hopping with some shit hanging....
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Standing upright
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Don't u think they actually look a bit scrawny (and ugly) ?
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Hippo!
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doing a 'cat'-walk! hee
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stretching...
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I was too slow to capture the entire Komodo dragon, so here's the tail for u.
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Did u noe i had to give a 'donation' of $5 to take a picture with them? (even tho i was using my own camera!)
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Parrots!
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How?

Today i had touch training, as i have been the last few weeks. It actually takes place every Mon, Wed and Fri. But i only go for Wed and Fri ones cos Mon is meant for newcomers.

Training went on fairly well. I questioned a drill pretty thoroughly (as pleasantly as I can). It wasn't that i didn't get how it works, but rather i doubted (a) that it is beneficial to the play and (b) even if it was, the complexity of it makes it virtually impossible for it to be used on the field.

To deal with (a), my coach went through everything slow-mo. It all looked fairytale-like as people were 'breaking through'. However, i noted that the defence line was playing the demo kind of defence where they reacted really slowly. But it certainly helps with the identification of gaps and all. So ya, i decided that i can agree that it works.

But my (b) doubt wasn't attended to. So i requested coach to run the drill at normal pace. And it was a fair mess. But well, when everyone got used to the drill, it was smoother and it achieved the effect of having us react to defence line rather than sticking closely to a set drill. I had my doubts cleared. And i was convinced. Most of the time, i just want to be convinced. So i ask prying questions. Pls don't let me get to u. I'm just trying to understand. I will try to be tactful.

This is one small part of the training. After the drills, we proceeded to playing games, which i enjoy thoroughly. And once again, i was the substitute. I understand that it's nothing to be proud of, so wat the hell am i doing, blogging about it?

Well, it's cos i'm troubled about it. And i learnt today that it is common for gals to have to let out their frustration by talking about it. (i talk a lot. So i'm not a pent-up person. hahahah) I have told 2 most dear people to me about it. But i'm still thinking about it. How ar?

I'm thinking of quitting. sigh

Let me provide reasons. hee. making lists is one of my talents.

1) i feel demoralised. And it's not making me feel good about myself.

let me explain. it's not that i only do things that make me feel good. cos if so, i would never have taken up rugby, to begin with. It's just that now i feel rather unfairly judged where skills and fitness is concerned. And i don't see why i have to put up with it.

2) it's time to move on. I intend to channel my energies to something else. Haven't thought of what exactly. but it's likely to be active and calorie-burning.

3) I don't like it that my appetite increases when i train. I feel stronger and all. But it's not that big a deal. And i do feel good. But not that good.

4) i don't like to attend training. I don't mix with the people there well. i feel awfully different from them. but i'm not very good at socialising. it's really just me i guess. Everytime i have to force myself to go. And it shouldn't be like that right?

5) I feel like i'm being treated like a kid in training. I'm an adult. And i'm a good person. not some childish adult.

argghhh. i'm complaining. it's bad. but i'l be praying about it. cos i remember that the last time i prayed about joining a club, God responded in such a nice way. I'l hear what He has to say this time.

Sleepless in Sunshine

i woke real early today to give Chippy a bath, after receiving a very serious warning from my dad. He suggested that we give Chippy away if i continue to skimp on his baths. So i gave him a really good scrub today. Now he's sleeping soundly. And not so scratchy anymore.

After that i went for a run. A good 40mins, not including a warm-down walk. I feel so proud. Ha. When i returned from the run i had a talk with my parents. They just got back from Manila. It feels nice chatting about nothing in particular with them. I was tempted to have breakfast with them, but i was too sweaty.

Later i'm goin to see the dentist! i'm just a little excited. Cos it's been quite a while since i saw one and i'm curious about the state of my teeth, from a professional's point of view. I'm going to arm myself with a book, for the infamous wait outside the dentist's office. whoo hoo.

For the record, this snail-loving me kicked one just now while running. i certainly hope it survived the little leap.

i'm burnt

i just realised just how sunburnt i am. Bathing in warm water feels like little pins raining down on me. Not enough to pierce me, but enough to prick me.

talking about a sun-burn. Got it when i was playing the league for touch today. It was a good game, against Wantoks B. While we didn't win (we drew 2-2), my team was happy. Cos we tried our best and i suppose our victory also came from the cameraderie built up on the field and the corporate desire to win.

If it's anything, we felt it today.

whoo hoo

hi. i have nothing substantial to say, again. But i have to tell u, today i attended NTU Comms Studies production. It was enjoyable (parts of). And i was impressed by the fact that despite the small cast, the turn-out was good. But then to begin with, i think their single faculty is about the size of the entire SMU.

