SSA2202 fieldtrip to Lucky Plaza & Holland Village

Just came back from my fieldtrip! It was quite fun! I saw things I never knew existed. Haha. Our first stop was Orchard Road, where we visited Lucky Plaza to explore the Filipino enclave that is present there. Fortunately for me, I had my friends Guo Jie and Boon Kiat to accompany me if not I'll be so lonely can? Haha.

From left: guo jie, me and boon kiat

So we were supposed to start straight after the briefing, but I had to do the most aunty thing ever. I WENT TO REDEEM A FREE GIFT! Haha...yes, I'm a little ashamed to admit it, but I was the 9th person to redeem this free Jockey cap from Tangs Lvl3! I read about it in Style magazine, so I cut out the page and decided to redeem it. First 100 customers only. I mean, I've done this kinda thing, and since I was going to be in the area, I thought...what the heck?! Haha, so now I've added one more cap to my collection. Heehee...

It's not too bad. A nice, safe grey colour. And the saleswoman was really nice too! She actually thanked me for 'shopping' at Tangs, when all I did was to redeem a cap. Felt a little guilty, but nevermind! It was fun doing this 'tan1 xiao3 pian2 yi2' thing. Once in awhile is good for you I guess.

Anyway, we went on to explore Lucky Plaza, and saw many interesting shops and people. I realised that maids are the most poorly paid amongst all the Filipinos working here. They really have it tough. Most of the Filipino shop attendants tended to be shy about speaking about their salary (who wouldn't?!), but when they figured we only want comparisons and not actual figures, they gladly explained the disparity to us.

On the way back to the meeting point, we had to pass through Orchard MRT and I took a picture with the cutest mascot! The problem is, I dunno what he was being a mascot for. Haha...ah well, it was fun! I was being the total, I quote Guo Jie, "photo-whore". Haha. Hey! I don't do this very often ok? I was just feeling a little cheery today, that's all. ^_^

The mascot! Both of us may have smiles on our faces, but I'm sure as hell certain he/she is NOT smiling inside of that suit. At least, that what my friend Faith said.

So on to Holland Village we went. I visited Chip Bee Gardens which I've never been to before. I realised why when I reached there. It's the 'high-class' area of Holland V. All the fine dining restaurants and gourmet delis are there. There are also artsy-fartsy art galleries, and many eclectic shops selling Oriental knick-knacks that perpetuate the mystery that is identified with the East. Haha. I met Faith in one of the shops! It was nice to have someone say 'hi' and wave enthusiastically at you! I haven't got that for quite awhile... She introduced to her colleague as follows, "Hey Lucy! This is my friend!" She turns to me, "Haha..er...What was your name again?"

I was amused, but it was okay, cos' I forgot her name for awhile also. Only could remember that it started with 'F'. Guo Jie had never been to Holland V before. So this was quite an eye-opener for him. For him, what made him light up like a light bulb was the many restaurants there. He a food nut you see...willing to spend on food more than anything else. I pointed out the two famous magazine stalls, then he suddenly started talking about VOGUE: For Men. I also never hear before. Hmm...I think we have a closet metrosexual on our hands ladies and gentlemen!

Haha...shall borrow VOGUE from him after he gets it and is done reading it...mwahaha...the continuation of the cheapskate streak. Okok, I shall stop. Just once in awhile to keep reality balanced should be enough.

I had to cancelled with Nat...cos of my stupid tuition kid lah...he'd better have done his homework, if not he'll get it from me! Hmph, make me cancel with Nat leh...annoyed me to the core! I was looking forward to it somemore lor...heck lah...

One more thing!

Happy Childrens' Day to all the children on this Earth, and our inner child as well!

no Sociology tutorial...sighz...

Went for Sociology tutorial today...was a little shocked when I discovered that our tutor wasn't there! Xinwei and I walked into a class that was less than half full. It was very unlike him to be late...so since he did not come for a good 20-25 mins or so, we decided to just leave. Sigh, I was looking forward to tutorial...not that I did the work properly lah...it's not that easy okay? Feel abit cheated...like he did not inform us. Sheesh...there is some kind of communication breakdown..I hope Mr Cheong is alright...very mysterious...

Anyway, tomorrow is Children's Day! So nice to be a child huh? I gave out prezzies to my tuition kids last night. Haha, no, I didn't prepare them...but I got to give them out, so that was fun too. My supervisor, Mrs Ho, was the one who prepared them. She really is such a dear...nice old lady...albeit a little naggy, but old people have earned the right to nag yah? People who know what's good for you also have that right...heh

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This is the present that each kid got. So colourful and Children's Day right? Nice... ^_^


I also received a present leh. One my students, Hillary, gave me this hourglass thing. I was very touched...first time I've ever received a Teachers' Day prezzie...though belated, but still super nice...haha... touched.
*tear twinkles*
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Anyway, I'm now in the NUS Central Library. Just bumming around and waiting for my EL tutorial to start. It starts at 12noon...still awhile more...I think my overbearing need to show the 'chio-ness' of FF7: AC is starting to wear out already. Haha...that's good, if not I will continue to overload my blog with picture after picture...there is only SO MUCH 'chio-ness' the general public can take right? Haha.

By the way, if you notice, on the right side of the blog is a little box where I will periodically display animated GIFs from Naruto. I'm a fan, and I managed to find sites that had these images. So good things must share mah...I will change them every so often! Haha..tell me what you think about it ok? Fun! ^_^

I think today I will go to the gym...I haven't gone the whole of last week and this week...VERY VERY BAD...I feel terrible...going soft in all the wrong places (minds out of the gutter everyone!), and really need to lose weight. Becoming fatty-fatty bom bom liao...sheesh. I have a busy weekend ahead. Hopefully things will get better after that...need to get back into the studying groove...there's still much to do!

Gambatte ne!
*oosh*

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Here's a random feel-good picture! My platoon mates from OCS...so nice lor...
Memories...all those wonderous memories....doo doo dee dum... ^_^
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continual perpetuation of the 'chio-ness' of FF7: AC

Cloud VERSUS Kadaj


Cloud Strife. Note the excellent CGI work. Light and shadows all very well done. Very nice. He is so 'shuai' (suave, good-looking, cool) can?


From left: Yazoo, Kadaj and Loz. The villains who are just as 'shuai'! ^_^


Tifa with a SUPER CHIO kick to Loz's face. Heeya!


Kadaj with his doubled-bladed 'mini-Masumune'. I'm sure it has a cool name, but I'm not sure what is it. The weapons ALWAYS have cool names...


Cloud with Tifa after her fight with Loz. Yeah, she lost...but she was still great. You can't blame her for losing to Sephiroth wannabes you know...you just can't. The church brings back memories of yester year...sigh...the nostalgia. ^_^

Yay! The week is ending!

It's always a nice feeling towards the end of the week. Even though this weekend looks to be super packed, I still feel quite happy and more jovial than usual. Should the the post mid-term test syndrome. Today's JS lecture was actually interesting for once. I mean I slept again lah, but then she showed us some interesting documentary on Japanese film throughout the ages (ok ok, not really ages, but since the first film was made lah) which wasn't half bad.

Anyway, later going for tuition again at Hougang. I really wonder why I ever took it up...sheesh. Oh, I just made all my aunt's appointments for her already. She's very clever you know, make use of her nephew to make all her hair and dental appointments way in advance (she's only arriving on 30th Nov lor..haha)...anyway, it took not much effort, and I do love my aunt. Can't wait to see her!

