:

stunburgered.

2010-12-27T14:11:00.002+08:00

You know.

I don't know.

I know nothing has changed.

So, has anything changed?

Christmas 2010

2010-12-26T00:23:00.003+08:00

My parents got me the Gerrard jersey that I've always wanted!

Very surprising since my dad has always been against getting jerseys with the player's name on it.

Christmas 2010. Thank You for everything.

"Christmas Star" Best Christmas Songs (Home Alone Movie Soundtrack Music...

2010-12-24T12:49:00.000+08:00

Christmas eve.

I caught Home Alone 2, and it really was a fitting way to welcome Christmas. Home Alone movies is about the essence of Christmas. Family, friends, the birth of Jesus.

Well, as much as I didn't feel the Christmas buzz this year, it's Christmas tomorrow and I feel this joy within me, and I can do with that.

Home Alone 2

2010-12-22T02:30:00.001+08:00

I just downloaded Home Alone 2.

And I really can't wait to watch it.

I need more Christmas...

House.

2010-12-20T15:07:00.002+08:00

I can't decide if Gregory House is amazing.

Or if he's just sad.

Foot ball.

2010-12-19T22:52:00.003+08:00

Football was slightly disappointing on a personal note.

I mean, overall, I'm fine with not winning the match because it's simply a friendly. One for both sides and the onlookers to enjoy. But on a personal note for someone who used to play soccer almost everyday in VS, it was a really bad match.

Surprisingly, I feel my best performance today was defending in the left back position. Note the word defending. I barely made any overlapping runs to cover my midfielder. Such is the state of my fitness. Yes, I do flaunt my IPPT-less statement, but deep down it kinda disgusts me a bit. Just that my laziness gets the better of me.

But back to my game, a few tackles here and there, a few hopeful runs forward. That pretty much summed up my game from that position. I was lost in the DM position because I've never played as one before. Think I was as useful as Lucas is to Liverpool, and I can't think of any other way in which I can insult myself more. Finally covering as as a central defender was uneventful, not much attacks from the center by then.

I'm unfit, totally out of touch (or kick rather) and the right shin is going ouch. Urgh, a far cry from those days where I used to play soccer from 3pm to 7pm with barely any rest, and quality soccer as well.

Reaper

2010-12-17T23:27:00.005+08:00

I reap what I sow.

And going by that, I know I can't ask more than what I got.

I don't know if I'm truly disappointed, or if I'm just unsettled by the competition that's going on around me. On how I'm losing out, on how I've to play catch-up from now and how I've to buck up.

Next sem will come. I've to do better, but whether I do it or not remains to be seen.

Please let December still be good. Please... I had that weather-is-gonna-change premonition.

And nope, it has nothing to do with GPA.

The mosaic

2010-12-17T02:08:00.004+08:00

This is really one cool piece of work. I think it's the best thing that I've done on Facebook so far. My status updates are really a reflection of me on that very day at that very moment. And to piece it all up together, you get me in the year and this application did that amazingly.

School is the biggest word there. Which is pretty true, considering that SMU was the biggest thing that has happened to me in 2010. This seems pretty untrue because the word 'smu' is smaller, but I'll attribute it to the fact that I prefer to refer to SMU as school. It's nicely followed by 'death', 'waiting' and 'rmss'. Heh, yeah it's a coincidence that it was all put together, but it nicely fits how RMSS is my death for semester 1.

The words 'boys' and 'victorian' are still a major part of my life, 5 years after my days behind the crimson badge. It's the boys whom I don't have to meet everyday, every week, not even every month. But when we do meet, it just goes. And I can't thank them enough for being such a wonderful bunch.

As much as 'seriously', 'rather', 'die' and 'life', 'done' are in close proximity, I'm not suicidal. Well, results aren't out as I type this, so maybe I should add a 'yet' to the end of the previous sentence. Heh, I kid. Maybe not. =P

But it's the words 'urgh', sigh', 'seriously', 'rather' that hit home. Especially after the last post, one where I wanted to just stop wishing, stop dreaming, get rooted by reality and accept everything around me. Looking at those words, I guess I'll always be one of regrets, one of wishes, be in 2011, 2012 and beyond. Oh, guess what... the word 'wishes' features there as well.