And another happy thing: i am the proud owner of a Samsung Z500! i'm how cool. My dad got it for me from Manila. I'm how happy. The phone is damn power-packed and chio. Love it. But i tink i have to seriously get to noe how to use it, cos at present, i'm so accustomed to my Nokia phone.

I'l load the pictures later. whoo hoo!

Therapy

Today i got home early. So i was thinking, wat shall i do with my time? There were a few choices.

a) make a skirt. (yes, i do these things)

b) pack my room (in hope of a tenant)

c) read up on the course outlines and lesson plans.


i ended up baking cookies instead. They didn't turn out all that great. cos i wasn't supposed to melt the butter but i did. hee.

But at least it's edible. But a little on the buttery side. i attempted to make variations using the chocolate at home. Well, it turns out that my 'choc-chip cookies' are indeed edible, but tasty and irresistible will be a different story.

I'm done baking. I have now 2 small pots of cookies. it's fun. And while i was at it, it's very relaxing. Cos u let ur mind wander (not that i don't usually) for that moment. The 'feel-good' effect comes close to that of retail therapy. This falls in the same category as sewing therapy and making earrings therapy.

Not bad hor, these therapy methods. Cos at the end of it, u reap nice things that u can share with others. whoo hoo.

Proximity vs True

My fren B is in the army now. And top of his prayer request list is "God, pls let me ORD". Yesterday he asked me, "Will i find true friends in Uni?"

B just got accepted into NUS Law and he'll be in time to use the Bukit Timah campus recently vacated (and stripped of signboards) by SMU. Darn proud of him. I was optimistic about it. Optimistic that he'll find friends he'l keep for life as well as horrid people he'l earmark for an equally long time.

Friends.

Sounding simple enough, yet at times seeming so cluttered with unnecessary emotions and complications. i have conveniently (in my accountant-trained mind) broadly categorised them into 2 sections, namely the proximity-based and the 'true' friends.

True friends surpass distance and time not spent together. They are the type of people you don't have to meet everyday. In fact, after long periods of time, u meet and talk with all the familarity intact.

Proximity-based friends are more interesting. They are the people u see really often cos u work together or simply meet often. U talk about almost everything. Sometimes the things that are shared may even be heartfelt or 'secret'. People see u together a lot. The frequency meets and the interests collide. There is so much to talk about. But when term ends or the project is handed in or the time-table is altered and it's just not so convenient to meet anymore, it's an 'out of sight, out of mind' thing. These are ur proximity friends.

But all in all, both categories are still friends. And definitely worth keeping and worth putting in the effort for. =)

$5 haircuts!

Today i went to cut my hair. It was just a trim. I wanted the thick fringe that i had before the musical. I had to thin my fringe for the wig i had to wear for it. So today i decided i shall revive the look. I also trimmed the back a little. It was a small change but i hope it'l encourage more ardent hair growth.

To thick fringes! whoo hoo! =)



my new haircut.
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Friends meeting up

It was a nice friday evening when 4 friends decided to meet up. What else was there to do, besides eat? the only other obvious choice was to drink. But most of the drinking places were a little on the noisy and crowded side. So we settled on desserts at NYDC. It was most enjoyable, with a lot of laughing.

i look forward to more laughing sessions.


5 people sharing 3 sinful dishes.
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D and his new phone.
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D being extremely facinated by the camera function of his new phone
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Wat became of it.
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Of CEO Talks and Book Launches

This is just about the start of my 4th year in SMU and i have finally attended my first CEO talk and book launch. All in a matter of 2 days. Was tellin J that we are truly the epitome of 'zo bo' (do nothing in dialect). But it's kinda fun.

Realised that CEO talks is a time when students get to rub shoulders with profs and staff get to rub shoulders with outsider big-shots and permutations continue. Students may also attempt to be noticed by profs by bravely approaching the microphone to ask the invited guest a question.

Tony Fernandaz was the speaker this time. And i must say, i was entertained. He certainly is a passionate man. And i think he has left great impressions on the people who work for AirAsia.

The book launch was also very interesting. The speeches presented by Prof Hunter and Prof Tommy Koh did quite a bit to inspire the importance of reading. I also think that one of the ways to prevent cultivating an SMU crowd only capable of being 'different' on the outside would be to encourage reading for purposes other than just academic ones.

All in all, it was a good time. And definitely more fruitful than my wake-up-at-3pm days. But i love them all! whoo hoo!

