Last Entry of 2007

Last day of 2007 liao~!

Overall a rather stable year, the only thing unstable is my cashflow.

Tried to overcome "everything" by my own means, even the living expenses.. but sometimes, even savings isn't quite enough. What to do lei? Who ask me to retain?

In the year of 2007:-
1) I retained in academics for the 1st time in my life
2) I got 7 pets (!), though 1 died just after a day due to PPS
3) I started "trading" in equity
5) I went for a tour after staying in sg for 6 years
6) My grandparents got interviewed by CNA after they took part in the Sliver Jubilee Ceremony at SSA HQ
7) Knots were untied, and i was glad
8) I gained 4kgs again

Anyway, it's again the time of the year where new resolutions are set and the old reviewed.

For 2007, i only had 3 resolutions - but i think all didn't turned out quite that well.. but at least i'm moving in the right direction. So for 2008, i try to set a more "realistic" target.

And my resolutions for 2008:-
1) get my desired grades for my degree
2) get to the weight that i desired
3) get a job, either in accounting, or maybe banking
4) improve in horn playing
5) cut down on some of my habits (drinking, nuaing etc..)

5 is, enough for now.. lol.. looking forward to 2008 wor.. and may 2008 be a great and peaceful year! Wishing all great health and happiness~

Merry Christmas 2007~

Merry merry xmas~

Nice to celebrate xmas, but the festive mood starts to fade. Still remembered the times where i looked forward to meet up with friends to go orchard to countdown.. (countdown for what i also don't know).. That was like, almost 10 years ago. LOL.. then suddenly, either the environment change, or i've grown old. I don't really like to crowd with the crowd le lo.. lol.. anyway, the crowd also changed much. Now i don't really dare to go town le.

Had quite a bit of festive food for the past 2 days.. and too much of good food didn't turn out that good afterall. Sigh.. i think i got quite scared of turkey, ham and log cake le. Of all festive food, i still prefer CNY ^^ coz got sharks' fin, abalone, ba kua and so on.. eat 1 whole week i also not sian.. in fact, i still prefer chicken wings to turkey wings.. haha.. see the turkey wing i scared sia.. so big!

Gift exchange proved to be the most headache part of the whole xmas.. seriously, what to get i also don't know lor.. i don't really do shopping de, and when i buy things for myself, i usually know what to get before i went, and my shopping lasted less than an hour. LOL.. but shopping for present.. hmm.. it's a skill that i haven't master.. and it just gets harder year after year.. lol.. coz the gifts then become common le... but then trying too much to be unconventional also very risky lor.. there is a reason why people don't give them ma.. haha.

LOL.. but xmas without gift is just like cny without angbao.. haha.. so no matter what, it still brings some festive mood to the day ba.. lol.. plus the xmas cards and all the food, it still feels like xmas.. just that i can do with more presents ^^

Yet Another PH

Saturday's pract was rather "empty".. don't know where the people all go to. The whole winds section was left with only the 7 of us, including the guest player - a very pro oboe player. That day was left without clarinets.. and hence actually quite a few of the pieces we can't do. Strings were also lacking of our concert master and his relatives. Was again, alone.. as with all the other brass instruments. That day only got 1 trumpet, 1 trombone, and 1 horn.

So actually i pangseh my pri school's gift exchange on saturday for orch pract.. a bit paiseh lo.. coz everytime clashes with them. It is a norm liao.. my saturday confirm not free one. The journey took on average 1 hour 15 mins (by public transport) and by the time i reach there, my mood is confirm quite bad one.. whahaha... maybe coz think about some unhappy things (too free le i guess). Then reach ssc is "chou lian" one.. wahhaa.. but i'm glad. Glad that after each practice, i can be happy. Happy that i didn't miscue my notes (sometimes), happy that i came out when i'm supposed to (or even when i'm not supposed to), and happy that i'm "improving" pract by pract. It just gives a satisfying feeling. Of coz.. there are times when i tio shoot by the conductor, then i very sian liao. I know that i can, given the 10 years in playing this instrument, yet sometimes there are just things that haven't been learnt. And then it was time for xmas again.. hahaa.. oh ya.. thanks for the "gifts" ar..