Tomorrow is the EVEN week...the start of it. It's so bloody confusing can? Still wondering why NUS made it this way...so silly lor. Ah well...going to make some calls to confirm some tuition deals. Haha...must keep the finances going. ^_^

FINAL FANTASY VII: ADVENT CHILDREN ROCKS!!!

Ladies and gentlemen, I have just watched the best movie of the year thus far!

FF VII: Advent Children is DA BOMB!!!

Square ENIX really outdid themselves this time. I mean, of course the CGI is excellent, but the memories...oh, the memories!

I still remember the time I played FF VII on the PS (the old grey model), and I totally fell in love with the Final Fantasy Series. It was the best introduction anyone could ever get into the world of role-playing games (RPGs). Granted the graphics were dated, but for that time, it was way ahead of anything ever seen.

Anyway, back to the movie (WARNING! SPOILERS AHEAD!!!)

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(appearing more or less in chronological order)

I was most impressed with the fight scenes. I mean, Tifa was kicking Loz's ass man. She rocks...I never really liked her in the video game (hey, there was Aerith man, who cares about Tifa), but in this movie, I truly appreciate her style of fighting. She is the queen of hand-to-hand man...Heihachi can worship the ground she walks on...SHE IS THE TRUE 'TIE3 QUAN2' (Tekken). All her signature moves from her Limit Breaks from the video game in FULL CGI...can you imagine that? *droolz* I think I have to mop my floor now...haha

It was super CHIO!!! She was SUPER CHIO!!! The CHIO-factor was off the charts!!!

And Cloud, the man himself! This time round, he's cool and infected with the deadly geostigma...scary stuff. But even with his left arm seemingly rotting away, he still manages to kick the butts of Kadaj and his posse. He moves around in this super high-tech bike that houses all his swords, and now his swords all fit into one another. They are like the ultimate Lego toy for BIG BOYS..haha...

He finishes the movie with a new Limit Break. It's like Omnislash, but more purposeful and deliberate (no hack-and-slash like in the game). This time was pure poetry as he carved the living daylights out of the One-Winged Angel.

The baddies were an integral part of the movie. They were all Sephiroth-wannabes, and lookalikes, to a certain extent. They are all geniuses when it comes to combat, and bike riding is like a walk in the park for our villains.

Kadaj is their leader and he wields a shorter double-bladed Masumune (did I spell this right?), so it's like mini-Sephiroth's sword. His style is chio. Like he will only draw his sword when he has to, and only Cloud managed to make him draw it.

Yazoo wields a Gunblade (like Squall from FF VIII!)! His blade is shorter and more stout. He is graceful and calm as he fires off multiple bullets from his Gunblade. He only utilises the blade if in close combat with his opponent.

Loz is the brash brawler who is lucky enough to fight with Tifa! He has a claw device on his left arm that seems to radiate with Mako when he wills it, and somehow, that claw allows him to move at hyper speed. He tag-teams very well with Yazoo and watching them fight together is pure poetry in motion. There is an exciting bike chase scene where they almost best Cloud. Wicked!

In the show, you see all your favourite characters make cameo appearances and those sure brought back memories. There is alot of story in this movie, and you won't be able to fully appreciate it unless you've played the video game. I love it!

Pssst! Read the entry carefully and you should be able to guess that someone comes back during the movie. A fan favourite and super chio fighter as well...can you guess who? Haha.

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Anyway, thank you Luzheng who helped make it possible for me to watch this great movie! Love you! (I will not say how he helped lest I get into trouble...haha)

NO MORE MID-TERMS!

Yay! Today marks the end of my mid-terms! Woohoo!

The Sociology test wasn't too bad, but I think I could've done better. That's what happens when you study the day before...mwahaha.

I handed in my Philo paper already. Haiz, have a bad feeling about that one. The points weren't all that strong and I seriously doubt the level of coherence considering I did it at god-forsaken hours in the day. Anyway, still one more hurdle to clear, and those are all the bloody projects! Sigh...really don't like projects that much...ah well....

I've finally had it with my hair! I am going to get it done, and hopefully I will look fine. Off to run my errands now. Blog again when I return! ^_^

*MOOD: I'm slightly perturbed and unhappy. Hope is a prized commodity. Really!

Today must finish Philo essay...tmr must hand in already...ARGH!

Sitting in Japanese Studies class now. Today is consultation for our project. As usual I'm too early for class, so am taking the time to pen an entry. My time slot is 0810, but I'm already here...haha...

Anyway, later I think I'll have breakfast and then retreat to the library until my lecture at 1200, then return and camp in the library till late. Need to complete the essay and hand in! I haven't even burn incense to the three Sociology gods yet man. And the Sociology test is TOMORROW!!! Very last minute this week, but I guess I have no one to blame but myself. Just have to persevere and push forth in my work then.

I wonder if I'll be happy this week...well, only time will tell.

Oh, this Saturday I'm going to meet Nat. Yay! Happy to go out with him to 'jalan jalan' this weekend. Heh. I think we're supposed to go somewhere east of the island lah. The last time I made him stay with me in Holland Village until late, so now my turn to stay late in an inconvenient part of the island. Haha...

Okay okay, I will focus on my papers lah...sianz...

This is where I spent my weekend!

very quiet, very serene, very ZEN....hee

My revision on LIFE over the weekend!

My weekend was amazing!

I laughed...

I cried...

I fell asleep...

I rocked on my chair...

I FELL OFF...haha

away for the weekend...

hello everyone!

I will be away for most of the weekend. No lah, not out of the country, but comparable to that. Still, I will be contactable, so please do not hesistate to call/SMS if you are in dire straits or to let me know that myhouse is burning down. Haha... (CHOY!!!)

Anyhow, I got back my first test that I've taken in TWO YEARS! SO scary and exciting. Fortunately, I didn't do too badly, quite happy with my results...

So the happiness carries on...mwahahaha...

confused...annoyed...but still happy enough.

I didn't really understand English lecture...phonetics proves to be more challenging...hm....

my Philo tutor never my email, I feel afraid...cham liao lah

but still generally happy enough...it's proving to be pretty long-lasting...mwahahaha

This is Michelle aka Chelle

Yixin, this is Michele aka Mish

tuition not too bad today...

Tuition was good today!

I had two lessons. One with a P4 boy, and my group tuition which I am currently conducting. Both weren't too bad. The P4 boy likes Naruto like me. So guess what homework I gave him? I asked him to watch an episode of Naruto and write an English report of at least 50 words on the episode. Haha...fun right? Can watch Naruto and do tuition at the same time.

This boy needs help lah. He has very little interest in English because he only came to Singapore in 2003, and speaks only Chinese. So I am trying to spark his interest, but need a lot of patience I think. We converse and everytime he spouts something in Chinese, I let him finish his sentence and then make him repeat the entire thing in English. Haha, he hates that, but still does it for me...lucky for me.

I'm also trying to get him to learn to use the dictionary. He's so bloody lazy (granted, we ALL are, but still...) to check it when he so obviously needs to. So that one must force lor, no choice.

My group tuition is okay lah. Though I kenna 'scolding' by one of the parents that day. Sometimes, they really expect a lot from you lah. I mean it's not always easy to focus on every single kid individually, but if the parent took the effort to come down and scold me, then okay lor. This mother never talk before to me, but this time, boy, did she give me an earful. So now, I treat her daughter like a jewel, must always check back with her on everything...whew...

