Monday, May 30, 2005

On Leave!!!

I'm on one week leave!!
Hooray!!!

No stupid students for one full week!!! Wahahahahah!!!

Ok. Technically my leave is supposed to be for me to study for my book keeping exams on 6th & 7th of June (i.e. next Monday and Tuesday) but hey!!! I can't be studying ALL the time right. Hirhirhir...

No lah. I don't intend to slack off. Study, I will. To pass my book keeping, the plan is. Hehehe.. Can you tell that I've FINALLY gone to watch Revenge of the Sith?? Hehehehehe....

Ep III was SOOOOO much better than I & II. Ok, so there was still a fair amount of cheese around, like the last part where Vader broke of his bonds a la Frankenstein. But it did tie up many many MANY loose ends. And it FINALLY links to the original trilogy!!! YAY!!! Ok, next up will be a Star Wars marathon. Any takers??? WHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAH!!!!

Hmm... Speaking of free time, maybe I should FINALLY (how many times have I said FINALLY already in this post?? I should change the post title) update my Siewmanime blog. It's been seriously seriously neglected. But then I haven't really had the time to draw anything.

Updates on the Uni status: Still trying to decide between Aberdeen and KCL at the moment. Although I cannot make an official decision until UCAS sends me a reply-to-offers form. And they won't send me that until all my choices have been decided upon. Now I'm only waiting for a decision from Edinburgh about my application to study Japanese (Language). Talked to my dad and he doesn't see the harm in waiting for that decision to come through, although personally I'm very tempted to just cancel that choice and just choose between Aberdeen and KCL. The main reason being that I want to finally be able to set down a date to be my last day in the office. I seriously hate the job.

Haa well.... Mum coming back from San Francisco tomorrow. Guess we'll see what she says before I make any further decisions.

Thursday, May 26, 2005

The First Arrival...

Well... The official acceptance letter from KCL has finally arrived in my mailbox. Faculty handbook, accomodation application forms, etc, etc... So now just waiting for the one from Aberdeen. Still trying to decide though. I'm inclined to take up King's... But Aberdeen would be cheaper. And... Australia would be even cheaper.

I'm very torn. I don't know how to choose.

On a side note, my applications to study Chinese/Japanese in Leeds and Engine/Management in Edinburgh were rejected. Right now only my app to study Japanese in Edinburgh hasn't seen a decision, although since the engineering department rejected my application I doubt the Asian Studies department would accept. But that's ok. I got offers from the ones that sort of mattered more to me. Though now, I'm not sure if they're the right ones to choose.

Cost is a BIG factor here... Then again so is the prestige and the quality of study. But giving up the UK to apply for Australia now seems so... wasted.

Haiz.

I need a fix of Abel Nightroad/Kanbei/Kurosaki Ichigo/etc etc... :p Some addictions just don't die. Hahahahaha...

Monday, May 23, 2005

Jin... Kanbei... And Now - Abel Nightroad-sama!

After Samurai Champloo and Samurai 7 ended their run, there hasn't really been another anime that really caught my eye. There's Bleach and Saiyuki Reload GUNLOCK of course, but I'm already downloading them. What I mean is that I haven't really found another anime that's worth starting to rave about other than the few I'm already downloading or have already downloaded. I've started on MÄR but I haven't really decided whether or not it's a keeper. Then the other day I found THIS!!


Posted by Hello

TRINITY BLOOD!!!!

Damn cool anime. I've only watched one episode so far and I'm HOOKED!! I can't wait for the rest of this anime to come out and when the DVD is released I'm DEFINITELY buying!! I think Yuene would like this anime. There's one character called Catherina Sforza inside that reminds me of Integra.

[11.55pm Update]

Just finished watching The Empire Strikes Back. The original series is STILL the best! Anyway, that's not what I really want to blog about.

Went out for dinner just now and was talking to my dad. He's very glad that I got offers from Aberdeen and King's and thinks it's a good idea that I take management with engineering, coz he can't see me holding a full-time engineering job. Which is true. I can't either, but that's why I'm mixing it with management. But like my mum, he's worried about the costs. Australia IS much cheaper. Heck, even Canada's cheaper than UK. But the thing is... Applying and taking up a course in Oz or Canada means waiting until next year for entry. I personally don't relish waiting any longer. But I can't stop thinking about the costs. Yes, I could properly try to get a scholarship in my second year if I go to UK. But what happens if I'm don't get a scholarship? Even if I work part-time, that'd only cover my living expenses.