Quite beginning to dislike PH.. coz everytime people are having PH, then i'm not free le.. Wahhaha.. i am not supposed to appreciate PH now lor.. given my 1 day school week, and 1 day orchestra week.. who can qie me? Of coz, it came at a price la.. nothing to envy also.

Quite pek chek coz of how things are being fallen out of place.. sian lor.. so many things to do in such a short time.. especially that 28 FR question due on friday! OMG.. and then i got classes on friday from 12pm -6.30pm and then another class on saturday, plus my orch pract.. omg.. wondered how not to feel pek chek like that. And this rainy season.. good for sleeping only, if i want to run errands, then ho seh liao lo.

One word - sian. Lousy finale for 2007.. ahhaha

Then my critters also want to chute pattern. The hamster of mine trying to be escape artist.. and it created small hole on the plastic tank le. Soon i might need to do something about it. Then the 2nd ruggie went in the sandto join the blue haha.. zzz.. all don't want xmas present le ar?

Zzz.. faster 2008 ba..

Pre-PH Crubbing

Was backed from the pre-holiday zouk. Was super crowded lor.. didn't know why.. economy so good these days ar?

Queue was so long that even when i left at around 2am, the queue was still there.. lol.. open until 4 am ar? Didn't drink much, coz i had reflux again (sigh)... and another reason was, it wasn't my bday today.. it was yy's de.

Crowded until cannot move around.. very xin ku.. i don't like crowd too much leh.. like no place to move.. very sian 1 lor.. especially so was the xmas crowd at orchard.. scary leh. Nowadays economy very good liao i think. (actually i think not la.. but pay is increasing, what more can i say?)

Today was long time no see de long island tea again.. still didn't quite like the smell, and as always, the potent one. Didn't have my dinner coz i slept through my lunch.. haha.. and when i woke up, it was already 4pm. Had a super late lunch.. and was out by 8pm for the queue. Scary lor.. pre-holiday so crowded.. it didn't matter much to me whether it was PH or not.. everyday except fridays and saturdays seems like a PH to me.. haha.

Anyway, something happened there.. someone tired to eat my beancurd.. or was it my bones... yalar.. i bhb... haha just kidding. I actually asked my friends to "jiu wo".. not becoz the gal was clinging onto me, not becoz she was trying to lean on me.. (i don't really know what she wants..).. but i scared she want to puke on me.. haha.. maybe my face so horrible.. see liao want to puke. "Over-reacted" as usual.. wahahaha.. i don't like strangers to cling on me sia. Less say if they want to puke on me.

Another thing happened at the podium. I think one guy proposed to his fiancee.. wow.. so ro lor.. and then the whole crowd cheered and clapped. LOL.. and one of my alumni senior proposed during one of the band concert.. also quite ro la.. haha.. next time i should try something innovative.. maybe on the moon or something like that.. hahaa.. or maybe proposed during one of the AGM.. lol.. as if.

Went off "early" coz the music really cmi.. not much mambo leh.. a lot of xmas song though.. lol.. i don't feel xmas lor.. i only feel the very packed crowd.. bo xmas leh.. a bit sian.

And then while moving out, saw the bouncer escorting some people out.. i think is some incident of some sort.. and then after that, heard that the police came for check.. wah.. i crub for so long also never see before such scene.. only saw it on tv lor..

Didn't have the holiday mood, coz i think i'm on permanant holiday.. not much difference to me leh.. and then the whole world all busy work and such.. hahaa.. starting to feel guilty le.

And when cost of living increases, the bcm also increase 50 cents liao le.. in return, they give 1 prawn.. prawn de ba chor mee? Maybe should switch to eating ba chor teh.. better.. bo prawn de.

