I haven't been around for days. Not that I didn't want to, but rather I wasn't able to. For one, prelims are closing in, and I'm down here fretting my kness away trying to figure out everything that needs to be figured out. For two(which, in my opinion, is THE crucial reason for my absence), my laptop was BROKEN.
Nope, your eyes aren't playing tricks on you. And nope, I did not use the wrong word. It IS the literal meaning of the words in caps. Quoted from Mr Chan "say what you mean and mean what you say", and so, my laptop is BROKEN.
Now you may ask, how the hell is it BROKEN? Well, I'm down here as dumbfounded as you are. The metal plate at the battery compartment just cracked and snapped, causing the right hinge to be slightly detached, and it gets aggravated when I pull my screen down. Or rather, seeing it being lift up as I press the screen down is ultra agonizing to me.
So, my laptop is BROKEN, and I can't go online, can't go on MSN. What's worse? The hostel comps are all malfunctioning so right now, if you want to know how it feels like being detached from the world and live like a primitive ape in a cave, you can come and ask me.
Still, I can't help but think that my lappie has a mind of its own. It chooses to give up just when I desperately need this isolation from distractions at this time. So without my lappie functioning and luring me into procrastination, I'm proud to say, that my prelims are just around the corner and I'm in the library studying most of the time. That's simply because there's no more lappie for me to switch on and blast musics out loud.
This is starting to sound cliche, and if you are a frequent blog surfer, you'd by now, have seen it repeating over and over again on other blogs. But I ought to be reminded of it, and so I shall be cliche and remind you - whose time is running out as well, and me - whose time is already speeding away - that ourtime is running out! So given only 24hours a day, of which 14 are spent (hopefully) on studying, 7 on sleeping, and three on eating cum bathing cum stoning, there is actually 24-14-7-3=0 hours for blogging!
That means, if you can't find me anywhere around this swan lake for a continuous period of time, my absence can only be explained by either: 1. I am studying, OR 2. I'm sleeping/eating/bathing/stoning.
Whichever is the case, you still have to applaud, for I manage to get my fingers off the comp.
Before I retreat to oblivion, I changed the song - from Swan Lake to If I Ain't Got You.
And I reinstate. MY LAPTOP IS BROKEN. *criesss!!!!* *** Some things were unsaid, do they mean what they ought to mean?
Friday, August 24, 2007 21:51
I've figured out something after today's incidents. No, not INCIDENT, but INCIDENTS. With special emphasis on the 'S' at the end.
Even if I'm crowned the 'no manners queen', I don't care. Because I'm merely reporting, with a little narration and description, what I see, what I hear, what has been done, and what is being done. Despite constant feedbacks and protests, the hostel management still goes with their self-perceived perfect decisions. Their so-called 'feedback' or 'dialogue' sessions are just a means to show and try convince us that they are democratic. A means to appease us, make us happy, so that we would not be so much of a rebel, since we are the more senior of boarders here.
Blablabla, blablabla. Or so they preach. Everytime we make any complaints or statements, they will be rebutted with full force, explaining -or rather, asserting - the REASON behind their doing so and expects us to accept unquestioningly their great rationales. If not, they will show these empathetic faces and agree very much to help improve the current situation or inconvenience we raised. If only we were three-year-olds who can't tell the difference between sincerity and half-heartedness, we would hail and salute them for their 'undying care and concern'.
Their first miscalculation - I am a fully sane nineteen year old who can tell the difference between a fallacy and the truth.
So after one week of internet breakdown they finally got it rectified. Too soon for applause, for I could not log onto the comp again! It's bizarre because half an hour later, I was still blog-surfing before going down for dinner. Astounded by this bizarre happening, I made my way down to the GO to lodge a complaint/inform them of this bizarre event/express my frustrations etc. Then, I was met with this Mr S*g who was fondling with his digital cam at his workplace, who merely looked up when I first broke the news of not able to sign in to him. Then, when I was still talking, he looked back on his digital cam and started pressing it.
You know, when other people are talking to you, it's only polite to look at them, at least LISTEN to what they are saying? So what is this? An OM in the hostel who is completely ignorant or unaware of this very fundamental social expectation? Oh great. What an EXCELLENT example.
Then I reinstated. "Mr S*g I could not log onto the comps." He looked up, blinked. "The vendors said all comps were functioning when they checked just now." "YEAH precisely. I COULD go online before I had my dinner, and now I can't even LOG ON."
"Then maybe you have to wait for Monday lo. But they said it's fixed already."
"NO. I cannot LOG ON even. It's the comps' problem with MY ACCOUNT. They said it's the password error but half an hour ago I could log on using the SAME password!"
"Oh then I cannot do anything also."
"HUH? What you mean you cant DO anything?"
"Ya wad."
"I NEED the comp. I've been put under inconvenience for ONE WEEK already. It's important."
"Then there's nothing I can do."
What do you mean you can't do anything? It's my ACCOUNT problem, and you can do very much to help me see what went wrong! It's not something to do with the internet connection! What a brainless excuse for me to leave you to your vices - which essentially revolve around procrastination on your part.
