You know what I just realised? I figured before I watch the MV of a Japanese song I might like it, but after the MV I most probably wouldn't. Somehow it doesn't really look very appealing to have more than 3 guys stand on a stage (anything would do, like the ledge of a railing) and sing in unision (or even sing at all). It's kind of detering...
Yeah, so maybe they have flawless skin or perfectly sculptured features, but I guess having so many guys just singing makes them seem a little redundant. It's becoming more like a choir instead of a band/group. It's messy AND boring. They're all just standing around swaying to the music or staring up at the sky with some sort of morose expression that tells you that they've just lost the love of their lives (in the MV, of course).
How typical.
Hey, I actually find it fun to think about why I dislike boy bands that don't seem to know how to play a single instrument. It's quite entertaining and helps me improve my critical analysis skills. Maybe I should be a band critic when I grow up, not that I'd be any good at it but it's fun.
Lead singers generally are the popular ones in a band, but when you have 5 or more of them and no one sitting behind a drum set making cool gestures with the drumsticks or jamming on the guitar while in a cool stance it makes the whole MV look dull.
I've seen a few Japanese MVs and a number of them just show the band members aimlessly wandering the busy streets, reading a score sheet and strumming a guitar casually (not according to the song), trying (and sometimes failing hilariously) to get a sock or some other garment on, studying so hard for a test they end up exhausted etc. It's boring the way they focus on meaningless actions or do not tell a story.
たいくつ。(Can't convert this to kanji on blogger.)
Can you believe people actually spit good money to buy those MVs? You can find them anywhere!
Anyway, I'm not here to talk about that.
Wait.
Actually I am, but that's not the main reason I started this post.
Hang on a moment while I get my message ready.
Here goes.
I GOT MY H1N1 JAB TODAY (because I'm going to Europe in 2 weeks).
Ouch.
My mother delayed the jabs twice already. Once was because the doctor said that the H1N1 jabs for children might be given the green light soon. Twice was because my father didn't get home early enough.
It's a bit annoying, really.
You know when my family entered the doctor's room to get the jab I was afraid. Really afraid. I have a phobia (a serious phobia) for anything that might cause physical pain, so I feared the jab greatly. I saw the doctor open a mini refrigerator and take out 5 boxes which I assumed to be the vaccines (1 dose per box).
My parents wanted me to go first and I was: "NO WAY."
So my father did. He sat in the chair and placed his arm on the table. The doctor took out a dose from the box and stuck it into my father's left arm. When it was done, the doctor pressed a compact piece of cotton wool to my father's arm and he got up and walked to beside me to lean against a bed. He said it didn't hurt. I was skeptical about it.
My mother then asked me to go next, which elicited a "NO THANKS" expression from me.
So my mother did. She sat on the chair and let the doctor give her the vaccine. When the needle pierced her skin (at least, when I thought it did) my mother made this slightly sour face and my father asked, "Pain meh?" to which my mother nodded.
Then being the brave person I was, I sat on the chair of doom next.
While dreading the pain, I looked away. I felt the needle alright. I felt its coldness enter my skin and the digging its way down. I felt the sudden influx of matter (vaccine) into my arm which felt a little like rapid swelling and feared that my skin would explode (of course it didn't, but you know, in these kinds of situations you tend to think of the worst case scenarios). All the time I wasn't relaxing my muscles at all. So much for the doctor telling me to relax...
I was given the small wad of cotton wool and my brother was next. He didn't look the least perturbed by the fact that he was going to have a foreign object stuck into his arm! I am in awe of him. His poker face was PERFECT. Anyway, so he got up and my sister was the last one.
She had this 'I am extremely afraid and horrified and want to shrink back into the walls' expression on her face, but she got the jab anyway. Then when everything was done the doctor gave us the 'H1N1 Vaccinated' cards so that we can show people we have been vaccinated if we are suspected to be carriers of the virus.
I threw the wad away in the end, and all that was on it was a small pin prick of yellow substance (pus, I think). I was freaked out.
We were all a little lightheaded when we left the room (not sure if it was a side effect or just some psychological thing) so we rested for a while then headed to breakfast (my brother, sister and I) while my parents went to the ATM machine to withdraw the fee.
Breakfast was great. I had 1 chicken bao and 1 cup of iced milo, my sister had some nasi lemak looking thing and a cup of iced milo too while my brother went for economic noodles and coffee. My parents both had black carrot cake but my father had an additional black coffee.
Then we looked around some places for pants (I seem to be lacking some) and went home.
Tada.
You have my day in the palm of your hands.
I mean.
Neurons in your heads.
Saturday 28 November 2009
Sunday 22 November 2009
Grain of the Cross
I BOUGHT 17 MORE PRINCE OF TENNIS MANGA!
So yeah, it cost a lot, but it's my Christmas AND birthday presents added together.
I'm still missing 9 books, but I'm happy enough right now.
Anyway, my days are pretty boring. I mean, what can you do at home during the holidays except sleep, use the computer, eat, use the computer again, read, use the computer, bathe, sleep etc.?
So yeah.
Recently I picked up watching drama online, the latest series being 'Gokusen'. You might know that if you've read my previous post.
It all started on Tuesday (the day after I bought the 17 tankouban) when I decided to do my homework on 'Prince of Tennis' and find out more about the series. I came across this bit in Wikipedia that informed me that there was something called 'The Prince After School', so I went to check it out on Google.
I found Rycolaa, a scanlation site where I downloaded 'The Prince After School' and also browsed for some interesting things to download, and I came across 'Godhand Teru'. I could only find the later chapters on Rycolaa so I went to search Google for the rest.
The results I got were disappointing, to say the least, but then I came across a link to a drama called 'Godhand Teru'. Being the naturally inquisitive (...alright, nosy) person I am, I clicked on the link.
It led to the website www.animecrazy.net where it hosted the drama. I watched the first quarter of the first episode, then the second quarter, the third quarter, the last quarter, the next episode...and you can guess how it ended.
HOWEVER (bet you didn't see that coming).
There was an error in episode 2 so I searched Google to find an alternative website that hosted episode 2, and guess what I found? www.dramacrazy.net! From there I looked into the length of Japanese drama and found 'Boss', a fantastic detective drama that focused on an odd group of police men and women struggling for recognition (in a sense). I can't believe I forgot to recommend this! ARGH.
Also from this website I found Gokusen, and here I am, quite mad about the series. You can say I quite like Sawada Shin's personality. It kinda screams: "I MAY LOOK LIKE A TOTAL ASS BUT I CARE FOR MY FRIENDS, CAN FIGHT, AND ACTUALLY DO WELL IN EXAMS" or something. I've always had a thing for this kind of contradicting personalities...
That aside, I found out the Sawada Shin's actor was Matsumoto Jun, a member of the boy band Arashi that Fish (HuiXian) and Nikki (I think) (and perhaps many more) were nuts about. I went to check out the band on YouTube to see if Matsumoto was as cool as Sawada was and perhaps as cool a singer as he looks, but guess what I found?
Arashi is...pretty bad, I should say. Perhaps I just found the wrong videos to watch, but their voices were flat. Ma, I was expecting so much better from Sawada's actor. Matsumoto didn't even look cool! Okay, so maybe it's wrong of me to expect an actor to be EXACTLY identical to his character, but it just looked so odd...
I mean, if you first watched Gokusen THEN watched the music videos (or whatnot), it's a bit...weird, I guess. The band gets boring after a few watches, though the music video of 'Love So Sweet' is just hilarious! Well, I think it's hilarious anyway... I was just browsing the more popular songs so I get a rough idea of what Arashi is all about, but I'll see to it that I'll never become their fan. They're fairly static.
I'm guessing the band is targeting the teenage female audience? Because frankly, I think they're the kind who are picked because they have a pretty face and, uh, talent to dance hip hop. The dance steps are so similar from music video to music video, and dancing as a group of boys is just plain...gay.
...I'm using the word gay a lot lately. Must break the habit...(I'm being reprimanded on my tagbox for using 'gay' and such derogatory terms on Mr. Toh...yikes...)
I think I've spent enough time evaluating the band, but just one piece of advice to people in bands: Please, PLEASE try to make some variation in voice qualities. All of Arashi's songs have pretty straight voices, no thick or thin, loud or soft, harsh or tender. It sounds like all the band members are either yelling or singing with the mike at 10 meters away...so strained...
So yeah, it cost a lot, but it's my Christmas AND birthday presents added together.
I'm still missing 9 books, but I'm happy enough right now.
Anyway, my days are pretty boring. I mean, what can you do at home during the holidays except sleep, use the computer, eat, use the computer again, read, use the computer, bathe, sleep etc.?
So yeah.
Recently I picked up watching drama online, the latest series being 'Gokusen'. You might know that if you've read my previous post.
It all started on Tuesday (the day after I bought the 17 tankouban) when I decided to do my homework on 'Prince of Tennis' and find out more about the series. I came across this bit in Wikipedia that informed me that there was something called 'The Prince After School', so I went to check it out on Google.
I found Rycolaa, a scanlation site where I downloaded 'The Prince After School' and also browsed for some interesting things to download, and I came across 'Godhand Teru'. I could only find the later chapters on Rycolaa so I went to search Google for the rest.
The results I got were disappointing, to say the least, but then I came across a link to a drama called 'Godhand Teru'. Being the naturally inquisitive (...alright, nosy) person I am, I clicked on the link.
It led to the website www.animecrazy.net where it hosted the drama. I watched the first quarter of the first episode, then the second quarter, the third quarter, the last quarter, the next episode...and you can guess how it ended.
HOWEVER (bet you didn't see that coming).
There was an error in episode 2 so I searched Google to find an alternative website that hosted episode 2, and guess what I found? www.dramacrazy.net! From there I looked into the length of Japanese drama and found 'Boss', a fantastic detective drama that focused on an odd group of police men and women struggling for recognition (in a sense). I can't believe I forgot to recommend this! ARGH.
Also from this website I found Gokusen, and here I am, quite mad about the series. You can say I quite like Sawada Shin's personality. It kinda screams: "I MAY LOOK LIKE A TOTAL ASS BUT I CARE FOR MY FRIENDS, CAN FIGHT, AND ACTUALLY DO WELL IN EXAMS" or something. I've always had a thing for this kind of contradicting personalities...
That aside, I found out the Sawada Shin's actor was Matsumoto Jun, a member of the boy band Arashi that Fish (HuiXian) and Nikki (I think) (and perhaps many more) were nuts about. I went to check out the band on YouTube to see if Matsumoto was as cool as Sawada was and perhaps as cool a singer as he looks, but guess what I found?
Arashi is...pretty bad, I should say. Perhaps I just found the wrong videos to watch, but their voices were flat. Ma, I was expecting so much better from Sawada's actor. Matsumoto didn't even look cool! Okay, so maybe it's wrong of me to expect an actor to be EXACTLY identical to his character, but it just looked so odd...
I mean, if you first watched Gokusen THEN watched the music videos (or whatnot), it's a bit...weird, I guess. The band gets boring after a few watches, though the music video of 'Love So Sweet' is just hilarious! Well, I think it's hilarious anyway... I was just browsing the more popular songs so I get a rough idea of what Arashi is all about, but I'll see to it that I'll never become their fan. They're fairly static.
I'm guessing the band is targeting the teenage female audience? Because frankly, I think they're the kind who are picked because they have a pretty face and, uh, talent to dance hip hop. The dance steps are so similar from music video to music video, and dancing as a group of boys is just plain...gay.
...I'm using the word gay a lot lately. Must break the habit...(I'm being reprimanded on my tagbox for using 'gay' and such derogatory terms on Mr. Toh...yikes...)
I think I've spent enough time evaluating the band, but just one piece of advice to people in bands: Please, PLEASE try to make some variation in voice qualities. All of Arashi's songs have pretty straight voices, no thick or thin, loud or soft, harsh or tender. It sounds like all the band members are either yelling or singing with the mike at 10 meters away...so strained...
Drama Recommendation (II)
Title: Gokusen (Shortened form of 'Gangster Teacher' in Japanese)
Genre: Comedy, School
Length: 12 Episodes + 1 Special Episode
Yamaguchi Kumiko (Nakama Yukie) is the 4th generation heir of the Oeda family, a prominant Yakuza (gangster) group. Her dream is to be a teacher and she lands the job at the age of 23. Her view of a teacher-student relationship is idealistic, until she meets the class she is in charge of: 3-D of Shirokin Gakuen.
Sawada Shin (Matsumoto Jun) is the lazy leader of the delinquent class 3-D of Shirokin Gakuen. His grades are well above average and the reason he is enrolled in the 'hopeless and troublesome class of 3-D' is the fact that he punched a teacher from his previous school.
Class 3-D is a class of 'rotten apples' filled with students who have dyed hair and sloppy uniforms, but Yamaguchi Kumiko believes she can make a change in them. The students of class 3-D, most prominantly Sawada Shin, Uchiyama Haruhiko (Oguri Shun), Kumai Teruo (Waki Tomohiro), Noda Takeshi (Narimiya Hiroki) and Minami Yoichi (Ishigaki Yuma), gain respect for the quirky teacher because of her devotion to them and even gave her a nickname: Yankumi.
Genre: Comedy, School
Length: 12 Episodes + 1 Special Episode
Yamaguchi Kumiko (Nakama Yukie) is the 4th generation heir of the Oeda family, a prominant Yakuza (gangster) group. Her dream is to be a teacher and she lands the job at the age of 23. Her view of a teacher-student relationship is idealistic, until she meets the class she is in charge of: 3-D of Shirokin Gakuen.
Sawada Shin (Matsumoto Jun) is the lazy leader of the delinquent class 3-D of Shirokin Gakuen. His grades are well above average and the reason he is enrolled in the 'hopeless and troublesome class of 3-D' is the fact that he punched a teacher from his previous school.
Class 3-D is a class of 'rotten apples' filled with students who have dyed hair and sloppy uniforms, but Yamaguchi Kumiko believes she can make a change in them. The students of class 3-D, most prominantly Sawada Shin, Uchiyama Haruhiko (Oguri Shun), Kumai Teruo (Waki Tomohiro), Noda Takeshi (Narimiya Hiroki) and Minami Yoichi (Ishigaki Yuma), gain respect for the quirky teacher because of her devotion to them and even gave her a nickname: Yankumi.
Wednesday 18 November 2009
Drama Recommendation (I)
Title: Godhand Teru
Genre: Medicinal
Length: 6 Episodes
An adaptation of 'Godhand Teru'.
Mahigashi Teru lost his father in a plane crash 18 years ago. His father was Mahigashi Kousuke, a world renowned doctor. As his father tried desperately to resuscitate Teru he died when a flying shard hit him in the back.
Teru's life was saved, but a red imprint of his father's palm was left on his chest.
18 years later Mahigashi Teru begins his internship with Yasuda Memorial Hospital, affectionately dubbed 'Valhalla', a mythological residence of gods, signifying that the hospital employs doctors of high quality.
On the first day of work, Teru arrives late due to an unexpected delay, and not only was he slow in his assistance during surgeries his skills appear insufficient to provide medical treatment. Everyone begins to call him 'Clumsy Teru'.
His instructor, Kitami, has great doubts about Teru's employment in Valhalla but the director of the hospital, Yasuda Jyunji, believes that within Teru dwells an ability that awakens in the most dire of situations - the Godhand, passed from Kousuke to his son.
Genre: Medicinal
Length: 6 Episodes
An adaptation of 'Godhand Teru'.
Mahigashi Teru lost his father in a plane crash 18 years ago. His father was Mahigashi Kousuke, a world renowned doctor. As his father tried desperately to resuscitate Teru he died when a flying shard hit him in the back.
Teru's life was saved, but a red imprint of his father's palm was left on his chest.
18 years later Mahigashi Teru begins his internship with Yasuda Memorial Hospital, affectionately dubbed 'Valhalla', a mythological residence of gods, signifying that the hospital employs doctors of high quality.
On the first day of work, Teru arrives late due to an unexpected delay, and not only was he slow in his assistance during surgeries his skills appear insufficient to provide medical treatment. Everyone begins to call him 'Clumsy Teru'.
His instructor, Kitami, has great doubts about Teru's employment in Valhalla but the director of the hospital, Yasuda Jyunji, believes that within Teru dwells an ability that awakens in the most dire of situations - the Godhand, passed from Kousuke to his son.
Saturday 14 November 2009
Water on the Moon
Look, if you think I'm lying, go to Google and click on its logo (which should be 'Google' with a moon for one of the 'o's) and check out the first result.
Or you can just click here or here.
THERE IS WATER ON THE MOON!
I mean, I haven't really thought about this all since it was general consensus the moon was bone dry but there is water on the moon, and gallons of it!
Wow.
It's like life has been given to the fantastically grey satellite that orbits the Earth. Fascinating.
This was discovered yesterday and it shook the whole world! Well, the part of it that heard the news about the existence of water on the moon anyway.
It's almost as if mankind has reached the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. What an unbelievable breakthrough for science (astronomy)!
Or you can just click here or here.
THERE IS WATER ON THE MOON!
I mean, I haven't really thought about this all since it was general consensus the moon was bone dry but there is water on the moon, and gallons of it!
Wow.
It's like life has been given to the fantastically grey satellite that orbits the Earth. Fascinating.
This was discovered yesterday and it shook the whole world! Well, the part of it that heard the news about the existence of water on the moon anyway.
It's almost as if mankind has reached the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. What an unbelievable breakthrough for science (astronomy)!
Friday 13 November 2009
Great. It's Friday the 13th. AGAIN!
Yup, just a short post to emphasise on the day and date today.
I won't be writing about my day, but you should know that it didn't register that today was Friday the 13th until Rani's Jazz Performance thing when Miss Rani mentioned it. I was like O.o: "Since when?!"
Anyway, just another short thing about the Rani Jazz Performance: I would bet so much that a great number of students were staring at the double bass player. Can't blame them, cuz I was too! I mean, look at his obviously anime hair! Okay, madness about anime comes into play...but did you see the way he plucked the strings so often? Ouch. That's gotta hurt.
The drummer was pretty good, though I would like them to have a much larger drum set (I mean, they only had one drum, 1 cymbal, and 1 set of...clanging things that look like cymbals pressed together) which in turn would produce a much more interesting beat than just a few taps at different areas of the drum.