Anyway, looking forward to 2008 more.. 11 more days and i shall conclude 2007. Didn't quite like xmas le.. think of the crowd at orchard already sian 1/2. Also don't know what xmas gift to give people other than chocolates and such.. these items tio banned le.. lol.. how lei? $10 can buy what? haha.. erm.. buy $10 EPB voucher? LOL. Even A-cash card cost $10.70 le lor.. If i happen to give something weird, it must be that i'm trying too hard to stay away from chocolates le.

Happy Birthday to... Pakki!

Pakki is now 1 years old le ^^

Been with us for 8 months le (around 240 days). Now at around 7 kgs, it can hurt much when he stepped over us. (ya.. he now climbs on the sofa and jumps over us, sometimes missing his aim and landed on us) Poor mum carries this 7 kg pakki down for peeing every morning and evening.. lol.. some people don't like dogs, or are scared of them.. so cannot let him climb the stairs on his own.

He came to us as a surprise.. sis just gave us a hint of warning.. then the next thing i knew was to go downstairs to carry his "house" up. He was quite "shy" lor.. haha.. coz maybe he didn't know us that time. Then also looked quite sad, coz had to stay in cage whole day. The only thing he did other than eating and sleeping was 趴来趴去.. he lay down on one corner of the cage, and then changed to the other end.. lol.. maybe he was bored ba. In the end we named him "pakki" (short of pa lai pa ki..wahhaha..)

1 month in cage or so, he was let to roam in the kitchen.. and then another 2 months later, he was allowed to sleep outside at night. The cage was then kept, and the housebreaking streak broke. In the end he only will pee outside our house.. and that includes at the pet store.. haha..

I liked the way pakki wag its tail everytime i return home, even when he's sleeping.. (but he ignores me when he is eating.. = =) He and his seh face.. sometimes more seh than me lor. But still, very nice to see someone welcome you home.. even at 4am.

Somehow, i think he knows the time.. lol.. he knows when to wake my mum up, usually at 6am.. and he knows when it was time for him to go "gai gai" (walk walk) and dinner/breakfast.

And he is the only one in the house that we (all the villagers) must greet when we return home or say goodbye when we are going out.. hahaha.. even the village chief doesn't enjoy such privilege.

I think he won over all of us.. and already integrated into our family.. lol.. ya.. his surname is Tan, Pakki Tan. (or "Parky".. as my sis like to spell his name as, or "paggi" which my dad likes to call him.. whatever.. it all mean the same to us)

Pakki's Did you know......?

1) he was named "Rexy" initially
2) he was from Taiwan (his breed is from Germany)
3) he cost 1.1k in SGD
4) his first gift was a red dog collar
5) he got a cousin - a spaniel named "Coffee" (my cousin's dog)


Pakki @ 5 months old


Pakki at my comp chair.. lol.. i still like this pic best


After "haircut".. unique style.. lol.. got "skirting" de


On the sofa.. beside his fav newspaper


Act shy leh.. hahaa


Ninja.. haha.. he did it himself.. tried to take my t-shirt and in the end covered his whole mouth

Haha Saga

Revamped the ruggies' tank, and included a new substrate which i bought long ago.

The sand was rather moist with sea water and who knows what. So i washed it, and had to dry it to get rid of the chloramine (no longer chlorine) in it. Actually i don't even know whether it will get rid of the chloramine by drying or not.. haha.. blame it on my secondary chemistry teacher. Anyway, i supposed so..

Didn't quite drain the sand, and hence it took an awful long time to sun almost 5kgs of sand. In the end, i dug out an old oven and start "baking" sand.

Thought it would be simple, but ended up doing it for quite a while. I think next time i'll do it a different way.


"mud pie" anyone?

