Haixxxxxxxxxxx.......... My computer is really gonecase. So sad.. I waited for nearly two weeks hoping that someone can help to recover my data but now a computer expert who tried to help has confirmed that there is no way to recover the data... =(
Argh... The second time in less than four years that my CPU crashed. The first time was in sec3 - I lost all data from sec1 to sec3. I was extremely sad then. So I pleaded Mom to get me my present computer but now it happens again!! The most irritating (or whatever adjective is suitable) part is that I had wanted to backup all my data during the December holidays last year but had only gotten down to writing the photos taken up till late November (that was when I burned the cd) into a cd. All my JC1 work has gone down the drain... =( And my Kukup trip photos etc etc... haix... Luckily I saved all my Endau Rompin trip photos and videos into a cd for Green Link.. Argh.. My whole year of academic work that I still need for my "A" levels just *poof* - lost. don't xin zai le huo ar. haha..
Except for PW stuff (in my thumb drive 'cos I made the data portable in case we had needed it during discussions), which I totally don't need anymore. Okay, to be optimistic, at least my hardwork for PW hasn't *poof*. Though people say they had gotten rid of any PW stuff they have.
(By the way, I'm at my mom's workplace now - drafting department though she's in accounting as there are no available computers there, 'cos my poor computer is still down... Came here specially to blog la. Then later I'll be going for a swim at the usual place.)
We had this cultural mapping thingy today. Its just the beginning but the whole class (really everyone maybe except me 'cos I'm still ok with it) is already dratting (haha, I checked up yahoo dictionary 'cos I wasn't sure of the spelling and it says the etymology of 'drat' is "Short for God rot"..) it. So the first period was our first meet-the-juniors session, and it was soon visible that 05S09 is a more united class.
My tibialis anterior muscles (haha, I don't know if I have found the correct term the use.. anyway I'm trying to refer to those on the other side of the calf muscle - gastrocnemius, this I heard before from Ms Kunalan back during NY PE and I didn't know whatever it was) are aching.
I think some of them will regret not taking photos during their orientation, like I did. So I decided to help take some photos of them.
Oh yas, I remember I haven't blogged that we had JTS on New Year's Day! Aiya, if I am using my home computer, I can upload a photo here.
Jia Yun, Adeline and I went met at YCK MRT station supposedly at 10am but Addy said she would be late so I left later (and she ended up the earliest 'cos I was to contact Jia Yun so that she can be there at the right time to fetch us). Edo was supposed to join us but we only found out that he was sick a few hours later. (I kept trying to call him and there was music but no one picked up then Bo Yang finally managed to get him through SMS..) Karen and Jurena had family gatherings. Okay, this is crappy. Anyway, so we went Jia Yun's house to bake brownies again before going to Bishan MRT to meet the seniors at 1215 (haha, its a weird time 'cos initially I proposed 1100 but Cleopas said he can only make it at 1245 so I decided 1215 in case the other seniors were late). kk, stop crapping.
To my surprise, Lee Pei was even earlier than us (we were 5mins early), and she was looking at the learner drivers' manual. Wow. Then I also learnt from her that she wants to take Life Sciences in Uni. Its finance and banking stuff for Wei Ting.
Wei Ting came soon followed by Lydia. All three of them have already started work, customer support at government tax department - LP, admin at polytechic (I forgot which) - WT and admin for Lyd too. I was a little surprised that the government hires post JC 'O' level certificate holders as customer support and they can start work only after a few days' training, of course giving them the scripts with standard replies. But I don't think I'll get hired unless my voice miraculously matures in one year. Then again, after only the first two days at work, LP already wants to quit.
We had wanted the seniors to choose 'cos we had never treated them (expect for the seniors' farewell on 21dec which none of the clarinet seniors went for various reasons) but they refused to saying that its our treat so we should decide, they had decided on theirs the year before (2003) and it was steamboat at Lydia's. Hmms, though it was real kind of them, we juniors took a long time to decide 'cos we didn't know what they wouldn't dislike.
After we finally settled down at Ajisen, Bo Yang then Cleopas joined us and we each ordered a set meal. It was actually my first time at Ajisen and I don't regret that its only my first time 'cos it wasn't worth it, $13.80+ is rather ex for the quality of food. haha, I seem to be putting it down too much, maybe its because their speciality dishes were sold out so I ate the lousier ones.