Good training lah...

P.S.: Today is a HAPPY DAY! Those who know, good for you. Those who don't know, SMS me if you are really so 'bo liao' (free).

bu zheng jiu shi zheng...

To those who do not understand Chinese. The title literally translates into "TO NOT FIGHT, IS IN FACT, TO FIGHT". Cheem-ness right? Haha. Anyhow, my friend told me about this just now when we were having dinner at Fong Seng. She said that that is usually the best course of action in my situation. Haha...I'm guessing she's right.

Why should I fight so hard? What's meant to be will be...it's not as if I have not made an effort to make my presence known. So now, just wait I guess. There is no harm in a little wait. I know clearly where I stand and how I feel. So there!

BU ZHENG JIU SHI ZHENG! (no doubt she quoted this from a Taiwanese drama serial, but it still makes sense lah, so I'm not complaining...haha)

I think I have made some headway with regards to my Philosophy paper. Boy, thinking so much really gives one a headache. I think I need a nice shampoo or something. Maybe tomorrow. I've been meaning to cut my hair. It sticks out in all the strangest places and ways, and I'm supremely annoyed with it. Think I will go to Toni & Guy Academy...heh, hopefully the students won't destroy my hair. Worse come to worse, wear a cap lor....mwahaha.

National Library, what a wonderful place..ALMOST.

So we went to the National Library to do our Japanese Studies project. It was my first time there. I'd always went past it, but never actually stepped inside. I sure was impressed. Very big and new, and nice. It was as though an ACTION MOVIE could be filmed there. But, better not, if not no one will ever visit again...haha Anyway, on the left, you see our headquarters set up. Two laptops, a lot of books, and a lot typing. Jessica said it was as though we were writing a thesis or something. I beg to differ lah. We were chatting occasionally and freezing our b**ls (girls should be b**bs?) off...haha. It's really cold in there. So warm clothing is essentially.

This here is my BABY! Chio yah? Haha...love it all the time, never regretted getting it. Though the wireless inside was wonky, I still managed to get some word processing done, so it wasn't too bad. ^_^


This is the view from the 13th floor (i think)...nice right? Now if only the silly reflection wasn't there, then it would be perfect. Haha...

Paul and myself

friends...awww...

From left: Deborah (Paul's sister), Jiawei (cousin) and Paul

nothing more, nothing less

A chat is just a chat. Nothing more, nothing less. There is still the whole of my life in University to get to know people. Anyway, you never know what really goes on on the other end of an MSN conversation. Besides, there are more important things to worry about this week.

I have schoolwork, and an important weekend coming up. So I need to learn how to get things out of my space so that I can do what I have committed to already. There are other times to be happy/sad/angry and the whole bus load of emotions lor. Yeah...I will not think about last night too much. Still got other chances coming up.

Later, I'm going to meet up with my Japanese Studies (JS) project group at National Library. So exciting, I've never really gone there before. Always walk past, but never actually went inside to check it out. I think Jessica will be our tour guide. So exciting! Haha.

Oh, sent Paul off yesterday morning. Suddenly quite sad that my friend will be gone for a good ONE year. Now there will one less person to tell my secrets to, to ask when I don't know the meanings of 'cheem' words, to call immediately to bitch about assholes from our common past, to call and exclaim that the most 'chio' people just appeared in our lives, and much else....sighz

These are the things which we shared, and now can't share as easily/quickly as before. Well, everyone moves on to greater/more important things/places in life...so I hope Paul will enjoy himself over in UCL and be happy too ok? Take care friend! (And if u happen to read this, u'd better leave a freaking msg in the tagboard can?!?!)

PS: I will post the pictures I took up here soon. Then you can get them ok?

Naruto VS Susuke

I love Naruto, and I love this picture! I got it from www.deviantART.com. Super excellentissimo site for various artwork! Excellent! Please support them! Chio-ness!

Chidori VS Rasengan

Pancakes stuffed with yummy meat filling...mmm....

my mom experimented with this receipe. as usual, her cooking never fails to amaze me. using her incredible 'chap-pa-lang' culinary powers, she concocts a pancake batter that's perfect for disguising vegetables! she actually shredded spinach and mixed it into the batter. so once u fry it, the pancakes come out golden with flecks of green, like jade like that! super nice!

so she opens a can of cornbeef and fries it with onions and peas, so it's super fragrant. the corn beef is already very salty, so no need for seasoning. this is the filling that the pancakes will wrap...haha


so we roll everything up popiah style and eat it while it's hot lor...sedap sia! then she suddenly discovered that she had leftover mock black pepper chicken...so she microwaved that and we had pancakes which had black pepper chicken as the filling too! Shiok can? haha...

It was very satisfying have those homemade pancake rolls...my mom really is the best man.

NO ONE CAN BEAT HER 'CHAP-PA-LANG' COOKING SKILLS LOR...

dun play play ah?

term break? NOT!

Well, let's begin by announcing (i.e. bitching) that my term break has started! Woohoo! Isn't it wonderful how everyone (in this case my IHL - Institute of Higher Learning) is getting more and more ingenious? I mean, in a bid to be able to claim that they DO give their students a FIVE DAY term break, they happily announce to the student body that the term break starts on SUNDAY (WTF?! a Sunday? Aren't Sundays already rest days by themselves?) and ends on Thursday! So if you count them, technically it IS a five-day break. Just splendid don't you think?

BAH!!! Balderdash! Absolutely poppy-cock!

Anyway, whatever it is, the term break is not really a break anyhow. It's for us to catch up with lost time, especially with regards to our schoolwork. This time is usually lost due to a various reasons. Here are some of the reasons or excuses we give ourselves:

1) Aiyah, I have the term break to finish it lah.
2) But I'm tired!
3) But I did so much work already (ploughing through a 5-page reading whilst blogging is NOT 'so much work')!
4) There's still time.
5) Come on...it's the weekend, give me a break!
6) "Okay, I will start work at 10pm!", you shout to Mom. (SHIT! That bloody red dragon is roasting my team and I can barely keep them alive with my mediocre healing spells and limited mana pool...I'm a sucky monk man...fuck...LAG!)
7) Any home equipped with any of the following is in grave danger of being a NON-CONDUCIVE environment for any academic pursuit:

~Television
~Personal computer with relatively adequate gaming abilities
~An Internet connection (broadband is comparatively more dangerous then dial-up, but both can be lethal. Oh IMHO, StarHub prolly won't get you killed as fast...)
~A bed.
~Sony Playstation 2 (or any other video game console that you still enjoy playing)
~Telephone. (with the existence of mobile phones, actually NOWHERE is conducive anymore.)

Sigh, sure is demoralising how difficult it is to find a good place to pursue academics don't you think? Anyhow, I think the library is still the perfect place. Just camp (preferably with 1-2 frens for added moral support. Try to pick the relatively boring and hardworking friends, if not even the library will fail you) there and everything should fall into place.

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Special Message:
bye Paul! You must take care over there leh...going to miss you loads. See you at the airport tomorrow morning then. *hugz*
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Okay then, I will now retreat to finish my portion for my English, and in the meantime please enjoy this interesting post from one of my friends' blogs.

just bumming around...

in the library now. So sian can? Anyway, I'm waititng for my friends who is supposed to discuss Philosophy with me. Unexpected right? Usually once I get the chance I will head straight for home and slack the rest of the away. However, things are different now. I must work hard to do well...heh.