You know what I did? I gave the you-are-such-an-ass-stare back at him, in which he reciprocated by (finally) look into my eyes, and I seized the moment and rolled my eyes AT HIM because I knew he would see it. Then I let out an intentional and scornful "HUH" deliberately loud enough to be audible to him, turning 180degrees, and walked - or rather - stamped my way to the door.
I stopped short at the door, grabbed the handle tight, swung it hard open, at the same time making sure that the little bells clashed against each other as loud as possible, and using the momentum to swing myself out of that GO. Not forgetting to swing it back as hard as before.
The GENERAL office should not be called GEneRAL at all. It's a procrastination hub, for IT retards like MR S*g to gaze in astonishment at... well, a digital camera. Oh, it should not be something surprising as he came from the cave.
My words are menacing? I have no manners? Well, it's time YOU earn them!
15:22
I don't know what I'm feeling, or supposed to feel. Everyone has a protocol to follow; some code we adhere to no matter which direction the sun rises tomorrow. For all this time I've been (or THOUGHT I have been) following some sort of lines lay out in front of me. I became what they want me to be.
Rollercoaster - you are slowly being sent up, til a point when the only step for you to take is to plunge all the way down and you can't turn back, you fall, face down until you are taken back up again. It's a continuous process - you can anticipate what's next, but you can't pause it once you set it in motion. Exciting, yes. Provided you've got the capacity to take in such 'excitement'.
I had a ride of my life this week. There's a pattern identified - just when you think all is going on well and positive, it starts moving in the opposite direction. So hopes turn into disappointments, delights become despairs. A full-bloom morning glory becomes wrinkled at the end of the day. This process manifested itself into a cycle and repeated itself for so many times in the space of five days alone, that I am somehow desensitized towards it happening again now.
Perhaps the rapid transition from joy to misery is too huge a tide to surf against.
As usual (told you I'm desensitized already), that lift in the female block went haywire again. It's not something new, until it decided to take revenge on me for my past cursings and swearings. So one day, it opened it's jaw for me to walk innocently inside, and closed them. Closed them tight. It decided to not take my orders of going down to the first floor, that it stayed, hanging, on sixth floor, with no intention to budge whatsoever despite my furious jabbing at the 1st floor button. Horrified, I pressed hard for the door to open. The lift must have had such a good time playing the fool on me that it decided to slam shut its door, which was going against its nature of opening them when the 'open' button was pressed, let alone jabbed.
What a great encounter with a smart lift which knows who to take revenge on. Needless to say in a brilliant hostel which spends unnecessary money on unnecessary (and often proven brainless) renovations.
When most of us were fretting over table arrangement on our Grad Night, I received calls which suggested some unfeasible 'alternatives' by those in charge. 'Alternatives' they suggested were taking up 'alternative' meals (which means NON chinese) on that day, or paying up for the two invisible friends to make the count ten. So you are telling me I either paid EIGHTY SINGAPORE DOLLARS for eating what cows and goats do - the greens, or I'm paying ONE HUNDRED SINGAPORE DOLLARS for Marina Mandarin ballroom and CHINESE dish for MY GRAD NIGHT. Do the maths, dude. Calculate opportunity cost. You are telling me I'm such an irrational consumer who makes dumb choices. Suzzy said,"Why not we just boycott them?" My sentiments exactly. But we don't have the same status quo - they have already taken my 80bucks.
So when yesterday the guy rang and said the eight of us would be split up into two tables, joining some other people whom we do not know for dinner, I thought, alas! something brilliant and reasonable, despite us being so reluctant to split up. This morning after assembly, we rushed to the board to see if the eight of us would be at close proximity, just to find that three of us went table-less. You can never imagine how bewildered(quoted from my GP tutor) and outraged I was, and we were. So I texted the guy who called me up yesterday to demand an explanation for yesterday's facade over the phone. And this was his reply "We will explain to you the complications as you did not hand in a complete form." So we were to blame for not getting ten people to our table?? Just imagine if we had not submitted the form - there would be EIGHT people, all paid 80bucks, table-less. What a blast, just like they've promised us.
But gladly, in the end, our table matter was solved. I hope I did not appear so much of a voracious monster who threatened to tear the guy apart when we gathered around the SC room for explanation. I still think we did the right thing, despite us storming there like a mob. Because we got a very good outcome - we are sitting together again, just as planned.
Always when I'm least watchful, you came in and took over everything else. But just as swift as you entered, you left with all the rainbows you brought along, leaving me in a state of astonishment, and delight, which soon metamorphosed into despair.
Monday, August 20, 2007 23:38
"When I was small, and Christmas trees were tall, we used to love while others used to play. Don't ask me why, but time has passed us by, someone else moved in from far away.
Now we are tall, and Christmas trees are small, and you don't ask the time of day. But you and I, our love will never die, but guess who'll cry come first of May.
The apple tree that grew for you and me, I watched the apples falling one by one. And as I recall the moment of them all, the day I kissed your cheek and you were gone.
Now we are tall, and Christmas trees are small, and you don't ask the time of day. But you and I, our love will never die, but guess who'll cry come first of May.