I still think it's a real blessing that I got the offers that I did. I do. At least it's proven to me that not all doors are closed to me. I'm thankful for that in itself.

Now the question is: Is it the right thing to accept the UK offers? Or should I apply to Oz/Canada for entry next year?

Truth is I don't want to wait anymore. But sometimes, I guess... What I want isn't the right thing to do at the moment.

Thursday, May 19, 2005

God's Grace Again And Again

This past month, I've been getting kinda restless. The whole month just seemed to be passing too slowly for me. The main reason is that I've been hoping and waiting for a positive reply from the universities I applied to. It got to a point where I not only started praying for God to give me greater patience, I began asking him if I should've applied to Australia instead of the UK. Then I asked if I should put in a late application for Australia, coz my UK prospects just felt so bleak all of a sudden.

Each time I checked my UCAS Track, there'd be no updates. But then again I was checking first every night, then every two nights. It felt so pessimistic.. But then I suppose checking so regularly was just driving me nuts also. I was at that point where I didn't really care if there was acceptance or rejection. I just had to know!

Finally this week I decided to stop worrying about it and really just leave it in God's hand. Accept or reject, they'd have to send a physical letter to me anyhow so I might as well just wait for it. I even stopped checking my Track page this whole week.

Then today, I came home from choir and started up my comp. And the gmail notifier told me I had an update from UCAS. I went in to check and what I saw was really beyond my expectations. I had expected to see a decision from just one university. I saw three decisions, two universities. And they were universities I thought I would get a negative response from. But God's grace is just amazing.

King's College London and University of Aberdeen - which happen to be my top two choices for universities, and the most difficult ones I applied to - just gave me unconditional offers to my choice of courses. I am so amazed. I never thought I'd get such a positive response, and I didn't think I'd actually see a decision by these two unis until at least June. Of course I can't send in a reply through the internet, I have to wait for the physical acceptance letter to arrive. So now I have to decide where to go. But I still can't stop being amazed at it all.

The very moment I stop fretting and leave it to God, God answered. And He was laughing.

Friday, May 13, 2005

Sorry, What Did You Say??

My ears are blocked.

They have been blocked the WHOLE day. Especially my left ear. Everything I heard today has been at half-volume. And I will hear strange things. For example, today after work I went and hung out with Jemalelinh. I asked her what she had for dinner and I heard her say "fried cheese kuay teow".

(-_-)'"

In actual fact she said "fried beef kuay teow". I realized that about 1 minute after I heard it as "cheese". Then when she asked me to hold her bag for her coz she wanted to take off her sweater, I thought I heard her announce that she was going to take off her skirt. (o_O)'" I was very shocked.

Gah!!! My hearing has been warped the whole day. I blame it on the flu I'm recovering from.

Jemalelinh gave me a new book!! It's got a woman in leather on the cover!!! Uhm.. Ok that sounded wrong.... It's got a woman in leather armour!.... Ok that sounds wrong too... Erm...

Heck... It's got a warrior woman on the cover! She's got a sword! ...*thinks and adds on* To kill people with!

[Edit 11.52pm: Ok.. Jemalelinh says that she never said "fried beef kway teow ".. apparently what she said was "fried fish bee hoon".... shows you just how bad my hearing has been today...]

Thursday, May 12, 2005

"You were the Chosen One!!!"

OMG I soooooooooooo want to watch Revenge of the Sith!!!!!!!!! WAAAAAAIIIII!!!!!!!!!! OBI-WAAAAAAAANNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm just here watching every single TV trailer that's posted on the official website. SOOOOOOO COOOOOOOOOOLLL!!!!!!!

OBI-WAAAAAN!!!!!

The latest TV ad that's aired is the coolest so far I think...

"The boy you trained, gone he is. Consumed by Darth Vader." OMG even Yoda sounds damn cool.