Pagoda Street

Today i went to watch Pagoda Street. A musical production by a bunch of Singaporean students who studied overseas. It was enjoyable really and we certainly have lots to learn. For example, their sponsorship was fantastic (not that ours weren't). Given perhaps their connections were good. But i think a lot of effort went into it as well. Their programme booklet and tickets were well done, especially for a small-scale production like theirs (perhaps because of ample money from sponsors).

Another thing that i thought was quite cute was this video that they showed on a TV at the reception area that chronicled their rehearsals as well as charity visits. It gave the audience a slight idea of the work that goes on behind the glitz and glamour shown on stage. But i don't noe whether some might think that this may be unprofessional and 'schoolish'.

Some of the lines were rather smart. And i did in fact like the general story. However, there is indeed room for improvement, as with most musicals.

What Pagoda did for me was to stir up some nostalgia. I do miss Anything Goes. And I feel so proud of having been part of an awesome production. Pagoda also showed me that musicals is actually a very powerful tool that can be used for many purposes. In this case it was for charity. They invited some people from the beneficiary. And other than allowing them to watch the show, it also reminded the audience that the money spent in support was for a meaningful purpose. I certainly hope it has a perpertuating effect.


the leads. The female lead being someone who does TV shows too.

The cheongsams on the girls in the background actually belong to the Four Flowers from Anything Goes. I personally felt that the era of Pagoda Street was pretty confusing. The lead was wearing washed out Levi's.

V, as 'Sangee', seen here with 'Bambi', the bimbo of the show.
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Almost the full company.

Their sets remain like this through out the show. Only at some scenes do they add some tables and chairs to protray a restaurant. But i have to add that the doors must have been pretty strong as there was a lot of door-slamming. hee.

V, whom we went to support. She acted as an Indian lady!
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this is for you. =)

my fave song at the moment:

you are my covering
in you i have everything
you're all that i need
my world is complete

how precious your offering
it's not about what i can bring
it's your sacrifice that has brought me in
into the holy of holies

i fall at your feet
declare you're my king
i cast my cares before you
your peace shall reign in me

i fall at your feet
declare you're my king
i live my life in worship
your grace abounds in me.

Old Campus Tour

31 July 2005 marks the last day of SMU's ownership of the Bukit Timah campus. This is a rather hurried tour as i was really tired. hee.


The corridor i pass when i go and bathe after touch trainings.

I love love love the corridors.
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Even the staircases look good.
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My favourite school in SMU!
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The now defunct notice board. Anything Goes, the musical that impacted my SMU life in a big way.
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Biz block corridor. Goodbye Locker number 171...
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Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Matthew 5:8

How? can make it or not?

Have a wedding dinner later. And i don't have accessories. I simply don't. Not the accessories kinda girl. So i enlisted the help of my mum. She lent me some stuff. Need ur opinion. I'm fine goin without. I always do anyway.

On the note of mums, i was rather touched when she was all excited wanting to lend me her stuff. Kinda sweet don't u think?


skinny, long, metallic-feel black beads
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big green gaudy jade. hee
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fat green monk-ish round beads
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Unfamiliar place, familiar people

The new campus can seem new and cold. But meeting old friends there certainly helped the situation. Even when wanting to find out the simple things like where's the toilet, consulting a friend beats reading the maps (tho the maps are great too).

Welcome to the new campus. Where i'm certain it's the old friends who matter. whoo hoo!



Zal!
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Dot!
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Mahjong!

Today has been an awfully fulfilling day. Fulfilling in that i actually got a lot of things done, a contrast from the usual where i wake at 3pm and lazed till 5pm. Today i visited my grandma, played a match against Lion Red, went shopping with G and learnt to play mahjong!

G n i went shopping in Orchard (where else). I managed to catch up with her a bit and that meant a lot to me.

It is productive also cos J and i actually won some money, which we later used on our cab fare. Therefore, we are put back in our original rich-ness. haha. But it was a very fun nite.

Genie & I at Taka's KFC.
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Me playin mahjong! definitely a picture moment.
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Hi everyone.

i'm running out of ideas for smart titles. this is especially so when i don't have anything intelligent to tell u, i don't have an opinion over a world issue or something informative. so i end up telling u about how my day went, what i did and wat i ate. I noe it totally teeters on being boring. But it really is a reflection of my life. hee hee.

So today i woke at 130pm. It's really an achievement cos the past few days have been 3pm. So today was supposed to be more productive. By the time i left the house, it was 5pm. Talk about productivity. Went to Sakae Sushi with J. we were rather appalled by the service. but the unhappiness was quickly forgotten as our stomachs got filled by a grand total of TEN 'colour plates'.

