SOME THINGS JUST DON'T CHANGE


As people grow, they change. Years bring about changes. Characters get mellowed. Personalities get tamed. Mindsets get renewed. Tempers get tapered. Physical features get sharpened and more distinctive-looking. Priorities gets readjusted accordingly. Maturity gets developed.


But some things just don't change.

Food, for example.


Since young, I've never liked oranges, pomeloes, sour plums, hor fun, egg yolk, sharks' fin, cockles, and watercress. 22 years on, i still hate them as much as - if not, more than - before.


Conversely, certain food get me hook, line, and sinker ever since the maiden time they enticed my taste buds. Coffee, for one. Chwee kueh, for another. And of course, Coffee Bun, and Taiwanese Sausage. PL and LT used to particularly enjoy teasing about how I'll always succumb to purchasing at least one, and taking ages to finish one whole sausage. Good food must slowly savour, you dunno meh?!


And I really love mushrooms. Shiitake mushroom. Straw mushroom. Button mushroom (a.k.a. White mushroom). Winter mushroom (a.k.a. Enokitake, or Golden Needle mushroom, or Velvet Foot). Cloud ear fungus. King Trumpet mushroom. Oyster mushroom. Bring it on!





Whenever the family attends dinner banquets, birthday celebrations, or wedding dinners, the elder brother would get the whole of my share of sharks' fin soup. In turn, because he dislikes it, I'll get his share of mushrooms. I've never managed to decide who has been getting the better deal throughout the past 2 decades.

Mushrooms are also not cheap one, you know?

But it looks like I've got the shorter end of the stick. I think sharks' fin soup is more costly than mushrooms.

=(

WORKING


Today marks the end of the 3rd week of the new Term. Another 3 more weeks to go, and we'll be enjoying our Recess Week (20th Sept - 28th Sept). After Recess week, it is followed by another 7 weeks (less than 2 months!) of attending lectures. After which, Reading Week (15th Nov - 21st Nov) will commence; with my last paper ending on the 4th December 2008, Thursday.


Finally, if it all goes well and I clear all the requisites, I'll be FFG (filing for graduation)!!!





PGDE has 2 batches of intake per year. Permitting, I hope to be able to make it in time to join as part of the 1st batch of the year, which would be commencing tentatively on January 2009 (only 5months from now!); with the 10weeks practiculum starting on late June 2009.
If not, I would be going in as the 2nd batch, which would be commencing tentatively on July 2009; with the 10weeks practiculum starting on late February 2010.





There'll be so many loose ends to tie up, I foresee. Clearing the pre-requisites for graduation. FFG. Administrations and paperworks. Notifying the authorities that I would be graduating half a semester earlier than the rest of the cohort. Registration for PGDE. Going for the 4weeks of Enhanced School Experience. D&D and graduation ceremony from NUS. Orientation for PGDE. Selection of Education Studies electives. And, yes, not forgetting, trying my luck in getting a campus hostel (Boon lay! SIAO!!!). LASIK.





I can't believe it. I'll be done with NUS in about another 3months' time; and would be out there working in about a year's time from now. How fast.

I'll miss being a student.

But I won't miss the exams. Definitely.

DEATH AND COWARDICE


"Cowards die many times before their deaths;
The valiant never taste of death but once.
Of all the wonders that I have yet heard,
It seems to me most strange that men should fear;
Seeing that death, a necessary end,
Will come when it will come."

- William Shakespeare, "Julius Caesar"





How true. We only live once. Live the way it should be lived.

After all, we only have one life to live.

Maximize it; optimize it.

FORGET LAM FUNG AND JOE MA =)


Here comes DBSK!!!

I used to really like the Backstreet Boys. Their's is the first album I've ever purchased in my life. When they disbanded, I was so crushed. Try as I might, no other artists have ever evoked such admiration again, and I never purchased any CD albums by any artists again. That is, until DBSK came along and blew me off my feet.

Can these guys get any hotter?

DBSK!!!



And here are 2 of my favourite members:


























The one on the left is Kim Jae Joong (the main vocalist), and the one on the right is Kim Jun Su; who boasts such a beautiful unique voice that has been dubbed "voice of an angel".


Sigh!