Before Cleopas arrived, the other seniors were trying to anticipate how he looks like with his new hairstyle (he has been in NS for a few weeks) but he looked okay 'cos his hair has already grown a bit longer. haha.
Throughout lunch, Lydia and Wei Ting were chatting the most. Cleopas was telling Boyang about army stuff and Boyang seemed to know less about army then the girls do...
Haha, my mom's office cleaner who was also the cleaner at my kindergarten just came by (she got her present job many years back thru Mom). She, like another colleague of my mom who passed-by earlier, though I am a newbie at work! hahaha. She couldn't recognise my back 'cos we haven't met for a very long time (of course not since K2) but she still looks the same to me. haha, that's a compliment, ya, I should have told her. In fact she looks younger! haha, I don't know, don't really trust my memory. She commented that I've grown taller and prettier. haha, that seems to be what all the elders comment about all youths they see once in a while. hmm, I'll be doing that 40 years on.
Hmm, I am beginning to understand why people like listening to radio, the team (only 2 now) at drafting are listening to this Chinese radio (though one of them is a Malay. I suppose she understands Mandarin) and other than some not-so-nice songs and other crap, some songs are enjoyable.
Back to topic.
When it was time to pay, luckily Bo Yang had his father's atm card. Initially each of us four juniors were supposed to each take out some notes then I heard him mumbling he doesn't have enough cash but he has a card. haha, that got him into "trouble". All of us were trying to make him pay by card first and though he was reluctant, when you have Lydia, you have won half the battle, so he relented. Up till now we still haven't paid him back 'cos Addy hasn't settled the sums. haha. and he's already beginning to pester us, asking for interests..
Then we went to Jia Yun's again, but Lee Pei had to join her family for pre-booked movie.
Lydia's really our section's happy chatterbox. We were playing sai kang dai di (= asshole big 2) but Lydia had to leave halfway and we realised that it suddenly became very quiet. Still, we continued enjoying ourselves.
Overall, it was fun and we had never ever had any outings with the seniors (we had wanted one during June hols but...) so I am glad that even though I had not an easy time sms-ing the whole section before finally deciding on a date, it was successful! =D Otherwise we would have had an 'empty' separation (I don't know how to describe it but its just a bad one) from the seniors. Now we feel closer and we know that they want to come for our SYF and the other traditional band activities(treat at sentosa, V-nite etc)!
Alamak, this post is supposed to be about 'week 1 of jc 2' but I haven't even started on that and I've to go liao. 6.22pm. bye for now.
Argh... I have alot to blog, had wanted to blog on Monday only to find out my PC has crashed. Now when its on, there's this message (of white-lettered words on a black screen, ie. really gone-case) saying I have to reinstall a certain file. Must be some viral attack... I am blaming it on my brother, 'cos he's the one who used it for the 2 days before it crashed and I hadn't touched it at all.
Sianz... now using school computer... can't blog alot... feel like there are so many pairs of eyes around.. uneasiness to blog about my thoughts.
Hopefully my computer will be back up by Saturday, then I can blog about my first week at school. Its like certain memories came back to me. Ya. Hopefully I'll still remember what I want to blog about. There was supposed to be Green Link meeting today, but its postponed till further notice, otherwise I won't be able to touch a computer till...
Have Read
'04 year-end holidays (highest number of books read in a long time)
-The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom (gd read)
-Princess Diaries: Third Time Lucky by Meg Cabot (fun read)
-Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom (must read - inspirational)
-Slab Rat by Ted Heller (full of office politics and R21 stuff - not for kids)
-The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown (makes u want to finish it)
-A walk to remember by Nicholas Sparks (simple but meaningful)
-The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark (can identify with)
-The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks (romantic love story with too much R21 stuff)
-Message in a Bottle by Nicholas Sparks (even more R21. ugh)
-The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint Exupery
-Unstrung Heroes by Franz Lidz (autobiography about his four uncles and father)
-The Rescue by Nicholas Sparks
-The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon (very unique POV of an autistic boy)
-The Summerhouse by Jude Deveraux (love the breadth of the plot, one of my favourites)
-Wild Orchids by Jude Deveraux (alternating between two first persons' view - unique, but don't like e plot)
-Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder (philosophy tb in a story; gets abit dry though plot saved)
-forgot what i read...-
-Working Wonders by Jenny Colgan (story of an urban planner)
-Angels and Demons by Dan Brown (impressive intelligence with bits of great humour)
-Just between Us by Cathy Kelly (thickest bk i've ever read-600+pg, too long for me but not bad)
ha, started a few bks but didn't enjoy them enough to read more.