I wanna watch I wanna watch I WANNA WATCH!!!!!!

*Screams of agony and anticipation*

starwarsstarwarsstarwarsstarwarsstarwarsstarwarsstarwarsstarwarsstar
warsstarwarsstarwarsstarwarsstarwarsstarwarsstarwarsstarwarsstarwarsstarwarsstarwars
starwarsstarwarsstarwarsstarwarsstarwarsstarwarsstarwarsstarwars...................................

Wednesday, May 11, 2005

Sick Sick Sick

Yes. I have been sick. Still am actually. Been down with the flu since Saturday. Damn jialat I tell you. I spent the whole weekend in bed. I felt a little better on Sunday night, so I thought it would be safe to go to work on Monday. Bad move I tell you. Despite missing Jap class to go home to sleep early, my fever was back up on Tuesday and I was coughing worse than before. In the end I left the office after lunch on Tuesday. Yes, I went to work even though I was not feeling up to it. The ironic thing is that Tuesday morn before I left the house, I saw this article in the Straits Times about how people who are sick should not be going to work because it hurts productivity rather than help. Guess I should've seen it as a sign. Tch. Anyhow, so I left the office after lunch and went home to sleep. Then today went down to get an MC and called in for a day off, even though I did feel much much MUCH better. But I figured, no point taking chances. Might as well rest for one whole day then get back to work.

Dunno what kind of persistent flu virus this is. This is the... *counts* Fifth day I'm sick, technically I do feel better, coughing less. But I'm still having to take panadol at intervals to suppress a fever! Seriously, about 4hours after each dosage, I will start to feel the fever coming back. And that just sucks!! Shouldn't it be totally gone by now??? Crazy virus.

But at least it's just the flu. At one point I did think "Oh shit, what if it's dengue??" coz there were 2 cases at my workplace recently. 2 of the dancers kena-ed and had to be hospitalized. Damn scary. Then just before that one of them got pneumonia. (O_O) Can you imagine? One of my collegues got so freaked she bought one of those air purifier thingys.

Anyhow, hopefully the fever will be completely gone tomorrow. Have to go back to work. Bleah. Really hope I can stop working soon. Really hope I get a positive answer from the UK. *prays*

Thursday, May 05, 2005

Good Day? Lousy Day?

Hmmm... Really don't know how to classify today.

On the work side, nothing very much happened. I was spared of any drama. Although I forsee some coming up soon, since there might be another class that will have to be cancelled, or combined. Sigh... On the bright side there was minimal screaming from the office beside me (read: GM. Yes, my cubicle is just one thin wall away from the GM's office.) except when CMS and I were discussing who to substitute RM for his class on Monday. 'twas between AS and AN but GM was pissed at AS for throwing a tantrum last week when she wasn't allowed to cancel class last minute to go to LOTD (DUH! of course not!!). She was allowed in the end when she somehow convinced ZJ to sub her, but damage was already done. So GM screams that AS should never be allowed to teach again. So sub job goes to AN, but CMS quietly adds that since AS already has a 6-month old class on Thursdays, just let her continue for that class ONLY.

Divas I tell you.. All these dancers... D-I-V-A-S.

Late for flamenco coz had to work late (also coz Nekoweenie and I decided to eat first). Skipped premier and went for segundo only. Made a total fool of myself... Again. Could see that Angel was in a lot of pain. (T_T) I'm sorry Angel!!! I should just stick to premier.

Have to work late again tomorrow. Probably on Monday and Tuesday also. Sianz. But I think once the term starts proper, everything should more or less go on autopilot and I'll be more free to catch up on filing. (-_-)"'

Bright note(s) of the day:
- Encouraging sms from Tania after flamenco! (^_^)
- My UCAS application finally got processed!!!! Now to wait for the universities to respond.

Minus point: I've lost my dance card. I don't know where it is. Miko let me into class today on good faith (ie I prob left it in another bag, it's ok, he'll remember to mark my card next week.). BUT I don't know where it is!!!!!!!! (T_T)

So... Lousy? Good? So-so? I dunno. I feel I'm becoming more mechanical and more boring each day. I can hardly keep up a conversation with people nowadays. (-_-)zzz Dunno what's up.