When I was small, and Christmas trees were tall, do do do do do do do do do ... Don't ask me why, but time has passed us by, someone else moved in from far away." -First Of May, Sarah Brightman.
Looking back at when we were still kids who run around the backyard playing the game of 'pretence', I'm really envious of innocent children still enjoying their childhood and who are in the process of sculpturing their own childhood memories.
For whatever I'm doing now will never be considered 'childhood memories', even if they are interesting and memorable.
When I was small, and Christmas trees were tall, I held my Dad and Mom's hands side by side, and was assured of a worry-free day after day.
Now I am tall, and Christmas tress still towering, I held out my hand, only to grope about in darkness. I'm standing on a cliff that plunges down a thousand feet vertically into a vast, bottomless ocean.
What faith is there for me to hold on to?
Sunday, August 19, 2007 01:37
I'm becoming nocturnal. Look at the time this is published. It's either this, or that fireworks is soul awakening. Makes a polar bear so alive and kicking when she's supposed to be hibernating.
I did not miss the hype about fireworks today. It's China's turn to show off what they've got. Volume, is what they have. Loud, was what they were. But fireworks are still fireworks. They never lose their special therapeutic function despite the 'newly-improved' sound system, just for today. ***
They jealousy is women's specialty. They said mood-swings are women's rights. I didn't like the way it's said for there was sarcasm attached. But now, they seem so apt. Was it indignity, laid with a pinch of anger, or perhaps hatred, garnished by sour powder that translates to jealousy? I'm jealous? What explains that little flame that just ignited itself when you just left, just like that?
Saturday, August 18, 2007 01:21
It is 2356 hr as I’m typing here. The thrill of watching fireworks display right before my eyes has not fully passed, and therefore I’m here, still here despite heavy protests by various parts of my body.
What made it special and much talked about even before the display itself was its nature of being ‘musical’. Much anticipation was going on prior to the first spark that tore the monotonous sky apart. Three of us – Aulia, Julie and me – were surprised to find ourselves positioned comfortably by the bay with a good view of the black night sky. It was really considered good as our vision was not blocked by any trees at all! That was despite our late arrival. In relative terms again, of course.
When we were starting on another round of card game, people around us suddenly stood up. Being trained so well in handling sudden environmental changes, three of us literally sprang to our feet. The lights that lit the electrical lanterns up were killed. It’s starting, we thought.
Nothing happened. The lights resumed their usual brightness, as if they had not gone off at all.
Moments later, there was sudden darkness. People screamed with excitement. It’s starting, we thought.
Nothing happened, again. Now why was I not surprised at all!
Until much later, which was really much later, some spotted little flying objects in the air, flying and cruising as they pleased. Upon scrutiny, they were actually those triangular kites used during NDP 2007! Oh my what a wonderful start, I exclaimed. Under the trees at first, they whirled around like little fireflies in the night. Colourful as they were, they soon dispersed from where they started, and cruised into un-ventured air.
Spotlights followed, from the floating platform. In rhythm with the music, they dashed and darted here and there – a prelude of what we were going to see.
Then it happened. The first explosion of yellow that painted the sky, well, yellow of course. Like a chain reaction, one explosion followed another, each with increasing mix of colours and shapes. The red, the blue, the yellow, the green, danced like never before in the dark blue sky in synchrony with the music played. Though I must say, the music was barely audible amidst all the “whoa!” and “oooh!”.
We witnessed the work of an incredible artist, who painted happiness and life, on a piece of dark blue canvas, using only perfectly random brushes and splashes of yellow, red, green and blue. The work was spectacular – one that I’ll always remember. The instant when explosions after explosions happened in the sky with negligible pause in between, I just could not stop screaming. Of life, of joy, of excitement. So was everyone around me, so would anyone who witnessed that.
To say it was beautiful was an understatement. It was more than beautiful to make us FEEL it. When the tiny traces of colours fell from the end of the explosions, it was so real that people, including me, tried to grab them. For me, I wanted to grab that little trace of hope, of true happiness, even though it was just illusionary.
Illusionary, yes. For however real it made you feel, it did not last. It wasn't meant to last, anyway.
Anyway, we did not head home straight after the display. The three of us were still so stunned by the very beauty of fireworks, so we lingered around the bay, and stopped at the stage, where an R&B concert was going on. There was a lady with a very powerful voice flaunting her vocal range. She was so good that all of us stopped short to listen to her. Soon after, a guy took over when she went backstage to rest.
AND I WAS SO SO SO STUNNED BY THAT GUY'S SEXY AND HUSKY VOICE OMG!! The moment he started his first note, you could hear everyone murmur in astonishment. I'm not good at describing voice, so all I can say is, he has a voice of gravity that pulls the audience towards him. So I was down there, totally immobilised because he has numbed my feet from walking away. Of course, I could not stop staring at him hahaha. Not strikingly handsome, but he was handsome when he sang!
Disclaimer: No matter how much I say he's handsome, he is still one notch below my Sexy Saxy guy. The sexy Saxophonist who was soooo handsome, cool, stylo, pro, sexy...