Then we went to Lucky Plaza to alter some of my clothes. 1 pair of Mango jeans, a H&M skirt and a Mambo skirt, just to be precise. The bill came up to $39 so the job better be well done. My verdict is that it's worth it to alter jeans ($15) but maybe not for skirts. The jobs are the same--mainly to make them slightly smaller.

Then i went for training. It was actually fun. I was tired from being so unfit. I just hope i don't collapse at tomorrow's match. Haha.

I guess the most fun part will have to be the end of my day when i went to Brown Box at Serangoon Gardens with J, U and R. It's my first time actually hanging out with them. But they are truly pleasant. hee.

To provide some informative stuff on my blog, i shall tell u that drinking chamomile tea at Brown Box is very enjoyable cos the cups are very nice (this happens to be important to me) and they give u free flow of hot water and honey. So when the tea bags are washed out, u can continue drinking honey water. haha.

Also, the brownie with ice-cream is most yums. I dunno wat ice-cream they use, but it's nice. Love it love it love it.


Brown Box Brownie with ice cream
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eat so much. tsk tsk.
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So that's the end of my day. Now i'm bloggin and eating watermelon. the easy (and sweet) way to hydrate for the match tm.

Yet another day

Haha. Today was an equally unproductive day. But happy i have to say. i had a good time at Bible Study. The preacher was extremely repetitive. To put it nicely, i suppose he was trying to drive home the point with various examples; he was also very passionate about the subject. It was a good ending and I was encouraged. And reminded again to put my trust in the right place. Met up with my sis. She bought pink wine that i can't wait to try.

Tomorrow i'm goin to visit my grandma cos she got admitted into hospital. I'm quite worried cos she's old but i feel like i haven't exactly got to noe her. I hope she recovers soon.

Another important thing that happened today was that i ate chicken rice. This is supposed to be amazing cos i don't eat chicken rice. i don't eat briyani and i don't eat nasi lemak. I suppose u can now draw a connection and realise that i don't take to flavoured rice so well. But i did today. Cos J said that it's the best in Singapore, not that i can compare to anything. But yes, it was good. It tasted right. After that we had 2 peanut ice-kachangs. TWO. my goodness.

Beaming*

I'm trying to pack my room. I have been at it since 4am. It's killing me. I have so much stuff that i don't use (don't even look at) it's atrocious. I'm trying to clear them all out. Let my mum vet through them and if she decides that they are really redundant, then they'l be given away. Now i'm tired and i can't believe i still have to bathe my dog. And my room is in the 'transition' stage so it looks like i just got robbed. I can't sleep cos all my stuff is on the bed (and floor and everywhere).

On another note, i'm listening to the Ally McBeal soundtrack. I love Vonda Shepherd's voice. And i recall that just a while ago, i could not listen to the songs without crying. But now i don't. Thanks Daddy God.

So if u r dealing with something and can't seem to get out of it, remember that the pain will ease. Slowly but surely. in the meantime, keep believing. =)

I cleared out 5 bags of clothes..and counting...i live in such abundance it's disgusting.
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Now my wardrobe looks like this. But i'm not done yet. Some more stuff to be put in...
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The Unofficial SMU City Campus Tour

Today J and i went to collect our matric cards. The rush was mainly cos J is conducting training in school tm. But i was excited to see the new school! And i so wasn't disappointed. It's beautiful, even though now it's kinda sandy from the construction and not all the scaffoldings have been removed and contractors are walking around. Other than that, it's our new school! It's really cool. Let me take you around. But cos we only went to School of Biz and School of Accountancy, it's only a partial tour. Hee.


This is a view of the Business Block. Cool eh..

An open study area. it's so darn cool. Nice view and all.
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Women's. Or some call Ladies.
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The toilet. We have full length mirrors. i dunno about the Gents tho.
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when u collect ur new matric card, they give u this thing where u can attach the card to u....and pull this long string so u can tap the card without bending. how cool is that!
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No hanky panky!
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Admiring the view from the school balcony. I'm proudly wearing the tag. haha.
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Thanks Lee Kong Chian. You helped us fund a beautiful school!
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Still under construction, as can be seen from the wire untidily hanging over the signage.
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School of Accountancy! MY school!
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This is a map. It's actually a temporary, print-out version. But it looks so pro. No fears of getting lost.
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I think gold is a very beautiful colour. Very appropriate for a prestigious school.
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This is the group study room (GSR) in Accountancy Block. It's a little different from those in Biz block. Just a little.
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