I wanna change me, protect myself from everything and just be like what C.S Lewis quoted. To become unbreakable, impenetrable and irredeemable . But is that really what I wanna become? Or is that a shell that I wanna hide in because there are so many things that I dare to not face or simply put, walk away from?

I blame Disney, I blame happy endings, I blame hope, I blame dreams, I blame the weakness to believe in dreams, I blame a happy upbringing, I blame care, I blame smiles, I blame jokes, I blame myself for having a heart, I blame feelings, I blame pretty much everything that I should actually be thankful for.

And now, I end, confused.

That mosaic is really one piece of mind -.

Yup, you know that last word.

Stay close to the birds.

2010-12-16T16:20:00.003+08:00

"I would rather spend my life close to the birds than waste it wishing I had wings"

I heard this on an episode of House. It struck quite a chord within me. So much of my life has been wasted wishing for things and so much time have been wasted being disappointed. It's really time I just be happy with what I have. Yes, this attitude and mindset is probably not gonna get me anywhere nor make me fight for things I desire, but at least it's gonna keep me happy... happy with what I currently have at least.

December's half gone and it has been a good month. Minus the wretched results, which I sorely deserve, everything else has been plain sailing. No drama, no mind blending happenings, just December... the company of friends, the family, TV shows and movies. Though I feel very isolated from the shopping this year, I don't feel as though I'm missing much on it either. It's a good thing. I've bled enough money this entire year, especially with an Euro holiday and 7 months of bumming.

The clock will tick down, and 2011 will come...

Here's to not asking for too much no matter how badly I want it.

Rapunzel.

2010-12-13T23:44:00.001+08:00

Head to the tower and rescue the girl.

Seems like a good plan.

Where's the horse?

Grimes.

2010-12-06T23:56:00.002+08:00

Gosh, I'm slow on the Chuck updates.

BUT EVEN MORGAN GRIMES GOT THE GIRL HE LOVES?

You're kidding me... bugger...!

December.

2010-12-05T22:42:00.003+08:00

One week of my meagre one month holiday is gone.

Well, it hasn't been bad, on the contrary it's been good. Star Wars Clone Wars, hanging out with friends, settling my christmas shirt... I've not been wasting too much time I dare say?

Harry Potter and Megamind down. Rapunzel, Narnia and Tron to follow. Cathay's $6 weekday tickets are definitely attractive. It feels sinful to pay $9.50 for weekend tickets, now I know how Winnie and Noel feel whenever we suggest weekend movies.

Hm, I should try to set a goal for the end of the holidays. Let's see... keep it simple, I'm gonna make it one awesome December, invisibility or not.

URGH, blogger refuses to load a picture with this post. Pek cek. =\

Nope

2010-11-30T01:01:00.002+08:00

Drunken words are sober thoughts.

Sorry, I disagree on that one...

... some at least.

Bye

2010-11-28T20:44:00.001+08:00

Okay, with this sick feeling I have now.

No alcohol for the next 6 months. Serious.

Drink drank drunk

2010-11-28T20:40:00.002+08:00

Wedding mass was good.

Porky was good.

Dinner started out just fine.

I don't remember the rest of the night.

And from all that I've heard, it wasn't very pretty.

Sigh.

My head hurts. My appetite is bad. And I've RMSS tomorrow.

Screwed.

To love is to be vulnerable.

2010-11-25T23:18:00.003+08:00

Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket--safe, dark, motionless, airless--it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable.

To love is to be vulnerable.

C.S. Lewis

Star Wars: The Clone Wars

2010-11-23T16:59:00.002+08:00

After all these years, Star Wars can still make my day.

It's a good distraction when I get tired of my notes.

Sigh, if only my confirmation name wasn't rejected...

Christmas begins!

2010-11-22T16:14:00.004+08:00

Yup, I'm not even done with my first paper for this final examination, but I've given out my first Christmas present of 2010!

Woohoo. Heh.