Most of the time, it's the company you have that makes everything next to perfect, if not already so. Had I gone to watch fireworks alone, I would not have screamed feel the excitement and happiness coming from within as much as I felt just now. Had I gone to watch fireworks alone, I would have been reminded of some instances from the past which I would very much want them buried. I would not have been as happy as I was today.
Last note: So Suzzy gave her FREE ticket to Jiale, and I spotted KYLIE with her sis and her friend just BEHIND me! Not long after that I saw RICKY coming to the bay. Amazing, wasn't it, for me to be able to pick out individuals from the massive crowd? Well, actually I saw his Nike bag first, so I just looked at who was bringing that bag and TADAA! RICKY here!
Monday, August 13, 2007 19:47
I am nineteen years and one day old today.
Since my BIG day fell on a Sunday where everybody yawned and dreaded because the next day is a school day again and they just hate to part with their 5day-long holiday, I went to school today and whoala! Weifen Suzzy Hp Jiale Karen and Taitai wished me Happy Birthday again! Thanks babes! Aww Mao did not come today but I SUPPOSE she'll say that too if she was present, right? Mao you better say yes!
Karen gave me this holder with Disney cartoons inside, especially Mickey Mouse! Jiale gave me something delicate and sweet. Nice thanks lele! And then the Looneys got me a group PE shirt look-a-like, only difference is that unlike group PE shirt, this one has got green and white stripes horizontally on this shirt. Oh and a necklace from Isetan too(: Somehow I thought it must be telepathy. That day I was still fretting over lack of necklace to match my tops, and TADAA! A brand new one(: Some more I needed something to at least hold my notes or tutorials together for school and TADAA! A holder all the way from HK!! Thanks everyone(:
Sunday, August 12, 2007 19:54
I'm still overwhelmed with joy when I think back on what happened in the past 24 hours. Each one of them has something in common - the element of SURPRISE.
Oh my swan lake in this enchanted forest! Art thou really bringing my fantasies of a pixie to reality? For I felt so blessed like never before, and surprises after surprises came in just the space of 24hours.
Someone whom I never thought will remember what August 12 means (esp not after all that has happened) sent me a birthday sms. Thanks, it meant alot.
The supposedly ordinary Cafe Cartel cheesecake date with Ricky arriving, as usual, late, ended with a whole lot of cam-whoring, with Ricky and the little cake he bought for me. For one, I didn't expect a CAKE from him (I thought he'd just send me an sms at 12). AND, I didn't expect the reason for him to turn up late was him going to airport right after his church service to get the cake. What can I say, Ricky, you always never fail to give me good times with surprises.
YONGYI AKA MY LAOGONG WAS SO GREAT AT SURPRISES AND MAKING THEM SO SUBTLE! She came into my room, the usual talk, and left with the pretext of doing her laundry. And when I wanted to ask her to come around for the cake, I opened my door and TADAA! A present sitting right in front of me! I didn't know when and how she did that, but she was such a pro and left NO clues at all! There's no wonder why I love her so much muacks!!
Dad's call at half and hour to 12 midnight made me soooo happy! Dad's the man and I LOVE MY DADDY SO SO SO SO MUCH!
Right at 12 midnight that signified the start of August 12 AND my official turning 19, my handphone rang almost non-stop with my message tones and ringtones. Featured contributors of my continuous use of handphone were:
KS, who called right at 12 midnight. Buddy you rock. HP, Weifen and Lele who messaged. Thanks so much. McCarl and Xtin's conference call to say happy birthday!! Man I must say that's most surprising! Aulia, who texted me late at night. Aulia I can never say enough thank you to you man. Emily's long distance birthday wish. I did not expect a CALL all right! Likoon's long dist call at late midnight. Same thing - call was unexpected! CS, who messaged me at 1-something AM. Huiying, who sent a surprise sms to surprise me on a birthday. So sweet of you, girl! Ricky, who asked me to remember to finish the cake he bought. Thanks Ricky(: Keong Keong's "Happy Birthday" sms. I could almost see his face appearing next to the words LOL.
I guess I was SO overwhelmed by surprises after surprises in the middle of the night that I did not at all feel sleepy.
Today, the surprises continued.
Kexin messaged. I couldn't recognize her number. SHE REMEMBERS MY BIRTHDAY OMG. That's so sweet of her little girl. Thanks Kexin!
Then Mao texted, too. Meow thanks!
Piggy and Taitai messaged. I'm sorry taitai I really thought I replied you but turned out I sent the reply meant for Piggy to YOU! Piggy and Taitai thanks you both of you and yes Piggy my pocket has a real BIG hole inside now.
When I signed in on MSN, a dialogue box popped up and it turned out to be an offline message from Emily! Surprise!
Evon's really nice glitter birthday wish on friendster.
Anavil's birthday wish. Wah this is really unexpected.
Linh's birthday wish on friendster as well.
And Zong's 'LOLLOLLOL' birthday wish. LOL!
SF's nineteen candles message. That was really creative((: Thanks babe!
Suzzy's message informing me that eighteen days later she'll be one year OLDer than me LOL! Suzzy is really creative. Compare number of candles on our cakes some more.
