If I Got My Way

My room will clean itself up,

I could eat all I want and not put on a single ounce,

Assignments will take care of themselves,

I would grow 10 centimetres taller,

My eyebags would have never been there in the first place,

& I will get to live the ultimate lazy bum's life.

Thank god I don't get my way sometimes.

Adding on to the I-Cannot-Stand list,

I cannot stand unproductiveness at times like this. I swear I'm getting restless as hell already. Ra.

Infatuation. Just curb it already lady.

Of yesterday

I headed down to the pool for a swim (after a gazillion years really) with the 3 musketeers yesterday afternoon. Have been hanging out with these 3 guys a fair bit, and they're starting to feel more and more like my brudders. Gosh it was so gross when David decided to burp currypuff while we were idling by the poolside, with KH and LY backing him. Guys...

And I don't know why but I think Mumsy is feeling generous; she actually offered to get me a bag from Longchamp, or whatever other小名牌I have in mind. Now that's a first, Mummy.

The I-Cannot-Stand List

I cannot stand...

1) Over-eager people who rush into MRTs, hello open up your eyes and see it's not just Singaporeans anymore

2) People who act dumb (the deh gong kind); I get a kick when such people're exposed

3) People who like to say "see I told you so", shut up already

4) Know-it-all-wannabes

5) MCPs

6) Waiting; phonecalls especially (I hate it so effing much)

7) Guys who are not gentlemenly at all, the kind who are too dense to even hold the bleddy door

8) Girls who powder their faces so much that their face and body tones look totally different, it's awful please wake up your idea

9) People who cannot accept differences; religion, sexual preferences, styles, whatever

10) People who evangelise excessively; I don't care if I'm going to hell if half the world's coming with me

11) Ants/cockroaches in my room(s)

12) Mosquito bites that itch so bad

13) People who walk so effing slow when it's not a stroll they're taking

14) Idiots who can't flush properly

15) Dog owners who let their dogs poop all over grass patches in public parks

16) Teekopeks, keep those wandering eyes to yourselves uncle thank you

17) Having to take sides

18) When people tYpe LiKe diZ, we NoE yOuRe A tWit

19) Extremely painful menstrual cramps, why were they even there in the first place

20) People who take things and people for granted, what do you take us for

21) People with little or no sense of humour, go get a life

22) Hotel beds with dirty bedsheets

23) Complicating situations

24) People who like to beat about the bush

25) Me for always wanting to go on a diet but has never once managed to lost any weight, where's the willpower stupid

26) People who can cook up such wonderful stories but fail to deliver

27) Me again for being someone in 26)

28) Myself for not be able to stand so much shit.

Okay I should stop, like seriously. It's going to be a non-exhaustive list, I'm sure. Coming up with the list was fun; took a load off my mind. Please note that the purpose was not to offend/provoke in any sense; it's just information about myself, so people, don't you start getting furious over what you've just read. Go come up with your own list! Go go.

And...  

the new toy; what I've been busy with really

Chats with friends on the other side of the globe at this ungodly hour are simply awesome. Thank you for what you bring about sometimes, technology.

update: I'm finally done with my phonetics essay. Now I'm going to scurry onto the one for discourse writing. arghh.

upupdate: I hate it when something goes wrong, the blame is on me but I wasn't the one who faulted. fuck.

busy busy

This is the consequences of 临时抱佛脚, I'm sure.

So I marked the start of the week with a visit to Ben & Jerry's at Dempsey with the guys (the 3 CS guys) last night, and it sparked off another bout of apple-pie ice-cream craving (island creamery to be exact) tonight. They totally laughed at me when I said I wanted to go on a diet but agreed so readily to ice-cream (anytime is ice-cream time babeh!), like urgh.

You know, I've got so much more to say, but I'm feeling guilty right now for staying an extra minute here when I should be at my assignment. Proper update soon, have fun in the meanwhile!

ps. Simin's left town for the U.S. of A and Shir's done with her job, for now at least. It's time to party soon!

I'm going to sleep my fill during the long vacation; and wish that I'd be able to sleep my eyebags away.

I'm getting so sick of it, so sick of you-know-what-I'm-talking-about. Just stop it; stop effing jump to conclusions about what I'm thinking. You don't know me when I say you don't, and you don't.

