The end of Holiday is near

Argh.. and there goes my *holidays. I've been on permanent holiday since the sem ends, and it was supposed to be the time to study and prepare. Sad to say, i've been wasting this much time, just in pursue of something intangible. Nearly end of march, and i've been making deadlines after deadlines, just so that i can delay studying... but no longer. Come tomorrow, i'll need to go school for revision lectures... awww.

Been deprived of much sleep, coz slept rather late the night before. 4.30am then i start to fall asleep, and then 2.5 hours later, pakki woke me up with his bark.. and only i woke up.. zzz.. the other 2 villagers were still sleeping wor. Pakki got his breakfast at 7am, and then i can't seems to fall asleep again.

Ar... tomorrow lesson.. no.... mood.. to.. go...

Sigh.

By Default

Tomorrow no orchestra practice wor~ or should i say today? (it's 12.20 am on a saturady le) Saturday and i'm free.. it's just so rare. Since quite some time ago, i've not been complaining about practices.. the only thing i complained was the distance.. hahaa.. yalor.. they say, the greatest distance is when you need to travel to another part of sg and can't reach it in 1.5 hours.. zzz. Yet, it seems that i've accustomed to it.. and saturdays are 'by default'.

A bit not used to having my saturdays free wor.. lol.. especially when travelling takes up 3 hours.. maybe tomorrow i practice at home ba. Heard my neighbour played the horn again.. and it sounds so good le. Last time like noob, now more pro than me le.. haha. Even though i had my 190 with me, it seems just collecting dust lo.. Written: 10 years of experience.. but actually, i only played it once in a blue moon.. and given the 4 years that i've got my braces, i didn't really get so involved. Maybe afterall, the only time that counted was just that 1 or 2 years lo.

Been used to playing in Bb horn all the way (and making the F horn rather redundant IMO..).. but now, this bad habit is making me out of tune. By default, the lower range will be sharper in Bb horn. So when i tuned the middle E, i was tuned sharp.. but only the 1st 3 notes. The rest of the higher end all turned flat. In the end tried so hard to 'sharpen' the notes, but no longer could.. it was easier to make it flat with the use of the right hand and of coz, embouchure.

It was strange.. while i was playing horn all these while, i kept wanting to play trumpet.. but then during my 2 years in YJ band as a trumpet player, i kept wanting to play the horn.. ahahhaa.. the pasture seems greener on the other side hor? Always so. Maybe i don't know what i want.. or maybe everything i also want.. haha.

Don't know why i niam so much.. hahaa.. maybe nothing more 'interesting' to blog lo..

Errands

Finally decided to go for the OEM of OS. Was walking around for quite some time, and found that prices differ by $30 on the same product. A lot of cabbage head hor? Felt like one myself lor.. lol.. coz got 'hai dao' version don't want to use, use OEM instead. Of coz, it works well.. especially when it renders my laptop useless. Anway, fixed the OS, and then the CD rom decides to take a break as well. Will it ever end?

Was at vivo to do a trade in for our old 'scv' modem. Ya.. there was a 'scv' logo there.. don't know how many still remembered. The staff at the customer care was very well trained it seems.. at least better than some bank staff.

Still trying out the 6120's main camera..

Pakki with his 'new' toy.. hahaa.. now my house flooded with his toys le..


Bacon in his holding tank while his cage is under cleaning.

My New Gadget

I got a new gadget from the chocolate factory wor... actually, it's just a handphone. Been using my black 6260 for 3 years le, coz i have no money to buy a new one. Spent $600+ on the 6260, which then looks very cool lor.. then only. Now one of the 'ancients', and the screen is starting to fade.. time to replace it before it's too late.

The 'new' phone - 6120 classic is quite common these days.. (black and silver .. same colour as pakki).. coz the telecom company gives them away for free. The chocolate factory got it coz their net connection cost quite a lot.. and so they gave the phone for 'free', plus a new 'free' line.. just that you'll need to pay the subsequent subscriptions for the hp line.. lol.. what the?

But i just take the phone only.. my 6260 dying soon, and hor, 6120 got 2 mega pix camera leh! Hahaa.. same as my canon v2 (another ancient of maybe 6-7 years).. and compared to the 6260 which uses vga, this is a much better one.. way much better. And it had 2 cameras! Wahahaa.. one main and one for video conference de.. (for my purpose, it doubles as a mirror.. whahaa..) Maybe can post lots of pics le.. haha.. everything just bluetooth over. Simple. Cool.


Pakki and me~ (taken with the secondary camera)

Spent quite some time transfering the data from the old phone to the new one.. then suddenly discovered one sms that was still in my SIM card.. it was left there by my 8250 many many many years ago.. wahahaa.. and as if it knew what i wanted.. maybe i should leave it there ba. The rest of my 6260 data should be gone soon.

Looking forward to a 'newer' phone in the near future, but this will do for now.