Sunday, May 01, 2005

Care for Politics? Me?!??!

Got this off RJ's blog... I really don't know how accurate it is... Thought I was a person that didn't care about politics.. I'm pretty sure that's how I answered for the politically-related questions... Hmm... Other than that... Seems quite true... Dunno.. What do you guys think?

Your dating personality profile:

Liberal - Politics matters to you, and you aren't afraid to share your left-leaning views. You would never be caught voting for a conservative candidate.
Adventurous - Just sitting around the house is not something that appeals to you. You love to be out trying new things and really experiencing life.
Shy - You are often timid around others, though you will open up when the right person comes along.

Your date match profile:

Adventurous - You are looking for someone who is willing to try new things and experience life to its fullest. You need a companion who encourages you to take risks and do exciting things.
Practical - You are drawn to people who are sensible and smart. Flashy, materialistic people turn you off. You appreciate the simpler side of living.
Shy - You are put off by people who are open books. You are drawn to someone who is a bit more mysterious. You want to draw him out of his shell and get to know what he is all about.

Your Top Ten Traits

1. Liberal
2. Adventurous
3. Shy
4. Big-Hearted
5. Practical
6. Religious
7. Athletic
8. Sensual
9. Romantic
10. Wealthy/Ambitious
Your Top Ten Match Traits

1. Adventurous
2. Practical
3. Shy
4. Funny
5. Religious
6. Athletic
7. Conservative
8. Big-Hearted
9. Wealthy/Ambitious
10. Traditional



Take the Online Dating Profile Quiz at Dating Diversions

Happy... Not Happy... Happy... Not Happy...

Happy: Long Weekend!! YAY!!!
Not Happy: Stupid dance students just had to spoil the week for me. Stupid instructors too.

Happy: Got treated to 隠し剣 鬼の爪 Hidden Blade by Nekoweenie. Thanx Neko!! (^_^)
Not Happy: Am putting on weight again. (o-_-o) <---- [puffy cheek smiley]

Happy: Got treated to lunch + movie, Divergence 三岔口 + coffee by Phoenich. (^_^)
Not Happy: Am putting on weight again. (o-_-o)(o-_-o) <---- [puffy x 2!!!]

Okokok.. So I actually have more reason to be happy than upset.. BUT!! This is TERRIBLE!!! I'm getting fat again!!! AAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!!

It's all this sitting in the office I tell you... That plus the stupid dancers and the students are stressing me out... AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!

But Hidden Blade was COOL!!! And Divergence was not bad.. Though I'm still a little confused by the ending...

Wednesday, April 27, 2005

Quiet Birthday

Technically speaking my birthday's already over. Since 11 minutes ago actually. But oh well. I've come to accept that every year my birthday will just be spent as yet another day. Today is once again a perfect example of that. Woke up later than I wanted to, got to work, dealt with strange people over the phone, doubled up as personal assistant to GM, act the part of 大姐 to GM's nephew who's on one-month vocation in the office, went for class, got home, made lunch... etc, etc.

Yeah. So happening.

Not really complaining. I mean, my friends did remember my birthday and wished me... Well, some of them did anyhow... Ok make that just 3 of them. BUT! The point is that my friends remembered and I'm glad for it!!! Doesn't matter that I don't get to celebrate or whatever. So yeah, if I sounded like I was complaining... Nahh... Just braindead. Usually am nowadays after I reach home.

Mum bought me new per una shirt, jeans and scarf from Marks and Spencer. :D Yay!! New clothes!

...
Dammit... I forgot what I wanted to write...

Sunday, April 24, 2005

Long Time No Blog

Ah. More than a month since I last blogged. Anyway there's been nothing much to blog about. I go to work, get bitched at by stupid people who attend the adult dance classes conducted by SDT, be treated like personal secretary to GM even though officially I'm just supposed to be the class coordinator. Then I go off to whatever class... Late. Because I always end up working late and traffic at 6, 6.30pm is murder. Takes me an hour just to reach Ang Mo Kio...