Doofus

I left the both my Apple chargers in hall,

borrowed Titus' charger for his iPod, only to learn about the incompatibility between iPhones and firewired chargers. Namai.

It doesn't matter anymore

I'm totally fine with being the baddie here, so, continue saying what you have to say. It's not going to change anything. Nothing, I assure you.

Something interesting

"The relation between 'realism' and reality, is anything but simple." - one of my language in context notes.

Humans, what a weird bunch

Happiness...

in the form of Ikea meatballs, chicken wings and daim cake with two very good friends. I felt like I just 'came out' to the next (and possibly last) friend, and that.will.be.all.that.I'm.going.to.say.period. Ha. I can jump off a building and die if the world knows these little secrets of mine.

And have I mentioned how happy I am with my single life right now? Albeit the grousings that I have bout school work, that is. It's close to half a year now, and I've more or less learnt to get comfy without a boyfriend. Now, I have so much more time for friends, the sun, sand and sea. wheee! I hope things will stay like this for a long, long, long time to come!

ps. there's been quite a few road accidents these days eh? I get a sort of chill when I pass by the wrecks, and I say silently to myself "please drive carefully, woman".

Monday

alone is something good, sometimes

Chomps with the two girls today; I don't know why but the sambal stingray tasted especially spicy today, love the usual satay and chicken wings though. Another round of HTHT, before Shir sets off for Bintan with her family tomorrow (speaking of which, I can't remember when was the last time I went on a holiday with everybody in the family).

Reached home a little late (I've been coming back home quite a lot the past two weeks), and thought I'd hide behind the wall where my parents couldn't see who just walked into the house. Dad decided to check if everything's in place and walked out of their room, & I instantaneously said "boo" quietly. He got a big shock (hahaha) and mumbled "shit you" under his breath, laughed as Mumsy laughed out loud too. Boo. My Dad just said "shit you" to me lor.

I would love to say more, but my eyelids seem to be getting heavier by the word. Time to get some sleep so I can get out of bed in time. Sweet dreams, sweet tums.

So Close

Today marks another first for me. The first time I did not windsurf at a windsurf training. It started pouring twenty minutes after I've arrived, and when the rain finally subsided, there was NO wind at all. It was totally windless; there was no breeze, no swaying branches, no nothing! Took a shower before the three of us left PA; headed down to Suntec with lao Ben while CheeLong went back to hall. What a big waste of time!

Down at Suntec, we settled down abit at NYDC before going our seperate ways. Ben's just like the big brother I never really had (though he can be ultra lame sometimes); we talked about life, he told me bout the plans he has for both Val & him, and other funny things that've been happening, and I told him some of my funny stories as well.

Met up with Z after and we did something stupid. We made our way to the IT Fair (to get an iPhone each), and the crowd was crazy I tell you! I could feel people's hairy arms on my back as we inched forward a step at a time. If you know me well, you probably know I'm not so much of an 'weekend-town-crowd' person. I was basically trying to wriggle out the whole time we were in the exhibition halls. We missed our queue number in the end, and Z had to book-in in 2 hours' time, so we decided to get it the next weekend instead. So much for the squeezing! But just as well actually, I guess I won't have much time to be fiddling around with it anytime soon.

And last night, we helped Shiqi celebrate an early 20th at Clark Quay. We had some awesome ramen (at Maru-something, hehe, can't remember la), followed by some desserts at Azabu Sabo, and finally, a beer at some random place along the riverside.

guys at work, do not disturb.

do peope actually adhere to these signs?

I think it means in operation, right?

chicken ramen with Yelly in the background. 

5-nuts or something ramen, can't remember. plain as they look, they actually tasted quite good. but next time round (if there's a next time, that is), I'm going to order it without the springies.

their mini birthday treats. hehe I love candid shots

nom nom nom. shunxiang's mango sundae

chestnut (marron) ice cream; I liked it!

Yelly's ichigo icecream

Kwunhok's hotballs, haha how wrong did that sound?

a cup of comforting warm tea?

chandeliers are pretty to look at, but super good at dust-collecting too, i suppose...

our humble family! with lots of people missing...