Plausible

Was at SSA HQ today for the 16/3 meeting coz was performing under SNCO. Had 2 pieces to play at the opening of the meeting, and was quite glad that through the orchestra, i got to attend these meetings.

Was not in the best of mood when i reached.. lol.. other than the long long trip to the far east, i just don't know how come.. perhaps, perhaps, perhaps. A corner of my eye thought i caught something.. perhaps i was wrong, but then just like dejavu, i think sometimes my brain can go into automode.

THP was seated at the back of the orchestra, just next to the wall.. haha.. because we were performing at the corner below the stage, then don't have enough room. Already some of the members had to go BR to watch the 'live' telecast because ICA was full.. so already was thankful for the space given to us. Playing near a 'natural' reflector was a first.. lol.. it made the sound rather bad.. and with the basedrum beside me, i couldn't much hear myself.. lol.. and the reflected sound was kind of weird too. I guess i had much more to work towards if i need to fulfill my promise. Was having dejavu.. maybe dreamt of that scene some time ago.. lol.. this is just so strange.. do dreams come true? (not daydream of coz) Plausible?

Although, this was another one of those that a lot of speeches were given, at least, it never won the 070707 at indoor stadium de.. hahaha.. that was the longest spree le. 12 hours sit and sit.. sit until don't know what, and it was 2 rounds of same performance (+speeches +rehearsals). Then still cannot move, coz got people scold, and still must act as part of the backgtound.. ahahha.. that was one of those 'unforgettable' memories.

Today, GD said something that sensei told him.. about being patient and not to hesitate when the time comes.. that really got embeded in me.. but then again, when not to do which, i don't really know.. hahaa.. After all was done, GD came and shook some of our hands and thanked us.. aww.. i was so touched.

Towards the end of all thoses speeches, i got a lot of questions.. i wonder a lot of things.. i wonder how come.. how come.. but then on the way home, TBP (was TSP) said something that makes sense.. maybe i never went through, perhaps that is why i feel different.

Was tired coz seated for 4 hours.. lol.. and i was so happy when they ask us to stand.. lol. Then hor, the back of the orchestra only got me and TTP. Then TTP went off right after the 2 pieces were played. THP was given name by TVPs... lol.. my name too difficult to remember le hor? Was so bored at the back, then i saw the tray of brownies on the floor.. very tempted to eat.. haha.. but was just next to the guests, so quite mei li mao to eat. Very hungry coz didn't have dinner. I didn't know it would be until 10 plus..and by the time i reached home, was already 12.30 after mn le. My bad for not taking 969 or 59 or whatever 9.. lol.

Already had instant noodles, but still very hungry.. ar... i think this is the 4th instant noodles supper i had for the week le.. lol.. eat until sian. Very tired coz slept at 3am the night before.. lol.. remind me next time don't be 'tee ki' to drink coffee or tea at night lor.. lol.. hao tong ku ar.

Next is one month break from snco.. and although i might not be going until my paper ends, i won't be rejoicing if there isn't any practices lor.. i just don't know why sometimes some are acting in the other way.

Busted

I've just busted my OS cd.. and there goes my desktop OS. Thought that reformatting is easier and thorough way of getting rid of the malware running in the background.. but this time round, i wasn't able to revive my desktop. What to do.. had been using that same cd for more than 4 years le.. and now the cd is not working anymore.

Using my laptop to online now.. lol.. but i didn't quite like the laptop. The speed is just too slow for operations, especially dota.. confirm lag until don't know like what lor. Sian. Next time must remember to duplicate extra JIC le.

Another performance tomorrow for 16/3, and will be the only (T)HP there.. lol.. as usual, maybe will be mic-ed up ba. Luckily, not quite a lot of horn parts then. Perphaps the last practice before i go MIP (mugging in progress)le. But then again, might still be going.. it depends lor.. haha.. if it helps to stress me even more, then maybe not.

Haven't really started, and i wonder how am i going to secure the 2 lowers. But then again, i still got some unfinished biz. Now getting quite bad at multi-tasking le.

Concert AAR

Yay~ Concert over! It was our first joint performance with EDU Ensemble. Another Orchestra experience for me.

Performing in an orchestra was so much different from the usual wind band.. especially so was the conducting. Different was also the parts allocated. The horn seems to assume a more important role in orchestra music.

Reached kaikan early for morning GG and also to fold the programme.. if not will see black face i think.. haha. (*hint hint) So while some of us were playing with the 'origami', boss said something that really inspired me. She said, "in an orchestra, wind players should aspire to be a soloist.. while the strings should strive to blend.." It seems rather ironic, especially for the present SNCO. This is just so much different from what i've been taught all these years where we've been taught to blend in. Perhap i'm not ready to really solo all the way.. but hopefully i'll gain the courage and confidence with time. Anyway, i don't have much of a choice.. lol.. coz only 2 horns against the horde of 40 strings players. Need to look for more players le wor.. since now our recruitment drive is open.

Was glad that some other members came to help out in the origami.. and EDU ensemble de also.. wah.. so touched leh. LOL.. the few kids also helped.. and it was done in just a while.