You see, my sister has been pestering my mum to buy her Taylor Swift's latest album. So my mum brought up the point that she doesn't have any portable music player. Yes, the lightbulb was switched on!

I went to my room, dug up my Panasonic Discman that I bought in 2000. Yup, I got it when I was in Primary 5 moving onto Primary 6. It's scratched and all, but it's in perfect working condition! And so, I have given it to my sister as a Christmas present for this year. I threw in my Sony headset as well, that settles her birthday present for 2011. If only I 2 spare AA batteries to spare, I could have bundled it in and settled her Christmas 2011 present as well. Damn!

Annoying

2010-11-21T22:48:00.002+08:00

Guilt-tripping is annoying.

And your excuses are running out.

Chris VS Lizard

2010-11-20T22:44:00.007+08:00

It has been a long week, and I hoped for it to end without any major incidents.

After watching Enchanted, I finished up the set of Soci notes that I had read halfway and headed to brush my teeth before I went to bed. I usually brush my teeth without my specs, so I removed them, placed them on my bedside and headed to the bathroom. I walked into the bathroom, squeezed some toothpaste onto the toothbrush and started to brush.

Suddenly, (gosh, using the word is like a blast to my primary school days) I felt something collide against my toe. I looked down and saw something long and dark brown. As I was not wearing my specs, I had to bend and get closer to see what it exactly was. A LIZARD. It looked really gross, not the typical home lizard, it had tiny spikes and had stripes. URGH.

You have to refer to the above diagram to understand the next sequence of events.

The lizard PROBABLY came out of the hole where all the water on the toilet floor empties into. That is shown as a red circle on the diagram, though in real life it is located under the sink. My Jedi instincts kicked in naturally.

I remembered how Obi-Wan Kenobi defeated Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars Episode 3 because he had the high ground. In one swift leap, I jumped on top of my toilet bowl (black dot move from '1' to '2') while the lizard scurried away (pink sausage move from '1' to '2') to the shower area. I looked around and grabbed the high pressured jet spray and took aim.

The battle involved a lot of water, a stupid lizard that kept on trying to scale the wall or run around the floor (pink sausage move from '2' to '3' and other places in-between that is not reflected) and a lot of lousy aiming cause I wasn't wearing my spectacles. After a prolonged battle that the PUB (and my parents) would disapprove of, I managed to used the jet of water to send the lizard back into the hole where it came from.

Chris Raj 1

Lizard 0

Enchanted.

2010-11-20T01:49:00.004+08:00

I didn't finish my notes, but I still watched my movie.

(Exams are next week, and here I am having already watched 2 movies that I wanted to save for sorang December! Damn!)

I'm disgusted by my lack of self-discipline. Tsk! It's something that I ~~really lack~~ need, but don't have, not even the slightest bit.

ANYWAY.

It IS a Disney movie. So yes, happy endings galore. Even the prince had his happy ending, seriously? But somehow the other parts just don't seem so 'Disney'. Like how 'Love at first sight' is dispelled. I was surprised that the story went that way. And well, everything happens for a reason huh? I really liked the whole feel of the movie. Not too Disney, nor did it deviate from being Disney.

Haha, I just can't decide what I want right?

The song 'So Close' is really awesome. It fit the scene so well, and the lyrics are really awesome. Guess I've found my next 'continuous-replay' song!

Oh before I forget Amy Adams looked really wonderful, and so did her dresses (minus the ridiculous wedding frock).

Plan plan.

2010-11-19T16:42:00.002+08:00

Okay, here's the plan.

I'm gonna complete all my Soci notes by tonight.

AND then I'll treat myself to a movie.

Sounds uplifting.

WHEEZE. SNEEZE.

GEEZ.

Bayshore over BMW please!

2010-11-19T01:15:00.003+08:00

Yes dad, this is one awesome ride and I thought I'll never say no to one.

But can we get a house instead?

I mean... If we're getting both, then sure. But since it's not going to happen...

Then again, a car is the worst investment that everyone willingly makes. So I guess I'd no qualms sticking to the Stream...