It was a lot of fun, let's do it again sometime soon okay?! I have no idea why (as usual), but I feel like giving everyone of you here a big hug! I feel so overwhelmed all of a sudden...

Anyway, Mum cut a mango for me thirty minutes ago. So nice of her, not. The mango was unripe (but looked and smelled sweet) and sour, and she was totally waiting for the expression on my face the moment I took my first bite. My mum is a joker lor. haha. She just got back from her auntie's gathering, and I think she's quite happy now, think I'll go ask her if she's willing to sponsor me a little for my iPhone whee!

Hey fatty,

I think I've put on weight... But, whatever lor. I don't really care for now! hahah!

& I TGIF

neck scratching; one of life's simple pleasures

Tonight's the first time in a long while where I actually feel happy doing nothing on a Friday night. Not too long ago, I'd be grumpy whenever I had to be idling around at home on a Friday evening. Wouldn't you rather be out there having fun somewhere, instead of being stuck at home too? It doesn't necessarily have to be downing drinks at a party, a good friend's place and some HTHT will suffice. Seriously!

I am simple like that.

love you mummy!

Anyway, Mum had some colleagues (from Indonesia) over tonight for dinner. I haven't said anything like this before, but I think Mumsy's awesome for her age. She's 53 this year, rode a motor in the good old days, swallowed a goldfish live as a dare when she was a kid, climbed guava trees just behind her old place (fondly refered to Swa Teng by her) in Penang, ventured far out to Singapore (from Penang) in the 1980s & met Dad, gave birth to me and YF when Dad was millions of nautical miles aways from home back then, whacked me so hard in the past but I still love her so much now, stopped working for a few years so that she could monitor our school performance, blended into the company again after such a long absence, has such a great group of friends, and such wonderful children (bleah)... and she Skypes! Hehe & I call her by the name "Ah Hong" sometimes, instead of Mummy.

I don't know where I'm going to be or what I'm going to do at 53, but I do hope I'll be half as awesome as her!

Mumsy just had a cataract operation last week and her eyes are on the way to recovery. We went into spectacle shops to look for reading glasses, and she offered to get me a pair of sunglasses (no Oakley's so we ended up not getting any). Oh well, better luck next time!

On a random note, it's THE year this year, with so many of my friends turning 21 one-by-one. I never really thought about how I'm going to go about celebrating this special (what's so special bout it? turning legal?) year, because everything seems so lay chay leh... But, I'm really glad I have the entire vacation to think about it. Probably a holiday sponsored by my parents with them will make me do somersaults. Ha.

Okay, time to get down to /w3:k/!

For a change...

don't you think light balls are cute too?

Random, but I've gone through some rather drastic changes over the years, haven't I?

Salsa's starting to get tough, but still fun, nonetheless! We revisited last week's Open Break & Right-Turn Pop, and learnt two new sets of footwork as well. Lots of laughter because we couldn't quite get the steps and ended up looking really awkward, I guess. Elbowed two classmates in their stomachs today (accidents happen, of course!); swear I felt bad then, but I couldn't help it and laughed out loud instead of apologizing cause it was too funny. Hehe. & I learnt from Jacq that you get to smell fart quite a bit in yoga classes, thought it was funny too!

HTHT

yf & mum lending me their support on a windsurf training session

The three of us have heart-to-heart talks once in awhile. We never really excluded Dad on purpose in such conversations, it just happens (he was asleep in tonight's case). Besides, I think he would probably be too engrossed in starting a debate to notice what we're saying. Ha. That's my Dad for you. 

I don't know how but tonight's topic was about some younger cousins (secondary school) getting attached and stuff. Mumsy, showed her displeasure about kids in school uniforms holding hands, how it's going to affect their grades etc in a joking sort of manner. Then in a very lighthearted way, I decided to tell her about my very first boyfriend (Barney, if you guys remember) back in the CCHSM days (she was totally clueless about it back then); you should have seen the expression on her face change and how she started grilling me with questions about him. 

I thought it was quite funny; sort of the typical response that you'd expect from her. And thank god we're able to make a joke out of it now without making things come across as awkward. Phew. Times've changed, and I'm so glad for the changes; I'm definitely trying to be more honest with my parents. It feels good, a lot better than when I had to do things behind their backs (like, telling them I got my diving license only after a year I've gotten it).

