These days...

Happy Birthday hs! =)

---------------------------

I learnt that while coffee does nothing to keep me awake, a LACK of coffee makes me lethargic and sleepy.

And that is a very bad thing to observe when you are trying to mug for 2 tests this coming wednesday. I could kill myself now for not drinking coffee at all today. The result: I flopped around like some lousy ragdoll.

In eager anticipation.

I can hardly wait for next week to come =) Mid semester break! Although I know it should be used to -cough- revise for the various mid sem tests that await after the break. Sigh.

Then again, this half looks to go out on a BANG. Test tomorrow morning. And I have NO idea what will be tested. Good luck to me...? Its time to hit the books tonight... But after that, I'd be free! (for a while, at least) Ahh... the delicious smell of freedom...

Anyway, I destroyed my no-skipping-of-any-academic-stuff record. Missed 2 lectures this morning, because I couldn't get out of bed. Zzz.

The Tag.

Zhiyong the king of never-updated-blogs actually TAGGED me. How can I not fill this up? =P

Here goes...


7 random facts about me:

1) I day-dream a lot. Especially during lectures. It's a miracle how I actually retain anything from them sometimes... But of course, retention rate from stuff like statistics lectures is quite near 0.
2) I'm really quite a shy person. =P I know it sure doesn't seem like it to people who know me quite well, but there you go.
3) I really enjoy reading (and buying books). I aim to fill up the last 2 shelves of my 2 bookcases and fill a new bookcase by the end of uni life.
4) I've been called a mugger toad. =( Apparently, I look like one. Thing is, I hardly mug.
5) I don't like wearing contact lenses. Contacts dry my eyes extremely quickly and makes my eyes very tired. Irony is, I cannot sleep with contacts on for fear that it will move to the back of the eyeball. Pure torture. And vision is also lower because I have astigmatism and the contacts, though modified to fit my eyeballs, are a poor fit.
6) I can't wear make up either. The powders irritate my eyes and makes me want to sleep. The sad thing is, I only put on makeup for more important occasions as a form of courtesy (e.g work, interview) but my brain also tends to go to sleep! At the wrong times, where I need my brain to be active the most. As hs puts it, I become a walking bimbo with makeup on. The only situation where brain retardation doesn't happen is makeup before a performance.
7) I don't drink. I hate the taste of alcohol so I think pubs and clubs are really wasted on me. However, I do like rum and raisin flavoured ice cream -_-" and tiramisu! I don't drink carbonated drinks either because I dislike the fizzy sensation when it goes down the throat.



7 Favourite music at the moment:

1) Collide - Howie Day (hs's fault!)
2) Everything in its Time - Corrinne May
3) Life is Wonderful - Jason Mraz
4) 倔强 - 五月天
5) 完美的一天 - 孙燕姿
6) 黄土情 (the 双笛协奏 version)
7) 春到湘江


7 Things i like most:

1) Talking to good friends. =)
2) Cold wind with warm sunshine.
3) Playing the 笛子 (on a good dimo day) in an orchestra
4) Playing the 笛子 with karin
5) Reading a good book
6) Spending time with hs
7) Euphoria which comes after understanding something, or after truly being of help to someone, or of achieving something.


7 things i say most:

1) huh?
2) damnit!
3) grrrr
4) uh..
5) ahhhhhhhh!!!!
6) later la. (see, I procrastinate waaaay too often.)
7) I don't know/I dunno (I am a firm believer in admitting what you don't know... Right.)


7 lucky ppl to do this:
anyone who's free and has nothing to do...

Down with...

stomach flu.

Slacking in GEK lecture...

Its another geography lecture with music as part of lecture content and its the same ndp song from 2002 playing now. Incidentally, this is number one on my list of ndp songs I DON'T like. Grr.

Despite this little blip, the fact remains that its (almost) the weekend! And faced with the prospect of having to peer down a microscope at plant cells later, I think I miss microbiology. Ahh... the grass is always greener on the other side.

Speaking of grass, I'm still waiting... Scared scared scared.

----------

I received a ridiculous email 2 days ago (along with the rest of life sciences cohort) telling us to support the last female contestant in singapore idol2 because she is a year1 student in the faculty. Er. I personally think that Sg Idol2 is quite terrible in terms of standard compared to Sg Idol 1. And one shouldn't vote for someone just because that person belongs to the same school/faculty/whatever as you. I just deleted the email and laughed about it with others yesterday and we all concluded that she's going home already. And at any rate, she's out. Expected.

--------

I was thinking of starting on the funeral rites thingy but... later la.

----------

If someone who has been searching for my blog ever reads this, -points and laugh- no jumping turtles in here! BWAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHA and oh, by the way, HELLO! LOL.

---------
At 1315hrs

I'm blogging in a busy corridor. How weird.

Sometimes, I think I can be very patient, yet there are some situations in which I am supremely impatient. I can be very patient when dealing with people under most circumstances to the extent that I surprise myself sometimes, unless of course the person has for some reason offended me, in which case I am not only extremely impatient, but downright rude at times. I hate waiting for anything that I deem to be time wasting: examples are waiting for the lift when I need to travel up by 4 storeys or less, or queuing up for food, or waiting for the bus... the list of time wasters go on. In such cases, I either do something about it (e.g walk down flights of stairs and arrive at the same time as the others who had waited for the lift -yes, sometimes its as sad as that.) or if I realise that there's nothing I can do about it (e.g travel time of bus) I just keep quiet and fume inside. (what choice is there?) How is it possible to alternate between such extremes?

I know that I am an idealist and a dreamer. I also know that this works against me more often than not, as evinced by my wackier suggestions and the problems I hit in a time not too long ago. Hence, I remind myself to be practical and realistic on a daily basis. This has got to a point where I can no longer look at an idea or suggestion without tearing it apart for feasibility and stability of argument. Nor can I come up with a project with a really new and creative and refreshing and -wow- because I can already see the potential pitfalls and bumps it might encounter. Away from academic life, I have so successfully curbed impulse buys that I often regret NOT buying something because I took so long (weeks.) to decide if I actually want something after seeing it in a shop.

I hem and haw and examine the pros and cons of everything before going ahead with it, to ensure that I am not wasting (any sort of) resources in doing so. This also cultivated the stubborness, because after wasting so much time prior to this, I had better make sure it turns out well. And when I do set my mind on it, little else can persuade me otherwise. This seems like a good way to manipulate limited resources, but when things don't work out in life, it also means that my heart breaks because I cannot easily let go. And I guess this is very easily observed by the content of this blog.

Ah.. Just some random musings on the way I conduct my life, which happens to be like a good orchestra producing sub-standard music at this point. It's potentially (and often) beautiful, but some times really really trying. Things will get better. =)

Time for biodiverisity lab.

--------------
At 2120 hrs

Okay. I just bought a microbiology textbook. So that's 3 textbooks in a week. I just have this weak spots for books. People go on shopping sprees of clothes and shoes and accessories when they are down to feel better. I go on a book spree. Even if its textbooks. I just love the look and smell of new books, the promise of more knowledge. =) There's just something about running through a new book and smelling the fresh pages, or running a finger down the unmarred spine. Ahh... and in the case of a textbook, highlighting the first line after wrapping it lovingly in plastic is almost a momentous occasion that sends a thrill of delight down my spine and lifts my spirits tremendously. Unless its math, of couse.

Dad says I'm crazy.

I realised microbiology is interesting and very very very much bearable (heck, INTERESTING!) if I look at it from a medical angle instead of pure bacteria alone.

Shall cease wasting time here and go look at my nice new textbook. =)

Hectic, hectic week.

I've been bumming around so much that my ass actually feels worn out. And then, -boom-. All the deadlines just avalanche. Just saw the last of the chemistry lab report, the german test just whizzed by and next up is biodiversity lab report, due Friday.