Home Alone

2010-11-18T03:05:00.005+08:00

Amidst the mad rush to study for exams and the long hours in the library, I just wanted to take the night off and catch a movie that I've loved for as long as I remember.

Home Alone. It's the nice Christmas movie that gives you the warm fuzzy feeling, a lot of laughs and just brightens up everything! I remember watching it with my parents when I was younger, and they brought me to Shaw at Orchard to catch the sequel. I can't remember how along ago that happened, I was probably 4?

It's nice to plant my own garden and pluck my own flowers.

Home Alone (for good)

2010-11-14T19:52:00.003+08:00

My parents are seriously considering sending me out of the house since I complain about Pasir Ris so much.

To agree, or disagree?

Invisibility cloak, where art thou?

2010-11-14T16:28:00.003+08:00

It's a Sunday.

Next week is study break, and then the exams.

Winnie's wedding comes 2 days after my first 2 papers and 2 days before my last paper. This just means I should be prepared for all the papers before the wedding day. The whole Saturday is as good as gone.

Well, I can't believe one semester in SMU has come and gone. Looking back, it doesn't feel anything like 13 weeks in school. Feels like I'm still integrating into the life, still getting into the flow and still making the transition. But time disagrees. Come next semester I've an awesome timetable on paper. 3 day week and 4 day weekend, but I know better. The 2 days would be probably burnt up with meetings. Though Justin was offering some tips on how to salvage those days... Hmm.

Well well, time to find Harry and get my invisibility cloak. Probably be needing it for December.

Goodbye!

2010-11-11T09:14:00.001+08:00

As sem 1 draws to a close...

Goodbye LTB and AW.

Now, all that stands between me and December are 3 wretched papers.

The Amazing Race

2010-11-07T16:34:00.004+08:00

And so the long weekend bids farewell.

It's been a tiring week, really. Every night from Tuesday was dedicated to The Amazing Genesis II Race. Sweatshop work in school that involved loads of cutting and sticking. Physically tiring, but what felt worst was the sight of everyone doing the schoolwork and keeping up with school while I was stagnating. I think I would have just died of boredom if I had to do it without company. Manual labour is not my kinda thing man, or maybe I'm just spoilt by the convenience of everything around me.

The thought of just dropping everything, due to various reasons, crossed my mind so many times. Or maybe it was just lingering there all along. It gets pretty annoying when the head keeps on grumbling about how inefficient the team is. But seriously, c'mon, we've more on our plates than you know it. And yes, I know I signed up for this and I shouldn't be complaining. If anything, you're the one with an obscene amount of time in your hands, not to forget you also had the proper tools to do the manual labour in a more efficient way. But yes, it brings me back to the point that I DID sign up for this. Ah well. I'm just gonna shut up.

Thankfully, the race went well. It was fun yet crazy at times. Driving all the way from Tuas at THAT speed was beyond crazy, and I'm so scared that a red letter is gonna arrive in my postbox any day now. If it does, there goes my license. ): I met probably the coolest primary 6 kid in my life and looking back, she did help make things easier! So danke, Juliana! My station masters were good too (danke as well), though I irritated the second one by coming late. If not for that unexpected lift, I think I would have gotten murdered.

Dinner, supper... just chilling. Laughs at Shannon's scary and disturbing antics. Well, I did enjoy my day despite going home and crashing instantaneously.

Well, all for the 27 year old choir that has helped me grow in so many different ways during the last 5 years. That experience, is something I can't put a price or value upon nor ever payback.

TGICatholic!

2010-11-03T11:12:00.007+08:00

I was just a curious passerby when I heard of what sounded like a mass going on, but in a different language. So I just decided to take a short walk in, check it out and spend a few minutes in church.

It's amazing how I could find peace even amidst a mass in Korean.

I have no idea what today's gospel is about, nor understand the homily of the korean priest, but it was comfortable. In ways I can't explain myself, I just felt that I could relate to whatever was going on. I'm still trying to figure out how, but at that point of time, it just felt normal.

It was a short stop of about 5 minutes, but it was good. I went in feeling good, and I came out feeling better!

Seriously, thank god I'm catholic. (: