28th of March 2008

The first pair of “twins” that I know of celebrated their birthday together yesterday at Kenny Roger’s @ Marina Square, among seven other girl-friends. Because of the sitting arrangement, one group was discussing school life; university, modules, etc., whereas the other group was discussing about each other’s love-life over dinner. For me, I was in the first group; the one about school life. How exciting. Haha!!!

Thinking back to yestereve, I must say that a feeling of nostalgia swept over… Memories of school days came haunting. All of a sudden, I feel really old, as if not 4 years had passed, but instead 40 years! Sigh… I assume it is because the Co. is starting to fly away one by one… One is already in the UK studying, and come September, another one will be joining her there while another is on pending. Another is already down in NZ, while another has send applications all over the world for higher learning. As for the rest of us, only time will tell if we, too, will join the others in other countries furthering our education.

Char was very nice to accompany me to Gramaphone at The Cathay after lunching with Juls to hunt for that elusive Fahrenheit 1st album for Evan. It was ”out of stock”. Bravo… Instead, I got meself an equally elusive CD: Kubokuro All Singles Best (Singapore Edition), and a French one, which has songs like ‘La Mer’ and ‘C’est Si Bon’. Yippee!!! Haha…

Thanks, Char for accompanying me there and helping me hunt for those CDs.   

Then, it was off to Orchard Cineleisure to meet birthday girl Evan-chan to watch “The Spiderwick Chronicals”. Through this supposedly-kiddy film, we had our dose of suspense, fear, anxiety and tears. So, bring on those who say that it is kiddish! To those who have not watched it, I will NOT spoil things for you. So,

GO WATCH IT YOURSELF!!! :p

After that 1 and 1/2 hours, we did some really last minute shopping at nearby Ngee Ann City. We were hunting for extra little presents for LiWen… and ended in The Body Shop where I signed up for the membership and where we bought a support-cause for HIV Lip Butter for LiWen and Evan got her a bottle of Cassis Rose Body Mist. Haha! How last minute it was! I got for meself a Aqua Lily Body Mist and Evan-chan got the same lip balm as LiWen’s. Oh! The membership sign-up came with a free Mint Lip Balm. I tried it and it was really … cooling! And because it is mint, it came across to me as mint-flavour chewing gum.  

Noticed a lot of women along Orchard holding on to stalks of flowers and so we wondered where they got them from. It was only after crossing the road to the other side’s busstop (near Tangs) that we saw the source of the flowers. It was on the other side that we came from (Wisma Atrium). …dots… Thus, we crossed the road again just to get the flowers. And Evan-chan had to ask/exchange for a pink one. !!! Gosh… LOL!!!

Funny things we do in life. However, it is because of these funny things that makes life interesting. Hee!

Well then, here’s wishing Evan-chan and LiWen a beautiful 20th year on Earth. May you be able to achieve your dreams. May the Good Lord bless you both and keep you healthy always.

And I am waiting patiently for all the photos and Neoprints Manda owes us all… -.-” Manda-chan!!! Haiya-ku!!!

P+P+P+P+S=P.P.P.P.S

Delightful Girl Choon Hyang (or Sassy Girl Choon Hyang)

Choon Hyang!!! You rock! Power to the Women!!!

Especially in episode 12.

People, especially you strong girls out there, I suggest you ought to watch  this K-drama. It is about romance but with a twist, and what a fine twist it is. So far, as of episode 12, it is not very sweet and sappy kind. I find it just right even though there has been many a time I really felt like clawing a certain character’s pretty face because she was being a total b*tch and bashing up another for being so stupid regarding his feelings for his wife. Totally annoying. Oh well… Let me see what will be instore in episode 13. Can not wait. T

he endings of each episode are really entertaining. In these extra parts, the characters dressed up in period costumes. Watch the ‘extra’ in episode 12. LOL!!!

Want to continue watching, however, have to turn in soon. Blah. School at 9am…

P.S: This drama was released in 2005. Only stumbled upon it recently while CrunchyRoll-ing.

P.P.S: The lead actor’s character and the actor of the ‘father’ acted together as father and son again in Witch Yoo Hee (2007).

P.P.P.S: The lead actor looks much better in Witch Yoo Hee. Maybe he grew up. Hmmm… Maybe. 2 years…   

P.P.P.P.S: Love the soundtracks, especially the very ‘emo’ one. Lol.