Just got reminded that I probably need to go for HIV, Hep B and Hep C testing. don't want to be poked. Sigh.

And Week 5 comes a-Knocking...

Here it is: Week 5. Mid-September.


I re-discovered this song when browsing at gramaphone yesterday. My primary school choir sang it (Trust me, it was terrible.) but it sure brings back memories...

Only If... by Enya
When theres a shadow, you follow the sun.
When there is love, then you look for the one.
And for the promises, there is the sky.
And for the heavens are those who can fly.

If you really want to, you can hear me say
Only if you want to will you a way.
If you really want to you can seize the day.
Only if you want to will you fly away.

When theres a journey, you follow a star.
When theres an ocean, you sail from afar.
And for the broken heart, there is the sky.
And for tomorrow are those who can fly.

Ah! je voudrai voler comme un oiseau daile
Ah! je voudrai voler comme un oiseau daile,
Daile...

If you really want to you can seize the day.
Only if you want to will you fly away.

----------

I'm losing track of the things I want to get. Some days I go shopping and I can't for the life of me remember what exactly I'm shopping for.

Material Wishlist:
1. A white sleeveless blouse.
2. Nice shoes - for lab sessions.
3. Loud necklace. (Heh.) And matching earrings.
4. Fitting pair of jeans.
5. Good dimo.
6. More books. Especially required textbooks. I ought to go hunt around Bras Brasah one day.
7. A big bag.
8. iPod nano. (This will take forever.)
9. A fitting skirt.
10. Laptop case.
11. A dress.
12. A shawl in another colour.
13. A pair of brown sandals.
14. Nice hairclips.

Actually it can be summed up as: More Clothes, More Accessories, More Books, More Music.

Of ripping things off blogs...

Fresh off damian's blog! (Revised and Updated)

[1] I have read a book before - duh.
[x] I have run more than 2 miles without stopping - nope, napfa is only 2.4km.
[x] I have been to Canada - one day I will.
[2] I have been on some sort of sports team - Yes, can you believe it? That was in kindergarten though.
[3] I have watched cartoons for hours before - As a kid. I don't watch TV now.
[4] I have tripped UP the stairs - Embarrassing, but true.
[x] have fallen down an entire flight of stairs - that's my brother.
[5] have been snowboarding/skiing - If you consider strapping on the skiis, then yes.
[6] I have played ping pong. -If what I was doing is considered as 'playing' and not 'making a fool of myself'.
[x] I swam in the ocean.
[x] I have been on a whale watch.
[7] I have seen fireworks. - Yes. =)
[8] I have seen a shooting star - I THINK it was one.


[x] I have seen a meteor shower. - You'd be lucky to see a star, let alone any astro phenomena.
[x] I have almost drowned. - I take very good care of myself.
[9] I have been so embarrassed I wanted to disappear - Many, many times.
[10] I have listened to one cd over & over & over again. - Ditto.
[x] I have had stitch(es) - Accident free most of the time.
[x] I have licked a frozen pole and got stuck there - Right.
[x] I have stayed up til 6am doing homework/projects - No way. I'd rather sleep.
[x] I currently have a job. - Unemployed.
[11] I have been ice skating - At Jurong East.
[12] I have been rollerblading - See comment for ping pong.
[13] I have fallen flat on my face. - Unbelievable, but true. Sigh...
[14] I have tripped over my own two feet. - See above.
[x] I have been in a fist fight.
[15] I have played videogames/com for more than 3hours straight. - Theme Hospital!
[16] I have watched The Power Rangers before.