Ooh, I like the guitar, but the guitarist just looked plain disheveled and shabby. Vomit coloured t-shirt with jeans. That just screams: "I LIVE ON THE STREETS!" I'm sure he doesn't, but he looks the part. If you put him beside his bandmates he'd just look like a rose among thorns...wait, wrong simile...I mean thorn amongst roses. I wonder what kind of guitar he used. It sounded much more muted than the normal. His name is Andrew, and there's a Joe somewhere but I can't remember who or the last guy's name...
Miss Rani was FANTASTIC! So she didn't appear that good at first, but it turned out great in the end, though I find the Jazz remix version of our school song a bit weird. Did you hear how out of beat 'Life lies before us/Here's luck to the start' sounded? Other than that, it was great, but I suppose we could have put in more enthusiasm, since, afterall, she is our senior...sort of.
Look at the difference in screaming and yelling between the Jazz Performance and the surprise performance (especially when Mr. Joseph Toh is around)! Okay, I'd admit that most of the screaming was due to students fangirling about Mr. Toh and you shouldn't be doing that to Miss Rani since that would be really, really wrong, but still! Mr. Toh sings quite well, but the other singer (well, 1 of 3) was pretty good too, though I heard he's pretty shy. He even wore a cap to rehearsals (so I heard from Mel Tham).
While Mr. Toh wriggles (that's what it looks like from the back of the hall) shamelessly on stage, the other teacher just stands there quietly singing his part. Perhaps, if the other teacher was just as 'handsome' or 'charismatic' as Mr. Toh, he might have been much more popular, since his voice is just wonderful.
You know, one can't help but compare Mr. Toh with Adam Lambert (1st runner-up [I think] of The American Idol 2009), but I gave up making the list since there were so many similarities. It'd be much easier collating their differences...
If I were to make a list of how they're similar:
1. Screams high notes
2. Acts unbelievably gay
3. Has at least on fan club (official or non-official)
4. Is not Chinese (at least, not a full one)
etc.
See? You can continue the list if you want to, but I believe most of their similarities revolve around the fact that they are NOT normal.
...I think I digressed. I wasn't supposed to talk about my day. Oh well, here's a summary since I've already started.
TODAY IS THE LAST DAY OF SCHOOL! *screams in background with joyful music playing*
I stole 5 marshmallows, 2 cookies and 3 garlic breads from 211. *licks lips*
OUR CLASS WON THE BEST CONCEPT SEC 2 CLASS (technically another class also got the same prize but let's forget about this fact, okay?)! *holds up prize (eye mask) proudly*
Best Concept = Decorations and miscellaneous stuff fit snugly with the decided theme (210: Willy Wonka's Winter Wonderland)
I got tricked into waiting for Miss Tay to come and dismiss us after she has seen our classroom and deemed its state of clealiness 'passable'. She never came. I dismissed myself at 13:00. *yells angrily at the sky hoping Miss Tay would receive my fury via satellite*
MY SORE THROAT IS ALMOST GONE! *screams until sore throat relapses abruptly*
I have developed a runny nose instead. It's likely it's my body's way of getting rid of the bacteria via mucus flood but it's still uncomfortable. *sniff*
...
Aw shucks. I'm ranting again. About my day. Aren't I such a delightful hypocrite? Sue me.
Bye then.
I won't be writing about my day, but you should know that it didn't register that today was Friday the 13th until Rani's Jazz Performance thing when Miss Rani mentioned it. I was like O.o: "Since when?!"
Anyway, just another short thing about the Rani Jazz Performance: I would bet so much that a great number of students were staring at the double bass player. Can't blame them, cuz I was too! I mean, look at his obviously anime hair! Okay, madness about anime comes into play...but did you see the way he plucked the strings so often? Ouch. That's gotta hurt.
The drummer was pretty good, though I would like them to have a much larger drum set (I mean, they only had one drum, 1 cymbal, and 1 set of...clanging things that look like cymbals pressed together) which in turn would produce a much more interesting beat than just a few taps at different areas of the drum.
Ooh, I like the guitar, but the guitarist just looked plain disheveled and shabby. Vomit coloured t-shirt with jeans. That just screams: "I LIVE ON THE STREETS!" I'm sure he doesn't, but he looks the part. If you put him beside his bandmates he'd just look like a rose among thorns...wait, wrong simile...I mean thorn amongst roses. I wonder what kind of guitar he used. It sounded much more muted than the normal. His name is Andrew, and there's a Joe somewhere but I can't remember who or the last guy's name...
Miss Rani was FANTASTIC! So she didn't appear that good at first, but it turned out great in the end, though I find the Jazz remix version of our school song a bit weird. Did you hear how out of beat 'Life lies before us/Here's luck to the start' sounded? Other than that, it was great, but I suppose we could have put in more enthusiasm, since, afterall, she is our senior...sort of.
Look at the difference in screaming and yelling between the Jazz Performance and the surprise performance (especially when Mr. Joseph Toh is around)! Okay, I'd admit that most of the screaming was due to students fangirling about Mr. Toh and you shouldn't be doing that to Miss Rani since that would be really, really wrong, but still! Mr. Toh sings quite well, but the other singer (well, 1 of 3) was pretty good too, though I heard he's pretty shy. He even wore a cap to rehearsals (so I heard from Mel Tham).
While Mr. Toh wriggles (that's what it looks like from the back of the hall) shamelessly on stage, the other teacher just stands there quietly singing his part. Perhaps, if the other teacher was just as 'handsome' or 'charismatic' as Mr. Toh, he might have been much more popular, since his voice is just wonderful.
You know, one can't help but compare Mr. Toh with Adam Lambert (1st runner-up [I think] of The American Idol 2009), but I gave up making the list since there were so many similarities. It'd be much easier collating their differences...
If I were to make a list of how they're similar:
1. Screams high notes
2. Acts unbelievably gay
3. Has at least on fan club (official or non-official)
4. Is not Chinese (at least, not a full one)
etc.
See? You can continue the list if you want to, but I believe most of their similarities revolve around the fact that they are NOT normal.
...I think I digressed. I wasn't supposed to talk about my day. Oh well, here's a summary since I've already started.
TODAY IS THE LAST DAY OF SCHOOL! *screams in background with joyful music playing*
I stole 5 marshmallows, 2 cookies and 3 garlic breads from 211. *licks lips*
OUR CLASS WON THE BEST CONCEPT SEC 2 CLASS (technically another class also got the same prize but let's forget about this fact, okay?)! *holds up prize (eye mask) proudly*
Best Concept = Decorations and miscellaneous stuff fit snugly with the decided theme (210: Willy Wonka's Winter Wonderland)
I got tricked into waiting for Miss Tay to come and dismiss us after she has seen our classroom and deemed its state of clealiness 'passable'. She never came. I dismissed myself at 13:00. *yells angrily at the sky hoping Miss Tay would receive my fury via satellite*
MY SORE THROAT IS ALMOST GONE! *screams until sore throat relapses abruptly*
I have developed a runny nose instead. It's likely it's my body's way of getting rid of the bacteria via mucus flood but it's still uncomfortable. *sniff*
...
Aw shucks. I'm ranting again. About my day. Aren't I such a delightful hypocrite? Sue me.
Bye then.
Friday 16 October 2009
I'm Lying.
It's been...how long...since I've last posted.
I'll admit blogging is losing its appeal currently. Perhaps I'll use it as a way to pass time during the holidays...
Anyway, I'm here to list down a few nice tid-bits about my life for the past month or so.
1) 03 October 2009
I celebrated the Mid-Autumn Festival with most of my extended family from my father's side. I think it began just before I returned from my ballet lessons (oh, go on, laugh at the fact that I actually do learn BALLET). When I arrived home there was food spread all over the shoe shelf. Actually the shoe shelf itself was not so much as shelf as a cupboard about waist (don't you guys ever find it funny that people can actually mix up 'waist' with 'waste'?) high.
After a hearty dinner (with lots and lots of Singapore curry which my mother made NOT spicy just because I couldn't stand it. Don't I just feel special?) we had games that spanned for at least an hour...or two. I can't really remember, but I do know that I left mid-way to bathe. It was a game that took turns.
*GAME*
There was a board and a white board. The board listed categories and question numbers, while the white board recorded scores (using stickers...). Anyway, the 'hosts' of the game were my father's youngest brother and his wife. They held the answers in their palms (papers, I mean). So we picked a question, then they would read to us the question, and if we answer correctly, 2 points. Answer wrongly, 0. If it's the rebound, then 1 point for being correct and -1 for being wrong...
*GAME*
The prize was 10 tickets to the movies, and my family won *grins*. Oh, did I mention we were playing by immediate families? E.g. My father, mother, me and my siblings on one team, my aunt and her husband and their kids in another etc.
2) EXAMS
I myself am not exactly sure when they began...or ended. All I know is that I probably failed my Chinese again (damn, my parents will be so pissed. They had even hired a tutor!) and my English is a very likely fail. So's my English Literature, if I should grade myself. I just hope my PT didn't get too low, it's my only hope. Math...well, if I get a 60% I'm fine already. I mean, I can't expect too much. I failed 1st term and got about 25/40 for term 2 and 3.
I don't think I want to ponder on such depressing issues any more.
3) 15 October 2009
The night before I received a call from someone called Bernice (I have no idea who that is but she called herself House-Captain or something) that I have shot-put and javelin the next day at about 14:30. I was so...annoyed. I thought they were on the 14th. Thing is, I didn't check the schedule earlier so when I did at about 17:00 on the 14th I thought that both shot-put and javelin events were over (blame the really weird division thingums. I don't know which one I am in!). So I very moodily went to school on the 15th.
Oh, have I yet mentioned that 14th-16th was marking day so there was no school?
Yeah, so anyway, before I left home I did my usual 'workout' or whatever you call it. 55 sit-ups, 65 female standard press-ups and 40 laps around my living room (which, trust me, isn't too large to begin with. About 15m per round). I did that in preparation for the shot-put event. I mean, you need muscle strength for that, right? So I thought I'd just get my arm muscles working!
I arrived very early. It's not like I had much to do at home anyway. So I waited at the mini-amphi until, what, 15:00. They told us to assemble at 14:30! I was way earlier than 14:30 (okay, so maybe 10 minutes wasn't 'way earlier', but still)!
After a very hectic attendence taking when I learnt that C2 (I also learnt that I belonged to C2) javelin event was yesterday, we trudged down to the shot-put area to...well, do shot-put. We had 10 participants so we had to do a preliminary round to eliminate participants to simply 8. Just before my trial run (which I ended up DQing) the lightning alert started blaring. I was glad, until Sophia informed me that we had to return on another day if it was cancelled today. I pulled a long face. Black face. Ugly face. Whatever.
Didja know that Kimberly from 202 was doing shot-put too?
Anyway, we returned to the mini-amphi to await further instructions, where Sophia, Kimberly, I and some friend of Kimberly's (whose name I didn't ask for) tried to 'cheer' ourselves up and entertain ourselves with 'Your Mama' jokes. I remember the one that went 'Your mama so fat the photo I took of her 20 years ago is still printing'. I liked that one. XD
The teachers said that if we didn't get the green light before 16:30 we would be sent home, so I hoped, and hoped hard. I wanted to pray, but things just got in my way. We were finally able to go out at 15:00.
We decided on a 3 shots at one go basis. Oh, by the way, now there were only 8 participants left, so we didn't do a preliminary round. I think 2 of the participants had Arts Fest practice to attend to. It went pretty quickly, and Sophia was one of the first to go because she had discus later.
I really couldn't be bothered to listen to my scores. All I know is that I got all above 5m, which is a great achievement for me. =D I'm not sure what I got last year, but this should be better...if it isn't...well, go look for me in the corner of despair.
I ended up talking to Kimberly for the rest of the 'competition', and only looked up when the teacher (Mrs. Wee) said she was going to relesase the results. Kimberly was moaning about getting last position, but that went to someone else and we all heaved a sigh of relief (what a P1 phrase...). Anyway, following, she announced another name that wasn't 'Kimberly' and we cheered again. Sadly, this was found to be an error in calculation which resulted in Kimberly being 7th ranked.
I really couldn't be bothered to listen to the rest of the rankings, but I was expecting myself pretty soon, and by soon I meant REALLY soon. I continued listening and found out that Sophia clinched 5th position (and she got that too for discus as I found out after an hour or two of waiting). Sophia tried to copy the champion's method of throwing (which when properly done could end up 8.89m away) but I yelled my disapproval, earning many pointed glares for 'discouraging' a fellow competitor. I then justified myself by telling her to used her own method. Things never really work as well for one person as it does for another.
Mentally whooping for joy that I had beaten Sophia, the girl with incredible muscle mass, I waited for my name to be announced next. Imagine my (and Kimberly's) utter surprise when it didn't, and I learnt I came in 3rd! I mean, 5.47m (I can't really remember, so take this for the time being) can't really be 3rd, can it? The RGS standard must be awfully low.
Before announcing the top 3 placings the teacher (Mrs. Wee) said that there were prizes. They were nothing more than ribbons of appropriate colour (gold, silver, bronze) with tags at the back indicating name, sport and placing, though they didn't write my name...
After this I left immediately to watch Sophia embarrass herself on the discus field. It was a boring wait for her turn so we tried to come up with more 'Yo Mama' jokes (albeit failing terribly). Her first trial was good with an entirely steady discus throw.
We had to wait some more after her trials. She was placed 8th, so she got to enter the finals. Oh, did I mention that I asked Sophia to hang on to my name tag before shot-put? Yeah, so I had to wait for her (though I could just sneak it from her bag, not that she'd ever know...) to return it to me. Her finals throws for discus was TERRIBLE. The discus kept wobbling and had a really lousy trajectory. She got 5th place, as I mentioned before, and we left for home happily ever after.
THE END.
WAIT!!!! Wait a moment. There's something I need to share with you (whoever you may be). I just had a visions...no, many visions!
*Enter Vision Land*
On the 20th October I will receive my Geography, Chinese, Mathematics and Philosophy papers with the following results:
Geography
16.5/20
4.0 GPA
NOTE: There will be an error in calculation which, if I am smart, will not be told to the teachers and retain my stellar 17.5/20.
Chinese
Paper 1: 25/70
Paper 2: 30.5/63
1.6 GPA
NOTE: This will be the most depressing moment ever, especially after so many tuitions... And I could actually have passed Paper 2 if they just gave me 5 more seconds! Argh.
Mathematics
Paper: 46/60
AA: 13/16 (At least this is what I think it is upon)
3.6 GPA
NOTE: I will have improved by leaps and bounds. Please do not look down on me just because I did not attain a wonderful, beautiful 4.0 GPA.
Philosophy
Paper: 5/8
COI: 8/12
Proficient Grade
NOTE: I am absolutely horrible at Philosophy, and please, don't make lame jokes like 'You will be wise because you have Sophia on your side!' I've heard enough of this from said person *cough* Sophia *cough*.
On the 21st October I will receive my Science, History, English Language and Literature papers with the following results:
Science
41/50
4.0 GPA
NOTE: Would you expect any less from me? Nah, just kidding. I will be a nervous wreck, 'cause this would determine whether I have 1 4.0 on my report card or none.
History
19/25
3.6 GPA
NOTE: I'm actually not sure about my score, please feel free to inform me if you are certain that this ISN'T my marks. Thank you.
English Language
Paper 1: 22/30
Paper 2:
-Comprehension: 11/25
-Summary: 14/20
2.8 GPA
NOTE: I have absolutely no idea how I fared better on my Chinese paper in the comprehension section than on my English paper. Anyway, we will be given our Comprehension, followed by Summary, then Paper 1. After receiving the failing grade of the Comprehension I will remain unnervingly calm and unperturbed, like I know I won't fail...
English Literature
9/15
2.8 GPA
NOTE: DON'T stare. Just because I have a slightly less than healthy obsession with MoV doesn't make me a superwoman (or girl) with answering Literature questions.
I will also receive a black comb like thing that keeps hair up from my mother.
In addition, I will be notified by Yan Han that my Quote Recitation file is unable to be opened and I will spend hours trying to get it to Miss Tay who is sick. I will be able to do so by 23:50.
On the 22nd October I will receive my Literature and English PT and Quote Recitation scores. I will rejoice for my grades are as follow:
Literature/English PT
30/32
4.0 GPA
NOTE: Please do not ask for my product. It is the most embarrassing and ultimately gross thing I have ever written. I will sound like an illiterate lovesick girl who just started learning English.
Quote Recitation
12/12
4.0 GPA
NOTE: I love PT and random projects. I never get below a 3.6 GPA for any of them and I usually get a 4.0 GPA. Cheers.
I will be reprimanded (along with the rest of the class) by HanJun and gang who will preach to us about not putting enough effort into the ACP preparations.
We will all be startled when we learn that while it felt as if 10 minutes has passed only 2 minutes had while Mrs. Shirley Tan was talking (Principal's Speech or something...wait, principal?). We will be shown 2 videos by said vice-principal who will then proceed to lecture us about knowing ourselves and the right from the wrong. We will be released almost 15 minutes late.
I will dash out of the KS Chee Theatre the moment 'Class 210' is dismissed and will go with all convenient speed (recognize this phrase, people? It's from MoV, Act 3 Scene 4 Line 56) to meet my mother outside the school. While expecting her to be at the bus stop (which I really shouldn't be doing since I know all this already) I will meet up with her at half the distance and bumble clumsily into the car.
My mother will take a seemingly wrong road only to have me assure her that this road does lead to home. My brother will continue his nap in the passenger seat until we arrive at...I don't know where. We will register with a machine at the nearby clinic (where I will drop my bottle and go to the ladies to wash its nozzle) and proceed to lunch which will be fast and at a nearby coffee shop.
We will wait long for our turn to register at a counter with the numbers 2548 and 2549. We will then proceed to level 2 and wait before Consultation Room 25 until we are inform at least an hour later that we will be seen in room 21. I will head for the washroom where one toilet bowl is unflushable. As I wash my hands after leaving the cubicle my mother will enter the washroom. While my mother is using the toilet I will exit and settle next to my brother. Our number will be called before my mother returns, and we will inch slowly to room 21 until we see our mother rushing toward us (apparently having finished with her business transactions).
The doctor will be a female and will see to my brother first. She will diagnose his feet as flat feet and will tell us that it is not a serious condition and will, in fact, not affect his growth or anything. She will refer him to a specialist at SGH (Singapore General Hospital) to see if it can be fixed. I will then be checked and be assured that the white lines running the length of my upper thigh are stretch marks (which is really weird as I have not had any exponential weight gain or loss recently, unless I will have them within 2oth-22nd October...) and are not harmful to my health nor is it an indicator of ill health unless, of course, I have Cushings (an imbalance of hormones) which I do not appear to have.