Luckily the effort is not wasted. (actually can choose not to wash the sand one.. don't know why my hand so itchy..) So this morning, i saw the blue haha crab dug itself in.. i supposed it's time for it to molt (change its outer skeleton, not the shell). Hoped it survives.. coz the death rate during the molting process is quite high.. anything wrong with the tank, and it'll die.. sort of like an check on whether the setup is right or not. If everything goes well, it'll take around a few weeks, if not months, i don't really know.. haha.. 1st time to see a molt. The worst part is not being able to check whether the crab had died or not (coz it is buried deep in the sand) and any attempt to dig it up will kill it.. = = So how? Wait until cny and if it is still in there.. if yes, then most likely is up the lorry liao.

The new setup of the tank, seperating C1 coral sands and C0 playsand. (coral sand cannot dig in, but it is easier to manage) Included DIY-ed ramp made from some left-over material of the door-gifts in the SRC room.. lol..


A reminder of how the tank looks.. on top i placed the original "starter kit" which was sold in the HM shop to contrast



The "main cast" of the whole "haha saga" while it is still free enough to climb "trees" (check out the string of crab poo in the pool =P)

Made it to the top...


And down the bottom


So i supposed i won't see the blue haha crab for xmas le? >.<

Additional Lecture

Was "late" for school on friday, but i didn't want to take cab to school.. perhaps it'll cost around $10 or so, but it'll only shorten the whole process by 15 minutes at the most. But no longer. No longer will it cost $10. Fares were raised, and my eyebrows too. It was rather interesting to see how a touting practice can evolved into a fare increase. However, i'm not against it, just that i might opt to be late more often. Inflation is at work here.

Went brewerkz on friday again, after thursday's XIPA. And then as always, i forgot my bag! Hahahaa.. this was the 3rd time lor.. and everytime was linked to LUI. Luckily yy reminded me lor.. haha.. if not i really left it there.. my precious crumpler, and my precious jacket.. and not so precious, yet important FR and IM lecture notes.. i wasn't even tispy lor.. only 1 pint leh.. i think i'm just blur at times la. Anyway, thanks to yy again.. haha.. if not saturday class i sure tio 1.

Saturday was a "full day", with additional FR lecture from 12pm - 5pm. The LT was without aircon, coz i think the change in schedule was not updated.. haha.. really can't fall asleep in that kind of condition. Anyway, i was paying attention.. and i actually can do the past year exam question.

Went scc for orch pract, and i was again, alone. Hahaa.. so no choice, soloed all the solo and then actually by the 2nd piece i already chwee le. Wahaha.. especially the 2nd was over the rainbow. It was all over le lor.

Then came the dance of yao.. hahaa.. and strangely, i anyhow play and yet it was said that i was right, just that a bit too soft. One against the many many many many strings players lor. I think the guest conductor really very nice lor.. lol.. but now i know why i kept playing wrong le la.. must be the past experience.. it does work against lor. Super tired lor.. but of coz, moving nearer to a better sounding orchestra. As in, the type of interpretation was really very well presented. LOL.. i really like it.

Then i really had a dream. I dreamt that i was dreaming. Hahaa.. sort of a reconciliation with some past events. Thoughts by day, dreams by night. LOL.. then i realised, i don't know how not to cycle.. i can't unlearn it afterall.

Away from Home

Pakki "ran away from home" just 2 days back.

I didn't know that, coz i was already asleep le. Sis came home and this pakki rushed out to chase 1 black cat maybe they both same colour than he like.. wahha).. zz.. and don't know since when he got so pro in climbing down the stairs, he was actually faster than my sis. In the end, he was found at the 9th floor, 3 floors down my unit. Think he stopped there because he never went there before ba.. mum only teach him how to take lift.. haha. Guess he was just being playful ba.. or did he really intend to run away from home?.. that i do not know.. anyway, he's back now.

Village chief was so worried that he might run away again that he kept giving him treats... lol.. no place is better than home right? I think must really teach him how to go home le.. if not next time ran away in the streets how?

Was out yesterday and i saw one maltese and its owner.. lol.. very cute lor.. i mean the maltese la (although the owner looks quite cute too).. haha.. next time must bring pakki along to make new friends le.. lol.