[x] I do / have attended Church regularly. - I ought to.
[17] I have played truth or dare. - How can anyone survive in this day to my age and NOT have played a game?
[18] I have already had my 16th birthday.
[19] I have already had my 17th birthday. - So am I supposed to feel old?
[20] I've called someone stupid - Of course.
[21] I've been in a verbal argument. - I'd rather not think about them.
[22] I've cried in school. - The day after SYF 03 will always be remembered. The toilet was our crying room. Guess it was quite bad because 4 out of the 5 co members in the class were either exco members and/or very dedicated to nyco.
[x] I've played basketball on a team.
[x] I've played softball on a team.
[x] I've played football on a team. - Don't do sports.
[x] I've played soccer on a team
[x] I've done cheerleading on a team. - Never.
[x] I've swam on a team.
[23] I've been swimming more than 20 times in my life - It's one of the rare physical activities which I might actually initiate.
[24] I've climbed a rock wall before. - OBS


[25] I've lost more than $20 - When I lost my wallet.
[26] I've called someone else an idiot - Oh, definately.
[27] I've cried myself to sleep. - Many times, unfortunately.
[28] I've had (or have) pets. - Hamsters and fishes.
[x] I've owned a Spice Girls cd. and or tape - No.
[x] I've owned a Britney Spears cd - No.
[x] I've owned an N*Sync cd - No.
[x] I've owned a Backstreet Boys cd - No.
[29] I've mooned someone. - ERM, NO.
[30] I've sworn at someone in authority. - Not in her face, la. -_-"
[31] I've been in the schoolnewspaper / insights. - In primary school and JC.
[32] I've been on TV - At some mass drawing event. I wonder why I was interviewed.
[33] I've eaten sushi.
[x] I've watched all of the Lord of the Rings movies. - Nein, not a single one. The book is also collecting dust on the shelf.


[x] I've watched the 3 Stooges at least once. - What's that?
[x] I've watched "Newlyweds" Nick & Jessica. - Oh. No.
[34] I've watched Looney Tunes before. - Definately.
[x] I've been stuffed into a locker. - Nope. The lockers I see are way too small for such activities.
[35] I've been called a geek. - Someone said I look like a typical mugger. Which is ironic, because I seldom mug.
[36]I've studied hard for a test and got a bad grade. - This goes without saying.
[37] I've not studied at all for a test and aced it. - Surprisingly, it has happened.
[38] I've met a celebrity / music / TV artist. - I saw Corrinne May before. Unfortunately, I haven't listened to her songs before then and so it didn't register.
[39] I've written poetry. - More like a rhyme for Library Week in primary 5. But I won 1st prize. You can start laughing now.
[x] I've been arrested.
[x] I've been attracted to someone much older than me - Definately not MUCH older.
[x] I've been tickled till I've cried. - One day it will happen. I KNOW it.
[x] I've tickled someone else until they cried. - Do not do Unto Others What you Do Not want done Unto You.
[40] I've had / have siblings.
[x] I've been to a rock concert.
[41] I've listened to classical music and enjoyed it. - I belong to the chinese orchestra for every school I've been in. (Apart from primary school where I was tricked into choir - If I could rechoose I'd be in CO.) In fact, its the genre I like the best.


[42] I've been in a play. - Kindergarten. As 小鸡 in 小熊请客. Laugh now.
[x] I've been picked last in gym class.
[x] I've been picked first in gym class
[x] Ive been picked in that middle-range in gym class.
[43] I've cried in front of my friends. - Sad, but true.
[44] I've read a book longer than 1,000 pages - I THINK so.
[x] I've freaked out over a sports game - I generally bochup.
[x] I've vomited in public. - Not yet.
[x] I've washed someone else's vomit.
[45] I've ran away. - From problems, yes.
[x] I've had a stalker.
[46] I've had a fight with someone on txt.
[47] I've had a fight with someone face-to-face. - No physical violence, though.
[48] I've been in a car accident. - When I was on my way home from NUH where I was rushed to because I was running a high fever. That was years ago.
[49] I've forgiven someone who has done something bad to me.
[50] I've personally seen someone die. - It's harder than anything else in the world, especially if the person means a lot to you. You can spend any amount of time preparing yourself for that moment, accept that it is inevitable and knowing that it is definately better for her to go instead of suffering, but when it actually happens, when she starts to slip away, you will realise that everything is hogwash and the only thing you want then is for her to be alive and alert and healthy and screaming at you for spilling soup on the table or asking you the meaning of the chinese character which just appeared on tv or be around long enough for your wedding, like what everyone always assumed...
[x] I've been confronted by a police officer but got away.
[51] I've lost someone who meant the world. - 11 February 2006.