We will all leave the clinic happy. My brother and I will leave the clinic first with the car keys while my mother settles the fees. We will turn on the engines and enjoy the air-con while my mother is at the clinic still.
Once she has started driving, my mother will ask me to call my sister, which I will do, and find out that she is 'out' doing 'something' and having 'lunch' at almost 16:00. I will deduce she is out shopping, being so ambiguous and all. All this will happen and we will pass by an 'Ang Mo Kio' sigh with a big red tomato.
My mother will then park the car near AMK Hub and leave with my brother to update his student pass (he will be turning 17 next year). My mother will turn off the engine. My brother will return way before my mother and we will have a slight 'fight' while he tries to turn on the engine for the air-con while I disagree. I will resign in the end when I am unable to reach it before he does.
My mother will return with tooth brushes and another set of those black comb things but with a different design that is much better. This set will cost S$1.50 while the previous set, one of which will be given to my sister, will cost S$1.20. The newer set is larger, and will seem to do a better job of holding hair in place.
We will then return home and the day continues and usual (with piano lessons at 17:30).
JUST KIDDING!
But seriously, the events are real, I just didn't have a vision. You know that Blogger tends to date a post with the day it is created, not published? Yeah? I started this post on the 16th, didn't post it because it was half-baked, left it alone for 7 days (today is the 22nd of October) and returned to it to finish it.
Wouldn't it be cool if I had a vision, and one as detailed as that?
By the way, this is the longest post in...oh, months, I guess. I don't think I'm that mad about blogging anymore, not that I ever was in the first place...
I'll admit blogging is losing its appeal currently. Perhaps I'll use it as a way to pass time during the holidays...
Anyway, I'm here to list down a few nice tid-bits about my life for the past month or so.
1) 03 October 2009
I celebrated the Mid-Autumn Festival with most of my extended family from my father's side. I think it began just before I returned from my ballet lessons (oh, go on, laugh at the fact that I actually do learn BALLET). When I arrived home there was food spread all over the shoe shelf. Actually the shoe shelf itself was not so much as shelf as a cupboard about waist (don't you guys ever find it funny that people can actually mix up 'waist' with 'waste'?) high.
After a hearty dinner (with lots and lots of Singapore curry which my mother made NOT spicy just because I couldn't stand it. Don't I just feel special?) we had games that spanned for at least an hour...or two. I can't really remember, but I do know that I left mid-way to bathe. It was a game that took turns.
*GAME*
There was a board and a white board. The board listed categories and question numbers, while the white board recorded scores (using stickers...). Anyway, the 'hosts' of the game were my father's youngest brother and his wife. They held the answers in their palms (papers, I mean). So we picked a question, then they would read to us the question, and if we answer correctly, 2 points. Answer wrongly, 0. If it's the rebound, then 1 point for being correct and -1 for being wrong...
*GAME*
The prize was 10 tickets to the movies, and my family won *grins*. Oh, did I mention we were playing by immediate families? E.g. My father, mother, me and my siblings on one team, my aunt and her husband and their kids in another etc.
2) EXAMS
I myself am not exactly sure when they began...or ended. All I know is that I probably failed my Chinese again (damn, my parents will be so pissed. They had even hired a tutor!) and my English is a very likely fail. So's my English Literature, if I should grade myself. I just hope my PT didn't get too low, it's my only hope. Math...well, if I get a 60% I'm fine already. I mean, I can't expect too much. I failed 1st term and got about 25/40 for term 2 and 3.
I don't think I want to ponder on such depressing issues any more.
3) 15 October 2009
The night before I received a call from someone called Bernice (I have no idea who that is but she called herself House-Captain or something) that I have shot-put and javelin the next day at about 14:30. I was so...annoyed. I thought they were on the 14th. Thing is, I didn't check the schedule earlier so when I did at about 17:00 on the 14th I thought that both shot-put and javelin events were over (blame the really weird division thingums. I don't know which one I am in!). So I very moodily went to school on the 15th.
Oh, have I yet mentioned that 14th-16th was marking day so there was no school?
Yeah, so anyway, before I left home I did my usual 'workout' or whatever you call it. 55 sit-ups, 65 female standard press-ups and 40 laps around my living room (which, trust me, isn't too large to begin with. About 15m per round). I did that in preparation for the shot-put event. I mean, you need muscle strength for that, right? So I thought I'd just get my arm muscles working!
I arrived very early. It's not like I had much to do at home anyway. So I waited at the mini-amphi until, what, 15:00. They told us to assemble at 14:30! I was way earlier than 14:30 (okay, so maybe 10 minutes wasn't 'way earlier', but still)!
After a very hectic attendence taking when I learnt that C2 (I also learnt that I belonged to C2) javelin event was yesterday, we trudged down to the shot-put area to...well, do shot-put. We had 10 participants so we had to do a preliminary round to eliminate participants to simply 8. Just before my trial run (which I ended up DQing) the lightning alert started blaring. I was glad, until Sophia informed me that we had to return on another day if it was cancelled today. I pulled a long face. Black face. Ugly face. Whatever.
Didja know that Kimberly from 202 was doing shot-put too?
Anyway, we returned to the mini-amphi to await further instructions, where Sophia, Kimberly, I and some friend of Kimberly's (whose name I didn't ask for) tried to 'cheer' ourselves up and entertain ourselves with 'Your Mama' jokes. I remember the one that went 'Your mama so fat the photo I took of her 20 years ago is still printing'. I liked that one. XD
The teachers said that if we didn't get the green light before 16:30 we would be sent home, so I hoped, and hoped hard. I wanted to pray, but things just got in my way. We were finally able to go out at 15:00.
We decided on a 3 shots at one go basis. Oh, by the way, now there were only 8 participants left, so we didn't do a preliminary round. I think 2 of the participants had Arts Fest practice to attend to. It went pretty quickly, and Sophia was one of the first to go because she had discus later.
I really couldn't be bothered to listen to my scores. All I know is that I got all above 5m, which is a great achievement for me. =D I'm not sure what I got last year, but this should be better...if it isn't...well, go look for me in the corner of despair.
I ended up talking to Kimberly for the rest of the 'competition', and only looked up when the teacher (Mrs. Wee) said she was going to relesase the results. Kimberly was moaning about getting last position, but that went to someone else and we all heaved a sigh of relief (what a P1 phrase...). Anyway, following, she announced another name that wasn't 'Kimberly' and we cheered again. Sadly, this was found to be an error in calculation which resulted in Kimberly being 7th ranked.
I really couldn't be bothered to listen to the rest of the rankings, but I was expecting myself pretty soon, and by soon I meant REALLY soon. I continued listening and found out that Sophia clinched 5th position (and she got that too for discus as I found out after an hour or two of waiting). Sophia tried to copy the champion's method of throwing (which when properly done could end up 8.89m away) but I yelled my disapproval, earning many pointed glares for 'discouraging' a fellow competitor. I then justified myself by telling her to used her own method. Things never really work as well for one person as it does for another.
Mentally whooping for joy that I had beaten Sophia, the girl with incredible muscle mass, I waited for my name to be announced next. Imagine my (and Kimberly's) utter surprise when it didn't, and I learnt I came in 3rd! I mean, 5.47m (I can't really remember, so take this for the time being) can't really be 3rd, can it? The RGS standard must be awfully low.
Before announcing the top 3 placings the teacher (Mrs. Wee) said that there were prizes. They were nothing more than ribbons of appropriate colour (gold, silver, bronze) with tags at the back indicating name, sport and placing, though they didn't write my name...
After this I left immediately to watch Sophia embarrass herself on the discus field. It was a boring wait for her turn so we tried to come up with more 'Yo Mama' jokes (albeit failing terribly). Her first trial was good with an entirely steady discus throw.
We had to wait some more after her trials. She was placed 8th, so she got to enter the finals. Oh, did I mention that I asked Sophia to hang on to my name tag before shot-put? Yeah, so I had to wait for her (though I could just sneak it from her bag, not that she'd ever know...) to return it to me. Her finals throws for discus was TERRIBLE. The discus kept wobbling and had a really lousy trajectory. She got 5th place, as I mentioned before, and we left for home happily ever after.
THE END.
WAIT!!!! Wait a moment. There's something I need to share with you (whoever you may be). I just had a visions...no, many visions!
*Enter Vision Land*
On the 20th October I will receive my Geography, Chinese, Mathematics and Philosophy papers with the following results:
Geography
16.5/20
4.0 GPA
NOTE: There will be an error in calculation which, if I am smart, will not be told to the teachers and retain my stellar 17.5/20.
Chinese
Paper 1: 25/70
Paper 2: 30.5/63
1.6 GPA
NOTE: This will be the most depressing moment ever, especially after so many tuitions... And I could actually have passed Paper 2 if they just gave me 5 more seconds! Argh.
Mathematics
Paper: 46/60
AA: 13/16 (At least this is what I think it is upon)
3.6 GPA
NOTE: I will have improved by leaps and bounds. Please do not look down on me just because I did not attain a wonderful, beautiful 4.0 GPA.
Philosophy
Paper: 5/8
COI: 8/12
Proficient Grade
NOTE: I am absolutely horrible at Philosophy, and please, don't make lame jokes like 'You will be wise because you have Sophia on your side!' I've heard enough of this from said person *cough* Sophia *cough*.
On the 21st October I will receive my Science, History, English Language and Literature papers with the following results:
Science
41/50
4.0 GPA
NOTE: Would you expect any less from me? Nah, just kidding. I will be a nervous wreck, 'cause this would determine whether I have 1 4.0 on my report card or none.
History
19/25
3.6 GPA
NOTE: I'm actually not sure about my score, please feel free to inform me if you are certain that this ISN'T my marks. Thank you.
English Language
Paper 1: 22/30
Paper 2:
-Comprehension: 11/25
-Summary: 14/20
2.8 GPA
NOTE: I have absolutely no idea how I fared better on my Chinese paper in the comprehension section than on my English paper. Anyway, we will be given our Comprehension, followed by Summary, then Paper 1. After receiving the failing grade of the Comprehension I will remain unnervingly calm and unperturbed, like I know I won't fail...
English Literature
9/15
2.8 GPA
NOTE: DON'T stare. Just because I have a slightly less than healthy obsession with MoV doesn't make me a superwoman (or girl) with answering Literature questions.
I will also receive a black comb like thing that keeps hair up from my mother.
In addition, I will be notified by Yan Han that my Quote Recitation file is unable to be opened and I will spend hours trying to get it to Miss Tay who is sick. I will be able to do so by 23:50.
On the 22nd October I will receive my Literature and English PT and Quote Recitation scores. I will rejoice for my grades are as follow:
Literature/English PT
30/32
4.0 GPA
NOTE: Please do not ask for my product. It is the most embarrassing and ultimately gross thing I have ever written. I will sound like an illiterate lovesick girl who just started learning English.
Quote Recitation
12/12
4.0 GPA
NOTE: I love PT and random projects. I never get below a 3.6 GPA for any of them and I usually get a 4.0 GPA. Cheers.
I will be reprimanded (along with the rest of the class) by HanJun and gang who will preach to us about not putting enough effort into the ACP preparations.
We will all be startled when we learn that while it felt as if 10 minutes has passed only 2 minutes had while Mrs. Shirley Tan was talking (Principal's Speech or something...wait, principal?). We will be shown 2 videos by said vice-principal who will then proceed to lecture us about knowing ourselves and the right from the wrong. We will be released almost 15 minutes late.
I will dash out of the KS Chee Theatre the moment 'Class 210' is dismissed and will go with all convenient speed (recognize this phrase, people? It's from MoV, Act 3 Scene 4 Line 56) to meet my mother outside the school. While expecting her to be at the bus stop (which I really shouldn't be doing since I know all this already) I will meet up with her at half the distance and bumble clumsily into the car.
My mother will take a seemingly wrong road only to have me assure her that this road does lead to home. My brother will continue his nap in the passenger seat until we arrive at...I don't know where. We will register with a machine at the nearby clinic (where I will drop my bottle and go to the ladies to wash its nozzle) and proceed to lunch which will be fast and at a nearby coffee shop.
We will wait long for our turn to register at a counter with the numbers 2548 and 2549. We will then proceed to level 2 and wait before Consultation Room 25 until we are inform at least an hour later that we will be seen in room 21. I will head for the washroom where one toilet bowl is unflushable. As I wash my hands after leaving the cubicle my mother will enter the washroom. While my mother is using the toilet I will exit and settle next to my brother. Our number will be called before my mother returns, and we will inch slowly to room 21 until we see our mother rushing toward us (apparently having finished with her business transactions).
The doctor will be a female and will see to my brother first. She will diagnose his feet as flat feet and will tell us that it is not a serious condition and will, in fact, not affect his growth or anything. She will refer him to a specialist at SGH (Singapore General Hospital) to see if it can be fixed. I will then be checked and be assured that the white lines running the length of my upper thigh are stretch marks (which is really weird as I have not had any exponential weight gain or loss recently, unless I will have them within 2oth-22nd October...) and are not harmful to my health nor is it an indicator of ill health unless, of course, I have Cushings (an imbalance of hormones) which I do not appear to have.
We will all leave the clinic happy. My brother and I will leave the clinic first with the car keys while my mother settles the fees. We will turn on the engines and enjoy the air-con while my mother is at the clinic still.
Once she has started driving, my mother will ask me to call my sister, which I will do, and find out that she is 'out' doing 'something' and having 'lunch' at almost 16:00. I will deduce she is out shopping, being so ambiguous and all. All this will happen and we will pass by an 'Ang Mo Kio' sigh with a big red tomato.
My mother will then park the car near AMK Hub and leave with my brother to update his student pass (he will be turning 17 next year). My mother will turn off the engine. My brother will return way before my mother and we will have a slight 'fight' while he tries to turn on the engine for the air-con while I disagree. I will resign in the end when I am unable to reach it before he does.
My mother will return with tooth brushes and another set of those black comb things but with a different design that is much better. This set will cost S$1.50 while the previous set, one of which will be given to my sister, will cost S$1.20. The newer set is larger, and will seem to do a better job of holding hair in place.
We will then return home and the day continues and usual (with piano lessons at 17:30).
JUST KIDDING!
But seriously, the events are real, I just didn't have a vision. You know that Blogger tends to date a post with the day it is created, not published? Yeah? I started this post on the 16th, didn't post it because it was half-baked, left it alone for 7 days (today is the 22nd of October) and returned to it to finish it.
Wouldn't it be cool if I had a vision, and one as detailed as that?
By the way, this is the longest post in...oh, months, I guess. I don't think I'm that mad about blogging anymore, not that I ever was in the first place...
Sunday 30 August 2009
MERCHANT of VENICE the movie
MERCHANT OF VENICE (the movie)
PART 1/12
PART 2/12
WARNING: Contains a kiss involving those of similar genders. (YAOI fans scream)
PART 3/12
PART 4/12
PART 5/12
PART 6/12
PART 7/12
PART 8/12
PART 9/12
PART 10/12
PART 11/12
PART 12/12
WARNING: Contains a kiss of those of similar genders. (YURI fans scream)
PART 1/12
PART 2/12
WARNING: Contains a kiss involving those of similar genders. (YAOI fans scream)
PART 3/12
PART 4/12
PART 5/12
PART 6/12
PART 7/12
PART 8/12
PART 9/12
PART 10/12
PART 11/12
PART 12/12
WARNING: Contains a kiss of those of similar genders. (YURI fans scream)
Friday 7 August 2009
From Parade to Concert
National Day celebrations, certainly an event that occurs every year almost everywhere.
The day began as usual, but I startle at the fact that the bus has arrived at school a whole 20 minutes earlier than the norm. I was glad, nonetheless, for it gave me time to dream a little dream while the clock hands move to read 07:15 when I would test for my temperature.
Soon after, I leave the classroom with my belongings, making my way to the parade square where I finally assemble at the left wing with my right to the flag poles. For the whole time I was there, I couldn't notice a thing. The crowd was too thick and the marching contingents too short (in my opinion). The national and school song were sung, then the pledge followed in four languages, only 2 of which I vaguely recall some of.
As the marching contingents take their leave, I and my fellow batch mates padded to before a stage set up in the middle of the parade square. Facing it, we were greeted with a fashion show of sorts depicting various costumes which were supposedly a materialized form of an amalgamation of what makes Singapore who she is. It is followed by a short prize awarding ceremony, and then a singing session of past national day songs. I found out (the hard way) that RGS girls tend to disregard the speed and tempo of songs completely when they get excited (indicated by rowdy leaps).
The means I know not but I found myself staring at a group of men with instruments either in their hands or before them. I remember the man who oversaw our last RS session and whom I think European blood runs through his veins handling a bass guitar, and I recall a man who wears a cloak with a famous symbol from 'Full Metal Alchemist' on the back sitting at the drums. A little before the drums was a man grasping a red and white electric guitar whom I took note of last. He was, very possibly, the person in charge of IT happenings around the school. A song struck up, the new national day song which many didn't like, though I was sure I was fond of it, but I think it was, perhaps, not an appropriately tuned song for national day (not at all patriotic).
A voice silenced the crowd, and I saw a man heavily built but not chubby mouthing the lyrics. The voice abruptly changed to one of a person whose name I remember (Mr. Toh, I think, and I believe he was sporting a pair of sunglasses) whose voice was noticeably higher than the other singer's. The crowd went wild somewhere and in my honest opinion, the school has successfully transformed the dull and much dreaded parade square to an impromptu concert arena. The atmosphere which greatly resembled one from a professional concert was real, and to say I didn't feel excited would be a lie. It was as if I was standing in the middle of a concert by a professional band, and a smile tugged at my lips.
It was unreal, so surreal. I had never once thought that I would be able to witness a concert much like this in my life but I have been proven wrong, and by the very teachers that reside in the school I attend! The exhilaration of being part of a crowd was enchanting, and the only thing keeping me from hollaring my head off was the fact that my friends were there and it wouldn't look very good to look like a raving lunatic then. I say those performing could form a band immediately. RGS' very own. Of all the people to perform, the teachers! I do enjoy songs by male bands, which may be a reason pertaining as to why I felt so giddy when the song started. The teachers left their teaching professionalism behind and took on the identities of rockstars, and that riled the crowd up.
Chants of 'encore' could be heard throughout, and the group performed the song again. I hope someone caught it on film, I will want a copy.