People are starting to ask... Heck I'M starting to ask me what's going on with my application. The answer is zilch. I haven't sent anything in yet. Basically I've decided to just try out for Sept entry for the UK unis first failing which I will then try for Feb entry to Australia. And I was supposed to go down to British Council today after church but unfortunately my laptop got infected by a virus through MSN and so I had to transfer whatever I could save of my statement to my home comp and do it all over again. By the time I was done with the statement it was already 2-plus and the BC closes at 3pm. Would've been too late even if my mum gave me a ride.

Anyway. Now that I read my statement again I think I should rewrite it. Again. Actually am still divided as to the courses I want to apply for. I mean... I'm more or less decided on Mech Engine and/or Language Studies... It's just that... I only have six choices and there are more than 6 variations of the subjects that I'm interested in. I've already pinned down exactly which six to apply for in my form. But part of me is still thinking about the other combis. Ah... Fickle-minded dim sum.

Maybe I should skip Japanese tomorrow to go down to the BC. They close at 8pm on Weekdays. I could actually wait until Saturday, since my book-keeping class for that day's been changed to Friday night... But I kinda want to get it over and done with... Oh wait... I still need to go to the post office to buy an international reply stamp... Dammit. That's the end of that idea then. Actually... Do those automated SAM machines dispense IRS? Or foreign denominated stamps?? 誰か教えてください... Somebody tell me please...

あっ...どうしてこんなに疲れて気持がある?

Tuesday, March 29, 2005

Daily Time-Table

7am - Wake up (On days when I have PT, wake up time is 5.30am)

8.15am - Latest time to get onto bus to Dhoby Ghaut (On gym days, this is the time I get out of the gym.)

9.00am - Start work (although my department actually officially starts at 9.30am. Oh well.. gives me some "start-up" time.)

12pm - Lunch hour

6pm - Last person to leave and lock up. Leave for whatever class it is I have that day.

7pm - 7.30pm - Start of whatever class it is I'm having.

9.30pm-10pm - End of whichever class I had.

11pm - Reach home; start preparing tomorrow's lunch.

12am - Shower, attempt to do whatever book keeping/Japanese homework I might have.

1am - Sleep.

And that my friends, is how the Siew Mai lives practically every day now. (z_z)

Sunday, March 27, 2005

I Miss Having Free Time

Just to appease RJ, I have returned to my now much-neglected blog. Therefore, RJ, you should feel honoured. I'm blogging because of you. :P

Nothing much has been happening really. Work is slowly coming along. I'm learning how to answer phone calls properly, still compiling databases, wrote my first two notice circulars to the Adult Dance Class students, issued payment notices, etc. This week should get more intereting though. The dancers are back from their London tour, so that means classes will resume. It also means that my Education & Outreach Manager will be back. Eep. More importantly, it means the General Manager will be back. Double eep!! (O_O) I don't think I've really learned enough to be left by myself.

Got a bit of a scare on Thursday after work. I was walking down the Fort Canning steps towards Park Mall when I got stopped by this mad man. At first he just asked me the time, which I very politely told him. But when I was about to take another step down he stopped me again and started talking to me about how so many people are getting off work early and there are so many students around that particular day. Then he went on about how the next day was a public holiday, that's why so many people are off early, and he asked if I was a Christian. No matter how I tried to walk away he wouldn't let me and just kept talking to me. I was seriously freaked out. Then suddenly there was this honking behind me and lo and behold! It was my colleague!!! She happened to drive by and decided I needed rescueing. I practically ran into the passenger seat of her car. I don't know how long I would've been standing on the steps in polite (albeit scared) conversation with that mad man if she hadn't driven past.

That's it really. Haven't done anything else coz I really don't have anymore time to do anything else. Practically every night after work I have something on. Work is from around 9am - 6pm from Mon to Fri (my Sat working times haven't been decided yet. Personnel Manager said to wait until the GM came back. Go figure.). And after that my schedule is something like this.

Monday: Japanese 7.15pm - 9.45pm
Tuesday: Book Keeping 7pm - 10pm
Wednesday: Church Choir practice 8pm-10pm
Thursday: Flamenco Primer/Segundo 7.30pm - 9.30pm
Sat: Book Keeping 2pm-5pm

Then of course, church on Sunday 8.30am. So basically, from Mon to Thurs I get back home only around 11pm every night. But dammit. I still wanna go out. I haven't watched a movie in the cinemas since The Incredibles. And there seem to be a few good movies out now. Also realize I haven't actually met up with a lot of friends for a while. Hmmm.....