Young. Charming. Handsome. Can sing. Can dance. Can acapella beautifully. Kind. Not arrogant. And super talented.


Sigh!


My Fluoride's going to be like them too. And he's going to be well-balanced, smart, wise, witty, disciplined, joyful, AND he's going to be so loving God (I pray).




And... In case you've been wondering where I picked up my "trademark" from,

KIM JUN SU!!!

I love how Jae Joong and Jun Su end this song!








Jun Su always kills me at 3:19s.

MUMMY WILL BE BACK. PROMISE.


I come from a big extended family. On the maternal side, there are 6 aunties and 5 uncles. On the paternal side, there are 7 aunties and 2 uncles. Throw in a paternal grandma, and lots of cousins; It's HUGE. There are so many cousins from both sides that I don't even bother to count. The paternal grandma dotes slightly more on me; because I so happen to be 1 of the only 2 grand-daughters that she has. Hohoho!

My youngest aunt (from the maternal side) came over to our house yesterday. She sort of married late, and thus, her youngest daughter (that is, my youngest cousin) is currently 13month-old.

Yummy!

The 13month-old

My aunt went downstairs to get lunch. And the 13month-old couldn't stop screeching, brawling, and wailing. For nearly a FULL HOUR, she didn't stop; refusing to be pacified. Can you see how red her nose is from all that crying?

The last time I saw them was about 5month ago. The 13month-old couldn't walk then. When I carried her, she clung onto me like a sweet little koala bear. Yesterday, however, she was walking about and skipping around. Sigh! Where has all the time gone?





The older one was nonchalant of her sister's tears in the beginning. She was eating tidbit and watching the TV like any other normal day. Initially, I thought that it's either she's too used to her sister's frequent crying bouts, or that the 2 siblings are not emotionally close. But an hour later, while I was in my room studying, I heard the elder one crying. It's distinctly different from the high-pitched wailing from the 13month-old's.

I found Dad carrying and comforting her in the kitchen. Seeing me approaching, he chunked her to into my arms and asked me to settle it. I looked at her. She was sobbing quietly. "No... Mummy... Back..." She whimpered. Melted my heart like hot chocolate. Poor thing. Silly girl; she has been affected by her sister. At least she endured for the past hour. She impressed me.


"Mummy went downstairs to get lunch. She'll be back soon, ok?"

"Mummy... No... Back..." She repeated.

"No, she'll be back. Soon. She's downstairs. Coming up soon. Don't cry, ok?" I cooed.

"No back... Mummy..."


Deciding that reasoning is definitely not going to work in a case like this, and that rationality has already been flung out of the window, I decided to switch tactics.


"Nope, she just went to buy lunch. Are you hungry? Hungry anot? Have you eaten? Want to eat? Hungry? Potato chips?" I pestered, and waved my bag of potato chips enthusiastically in front of her face.

"Mummy... No want... back..."





Sigh!





Because she stubbornly refused to come down and insisted to be carried, I had to carry her for, like 20minutes. I've checked; she weighs about 22kg. My arms ache a little now.

On a sidenote, the most gratifying thing is, she unexpectedly bade me goodbye when I was about to go out yesterday's afternoon. "Bye bye." She said in her small, meek, kiddish, and girlish voice, waving her left arm tentatively, and standing about 2 meters away because she dare not draw near to "strangers". I couldn't help grinning. She's just so cute.

CAMARADERIE


This Tuesday evening, I went to SAFTI for a night out. The company was awesome - the gentlemen were gracious, and the ladies were wonderful. The atmosphere was great, and the food, totally splendid!

The games played were fun and spontaneous, and the men were all such good sports. Oh, the camaraderie! If you've never been in a uniformed group or served in NS, it's a bond, an unity, which you might not understand.

Seeing the guys playing so sportingly among themselves reminds me strongly of my days in secondary school.