The day began as usual, but I startle at the fact that the bus has arrived at school a whole 20 minutes earlier than the norm. I was glad, nonetheless, for it gave me time to dream a little dream while the clock hands move to read 07:15 when I would test for my temperature.
Soon after, I leave the classroom with my belongings, making my way to the parade square where I finally assemble at the left wing with my right to the flag poles. For the whole time I was there, I couldn't notice a thing. The crowd was too thick and the marching contingents too short (in my opinion). The national and school song were sung, then the pledge followed in four languages, only 2 of which I vaguely recall some of.
As the marching contingents take their leave, I and my fellow batch mates padded to before a stage set up in the middle of the parade square. Facing it, we were greeted with a fashion show of sorts depicting various costumes which were supposedly a materialized form of an amalgamation of what makes Singapore who she is. It is followed by a short prize awarding ceremony, and then a singing session of past national day songs. I found out (the hard way) that RGS girls tend to disregard the speed and tempo of songs completely when they get excited (indicated by rowdy leaps).
The means I know not but I found myself staring at a group of men with instruments either in their hands or before them. I remember the man who oversaw our last RS session and whom I think European blood runs through his veins handling a bass guitar, and I recall a man who wears a cloak with a famous symbol from 'Full Metal Alchemist' on the back sitting at the drums. A little before the drums was a man grasping a red and white electric guitar whom I took note of last. He was, very possibly, the person in charge of IT happenings around the school. A song struck up, the new national day song which many didn't like, though I was sure I was fond of it, but I think it was, perhaps, not an appropriately tuned song for national day (not at all patriotic).
A voice silenced the crowd, and I saw a man heavily built but not chubby mouthing the lyrics. The voice abruptly changed to one of a person whose name I remember (Mr. Toh, I think, and I believe he was sporting a pair of sunglasses) whose voice was noticeably higher than the other singer's. The crowd went wild somewhere and in my honest opinion, the school has successfully transformed the dull and much dreaded parade square to an impromptu concert arena. The atmosphere which greatly resembled one from a professional concert was real, and to say I didn't feel excited would be a lie. It was as if I was standing in the middle of a concert by a professional band, and a smile tugged at my lips.
It was unreal, so surreal. I had never once thought that I would be able to witness a concert much like this in my life but I have been proven wrong, and by the very teachers that reside in the school I attend! The exhilaration of being part of a crowd was enchanting, and the only thing keeping me from hollaring my head off was the fact that my friends were there and it wouldn't look very good to look like a raving lunatic then. I say those performing could form a band immediately. RGS' very own. Of all the people to perform, the teachers! I do enjoy songs by male bands, which may be a reason pertaining as to why I felt so giddy when the song started. The teachers left their teaching professionalism behind and took on the identities of rockstars, and that riled the crowd up.
Chants of 'encore' could be heard throughout, and the group performed the song again. I hope someone caught it on film, I will want a copy.
Tuesday 28 July 2009
'Invisibility' Cloak
I was just wondering, we are able to see objects because they reflect light. But the things is, the light we see being reflected (the colour, so to speak) is within the visible light spectrum.
So what happens if scientists develop a kind of cloth that can reflect non-visible light? Something like ultra-violet would be cool, since we can't see it anyway, and it will make us 'invisible'! Actually, we'd look like blobs of darkness because no visible light can be reflected.
If that's the case and we wear the clothes at night, it'll look like our head is floating in the middle of nowhere!
COOL!
So what happens if scientists develop a kind of cloth that can reflect non-visible light? Something like ultra-violet would be cool, since we can't see it anyway, and it will make us 'invisible'! Actually, we'd look like blobs of darkness because no visible light can be reflected.
If that's the case and we wear the clothes at night, it'll look like our head is floating in the middle of nowhere!
COOL!
Sunday 7 June 2009
A World where Beggers are Kings
Yesterday, after the usual Saturday lunch (this time of macaroni in fish soup with chicken shreds), my sister and I were ushered out of the house to get a hair cut. Well, my sister was totally willing, anyway.
Since my mother complained about not knowing how long the hair dresser would take trimming and cutting our hair, she decided that we should take the bus instead (in case our car got booked for putting out coupons of too little a value).
We got served almost immediately, so much for taking hours to get our hair done...
My sister went first, me, and then my mother who had her hair shortened by about 2 inches and had her fringe trimmed. I just wanted my hair a short as possible yet is able to be tied, and I wanted the hair straight cut (I've had enough of V-shapes). My mother wanted to get me fringe too, so I did, which didn't really look like a fring until today. It was straight cut too.
The guy who cut my hair said that my fringe wouldn't look too good short since I had this swirl thing that would make short hair stand up like I had been on an electric chair...
Did you know my mother found a S$50 bill outside my house yesterday before we went to AMK Hub? She said she used that $50 to pay for the hair cuts (that totalled exactly $50 [$18+$16+$16]).
After returning home and using the computer for a few 10s of minutes, my whole family headed off for the Tree Top Walk at who knows where. Pretty near our home, actually.
We marched our way through the 'paved' path, then a road, then a partial path, and to a building. The 'paved' path was really cool. There were many stones of different sizes and textures that all came together to crunch under my feet when I walked. There were some really fine ones, some really coarse ones, but I think it was pretty fun.
At the first part of the trail there was a kind of river (that flowed REALLY slowly) where about 2 or 3 visible species of fishes reside. There were some water insects too, though, that used surface tension of water to walk on it.
We passed by a durian tree (I was so afraid one of those heavily armed fruits would fall on my head) and I spotted 2 squirrels, the only animal I ever seem to spot, though my sister, mother and brother all spotted monkeys and no squirrels...what's up with me?
On the way we met a guy who was singing pretty loudly (and quite good too, in fact). He was pretty young, and when we stopped to check the map (the kind that was propped up and stuck into the ground along the trails) on where we were he said in the passing, "Jia you" or something.
My sister needed the toilet so we stopped, which then gave me the opportunity to wander over to the water coolers and peer at the sign which read 'The Tree Top Walk will be closed at 5pm sharp.' and something else about not going there starting 16:45. The time then was already 16:50, as I realized with a shock.
Disappointed, we headed back. I wasn't really enthusiastic about this whole trip but as a daughter, it is my duty to make sure my parents are happy and satisfied and are able to do what they want and know that someone doesn't hate or resent them for it (which my sister especially seems to be doing, albeit a little toned down). So I put up a happy front and groaned a little. I want them to be happy, not disappointed, so I felt a little bad inside too.
Dinner was next on the intinary and we had it in KFC. We ordered the Family Feast, which surprisingly filled me up like a balloon, and then we headed home, all happy.
------------------------------
Today after church we had a buzz group outing. On our To-Go list was Miranda's house and the movies. Miranda's house was first and we took the bus, then the MRT (I topped-up my sister's card at the station). A short walk later found us lounging in her living room feasting on chocolate cookies (probably the cause of my sore throat now) and orange+pineapple juice thingum that was carbonated.
Sister Jen came after us as she had something to do in church. Not long after she came (and we started 'Night at the Museum' on Miranda's TV) the Pizza guy rang the bell and delivered our lunch. I grabbed 2 slices of pizza plus a packet of cheese, then after consuming a slice took a drumstick (I had another 2 more after...).
I was completely stuffed when Miranda's parents returned with her brother. They got chips! I stuffed myself silly again with them while the movie rolled out on the screens, only to stop when Miranda demanded us to get ready to leave her house for the movies.
We arrived fairly late at the theatres (blame the crowd in the shopping center) and queued up for both some beverages and the tickets. I got a bottle of mineral water that cost a mind blowing sum of S$2.70. Somebody kill me. My father had given me S$16 to spend on tickets and lunch and my bottle cost me the whole of my lunch? No way!
The movie was Monsters VS. Aliens in 3D which I watched on Friday but couldn't turn down. I mean, 3D! It's a waste of money, I know, but still. I was ranting on about how we'd miss the 3D advertisements if we didn't go in fast enough but it appears that was time, after all.
We put on the 3D glasses duly (there was a notice on screen) and paid great attention to the advertisements, then the real movie started. Can't say I wasn't impressed by the 3D effects of Saturn's rings. The angle of the 'shot' was perfect! I would smack my lips if I could (and if I didn't have any reputation to keep up).
When the movie ended we went for the toilets, a place of refuge for many. After a refreshing relief we left for Tampines MRT Station. Miranda and Jasmine left the train at Tana Merah (or something) to go to Miranda's house, ... (oh! I forgot her name! Silly me...) left at another stop and the rest stayed until City Hall where we changed trains to the Red Line.
Sister Jen and Pei Ting got off 2 stops before me, ... (another name I forgot) got off the stop before me and then my sister and I made the trip home (thank goodness).
Since my mother complained about not knowing how long the hair dresser would take trimming and cutting our hair, she decided that we should take the bus instead (in case our car got booked for putting out coupons of too little a value).
We got served almost immediately, so much for taking hours to get our hair done...
My sister went first, me, and then my mother who had her hair shortened by about 2 inches and had her fringe trimmed. I just wanted my hair a short as possible yet is able to be tied, and I wanted the hair straight cut (I've had enough of V-shapes). My mother wanted to get me fringe too, so I did, which didn't really look like a fring until today. It was straight cut too.
The guy who cut my hair said that my fringe wouldn't look too good short since I had this swirl thing that would make short hair stand up like I had been on an electric chair...
Did you know my mother found a S$50 bill outside my house yesterday before we went to AMK Hub? She said she used that $50 to pay for the hair cuts (that totalled exactly $50 [$18+$16+$16]).
After returning home and using the computer for a few 10s of minutes, my whole family headed off for the Tree Top Walk at who knows where. Pretty near our home, actually.
We marched our way through the 'paved' path, then a road, then a partial path, and to a building. The 'paved' path was really cool. There were many stones of different sizes and textures that all came together to crunch under my feet when I walked. There were some really fine ones, some really coarse ones, but I think it was pretty fun.
At the first part of the trail there was a kind of river (that flowed REALLY slowly) where about 2 or 3 visible species of fishes reside. There were some water insects too, though, that used surface tension of water to walk on it.
We passed by a durian tree (I was so afraid one of those heavily armed fruits would fall on my head) and I spotted 2 squirrels, the only animal I ever seem to spot, though my sister, mother and brother all spotted monkeys and no squirrels...what's up with me?
On the way we met a guy who was singing pretty loudly (and quite good too, in fact). He was pretty young, and when we stopped to check the map (the kind that was propped up and stuck into the ground along the trails) on where we were he said in the passing, "Jia you" or something.
My sister needed the toilet so we stopped, which then gave me the opportunity to wander over to the water coolers and peer at the sign which read 'The Tree Top Walk will be closed at 5pm sharp.' and something else about not going there starting 16:45. The time then was already 16:50, as I realized with a shock.
Disappointed, we headed back. I wasn't really enthusiastic about this whole trip but as a daughter, it is my duty to make sure my parents are happy and satisfied and are able to do what they want and know that someone doesn't hate or resent them for it (which my sister especially seems to be doing, albeit a little toned down). So I put up a happy front and groaned a little. I want them to be happy, not disappointed, so I felt a little bad inside too.
Dinner was next on the intinary and we had it in KFC. We ordered the Family Feast, which surprisingly filled me up like a balloon, and then we headed home, all happy.
------------------------------
Today after church we had a buzz group outing. On our To-Go list was Miranda's house and the movies. Miranda's house was first and we took the bus, then the MRT (I topped-up my sister's card at the station). A short walk later found us lounging in her living room feasting on chocolate cookies (probably the cause of my sore throat now) and orange+pineapple juice thingum that was carbonated.
Sister Jen came after us as she had something to do in church. Not long after she came (and we started 'Night at the Museum' on Miranda's TV) the Pizza guy rang the bell and delivered our lunch. I grabbed 2 slices of pizza plus a packet of cheese, then after consuming a slice took a drumstick (I had another 2 more after...).
I was completely stuffed when Miranda's parents returned with her brother. They got chips! I stuffed myself silly again with them while the movie rolled out on the screens, only to stop when Miranda demanded us to get ready to leave her house for the movies.
We arrived fairly late at the theatres (blame the crowd in the shopping center) and queued up for both some beverages and the tickets. I got a bottle of mineral water that cost a mind blowing sum of S$2.70. Somebody kill me. My father had given me S$16 to spend on tickets and lunch and my bottle cost me the whole of my lunch? No way!
The movie was Monsters VS. Aliens in 3D which I watched on Friday but couldn't turn down. I mean, 3D! It's a waste of money, I know, but still. I was ranting on about how we'd miss the 3D advertisements if we didn't go in fast enough but it appears that was time, after all.
We put on the 3D glasses duly (there was a notice on screen) and paid great attention to the advertisements, then the real movie started. Can't say I wasn't impressed by the 3D effects of Saturn's rings. The angle of the 'shot' was perfect! I would smack my lips if I could (and if I didn't have any reputation to keep up).
When the movie ended we went for the toilets, a place of refuge for many. After a refreshing relief we left for Tampines MRT Station. Miranda and Jasmine left the train at Tana Merah (or something) to go to Miranda's house, ... (oh! I forgot her name! Silly me...) left at another stop and the rest stayed until City Hall where we changed trains to the Red Line.
Sister Jen and Pei Ting got off 2 stops before me, ... (another name I forgot) got off the stop before me and then my sister and I made the trip home (thank goodness).
Friday 5 June 2009
The Thing About Science Fiction
The thing about Science Fiction is, if it is part of a series and something doesn't quite fit, then you can claim it happened due to time travel.
That's what I learnt when I watched Star Trek last Saturday, 2nd last day of May.
It was great, I tell you. Even though I haven't watched Star Trek in about 4 years or so, I still love it. The effects were great, though the younger version of James T. Kirk didn't really look like him...and Spock was actually cool, if you minus the part where he openly kissed a girl...
-------------------
Today, because my sister and brother weren't home for most of the day, my parents decided to take me out to do something about my bank account, shop for new spectacles (for me), take lunch and watch Monsters VS. Aliens in 3D. I felt really guilty about the 3D part since they brought me to watch it due to the fact that I really wanted to watch it in 3D and they thought the buzz group outing I was going to was going to watch it in 2D...
That was what I told them about a week back. I received news that we were going to watch it in 3D yesterday and thought it wouldn't affect anything. I didn't think my parents were serious about letting me watch it in 3D if I wasn't already going to! You have no idea how guilty I felt watching the movie in 3D! I didn't tell them until just now. The movie was at 13:55 and ended at about 16:45 thereabout...
G. U. I. L. T. Y.
I feel so bad about wasting their money!
...
The start of the day began with me waking up at 09:30 (or was it 11+...or 08+?), then used the computer for a while. My parents came back from my fathers appointment with the dentist and they tried to get me into that pair of 3 quarter pants I never wear except to church. Of course, I rebelled a bit, then gave in because I really wanted to spend a day with them (hey, I didn't even experience withdrawal symptoms when I left my computer for the whole day!).
We first headed to AMK Hub where there was a POSB branch nearby. We diddled in there for over an hour standing in line and waiting for our turn. My mother wanted to create a personal account for me so I can top-up my EZ-link card without cash, but it turns out I already have a personal account! So we just joined the queue to get my father's passbook (that's what he calls it, I have no idea what it's really called) updated and my account some tweaks so I can use it to top-up my EZ-link card.
My mother tried to top-up my EZ-link card at the ATM machines outside but turns out she couldn't. She asked one of the staff (the one whose counter we were at) and she said she didn't know the reason why she couldn't.
Then when we were done (and my stomach needed refilling) we trooped down to the nearest spectacle shop to see what they have to offer. After dwelling in the shop for, oh, an hour or so we left it when my parents deemed the prices to high. Was $280 too high for a pair of glasses with extra thin lenses? I mean, my eyesight was at 900 degrees!
We looked around and made a mess of the shop looking for appropriate glasses. The glasses my parents wanted to get me were white! Shock! My father actually wanted me in one that was bright yellow and white! Eww... Other pairs were either too thick, pink, ugly, had stupid designs, flimsy, etc. I couldn't be satisfied until they decided on a pair of blue, rimless glasses which frame plus lenses amounted to $280 (as mentioned in above paragraph). So, dissatisfied with the prices, they left.
After leaving we did a quick stop at some sort of shop where they sold soaps, pads, etc. Lots of female stuff I don't even think are necessary (and I'm suspecting are poisonous). We bought a few stuff and headed off for Tampines.
The GV which showed Monsters VS. Aliens in 3D was in Tampines, but we didn't know which building. The screwed up map told us it was at Century Square. When I heard that name, I keep getting the image of a run down shopping complex...the name sounds so old fashion! I mean, Century?
I didn't tell my parents about the fact that I was going to watch it in 3D anyway because I thought if I did they would just turn back and go home, which I really didn't want to happen because then I know they'll say I'm wasting their time (well, they might think that, and also get very frustrated). Turns out the feeling of guilt got even worse after I watched it because it was the economic down turn and we're still watching movies, 3D one at that! All for me!
We got the tickets, then proceeded to consume lunch (really filling) and rushed off to the movie theatres. The 3D was a great experience. Awesome, really. I especially like it when the people are depicted as so small (in comparison with Ginormica, that is) that they look like those models in...well, models.
The movie was over and we deposited the 3D glasses in a box (or 2, actually) and exited the cinema area. We walked past McDonalds and I commented in the passing that I would really like one of those vanilla cones. When my father really went to get it, I told him that it was okay and I really didn't need it (and I didn't, really) and that it was expensive but he still bought them anyway. My parents love me so much, and I'm not saying this to make people jealous. I can't believe they'd buy me an ice-cream just like that! If I were them, I'd say no because it's a waste of money...
We wandered down a whole isle of shops, stopping at a random watch shop to see if there were any replacements for my watch strap (which so happened to cause me a lot of problems but I still love it) but the replacements were too...eww. We also paused at a few optical shops but didn't buy anything since my mother felt prices were too high.
At the watch shop, my father found the display/performance relating to the Singapore Arts Festival intriguing so he went to take a video footage of it. It was quite cool, really, when I went out to watch it (it was held in a field). There was a man dancing with something that looked like a bulldozer, the vehicles you find very often at construction sites that dig sand out of a pit and dump them in a truck.
It was really cool. I mean, even if I didn't know the story behind it (and I really didn't) I could still tell it was some sort of love story. Really cool for a love story. At one point, the man attempted to push the bulldozer away (he pushed the bucket looking thing at the end of, for the lack fo a better word, nose) and the bulldozer swung around in circles. When the man tried to call it back, it would just turn away from him. Real, effective, really. It added more to the effect when the screen of the drivers seat and all was covered in some material that allowed a person to look from inside out but not outside in.