Well? Any takers?

Saturday, March 19, 2005

The Work Begins... and more old updates

Ok. The only reason why I'm blogging at this moment is because my sister is still in the shower even though we've been back from dinner since 10pm and my mother and I have been practising our choir music since then. So slow I tell you that person.

Yeah. The work is starting to pile on. On Thursday and Friday I was just typing and typing on the office comp. I starting to worry about when the dancers come back from their London tour and when the new adult dance classes start. (O_O) Will be swamped with a lot of forms and a lot of money. None of which will belong to me. So sad.

In other news: I have finally learnt how to ride a bike!! *smug look* I have the bruises to prove it! Very beautiful ones on my right knee and left thigh. Not very steady yet, but I have done it!! Heh!!

Oh. And one other snippet which is actually quite old news. Only posting it now because I've been debating whether or not I should. But since it's more or less been concluded to be a passing phase, I don't see any cause of worry. Last Friday, my mother and I were playing around with her electronic home blood pressure thingymabob. And for some reason, it kept registering really low heart rates even though our blood pressure registered as normal. We decided it was going wonky and changed the batteries. Then we tried again, and true enough, my mother's vital signs were measured as normal. Mine however, were still a bit off. My blood pressure was normal enough. But my heart rate kept measuring around 45-48bpm. So as a final test of the machine's integrity, we plugged it up to my dad. And this time it actually seemed to work, so tried again on me. Same thing, heart rate was damn low but BP was normal. So BOTH my parents felt my pulse and found I had drop beats, i.e. irregular heart beats. It was all very strange so they decided that I should go and get an ECG (electro-cardiogram) reading.

The next day my dad brought me down to his old classmate's (who also happened to be his heart surgeon) clinic to borrow the ECG. The nurse stuck a lot of little suction things on my chest and clamped my wrists and ankles with what looked like giant crocodile clips. I felt like an O-level physics experiment. So lay there for a couple of minutes and got a reading. The nurse read it and was like "48... A bit low huh..." So she sent it off to Dr. Choo and I was told to wait around so that he could see me. When I went into the office, I was hooked up to another blood pressure thingy. Blood pressure was still normal but this time my heart rate measured at 41 and 43 (took twice).

Dr. Choo looked at my BP readings, looked at my ECG, scribbled down some notes and looked at me and said something to the extent of, "No chronic conditions, no serious history, kidneys ok, liver ok... Might just be inborn." I'm like "Huh?" Apparently it does happen, naturally slow hearts, in about every... 1 in 1000? Or was it 10,000? Can't really remember. But it was 1-something and definitely had more zeroes than 100. And such people can go on for a lifetime without any serious ailments or even not knowing at all. But thing is that I've never registered a slow heart rate before (in school checkups and whatnots). Either that or no one's bothered to tell me about it.

In any case, I'm supposed to go back to the clinic in another 6 weeks to take a 24-hr ECG reading. So I'm going to be attached to a portable ECG machine for 24hrs and I won't be able to bathe. (T_T) I have to go down a total of three days consecutively. One to attach the ECG to me, one to take it off, and the last to see Dr. Choo. Basically it's to see if this condition is a persisting thing or a one-off condition. Well... I haven't fainted yet and I can still go for an hour on the treadmill. So I doubt I'm going to die of a heart attack soon. Probably consumed something that slows down heart rate that particular day or something. There are such things you know, in medicines, tonics... goodness knows what else. Even constant exercise will lower your resting heart rate. Anyway. I'm FINE. No need for worry. That's why I'm actually posting this piece of news. Heh. Still have to go down in six weeks though. Just to make things official. Lalala. So fun. No bath for 24 hrs... *sob*