'06
-Life of Pi by Yann Martel (novel based on true story; a lot to learn from the book - animals, religions,
survival, appreciation of simplicity; marvelous descriptions of both the tangible and the intangible,
such that I could feel their realness; bits of very enjoyable humour; a must read)
-The Complete Analects of Confucius, Volume 1 - Asiapac Comic Series (some good teachings.
didn't read everything though)
-The Parable of the Pipeline by Burke Hedges (lent to me by Shujun; like she said, its a short version
of Rich Dad Poor Dad - good financial tips)
-The Alchemist by Paul Coelho (simple story with deep meaning)
-Fish! A Remarkable Way to Boost Morale and Improve Results
(hai, doesn't seem to be working for me - cos im not applying..)
-haven't been updating from Jun'06 to Jul'07-
'07
-Take a Chance by Sarah Webb (very interesting twist towards the end)
'08
-A Child Called "It" by Dave Pelzer (very saddening. made me realise how significant family is in how a child behaves)
-Whatever You Think, Think the Opposite by Paul Arden (refreshing book with many pics)
-The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Rui Zafon (amazing how people can think of so much plot to pack into one book, wld b a gd tv series)
-The Time Traveller's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger (the story is interesting but i think the ending cld hv been better written)
-This Book Will Save Your Life by A.M. Homes (a bit thought-provoking on relationships but i didnt like e abrupt ending)
-Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything by Steven D. Levitt & Stephen J. Dubner (gd knowledge but partly qte repetitive)
-For One More Day by Mitch Albom
-The C Words by Mark Mason (made me keep wanting to read on. light & funny)
'09
-Return to Summerhouse by Jude Deveraux (another good read from Deveraux)
-The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini (gosh such vivid descriptions! very well written book. i liked d theme of friendship and the realness of the story)
'10
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro (a must-read!! i love the expressed thoughts of the protagonist, esp those about friendships, and the writing style - it seems like she's telling me her story specifically to me)
How to Save Your Own Life by Michael Gates Gill (an inspiring read, for emotional liberation and greater joy in life)
Reading
on hold
The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals by Michael Pollan
Waiting for chance to get hold of
The Little White Car by Danuta de Rhodes
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers
A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking
Le Scaphandre Et Le Papillon or The Diving Bell and the Butterfly by Jean-Dominique Bauby
My Left Foot by Christy Brown
Gotai Fumanzoku or An Unsatisfactory Body (Translated into English as No One's Perfect) by Hirotada Otatake
Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami
Other Recommended Readings by Marc
The Origin of Species by Charles Darwin – Few books have had as significant an impact on the way society views the natural world and the genesis of humankind.
The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell – Gladwell looks at how a small idea, or product concept, can spread like a virus and spark global sociological changes. Specifically, he analyzes “the levels at which the momentum for change becomes unstoppable.”
David Copperfield by Charles Dickens – This is a tale that lingers on the topic of attaining and maintaining a disciplined heart as it relates to one’s emotional and moral life. Dickens states that we must learn to go against “the first mistaken impulse of the undisciplined heart.”
Lolita – This is the kind of book that blows your mind wide open to conflicting feelings of life, love and corruption… and at times makes you deeply question your own perceptions of each. The story is as devious as it is beautiful.
Getting Things Done by David Allen – The quintessential guide to organizing your life and getting things done. Nuff said.
How To Cook Everything by Mark Bittman – 900 pages of simple instructions on how to cook everything you could ever dream of eating. Pretty much the greatest cookbook ever written. Get through a few recipes each week, and you’ll be a master chef by the time you’re 30.
Honeymoon with My Brother by Franz Wisner – Franz Wisner had it all… a great job and a beautiful fiancée. Life was good. But then his fiancée dumped him days before their wedding, and his boss basically fired him. So he dragged his younger brother to Costa Rica for his already-scheduled honeymoon and they never turned back… around the world they went for two full years. This is a fun, heartfelt adventure story about life, relationships, and self discovery.
