The Time Is Upon Us

Upon me rather.

Just as I was about to blog about how I think Edinburgh may have totally forgotten that I also made an application to study Japanese in their Asian Studies department, I decided to check out my UCAS Track for the heck of it even though there hadn't been a notification e-mail for weeks. Lo & Behold!! Edinburgh had made a decision on 2nd June! One week ago! UCAS probably just decided to skip the e-mail notification part and just start sending out my reply-to-offers package. Hooray! I can finally make some solid decisions.

I still want to go Kings. And the general advice is towards that end too. However I think my final decision will be Aberdeen. For one, it's definitely more affordable than Kings. Costs of living in London are almost 2x that of Scotland!!! Madness. And Aberdeen will be quieter. Less distractions. And since I have A-levels, I may get the chance to skip a year. (^_^)v

Against my mum's better judgement, I will not work through August. I will work until the end of July. If my GM is really desperate then I'll work until second week August LATEST. Then I'll leave. But the aim is still July. My colleague agrees with me that July would be more practical, coz if I haf to leave in beginning of September (term in Aberdeen starts 19th Sept) then I'll need at least August to settle everything before I go. I admitted to her that when my mum first made the August suggestion, I really felt naseaus. Luckily she understood. Really, the working environment in my office is just sickening. "Unhealthy" wouldn't even begin to describe it. Today was my first day back after my leave and already I had to witness World War SDT. It was the Production Manager vs Education & Outreach Senior Exec, both of them vs Finance Manager, who was allied by the Personnel Manager; then the GM, who's been warring with PM and EOSE, struck them again, and then decided to let her "lieutenent" the FM take over the fight. Then the dancers had to join the fray over some stupid costumes.

Generally, just a lot of mindless shouting. Sigh.

Nevermind. Bochup. The time to make some final decisions is upon me!! My second chance has come!! This is the highlight of my day I tell you. Shall not let office politics get me down. My UK dreams are finally becoming more real!!!

Pah.

I'm so sick of it all.

My mother told me to stick with my job all the way to August, and she more or less has said that my taking leave was a mistake and that I'd be lucky if my GM (her friend) doesn't fire me for it. Now I'm so wishing that it actually happens.

I know how important money is at the moment. I'll need all the funds I can get. But seriously I think if I stick to this job any further than the middle of July, I will just go and jump off some tall building in the vicinity of my office. Already middle July is to me an extended period. I had originally wanted to stop end of this month. But I decided to stay a while longer coz I really pitied my boss.

Now, I wish my boss would just fire me. It seems I'm not allowed to quit anyhow.

Raistie if you've read this don't you DARE say anything to you-know-who. I'm in enough shit about it as it is. Sorry if I sound harsh, but really, the last thing I need is her going to my mother and asking if I'm really unhappy with the job.

The Ballet & The Wallet

Just came back from watching the company's contribution to this year's Arts Fest. Quite different from the usual offerings so I would say it's quite a breakthrough.

Just don't understand why they always have to give JT the lead roles. There are other dancers in the company who are SOOOO much better than him. Pah. Even MNS is better than him, not to mention the principle male, JB.

Preferred the first piece to Le Sacre... Or maybe I just liked the choir. Think I was paying more attention to the 4 solos than to the prancing figures on stage. Les Noces (the music) is definitely easier to digest than Le Sacre. XHY is just good. And TYL also. Actually thought that FL stood out quite strongly during Les Noces. AS couldn't get the veil on.. *snigger* Twice! *snigger* Could tell she was getting very 不爽. Tough luck, shit happens. Lalalala...

Anyways. The apprehensive feeling I had this afternoon is less intense now, although something is still nagging at the back of my mind. Dunno what it is.

Uni update: On Mum's advice, am waiting until Monday to see if Edinburgh finally makes a decision on my Japanese application. If there's no word, I shall send in a cancellation for that choice and just choose between Aberdeen and Kings which technically speaking, I already am doing just that. Think I wouldn't have taken up Edinburgh even if they did accept me into the Jap course.

Money is just such a bitch. While I'm still very much inclined towards Kings, I might end up choosing Aberdeen coz it's cheaper... No, not cheaper... Less expensive would be the right way to put it. Even if I change my 4-year MEng course in Kings to a 3-year BEng course, it would still be more expensive than the 4-year BEng course I applied for in Aberdeen. And I just might be able to change that to a 3-year thing coz they usually allow A-level holders to gain 2nd year entry. Which cuts costs even more!!

Sigh. If I end up going to either and have to transfer out after a year due to failing finances I will just cry. I don't want to have to come back to Singapore to finish up. That would just suck big time.

Oh dear... I sound so selfish. I hate it. I know it's damn selfish to keep wanting to go Kings, or just UK in general, but I've actually been offered the chance! Why shouldn't I take it? Because kor has 2 more years to go in Australia, and my sis is entering Uni next year and my dad is already semi-retired. And also because I already wasted at least $20k on my doomed NUS career. Haiz.

I know that my parents are scared that I may repeat my NUS fiasco. The truth is I fear that too. Bah. Sometimes a conscience is a terrible thing.

Distance ~ JJ Lin

I love the last line. It just defines the whole song.

距离
歌手: 林俊杰 专辑: 第二天堂
词:林怡凤 曲:林俊杰

在距离三公里的位置
我在这里
想像心中的你的呼吸
同样的熄着灯的窗子
你在那里
听不到我呼吸着分离

我走向前你看不见
真的遥远
就连叹息影子听见
也是无言
你走向前我看不见
你的思念
你和我之间
刻着一条界线不曾有改变

保留着三公分的距离
我的眼里
填满着整个我爱的你
坐在同一张四方桌子边
你的眼里
读不到眷着我的讯息

当爱离开之前
能多苦能多深能多甜

距离是你走过我身边

Translation

Distance
Vocals: JJ Lin Album: Second Heaven
Lyrics: Lin Yi Feng Music: JJ Lin

Within a distance of 3km,
I’m here,
Thinking of the way you breathe.
The same darkened window
You’re there
But you can’t hear me breathing as I leave.

When I walk forward, you can’t see.
It’s really so far.
Even if you heard my sigh or saw my shadow,
You said nothing.
When you walked forward, I didn’t see
You thinking of me.
Between you and me
There’s a carved line, that’s never changed.

Keeping a distance of 3cm
My eyes
Are filled with a you that I love.
Sitting beside the same 4-sided table
In your eyes,
I don’t see any signs that you care for me.

Before love leaves
There’s such pain, such depth, such sweetness.

Distance is you just brushing past.

I've Got A Bad Feeling About This...

One could make a sport out of counting the number of times that line is said in the entire Star Wars saga. Each of the major and semi-major characters have to say it at least once.

Anyhow the point I was going to make here is that suddenly I'm gripped by this intense feeling of apprehension. Like... I missed doing something or that something's going to happen that's not necessarily good.

I logged on to blog hoping that saying it out would ease it... Doesn't seem to be working though. Anyway I have to leave for a gym appointment. Will come back to talk more about it I guess.

I don't think I'm prone to anxiety attacks... At least not for no apparent reason. I dunno.

I've got a bad feeling about this.

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.

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...

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!!




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.

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.

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...]

"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...................................

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*

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.

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...

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...

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？

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)

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?

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*