Sometimes i think this schnauzer is like cat like that lor.. at the void deck there, he ate the cat food left by residents when my mum isn't looking... then when he plays toy, he uses his paws to get the things rather than his jaw.. lol.. maybe he is a cat trapped in a dog's body. But 1 thing i don't understand.. why he likes to eat newspaper that much.. hahaha.. like that can become smarter meh? If so than i go eat my FR and IM lecture notes le.

one more week, and pakki will be officially 1 year old. Was thinking of getting him a bday present, maybe get a dog tag, then engrave our hp no. on it.. haha.. just in case he runs away again. Or maybe a GPS? LOL.

I have a Dream

"Have you ever thought about your future?"

Well, up till this stage, who never? I thought i think bloody too much.. but i met my match today. Yet the setting was more than i can take.. yes, i can discuss about my thoughts, how i want my life to be in the future, and what i may be planning to do to achieve it, whether i really do it or not. But, in a MMORPG? LOL.. scare the hell out of me lor. Strictly speaking, i don't even really know that person.. so how well will that person know me?

Rather 不爽 coz, i play game to relax de.. in the end got more stressed. LOL.. and what makes one think that we are without dreams? Even if it conforms to the view of society, it doesn't matter, nor is it more inferior. My point is, do not think that one is more superior than other just because of a "greater" dream. I say, who and what you are, determines what you want to dream of. Some people just want simple dreams, to have a nice family, stable job and good health. (that is maybe what most people want.. who doesn't?) Others might want to be millionaires or even multi so that they can have more wants from that want.. it all depends on the individual.

I am not being affected by what people want, rather, why should they bother with what i want? That bothers me. And what makes them think that i am wrong in pursuing my dream? I think i now have a new dream - knowing what these people really want to achieve by downplaying other people.

LOL.. almost 气死我了. Specific dream, or just a vauge one? It depends too. If i say i want to be a millionaire through winning the toto draw, you think i can forsee when i tio meh? Need to set deadline and have a specific plan? Incorporate the probability of winning somemore and give a definate answer as to when i can be one when i say that? Ok, there are a total of 8 million combinations from the toto draw and the probability of winning with a 50 cents quickpick is 1/8,000,000. Given that there are 2 draws per week, just over 100 draws per year, there is a chance of being a millionaire in just 5 years with a probability of 0.0000325625, (the method of calculation is still being contended - 1/8,000,000 x [(summation of 1-520)/520] assuming the prize is 1 million and the cost are sunk cost. Unrealistic it seems, that's why it is a dream.

And with regards to equity investment, i didn't say any strategy employed would guarantee a success.. neither am i ignorant of the bigger institution out there that have the abilities to. These are all what other, or even most people are doing.. just becoz that something written from some book doesn't mean that it is so. In my opinion, these are just opinions. I think, what is more important is, is that opinion really your opinion. In fact, if your opinion is right, it doesn't really matters.. for it will sail with the wind. Even auntie can do it based on common sense lor.

Don't say i think so much, becoz i didn't say anyone didn't think.. and there are people out there thinking way more lor.. so don't limit my thoughts. Yupz, all thoughts and nothing done equals nothing, i know that too. Knew that becoz i am slow.. so think more lor.

LOL.. a rather bad day becoz tio ka cheow me.. haha. Despite, maybe i'm not being concrete on my "plans".. therefore can tio ka cheow.. haha.. and it all happened in the MMORPG.. unbelievable.

As Usual

Friday 11/30:
School on friday was as usually as usual. And as usual, i dislike IM during tutorial. Wanted to skip lecture but my friend was telling me not to.. haha.. i guess i'm the bad influence. So attended the whole tutorial.. maybe only 1% of what was presented during the tutorial got in.. but i guess it beats sleeping at home.

Saturday 12/1:
December le.. and i'm in a festive mood. LOL.. looking forward to christmas, and especially so the christmas feast. I'm too old for presents le.. and if there is any present i want, i think it's too expensive lo.. and as usual, christmas may be as usual again.