Self-note: Tip for my future business =D
give employees reasonably high pay to keep them- otherwise they are unlikely to stay loyal.
treat employees not according to how well they treat me but how conscientious they are at work
(of course, musn't expect them to only do work throughout the entire working hours -
give some breathing space too, we are humans, not machines) Movies watched(listing started on 6jan08)
in cinema from VCD/DVD
1Sep07: "Hairspray" w TK, GH & SH
14Sep07: "Ratatouille" w mom & extended family
28Dec07: "The Pianist" w Jus & Pam (heartbreaking but good lessons; i recommend!)
2Jan08: "I Am Legend" w Sherm (scary! but good acting; thought provoking; i recommend!)
5-6Jan08: "A Good Year" alone (excellent show! i like the acting; funny; good lessons; touches my heart; i recommend!)
11Jan08: "Le Grand Chef" w WLing, JT & Irene (good! funny, very touching, :) nice; watch if like humour+meaning+food)
7Feb08 (CNY 初一): "Ah Long Pte Ltd" w parents (pretty hilarious - but u gotta understand dialects, some teary parts. wells typical of jack neo movies but with diff content)
11Mar08: "The Leap Year" w Sherm (so sweet! :) and apart from couple relationship it touches the theme of mother-daughter and best friends too)
6Jun08: "P.S. I Love You" w Sherm (don't know if its coz we watched it on laptop, coz it didn't impress me as much as it did for him in cinema)
8Jun08: "The Forbidden Kingdom" w Lisa, Karen & Sandy (ums..guess i'm really not into kungfu)
8Jun08: "What Happens in Vegas" w Lisa, Karen & Sandy (simple,relaxing show)
7Jul08: "我和狗狗的10个约定" w Sherm, his ma & sisters (very simple,touching but actually not my type of show)
10Jul08: "Before Sunrise" w Sherm (hmm maybe watchg on laptop really affects appreciatn of movies..)
30Sep08: "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" w Sherm (i didn't like it as much as i thought i wld when i saw the ads)
31Dec08: "Yes Man" w Mom (inspiring and funny)
11Feb08: "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" w Mom (not as impressive as i thought it wld be)
1Jul09: "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" w Yumei, YY & Matt (the best thing was the soundtrack. heh.)
14Aug09: "GI Joe: The Rise of Cobra" w Joyce (it was awesome! best action movie i've ever watched)
17Aug09: "Food, Inc." w SYL & RuiQ (learnt some stuff abt the American food industry but it was a bit boring and not worth the $10)
22Sep09: "The Time Traveller's Wife" w WB, VanD, WLing, CHL, Irene, VanQ, Mf, Pg (i liked it. having read the book really helps w udsg)
21Nov09: "Gokusen" w Mf, Eva, Tony, Sarah (funny inspirational movie)
24Dec09: "十月围城" w Tony, WLing, VanQ (action action and a bit funny? tony criticised the plot. my fav scene was the running n jumping through the crowd along the five-foot ways w/o cuts)
30Dec09: "Sherlock Holmes" w Irene, Tony, Sweetee (my favourite genre of books made into a movie - what else can be more cool? acting effects humour excitement suspense all in)
12Jan10: "Avatar 3D" w Mom (didn't appreciate the digital effects which everyone wowed about. content etc was so-so. cathay's 3D glasses were too heavy for me)
8Feb10: "The Truman Show" w Ky n sis n Yuhshin (a must-watch. very thought-provoking, funny. reminder to be spontaneous and create your life the way you want, instead of falling into a typical routine
14Feb10: "New York, I Love You" w Mom (I loved it! a good couple movie with meaningful pointers to keep it going. but i think some stories could be more developed)
16Feb10: rewatched "The Pianist" (still find it good, tho i still feel first viewings are the best)
17Feb10: "Valentine's Day" w CHL n WB (laughed throughout - a feel-good movie; liked the fact that the various stories binded tog so well with the little surprises here and there, vs NY ILU in which each story was separate)
20Feb10: "赤壁二" w Addy, Karen, Sharon, SJ (should have watched the first one first cos i ended up not knowing who's who and what's happening and had to keep asking :/ and couldn't pay attn.. if not i think it should be a pretty good movie..)
4Mar10: "Alice in Wonderland 3D" w Mf (i found the 3D effects of this @ CCK Shaw SO much better than Avatar @ The Cathay =/ and the movie was much more enjoyable too! - cheered a sad me up :)) favourite quote - the Mad Hatter: “You used to be much muchier before. ... You have lost your muchness.”)