Shuming's "just when you thought everyone's enjoying the weekend and forgot today, you are wrong" message! Haha thanks ShuM!
And then I started receiving anonymous birthday wishes, starting with a long dist call from AUSTRALIA by none other than (Sir)Isaac! This is the second time in two years, he surprised me by calling me ON MY BIRTHDAY to wish me happy birthday!! Man he just rocks all right. And oh, may he recover from his fever-flu-cough-sore throat-and-I-dunno-what-else.
Merryn (with her usual 'Auntie Ivy') texted. Thanks and now I have her number(:
Most classic case scenario - Jit. I always thought I had his number, til just now. The interesting part is, he always thought he had my number, til last night. Thanks Jit for giving me your number LOL!
My beauty nap after Vivo trip was interrupted by this call, by who I did not see properly before picking up. Turned out to be Sam, who asked me alot of questions regarding presents for a GIRL. Then I was like, huh? Where's the nearest place you can find presents for a girl? I went, 'Orchard?' The entire conversation was hilarious. Mind you, my mind wasn't fully awaken yet. Then he asked me 'why not you help me buy a present for a girl?' And I went totally "WHAT?!" Then they broke into a series of laughters and 'Happy Birthday' was heard among the giggles. That was SO creative Ah Sam and Guanhoe! They even sent me an mms present LOL!
Ok. I've finally finished the whole long list of credits. Now I'm gonna talk about my present for myself, on my turning nineteen.
Weeks ago, I bought this coffee-toned dress. Today, I wore it for the first time. Yippee! Then I went to Vivo (in that dress) with my roomate for lunch. I thought of doing something I've never done in the past nineteen years, as something 'special' to my nineteenth birthday. So I got my brow shaped and trimmed, for the FIRST time.
I am such a BRAVE girl alright! Now my brows look so different that Kaigai, after saying "Ivy! Happy birthday", immediately said "did you cut your hair? (huh?) NO! Did you do something to your eyebrows?" Haha. But no worries, I don't have anorexic brows LOL! ***
To you who made my turning nineteen happening and surprising, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. For you gave me 24 hours of what it feels like being a princess.
"How's your nineteenth birthday so far?" Aulia asked. "I must say it's the best birthday for as far as I can remember!" said I. ***
I'm happy I got your company when I needed one. Though nothing will ever come out of both of us, it was still the best birthday I had. Because you played a part in it.
I don't hope you'll see this at all. I'm just saying this to get it off my chest. I enjoy your company, in a way you might not realize. Yet I do not know if that is called 'I have a crush on you'. The times I spent with you, just got cemented and whenever I'm bored or something, I'll think of them.
Saturday, August 11, 2007 19:32
"And they lived, Happily Ever After"
When I was on the verge of succumbing to insanity because my brain was too simple to understand the complexity of complex numbers, two silhouettes entered my vision field, and took the table adjacent to ours. Nothing too interesting about them at first, until what they did grabbed my attention.
Actually, it was more of what they were DO-ing, which took way too long. Both of them grabbed the edge of the table to support their weight while painstakingly bending their knees to a sitting position. I say, none of you can feel the way I felt unless you see the whole process happening right in front of you. Old age must have taken a toll on them. Their knees were shaking violently, and so were their arms. I couldn't take it anymore. I wanted so much to rescue them (and myself) out of this agony.
Just before I sprang on my feet, they managed to be seated on their chairs. I could almost hear my sigh of relief. Then I started to observe them.
There were barely any exchange of words. Audible words, that is. All there were, were eye contacts. It was as if actions suffice any other word that ought to be said, and eye contacts overrate everything else. Little gestures such as Old Granpa handing Grandma a piece of paper hankerchief for her to wipe that little traces of juice left on her lips, so casual, yet showing much depth of what they have that is unique to them - LOVE.
Yes, LOVE. A four lettered word much pursued by most, if not every, living being. And today, I was presented, right before my eyes, a true display of LOVE.
They ate in silence, they communicated with each other in silence, merely through glances and little gestures. Despite his arthritis, Old Grandpa rushed to get Grandma some water to go with her medicine. He did not need to ask what Grandma wanted to have for lunch, for he knew the answer very well. Despite his stiff fingers, Old Granpa still helped Grandma cut up her fish, and poured a little ketchup on every other piece of fries on her plate. Later, he even gestured Grandma her portion of salad. He was concerned if Grandma's fish and chips was too oily for her.
There was a period of time, though not long per se, where Grandpa wasn't at his seat. He must have gone somewhere. Then I looked at Grandma. Calm as she always was, she sat comfortably on the wooden chair, patiently waiting for her husband's return. She started taking paper hankerchiefs and folded them into little triangles. I thought she was trying to occupy herself during the wait.
I took a few peeps at her the whole time. Even I was anxious as to where Grandpa has gone for he disappeared for very long. I made glances at the entrances to see if he was back. But Grandma was not the least anxious. She knew her husband will come back. She knew no matter how long he took, he will come back. Therefore she was not impatient, not anxious. Something was coming out of her, though she made no figetting, no sound, merely folding her paperhankerchief. It was trust.