The tone of this entry took a decidedly sombre turn right at the end. Sorry...

Of familiar places.

Today was the first time I felt really happy in campus. It was an old familiar feeling... one I remember constantly being enveloped in in hc.

So it was after my last lecture of the day and I was crossing the road when I heard a familiar voice behind me going "Is that geraldine?" Naturally, I turned around and it was zhiyong! LOL after (nearly) 4 weeks in the same campus we finally saw each other. And the funny thing was that just a few days ago (or was it yesterday?) he was asking how come we've never seen each other although medicine and science share common areas. But I digress. I wanted to double back but I figured the taxi driver who stopped for me to cross wouldn't be too happy but it didnt matter since he was on the way to the field (-_-") to meet damian who had skipped lecture (tsk) and lying on his back in the field watching the sky. (-_-""")

Of course, being the vertically challenged people we were, we couldn't see damian anywhere on the field, although he said he could see us. Turns out he was lying at the grand stand, which really baffled me because I couldn't see the beauty of a zinc ceiling... let alone stare at it...

But it was time well spent. Sitting around, talking about anything that pops to mind, gossiping (oops.), talking about gross stuff, grousing about boring lectures and even dumber lab sessions... Its been a long time since I felt normal talking about anything. It seems like my conversations in recent weeks have become rather contrived at times, perhaps because I'm not at all familiar with everyone in many situations and hence I tend to withdraw into spectator mode. Today, for the first time in a long while, I was talking without thinking about having to tone down my facial expressions and gestures.

For those who don't know me, I talk with my mouth and hands. Its something that has always existed. I've been told to cut down on it when doing public speaking many many many times in primary school. Now the excess (and more comfortable level) only comes out when I'm talking to people I'm familiar with.

Good thing I wasted time in the bookstore and the canteen before deciding to go off or I won't run into them.

After some time we decided to go for lunch at JE. Ate at this korean restaurant which was COMPLETELY IN ORANGE. Wha. My eyes are going to water just thinking about it. Anyway, after some egging on by zhiyong, we have raised the stakes in the damian-will-get-married-by-60 bet. So up to 9.05pm just now it was S$1000 but now its repegged at S$500, not because I was afraid of losing the money, but because I was afraid that he wouldn't want to marry his love next time due to the $1000 loss on top of the costs of marriage. In that case I'd be a 千古罪人 lor. How can I deprive him and the girl of their future happiness together?! I cannot bear such a burden! =P But if the bet was smaller, ah... So we're going to get witness to amend the contract the next time we meet up. LOL.

Anyway, according to damian it seems like knowledge of the marriage-by-60 bet has been spread far and wide, away from the confines of our class. Public opinion thus far has been in MY favour. Bwahahahahahahahha.

------------------
Germany thrashed San Marino 13-0 in the Euro 2008 Qualifying. Granted, San Marino isn't a footballing power but its still a new record. Now, for Germany to keep their winning streak...

France beat Italy 3-1. Without Zidane.
WHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
-okay-
=P

A happy mistake.

Test next week and not this. =)

-----------------------

I am trying not to fall asleep at yet another bacteria lecture. I feel extremely lethargic today, which is an unfamiliar feeling for nearly the past month. I certainly hope that we don't need to learn all the bacteria classifications, because I can't see myself learning them all without falling asleep within 3 minutes into mugging.