My parents can get rather naggy at times, Dad especially. However, despite all their worries and concerns, they let me go ahead with what I want to do most of the time. This, is something that I can't be more thankful for. And over the years, I guess I've come to deal with their opinions, which can sometimes be rather bleak. I got really affected at one point in time (when Dad would be telling me about all the dangers of going out to sea, no satellite phones on rickety boats, yadah yadah); and I had thoughts like "why won't they be a little more supportive like my friends' parents" etc & probably shed a tear or two, but but but, right now, I'm glad to be so over that stage! 

Okay, go ahead and rattle on me, but once you finish the yakking, I hope you understand that I'm still going ahead with it because you can't stop me from doing something I enjoy. 

Thank you Dad & Mums!

Fools; always wanting what is not

Dad got a GPS for the car sometime last week; after much persuasion (even before I got my license). I took it out for a spin finally over the weekend, used it a couple more times these two days and... I think I'd much prefer driving without the GPS. 人真的很犯贱, I can't agree more.

The first round of exco meeting took place over dinner tonight. Okay, it was more like a discussion; things need to be planned in greater detail post-exams & I'm totally looking forward to it. Have no idea what changes we're going to be bringing about and that's what's exciting!

Caught Marley & Me with Simin (I was late for more than half an hour sorry woman!) and I did not shed a single drop of tear, contrary to the tear-inducing quality of the movie that everyone else has been talking about. No idea if that's because I've learnt to see things more objectively, or because I think the book was so much more well-written. I just feel that the book left a more lasting impression, and the movie, didn't leave too much of an impact. Hard to please, of course.

While I heard people trying to stifle sobs all around me, I couldn't help but notice how crooked Owen Wilson's nose really is (I seriously thought he'd just got beaten up badly when I saw him on the screen as I made my late entrance into the theatre) and age seems to be catching up with both Owen Wilson and Jennifer Anniston.

It seemed like they were leading the perfect life in the movie, despite the slight glitches here and there. There's always bound to be problems in life, you need to work your way around them and not let them bog you down, and it seems like they found the perfect way to solve their problems.

What we grow into

I decided to be a good girl yesterday and attended the 6.30 - 7.30 p.m. (let's hope this will be the last of my latest lectures in NIE) language in context lecture. And I'm so glad I did. Yesterday's lecture was quite interesting; Dahl talked about gender differences in children's writings as well as made us realize how contrived our primary school textbooks (as well as other texts)were, as they more often than not portrayed extremely stereotypical characters of the 2 genders, as well as told us how we should or should not behave.

There was lots of laughing and chuckling in between; I found myself to be highly tickled by these differences, these differences in details totally give away the genders of the writers. But the point is not about being amused; to have texts predefining the way you're going to live your lives, telling children how they should behave (girls should be kind-hearted, friendly, gentle whereas boys should be brave, strong, raucous), making children grow up into the roles (unknowingly) that have already been set for them by adults, now that's pretty scary. Especially when it takes place so naturally in schools, where people are least likely to question.

It all makes me feel like I'm the result of a secret experiment; a positive instance in fact. 

Bimbos' dinner at Bugis

I had dinner with 2 lovely ladies two weeks back, just before I left for Tioman. Settled for Ministry of Food at Bugis Junction at last and we caught up quite a bit over our meal. 

Truly enjoyed listening to Mich relating her big Cambodia adventure (the YEP she embarked on in December); tried hard to imagine what deep-fried tarantulas and boiled silkworms taste like, how good it felt to take a toilet break in the paddy fields, and a whole lot more of funky news. & of course, how some local male celebrities prefer to look at Geraldine's boyfriend more than her. Haha I can't help laughing when she told us all about her experiences.

Anyway, here comes some overdue pictures the food... 

wasabi seafood salad; great for clearing blocked noses no kidding.

 

sashimi platter; yummay 

unagi bento; yummay as well

time for tea, literally

green tea ice cream and glutinous rice balls in azuki paste

black sesame sundae; nom nom nom!

hmm.. geraldine's captain planet?

great, great company!

Headed over Ah Chew's for some (more) dessert after and I still can't believe I bumped into the same person I bumped into the last time I was there; sorry, but it kinda left a bad taste in my mouth. Distaste aside, I'm totally looking forward to our next dinner!