Monday, March 14, 2005

Starting Work

Will be starting work tomorrow at the Singapore Dance Theatre. Not as a dancer of course. I'm not that wonderful. As my mother puts it, I will be the admin assistant to the admin assistant of the admin assistant. Hahaha.. Sound diao-ded? Quite lah. Hahaha. My mum's friend is the General Manager of SDT but she's touring with the company in London at the moment. So her assistant (I assume the position is Asst. GM) is in charge. Then under her is this other girl who's in charge of planning events and stuff, so let's call her the Events Planner. And I will be helping the EP with the admin and the "Education and Outreach" aspects. Basically I issue receipts, liase with schools who want workshops, advertise workshops, etc etc... Yes people, no matter what positional title they give me, it just means that I am a glorified receptionist. Lalala. But the people all seem very nice. So that's a plus already. Lalala. And it's such a SMALL office!!! When I went in today for the "interview" I only saw 3 people in the office. The AGM, the EP and one other Malay fellow whom I haven't officially met yet. (O_O) So small!! The only minus I can think of right now is that it's all the way in Fort Canning Centre. Have to climb hill everyday now. (T_T) Anyway, I hope it works out. Don't want to be fired after one day.

Oh, for the sake of further updates that were supposed to have appeared eons ago, I have decided that I WILL apply for the UK/Scottish universities after all, and they shall be my first choice if I actually get accepted. Don't really know what my chances are. I would think quite slim actually, especially since I'm applying late. But what the hell. The worst that can happen is that I don't get accepted right? So far the unis I've decided to apply to are King's College London (HA!! Fat hope right?? Oh what the heck!), Aberdeen and Edinburgh (Both Scottish! Love the accent. Lalala! (^_^) ). Also looking at Leeds and Brunel but not sure whether or not to include them as choices in my UCAS form. AH! And get this, I've decided that I will study... *drumroll* ENGINEERING!!! Wahahahhahah!!! Mad right? The first reaction of everyone I've told so far is a look of disbelief (or silence over the phone) and then a "Are you serious??" that drips with cynicism and some attempts to convince me how awful engineering will be for me. But well, my A-level subjects WERE Maths and Physics after all, both of which I got a B in... And I know that's a lousy excuse. But I really am serious. I really do believe that I can do well in engineering. So it's worth a try right? Or do I really garner so little faith in people?

Anyhow, don't worry. I'm not totally giving up on my Languages. If I'm allowed to I will do a joint study in engineering and language. Plus if I apply for Leeds, I will put down my choice of study there as Languages. Leeds has always been more of an Arts college anyway. So what about the Biomedical sciences I talked about some time ago? I will still apply for them on my Australian and New Zealand applications, since they're not so particular about whether or not I took biology at A-level. So...

Pray that everything works out in the end.

Friday, March 11, 2005

First Post of March

Ah... Hahaha.. Gomen ne, everyone. I have been very lazy. _(_ _)_ I kowtow to you in sincere apology (apparently that's the 'smiley' for kowtow.. nvr understood why though). Will update slowly. Here's a starter.

I didn't get the hotel job. Sucks. It would have paid well. Oh well. Never mind. Have been informed by my mother that her friend who is affiliated with the Singapore Dance Theatre (she's a.. management consultant? Patron?? I don't really know but she organizes and manages events for them and things like Arts Fest) has managed to get me a mini-job. I'm basically going to be the Girl Friday for SDT. While they will do the main organizing and what-nots, I'd have to go and book hotel rooms and stuff. Saikang work lah. But it will add to my resume and the time is quite flexible I hear. But then again when they say "no fixed time" it might also mean really weird working times. (-_-)'" Not sure what the pay is like yet. Have to give them a call on Monday. Hopefully will be a fun job.

These past few days been walking around with my head down everytime I have to go out. If I could help it I wouldn't go out at all. Reason being that I now look like some scaly-skinned alien from the desert planet Arrakis (aka Dune. Still dunno? Go read Frank Herbert). Nekoweenie, I know I told you it was a rash, but it's actually more of a burn. Yes people, I have burns on my face. It doesn't look so bad now but yesterday and the day before my entire T-zone area was red and had hundreds of tiny raised welts (kinda like when you get hives, or goosepimples) all over. This was due to my re-use of a medicated cream for my acne. I've used it before and I've never had such a reaction to it but back then I was only using it once every two days and plus I had stopped using it for about a year. This time I used it every night and after about 3,4 nights, POOMF!! My skin exploded. I didn't use very much, just about a third of the first joint of my pinky for the whole face. My skin just wasn't used to the chemicals in the cream anymore. Two days ago it was a burning sensation on my forehead and cheeks. Yesterday it didn't burn so much but started to itch. Today, when it's starting to dry off and the skin is starting peel, it's itching like mad. Have had to take Piriton (an antihistamine) to curb the itch. (T_T) The things we do to look beautiful. Won't be so bad the next time, coz then my skin would be more accustomed to cream.