Fighting for the parade square. "Disturbing" the NCC guys. Being friendly with the SJAB people. Laughing snidely at Concert Band's pathetic drill. "Fighting" over the new recruits during CCA open-house. Singing songs (Chamomile, chamomile, chamomile lotion! Ohhh, no more chamomile lotion!).
OBS. Jetty jump. Secondary 3 ATC. Inter-school competitions. Inter-cluster competitions. Rifle drill. Baton drill. Campcraft Team. Markmenship Test. First Aid Test. Polishing boots. Kiwi. Beret. Hairnet. Camping. Sand flies (so terribly itchy!). Canoing. Kayaking. Rock-climbing. Mass tins. Solid fuels. Tents. Twine. Iron pegs. Morning 5BX. Drinking parade (I HATE IT!). Changing parade (I LOATHE IT!). Being pumped and asking for "permission to recover, Sir!". And, of course, not forgetting our motto, "One for all, all for one".


I've always hate that motto. Especially when the whole squad has to be pumped just because of one/some stupid squad-mate(s) who were trying to be funny.

But, still, the times spent with them are priceless.

It's the camaraderie.

THE CONFESSION OF THE HANGERS


Dad always comments that I can make a mini business out of my wardrobe. He suggests that I go "lelong lelong!" at pasar malams. I always rebut, saying that it's mainly because I seldom discard old garments. Some of them have been with me since Secondary school days! "Of course they would accumulate over the years." I protested. "But still!" He grunted, "Then throw some of the old ones away, lor". But, what a waste, isn't it?


Because of this, ever so often, I find myself in constant lack of hangers; EVEN THOUGH I've already hung at least two pieces of garment per hanger for most hangers. Some of the more magnificent ones have up to four garments!

And at times like these - when I'm really at the end of my tether and die die also cannot "squeeze out" one spare hanger no matter how hard I try - I would sneak into my brothers' room, smuggle one out, and make it mine (mainly because I dare not "kapok" my parents'). Ever so often (ok, maybe about just once per every few months), I would discreetly "steal" a hanger and "import" it over to my room. Just like today, for instance.

It's really easy, honestly speaking, considering that the elder brother is out most of the time. The younger one, oh well, often has his back facing me (playing computer games, of course) and is too preoccupied to be bothered with what the genius me is up to.


I'm bad, I know. But it's really convenient! I need not go out and purchase my own. Save time, and save money!!! It's a habit that I try to kick off but, just like coffee, I keep reverting back haplessly. I have no idea how many I've pilfered thus far, but most probably it's less than five (ONLY!!!).

In any case, men can make do without a couple of hangers. Women can't. We need all that we can lay our dainty hands on.





Thank goodness the elder brother has the mightily good temper of a saint's. He is good natured, and seldom flares up. ME? Step on my tail on a bad day, and I'll CHOP! off your head and bestow upon you a "no shadow" kick. And if it so happens that I have not a liking for you, or if your face bears some unfortunate resemblance to lizards or cats, I might even throw in a "xiang long 18 palms". FOC.

My elder brother, sigh! Where to find a brother like him, you tell me? He has been keeping quiet all these while, while I go about doing my sneaky business.





Either that, or he has yet to notice the missing hangers. Hmmm...

DORAEMON'S POUCH


I've found my Doraemon's pouch. My younger brother took it from my bag while I was taking my sweet, short nap.

I'm NOT a klutz, didn't I say? *preens*

BUSY DAYS MAKE A KLUTZ


This week has been so packed. Gosh, it's only Wednesday! But already, it feels like it's been a whole week.

DAY 1. MONDAY: This Sunday, I slept late at about 3.30am. Woke up at 5.30am on Monday morning, and reached Paya Lebar at 6.50am. After PM was over, I rushed down to school at Buona Vista, and had our ever first laboratory session of the semester at 10am. I reached home at 4pm+, showered, had my dinner, and proceed to start on the laboratory experiment reportS (yes, we have 2 to complete in a week. One is due on Wednesday, while the other is due on next Monday. Sickening!). After which, at 8.30pm, I adjourned down to Punggol Central, and gave tuition until 10pm. I reached home at about 10.15pm, and continued with the lab report until 1am. Tired.

DAY 2. TUESDAY: On Monday night, I again slept at around 2am, and woke up at 5.30am on Tuesday morning; reaching Paya Lebar at 6.50am. After PM was over, I rushed down to school, and had lectures straight from 10am to 4pm. After lessons have ended, I quickly changed into an evening dress, and waited for a friend to pick me up near NUH. We then headed down to Safti at some ulu-ulu part of woe-be-gone Jurong. The Socializing Night started at about 7pm, and I left early at 10pm; reaching home at 11pm. Had a shower, ate my dinner, and spent the rest of the next few hours trying to complete the lab report that's due on the next day. I finished everything at 2am. So tired.