Last time, I would just do the bare minimum...a life of mediocrity. Enough of that for me!

Oh! I have good news! I landed a tuition job super near my home! It's at Orchid Park condominium...around a leisurely 10 mins walk away. Hahaha...am I lucky or what? Heh. Anyway, my first lesson is this weekend, that is tomorrow! So exciting! Haha! Oh, I only need to teach English somemore. Haha.

Anyway, today I will do my best to produce a draft for my Philosophy paper and get my EL project going too. So exciting!

Oh, today I made contact too! Very happy about that! Must execute Stage 2 of my mission soon..wish me luck! (Don't understand what the Mission is? Well, I'm not telling...just wish me luck good enough already...don't need you to kaypo)

the ultimate stalker

I just realised I have a knack for finding people...hahaha

just a few clicks and I know enough information about a person to qualify myself as a stalker lor...

aiyo..feel so espionage-ish can?

Be With Me...again

To those who want a better review of Eric Khoo's 'Be With Me', click here.

optimistic enlightenment

I have just finished my Philosophy tutorial, and am now in the NUS library taking a break. Anyway, I'm supposed to be taking the time to either choose my essay topic for Philosophy (I have a consultation tomorrow, so can't possibly go empty-handed right?), or finish up my Sociology homework for Friday (*smilez*), or study for my English Language test on Friday...so many activities hor? HAHAHA

Anyway, I was reading my friend's blog, and there was this analogy he made about a rollercoaster ride. It was an inspiring excerpt on the 'ups and downs' of life. For those of you who need a little positivity, just click here (Tuesday 13th Sept 2005)

I read it and I was like, WOW! Felt better instantly can? Haha...it really was a great analogy lah. Anyway, there are these two girls in the library's 'lounge-ish area' and they are talking really loudly. I mean, you can talk here, but I mean, when the entire room (imagine 3/4 of a basketball court size) can hear you, that's a bit loud don't you think?

I seriously don't need to know why you can't decide whether to shit or to pee, and neither do I need to know which brand of iced coffee from the vending machine you enjoy. Also, I hardly need to know that every morsel of food you ingest evokes massive waves of guilt either...

and neither do I need to know HOW OFTEN YOU SHAVE!!! Argh!

*xj is immensely amused that he is actually blogging about the girls who are less than 4m away from him*
*xj is however quite disgusted at the same time that such personal matters are discussed in public*

Okay lah, before I actually have to listen to their family histories and which brand of pads/tampons they prefer, I shall take my leave and head for the comfort of Level 6 - the QUIET study area. I have never heard anyone WHISPER so loudly before...sheesh...

~=ACTION, THAT IS WHAT I WILL PLACE IN FRONT OF ME!!!=~

NO LECTURE?!?!?! Huh?

Just checked IVLE (Integrated Virtual Learning Enviroment - it's a special Internet-based program which is a main form of communication between the university lecturers and undergraduates), and guess what?

My lecture has been cancelled! It's appalling can? I mean I expected a lecture today, so I should get one right? Now, I suddenly have the rest of the day free. It's like I'm suddenly at a tremendous loss. Sheesh...

My study session was supposed to start at 2pm, but now, I think I can start at like, now? Haha...a bit annoying this is. It sort of throws you off course. Now I suddenly have an extra 4hrs to play with. Now got internal struggle already. What should I do?

Study or not? I think I shall place/create discipline in front of me and study. Must try to get some work done lah...too slack already.

heh..

why everything like that? cannot, just for once, let things be like, perfect meh?

sianz

my beautiful, shiny, rainbow bubble...sighz

it's very annoying how my heart skips and my insides tighten when i see it...it's been a long while since i've felt this way, a very long while...

i yearn to open my heart, but i do not know if i am able to let things become valuable to me again.

scary and nice all at the same time...

the rainbow bubble is still there...and i see it everyday, beautiful and shiny, and i anxiously wait for it to float my way...but until it does, i do not dare to chase after it, lest it bursts. to me, it's that fragile...

and i lament the fact that i'm so damn bloody green lor, when it comes to chasing bubbles lah...ARGH!

for now, i will watch my rainbow bubble...floating everyday, beautiful and pure. till the winds change, and the cosmos rotate, i will wait. when the signs speak the truth, it will be time to reach out once more, and i WILL (with courage and fear in my heart) touch my rainbow bubble with purest intent...

i just want to be your friend...

only just finished my HW...0355am

OMG...I only just finished submitting my portion for the Japanese Studies project to my group members. I feel so terrible can? Anyway, I'm glad that I finished it. The problem now is that it's like going to be 4am, and my next lesson is like 4 hours away, so is there any real point in sleeping at all?

I mean I usually wake up at 6+ am to begin prepariing for school, so if I sleep now, it's more like I lie down to make an impression on the bed, then get up to smooth it out after that. So annoying can?

Anyway, got a few messages to some of my friends:

- Merv: I did not really get where your strength came from until today. I will call you at around 11-12noon to tell you that I really am grateful for letting me sit on your plate.

- Kelvin: Your presence is ever inspiring. Your being truly encompasses ALL. Thank you for that.

- Jeff: Sorry I didn't reply to your msg, but I really had something important to do just now. The first thing that comes to mind when I see the word 'transportation' is something eco-friendly and easy to use, and portable.

- Yiting: hmm, I will continue to talk to you about your kor ok? I think there is something that can be learnt. Anyway, tell me more when I see you in 4hrs time I guess.

- AP people: I will post a general thank you to you all for sharing and letting me have a scrape at the true YOUs. It was very, VERY enlightening. Thanks everyone!

Now, I think I shall get some shut-eye, and hope that I will still wake on time to head to school for my tutorial! Presentation tmr! Woot!

Be With Me

I watched Be With Me just now with Russell. Very moving. I was reminded of gong gong and popo and how he was actually sad when popo passed away. The gong gong in the show liked to cook, and cook very well too. Totally like gong gong lor...it made me really sad cos i remember popo and how she was around. somehow i think he actually had alot of things that were left unsaid. especially when he cried, i remembered the time that gong gong cried too.

i dunno lah, but it just so provoking. I wish i could somehow make him feel better. i get the feeling that he's still hurting, and hurting everyday too. I just wish he could be like the gong gong in the show; he gained reconciliation and rebirth in the end. i just hope i can help him get that too.

the two lesbians in the show represented the purest kind of love. it didn't matter that the two people involved were both girls, you could just feel the purity and it was totally untainted. i hope that one day i can find that as well. it's just a trying period for me now, many mixed emotions and alot of stuff all thrown. to fit in or not to fit in... that PURE LOVE just seems so distant for me...sigh...i hope i experience it at least once in my life...

so tonight i experienced alot of emotions. tears came often, but i didn't allow them to flow, i just told myself that the scene didn't last long enough for the emotions to really flow, but of course, that's just an excuse lah.

okay lah, gotta go to sleep, late liao....good night all....

end of the week...finally...

It's the end of the week, however, it does not mean the end of work. I wish it could be as simple as before, where the end of the week really meant a full weekend's worth of doing nothing in particular and just relaxing. Alas, with no more higher power (read: the SAF) implementing discipline for me, I guess it's up to little ol' me to implement it myself.