And this is really out-of-nowhere, but hey, I'm sure you wouldn't mind this cute puppy!

hello ngiap ngiap!

A surprise by the riverside

If you don't already know, I'm quite bad at planning surprises. But.. guess I'd have to say the most recent one turned out pretty successful! A handful of us decided to spring an attack on RL at the Esplanade on Saturday evening.

pretty good view, if you don't mind the second-hand smoke

the 'home-made', awesome-tasting cake

the unsuspecting 'victim'

kena sabo-ed

I think this is my first time kissing a girlfriend

buds

minus zl

air piano shot 1!

air piano shot 2!

and the coolio drummer.

It wasn't much, but we all hope you liked it :) 

May all your wishes come true, happy 21st my dear.

Good wind and more arm power please!

Training felt especially good today; despite the super gross (understatement I tell you) muddy sea bed we were stepping on right before we launched. Every step that I had to take was as disgusting as could be. Anyway, I haven't seen so many people at the sea sports centre since... only god knows when; there were 3 groups taking courses. There weren't enough boards to go around, so I shared a long board with Lao Ben (haven't seen him ever since he started popping classes) and we used a 5m sail. Lots of balancing problems initially but when I finally got it, managed to skim through the waters rather quickly on the long board.

It's been about half a year since I've picked up windsurfing; it took me this long to finally truly enjoy the thrill of it all. I still remember the first few trainings where I did nothing but try to stand upright only to find myself falling over, & how ecstatic I was when I finally got my sorry ass out of the bay for the first time ever, tears spilled over my very first race and stuff like that. Probably wouldn't be able to say something like that if I'd decided to just leave after the first few sessions, thankfully I didn't.

Sometimes, we don't stick around long enough to learn how to enjoy certain things in life. But how will you determine whether something is worth sticking around for? The pleasure you derive from it? The people in it? It's so hard to come to a decision; I've been debating about it for a long time now, if you even know what I'm talking about. The only thing that's holding me back? The people.

I'm feeling a little tired right now; body's aching and there seems to be a few newly acquired bruises on me too. But I'm so happy, and I'm so thankful. That I'm well enough to be doing all these things that I'm doing right now!

Girls' night in

We didn't quite bake the cake we were supposed to last night; we made Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies instead! Gathered at Simins' place (and she announced to everyone bout passing her guitar exam happily) and we got down to it kinda quickly. So while we were waiting for the cookies to finish baking, we did the basic Salsa steps together, and I've concluded that Milo hates my dancing because he barks so loudly whenever I started. Did quite a few startled jumps can.

apparently the globs were too big. bah

flattened out

simins & shir

siaos and the giant cookie

Tomorrow will be the 5th consecutive day that I'm going to be visiting my tutee's place; I can hardly believe I'm dedicating 2 hours a day, five times a week to these two children. Good thing is, they're both a little more hardworking than when we first started.

It's raining, again. I think I have a love-hate relationship with the rain; the enjoyment comes when I get to stay in bed and snuggle under the sheets, and the loathing comes when it means getting stuck on-shore, or at home and plans cannot be carried out at all.

Totally random, but last night made me come to conclusion that I'm a hard and cold creature. Or I seem to give the impression of being someone totally heartless.

On another note, I'm getting sick of road-tards who refuse to give way when I need to switch lanes, when I've signalled at least 1 minute in advance at the traffic junction; something that I suspect's due to the newbie P-Plate. Karma's a bitch and it's so going to bite them back in time to come. The next time somebody horns me again, I will not wait to show them the finger. knnbcbcbcbc$%^&*&^%$#@@#$%=. Sorry, you probably get the idea how pissed I was.

Let's play

The playground just a few steps away from my block got a revamp and my very own playgroun-memories came swarming back into my mind. I used to enjoy going on the swings and see-saws most; nah I wasn't able to go as high as I wanted on the swings, but I loved keeping YF in mid-air on the see-saws so that I could see him struggle to get down. And wait... there's also the big 'spider web' at Pasir Ris Park that I loved to climb whenever someone brought me there. Many years later, I still think about that 'web' when I had King of the Castle for my literature text in secondary school or when I hear the song "Top of the World" playing.