When we decided we were done with the performance we went back to the car and drove elsewhere, which turned out to be the parking lot of my first before-and-after school care. Getting out, we made our way to the whole complex of shops. We decided to head left first to buy some...uh...you don't need to know.
Following our purchase we turned back and visited a spectacle shop, which we spended what seemed like more than an hour at. We picked out the first few frames I might like quite quickly, about 5 minutes or so, then went in to look at more. My parents kept wanting me to get a pair that was white...or pink...
We settled on one that was puke colour (I really like that one!) but after getting my eyesight checked, found my degrees too high to create a nice pair of THIN lenses for the wide frame of the glasses. And the frames plus lenses were so expensive...$300-$400... So we spent a long time deciding, again. You know, my degrees didn't really go up from the last half a year. When I last had my eye check up my degrees were 50 more than the right eye lens and 25 more than the left eye lens. Then, I had my glasses for a year already, so it was great. What is greater is that even now, the degrees haven't changed at all! YES!
A long argument about which frames to get seemed to end almost immediately when the kind lady brought out a pair of glasses with a model exactly the same as mine but in white. We settled for that. It was comfortable, so why not? Of course, I tried to see if there was any in puke colour, but there wasn't, so we reached a compromise. We got the frames free and so the whole package cost about $280 (that's the same price as just now, what makes this pair so much better?).
My parents had their way, they had got me a pair of white glasses, and I had my way, I got a pair of glasses that I could actually wear COMFORTABLY.
We left the shop in partially high spirits and while my father went to buy our dinner my mother and I headed off to find another watch shop. Turns out that shop had a strap for mine, but I didn't like it, though we got it anyway. I miss my old strap, silly, I know, but I am just that sentimental...the mere thought of it sitting alone...NOOO! Sorry, but my heart really twinges when I lose something close to me...even if it was a watch strap...I should have asked for it back! Is this how heartbreak feels like?
The new strap sucks, but perhaps that's just my own biased view. It's too fat at a point so it couldn't really flip properly (you probably won't know what I mean) and the buckle is metal. METAL. Ugh. I MISS MY OLD STRAP! At least I still have my watch face, I don't know what I'd do without it...die?
Home came next, and after dinner which I spent talking to Kimberly on the phone, I went to bathe and then felt the guilt from watching Monsters VS. Aliens in 3D swell up so much I just had to tell my parents that I would be watching it on Sunday. My mother then proposed I offer my ticket to someone who hadn't yet gotten the chance to watch it. I'll try my brother.
That's what I learnt when I watched Star Trek last Saturday, 2nd last day of May.
It was great, I tell you. Even though I haven't watched Star Trek in about 4 years or so, I still love it. The effects were great, though the younger version of James T. Kirk didn't really look like him...and Spock was actually cool, if you minus the part where he openly kissed a girl...
-------------------
Today, because my sister and brother weren't home for most of the day, my parents decided to take me out to do something about my bank account, shop for new spectacles (for me), take lunch and watch Monsters VS. Aliens in 3D. I felt really guilty about the 3D part since they brought me to watch it due to the fact that I really wanted to watch it in 3D and they thought the buzz group outing I was going to was going to watch it in 2D...
That was what I told them about a week back. I received news that we were going to watch it in 3D yesterday and thought it wouldn't affect anything. I didn't think my parents were serious about letting me watch it in 3D if I wasn't already going to! You have no idea how guilty I felt watching the movie in 3D! I didn't tell them until just now. The movie was at 13:55 and ended at about 16:45 thereabout...
G. U. I. L. T. Y.
I feel so bad about wasting their money!
...
The start of the day began with me waking up at 09:30 (or was it 11+...or 08+?), then used the computer for a while. My parents came back from my fathers appointment with the dentist and they tried to get me into that pair of 3 quarter pants I never wear except to church. Of course, I rebelled a bit, then gave in because I really wanted to spend a day with them (hey, I didn't even experience withdrawal symptoms when I left my computer for the whole day!).
We first headed to AMK Hub where there was a POSB branch nearby. We diddled in there for over an hour standing in line and waiting for our turn. My mother wanted to create a personal account for me so I can top-up my EZ-link card without cash, but it turns out I already have a personal account! So we just joined the queue to get my father's passbook (that's what he calls it, I have no idea what it's really called) updated and my account some tweaks so I can use it to top-up my EZ-link card.
My mother tried to top-up my EZ-link card at the ATM machines outside but turns out she couldn't. She asked one of the staff (the one whose counter we were at) and she said she didn't know the reason why she couldn't.
Then when we were done (and my stomach needed refilling) we trooped down to the nearest spectacle shop to see what they have to offer. After dwelling in the shop for, oh, an hour or so we left it when my parents deemed the prices to high. Was $280 too high for a pair of glasses with extra thin lenses? I mean, my eyesight was at 900 degrees!
We looked around and made a mess of the shop looking for appropriate glasses. The glasses my parents wanted to get me were white! Shock! My father actually wanted me in one that was bright yellow and white! Eww... Other pairs were either too thick, pink, ugly, had stupid designs, flimsy, etc. I couldn't be satisfied until they decided on a pair of blue, rimless glasses which frame plus lenses amounted to $280 (as mentioned in above paragraph). So, dissatisfied with the prices, they left.
After leaving we did a quick stop at some sort of shop where they sold soaps, pads, etc. Lots of female stuff I don't even think are necessary (and I'm suspecting are poisonous). We bought a few stuff and headed off for Tampines.
The GV which showed Monsters VS. Aliens in 3D was in Tampines, but we didn't know which building. The screwed up map told us it was at Century Square. When I heard that name, I keep getting the image of a run down shopping complex...the name sounds so old fashion! I mean, Century?
I didn't tell my parents about the fact that I was going to watch it in 3D anyway because I thought if I did they would just turn back and go home, which I really didn't want to happen because then I know they'll say I'm wasting their time (well, they might think that, and also get very frustrated). Turns out the feeling of guilt got even worse after I watched it because it was the economic down turn and we're still watching movies, 3D one at that! All for me!
We got the tickets, then proceeded to consume lunch (really filling) and rushed off to the movie theatres. The 3D was a great experience. Awesome, really. I especially like it when the people are depicted as so small (in comparison with Ginormica, that is) that they look like those models in...well, models.
The movie was over and we deposited the 3D glasses in a box (or 2, actually) and exited the cinema area. We walked past McDonalds and I commented in the passing that I would really like one of those vanilla cones. When my father really went to get it, I told him that it was okay and I really didn't need it (and I didn't, really) and that it was expensive but he still bought them anyway. My parents love me so much, and I'm not saying this to make people jealous. I can't believe they'd buy me an ice-cream just like that! If I were them, I'd say no because it's a waste of money...
We wandered down a whole isle of shops, stopping at a random watch shop to see if there were any replacements for my watch strap (which so happened to cause me a lot of problems but I still love it) but the replacements were too...eww. We also paused at a few optical shops but didn't buy anything since my mother felt prices were too high.
At the watch shop, my father found the display/performance relating to the Singapore Arts Festival intriguing so he went to take a video footage of it. It was quite cool, really, when I went out to watch it (it was held in a field). There was a man dancing with something that looked like a bulldozer, the vehicles you find very often at construction sites that dig sand out of a pit and dump them in a truck.
It was really cool. I mean, even if I didn't know the story behind it (and I really didn't) I could still tell it was some sort of love story. Really cool for a love story. At one point, the man attempted to push the bulldozer away (he pushed the bucket looking thing at the end of, for the lack fo a better word, nose) and the bulldozer swung around in circles. When the man tried to call it back, it would just turn away from him. Real, effective, really. It added more to the effect when the screen of the drivers seat and all was covered in some material that allowed a person to look from inside out but not outside in.
When we decided we were done with the performance we went back to the car and drove elsewhere, which turned out to be the parking lot of my first before-and-after school care. Getting out, we made our way to the whole complex of shops. We decided to head left first to buy some...uh...you don't need to know.
Following our purchase we turned back and visited a spectacle shop, which we spended what seemed like more than an hour at. We picked out the first few frames I might like quite quickly, about 5 minutes or so, then went in to look at more. My parents kept wanting me to get a pair that was white...or pink...
We settled on one that was puke colour (I really like that one!) but after getting my eyesight checked, found my degrees too high to create a nice pair of THIN lenses for the wide frame of the glasses. And the frames plus lenses were so expensive...$300-$400... So we spent a long time deciding, again. You know, my degrees didn't really go up from the last half a year. When I last had my eye check up my degrees were 50 more than the right eye lens and 25 more than the left eye lens. Then, I had my glasses for a year already, so it was great. What is greater is that even now, the degrees haven't changed at all! YES!
A long argument about which frames to get seemed to end almost immediately when the kind lady brought out a pair of glasses with a model exactly the same as mine but in white. We settled for that. It was comfortable, so why not? Of course, I tried to see if there was any in puke colour, but there wasn't, so we reached a compromise. We got the frames free and so the whole package cost about $280 (that's the same price as just now, what makes this pair so much better?).
My parents had their way, they had got me a pair of white glasses, and I had my way, I got a pair of glasses that I could actually wear COMFORTABLY.
We left the shop in partially high spirits and while my father went to buy our dinner my mother and I headed off to find another watch shop. Turns out that shop had a strap for mine, but I didn't like it, though we got it anyway. I miss my old strap, silly, I know, but I am just that sentimental...the mere thought of it sitting alone...NOOO! Sorry, but my heart really twinges when I lose something close to me...even if it was a watch strap...I should have asked for it back! Is this how heartbreak feels like?
The new strap sucks, but perhaps that's just my own biased view. It's too fat at a point so it couldn't really flip properly (you probably won't know what I mean) and the buckle is metal. METAL. Ugh. I MISS MY OLD STRAP! At least I still have my watch face, I don't know what I'd do without it...die?
Home came next, and after dinner which I spent talking to Kimberly on the phone, I went to bathe and then felt the guilt from watching Monsters VS. Aliens in 3D swell up so much I just had to tell my parents that I would be watching it on Sunday. My mother then proposed I offer my ticket to someone who hadn't yet gotten the chance to watch it. I'll try my brother.
Friday 29 May 2009
A Memorable Quote is One that is So Annoying it Plays Tag with Your Head
Yesterday was friggin' awesome.
Nothing much really happened but you should see the faces of the people on the 105 that the 105 I was on passed by!
It was overall a pretty normal day. Got to school, did horrible '公函', officially screwed it up (like I do all tests/assignments of mine), waited for many 105s to pass before I got onto one.
Yup, it was pretty much a very normal day.
Unless you count 3 105s arriving within 5 minutes.
Now THAT is NOT normal.
105 doesn't even come for half an hour sometimes!
Hm, yeah, so, I was sitting and waiting for 105. Actually, I wasn't only waiting for the bus to arrive. I was waiting for it to arrive AND leave. That would mean that the next one would come soon and would, hopefully, be more empty.
The first 105 that came was moderately empty and I regretted not getting on that one. It took about...25-30 minutes before the next 105 came. That bus was packed full. I didn't dare move from my seat. About only half the people who rushed toward the bus with intentions to board it actually boarded it. The rest just moped about dejectedly.
The next 105 came really soon. They all rushed up. I'd say the bus wasn't too full, but it wasn't empty either. Quite a number of the people who boarded were left standing.
I sat back to wait a little longer.
To my surprise (and delight), the following 105 came almost after the previous 105 left. I was so shocked I barely had any time to pick up my stuff. I flagged the bus down and was perfectly happy when no one else moved to board this bus.
It was the new one. The one with the LED screen.
I got a seat right at the back to the right (I simply love that place though I don't know why). I took out a few of my drawing papers out of my file and started doodling some random characters (that I have officially made mine). There wasn't really anybody to pick up at the bus stops so the bus ride was really smooth.
As the bus moved on, we passed by the previous 105. I caught sight of an Indian RGS student who gaped open mouthed when she saw the bus pass. I couldn't help but let out a silent laughter which I covered with my hand. It was hilarious! The look on their (I'm assuming that not only one person was 'horrified') faces was absolutely hilarious!
The bus ride was great, for the most part.
Today was great too. I woke up at 11:15. I had a weird dream and I don't want to talk about it. I kind of remember it, and I have a feeling that in the dream, I was a bit too domestic for my tastes...yuck.
Nothing much really happened but you should see the faces of the people on the 105 that the 105 I was on passed by!
It was overall a pretty normal day. Got to school, did horrible '公函', officially screwed it up (like I do all tests/assignments of mine), waited for many 105s to pass before I got onto one.
Yup, it was pretty much a very normal day.
Unless you count 3 105s arriving within 5 minutes.
Now THAT is NOT normal.
105 doesn't even come for half an hour sometimes!
Hm, yeah, so, I was sitting and waiting for 105. Actually, I wasn't only waiting for the bus to arrive. I was waiting for it to arrive AND leave. That would mean that the next one would come soon and would, hopefully, be more empty.
The first 105 that came was moderately empty and I regretted not getting on that one. It took about...25-30 minutes before the next 105 came. That bus was packed full. I didn't dare move from my seat. About only half the people who rushed toward the bus with intentions to board it actually boarded it. The rest just moped about dejectedly.
The next 105 came really soon. They all rushed up. I'd say the bus wasn't too full, but it wasn't empty either. Quite a number of the people who boarded were left standing.
I sat back to wait a little longer.
To my surprise (and delight), the following 105 came almost after the previous 105 left. I was so shocked I barely had any time to pick up my stuff. I flagged the bus down and was perfectly happy when no one else moved to board this bus.
It was the new one. The one with the LED screen.
I got a seat right at the back to the right (I simply love that place though I don't know why). I took out a few of my drawing papers out of my file and started doodling some random characters (that I have officially made mine). There wasn't really anybody to pick up at the bus stops so the bus ride was really smooth.
As the bus moved on, we passed by the previous 105. I caught sight of an Indian RGS student who gaped open mouthed when she saw the bus pass. I couldn't help but let out a silent laughter which I covered with my hand. It was hilarious! The look on their (I'm assuming that not only one person was 'horrified') faces was absolutely hilarious!
The bus ride was great, for the most part.
Today was great too. I woke up at 11:15. I had a weird dream and I don't want to talk about it. I kind of remember it, and I have a feeling that in the dream, I was a bit too domestic for my tastes...yuck.
Saturday 23 May 2009
15 Fangs on a Baby
Open House wasn't that bad.
I was supposed to lead some random people around the Art Club booth (if you can call it a booth) but I slacked off for the first 15 minutes of my shift doing something naughty.
...
No, I did not do it. I simply skivved off duty by attempting to make a 'shinking plastic keychain' which I later gave to Zann.
Yeah, so I was just wandering round the booth and getting myself used to the artworks. I followed Kimberly around as she introduced the artworks to parents and potential juniors and grasped a rough concept of how to explain the artworks and what the artworks are about and their medium. Of course, most of it was pretty easy.
So I just stood at one of the 'entrances' to the booth and then Tessa came along. After a while an Indian man came with his daughter (who was about 5 and wearing pink...). Tessa asked him if he would like a guided tour and he said yes.
It took a while before I went up to him and told him about the artworks. He was a great audience. He commented that he liked art a lot but said he had to beg his teacher for a passing grade in art. I told him art is all about the perspective. He just laughed and we then went on to the next exhibit.
When the tour ended I told him about the 'shrinking plastic keychain' and some 3-D paperwork and said that he could bring his daughter to try out some of the stuff there. He said thank you and I felt really, really pleased with myself.
Then came a Chinese man in a white shirt and pale khaki shorts. He had glasses and I think his hair was flat on his head. Anyway, we (Tessa and I) asked him if he wanted a guided tour and he said no. He was just waiting for the Guides' guided tour (lol) his daughter was taking part in.
So we just explained the first board or two of artworks.
It felt great to actually be able to impart my 'wisdom' to someone else.
On my way out of school (to bus stop gate) I met a woman and her daughter and the woman asked me if I knew where the Deborah Tan library was. I said I could guide her. She asked if I was a Sec 1, I said no, I'm a Sec 2. Then she asked if I liked RGS (or something). I said yes, the seniors are all very friendly. We discussed something about seniors (something about me being a senior too...) and then I 'dropped' her off at the foot of the stairs that lead to the library.
It was a pleasant talk and I was glad to have helped someone. Perhaps she'd call in to say RGS girls are very helpful and friendly?
I made my way back to the bus stop gate in time to see 105 pull in. My goodness was I lucky. I got up the bus (which was so awesomely empty) and got a seat at the (extreme) back of the bus. Maybe God was being nice to me because I was nice to other people. XD
I was supposed to lead some random people around the Art Club booth (if you can call it a booth) but I slacked off for the first 15 minutes of my shift doing something naughty.
...
No, I did not do it. I simply skivved off duty by attempting to make a 'shinking plastic keychain' which I later gave to Zann.
Yeah, so I was just wandering round the booth and getting myself used to the artworks. I followed Kimberly around as she introduced the artworks to parents and potential juniors and grasped a rough concept of how to explain the artworks and what the artworks are about and their medium. Of course, most of it was pretty easy.
So I just stood at one of the 'entrances' to the booth and then Tessa came along. After a while an Indian man came with his daughter (who was about 5 and wearing pink...). Tessa asked him if he would like a guided tour and he said yes.
It took a while before I went up to him and told him about the artworks. He was a great audience. He commented that he liked art a lot but said he had to beg his teacher for a passing grade in art. I told him art is all about the perspective. He just laughed and we then went on to the next exhibit.
When the tour ended I told him about the 'shrinking plastic keychain' and some 3-D paperwork and said that he could bring his daughter to try out some of the stuff there. He said thank you and I felt really, really pleased with myself.
Then came a Chinese man in a white shirt and pale khaki shorts. He had glasses and I think his hair was flat on his head. Anyway, we (Tessa and I) asked him if he wanted a guided tour and he said no. He was just waiting for the Guides' guided tour (lol) his daughter was taking part in.
So we just explained the first board or two of artworks.
It felt great to actually be able to impart my 'wisdom' to someone else.
On my way out of school (to bus stop gate) I met a woman and her daughter and the woman asked me if I knew where the Deborah Tan library was. I said I could guide her. She asked if I was a Sec 1, I said no, I'm a Sec 2. Then she asked if I liked RGS (or something). I said yes, the seniors are all very friendly. We discussed something about seniors (something about me being a senior too...) and then I 'dropped' her off at the foot of the stairs that lead to the library.