For some cryptic and 'all-hail-the-cosmos' reason, I happen to have 3 projects (out of the 5 modules that I'm taking) to complete. They are all dastardly as it's been like 20 000 years since I last did any project (in an academic situation of course), and the thought does not thrill me. Anyhow, I must say that I have been generally blessed with amiable and 'workable' group members who are all either pretty decent, or down-right f***ing unbelievable! I mean, I have never met more capable people (leaves much room for self-doubt though...) ! Them, I truly thank for all their 'wonderful-ness' and 'hardworking-ness'.

Paul's coming over later to see the new room and at the same time show off all his excellent 'new toys'. I'm so jealous you know? I think it was like Christmas for Paul recently, like 'yao feng de feng, yao yu de yu'. Right, Paul? Hah! Happy until siao lor...ah well, some people have all the luck. I will 'an an fen fen de dang wo de qiong shu sheng', and you won't hear another peep out of me (actually I REALLY should not make promises I can't keep...mwahaha) For those of you who can read the han yu pin yin, too bad...I don't feel like translating.

*xj secretly curses all the newly bought electronic gadgets which Paul has acquired*

Anyway, I will go to sleep now. Sheesh, I seriously need to rethink sleeping so late every day...bad for health lah...

Good Night!

soci - blush, JS - blush...everything also blush...idiot

Today, I learnt that period Japanese writers liked melodramatic storylines. These tend to go along the lines of petty quarrels between couples, monster mother-in-laws, and the female leads (fictional or otherwise) tend to die from tuberculosis (this seemed to be the AIDS of that era).

Anyway, I overslept on the bus today (and regrettably I was not dreaming of anything nice), and hence wasted 20 mins just trying to get back on track and back home. So the end result is very little time for myself, and now I have to rush off to teach tuition. I hate Thursdays!

I think I should start studying in the school library more often (for more reasons than one for those in the know), but really, I hardly get any work done at home anyways. Yeah.

Going to teach the little kids the meaning of life (nah, just how to differentiate between underground stems and roots) now. Bye!

stream of consciousness

From the mind of Christina:

there h is...OMG so cute. should say hi, everyone says should. but shy, and what if turn out to be a freak? look okay? oh no, there's that pimple from yesterday, it's still ther he's looking over.so scary. won't say hi lah...wait until later, sure got chance want oh no procrastinated again, shit.

From the mind of Jeslyn:

studying in the library today..so hardworking, tha. hmm, HUH?! he's her? what th...how can this be? like a si, an o can? i must talk liao r...so irritang, now cnot study liao. oei, stop staring lah, stare somemore your eyeballs pop out lah...idiot. hi do u know...err, oh, not from school? from a band? oh see...damn this silence, so irritating...so awkward...dying, dying...blushing like crazy, blushing? must totally look like a freak now...that's it..'ll never be friend now...messed up big time...nooooo.....just break it off, now NOW, before do anymore damage...imbecile! nincompoop! slap, bish, hit, idiot...piak, bom...

woo woo woo...whew....pant puff, calm down, blood go away...that's it...still an idiot lor...

action-packed! FWAH!

Programme for tomorrow!

gym
meet Calvin for breakfast, and tell him abt the Pink Hippo.
meet Aaron for lunch
go for Sociology lecture and do some hunting! ;-)
meet SSA2202 grp for project discussion
meet Tse Siang to study until late! (this includes plowing through immense research material for JS project as well)

POWER TO ME! Gambattenei! (did i get that right? hmm...)

okie sleep early to work hard tomorrow! CHIONG AR!!!

jialat...just woke up...

my supposed one hour snooze, became a full-blown two hour nap can? Oh no!!!

well, better get some work done then...

off i go!!!

gym, woman sat on my hand and a teeny, tiny windfall

I am now sitting inside my tuition venue, but I'm blogging...so terrible right? Haha. Anyway, it's been a fairly good day for me. I started off my day early, rushing to school for a project meeting. 0830hrs can? I discovered something funny about the morning rush hour. After 0745, the frequency for bus service No. 33 is greatly reduced. In fact, I reached school at 0836/0837 instead of being on time. Hmm...strange...

Anyway, I went to the gym after the meeting. As usual, there is a bevy of beautiful bodies and scrumptious buns and thighs. I did notice one thing today, that I always see, but today I choose to rant about it. Do you ever notice how so many guys focus SO much on their upper body development that they almost completely forget their lower bodies? In the end, they look like GIGANTIC FISHBALLS ON TOOTHPICKS. I mean, how attractive are toothpick legs right? Everytime I gym, I am glad for these people around me. They remind me of the dangers of an imbalanced workout. So everytime I will do more leg exercises to ensure so form of proportionailty ensues. (Oh, I'm in the gym on a Mon because I totally missed my session yesterday...I overslept can? So guilty...made up for it today. I think I will go on Wednesday too..hee)

So I headed for home, and I was waiting for my bus at the interchange. Sitting on the bench I was, happily listening to my iPod Shuffle, then suddenly there's this other presence near me, and before I knew it, I was trying to pull my hand out from under a huge, cheap floral-print fabric covered, butt cheek. Ugh, I mean, the nerve! The freaking bench was damn bloody big, and the woman could still manage to sit on my hand! How is that even possible? SO disgusted! Ewww...

This is the third thing which happened to me, and it probably is the happiest thing. I was walking to the bus stop when I noticed a familiar looking wad of purple coloured paper on the ground. It looked so familiar. Then I realised what it was and why it looked so familiar. It was wad of S$2 dollar bills! They were familiar because I fold my dollar bills in exactly the same fashion! So I had an unexpected windfall of S$8..yay! So not too bad lah...that should cover my eating expenses in school for the week at least (what?! don't looked so shocked, I'm a poor university student who takes whatever comes his way ok?).

i want school holidays too.

The September school holidays are here already. Eveyone is happy, but University students have to continue working. So sad. Anyway, in a bid to settle me differences with the holiday crowd, I decided to continue with my tuition class...haha

No rest for the holidays!

Mwahaha!

general annoyance

efore I start anything, let me just say that the the pretty stylistic 'B' you see is taken from www.deviantart.com. Very nice isn't it? I just love that website, you find the most amazing things there. Today was a slow, slow day...I was giving out flyers at Toa Payoh, but everyone was in the wrong space. I got like, say, 20 000 dirty looks?

Super annoying can? However, I understand. Why would you want to have your beautiful weekend disturbed by an annoying youngster trying to get you to take pieces of paper from him? Here's the probable thought process happening inside the person's head:

"I mean, it's my weekend, and the last thing I want is to be bothered! I want to relax! Fuck off already! Asshole..."

Totally understandable. I guess we should have thought it over more carefully before deciding to give out flyers on a Saturday at Toa Payoh. Besides, the target audience was no where to be found. Everyone was either too young, or too old. Tomorrow, we are going to try at COMEX, so hopefully with the huge confluence of people already there, it will be easier to give out the flyers. I've just done some updating to my Friendster profile and my blog itself. I really must say the Friendster is the most amazing thing. You can find the most interesting people...cheers to that man! woot!

think, think, think...type, type, type...

Today, I had my wallet ransacked by my discussion group in my Sociology class. It was an interesting exercise. Basically, the group is supposed to try to determine (solely by the contents in my wallet) what kind of person am I...quite interesting right?

Of course I just kept quiet and let them critique me as much as they liked. I found it quite refreshing lah. The tutor was this uncle-looking man, who does not look it, but somehow I have this feeling that he is deceptively wise and shrewd. I mean, he did pick me (of all people) to arrow to be Group IC, and he did it via EMAIL somemore! I still haven't completely gotten over my shock can?