And since I'm this bored, I shall go into detail about yesterday's 小组. I wasn't willing to go because it was 8-10pm, which meant that I would only reach home at about 11pm. However, yesterday was pretty fun because karin and I were trying out various dizi duets, as well as attempt to play 五绑子. I conclude my 五绑子 is corrupted already because I have somehow incorporated the wx and z-x version from 天籁回音. We tried 野营路上 too and we realised we er, demostrated excellent "台风" as we bent lower and lower as the song progressed because we couldn't see the scores. Tis' a pretty good way to reduce the glaring height difference, if you ask me. And of course, we tried our 喜讯传来乐开怀 but it sounded pretty terrible. I think the song can be renamed "恶讯传来众悲哀" after we mauled it AND subjected the occupants in the neighbouring halls of residence to it. (I know my chinese sucks, so try not to pick on my new title, okay? Heh.)

After that, we thought that we had to go back for 小组 so we went back in, and apparently the teacher was supposed to go through another piece for the people performing at some concert this weekend so it wasn't supposed to start yet. But this time round, I heard the teacher mention 黄土情 to the others and my brain went "!!!!" and he had the score! So we, er, borrowed it and we got past the first two pages! (Minus the 引子, la.) We're going to try to proceed past it next week. Heh.

While slacking in the Science Library...

I am sitting here while waiting for time to pass (because I have xiaozu after this GRRRRR) and I can't help but freeze up due to the overzealous air-conditioning system.

And the reason why I'm grousing about this is because not too long ago, I was sweating buckets outside the library. Hence, in the spirit of module GEK1001, I have come up with a slogan to promote Singapore. In all unseriousness, here goes,

Singapore: the only place on Earth where you can melt and freeze, as you wish and please.

I'm ready to bet that there is NOWHERE ELSE on Earth where you can be all hot and bothered one moment and then shiver in cold after shifting your location. Unless, of course, you're running a really really really high fever. In that case, you should put yourself in the nearest hospital immediately. Now.

CM1121 lab session was fairly intersting because everything was new! It's a far cry from seconday school- jc days, where the complicated and tedious experiments, such as those requiring distillation, for example, were left to teacher demostrations. In here, its just "Okay, everyone go collect your Liebig condenser and all assorted barang from that bench over there, chemicals are on that bench there, go back to your fume cupboard and start the experiment. And when I said that the NaOH and the HCl is concentrated, I mean it." All the fanciful apparatus (I've never handled a round bottom flask until today.) that we could only draw or read about or watch are actually somewhere in the building(s) for us to fiddle around with. That said, my experiment was... not very well done. The crystals resembled a irregular furry blob when lumped together. And I've already identified what must be the meanest TA in the entire group.

Mental note to self: Do Not Be Late For Lab Sessions. Because. Having to put on a Thick White Coat and Huge Protective Goggles while Sweating Buckets and Desperate to Cool Down Isn't The Best of Sensations.

Yes.

I shall now move over to CFA in the hopes that the air-conditioning there is not as enthusiastic as the system here in the library. And also attempt to stuff more German words into my on-vacation brain. Test tomorrow. Wish me luck.

A Monday.

Since today is the 4th of September, Happy Birthday to Eugene and Yisheng!

Met up with hs, zx and peipei for dinner at Pizza Hut. (Coincidentally) We were just short of jk. And we ran into caina too! Hahaha at the rate it was going, it was starting to look like a nycodizi - tchscosuona gathering at JE library.

Don't really have time to update, so I shall just upload the most classic photo of the night.

Peipei posing with his pea of a brain. We already upgraded the size of it, since he said that his brain was the size of a Po Chai pill.

Heh. Heh.

I'm blogging once again from lecture =P It's break time now, and this year's National Day song is being played. Uh. And now its the 2003 one by Stefanie Sun. =) yay! Hahahahaha they happen to be the 2 years where I attended the parade with mingyan. (Which she didn't remember at all. Sob.)

Anyway, as I mentioned yesterday, (sadly) field trip to the back of campus later. All I hope for is for NO snakes to cross my field of vision. I don't feel like fainting in front of many people.

Lecture has just restarted.