Trust. In yourself and your significant other. Hard to gain, easy to lose, as they claim. How many of us really put our trust on others? Do you trust your boyfriend/girlfriend as must as Grandma trusts Grandpa? Every action was done with precise meaning, like a code, which only their partner will comprehend. To outsiders like me, it's another astonishment. They, the outsiders, can never unwind the subtleties of meanings and feelings both of them share.
It's like a code. THEIR code.
I know not of their past, but certainly they looked like they lived a wonderful past with each other. A fairytale, spun out of fate, embellished with love, and held intact with trust.
How wonderful a pair! How envious will the world be at their blissful life!
Finally, Old Grandpa returned. I heaved a sigh of relief again, on behalf of Old Grandma. He came back with a loaf of bread in a grocery bag. Instinctively, he came over and helped Grandma stand up. I should think it must be agonizing for someone with arthritis and old age to stand up after she sat down for near to 45minutes.
In silence, again, they left, both supporting each other as they walked out of the cafe.
In silence, I watched their backs as they left, thinking about how I would be when I reach an age as old as theirs. Deep down inside, I sincerely gave them my best of wishes.
Portrayal of a 'happy ever after' could never be more apt.
Thursday, August 09, 2007 20:30
Today is August 9th. A big day for Singaporeans. Happy National Day my Singaporean peeps!
Today the Ipoh Gang which consist of those who left after J3 came out for a gathering. Actually, it was much of a small talk. Four participants - Simpson, Courtney, Wings and yours truly - met up at Soup Spoon, Orchard (in Paragon, in case you aren't aware). I believe there wouldn't be much of a need for me to outline everything that happened throughout the gathering.
In short, other than much soup gobbling, much table-talking, much exaggerating, our lunch passed by rather peacefully still.
I still feel obliged to say something about it. So here it goes. Simpson was still the Simpson you know, not that un-recognizable in the crowd. Courtney got herself tanned (as she claimed, but I still think she's FAIR) and got some hair extension with waves I envy much. Wings looked as if he has got himself an eye-enlargement, if there was this type of cosmetic surgery in the first place. Because he slimmed down (no longer the Fat Hing LOL) his face became lean. Consequently his eyes got a bigger proportion of his entire face. Therefore an eye-enlargement surgery done.
Courtney was so on with taking neoprints so the lot of us were led to this neoprint shop (like, duh?) straightly AFTER we bought our movie tickets. I shall talk about the movie later. Because the four of us were CHINESE and Jap-illiterates, we practically anyhow tapped on the commands. And before we knew it, "Snap!" there went our first picture. We must have made hell of a noise inside that small little cubicle. I say, people outside must be so amused to see four quite-grown-up-teenagers coming out of that machine when they thought the noise must have come from bubbly KIDS who were new at taking neoprints and ultra-excited.
The outcome : I want to go take again. Any takers?
Here comes the movie review. Remember I told you before, that I won't want to watch 'Secret' at all? Today that movie proved to me that, on top of not to judge a book by its cover, we should not also judge a movie by its cast. I had no intention to watch 'Secret' because I thought JayChou would set a chain reaction that ends with a monotonous movie. I have no problems with Jay as a singer, but as an ACTOR?
I wouldn't discourage anyone from watching 'Secret', now that I've watched it. The plot is brain-teasing. The supporting actor (I'm referring specifically to 黄秋生 who played Jay's father. Again.) spiced up the entire thing. Most of all, it was likened to a piano appreciation session.
You get to feast your eyes and ears on superb piano music. All those notes running smooth and sleek across the black and white keys. All of us were so stunned by Jay's skills (I'm still stunned even if you tell me it's all computer effects) and those who played the piano swear they'll start playing the piano again. That actually refers to Wings and me. But we have not touched the piano for.. four years!
And right now, I'm asking a favour from all of you. If you happen to come across the piano score for "Secret", would you please print a copy for me? I so want to lay my fingers on the score which transports people through time!
Lastly, I shall say I'm making myself a mugger tomorrow. But how when I keep feeling the lack of presentable tops in my wardrobe?
Wednesday, August 08, 2007 19:36
I nearly jumped off my bed when my roomate turned on her table lamp. It took me quite some time to register today's date and my planned absence from school. After all that sank in, I fell back on my pillow with a slight thud, and drifted once more into wonderland. The next time I opened my eyes, it was nine in the morning.
Not-So-Interesting Stats: 14 out of 25 from CG27/06 were present today. 8 of the absentees were Looney Royales.
When I say unity is strength, this is it XD
Though no one can be sure if our doing this will piss someone off or not. But who cares. Not like ponning is something RARE and despicable. ***
Had I not gone over to her friendster profile, I wouldn't ever be aware she has a new boyfriend. I was momentarily startled, of course, for I thought her break up wasn't that long ago and as far as I remember, it was a painful one.
That's why it sort of shocked me. It shocked me not because she is into relationship again, but rather why, how come, I wasn't even aware of it. Sometimes I got a little desensitized towards her break&patches, I admit, but somehow it feels kind of awful when someone you regard as closest undergoes a change in life which you are completely ignorant of.