Anyway, I think playgrounds nowadays are so different from what we had in the past. Everything seem so much more sophisticated these days; no more sand pits, stone slides are replaced with plastic ones, and the colours are much more vibrant compared to 10 years back. How times've changed.

It felt so real.

I dreamt that I was in North Korea (fyi, one of the places I'm looking least forward to visiting) for an impromptu trip last night; it was probably winter, and a certain sort of gloom hung around the entire place. It was similar to what I'd always thought N.Korea to be; policemen on guard at every other corner of the street, people living in red-bricked buildings, empty streets by 7 p.m. for  fear of going through a round of interrogation, but things looked a little better.

There were shopping malls now, and I visited one. I saw shops selling Pez (special editioned ones, I think) and thought of calling back to ask Siaos if she already has those. I knew NOTHING about the currency exchange, and I knew that in the dream, however, I can't help thinking that things were so cheap. 

Visited a big stationery shop and I met a fellow Singaporean who works there as the shop assistant. Best part? My childhood neighbour turned up and we caught up quite a bit. But as the minutes passed by, I felt the nagging pain in my left shoulder turning increasingly painful. 

It got so bad that I had myself sprawled all over the floor in between those stationery shelves, and started groaning for help in pain. It felt so real. People started gathering about me to see what was happening and just before I knew what happened... I woke up and felt an identical pain in my left shoulder; realized I was leaning way too much on my left shoulder while sleeping. 

In a nutshell

I think I've accumulated too many bad karma points; just because we don't see eye-to-eye on certain topics yah. Let's hope the payback will be in small dosages; for example, like the nagging pain I've been feeling in my tummy for the past hour or so.

Today's the first time I drove in such a heavy downpour. Couldn't make much of the lane-markings due to reflection of lights on the wet road surfaces; I got pretty scared at times when the speedometer showed that I hit 80 klicks and above.

Began on the first lesson of Salsa intermediate today too; did 'popping' and some move called the Open Break. No idea why but it feels like I haven't been dancing for a long time, when in actual fact, it's only been a week. Guess I'll need to work more on my balancing!

It's Friday once more, and (as usual) I'm so glad the weekend is here again.

Us

We'll always love each other right? Till we become 80-year old grannies and gramps. Right?

Never meant for this to happen

The intention was just to take a quick 15-minute power nap (at 10.15 p.m.). It's close to 2.30 a.m. now. Ahhhhhh!

Of some random thoughts

I wonder if people think I'm a spoilt princess sometimes, just because there's an available car for me to drive around.

Haven't watched movies in the longest time evar; and there's so many movies on right now that I want to catch!

Last night was depressing, as usual. Everyone was really supportive though, guess the interest's just not there. There's no burning desire in me to want to excel or anything like that, sorry if I've been a let-down.

Time to get busy with work. Go! 

wtf do you take me for

I'm feeling... exploited. 

Use me when you need me, throw me away when you're done with me.

Over the weekend...

Saturday morning. Fogged up lens; just outside the motel we stayed at in Mersing.

Paya Beach Jetty.

beach-front rooms; my turn the next time round.

leaves

butty and me at Malang Rock, the 3rd site we visited.

Bubble anemone and it's occupant; spotted 3 different species of clownfish.

Lea, the leisure diver, with Madam Cuttlefish. It was kinda big, and kept changing colours as it cruised through the waters. Apparently I got a little too close to it and it got into 'ready-to-attack' mode without me realizing :x I'll try reducing hand movements the next time round k!

Pretty colours

Super David doing a CESA? Nice picture eh.

Advanced and leisure divers, can you spot me?

Dive instructor Felix's nasty coral sting; can you imagine the itch omigawd. & he says he gets it very often.

Group shot! Rico, our friendly DM right smack in the middle... and where's Felix?

and here he is... our wonderful DM and DI!

Scuba diving, I now declare it my favourite sport right after windsurfing. I love the liberated feeling I get as we descend deeper for each dive. You never know what kind of surprise awaits you each time you go down under water, I wouldn't mind going back to the same place a few times, just because you can see different things each time round.

All photo credits to Amelia, Rico and Felix yeh!

ps. My Bali's trip probably not possible anymore; I should be going diving instead! Whee!