CNY visiting on Saturday, photo taken at Cherlyn's. Last year, we decided to make a round of our 4 houses on the same day. We did it too this year, I hope we can make it a tradition heh. Thankew gals, you kept me very well-fed throughout the day and night haha.

On Sunday, my parents' friends came over for CNY gathering and they kept my pocket very well-fed. Hee. I think I deserved it well cos I worked real hard for it. Really. I washed the dishes for the whole afternoon cos food was buffet style and ma didn't use disposable plates. I think I've earned a PhD in dishwashing.

Call me Maria.

Now all Maria wants is to get her waistline back. And more angbaos. And finish all her homework. And more angbaos. Oh and forty bullseyes on Wed.

That isn't asking for too much is it? :)

Got home from msia and discovered penicillin on my dining table:Happy Lunar New Year everybody!

I didn't think I'd feel this sad when Kor left but *sigh*, I'm feeling quite sad. Missing his presence already cos he's like kinda big. Sigh. House feels empty without him. Can't quite figure out why I'm feeling like that this time round. Afterall when he went for NS, I just thought: whee! the whole comp to myself! When he first left for Perth, I thought: good that he's back to studying, looking forward to his convocation so I get a free vacation!

And now I feel sad. Gosh I must be emotionally-retarded.

Anyway today was probably the worst day of the week (including the days to come, though I shouldn't speak too soon). So many things happened at the same time.

1. CV4202 tutorial vs Lan Pei's bday celebration. Well ok I sort of didn't know that my dear partner's celebration was during that time but I should have guessed. So erm yar missed the celebration. Sigh.

2. Lab vs Lunchtime concert. I feel really bad about this one. Missed QQ's performance!!! Argh! QQ, I promise I'll be standing right in front for your March performance cheering you on. Promise!

3. Training vs sending Kor to airport. Logically I should have trained cos sending Kor to Changi is just literally sending him there, waving goodbye and going home. Nothing special about that. Training, on the other hand, is quite impt. Esp when competition is right around the corner and I haven't handled my pistol for 3 months. Of course I chose the illogical option.

It's on days like these when the cliche phrases really make sense. Phrase of the day: It never rains but it pours.

Looks like a flower (does it sting like a bee? hehe sorry lame joke) but it isn't a flower. Who's up for a guess?

I've got a busy week ahead...
Tue: Send Kor to airport. Supposed to have training at night but dun think I can make it. Hmm.
Wed: Training. Finally. I miss the bullseye (pun unintended).
Thu: Group meeting. Haven't researched on anything.
Fri: Loooonnnggg day + STEAMBOAT!
Sat: Fetch Dad from airport.
Sun: In Msia collecting hongbao in ringgit. Dun you dare rub it in. Hmph.
Mon: Still in Msia stuffing my face with pineapple tarts.
Tue: Return to Sg 3 kg heavier. Hello chubby.

Sigh. The gluttony is inevitable. Therefore, I shall embrace it wholeheartedly. Afterall, when you can't fight'em, join'em :)

My sore throat is making me cranky and I just felt a twinge in my head. Guess the headache is making its appearance now. Gosh I just have to catch the flu bug when everyone else's flu is long gone.

Bleargh.

Kor is leaving next week. Still the same size. Sigh. I'm a bad little sis. All those plans for jogging and swimming with him never took place. I blame it partly on the weather, but mostly on my useless self for not having the energy after school to exercise with him. I dread to think of the consequences of his size.

I'm paranoid and skeptical. Somewhat cynical regarding certain issues. Used to be really sarcastic but that remained in teenagehood (or so I think...). But anyway I am really paranoid about certain stuff. So I repeat, I dread to think of the consequences of his size. I dread to think of what might happen. I can only hope, wish, pray that nothing will happen.

Kor, you're on your own from now. Please, please take care of your body.

The car scratched me.

Yep you read that right. Specifically, it was the car seat which scratched me.

Ah I can see you scratching your head now heh. Okay so here's the whole story:

On Monday morning, I took the car out for a spin. On my way home, I saw my bro taking a jog around the neighbourhood so I decided to give him a lift.

(And let's just ignore the ethical implications of my actions for the moment. He was supposed to be exercising and me giving him a lift was in no ways helpful so... what can I say? I'm a good little sister *grin*)

So anyway, I reached over to grab my stuff from the passenger seat so that he can get in and something scratched me.

*insert sinister music*

... there was something sticking out of the side of the car seat. A rather thick metal piece in fact, somewhat like a nail minus the pointy bit. That thingy scratched me. Or if you consider the physics of it carefully, I scratched my arm against that thingy (afterall my arm is mobile while that thingy is stationary).

So that's how the car scratched me. Or how I scratched myself in the car. Whatever.

Before I forget (well actually I did, otherwise this would have been included in the previous post containing silly pictures...), if you have enough moolah for only one show this week, Blood Diamond is the show to watch. It's an excellent show that set me thinking about some of my beliefs. Violence scenes are violently violent, so the squeamish should go watch the show with someone not so squeamish.