It was a pleasant talk and I was glad to have helped someone. Perhaps she'd call in to say RGS girls are very helpful and friendly?
I made my way back to the bus stop gate in time to see 105 pull in. My goodness was I lucky. I got up the bus (which was so awesomely empty) and got a seat at the (extreme) back of the bus. Maybe God was being nice to me because I was nice to other people. XD
Wednesday 20 May 2009
Slimey Cake
YES!!!
4.0 for BIOLOGY!
WOOHOO!
Hey! That means I've got a chance to take advanced Biology next year! Now if only I can get through and interview and obtain some random Bio teacher's recommendation...that's gonna be hard...
Anyway, so now I've got 3.6 for Physics (of all things...), 4.0 for Chemistry and 4.0 for Biology.
Isn't that great?
I only need another 2 things for my day to be perfect. 1. Pass all exams. 2. MUST. PASS. CHINESE. (this technically falls under the broad category of 'all exams', but still)
Now, adjourn with me into my trusty time machine and off to 15 May '09...
------------------------time machine groaning------------------------
Ah, now, where was I?
Oh yes, it is 15 May '09 and I am on the school bus on my way to school. Now, I am complaining to myself (yes, useless, I know) that it I am caught in a most untimely situation. I have anemia. Well, that should be over in a couple of days but that's not the issue here. The thing is, I have my 2.4km run that very day too.
So you can imagine me sitting in my seat, one elbow on the window sill with my head resting on the back of my hand (the one with the elbow on the window sill). Being the outrageously religious person I am, I believe that I have done something wrong (or would do something wrong) and that God is pissed so he punished me that way.
All the way to school (and through school) I am getting myself moping about the situation. This is what young punks would like to call 'emo-ing'. Yes, so I am emo-ing and voicing my displeasure to my friends who I'd like to thank for listening to this batty person yattering away selfishly.
Extreme reluctance follows as I sit in dread at the prospect of the upcoming physically taxing (and not to mention utterly horrible) test. The muscles on my arm begin to tense and I am feeling as if I have been doing pull-ups for the past...oh, 10 minutes straight, perhaps. Minus the pain. It feels sour and seriously contracted.
So there, I am running scenarios with myself in a variety of possible situations (take for example, me being dragged off the track due to my excessively huge width blocking a whole width of the track [that didn't happen, just sarcasm]) and the teacher calls everybody to gather around. I sit through a brief briefing (yes, doesn't it sound cool?) and then wait again for the test.
Then I feel something fall on my arm. Then another. Then another. More pelting occurs and we are told to sit under the shelter of the walkway. Then it starts raining in light sprinkles, just heavy enough to render the 2.4km run unrunnable.
The rain doesn't stop falling for a long time. We are then told to go to the canteen to sit it out. More waiting ensues. It is announced that 2.4km run will be postponed to Tuesday.
The only thing that is running through my mind is 'Thank God'.
------------------------time machine groaning------------------------
God works wonders. Maybe he just made rain fall because he wants to show me he knows what he's doing, that he can turn any situation around. I was being an idiot. I thought that God was against me because I was anemic on that day and I didn't consider what the weather might do to the possibility of the run.
God is just awesome the way he is, no?
Then there is the Biology test. After it I was so sure I had missed 4.0 by a bit. I was so sure. I finished the paper a little too early.
Alright. I'm lying. I finished it much earlier than the intended time. I finished it with 45min to spare, that or 1 hour. When the paper was discussed with other people and they inputted their views I figured I simply screwed up the whole thing.
Over the next few days (all the way until today, before the test results were revealed) I kept brooding about Biology. I then figured that I really wanted to do Bio RA if not simply attain Biology as one of the subjects in my subject combo. I figured I really like Bio and don't want to give up on it. Every time I think that I may not get 4.0 for Bio (really high expectations, yes, I know) and thus be unable to get into Bio RA I get really depressed and my heart has that sinking feeling like I've just suffered a huge blow.
I really like Bio.
------------------------time machine groaning------------------------
When they went through all the answers the feeling that I haven't done well started growing. I start to doubt myself so much because I had spotted so many differences between the model answers and what I wrote. I feel like I had simply screwed up the test.
Then I got the results back.
'50' is the first thing that registers. I have yet processed that I've gotten a 4.0. My math is bad. I'd only gotten a 25/40.
'Well Done!' is next. I started doing mental math.
'I GOT 4.0!' is the final thought that races through my mind before it goes on a complete shut down. I have acheived my goal. You can't say that after all the stress from before I don't deserve the right to completely ignore my surroundings for a bit and enjoy the bliss of it all.
I. Am. So. Freaking. Happy.
I can't really explain how it feels (I'll never be an author...) but it is simply awesome. It feels like I have perched Mount Everest and am the first to do so. There is a sense of relief (as if you're glad you survived the climb) and extreme joy.
One thing that will register in your mind after few seconds of numbness is:
'Praise God. Praise be to him on high.'
------------------------time machine groaning------------------------
You must have noticed the common factor between those two stories, 'God'.
Then there's another story. One about Philosophy and how it just seems to challenge my religion.
------------------------time machine groaning------------------------
I am being given an article about Euthanasia and arguements about legalizing this drug. I stare at it and the first thing I think of is 'No, they should not legalize it. It is simply not right to kill yourself.' Then I rest my case because I am not sure whether I want to think about the non-Christian side to the issue.
I am then forced to sit through a discussion that would start me on processing ideas against my religion and challenging my beliefs. I do not allow any of the strange and unholy thoughts to penetrate past the line of 'listening' and into 'acceptance'. I pay attention to the discussion but find nothing to say. I do not think that my religious views will be very readily accepted in the discussion.
I am upright and I will not allow any of those ideas to influence my religious beliefs so I am unable to perform my 'Philosophical evaluation' of the situation well. I am deeply regretful that I am unable to do so but further discussion digressing into issues of unholy nature will only cause me to tune out to the entire discussion.
Throughout the discussion I only give my input a few times, and only when clarification is needed. There is an exception but I do not remember (Sophia recorded that there is but I cannot recall any). I refrain from saying anything. The whole discussion makes me dizzy and sleepy. Nothing really gets comprehended in my mind. I think it is some sort of a defense mechanism when something against my religion is being discussed.
I do not find the need to discus the issue because I know my stand and I will not allow any space for the 'acceptance of others' ideas'. I do not care whether it is going to dictate my failure to be promoted from Sec2 to Sec3 but I will not, I repeat, will NOT stay to let any ideas cloud my vision of my Father in heaven.
If they do not want any religious ideas in the discussion then I have nothing to say. Human rights (as defined by the world) states that an individual is allowed to do whatsoever he or she wishes to do to himself or herself. So saying, there is nothing except for my religion that makes me go against legalizing Euthanasia. It is as if anyone who wants to control their lives is playing God. I don't like that. I do not want to consider that.
I think the Philosophy curriculum of RGS should be more accumulating and considerate to the different kinds of pupils in the school. It is utterly unfair if I am forced to be detained for a year (or the consequent ones too if Sec2 Philosophy continues as it is) due to my religious beliefs. If they want to consider something absolutely unrelated to the ways of my religion then by all means go ahead.
Actually, I think RGS shouldn't have Philosophy at all. It simply ruins our lives.
------------------------time machine groaning------------------------
See? People might think I'm delusional, that I should get my head out of all that 'God' business, but I won't. I stand firm by what I think and what I am influenced to think through my religious beliefs. I will not conform to the ways of the school just to attain certain academic qualifications. None of this Earthly qualifications will be of any value in heaven. I wish to concentrate on God.
If need be I may complain to the school board and request to change the topic of Philosophy discussions as it is interfering with my (and others like me) beliefs.
I am human, so shouldn't I have the right to decide whether or not I wish to take part in such discussions? Philosophy is all about thinking. If I do think well and am able to view ideas from other point of views but simply do not wish to accept arguements going against my religion and belief, will I not be allowed to be promoted if I do not fulfill the criteria of what is expected of Sec2 Philosophy course?
I think this part of the Philosophy course is challenging the wrong thing.
It challenges my religion instead of my ability to think. This may not affect students who are not of the same mental processes as I and are thus less likely to be affected by religious beliefs but I will not be swayed by the requirements of society.
I will only do what is right and pleasing to God (if it is within my control) and I will ask for forgiveness, beg, actually, if I do displease him because upsetting God is worse than upsetting the whole of humanity.
God is probably the only being that is a constant in everyone's life. His role never changes. It just depends on whether you want to believe he is there or not.
4.0 for BIOLOGY!
WOOHOO!
Hey! That means I've got a chance to take advanced Biology next year! Now if only I can get through and interview and obtain some random Bio teacher's recommendation...that's gonna be hard...
Anyway, so now I've got 3.6 for Physics (of all things...), 4.0 for Chemistry and 4.0 for Biology.
Isn't that great?
I only need another 2 things for my day to be perfect. 1. Pass all exams. 2. MUST. PASS. CHINESE. (this technically falls under the broad category of 'all exams', but still)
Now, adjourn with me into my trusty time machine and off to 15 May '09...
------------------------time machine groaning------------------------
Ah, now, where was I?
Oh yes, it is 15 May '09 and I am on the school bus on my way to school. Now, I am complaining to myself (yes, useless, I know) that it I am caught in a most untimely situation. I have anemia. Well, that should be over in a couple of days but that's not the issue here. The thing is, I have my 2.4km run that very day too.
So you can imagine me sitting in my seat, one elbow on the window sill with my head resting on the back of my hand (the one with the elbow on the window sill). Being the outrageously religious person I am, I believe that I have done something wrong (or would do something wrong) and that God is pissed so he punished me that way.
All the way to school (and through school) I am getting myself moping about the situation. This is what young punks would like to call 'emo-ing'. Yes, so I am emo-ing and voicing my displeasure to my friends who I'd like to thank for listening to this batty person yattering away selfishly.
Extreme reluctance follows as I sit in dread at the prospect of the upcoming physically taxing (and not to mention utterly horrible) test. The muscles on my arm begin to tense and I am feeling as if I have been doing pull-ups for the past...oh, 10 minutes straight, perhaps. Minus the pain. It feels sour and seriously contracted.
So there, I am running scenarios with myself in a variety of possible situations (take for example, me being dragged off the track due to my excessively huge width blocking a whole width of the track [that didn't happen, just sarcasm]) and the teacher calls everybody to gather around. I sit through a brief briefing (yes, doesn't it sound cool?) and then wait again for the test.
Then I feel something fall on my arm. Then another. Then another. More pelting occurs and we are told to sit under the shelter of the walkway. Then it starts raining in light sprinkles, just heavy enough to render the 2.4km run unrunnable.
The rain doesn't stop falling for a long time. We are then told to go to the canteen to sit it out. More waiting ensues. It is announced that 2.4km run will be postponed to Tuesday.
The only thing that is running through my mind is 'Thank God'.
------------------------time machine groaning------------------------
God works wonders. Maybe he just made rain fall because he wants to show me he knows what he's doing, that he can turn any situation around. I was being an idiot. I thought that God was against me because I was anemic on that day and I didn't consider what the weather might do to the possibility of the run.
God is just awesome the way he is, no?
Then there is the Biology test. After it I was so sure I had missed 4.0 by a bit. I was so sure. I finished the paper a little too early.
Alright. I'm lying. I finished it much earlier than the intended time. I finished it with 45min to spare, that or 1 hour. When the paper was discussed with other people and they inputted their views I figured I simply screwed up the whole thing.
Over the next few days (all the way until today, before the test results were revealed) I kept brooding about Biology. I then figured that I really wanted to do Bio RA if not simply attain Biology as one of the subjects in my subject combo. I figured I really like Bio and don't want to give up on it. Every time I think that I may not get 4.0 for Bio (really high expectations, yes, I know) and thus be unable to get into Bio RA I get really depressed and my heart has that sinking feeling like I've just suffered a huge blow.
I really like Bio.
------------------------time machine groaning------------------------
When they went through all the answers the feeling that I haven't done well started growing. I start to doubt myself so much because I had spotted so many differences between the model answers and what I wrote. I feel like I had simply screwed up the test.
Then I got the results back.
'50' is the first thing that registers. I have yet processed that I've gotten a 4.0. My math is bad. I'd only gotten a 25/40.
'Well Done!' is next. I started doing mental math.
'I GOT 4.0!' is the final thought that races through my mind before it goes on a complete shut down. I have acheived my goal. You can't say that after all the stress from before I don't deserve the right to completely ignore my surroundings for a bit and enjoy the bliss of it all.
I. Am. So. Freaking. Happy.
I can't really explain how it feels (I'll never be an author...) but it is simply awesome. It feels like I have perched Mount Everest and am the first to do so. There is a sense of relief (as if you're glad you survived the climb) and extreme joy.
One thing that will register in your mind after few seconds of numbness is:
'Praise God. Praise be to him on high.'
------------------------time machine groaning------------------------
You must have noticed the common factor between those two stories, 'God'.
Then there's another story. One about Philosophy and how it just seems to challenge my religion.
------------------------time machine groaning------------------------
I am being given an article about Euthanasia and arguements about legalizing this drug. I stare at it and the first thing I think of is 'No, they should not legalize it. It is simply not right to kill yourself.' Then I rest my case because I am not sure whether I want to think about the non-Christian side to the issue.
I am then forced to sit through a discussion that would start me on processing ideas against my religion and challenging my beliefs. I do not allow any of the strange and unholy thoughts to penetrate past the line of 'listening' and into 'acceptance'. I pay attention to the discussion but find nothing to say. I do not think that my religious views will be very readily accepted in the discussion.
I am upright and I will not allow any of those ideas to influence my religious beliefs so I am unable to perform my 'Philosophical evaluation' of the situation well. I am deeply regretful that I am unable to do so but further discussion digressing into issues of unholy nature will only cause me to tune out to the entire discussion.
Throughout the discussion I only give my input a few times, and only when clarification is needed. There is an exception but I do not remember (Sophia recorded that there is but I cannot recall any). I refrain from saying anything. The whole discussion makes me dizzy and sleepy. Nothing really gets comprehended in my mind. I think it is some sort of a defense mechanism when something against my religion is being discussed.
I do not find the need to discus the issue because I know my stand and I will not allow any space for the 'acceptance of others' ideas'. I do not care whether it is going to dictate my failure to be promoted from Sec2 to Sec3 but I will not, I repeat, will NOT stay to let any ideas cloud my vision of my Father in heaven.
If they do not want any religious ideas in the discussion then I have nothing to say. Human rights (as defined by the world) states that an individual is allowed to do whatsoever he or she wishes to do to himself or herself. So saying, there is nothing except for my religion that makes me go against legalizing Euthanasia. It is as if anyone who wants to control their lives is playing God. I don't like that. I do not want to consider that.
I think the Philosophy curriculum of RGS should be more accumulating and considerate to the different kinds of pupils in the school. It is utterly unfair if I am forced to be detained for a year (or the consequent ones too if Sec2 Philosophy continues as it is) due to my religious beliefs. If they want to consider something absolutely unrelated to the ways of my religion then by all means go ahead.
Actually, I think RGS shouldn't have Philosophy at all. It simply ruins our lives.
------------------------time machine groaning------------------------
See? People might think I'm delusional, that I should get my head out of all that 'God' business, but I won't. I stand firm by what I think and what I am influenced to think through my religious beliefs. I will not conform to the ways of the school just to attain certain academic qualifications. None of this Earthly qualifications will be of any value in heaven. I wish to concentrate on God.
If need be I may complain to the school board and request to change the topic of Philosophy discussions as it is interfering with my (and others like me) beliefs.
I am human, so shouldn't I have the right to decide whether or not I wish to take part in such discussions? Philosophy is all about thinking. If I do think well and am able to view ideas from other point of views but simply do not wish to accept arguements going against my religion and belief, will I not be allowed to be promoted if I do not fulfill the criteria of what is expected of Sec2 Philosophy course?
I think this part of the Philosophy course is challenging the wrong thing.
It challenges my religion instead of my ability to think. This may not affect students who are not of the same mental processes as I and are thus less likely to be affected by religious beliefs but I will not be swayed by the requirements of society.
I will only do what is right and pleasing to God (if it is within my control) and I will ask for forgiveness, beg, actually, if I do displease him because upsetting God is worse than upsetting the whole of humanity.
God is probably the only being that is a constant in everyone's life. His role never changes. It just depends on whether you want to believe he is there or not.
Thursday 7 May 2009
Shattered Glass Bead
NAPFA. PFT. Whatever.
I just survived it with 4As and 1B. Which is really good but I feel all bad and cranky inside because I was just 3cm away from A for Standing Board Jump. You know how bad that feels? 3cm from your goal? Damn was I pissed. I got 178cm last year! I just felt either Cs or As would look nicer because it'd be more uniform on my report card, yes? I mean, hello, 2.4km is impossible for me to get a B so I'd just stay satisfied with a C, so it would be nice if my SBJ got a C too to match. =D
Anyway, I'm most satisfied with my shuttle run results.
Inclined Pull-Ups
18
A
Shuttle Run
10.7sec
A
Sit-Ups
36
A
Standing Board Jump
175
B
Sit and Reach
45
A
Nice, eh?
Damn, and even though Rachel got lower scores than me for all except IPU and Sit and Reach she ended up with 5As! Not fair! Why was I born in February? Or rather, why is NAPFA mid-year and not start of year?
...
Lol, I'm talking as if the world revolves around me...
I just survived it with 4As and 1B. Which is really good but I feel all bad and cranky inside because I was just 3cm away from A for Standing Board Jump. You know how bad that feels? 3cm from your goal? Damn was I pissed. I got 178cm last year! I just felt either Cs or As would look nicer because it'd be more uniform on my report card, yes? I mean, hello, 2.4km is impossible for me to get a B so I'd just stay satisfied with a C, so it would be nice if my SBJ got a C too to match. =D
Anyway, I'm most satisfied with my shuttle run results.
Inclined Pull-Ups
18
A
Shuttle Run
10.7sec
A
Sit-Ups
36
A
Standing Board Jump
175
B
Sit and Reach
45
A
Nice, eh?
Damn, and even though Rachel got lower scores than me for all except IPU and Sit and Reach she ended up with 5As! Not fair! Why was I born in February? Or rather, why is NAPFA mid-year and not start of year?
...