It feels... like you have become detached out of a sudden.
Being in different schools we hardly see each other. That's true. But a string of friendship fostered for six years and still counting should not be so fragile.
Or is it originally, so fragile the trust between humans?
speaking, not in words
Tuesday, August 07, 2007 16:22
it's funny how some songs, if listened at the right time, can invoke so much tears in me. Though I had never played this song before, but now I guess I know perfectly how Why will feel when she hears this again.
15:10
I haven't been doing alot of things. I haven't been bringing my Complex Numbers near completion, neither have I got the time to blog. All was a chain reaction, and the trigger was this book named "Nineteen Minutes" by Jodi Picoult.
"In nineteen minutes, you can mow your front lawn, colour your hair, watch a third of a hockey game, or get your tooth filled by a dentist. In nineteen minutes, you can bake scones and fold laundry for a family of five.
In nineteen minutes, you can bring the world to a screeching halt. In nineteen minutes, you can get revenge.
All in nineteen minutes."
Following the book was like watching Columbine Massacre, or even the most recent Virginia Tech rampage, scene by scene, shot by shot. Then you are engaged in a quest to find out the reason why - why such rampage ever takes place. But you are not presented the facts in black and white in the form of a sheet in front of you. You'll have to draw inferences from the words - words people say, words of people's thoughts, and of course, words that outline people's actions in the book. Then you think, think what is the cause for such atrocity.
Once I started, I had no intention to stop halfway.
I always think that metaphorically speaking, many human feelings are likened to snowball rolling. If experienced time and again, they intensify - the snowball gets bigger. If left untouched, no efforts done to dim their effects on one's fragile soul, this snowball keeps rolling, and gaining in size. Over time, this snowball may get too big and gets out of your hands, out of your control, and it plunges all the way down the hill, crashing into a village at the bottom.
And BOOM. You've got your Virginia Tech incident.
Outsiders perceive this as an unfortunate event, but really (in Mrs Loke's tone), it is up to us to find out the true cause. If you are living near that hill, you'll be able to see evidences of this snowball increasing in size, however subtle they are.
I don't know exactly what I'm supposed to say. I just feel this uncanny feeling of a deja vu as I was reading. Are there similar instances of snowballs rolling amongst us? Are there people inflicting psychological harm to others without conscience reprimanding themselves? Are there, delicate feelings intensifying with each passing day without any one of us being aware of it?
Sunday, August 05, 2007 10:45
If action speaks louder than words, and pictures speak a thousand words, then we would have spoken more than a million words with volume that surpassed any loudspeaker or amplifier, all in just last night alone.
The '1830' meeting time is never '1830' in reality. I went over slightly later than the stipulated 1830, yet to find myself being the first to reach! Can't believe I'm still relatively punctual hehehXD Being a good mouse I strode in BIG strides towards KimGary and queued.
VivoCity lived up to her name of being a labyrinth yesterday (though not to me!)! When I started queuing, SF was already in that maze of a building. She said she was coming straight to KimGary, so I continued queuing. After a long time, LK appeared beside me. No sign of SF. Then when our turn was finally here, CS and Evon came. Still no sign of SF. If I said I took 20minutes from the moment I started queuing to the moment I sat down at my table, SF took 20minutes as well, but to wade her way through the labyrinthine structure to get herself to KimGary.
The rest of the story in KimGary is pretty much understood. What happens when you put FIVE nutcases together in a meal?
A pint of jokes, a litre of laughter, and overdose of pictures.
Let's play a game of guessing:
Which fork is mine? Draw some hint from the picture below: Each finger is pointing to the fork that belongs to each one of us. Answer will be revealed in a short while.
I got psycho-ed to get into the pond with my jeans rolled all the way above my knees. And of course, alot of failed attempts in taking a photo of the five of us using ONE camera phone. Hilarious, totally.
Picture gallery (still incomplete and I'm waiting for the rest to upload theirs):
Our CHOCOLATE cake. It's CHOCOLATE-y enough to make you stone after a few mouthfuls. We gave a slice to the smart waitress who took our orders and served us. We are such NICE people heh!
The to-be birthday girls. Aren't those the most angelic faces you've ever seen now?
Of course, there should always be SIX of us, not just five. So Emily, though you were unable to join us yesterday, we still left you a portion, and here it is:
Sincerely created by CS, and creatively decorated by LK and me, the portion we dedicated to you! Now aren't you TOUCHED?? Wahaha! If you take a closer look at it, you'll find that it's a very apt portrayal of "a flower on cow dung" (translated from a Chinese saying).
There are more pictures coming, but wait till I lay my hands on them.
Lastly, a BIG thank you to SF LK CS EVon for making my yesterday wonderful!! Will always love you babes!
PS: The answer to the photo-quiz above - my fork is the third from the left and right. Yep that one.