DAY 3. WEDNESDAY. This morning, I woke up at 5.30am again; reaching Paya Lebar at 6.50am. After PM was over, I rushed down to school at Bunoa Vista, and handed in the lab report (it's due by 12pm the latest). After which, I rushed all the way back to Paya Lebar, and took bus 51 to get to my poly student's house for tuition at 10.30am. The tuition ended at 2pm, and I reached home at 4pm. Had a quick shower, ate my dinner, and took a short nap from 6pm to 8pm. Completely tired.





Had intended to start on the 2nd lab report when I wake up, but instead, I'm blogging. Not really my fault, anyway, because I just realized that I've! left! my! pencil! case! at! my! tuition! student's! place!!!

What a bumper. How can a student not have her pencil case? And what's more, my pencil case is like Doraemon's pouch! It has a metal ruler, eraser, liquid paper, stapler, pencil leads, 1 penknife, 1 pink highlighter, 1 yellow highlighter, 1 purple highlighter, 1 mechanic pencil, 2 blue pens, 1 red pen, 1 pink pen, 1 orange pen, and a scientific calculator. HOW! TO! STUDY! WITHOUT! WRITING! MATERIALS! AHHH!!!! AND I HAVE LECTURES ON FRIDAY TOO!



I'm such a klutz. Must have been too tired, that's why. It's not that I'm blur, okay?! It's due to tiredness, I insist!

So tired. Not in a blogging mood. AND I still have a lab report to do, AND plenty of lecture notes to peruse after completing the report (students need to study consistently on what has been taught, you know!). Without! my! pencil! case! how! to! highlight! my! lecture! notes!!! Ahhh...


Let me whine. It's a privilege that all women are rightly entitled to. Guys can eat their hearts out.


MY DORAEMON'S POUCH!!! AHHH!!! *whine whine whine*





I love PM sessions!!! Today's special. Because. You touched me today; so unexpectedly that it's like a pleasant surprise. And when You touch me, I - more often than not - cry than laugh.

You always makes me cry, and it always makes me feel so humbled. And honestly speaking, it's a love-hate relationship. I hate to cry. But because it's You and not anybody else, the tears flow freely; like raindrops, water taps, and vicious, violent waterfalls. I hate it, but at the same time, I also love it. I hate it, but I love it. Although I love it, I also hate it.

Okay, I'm getting incoherent.

PERIODIC TABLE


Some weeks back, I was chatting with a friend when the topic came to kids. She's getting married soon, and naturally, I asked about kids. It turns out that she and her significant other have already decided on the names of their future children.

And this reminds me.





When I'm bored, I think senseless things. There was a period of time when I flirted casually with the idea of naming my children by the month they're born in. August sounds nice for a boy. Jan, and April sound pretty for a girl.

But then again, it would be such a task timing conception. One thing I know for sure, I myself die die also WON'T want to be called February, July, September, October, November, or December. Chances are, I'll most probably try all possible ways and means to make my parents feel guilty all their lives for naming me as such.

So, the idea of naming based on month of birth was scrapped. THEN! I thought of a brilliant idea! WHY DON'T I NAME THEM ACCORDING TO THE PERIODIC TABLE!!!


It is just such a brilliant idea! It's easy, convenient, cool and, best of all, educational!





"Group 1 and Group 7 are very reactive; stay away from them!"

"Group 4 is very friendly. They're nice people."

"Fluorine," pointing to son Fluorine, I continue "is very needy, because he is the most electronegative atom."

Pulling son Hydrogen to my side and ruffling his hair affectionately, I say, "Hydrogen gas is very very very explosive. Don't anger him."

"Carbon," Smiling at son Carbon and pulling son Oxygen towards his brother, making them stand side-by-side, I continue, "and Oxygen; together they form Carbon Monoxide (CO). It's a very lethal gas. Therefore, 1 mole of Carbon and 1 mole of Oxygen is a very bad combination."