So go watch the show ok? Good :)

Now that I have a new toy (Nokia 7373, damn chio phone for an un-chio me), I go around taking useless photos of...

Gigantic toilet rolls and...

Mysterious person doing an equally dubious action. Heh.

Conclusion: Hurray. I'm devolving.

I'd like to think it takes alot to piss me off but evidently, it takes very little. Guess I'm not such a nice person afterall. So what was that little thing? My class was canceled. My 4.30pm to 6.30pm tutorial on a Friday afternoon was canceled without notification. If there was an oral announcement was made during the lecture, I did not hear it because the inconsiderate souls sitting at the back of the LT insist on conducting loud conversations not pertaining to the subject matter.

The admin problems I have faced this semester seem abnormally numerous. There is something sinister going on and I don't like it. My parents are paying my school fees, which makes me a money-paying customer of the school. This also makes me a very dissatisfied customer of the school. I do hope things improve because I hate to leave a bad impression on the people surrounding me everytime I launch into vulgar expletives condemning the efficiency of certain systems.

I need chocolate.

To pltmates + associate members (formerly mahjong and bridge-kakis but now collectively known as the part-time bummers),

I am very honoured to bring joy, laughter, merriment and entertainment into your lives without lifting a single finger. I am sincerely pleased at the fact that my presence alone is able relieve you momentarily of stress, worries, anxieties and other problems of a more delicate nature. I will continue to provide this service with the manner of excellence that you are familiar with and with no cost or expense on my part that you must be extremely familiar with. And it is all unconditional, as a proof of my love for you.

Forever your faithful slave,
Jyin

New Year's Resolutions:

1. Spend less time surfing Internet, spend more time studying--pretty obvious la hor.

2. Reduce carbohydrate intake, exercise more--seriously, this is a problem. My body is 30% fat and I have 4 people to vouch for me. Interestingly, if our body is 70% water, then I may very well be a freak of nature heh.

3. Reduce expenditure, save $$--for trips. Whee :)

4. Stop scratching my pimples--well I can't control my hormones, so the next best thing is to control my actions. The scars from my pimple outbreak during the exam period are distressing, to say the least.

5. Do more housework--cos my momma is not getting younger and I'm an unfilial, lazy pig who sits around at home and do nothing. Lightning, just strike me.

6. Listen more, speak less--cos I have a sharp tongue that gets me into trouble often and I have a bunch of great friends who listen patiently to me so I should return the favour.

7. Think and do something about my future--I know my tarot card reading told me not to think and to act impulsively so that the truth will be revealed to me (?!!!) but since my soul card didn't appear, perhaps this reading isn't too important. I won't think too hard la.

7 resolutions for 2007 (direct quote from Jyang btw). Now I wonder how resolute I am.

I abused my stomach over the course of the week. Pizza on Tue, Crystal Jade on Wed, Sushi Tei on Thurs and Moovellous set lunch + bday cake on Fri.

Oh I abused my wallet also. How could I forget?

Wednesday's lunch was with the Cornies haha. No lah, I mean my Cornell friends :)

Thursday's lunch was with pltmates. Dear dear Jyang returned from USA and Anna's accessory made a rare appearance too.

Friday's lunch was with my colleagues cos it was the last day of work for a fellow intern. Bday celebration for one of my supervisors followed in the afternoon .

Merry christmas everybody and happy birthday to jyang, who's stuck in JFK right now. Well if this is the suckiest way to spend a birthday, you can be sure that the rest of ur birthdays will be absolutely terrific in relative terms :)

On the eve of Christmas Eve, this was what I did:

The scrawny cat which bullied me lived in a hawker centre where tables were beige and seats were green. It really was a scrawny thing, probably in its teens, covered by a dull white coat of fur and random black spots. What I remembered most was the pair of pale blue eyes that conveyed its nonchalant attitude and that attitude was directed towards me.

While I was valiantly guarding the four plates of nasi briyani (the other family members went to get more food), that little squirt came out of nowhere and leapt onto the seat next to me. I did what any other young woman would do. I waved my hands menacingly at it and said "Shoo."

IT DIDN'T EVEN LOOK AT ME!

"Shoo!" with more frantic hand-waving. This time, it granted me a slight inclination of its head.

"SHOO!" with prolonged hand-waving. Right, I finally got its attention. That was when I noticed its pale blue eyes. I stared back at it and stood up, hoping that the extra height will intimidate it. Its sole reaction was to blink at me. Just one slow blink, as if asking "You think I'm scared? Pfft."

Internally, I was frothing at the mouth. While I underwent such mental anguish, the cat decided it had enough fun at my expense so it removed itself from the seat and strolled away, disappearing as fast as it appeared.

I lost. Call me loser.

Thyme's Law:
Everything goes wrong at once.