Friday, August 03, 2007 19:30
My new adoption of an eat-healthy policy is completely foiled, special credits to pre-September baby boom in both the year 1988 and 1989. Now that I have a long list of appointments sprawled all over my planner for the month of August, I can be sure of the abandonment of this newly adopted, seemingly pathetic policy. At the same time, I am almost guaranteed of increments in the circumference of my used-to-be-minute waist. But oh wells, given my honourable nature of valuing friends next to money (oh my I just declared to the whole wide world I'm money-minded) it's only my duty to make their big days memorable. Even at the expense of my wallet...
Today is the day that graced the turning eighteen of another member of the great Looney Royale - Meowth, or better known as Mao (name given credits to her frequent cat whimpers). I sacrificed my ThermoChem late last night just to wrap her present in a creative way. After painstakingly turning and taping the 'thing' into the shape of a candy for so long (and also sacrificed some of my sleep), I was so smart to forget completely about the existence of the 'sweet' in the Mu-ee bag sitting inside my cupboard when I left my room this morning.
In the end, the six of us went to Sakae@Parkway for our long-awaited sushi lunch buffet! A pity Suzzy and Lele did not join us in our usual way of conducting meal sessions outside school with constant and unpredicted outbursts of giggles! It was value for money nonetheless, considering the fact that six of us finished some 110+ dollars worth of SUSHI and chawanmushi and temaki. At the end of the day, six balloons rolled out of Sakae@Parkway and headed home.
And the birthday girl threw up watermelons which she gobbled down last minute wholesale! Luckily she felt much more at ease after the, err.. toilet visit.
So at the end of the day, all the balloons went home without even the slightest idea of taking dinner flashing across their minds. Let us deflate over time...
***
"...it is mind-boggling that despite having 'out-of-order' notices stuck on the (card) readers, students still lift the paper notices UP and tap their cards on the readers." -F.Tong, 3rd August 2007
Everyone on the parade square: *LOLs*
***
I daresay I have, knowingly and unknowingly, incurred the wrath of different people in this year alone. Some which I deeply regret, while the majority of others are somehow... nonsensical. Yes, indignant as I am at the moment. As such, I shan't elaborate much on the recent politics that spread across CG27/06 yet again, this time with one side shooting arrows of self-perceived-justice, while the other retorted and protected themselves with shields of indignity and, to some extent, rage.
It's mind-boggling - quoted from our DM - that in spite of having peaceful co-existence for so long, this equilibrium has to be disturbed in this... disturbing way. Has the temperature risen? Or an increase in concentration of reactants (Uh oh, I'm reminded of the 'unwanted penetration' hmm.)? Or even an alteration of pressure, that is, if we are gaseous in the first place?
What do you think?
My take will be the change in pressure. It makes sense to say we are gaseous because some of us are volatile. So with the pre-exam stress exerting its effects on us - meek and poor gas molecules, it's not difficult to comprehend the disequilibrium we are experiencing. See, evidence of change in pressure (exam stress)! Oh my have I told you I've always been amazed by my ability to argue my way through unsubstantiated arguments?
A series of chain events follows. Where and when will it end? What is that that's beneath that faint smile that translates to a 'Hello'? Because if I'm an unhappy pixie, there's no way to pull my lips across my cheeks in the exact way you do.
On this lake where white swans sail freely, the pixie saw the truth in the water.
Thursday, August 02, 2007 16:15
A sequence of events prompted me to move out of my comfort zone, characterized by much stupidity and feigning ignorance. I realize it does little or no good to myself if I continue to stay in this insignificant shell of a tortoise's, pretending and deceiving myself that all would be well and good when I stick my head the next moment.
Therefore, I'm stepping into another realm - of pixies and fantasies, of fairies that paint beautiful stories.
Those who just set foot here, congrats for not being a direction-idiot and welcome!
Indignity. An affront to one's dignity. I can't understand why, instead of reasoning out face to face, people have to resort to bombing each other's image in secret. If you were to set a bomb, it will blow up sooner or later. Why do it in the dark? It's bound to be exposed, and when that happens, it resolves to even more inferences and suspicions. Are we not aggravating the situation, which is already ugly?
For odd reasons my imeem strip of 'Swan Lake' has only 30seconds of playback! Oh why why why?? Can someone just enlighten me? I went back to my imeem page and played the same song, yet it's perfectly fine there! So why does it not work here?
GRRRR!
Profile
MissyIvy
A Cynic with passion for
the Art of Sarcasm
Chemist in training
Shooting Stars
Do Better Nails
World Peace
AIDS Free most importantly,
Finish Everything ON TIME! and try not to be late
This layout is proudly made by hopmad. Images are from tumblr and flickr. Hopmad did the collage of the images with the help from GIMP and she got the textures from swimchick.
Which fork is mine? Draw some hint from the picture below:
Our CHOCOLATE cake. It's CHOCOLATE-y enough to make you stone after a few mouthfuls. We gave a slice to the smart waitress who took our orders and served us. We are such NICE people heh!
The to-be birthday girls. Aren't those the most angelic faces you've ever seen now?
Sincerely created by CS, and creatively decorated by LK and me, the portion we dedicated to you! Now aren't you TOUCHED?? Wahaha! If you take a closer look at it, you'll find that it's a very apt portrayal of "a flower on cow dung" (translated from a Chinese saying).