18Mar10: "Nodame Cantabile" w Irene, Mf (i thoroughly enjoyed some of the orchestra pieces - SO impressive! the expressions of the actors were really amusing :D)
23Apr10: "Ice Kacang Puppy Love" w Mom (funny, touching and meaningful - about love between friends and family. i cried 3 tissues! cos some touching parts i could really understand the feelings of the characters involved)
Inception
Letters to God (very simple Christian movie)
22Nov10: "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" w Ame, Irene (they loved it. pretty good, i guess the main problem i had was that im not familiar with HP :X)
13Dec10: "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" w Sj (not bad, could follow the story unlike HP. like the meaningful teachings, too long - in a post)
2Mar11: "The King's Speech" w Ame (hilarious, inspirational, tho it doesn't impress me that much to understand why it's the Oscar winner)
Mar11: "10 Things I Hate About You" very funny. silly sweet high school romance. just right for having breaks in between doing homework
23May11: "Pirates of the Carribean: On Stranger Tides" w Wb Yl Ame Pg (pretty good - scenery, freakish parts, fighting scenes, dressing, humour, bits of Christianity like when the Spanish said "only God gives life")
6Jun11: "Xmen First Class" w Wb Ame Pg (i was very keen on watching it and it was really good! intellectual, makes sense, cool action, some humour)
9Jun11: "Legally Blonde 2" w Irene (seems like some dumb blonde movie but kind of meaningful too - speaking up for yourself and what you stand for)
17Jun11: "Something Borrowed" w Sandy Lisa (quite funny, somewhat meaningful wrt friendships. they didn't like the lack of sense for one part tho)
16Jul11: "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2" w Irene, Sweetee, Kw (not bad. i didn't understand some parts again but the humour and effects were pretty good)
Aug11 "Horrible Bosses" w Ma (she fell asleep! gosh. the movie was very crude i must say but there was the humour)
25Oct11: "The Three Musketeers" w H (i would rate it 3.5 for humour/intellectual language and 4 for action. it's by the same producer or director as Sherlock! but a bit less awesome albeit a good chill out movie)
5Nov11: "Real Steel" w Hl (action packed but not too hardcore for me. i liked that there was the father and son element and how the father eventually softened his heart and especially the part when charlie was having trouble telling max sth and max was so understanding saying "Don't worry. Your secret's safe with me." touching and demonstrates true fighting spirit)
12Dec11: "50/50" w L (adopting her words - a heavy topic put across in a lighthearted way, but not taking away d meaning. most of it was rather hollywood-ish trashiness but there were a couple of punch lines "u can't change ur parents, but u can change d way u respond to them.")
25Dec11: "Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol" w KY (ultimate action packed! super tense almost throughout the movie, and interesting Tom Cruise made it such that not everything happened smoothly - he would jump and misland and get all sorts of injuries..it's really the courage to jump without hesitation even though you are not sure you'll be alive after that. KY loved d movie and said she would watch it again!)
3Jan12: "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows" w KY (i love mystery (: and the witty sarcastic dialogues. good level of excitement with the action. didn't understand some parts as usual. i like Holmes and Watson they depict such a true pair of buddies ;D)
23Jan12: "You are the Apple of My Eye" w mom (now i understand why guys like this movie so much - the anxiety of chasing after a girl and the acts schoolboys do to get the girl's attention and hopefully affection. the initial fluttering and the subsequent quarrelling)
22Mar12: "The Iron Lady" w KY (really love Thatcher's sharp words. inspiring and thought-provoking, tho i was still left uncertain of what to do with my life, the movie is definitely an encouraging one)
29Mar12: "Barney's Version" w SJ (a funny movie of a screwed up life of a man who had 3 wives, smoked and drank but very heartwarming at the same time, the relationships with the dad and the 3th wife - quotable quotes!)
27Apr12: "The Hunger Games" w Mom
4May12" "Avengers" w MF n PS (funny, action-packed)
7Jul12: "The Amazing Spiderman"
21Jul12: "The Dark Knight Rises" (fantastic depth, loved the twists)
20Aug12: "ParaNorman" w Mom (simple funny animated movie, heartwarming support)
Performances watched (listing started on 25Apr10)
20Jan10: Patrick Marber's Closer by outoftheBLUE, NUS Science w Pam (
13Mar10: The Rain Came Down Like Pearls the Night I Died... The New Musical - Sing & Tell by Mark Chan w Addy & Jy
21Mar10: Quintessence by NUSCO w CHL