Full of Laughs

Dhav came over in the afternoon today and instead of doing her NUS online application, we both ended up watch “Delightful Girl Choon Hyang” on CrunchyRoll. Lol! We had a whale of a time “analysing” plot structures and critisising the characters, like who is the B*tch in the story and all that. Haha!!! :p Comments like, “Can’t tahan that guy… So ego…” or “I feel like scratching that woman’s face!!!”, flew. Damn funny.

Well, it had been a long time since we last saw each other and, well, she is still the same. Lol. Dhav is so clever. 3 As for the A’levels. Cannot wait for another day to spend watching K-Dramas with her. Hahahahaha…!!! Well, it is true that it is more fun talking and commenting while watching K-Dramas with a like-minded friend. Blah.

Back to school on monday. Crap. But first, there is Sunday to get through. Tomorrow is Easter Sunday and I will be going to my cousin’s to celebrate his 21st birthday after teaching. I hope the present will not break. Hee.

Best if I be done with this episode 9 as soon as possible and then hit the bed as I will be attending the Easter dawn service. Yawn…

*I so want to scratch that Chae Rin’s pretty face…* Meow!!!   

Good Friday

2.45pm. The sky is starting to get really cloudy. Thunders rolling. Waiting for 3pm to come.

Every Good Friday, the sky will be overcast. That is what I observed and remembered for many years now. This is probably a physical sign from God, reminding us what happened this day 2000 odd years ago when Jesus died on the cross for us.

We are such fools, are we not? 2000 years ago and 2000 years later, we are very much the same. Infact, we are such cowards; so afraid of standing up for what is truly right and true. All those people who had witnessed Jesus’ miracles and heard Him preached in the hills, all that He had said and done to the countless, where did they run off to hide? Or were they so spineless that they were those in the crowd before Pilate who asked whom to be released, shouting, ”Not him but Barnabas! Crucify him!!!” 

2000 years later, we are still the same cowards. We meet Christ almost everyday out on the streets. When we see a pickpocket lifting a wallet from a stranger on the bus or street, do we every stop that thief? When we see an elderly person boarding the bus, do we offer him or her our seat? Such things may be simple, but these are what Jesus expects of us to do for these are what he died for. For us. For us to “love one another” even though we are strangers with one another.

“Love thy enemy”. Others may find it ridiculous. However, it is a test. To prove ourselves worthy of Christ. Jesus made no man his enemy but it was the other way round. And for what? It was all out of jealousy. Totally ridiculous.

We are such weak, spineless, ridiculous and jealous fools. But because of Him, the Lamb, we have cause to rejoice for we are to be saved. The road is long, the path is narrow and full of pits. We can do it because Jesus had already gone through this path. As long as we are not weak, with a backbone and that we know the truth, and with His help, we will get there. Save us a seat, Lord Jesus!!! Wait for me!

“51Then the curtain hanging in the Temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split apart, 52the graves broke open, and many of God’speople who had died were raised to life.” - Matthew 27: 51-52.

Crazy

18th March 28, Tuesday

About 10:55am, after Counterpoint. Char and I sat at the piano, each playing her own piece. Guess what happened when our pieces overlapped? We “fought”. For space. 

:p

Spending Too Much On …

“Where do I begin? To tell the story of how great a …” life can be?

This post is going to be a sort of continuation from the previous.

9th March 2008, Sunday

I went to the I.T. Show/Fair again on Sunday after my teaching ended at 3.30pm. Yes. Believe it. Haha!!! The journey from Balestier to Suntec City was terrible. Jammed most of the way. What was supposed to be a max. 20mins bus ride became a 30mins one instead. And that was just a prelude to the one at the I.T. Fair. At least, I did my supposedly-quick shopping within an hour, including going up and down the extremely crowed escalators. I went there with the intention of getting that BagMan $35 laptop bag. Instead, I came home with 2 other BagMan small pouches (meant for keeping electronic stuff like digi-cam and mp3 or something like that) at 2 for $12 and a tiny keyboard vacume  cleaner. LOL! Yes, I was intrigued by it when I was browsing at the A1 stall there and decided to get it since my keyboard is quite dusty, especially beneath the keys. By the way, the keyboard vacume cleaner cost me $9.90. I must say, the time spent at the I.T. Fair was definitely better than sitting in that cold bus for half an hour. Blah.

10th March 2008, Monday

Mr. Hartung did not appear for our conducting lesson. Hence, we all went home early.