"Oh! Hydrogen and Chlorine! Together you guys form Hydrochloric Acid (HCl)! It's very acidic, and it's the main acid that breaks down food in our stomach!"

"Sodium and Chlorine!" I beam down proudly on both sons Sodium and Chlorine."The 2 of you are so important in our diet. You both make food tastes great. The two of you together form table salt - Sodium Chloride (NaCl)!"





It'll be so convenient in daily tasks too! Delegating tasks will be such an effortless and simple feat!

"Group 1, sweep the floor! Group 2, clean the windows! Group 3, change the bedlinen!" Group 4, wash the laundry! Group 5, mop the floor! Group 6, fold the laundry! Group 7, clean the bedrooms! Group 8, clean the living room, kitchen, and bathrooms! Lanthanide group, go and give your father a good massage! Actinide group, help me with dinner preparations!"





SEE?! Isn't it wonderful?






It'll be pretty cool, isn't it? Can you imagine being called Cyanide, or Xenon, or Argon, or Krypton, or Iridium, or Polonium (the highly radioactive metalloid which killed the Russian spy, Alexander Litvinenko, not too long ago)? These names, by themselves, already sound so powerful and awe-inspiring! Goodbye to ordinary Tom, Dick, and Harry!


But then again, I pity the girl who'll be called Silicon. She'll totally be the butt of jokes.





__________________________________________________________

Ok, the fact is, there are 103 elements in the Periodic Table. I don't intend to have 103 kids. I'm not a sow. Unless I consecutively give birth to quindecaplets, it'll take ages to complete the Periodic Table. Assuming that I pop one per every year (i.e. one single birth per year), I'll still need to live to the ripe old age of at least 125-year-old, assuming if I were to get married now and give birth by the end of this year (highly unlikely).





But I would want at least 2 kids, most preferable 3; and possibly a 4th if our finances and situation allow it. Oh man, maybe it'll even go up to 5, or 6, or 7! Man, if I am rich enough, I might even adopt an orphan out there!


The Government's got to adore me, I tell you. I'm responding to their call (or at least, I plan to); maybe I might be their poster girl some years down the road.

Please increase the baby bonus and paid maternity leaves when the time comes. AND NO MORE inflation, and fatten my pay cheques, please.

I WAS BORED





Yesterday evening, while I was folding the laundry in my parents' room, a couple of stray thoughts captured my attention.

I wonder, what are dreams like?




When deaf people dream, do they dream in sounds? In their dreams, do people communicate by using sign language too?

How about those who are born colourblind (and I mean full-blown colourblind, with only white and grey and black)? Do they dream in colours? Or are their dreams also only in white, grey, and black?

And for those who are born blind, having lived in darkness all their lives, do they actually have dreams? Or do they only have dreamless nights?



I realize - like it or not - all of us are, to a certain extent, limited by what we know. We are limited by facts; by our already-conformed mind; by what our senses tells us. It requires more effort to think out of the box.
Purple will always be purple. Yellow will always be yellow. Black will always be black. I cannot imagine describing the sun as green, or having brown clouds and pink penguins. Tell me that oranges are purple in colour, and I'll poke your eyes.



But on the other hand, because these facts are absent in the first place, the minds of such people - in a way - are not conformed or limited.
Look at Ludwig van Beethoven, born in 1770. Despite losing his sense of hearing at a young age of 26 (he suffered from tinnitus), he still went on to compose great and admirable music like Fur Elise.
Look at Helen Keller, born in 1880. Though not born blind and deaf, she was inflicted with an illness (suspected to be either meningitis or scarlet fever) at the tender age of 19months, which left her both DEAF and BLIND. But yet, she's the first deaf-blind person to graduate from college, and published several writings.




Similarly, for those who are born blind or are colourblind, surely they know that in this world there exists colours such as red, pink, blue, orange, purple, yellow and etc. But, what they know of are just head knowledge. WHAT colours do they exactly see in the eye of their mind? Perhaps it's some other beautiful colours that neither you and I can ever think of.

Those who are born deaf, what noises and sounds do their limitless and free-reining minds conjure up? Could it be some beautiful, soulful, and harmonious music that sound totally ethereal and out of this world?