Lol, I'm talking as if the world revolves around me...
Sunday 3 May 2009
www.greenman.com
You know, I just realized I dated my test papers on Friday 30 Apr '09. It was 1 May '09. I'm so screwed.
(Sorry. Just realised the exams were on Thursday and not Friday. It was, indeed, 30 Apr '09. Friday's Labour Day...)
And another screwed thing is that I forgot (and this is really silly) to circle the genre for English Narrative Writing thingum. Dead, right?
Yesterday I was pondering over quadratic equations and I came up with theories that can help me find the x-intercept and the line of symmetry, something two things I've always struggled with. Now that I can find them without the graph (and trust me, now I don't need the graph to find almost ANYTHING [I still can't do minimum and maximum value, but I'm gonna find out) I feel a little more confident, but due to my acute lack of memory space I fear I may forget everything...oops.
Ooh. I found how to find the maximum/minimum value already. I feel so awesome! That aside, I am currently accumulating House episodes via a deal I made with my father. For every 5/6 pages of Chinese text (中华文化之族) I read, I get 2 House episodes. How awesome is that? Even if I run out of 中华文化之族 text I still have 少年文摘 which is given monthly so I needn't worry about having lesser episodes. Cool, huh?
I need to revise Geog. Really, I can't stand why we need to learn stupid impacts and the likes. I'd have much preferred if the whole paper was about the formation and all Science-y stuff. I can't stand human Geog. Anywhere humans appear on the page I'm gonna fling my head into the wall.
.
..
...
....
.....
......
.......
........
.........
..........
...........
..........
.........
........
.......
......
.....
....
...
..
.
Anybody wants the theories? If you do, grovel at my feet and I shall bestow this great knowledge unto you!
Kidding. But seriously, anyone wants these theories? I've tested all of them with Graphmatica. They've worked so far. It's kind of a great accomplishment for someone who failed Math last term like me...
(Sorry. Just realised the exams were on Thursday and not Friday. It was, indeed, 30 Apr '09. Friday's Labour Day...)
And another screwed thing is that I forgot (and this is really silly) to circle the genre for English Narrative Writing thingum. Dead, right?
Yesterday I was pondering over quadratic equations and I came up with theories that can help me find the x-intercept and the line of symmetry, something two things I've always struggled with. Now that I can find them without the graph (and trust me, now I don't need the graph to find almost ANYTHING [I still can't do minimum and maximum value, but I'm gonna find out) I feel a little more confident, but due to my acute lack of memory space I fear I may forget everything...oops.
Ooh. I found how to find the maximum/minimum value already. I feel so awesome! That aside, I am currently accumulating House episodes via a deal I made with my father. For every 5/6 pages of Chinese text (中华文化之族) I read, I get 2 House episodes. How awesome is that? Even if I run out of 中华文化之族 text I still have 少年文摘 which is given monthly so I needn't worry about having lesser episodes. Cool, huh?
I need to revise Geog. Really, I can't stand why we need to learn stupid impacts and the likes. I'd have much preferred if the whole paper was about the formation and all Science-y stuff. I can't stand human Geog. Anywhere humans appear on the page I'm gonna fling my head into the wall.
.
..
...
....
.....
......
.......
........
.........
..........
...........
..........
.........
........
.......
......
.....
....
...
..
.
Anybody wants the theories? If you do, grovel at my feet and I shall bestow this great knowledge unto you!
Kidding. But seriously, anyone wants these theories? I've tested all of them with Graphmatica. They've worked so far. It's kind of a great accomplishment for someone who failed Math last term like me...
Monday 20 April 2009
2 Hairpins and 1 Muffin
It is possible to walk along a pavement with less than 1/10 of the usual sight.
T/F?
True.
And I just proved it.
I did the very thing while walking home from the bus stop because I was feeling drowsy and didn't really want to open my eyes much.
Aren't I awesome?
Okay, ego.
T/F?
True.
And I just proved it.
I did the very thing while walking home from the bus stop because I was feeling drowsy and didn't really want to open my eyes much.
Aren't I awesome?
Okay, ego.
Saturday 18 April 2009
Comment Moderation
Hort Park: Not bad a place for a nature freak but a horrendous rendezvous point for anyone with loathing for the sun (or someone like Eddy Cull [I think that's what his name has become on the class blackboard]). Lacking creativity - e.g. the lawn is named 'HortLawn'.
Art: Hella fun.
Art Competitions: Totally sucky and utter waste of money and time.
Beautex: ?
----------------------------
Today wasn't bad but the fact that I had to wake up at freaking 06:45 kind of killed the mood. Of course, I started stirring an hour before that (blame my physical memory for remembering the time I usually wake up at to get to school), fell asleep again, woke up, decided I still had time, fell asleep, woke up, grumble about stupid 'wake up spells', fell asleep, hears mother yelling at us (my bro and I) to wake up, woke up, wanted to sleep in another 5 minutes, fell asleep, woke up exactly 5 minutes later.
Lol. That pretty much summarizes my waking up today.
My mum drove me to school and I got there really early, by, like, 07:20 or something. I spotted Kimberly getting off the piano and going off with Awa (introductions came a little later) to the Art Room. She was a little unsure of who I was, but then welcomed me with a broad smile (like always). We marched down to the Art Room (well, I kind of ran, but still) to grab Kimberly's stuff for the art competition we were heading to Hort Park for. Some kind of design-the-tissue-box competition. Grace walked in a little while later.
We ended up bringing with us a box full of art materials (that somehow was only shared among Kimberly, Grace, Awa and I) and some boards for drawing on. Registration took many, many minutes. We just stood around until it was our turn to flash out EZlink cards to confirm identification and pay S$5 for registration fee and then collect our drawing paper, a briefing sheet and a goodie bag. The goodie bag was awesome, but a little overflowing with tissue related contents. There was like 5 kinds of drinks, 2 maggie mee packets, 2 lollipops, 1 huge tissue box, 3 packets of tissue, 1 packet of mosquito repellant wipes, 1 packet of milo cereal and 2 mini packets of biscuits.
Briefing started long after we registered and found comfortable seats in the multi-purpose hall. While we were waiting, there was a short slide show of tissue products by Beautex. I noticed they really liked flowers. There was one design that caught my eye so I decided to imitate it to an extent. Briefing was really brief and we were let off soon. We didn't wander off far when we came across a really favourable spot. We initially wanted to sit at an area a little left to where we ended up but there were too many ants so we scrammed to the huge open concrete platform in the middle of freaking nowhere. Wonder what it was there for. Kimberly went to get the water and Awa went away doing something. I know Grace and I were the only ones not doing anything during preparation.
_BEWARE_BORINGNESS_
I couldn't think of anything really original to draw so I 'imitated' the design I saw before the briefing. Everybody was using pencil to sketch out their artworks but I just started with painting immediately. Since I wanted a straight edge, I was so smart (EGO!) to use the briefing sheet handed to us during registration and used it as a ruler as I painted the blue. So I kind of screwed it up, but so what? Anyway, I originally wanted to drip paint over the blue are (you know, like 'pop-up' strings of acrylic all over) but figured I couldn't without proper equipment and resorted to forming them with brushes of various thickness. They were all of strange colours. I mean, yellow and green?
When I was done with the stuff in the blue area I picked up some green and made some leaf shape thingums along the only line that got out of the blue (that was intentional). I then figured it looked a bit empty so I added 5 red dots spaced close together to form a flower (Beautex IS obviously obsessed with flowers, I mean, Hort Park?). A few more here and there and it looked better. I thought the blue area looked boring, so I picked up the brust I painted red with and drew a red line in the blue area. Then I inspected the whole image and still found it's composition ugly. I picked up my brust and painted 4 purple hibiscus of various sizes at the top right. I was pretty happy with it and then slacked off for the rest of the 45 minutes left of 2 hours.
_END_OF_BORINGNESS_
Grace's was turning out very nicely in a style I greatly admire. Awa's was...wow. If not for the fact that the deers became black at the end. I liked them better white. She'd probably have won something if not for the seemingly inappropriate air about it. I mean, it looked really emo and the theme was 'Life is Beautiful'. Kimberly's was good too, if not a bit hasty during painting (damn their short time limit). We turned them in with 10 minutes to spare then set about washing our stuff in the drain right beside the platform. I think we stained it sky blue and purple permanently.
It got really hot out there so we quickly gathered our stuff and trudged off under the shade (which many people were taking refuge under too). We just sat around and talked about Bleach and stuff. I read the Chinese book we were supposed to read for Chinese PT but I think I left it at the bus stop before I boarded the bus home (that happens at 13:45 or something, much later than the point I'm narrating).
Mrs. Lai found our hide-out at the edge of the empty koi pond (seriously, no water, no koi) and brought us over to the rest of the RGS people. So we sat around and talked more. When it was time to go in we did, bathing in the cool air-con. Kimberly and I couldn't find seats so we took to sitting most unRGS-like at the back of the room on the floor. We were both going on about how we wouldn't win. Kimberly and Grace seemed to have some sort of confidence in mine because it was 'very tissue box-like'. I had to admit it WAS very tissue box. I mean, it looked like the typical design except 100 times uglier.
That aside, prize presentation began and they started with Junior category and went on to Tweens (what the hell is that?) which Kimberly mistook for Teens until I told her. Teens consolation prizes started to be handed out and I was feeling really nervous. I mean, I was shortlisted, but so were at least 19 others. So I just sat there not doing anything. I had a feeling that consolation would have felt like a loss to me. The first consolation went to Grace, and we clap for her. I mean, hello, our school, our club-mate, our friend. Consolation prizes went on and at the 5th and final consolation prize, Victoria (Sec3 from SAP) got the prize.
So I didn't get into consolation. I thought mine would have at most merited that, so imagine the utter shock and numbness when I found out I got 3rd. Okay, third's really just the 2nd loser, but still, to win something above consolation? I was really close to consolation but I scraped past it. I think I would be in the consolations if Awa made it. What a close shave, not that I was really glad she couldn't because her painting technique is really, really good.
I took my place beside Victoria with a proud smile on my face, well, as proud as you can get when you are wary that there are many people staring at you. Then 2nd prize went to another RGS student, Sec1 SAP (yes, I know I suck, losing to Sec1, but hey, you can't blame me, it's probably only the fifth time I've picked up a paintbrush in RGS). Victoria said it'll be cool if first prize were also an RGS girl, so we held our breaths and YES! RGS too (Sec1 also, help me, I'm feeling a bit depressed). Okay, a bit elitist here, but yes, we were all glad that we dominated the Teen's category. Oh yeah, they handed us envelopes when we went up stage. We took a few group photos with prize winners of all categories. We were later told to collect our prizes. I was like, Isn't it the envelope? I mean, it does say 1st, 2nd, 3rd or consolation prize...
Then we opened them and found they were empty. The table clearly stated that all of us were supposed to have some resort stay voucher or something. So we came to the conclusion that it was all a hoax and scam and waited in a long long queue to get our stuff. While waiting we took a few RGS people photos, then got interviewed by some Beautex people. I think we badmouthed a bit too much about Mr. Wong.
The collection took so long we finally decided to leave before we collected it first hand and they said they would mail it to us.
*shrugs*
We then took the mini bus back to school. Kimberly was emo-ing something about not getting a prize and her parents killing her for both that and losing to her mortal (the one who got 2nd). So I locked my happiness away and emo-ed with her.
EMO.
Art: Hella fun.
Art Competitions: Totally sucky and utter waste of money and time.
Beautex: ?
----------------------------
Today wasn't bad but the fact that I had to wake up at freaking 06:45 kind of killed the mood. Of course, I started stirring an hour before that (blame my physical memory for remembering the time I usually wake up at to get to school), fell asleep again, woke up, decided I still had time, fell asleep, woke up, grumble about stupid 'wake up spells', fell asleep, hears mother yelling at us (my bro and I) to wake up, woke up, wanted to sleep in another 5 minutes, fell asleep, woke up exactly 5 minutes later.
Lol. That pretty much summarizes my waking up today.
My mum drove me to school and I got there really early, by, like, 07:20 or something. I spotted Kimberly getting off the piano and going off with Awa (introductions came a little later) to the Art Room. She was a little unsure of who I was, but then welcomed me with a broad smile (like always). We marched down to the Art Room (well, I kind of ran, but still) to grab Kimberly's stuff for the art competition we were heading to Hort Park for. Some kind of design-the-tissue-box competition. Grace walked in a little while later.
We ended up bringing with us a box full of art materials (that somehow was only shared among Kimberly, Grace, Awa and I) and some boards for drawing on. Registration took many, many minutes. We just stood around until it was our turn to flash out EZlink cards to confirm identification and pay S$5 for registration fee and then collect our drawing paper, a briefing sheet and a goodie bag. The goodie bag was awesome, but a little overflowing with tissue related contents. There was like 5 kinds of drinks, 2 maggie mee packets, 2 lollipops, 1 huge tissue box, 3 packets of tissue, 1 packet of mosquito repellant wipes, 1 packet of milo cereal and 2 mini packets of biscuits.
Briefing started long after we registered and found comfortable seats in the multi-purpose hall. While we were waiting, there was a short slide show of tissue products by Beautex. I noticed they really liked flowers. There was one design that caught my eye so I decided to imitate it to an extent. Briefing was really brief and we were let off soon. We didn't wander off far when we came across a really favourable spot. We initially wanted to sit at an area a little left to where we ended up but there were too many ants so we scrammed to the huge open concrete platform in the middle of freaking nowhere. Wonder what it was there for. Kimberly went to get the water and Awa went away doing something. I know Grace and I were the only ones not doing anything during preparation.
_BEWARE_BORINGNESS_
I couldn't think of anything really original to draw so I 'imitated' the design I saw before the briefing. Everybody was using pencil to sketch out their artworks but I just started with painting immediately. Since I wanted a straight edge, I was so smart (EGO!) to use the briefing sheet handed to us during registration and used it as a ruler as I painted the blue. So I kind of screwed it up, but so what? Anyway, I originally wanted to drip paint over the blue are (you know, like 'pop-up' strings of acrylic all over) but figured I couldn't without proper equipment and resorted to forming them with brushes of various thickness. They were all of strange colours. I mean, yellow and green?
When I was done with the stuff in the blue area I picked up some green and made some leaf shape thingums along the only line that got out of the blue (that was intentional). I then figured it looked a bit empty so I added 5 red dots spaced close together to form a flower (Beautex IS obviously obsessed with flowers, I mean, Hort Park?). A few more here and there and it looked better. I thought the blue area looked boring, so I picked up the brust I painted red with and drew a red line in the blue area. Then I inspected the whole image and still found it's composition ugly. I picked up my brust and painted 4 purple hibiscus of various sizes at the top right. I was pretty happy with it and then slacked off for the rest of the 45 minutes left of 2 hours.
_END_OF_BORINGNESS_
Grace's was turning out very nicely in a style I greatly admire. Awa's was...wow. If not for the fact that the deers became black at the end. I liked them better white. She'd probably have won something if not for the seemingly inappropriate air about it. I mean, it looked really emo and the theme was 'Life is Beautiful'. Kimberly's was good too, if not a bit hasty during painting (damn their short time limit). We turned them in with 10 minutes to spare then set about washing our stuff in the drain right beside the platform. I think we stained it sky blue and purple permanently.
It got really hot out there so we quickly gathered our stuff and trudged off under the shade (which many people were taking refuge under too). We just sat around and talked about Bleach and stuff. I read the Chinese book we were supposed to read for Chinese PT but I think I left it at the bus stop before I boarded the bus home (that happens at 13:45 or something, much later than the point I'm narrating).
Mrs. Lai found our hide-out at the edge of the empty koi pond (seriously, no water, no koi) and brought us over to the rest of the RGS people. So we sat around and talked more. When it was time to go in we did, bathing in the cool air-con. Kimberly and I couldn't find seats so we took to sitting most unRGS-like at the back of the room on the floor. We were both going on about how we wouldn't win. Kimberly and Grace seemed to have some sort of confidence in mine because it was 'very tissue box-like'. I had to admit it WAS very tissue box. I mean, it looked like the typical design except 100 times uglier.
That aside, prize presentation began and they started with Junior category and went on to Tweens (what the hell is that?) which Kimberly mistook for Teens until I told her. Teens consolation prizes started to be handed out and I was feeling really nervous. I mean, I was shortlisted, but so were at least 19 others. So I just sat there not doing anything. I had a feeling that consolation would have felt like a loss to me. The first consolation went to Grace, and we clap for her. I mean, hello, our school, our club-mate, our friend. Consolation prizes went on and at the 5th and final consolation prize, Victoria (Sec3 from SAP) got the prize.
So I didn't get into consolation. I thought mine would have at most merited that, so imagine the utter shock and numbness when I found out I got 3rd. Okay, third's really just the 2nd loser, but still, to win something above consolation? I was really close to consolation but I scraped past it. I think I would be in the consolations if Awa made it. What a close shave, not that I was really glad she couldn't because her painting technique is really, really good.
I took my place beside Victoria with a proud smile on my face, well, as proud as you can get when you are wary that there are many people staring at you. Then 2nd prize went to another RGS student, Sec1 SAP (yes, I know I suck, losing to Sec1, but hey, you can't blame me, it's probably only the fifth time I've picked up a paintbrush in RGS). Victoria said it'll be cool if first prize were also an RGS girl, so we held our breaths and YES! RGS too (Sec1 also, help me, I'm feeling a bit depressed). Okay, a bit elitist here, but yes, we were all glad that we dominated the Teen's category. Oh yeah, they handed us envelopes when we went up stage. We took a few group photos with prize winners of all categories. We were later told to collect our prizes. I was like, Isn't it the envelope? I mean, it does say 1st, 2nd, 3rd or consolation prize...
Then we opened them and found they were empty. The table clearly stated that all of us were supposed to have some resort stay voucher or something. So we came to the conclusion that it was all a hoax and scam and waited in a long long queue to get our stuff. While waiting we took a few RGS people photos, then got interviewed by some Beautex people. I think we badmouthed a bit too much about Mr. Wong.
The collection took so long we finally decided to leave before we collected it first hand and they said they would mail it to us.
*shrugs*
We then took the mini bus back to school. Kimberly was emo-ing something about not getting a prize and her parents killing her for both that and losing to her mortal (the one who got 2nd). So I locked my happiness away and emo-ed with her.
EMO.