11th March 2008, Tuesday

Met Wen at Bugis in the afternoon where we had more than something to eat and she gave me my belated present from 6 of the Co. So sweet of you… Arigato gozaimas’, minna-san!!! Coloured and beautifully designed paper and plastic borders. Basically, craft materials. Ying1 wei4 tai4 mei3 le4, jiu4 she3 bu4 de2 yong4…

[Note to self: Never go out with Wen especially where there are a lot of food stalls unless I am as hungry as her.]

12th March 2008, Wednesday

Went to join Mum at OG Orchard Point after Platform to do some shopping. Because of this Special Preview Sale, there were so many people there. And because there were so many people, all those wanting to get in had to join the queue, which snaked half-way round the building. Mum was in the queue for a total of 20mins. As for me, I waited with her for about 10mins after arriving. But the worst had yet to come. It came when we were queuing up to pay. By the time we finally got to the cashier’s, we had been standing there for an hour. AN HOUR. Sheesh…!!! But the discounts given were worth it. Should had bought the cute water bottle and Converse bag that day. Regret. But made up for this regret with a pair of Clarks Mary-Jane (Black) at $71+ [after discount] and a FILA tee at a special price of $11. What else did I get??? Errr… Snacks. Because I was hungry while waiting in that dratted queue, I left Mum in the queue and went ’exploring’. Snacks that day, which are usually nett-priced items, were at 10% off. That was good. Mum got herself a pair of formal sandals and health supplements. Oh! And I bought her an Elle handbag.

Today, 14th March 2008, Friday

Sat in one of the studios with Julia after lunch and surfed the net using her laptop while she practiced. (The computer lab was taken up for Improvisation class.) Finally went off at 3pm odd. Instead of going home straight, I wandered around. Went to the CD stall at Bugis St. to find Evan-chan’s birthday present. But that was before I went to OG Albert Mall to look around. (The OG stores are having a 20% discount till this sunday, the 16th.) That was when I saw the Converse bag (!!!) and bought that cute water bottle (!!!!!!). So, there. Blah. Wasted. Should had bought the water bottle on wednesday. Blah. Haha! So, should I go back to OG Albert Mall on sunday to get that Converse bag??? Hmmm… But seriously, do I need it? *looks at present Gap bag that has frayed edges…* Hmmm… But I have been spending a lot… And I still owe my brother money for the HDD bought at the I.T. Fair. Hmmm…

And so, I shall end here and contemplate the evils of impulsive buying and spending on materialistic wants when there are so many other poorer people in this world, which I realised that I am truly blessed by God. Thank you. 

A Big Thank You!!!

Dear people,

Here is a big Thank You to you out there who had wished me and/or given me presents for my 20th birthday. So,

THANK YOU, FOR HELPING ME MARK MY 20TH YEAR ON EARTH A MEMORABLE ONE!!! *muacks!*

Thanks for the SMSes, the personal wishes, the comments on FaceBook, the air mail letter from Empress Road and even, yes, believe it, fixed-line SMS by a someone who sent the message to the wrong number. Thank you, you all!!!

Here are some photos taken the past week…

Photo 1: Presents all wrapped up and given by them. Received by Sunday, 2nd March, 00:00am.

Photo 2: Presents unwrapped. Airmail letter from That Boy. Original recording Zhou Xuan CD from ZQ. Card, salt & pepper shaker and the leaf-bag from Juls. Cylindrical plastic container with craft scissors from Enx. Black and white card-case from Evan-chan. Silver Diva bracelet from WX. Rest of stuff there from Char.

Photo 3: My birthday cake. It had been a long time since I had a cake for my birthday. Sad, right? Haha! Chocolate fudge from Prima Deli. (!!! Do not worry. Still alive and healthy. *grins*)

Photo 4: More presents. Received on Thursday, 6th March. 2 notebooks [on left] from Amy. Tee & that cute bear-like case from Yan Qiu and Dora.

Not bad for this big double digit.

Another post, another day.