Indeed, there is no denying the sheer power of a free-reining, unlimited, and unbridled mind.


So intriguing.
What do deaf, blind, or colourblind people dream of? Do they even dream in the first place?



I know you must be thinking that I'm crazy to be thinking about such silly and senseless questions. But, like I've said, I was bored.





Anyway, while I was taking this picture, Dad happened to walk into the room. He caught me doing what I was doing, and exclaimed in mock exaggeration, "KANNA SAI! Fold a bit of laundry, need to take pictures ah? Fold laundry only, need to tell the whole world, is it?" He joked.

As an afterthought, he added, "Then I everyday cook dinner for you all, why you never call SPH?"









"I DESERVE TO BE INTERVIEWED!" He concluded triumphantly.

SO COLD; BUT I LIKE IT.


So, school started.

Yesterday, I had my very first lecture of the semester. For this semester, Mondays are the much-dreaded days of laboratory practical; from 10am to 6pm. Likewise, Tuesdays and Fridays are no better off; with 3 different lectures starting from 10am to 12pm, 12pm to 2pm, and finally, 2pm to 4pm. Hopefully, tutorial classes will fall on either Mondays, Tuesdays, and/or Fridays. If so, I need not spend 2hours traveling all the way down to campus merely just for tutorials on Wednesdays and Thursdays. That'll be the best case scenario.

Am really grateful for my schedule this semester. It is a really stark contrast from the previous 2 semesters; which span from 8am to 6pm on 4 days out of 5. Totally horrible, considering that I need at least 4hours daily traveling back and fro to campus from home and vice versa.

Yesterday afternoon, during the last lecture of the day - CM3222 Organic Chemical Reactions - Prof posed us a couple of lame questions during a 10minutes break that totally stumped us all.




Question 1: Name the compound below.









Answer: Orthodox
(The 2 substituent groups are in the ortho- position with respect to the Benzene Ring. And after obtaining PhD certification, one is known as "Doctor". Therefore, "ortho-" + "doctor" = orthodox)





Question 2: Name the compound below.










Answer: Ferrous wheel.
(Ferris wheel, get it?)






Question 3: What is the chemical formula for diarrhea?

Answer: [CO(NH2)2]2, formula name: Di-urea
(Diarrhea. Di-urea. Geddit?)








The air-conditioning in LT23 was already freezing to start with. So much so that I was already shivering a little, and had to resort to tucking my hands under my lap for warmth. After Prof finished his jokes, I'm certain the temperature nose-dived. It was so freezing cold that I nearly got stuck to my seat.

SLEEP


Of late, I've been having trouble sleeping. Last night, I hit the sack at 12.30am. After numerous tossing and turning, an hour flew by. Before long, it was already 2.30am; and I finally somewhat drifted off to slumberland in a not-very-deep sleep.

I vaguely remember more tossing and turning. For no reasons, I woke up barely hours later, and took a peek at the time on my mobile phone. It's already 4.30am. Oh, crap! PH will be calling in another 30minutes time! Hurriedly, I placed the mobile phone back onto the chair beside my bed, and dived under the quilt. "ONLY half an hour left!!! SLEEP ALL YOU CAN!!!" my head voice yelled with much gusto. Shutting my eyes tight, I foolishly willed for time to freeze.

At exactly 5.03am, my mobile phone rang. I opened my beady and bleary eyes, stretched out, retrieved the phone from the chair, and plopped back onto my cozy bed. PH's name was flashing across the screen. Pretty though her name is, somehow it looks dreadful to me. At least, for the moment, that is. Seeing her name flashing across my mobile phone screen means having to kiss dreamland goodbye. In a way, it's somewhat akin to seeing the Grim (please read Harry Potter series if you have no idea what a Grim is).

I groaned inwardly. I don't like to reject calls. After a brief moment's hesitation, I pressed the "silence" button. Leaving the phone on my bed, I lazily turned over on my side with every intention of heading back to the land of ZZZ. Barely seconds later, I picked it up again. Conscience got the better of me. I shall be nice.



"Hello?" I grunted.

"Hello!" She chirped brightly. "It's time to wake up. I don't know what time you gotta leave house, but 2 hours should suffice, ya?"