Well, tutorial was better than I had expected, so I'm not complaining. Also, I met someone interesting (ok, I didn't really MEET the person per se, but since we're in the same tutorial class, will have chance soon lah), and I hope something interesting will happen between myself and this interesting person. Heh, Xinwei, you can attest to how interesting this person is lah hor? *gRiNz*

On to more interesting matters...I had this conversation with this girl last week, and I sorta know what to make of it, but I don't wanna come across to pompous or anything, here goes:

Disclaimer: All names have been omitted for obvious reasons...

*phone rings*

Xing Jian: Hello, who is this?

Girl: Hi! This is **** ! How are you?

XJ: **** who?

G: **** from RP lah.

XJ: What is RP?

G: **** from Republic Poly lah! Remember me?

XJ: *pauses* oH...OH! Yah, yah, I remember. ****, yes, I remember.

G: Wah, ni zhen mei you wo xin de(tranlation from Chinese: you never think of me wan, how can?) leh, Haiz..so how are you?

(insert about 5 seconds of inane chit-chat which is customary, insincere and totally unnecesary)

XJ: Anyway, what did you call me for?

G: Hmm? Call you need reason wan meh?

XJ: *gulp* Oh, i see... *silence*

G: *probably senses discomfort* Okay lah, I call you again soon ok?

Now, ladies and gentlemen, what do you make of this conversation? I have my own interpretations, and well, frankly, I just can't...just can't lah...heh

Anyway, here's something else for you all to read and get entertained by:

WAYS TO DESCRIBE SOMEONE AS STUPID:

1. A few clowns short of a circus.
2. A few fries short of a happy meal.
3. The wheel's spinning, but the hamster's dead.
4. All foam, no beer.
5. The butter has slipped off his pancake.
6. The cheese slid off his cracker.
7. Body by Fisher, brains by Mattel.
8. Warning: Objects in mirror are dumber than they appear.
9. Couldn't pour water out of a boot with instructions on the heel.
10. Fell out of the stupid tree and hit every branch on the way down.
11. As smart as bait.
12. Doesn't have all his dogs on one leash.
13. Her sewing machine's out of thread.
14. One fruit loop shy of a full bowl.
15. Her antenna doesn't pick up all the channels.
16. His belt doesn't go through all the loops.
17. Proof that evolution CAN go in reverse.
18. Receiver is off the hook.
19. Not wired to code.
20. Skylight leaks a little.
21. Her slinky's kinked.
22. Too much yardage between the goal posts.
23. Got a full 6-pack, but lacks the plastic thingy to hold them together.
24. A photographic memory, but the lens cover is on.
25. During evolution his ancestors were in the control group.
26. Gates are down, the lights are flashing, but the train isn't coming.
27. Is so dense, light bends around her.
28. If brains were taxed, he'd get a rebate.
29. Standing close to her, you can hear the ocean.
30. Some drink from the fountain of knowledge, but he just gargled.
31. One sandwich short of a picnic.
32. Not the sharpest knife in the drawer.
33. One of her DuraCells is in upside down.
34. His elevator doesn't stop at all the floors.
35. One taco shy of a combo platter.

Taken from www.webenglishteacher.com, this is a fun site.

Announcement: There is no comments button already, this skin didn't include I think. So if you have any burning thing you wish to share with me, just leave it on the tagboard ok? I would prefer more activity there anyway. Thanks!

new BlogSkin

Okay, I've always been very lazy to change me blogskin because I find it really troublesome to keep coping and pasting everything lah...but I was also quite bored of my old skin, so just try something new lor.

it's not the prettiest or coolest skin, but it's different and I think i'm quite happy about that for now..heh...

so there's a little victory for me then! Woot!

Does VISION = VIRTUE?

Hmm, that was about all I understood from the Philosophy lecture today. I really tried to understand the lecturer, but coupled with his accent and the strange content of the lecture, I just could not really grasp the essence of his monologue.

Now I've officially skipped the second half of the lecture with my friends, cos' we decided that staying would not help at all, so just leave lor.

It's been a long time since I've been naughty, so it's like a new experience all over again...haiz...so sad...

=new things=

another day in school...one more day down before the weekend arrives. I was talking to my friend last night about getting this waitering job which is like super near my place? It's like just 5mins away lor.

It pays $7 an hour and the hours are flexible. So it's like super cool lor...I hope I get the job...I really wanna try being a waiter. Into experiencing new things and all that. Heh.

anyway, now in school, waiting for the next lecture to start. hope she ends early today, then i can go home and exercise more will and discipline...gosh, i need that desperately man...haiz...

annoyance
shame
bad

Latest Magic: The Gathering Set!!!

Do these new land cards from Ravinca have the newest look or what? Very abstract right? Like so not longer in Dominaria or Otaria or even Kamigawa...looks so exciting, I can't wait to see what other new and interesting things are in store for the latest set from the folks at Wizards at the Coast.

crappy day in school...

this is so annoying lor...i'm in school for only ONE tutorial...so inefficiency can? Haiz...i'm in the library lounge now, just sending email and doing nothing in particular...sadness can?

I think I'll eat in school then head home to sleep lah...so sian...

out

One more test...just to be sure...

I really like Naruto so let's just see if I can get the text to go where I want it to.

It's a little strange though...confusing...is this really how i envision things? Hmm...must experiment more....

Kage Bushin no Jutsu!!!

Free photohosting is so nice....finally...

Okay, I'm trying out this Photobucket thingy, so let's hope it works. I dunno how it's supposed to apprear, but I just hope it does...so here goes...

You should be able to see a beautiful stained-glass window below right?




Excellent!!! I now know how to incorporate pictures into my individuals posts...all by myself somemore...so proud! Haha...

Should make my blog more interesting from now on I hope...I will keep on learning and experimenting with this strange world of HTML...it's fun trying it out and discovering how things works...sometimes purposely sutdying the thing takes the fun out of this thing called DISCOVERY>

PERTH sucks...the movie, not the State.

So I met with Russell at LIDO to watch Perth. Well, to be absolutely honest, I wasn't that keen on it, but the reviews were pretty good (as in like, everyone said how Lim Kay Tong was like SOOO good in it or something to that extent lah), so we decided to give it a go anyway. Well, in a nutshell, the movie SUCKED! I mean I usually support local productions and enjoy going to watch them, but this one just did not 'speak' to me as well as previous productions.

Lim Kay Tong's character was somewhat 'plasticky' and he seemed very stiff in his actions. For instance, certain scenes which were supposed to convey specific emotions just did not come across that powerfully. I mean, I know I was supposed to feel and understand the anger and frustration, but Lim Kay Tong just did not speak to me. I felt somewhat disappointed. Having watched his performance in namely Growing Up, I've always felt he was an excellent actor and excelled in his craft. However, this time round in Perth, his acting seemed lackluster. I just wished he could have emoted everything better, like really draw the audience into his world.

The other minus point about the show was that it had a lot of violence, but the violence was overdone and slightly exaggerated. It seemed as though I should be feeling the brutality of the massacre, but at certain points it turned out rather comical, or not realisitic enough. In the end, a lot of people died and we never really did get to see Perth at all.