My grand-aunt is threatening to make me her official escort to Kuching during June for a whole month. One week is still ok. One MONTH???? Help!! Somebody make me unavailable!!!

It's Only The Fairy Tale
Mai HiME Insert Song
Lyrics: Jim Steel
Composer: Yuki Kajiura
Vocals: Miyamura Yuuko

Who are those little girls in pain
Just trapped in a castle on the dark side of the moon

Twelve of them shining bright in vain
Like flowers that blossom just once in years

They're dancing in the shadow like whispers of love
Just dreaming of a place where they're free as doves

They've never been allowed to love in this cursed cage
It's only the fairy tale they believe

Monday, February 28, 2005

JOB HUNT: The Saga Continues

Her handphone rang suddenly, waking our heroine from her stupor. Taking the vibrating communicator in her hands, she readied herself before she finally answered the call. It was SC.

"Call this number, ask for the front desk and ask for S." The call ended.

Staring at the number now in her hands, our heroine swallowed, and carefully pressed the numbers on her phone's keypad. It was now or never.

"Hotel Inter-Continental. How may I help you?"

And so it began.

S had information that our heroine needed desperately. "Can you come now?" She was given the coordinates for the next part of the mission - the Hotel Inter-Continental itself. She had to move quickly, before the afternoon ended.

Despite the searing heat, the unfaltering dimsum finally breached the location and found her mark. With just a subtle look, our heroine knew what S meant - wait around. She'll slip out asap.

*****
"I'll take you to the security post. Then you'll have to find your way to HR yourself. But first there's some things you have to know about the post of Guest Services Agent...."

Quickly, quietly, the two made their way down to the security post.

"Good luck. I'll see you back at the front."

Taking a deep breath, our heroine proceeded down the steps towards the basement. There she would meet with her final challenge - the Interview.
*****

Tune in next time for the next installment of... *drumroll* *cue dramatic music* JOB HUNT: The Inter-Continental Verdict.

Sunday, February 27, 2005

Lady Macbeth's Torment

"Here's the smell of the blood still: All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand." ~ Lady Macbeth; Macbeth V:i

Now I know why she went nuts.

I had to put two of my hamsters to sleep this afternoon. The two young ones. They got really sick and for some reason the bigger one kept attacking the runt, which made it even worse faster. But the Big Baby (our way of differentiating the two offspring: Big Baby and Small Baby) was getting more sick each day too. Saw a tumor-like thing on under it's left forearm today. So decided to finally put them down. My mother helped with that. Gave them both a concentrated dosage of sedatives. And then they quietly went to sleep, and then they just stopped breathing.

Forgive me if I sound melodramatic or anything, but I really feel like a murderer right now. That word's been going around my head since 4pm.

:( I killed my baby hamsters.

Friday, February 25, 2005

JLPT Results!!!

I got my JLPT score report in the mail yesterday. The actual certificate will only be available for collection in March. I got quite a good score! Am very very pleased. I passed lah, obviously. Here's the breakdown of my scores, as shown in the report:

Writing-Vocabulary: 91/100
Listening: 78/100
Reading-Grammar: 159/200

Total: 328/400

That's an 82% pass!! The passing score set down for JLPT Level 4 is 60% (so high!! why is it not 50%, I don't understand), so I guess I did good. (^_^) Hee!! Actually I was quite surprised by the scores, especially the score for writing and vocabulary. I didn't think I would get such a high score. Expected something around 70%.. 75% max... 82% is like... OMG. V happy now. Wheee!! Can confidently carry on with JLPT 3 now. Banzai!