P.S: Went to the I.T Fair at Suntec City with my brother this evening and experienced first-hand that it is not good for a not-so-tall person. A little overwhelming a.k.a scary at first but I got used to it quite soon. Came home with what I needed; a HDD. Thinking of going there again on Sunday for what I want. Hmmm… But the crowd will be worse… Hmmm…

Almost 20

Right. I am down with a flu. Had a sorethroat a few days back but, thank heavens, that one is 99.9% gone. So, currently stuck with this one. I am taking some pill for it so, not to worry, I shall be fine sometime this week. It must be due to the change in weather. It colder and wetter now, as compared to three days ago when it was so dry and hot during the day. Many others in school had been down with some sort of illness or other. Not good. What’s more, I will be attending Juls’ 20th Birthday bash later in the evening. Haha! Well, I better write my happenings in chronological order. Let’s start with Thursday, 21 Feb, 2008, the one which I mentioned in my previous post(s)…

Thursday, 21st Feb. 2008

Went out with the parents for dinner to celebrate the 15th day of the Lunar New Year after I got home from NIE. Found out on the television screen at the restaurant that Singapore became the 1st to hold the Youth Olympics 2010. Hooray!!! More jobs for the people, economy will go up, up, up! Got home before 8.30pm because my brother wanted to come by and collect his pair of army boots. He came with the kids and the maid. Then came the huge element of “surprise”. I was carrying my nephew around the garden when he suddenly swung his right hand and hit me in the left eye. Actually, he hit my frameless pair of spectacles. If it was not for my spectacles, I would had ended up with a nice little red mark at the side of my left eye. Anyway, the left lens split into two. I was somehow shocked and devastated. Imagine my expression, and his. Well, his right hand received a spank from his grandmother for being too violent and went home not feeling very happy at all. Cute little fella… And his father said something about a disclaimer. -.-” Dots.

Friday, 22nd Feb. 2008

I had no choice but to wear my older pair of spectacles for the day as I had sent it off in the afternoon to be fixed at the shop near school, and also bought a new pair of spectacles at the same time. This time, it is a half frame one. Char and I hosted a joined-birthday lunch for the usual suspects but out of eight in total, only 5 turned up (Char+Me+Enx+Juls+ZQ). 1 “had to work” (I wonder how true is that) while the other 2 could only join us after 1pm. By the time Look and WX came, we were very much done with our lunch and so, those 2 went elsewhere to eat. Look went back to school after lunch with ZQ but WX stayed on with us girls. As we were walking passed Diva at Bugis Junction, he suddenly said to Char and I to pick out whatever at Diva for our birthday presents, and he would pay for them. Wow! Generous. OK. So we did. Yay!!! We then went to the optician to get my spectacles done. Lala!

Tuesday, 26th Feb. 2008

Mock exam for practical. Yikes! I mentioned it before that I was more sleepy and tired than anxious for it. And I really was not anxious or panicky, just a little annoyed by that noisy dehumidifier machine that was near the piano. After the exam, when I was about to collect my music scores from the examiners, one of them asked me whether I practised hard and whether I was hardworking. Right… Two ways of looking at it. It was either I improved or not. Tough one.

Thursday, 28th Feb. 2008

Music history listening exam in the late morning and my ipod had to hang on me just when I needed to listen to the pieces on it. Darn… I had to depend on my notes for revision on the bus ride to school. The exam itself was do-able. However, I had a feeling that I got confused over the movement numbers for the Corelli ‘Christmas Concerto’. Right. Goner? Not sure.

Friday, 29th Feb. 2008

A sort of slack day. Had music tech in the morning and then a supposedly 2-hour session of NIE pairwork with Char. However, that 2 hours were mainly spent on doing/finishing the music tech assignment (mostly by Char) and rubbish on my part. Char gave me my birthday present(s) then. [Thanks, Charmabelle!!!] Met Evan-chan at Raffles City for lunch after school. (I walked to Raffles City from school. It took me almost 10mins. ) We ate at Shokudo Japanese Food Bazaar located in B1. Shokudo is a Japanese food market version of Marche and V’llage. Prices are quite resonable. Evan-chan and I ordered ala carte and shared the food. Ate quite a lot. LOL!!! And so, we sat there for more than an hour before paying up and walking around, scouting for my birthday present. We came across a few designs but none were to my liking. In the end, we went northwards to Orchard Tangs and she bought it for me there. Haha! I was such a nuisense. Anyway, I had beem eyeing it since Christmas and there was a 20% discount of it. (Tangs is having a sale.) We took a look at the clothes; they were really good in price, material, colour and design, but do not expect too much from a sale because the size you are looking for may not be available. Dots. That was happened to me. After that, we went home.

Presents from my friends and classmates are more or less here. Sigh… I am turning 20 really soon. But life still goes on. And I am still waiting for Juls to upload those photos taken on Valentines Day at the ZhouXuan concert. Waiting…

Here’s one, though. Taken that evening during the post-concert party with the maestro, using one of the junior’s digi-cam as Juls had, by then, already went home.

Got to go! More photos another day.