"Orh... Ya..."

"You're awake liao right? Need a second wakeup call mah?"

"Don't need." I mumbled. It's an irony. I don't have trouble waking up. Rather, I have trouble sleeping.



We ended the phone call shortly after. I sat up on the bed and stoned for a few seconds. Throwing a cursory glance behind me, my gaze strategically fell on the pillow. Oh! My pillow! It looked so lonely. Man, it looked so sad! Obviously, it's calling out desperately for me. I'm nice, and so I shall oblige. I plonked back onto the bed, nestled my head comfortably on the pillow, and pulled the quilt up to my chin. At 5.10am - after deciding that enough is enough, and that further lazing around in bed would lead me to a point of no return - I crawled out of bed.

At 5.30am, I was at the bus stop, waiting for a bus to take me to the nearest interchange. And it was then I realized that out of the 6 available buses, 3 out of 4 of them starts their service at 6am+ (with the other 2 buses being Night Rider and City bus). Oh, crap! HOW???!!! Luckily, the remaining surviving bus starts at 5.30am. And I estimated it would reach my bus stop at 5.45am. True enough, at 5.50am, it came. But not after I've spent a miserable 20minutes feeding mosquitoes. BIG, FAT, JUICY, and BLOOD-THIRSTY mosquitoes.


Should have lazed longer in bed. If only I've known. Sigh!





Sleeping late, whether intentional or otherwise, and waking up early is a deadly combination. Now, I feel so half-dead. But I don't intend to catch a nap, lest insomnia sets in again tonight. It's time to readjust my biological clock, and swing out of this "holidays" mood.





Sigh! PM sessions are always so wonderful. Now I feel so tempted to go for ALL.

I IS BUSY LADY


Right now, I'm giving tuition to a tertiary student, who's currently in the same course from which I graduated. Just a few days ago, I set upon my heart to save 100% (ok, 90% after deducting tithe) of the tuition income for Lasik. Taking into consideration the fluctuation in Lasik costs (e.g. level of technology, type of medical technique, high-end institution, budge institution etc), and after a very rough and very brief estimation, Lasik would only be possible a year later the earliest; assuming a total cost of $3.0k (already very budget and cheap liao, ok?).



Coincidently, in the past 2 days, I got 2 successful tuition offers. They're my safety nets, considering that tertiary education has looong vacation period spanning about 2 or 3 months.

The annual maintenance sum is just sufficient. I definitely don't want to risk starving during these periods when my student goes on her looong vacation (which is approaching in a few weeks' time). I don't like it when things are "just nice". I like abundance. If not abundance, at least surplus. Like any scouts, I like being prepared. And so, the 2 new tuition assignments are wonderful! Just what I need. And at this rate, Lasik might come in sooner than anticipated. It might arrive even sooner if I scrimp even more on food.

WHY CANNOT?!


Last Sunday was totally lined up with events. That morning at 11am, my family and I had breakfast at the nearby Kopitiam, before driving down to Giant at Tampines. At 12.45pm, I pangseh left early in order to make my own way down to Douby Ghaut; to meet up with a bunch of good friends from TP, and adjourned to Mind Cafe at the nearby Selegie Street to celebrate LH's birthday.

Sundays are really bad days for quiet fun. We arrived at the Cafe at 2pm, and the place was totally crowded. All the exciting games had already been snatched up. And to make it worse, the noise level! OH GOSH! It didn't help that there was a bunch of girls SCREAMING and SCREECHING away while playing their game. The female species of Homo Sapien is mightily blissed with a pair of powerful lungs, I tell you.

Before long, a waiter came to our table to take our order. I ordered Black Pepper Crackers for munchies, and a glass of Ice Honey Chamomile Tea for beverage. I know you might "YUCKS!" at the name of the drink, but somehow, it appeals greatly to a health-freak me. It is just like music to the ears. I mean, comon, I didn't come all the way down to Selegie Street for a mediocre glass of Ice Lemon Tea, did I? It's akin to ordering a cup of 3-in-1 coffee-mix in The Coffee Connoisseur (that is, if it's available in the first place)!