There were of course scenes in the show which I did enjoy. For instance, the constant reference to the local way of speaking was extremely entertaining and real. The numerous Hokkien expletives was REALLY how people (the kinds of Ah Bengs and lowly educated people lah, at least that's what they called themselves in the movie) like that speak in Singapore. There were many cultural references like National Service and Reservist training which was super funny to what. There was even some political referencing...but I won't mentioned that here. Russell was super quick to pick of out the references, and I thought it extremely funny, and telling of the political scene in our country...heh

Now that I'm done with my movie review, let's get on with the post proper...

So Russ and I went to the BigO for dessert (OH! WHAT SIN!) and talked till the shop closed. I really enjoyed my evening with him lah, it's been so long and we really had a lot to talked about. He said he really enjoyed himself and it had been a long time since he had such a good conversation with anyone. I told him I wished we could talk somemore, but he said we got talk a lot what...well, I guess I just miss al my friends lah. I think next time I ask my old friends out, I'll try to force them into a whole day affair...haha, then we can really catch up.

Anyway, Russel, you really must post on the tag board can? You say you got read my blog, but you never post anything wan!

ATTENTION all readers of my blog!!! Please take some time to say 'hi' to me by leaving a comment or posting in the chatterbox on the side. Then at least I will know who is still alive or dead mah... haiz...

happy...

I had a great English Language tutorial class today...so I that makes me happy...

So nice and happy...

*xj laughs to himself, wonders if he is crazy and decides he isn't and continues to smile like an idiot*

*gRiNz*

an extremely annoying sms conversation

I had the most annoying SMS conversation with my friend Eng Liang today. I have never been more amused/pissed/miffed/exasperated/*insert all other emotions bordering on happy/angry* by a person before. And all that through the power of SMSes...so enlightening man. It went like this:

Xing Jian: Hey, come and find us leh, we got seats in Hell liao.

Eng Liang: But we are in heaven. Except yulong in nirvana. we visit u when judgement comes.

XJ: Huh? Heaven? Just come and join us lah...

EL: God will decide when judgement comes, not man.

XJ: *in my mind i'm going WTF!?!?* Stop being and idiot and come and look for us, we got seats for u guys already!

EL: Religion is everyone's concern.

XJ: *???!!!...* Just shut up and get over here now!

EL: Hey where u all? Cant find hell?

XJ: *thinks EL's an idiot* You can't see us? Just open your eyes and look lah!

EL: Angels have no eyes. They r made of light.

At this point, I totally give up (I'm thinking, wow..that msg really takes the cake) and decide that I cannot beat Eng Liang anymore...anyway, I learnt something new about my new friends in NUS. THEY ARE EXTREMELY CRAPPY, especially Eng Liang (but you know I still love you lah hor? Haha!)

Read this...I got it off a website while I was researching for my EL tutorial assignment. It's quite funny. Try to read it without making any mistakes...trust me, you will. Enjoy!

REASONS THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE IS HARD TO LEARN
1) The bandage was wound around the wound.
2) The farm was used to produce produce.
3) The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse.
4) We must polish the Polish furniture.
5) He could lead if he would get the lead out.
6) The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert.
7) Since there is no time like the present, he thought it was time topresent the present.
8) A bass was painted on the head of the bass drum.
9) When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes.
10) I did not object to the object.
11) The insurance was invalid for the invalid.
12) There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row.
13) They were too close to the door to close it.
14) The buck does funny things when the does are present.
15) A seamstress and a sewer fell down into a sewer line.
16) To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow.
17) The wind was too strong to wind the sail.
18) After a number of injections my jaw got number.
19) Upon seeing the tear in the painting I shed a tear.
20) I had to subject the subject to a series of tests.
21) How can I intimate this to my most intimate friend?

Readings, smeadings...BAH!

It's really quite difficult getting into the groove of school and all that. Readings can be painful when it's been so long since one has configured his brain to read anything. Anyway, I was like trying to do research on my Japanese Studies project (we're supposed to pick a city and analyze one or more aspects on it and how it features in Japan), but I ended up doing character tests from this Naruto website.

(please see the two new buttons in my sidebar...hahaha...it's not too bad. Turns out I like Kakashi and I AM Kabuto...both are very cool, because they are really high-level ninjas in the anime.)

Anyhow, I really need to re-wire my entire system to suit the needs of a hectic university life, it really isn't easy. One of my friends told me that it took him his entire first semester to fully purge the impurities (which we pick up from our stint in the SAF) from his body. How scary is that man? Oh, I've begun playing Guild Wars again, and I must say that I am well on my way to reaching my maximum level! Woohoo!!

The good thing about GW is that you don't pay a monthly subscription, so you can not play for like a few months and it not like you're wasting money or anything like that. I mean, World of Warcraft rocks, but I can't pay that monthly upkeep man. I would probably have to sacrifice it eventually and the entire thing would be one big messy graveyard.

*xj wonders if anyone caught the Magic: The Gathering references there...hmm...*

Dim Sum Dollies and horrors amongst the audience...

Hello everyone! This is my first post from my new laptop (you can see that below)...it's so exciting! Anyway, the keyboard is really small and it's a real challenge to hit all the right keys. But still, I'm still loving it lah...so fun!!!

I went to watch the Dim Sum Dollies on Saturday, it wasn't too bad lah. There were many instances of local references and that's always funny. However, somehow it seemed like this big Teachers' Day Performance (you know, the kind that most Singaporeans would have taken part in/watched in their youth) that just happened to be shown in a high-class theatre like The Esplanade. I mean, it's not like the show was bad, that's just the feeling I got.

In the end, it was still enjoyable and I found the songs very entertaining on the whole. So I give it a 3.5/5 stars!

There was only ONE thing which spoiled the night for me. It was this group of totally uncultured and ill-behaved girls who were watching the Dim Sum Dollies as well. One of the girls actually sat with her feet and the seat if the chair, as if the she were at home? How unbecoming is that?! That still not as bad as the next incident.

During the intermission, the girls decided to head to the bathroom together (as usual), and this girl in a red tube top started to adjust her belt and her cut-offs. I mean, this kind of action is usually no big deal, and I usually would not make such a fuss, but guess what happened? The bloody pulled her cut-offs so low that her buttcrack was actually exposed for a whole, half a second! She was totally unaware if her surroundings! I mean, there are PEOPLE around you know?! The thing that really irritated was the fact the this group of girls thought they were so lady-like, and high-classed and cultured.

THEY ARE FAR FROM THAT...I'm beginning to wonder what girls are being taught in school these days? Or even if school is doing them any good, one would think that the home would at least try to inculcate some proper manners into today's youth...so appalling.

Anyway, trying to get an Internet connection in Yishun is really a pain. I've been trying to get connected, but the connections are either protected, or too weak. How can I leech effectively like that? So annoying man...

One part of our giant, silver durian...The Esplanade..haha

My bro and me

Chong Yii, Mom, and Uncle Kam

The Dim Sum Dollies! Taken from Circle 3, so damn bloddy far can? Ugh...annoyance...but no choice lah...only paid $4 what...special rates!!! Haha

This is my latest toy! The ACER TravelMate 3002WTCi. It's the one where the little dog carries it in it's mouth to it's owner. It's so small and beautiful, who cares if ACER has a not-so-good reputation and that it's not a powerhouse? I mean it's A4-sized can?!?!?! Beat that! Small, but not miniscule. *gush*

lemon 1000, I drink this quite religiously. Okay, not THAT religiously. One could say I'm sort of a backslider...haha.

lemon 1000

In a bottle of plastic, only 500ml,

Absolutely healthsome, but not very much else.

Mostly made of water, lemon juice, sugars and various acids.