Sunday 5 April 2009
Unceasing Tears - Tearful Anguish
I couldn't do anything. I couldn't do anything for him. Useless. I was useless. I couldn't even protest a little. I couldn't move. I had simply frozen to the spot while the very reason for my existence was being whipped by crooked hooks repeatedly on the back. My eyes threatened to snap shut, to block out the traumatizing image of the man of my life having his robes unjustly ripped to shreds, his back cruelly scarred streaks of red.
I wanted to scream, shout, tell him somehow I'm there for him when others demand his death, but my lips wouldn't move. They remained cracked and parched, tears that have ever touched them as rain long gone, depleted. The earth I was standing on suddenly felt so inviting, it was suddenly so tempting to simply give in to lethargy and heartache and crumble into a heap to rest on the uneven ground regardless of the hygiene of the act.
Eyes exhausted, I stumbled blindly as they dragged him crudely off the post. Every step I took toward him only served to increase our distance, every unheard cry muffled through the crowd. I saw him take one last look at me then turn his head away in shame, unwilling for me to see him in that vulnerable a state. It wasn't something fit for someone his stature.
My heart ached with longing and the knowledge that this may very well be the last time I would ever lay eyes upon him ever again. A hoarse whisper escaped my lips. I wanted so badly to reach out to him, to cradle his head and tell him everything is okay, to hush his gasps of pain with my words, to forever be in his loving embrace. I wanted so badly I pushed the crowd apart, denying my body the rest it longed for after the forlorn verdict had been passed.
Deformed as he may be now, still a magnificent young man he will forever remain in my mind, a smile so gallant it could melt the hardest hearts of even man, a love so sacrificial it could grant forgiveness to those who did nothing to protect him their king. A word from his mouth could sooth even the most troubled of minds, a touch from his hands enough to send one off into the most sedated state of calm. Those very hands picked up a long wooden pike and he painstakingly lifted it.
What had I done for him to earn his love? Nothing. Yet he gave it freely and willingly. What had I done for him to make him love me as he did? Nothing. Yet he loved me all the same, understanding my silent wishes even I wasn't conscious of. What had I done for him to make him die in my place? Nothing. Yet he walked along the path of hatred and endured jealous spites to relieve me of the taking the same route.
He slowly inched his way to his death, hauling behind him a wooden stake almost twice his height. I could almost hear his torn and aching body crying for help, but no one offered any, only hateful spits. I let out a strangled outcry and leapt forward with my arms stretched out in front of me ready to receive him into my embrace. Just a little more, please. Give me a second, a fraction of it, that is all I require. I have yet to say something. I have yet to tell him my deepest longings. I have yet to express to him what he was to me. I pray for just this second, please grant it to me.
My fingers brushed his sweat glazed skin and I wasted no time to grasp it tight. My king and my lord, how did you end up like this? Your royal birth has decided your death. What have you done to deserve this? Your smile could light my days for years to come, your kindness overflows abundant into the lives of many and bringing them out of poverty, yet why have you been condemned to such a death fit for a criminal? What is it that makes you take the rap?
I pulled myself to him and brought up a hand to push his load up slightly and relieve his burden, and for that he repaid me with a smile more dazzling than the sun even in the state he was in, battered and all. My eyes once more found tears to spare and let them all out. I sobbed silently into his broad shoulder, whispering the words I have longed to say the moment I met him and his eyes, mine. Shaking my head at my own procrastination, I finally relieved myself, "My lord, I love you. I love you so much. Why? Why'd you have to go?"
"Because I love you too. Because I have to. Because my kingdom needs it. Because I am king," he stated so simply and with so much conviction that it left no place for doubt, smiling genuinely for all he was worth even in the predicament I had placed him in. I was so lost for words I couldn't do anything but try to further lighten his load intuitively when my mind left its stumped state. As I moved to carry it with him, I was roughly pushed back by a roman senator who growled, "Out of his way, missy. No acquaintance of him is to come close." and spat in my face.
But I hadn't time to pay attention to his words. All I could see was him, he was the only one in the world. No matter how many times his people betray him, no matter how many times I have turned away, he still came back with a determined pride and welcomed us in with open arms. No matter how many times his people despise him, no matter how many times I have ignored him, he still returned with a gentle smile to indicate he loved us despite.
How could one man be so loving? So selfless? So flawless?
"I'm not an acquaintance! I love him!" I yelled to the soldier. He dismissed me disinterestedly with a well toned arm. I tried desperately to push against it and rejoin him but the arm wouldn't budge even a centimeter.
I shouted a final request, "My king! Don't forget me! Don't forget me! I love you so, so please don't forget me!"
All he responded me with was another simple smile, innocent and full of holy passion. I did not know whether to rejoice or to cry.
The current of the crowd steered me to a low hill overgrown with grass and weeds. They flipped him over with the weight still on his back, pulled him up, stripped his garments off him and threw him back down. I stifled a yelp. Why? Why was the world so cruel to judge this man guilty of something even the most blinded of persons could tell was right and just? Why was the world so prejudice to the ways of this one king? Why was the world so blind to his righteous intentions?
Mourning had never wrenched my heart as it did now. I watched with lungs constricted and eyes fearful as he lay down tensely. I could see the apprehension in his eyes of being pierced but he remained down with all his strength. His life course and destiny had been laid out for him and he was to follow it. He was to follow it to death.
A rusted nail dug into his wrist and his blood curdling cry pierced the tension filled air. My head turned away instinctively and my eyes squeezed shut. How could I bear to stand and look on as a spectator when he was there bleeding? How could I bear to remain as I was and watch him fight the urge to thrash due to the pain? How could I bear to be still and see him arch his back in agony and his breathing turn to raspy gasps?
It took all I had to return my gaze to him. I felt the trickle of a tear race down my cheek as the second nail punctured his other wrist. Who was I that he needed to suffer such humiliation and pain for me? Who was I that he needed to throw all his pride as a king for me? My heart twisted as a third nail was driven through the arch of his feet. He may be a king, he may be of royal linage, but his body was still human and human flesh could experience physical pain. His mind has already had enough distress throughout his years as an adult, yet why must his physical body be inflicted by pain too? Why?
My knees gradually gave in. If I could just be by his side to comfort him and ease his pain, if I could just be there to mop the sweat off his tangled hair, I would be, but my legs did not seem to agree. Perhaps they had learnt their lesson from the roman soldier, perhaps they were just weak from exhaustion, but the fact remained that they would not move. I cried out for him amidst the crowd roaring their approval of his death. My sisters beside me sang a different tune, a symphony orchestrated by their pained sobs and agonized weepings.
It was time. They levered the stake till it stood upright on the ground and he was breathing raggedly while hanging off it. The only piece of clothing left was a linen cloth wrapped limply around his waist, and perhaps that thorny bracket on his crown. His eyes screwed shut to refrain himself from groaning at the sudden stress on his limbs, his lips grimacing in silent prayer.
This was it. I may never get to see him alive again.
With all I had, I let go of a name. His name.
"JESUS!"
------------------------------------
I was given feedback to cut it off here, so I am. I'm keeping the part after this still for more closure. I'm ending at "JESUS!" for more impact, so says Kimberly.
------------------------------------
A man came up from behind me and scowled before knocking me unconscious. My blurry vision met his eyes again, this time barely open in a squint. He shouted something to the sky and a clap of thunder fell, followed by a heavy torrent of pelting rain. With what was left of my ability to observe, I read aloud the sign hung above his head right at the apex of the cross.
"The King of the Jews"
I smiled into darkness.
------------------------------------
CRUCIFIXION OF CHRIST
------------------------------------
Lol. Bet you guys thought I was writing some mushy romance story.
It's not very accurate, there's quite a number of other things that happened, but I was trying to narrate dramatically from a woman's point of view. 'He' refers to Jesus, Kings of the Jews, King of the World, God etc. 'Sisters' refer to sisters in Christ, any daughter who believes and trusts in him.
Don't you think this was a pretty good attempt?
What is a senator exactly? Oh wait, it's a member of some high coucil. Crap. I used it wrongly. I thought a senator was some kind of soldier. Oh well, who cares.
This was wholly inspired by today's church service where Sister Gwen preached about the meaning of the symbol of the cross. She showed us this video with short clips taken out of Passion of Christ (or something). It wasn't as if it was voluntary but I cried anyway. I don't know why, probably I love him so much I can't bear to see him in that much pain and agony.
I mean, they literally whipped him until his back bled, pressed a crown of thorns on his head, made him carry his own cross on his broken back to his 'deathbed' and then impaled nails in his hands/wrists (depends on which you believe in, personally, I'll take wrists) and feet and then brought the cross perpendicular to the ground and left him there to die.
What had he done to deserve all that? All he did was try to save the people, heal them, preach about the coming of his kingdom and perform miracles. All he did was with the intention of giving them a chance at a better life, yet look what they did to him!
He was king, yet treated like a common criminal.
He was God, yet treated like a begger.
He was the creator, yet they proclaimed death upon him.
He created them, yet they killed him.
Now I ask you again, what had he done to deserve all that humiliation and pain? All that suffering and torture of knowing he was to die on the cross for everyone's sins?
Then I started asking myself.
Did I deserve such a great sacrifice for my sins? I mean, he was son of God, for goodness sake! He was God himself too! Why had he to go through so much pain for me and for this world which had forsaken him?
...you probably won't understand until you truly cry simply because of the pain he had went through, until you cry from the bottom of your heart when you hear his outcry of agony and it hurts you so much to know it was for you that he went through it all.
That I did.
I'm becoming such a softie...
But hey, if it's for God, I'll cry even in school in front of everyone for him. =D
I wanted to scream, shout, tell him somehow I'm there for him when others demand his death, but my lips wouldn't move. They remained cracked and parched, tears that have ever touched them as rain long gone, depleted. The earth I was standing on suddenly felt so inviting, it was suddenly so tempting to simply give in to lethargy and heartache and crumble into a heap to rest on the uneven ground regardless of the hygiene of the act.
Eyes exhausted, I stumbled blindly as they dragged him crudely off the post. Every step I took toward him only served to increase our distance, every unheard cry muffled through the crowd. I saw him take one last look at me then turn his head away in shame, unwilling for me to see him in that vulnerable a state. It wasn't something fit for someone his stature.
My heart ached with longing and the knowledge that this may very well be the last time I would ever lay eyes upon him ever again. A hoarse whisper escaped my lips. I wanted so badly to reach out to him, to cradle his head and tell him everything is okay, to hush his gasps of pain with my words, to forever be in his loving embrace. I wanted so badly I pushed the crowd apart, denying my body the rest it longed for after the forlorn verdict had been passed.
Deformed as he may be now, still a magnificent young man he will forever remain in my mind, a smile so gallant it could melt the hardest hearts of even man, a love so sacrificial it could grant forgiveness to those who did nothing to protect him their king. A word from his mouth could sooth even the most troubled of minds, a touch from his hands enough to send one off into the most sedated state of calm. Those very hands picked up a long wooden pike and he painstakingly lifted it.
What had I done for him to earn his love? Nothing. Yet he gave it freely and willingly. What had I done for him to make him love me as he did? Nothing. Yet he loved me all the same, understanding my silent wishes even I wasn't conscious of. What had I done for him to make him die in my place? Nothing. Yet he walked along the path of hatred and endured jealous spites to relieve me of the taking the same route.
He slowly inched his way to his death, hauling behind him a wooden stake almost twice his height. I could almost hear his torn and aching body crying for help, but no one offered any, only hateful spits. I let out a strangled outcry and leapt forward with my arms stretched out in front of me ready to receive him into my embrace. Just a little more, please. Give me a second, a fraction of it, that is all I require. I have yet to say something. I have yet to tell him my deepest longings. I have yet to express to him what he was to me. I pray for just this second, please grant it to me.
My fingers brushed his sweat glazed skin and I wasted no time to grasp it tight. My king and my lord, how did you end up like this? Your royal birth has decided your death. What have you done to deserve this? Your smile could light my days for years to come, your kindness overflows abundant into the lives of many and bringing them out of poverty, yet why have you been condemned to such a death fit for a criminal? What is it that makes you take the rap?
I pulled myself to him and brought up a hand to push his load up slightly and relieve his burden, and for that he repaid me with a smile more dazzling than the sun even in the state he was in, battered and all. My eyes once more found tears to spare and let them all out. I sobbed silently into his broad shoulder, whispering the words I have longed to say the moment I met him and his eyes, mine. Shaking my head at my own procrastination, I finally relieved myself, "My lord, I love you. I love you so much. Why? Why'd you have to go?"
"Because I love you too. Because I have to. Because my kingdom needs it. Because I am king," he stated so simply and with so much conviction that it left no place for doubt, smiling genuinely for all he was worth even in the predicament I had placed him in. I was so lost for words I couldn't do anything but try to further lighten his load intuitively when my mind left its stumped state. As I moved to carry it with him, I was roughly pushed back by a roman senator who growled, "Out of his way, missy. No acquaintance of him is to come close." and spat in my face.
But I hadn't time to pay attention to his words. All I could see was him, he was the only one in the world. No matter how many times his people betray him, no matter how many times I have turned away, he still came back with a determined pride and welcomed us in with open arms. No matter how many times his people despise him, no matter how many times I have ignored him, he still returned with a gentle smile to indicate he loved us despite.
How could one man be so loving? So selfless? So flawless?
"I'm not an acquaintance! I love him!" I yelled to the soldier. He dismissed me disinterestedly with a well toned arm. I tried desperately to push against it and rejoin him but the arm wouldn't budge even a centimeter.
I shouted a final request, "My king! Don't forget me! Don't forget me! I love you so, so please don't forget me!"
All he responded me with was another simple smile, innocent and full of holy passion. I did not know whether to rejoice or to cry.
The current of the crowd steered me to a low hill overgrown with grass and weeds. They flipped him over with the weight still on his back, pulled him up, stripped his garments off him and threw him back down. I stifled a yelp. Why? Why was the world so cruel to judge this man guilty of something even the most blinded of persons could tell was right and just? Why was the world so prejudice to the ways of this one king? Why was the world so blind to his righteous intentions?
Mourning had never wrenched my heart as it did now. I watched with lungs constricted and eyes fearful as he lay down tensely. I could see the apprehension in his eyes of being pierced but he remained down with all his strength. His life course and destiny had been laid out for him and he was to follow it. He was to follow it to death.
A rusted nail dug into his wrist and his blood curdling cry pierced the tension filled air. My head turned away instinctively and my eyes squeezed shut. How could I bear to stand and look on as a spectator when he was there bleeding? How could I bear to remain as I was and watch him fight the urge to thrash due to the pain? How could I bear to be still and see him arch his back in agony and his breathing turn to raspy gasps?
It took all I had to return my gaze to him. I felt the trickle of a tear race down my cheek as the second nail punctured his other wrist. Who was I that he needed to suffer such humiliation and pain for me? Who was I that he needed to throw all his pride as a king for me? My heart twisted as a third nail was driven through the arch of his feet. He may be a king, he may be of royal linage, but his body was still human and human flesh could experience physical pain. His mind has already had enough distress throughout his years as an adult, yet why must his physical body be inflicted by pain too? Why?
My knees gradually gave in. If I could just be by his side to comfort him and ease his pain, if I could just be there to mop the sweat off his tangled hair, I would be, but my legs did not seem to agree. Perhaps they had learnt their lesson from the roman soldier, perhaps they were just weak from exhaustion, but the fact remained that they would not move. I cried out for him amidst the crowd roaring their approval of his death. My sisters beside me sang a different tune, a symphony orchestrated by their pained sobs and agonized weepings.
It was time. They levered the stake till it stood upright on the ground and he was breathing raggedly while hanging off it. The only piece of clothing left was a linen cloth wrapped limply around his waist, and perhaps that thorny bracket on his crown. His eyes screwed shut to refrain himself from groaning at the sudden stress on his limbs, his lips grimacing in silent prayer.
This was it. I may never get to see him alive again.
With all I had, I let go of a name. His name.
"JESUS!"
------------------------------------
I was given feedback to cut it off here, so I am. I'm keeping the part after this still for more closure. I'm ending at "JESUS!" for more impact, so says Kimberly.
------------------------------------
A man came up from behind me and scowled before knocking me unconscious. My blurry vision met his eyes again, this time barely open in a squint. He shouted something to the sky and a clap of thunder fell, followed by a heavy torrent of pelting rain. With what was left of my ability to observe, I read aloud the sign hung above his head right at the apex of the cross.
"The King of the Jews"
I smiled into darkness.
------------------------------------
CRUCIFIXION OF CHRIST
------------------------------------
Lol. Bet you guys thought I was writing some mushy romance story.
It's not very accurate, there's quite a number of other things that happened, but I was trying to narrate dramatically from a woman's point of view. 'He' refers to Jesus, Kings of the Jews, King of the World, God etc. 'Sisters' refer to sisters in Christ, any daughter who believes and trusts in him.
Don't you think this was a pretty good attempt?
What is a senator exactly? Oh wait, it's a member of some high coucil. Crap. I used it wrongly. I thought a senator was some kind of soldier. Oh well, who cares.
This was wholly inspired by today's church service where Sister Gwen preached about the meaning of the symbol of the cross. She showed us this video with short clips taken out of Passion of Christ (or something). It wasn't as if it was voluntary but I cried anyway. I don't know why, probably I love him so much I can't bear to see him in that much pain and agony.
I mean, they literally whipped him until his back bled, pressed a crown of thorns on his head, made him carry his own cross on his broken back to his 'deathbed' and then impaled nails in his hands/wrists (depends on which you believe in, personally, I'll take wrists) and feet and then brought the cross perpendicular to the ground and left him there to die.
What had he done to deserve all that? All he did was try to save the people, heal them, preach about the coming of his kingdom and perform miracles. All he did was with the intention of giving them a chance at a better life, yet look what they did to him!
He was king, yet treated like a common criminal.
He was God, yet treated like a begger.
He was the creator, yet they proclaimed death upon him.
He created them, yet they killed him.
Now I ask you again, what had he done to deserve all that humiliation and pain? All that suffering and torture of knowing he was to die on the cross for everyone's sins?
Then I started asking myself.
Did I deserve such a great sacrifice for my sins? I mean, he was son of God, for goodness sake! He was God himself too! Why had he to go through so much pain for me and for this world which had forsaken him?
...you probably won't understand until you truly cry simply because of the pain he had went through, until you cry from the bottom of your heart when you hear his outcry of agony and it hurts you so much to know it was for you that he went through it all.
That I did.
I'm becoming such a softie...
But hey, if it's for God, I'll cry even in school in front of everyone for him. =D
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