Malek's Law:

Any simple idea will be worded in the most complicated way.

Think there's a book that contains such variations of Murphy's Law. Anyone knows the title? More importantly, does anyone have the book? I'd love to read it :)

Went to Shu's house yesterday to make alot of noise. Memorable moments include the ill-fated 20% discount on pizza, QH's controversial shirt and the subsequent debate between herself and El, everyone ganging up to bully me during mahjong, and Shu playing an outstanding game of bridge. To echo Jo's sentiments, yesh, let's try and meet up more often.

Quote of the day:

"Veni, Vidi, Velcro"
(I came; I saw; I stuck around.)

Story: The Ter Kwa and I.

I ordered a bowl of Minced Meat and Mushroom Noodles (Xiang Gu Bak Chor Mee Pok) for lunch yesterday. Silly me. I should've known that there was pig's liver in it. I dun like to eat pig's liver. Almost to the point of 'hate' actually. I know it's nutritious etc., believe me, I get more than enough reminders from my mother. So anyway, it was a bit too late to tell the vendor that I dun want the ter kwa, and I was also quite hesitant to tell her "Auntie, mee pok without ter kwa" because it reminded me of that Mr. Brown podcast. I might burst out into uncontrollable laughter on the spot if I hear myself say that.

So staring at those 1 small, 3 medium and 1 large pieces of ter kwa, I started to devise ways of getting them into my stomach without too much protest from my taste buds. The first strategy I adopted was to dunk the whole piece of liver into the soy sauce of the chopped chilli. Unfortunately, the soy sauce wasn't quite spicy enough. The next piece of liver was dunked into soy sauce and eaten with a tiny piece of chopped chilli (I have low tolerance for spicy food...) but it still didn't work. Think the chilli itself just wasn't spicy at all. On my third try, I finally found the perfect solution. I ate the liver together with a big mouthful of mee pok, taking only a few bites to help me swallow the food.

Okay fine, I pretty much swallowed the ter kwa. And the remaining pieces. So much for strategising.

Moral of the story: When all else fails, revert to your roots. Forget civilisation. Embrace barbarian-ism and uncouth-ness.

PS: Seriously, dun take my words seriously.

Exams are over, hols have started. To kick it off, a blog revamp.

Ta-da.

Okay I seem to sound less enthusiastic than I ought to be. I blame this on having to wake up at 5.45am this morning and the impending rain. When I'm trying to study, I love the rain. It calms me. When I'm trying to sleep, I love the rain too. It cools me. When I'm trying play... well you get the idea. A tan is so out of the question now.

What have I been up to lately? Well right after the last paper, went out with the girls (Qiaohui, Engel, Priya and Angie) for dinner at HV. On Friday, I pigged out at the library. My mom lent me her library card and my dad's (I can't remember the last time he borrowed a book...) so I made full use of them. Saturday was devoted to driving, vivocity and a free threading. Sunday was devoted to cooking, reading manga and LOTR. Monday was devoted to subject registration and more LOTR.

Lemme just rave a little about the books I found in the library. My habit is to walk down the shelves in alphabetical order, so the first author I checked out was Boris Akunin. Was looking forward to reading another book in his Erast Fandorin series but there weren't any new ones. I'm quite fond of Fandorin. Sigh. Akunin did have a new book though, featuring a nun this time. Haven't read the book yet but I dun think Akunin will let me down. I walked down further to Lindsey Davis for my all-time favourite informer with dark curly hair. Lo and behold! A Falco book I haven't read! I thought I must have cleaned out the entire series back in 2004. Anyway, that made me deliriously happy. I just finished the book last night (well early this morning to be exact...) and yesh, I think I'm in love. I might just re-read the whole series now.

Happy hols everyone!

Taken from the Oxford University Press blog:

Elbow bump--a greeting in which two people touch elbows, recommended by the World Health Organization as an alternative to the handshake in order to reduce the spread of germs.



You've gotta be kidding me.

(A little blogging to distract me from unwelcomed but necessary intellectual pursuits. I love euphemisms!)

Was compiling a list of to-do things after the dreaded exams. Realised that I'm in for alot of present-shopping cos of the overwhelming number of friends whose birthdays are in December. Some have wishlists *cough Jyang cough* so that makes things a little easier. (Btw dearie if you want something else, must say hor...) Then most others dun have wishlists so I can forsee weekends spent perusing shops in a crowded shopping mall. Hurrah.

I'm not complaining, I love my friends. The jostling and elbowing is a small price to pay for the friendship we share. Yesh, I am sometimes capable of such sentimental emotions so dun look so shocked. Close that jaw.

But I do want to declare that most of the shopping done this year was for other people and so in the last month of Year 2006, I am determined to pamper myself. In other words, retail therapy for me, myself and I. I want twinkly, dangling thingys for my ear piercings, dammit! Rooaaarr!

Okay. End of rant. Thank you for reading. *bows*