GOD forbid you forget the flavourings and natural deposits.

Approximately one thousand milligrams of Vitamin C,

You could hardly need, or want, much else you see.

NUS AS7, Computer Lab

I am currently in the National University of Singapore, Computer Lab. It's terrible...the server is practically crap!

It's unbelievable how I can sit in front of a terminal for over 4 hours and still not get in!!! Argh! I'm going to die already lah...there is no getting in at all. The funny thing is that my friends all say that it hasn;t happened before. What does this mean? I think it just means that we are 'guai lan'...I don't really know how to explain that term in English...hmm...anyone can help?

the NUS server sucks...

the university should really consider upgrading their servers. I mean for all the funding, you would think that they would be able to afford servers which would not fail you when everyone tries to log on to register for their tutorials.

I mean I've been trying to get in the whole morning can? Argh!!!

SO IRRITATING!

Go read this...it's funny.

THE KENTANG

nothing in particular

There is a certain sense of immense inertia these days. Somehow, I still need to discover how to create that drive and committment. I obviously have issue with creating drive and passion...I just lack pure determination. Sigh...

I can think of so many people who would love to kick my ass right now...and I would totally deserve it. I just don't feel like it. But I know that I cannot be like that...so I shall not!

Did I even make sense just now? I don't know...what do you think? Leave your comments and let me know...feel free to blast/encourage me however you choose...thanks

Hey Jun! This photo is for you...your yandao Amin! Haha...I was looking through your blog and saw that you mentioned him..so this is for you lor! Mwahaha!

The Nature of Language...

I had my first English Language lecture today. I totally enjoyed myself. It's looks to be interesting and cool! She's Portugese and speaks well, but she also looks like she could hex you if you aren't careful. She looks sagely and slightly witchy (in a good way of course)

Anyway, let me share the following conversation which I heard this morning while waiting for the bus, here goes...

Indian woman: Morning!

Chinese woman: Hello...

IW: Today rain very big hor?

CW: Yah, so heavy.

IW: Just now the 811 got go already?

CW: Just now got one go already.

IW: Then got anymore? Got two is it?

CW: No lah, the no more the no more, then the two the two lah!

IW: Huh?! *pauses* Orrh!!! Okay! *smiles*

Funny right? The scary thing is that though I should not have understood a single word, I actually did! Not very encouraging...

First Lecture...

Yesterday celebrated National Day with Ritchie, Michelle and Jun. Picnic and watched fireworks by the water at The Esplanade. Ran into Nat and Jamie too! Sat together and talked rubbish as young people tend to do...

Had my first lecture today...not too bad. Hurrah for me...

Tomorrow's lecture is at 0800hrs...early early early!!!

Starburst!!!

See the many people not caring about the traffic police and just walking on the road? Everyone's rushing to get home...so crowded.

Green, red, orange...smoke and pretty colours!

Quite impressed with my phone's image quality..heh

Fireworks!

The crazy group of people who went to the Esplanade to jostle and squeeze with everyone just to catch a 5 minute fireworks show...HA HA HA...

Ain't I just happy to see you, ay? HAHA

Shades? Damn my glasses...maybe I should try contacts?

Hmm, I'm feeling slightly narcissistic today...haha

Just in case everyone forgets what I look like. This shot was taken in KL...shopping was a blast..haha

mindless ramblings

Let's see, what have I been up to the past few days. Not too much really. Just a gym session, a book fair, a movie and dinner with friends. I think I'm beginning to get the hang of the idea of working out at Cali gym at Raffles. I could really get used to the nice environment, especially when I visit during the off-peak periods. I mean, like that I can really get any machine as and when I want. So nice.

My body's aching now..too long never workout. My mom called me a wuss and said that it's good to ache. She said something about the body purging toxins or something. I guess when parents decide to go all 'sagely' and 'superior' on you, it usually works. Ah well, more motivation! Lose weight, get healthy and hopefully get a set of abs! Haahaa.

I then met Yixin for a by invitation only book sale. Super cheap can? She bought $200+ worth of books for only $43! I spent $21 on 5 books and a notebook that had my star sign on it (what?! I couldn't resist ok?).

All that was yesterday. Today I met Paul for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory...it was great except for the parts where Burton kept flashing back to Wonka's past and his father. I mean that never happened in the book, so I felt it was totally redundant. I had read reviews commenting on that and how it was pointless, and now I totally agree. On the whole it was great, and I really enjoyed it. However, Paul did make an interesting comment. Compared to Chocolat (and both shows had plenty of chocolate in them), we did not feel hungry for chocolate after the show. And I distinctly remember feeling the extreme craving for chocolate after watching Chocolat though. Interesting... I think it's because the portrayal of chocolate in Chocolat was more sensuous and alluring, whereas in Choc Factory, it was more fantastic and abstract.

After the show, it was aimless roaming of Funan Centre where we met up with Nicholas. We then had dinner at Crystal Jade Kitchen with Xinwei too. It was nice..four friends who hadn't met up for a long time, talking about blending noisy little children, and how Singaporean Literature can make a person hurl at times, and how scholars can NOT have a mind of their own. These topics constituted the bulk of our over-dinner repartee (did I use this word right? hmm...) After dinner activities involved heading over to Essential Brew where we had tea. Alas, everyone ('cept for me) had much to comment about their teas. There was general displeasure amongst the four tea drinkers and that was too bad. I did run into my OG mate from NUS (she's working there), so embarrassing...somehow got the feeling she was trying to avoid me.

Then Paul decided to not come over to my place. I was looking forward to some heart-to-heart somemore lor, then he zhong4 se4 qing1 you3 and went to meet David instead. So terrible...

I"M DISAPPOINTED PAUL!

...okay lah...I understand, you can come over some other time then.

the mindless ramblings will end now...nitez...

nat's over at my place.

nat's here...

school and everything else...actually, just school.

sorry sorry....it's been so long since I last posted anything. Then again, who am I apologising to? It's not like I have millions of fans angry that I haven't updated them on the ongoings in my life. Anyway, Uni life is a doozy. I signed up for O-week organised by the Arts Club in NUS, and it's been like this gigantic class reunion from all the schools I've ever been to. De La Salle, SJI, SAJC and even OCS...sheesh. I realised that I've made many friends these past 21 years and they remember me too. It's a little heartwarming, yet scary at the same time. I mean, when they approach me I don't know what to say...

I mean, I've grown to hate the following QUESTION and ANSWER:

Q: "Hi! How have you been?" *look of concern and super fake smile*

A: "Oh, I'm fine..." *customary response that parries ALL probing attacks that may reveal you may not be as fine as you make yourself out to be*

It's so annoying to go through this 'ritual' and yet though I bitch, moan and whine about it...I am guilty of it as well. THE SHAME!!! Anyway, I guess I'll just have to deal with it. I mean you don't tell a person you haven't met in 5-6 years that you're emotionally unstable, gay, mentally unsound (not that I'm in any of these states, well...maybe one of them, but go figure...haha) and expect them to sympathise. You just don't do things like that...societal norms do not permit such outbursts.

I'm also trying to decide whether or not I should go for Orientation Week activities today. The OG has been great and I really like them, but there's laziness and general sian-ness (this means boredom in Hokkien) in me now...inertia...ugh...so much inertia...

I think I'll skip the day's activities and go down to stay overnight tonight. It's fun staying over with people. It's been a long time since I did the whole sleep-over-in-school thing. So exciting!