And not as usual, i tried out service 199 to scc.. lol.. the frequency was not as high as 242, but plenty of space.. well, at least if i need to carry my baobei horn there, there is an option. Sis should be selling her vios away le.. means no more car for me to drive.. haha.. sad lo.. maybe just take cab all the way ba.

Orchestra practice was not as usual coz there came some guest players. Was surprised at how many of them there are.. especially when the whole strings section combined. Well.. it starts to look more and more like an orchestra.. just that our sitting arrangement looks weird.

It was great sounding, and lots of parts i didn't hear before. Didn't quite adapt to new conductors as usual, and i didn't like it when they get very expressive.. can't tell the points lor.. haha.. totally dislike when i got to listen to the cellos.. I can't feel the tempo lor.. too expressive le i guess.. haha.. blame it on my own incompetence. And then another one of my weak point.. syncopation. Sigh.. how lei?

Anyway, played nutcracker, and the melody repeats and repeats and repeats.. lol.. the 3/4 waltz tempo got embedded on my brain even when i went double o.. haha.. mambo in 3/4 timing. LOL..

Went off from boonlay SCC to MS and reached there in an hour. OO was more crowded than usual, guess because ntu had just finshed their exams.. lol.. no wonder the crowd looks different too. Then saw 1 ah zek dancing since i went in at around 11pm.. he dance for quite long and was climbing up and down the metal frames at the sound system there.. lol.. but then hor, i don't want to see ah zek dance lor.. haha..

Think too many times le.. until 1 for 1 also don't can 1 for 1 what.. haha.. long island they ban it.. then tequila also ban.. haha.. so in the end, illusion again.. but illusion also getting boring liao.

Was feeling quite sleepy coz of maple.. haha.. every morning got to wake up at 6am to maple.. whahaha.. and so by 2am, was already wanting to sleep le.. just that i'm too hungry to fall asleep. Reached home around 3am plus and i was without food for more than 11 hours le.. kept thinking of the ba chor mee.. hahaa.. Too bad i'm quite poor these days, so in the end can only afford to eat the 80 cents instant noodles. 10 minutes after the meal, i fell asleep. The usually insomnic me isn't so.

Sunday 12/2:
Woke up.. and that pakki has eaten my things... argh.. was home the day before and so left my things on the sofa.. he woke up at 6am and nobody to play with, so he took my things... zzz.. was really very angry lor.. but then, it didn't last long. My fault anyway.. so actually i told pakki i didn't want to talk to him.. haha.. but end up telling him again and again that i didn't want to talk to him.

As usual after every crubbing is ba tor tia de... don't know why.. system spoilt liao perhaps.. haha..

Was off to clementi forc the 3rd time in the week on 52 to meet up with some of my OG people. Oh well.. since the last chwee kuey, i said i didn't want to organise anymore outing le.. haha.. it isn't easy to coordinate 16 people ba.. I didn't say i want to make it an og outing.. haha.. just wanted to meet up with them to see how they are getting on in school lo.

9 turned up including the 2 ogls.. and got 2 put my aeroplane.. hahaa.. at least this time bo chwee kuey to eat lo.. haha.. went clementi botak jones eat.. i think hor, if christmas go botak eat i also happy liao lo.. was really surprised leh.. really surprised lor.. but happy at the same time.

After dinner went pooling.. but i think i very lousy la.. whahahaa.. sometimes i really want to do too many things at the same time le.. until everything also lousy. LOL.. till now, i don't know my forte lor.. horn playing isn't one of them.. yes i can play, but not as well as those good players.. play game also level not as high.. study also not as good... in other words, maybe jack of all trades.. but really master of none.

December already.. time to get ready to start studying.. haha.. year 1 i started in april, year 2 i started in march, and year 3 i started in january i think... this time must start at december lo.. only 2 lowers to go.. i think i should be able to.