As we had another appointment, LH and I left early at 4.00pm, pangseh-ing leaving the rest of the group behind. They were thick in the midst of an exciting round of Jenga that's worthy of a heart attack. I beckoned a waiter forward, and requested for the bill. He inquired, "Do you have NTU card? We have discount for NTU students."



I know that. Afterall, I am the one who got the branch number off the website and called to book this reservation.



Short of batting my eyelids, I gave my brightest plastic smile. Replying coyly and somewhat hopefully, I blinked my eyes and asked, "NUS, can?"



He grinned awkwardly. "Errr... No."


















Sigh!

I'M NOT SURE IF ANY OF YOU NOTICED, BUT...




I did. Quite some time ago before blogging this up.



What were you doing, my dear little one?

This is really so funny. That kid is just so cute! =)



P.S. No offence intended. I have no idea how to blur out the image by using pixels, and I doubt I own the required software to do it. If that face and body belong to you (or anyone whom you are acquainted with, for that matter), do let me know by dropping a comment. I'll be glad to remove it.

The picture, I mean. Not the face and body.

BOREDOM MAKES ONE DO BOLIAO THINGS


Came across this photo while I was clearing pictures on my laptop.




ME: Sian

HIM: Boring

ME: My handwriting's nicer! =)

HIM: How's this? ;)

ME: Ma ma hu hu (translation: so-so)

HIM: Left hand power! (clarification: controlling the mouse on the touchpad by using the left hand)

ME: So can I.

HIM: -_-"

(and we went on to meta-morphize it into a pig)


Ok, we were sitting in on a seminar with the staffs, supposedly learning how to get around the school's newly-updated internal e-portal. But hey, it's really boring. And we'll only be here for 3weeks! We most certainly would not be uploading any course material.

Of course, we had the liberty to play and goof around as we were sitting at the back of the room.



Anyway, on a sidenote, I've always been somewhat mindful about what I post. Pictures? Only group photos. Posts that are too boring - strike off. Too personal - no way! Too spiritual - nah nah. Too emotional - Nono, I don't think so. But today I want to SCREAM: FOP LAST NIGHT WAS WONDERFUL! IT'S ALWAYS SO HAPPY PRAISING YOU!!!



Talk about saving the best for the last.

FUNNY YET TRUE...


Was surfing around Facebook late last night, and was exploring Stickers, when I came across some tongue-in-cheek quotes. They're funny, and surprisingly, some of them make some sense. The rest, well, they're just totally funny.


"Life is all about ass. Everyone's either covering it, laughing it off, kicking it, kissing it, trying to get a piece of it, or simply just being one."

"When I grow up, I wanna be like me."

"Anyone ever noticed that the word "studying" is actually "student" and "dying" put together?"

"I do know it all, it's just that I can't remember or recall it all at once."

"One of the toughest things in life, is to decide when to give up, and when to just try harder."

"Isn't it ironic? The way we ignore those who adore us, adore those who ignore us, hurt those who love us, and love those who hurt us?"

"You shut your mouth when you're talking to me!"

"For every girl with a broken heart.. There's a guy with a glue gun."

"Don't ever fall for anyone, unless that person is willing to catch you."

"Don't marry someone whom you can live with; marry someone whom you can't live without."

"Live the life you love. Love the life you live."

"The only reason why people hold on to memories so tightly is because they are the only things that remain unchanged when everything else does."

"Good thing I brought my library card... I'm CHECKING you OUT!"

"One of the greatest mistakes you can make in life is to be continually feeling you are one, or perpetually fearing that you will make one."

"The only things in life you will regret are the risks you did not take."

"Don't ever let anyone tell you you can't do something. You are the only person who should be able to decide what you are or aren't capable of doing."

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take. It's measured by the number of moments that take our breath away."

"Tell me I can't, and I'll show you I can."

"The consumption of alcohol makes you think you're whispering when you are not."

"I don't forgive people because I'm weak. I forgive them because I'm strong enough to know that everyone makes mistakes."

"You can't change the past. But you can ruin the present and the future by dwelling in it."

"I AM in shape. Round is a shape."

"Sometimes I wonder, ''Why is that frisbee getting BIGGER and BIGGER'... And then it hits me."

"Be the change you wish to see in this world."