Rehearsal was really good, and i was awed by the difference in the way we played. It was miles apart from friday's practice. And during rehearsal, i was actually thinking of playing the pieces for someone (though the audience wasn't there yet).. lol... and i'm surprised at how much better i can play. Well.. maybe thinking diverts my attention away on how i'm going to pitch that particular note ba.. haha.. and the rest was up to the muscle memory. It just came naturally. 10 years experience leh.. lol.. of coz all was auto geared. Was really enjoying the rehearsal.. hahaa.. coz the strings were really good! I'll really enjoy the performance if i wasn't performing.

The EDU junior played very well too.. and hor, they memorised the pieces de leh.. hahahaa.. shame on me. And they are soooo cute lor.. haha..

Actual performance was still alright for the 1st half. A few minor misses, except for the 'dance of the plum fairy'.. lol.. i missed the 1st note and the 2nd note.. coz wasn't prepared. 'Waltz of the flower' was free from major mistakes too.. ahaha.. heng ar.. but i still prefer the other time when i played it. It sounds nicer... but that will do. I'm actually quite nervous wor.. ahhahaa... coz although we got 2 horns, we were playing different parts.. exculsive d. And then was reminded again and again for the entry.. lol.. made me even more stress.. ahaha.. coz don't know got any sudden stunt from nowhere or not. But luckily all went well.

Even thought the orchestra sometimes can play in 2 different tempo, we tend to synchronise the ritard very well.. lol.. maybe all were busy looking at their music ba. But then, this bad habit actually helps us during 'dance of yao'.. lol.. also auto gear d.

2nd half of the concert was badly done (by me that is).. i kept missing notes, and the over exposed 'rainbow' was our nemesis. Didn't have the strength to pitch the notes and a lot of mis-pitches. My colleague was sneezing badly and his horn was flooded... lol.. sudddenly like a lot of happenings. LOL.. i was trying to clear his horn and i actually forgot to enter for the 1st time bar solo (only got 3 notes nia.. ) for the 'sleeping beauty'.. ahhahaaa... my bad. Luckily got 2nd time bar.. if not no chance to redeem le.

I think i wasn't focusing anymore.. a bit daze.. haha.. maybe not enough sleep. Anyway, was glad it was all over.. it could have been better for the 2nd half.. but it could have be worse.

15/3 got another 2 pieces to perform.. i think at the same place.. and after that is 1 month of holiday~ For me.. maybe it's time to go MIA for a while till my papers are cleared. Meanwhile, i was given 2 tasks by the BM.. to practice on my high range and triple tongue. Maybe can work on these 2 while i'm away.

Not in Tune

Early in the morning, and people put aeroplane. I've spent so much resources preparing and yet, nothing. Made me want to just give it up.Spent time on something, and gave it up, just because it no longer fulfill the requirements. In layman terms, had enough le.

Spoilt day.. and soon it was off to ICA at tampines. Missed 2x 969 in 3 mins. LOL..and waited for the 3rd 969 for 15 mins. Bus was full, and 2 ms N boarded at the same stop as me. I forgot to bring along my iPok, and so had to endure the 2 ladies chat and niam beside my ears for the whole journey. Halfway, one of them decides to do pole dance by hugging the whole pole lor.. and then don't know why the breath got 1 er xin smell also.. wa piang eh.. almost faint.

Heng today TPE no jam.. if not can cry. Oh well, today the orchestra was too highly pitched.. don't know why pitch so high also.. then my instrument cannot match. I've already pulled my hand all the way out.. and i still sound flat. 1st in my lifetime wor. 1st piece i just noticed that i couldn't blend.. but not much of a problem.. coz marches all hoot until luan.. cannot hear well also.. haha. Then came waltz of the flower.. i think that was the worst so far.. hahaa.. waltz of the Raffesia ba. Maybe i got the tendency to pitch at the 'normal' pitch (since i've played on this instrument for so long le).. but then my horn couldn't do that.. coz it was already zeroed based on a different grouping. The tone had a clash effect.. and i tried to adjust my embroucher. And then the note 'spoiled'.. tone was bad, pitch was off, and basically i was too occupied wondering what was happening.Realised that the orchestra was playing at so many different tunings.. lol.. i heard flute trying to play 'in tune'.. and some other instruments also... And then halfway, i hear 2 different tunings.. wow. Best le.

Then i pek chek pushed ALL my slides in..(factory setting sia) then it sounded ok.. Although 'super sharp' in terms of tuning.. but at least it was in tune with 'most' of the orchestra. 2nd half was better.. after a much better tuning session and warm up. Phew...

Horn section no more 'godlike' for this coming concert.. coz it was afterall up to only 2 horns. Only. As usual, mic provided.. but then, it made our mistakes obvious. LOL.. when can i have a full section?

Then hor, i don't know why some people don't know how to give just that little bit of respect to the person in front.. (i try to discover.. a little something to..)kept joking around.. machiam got a lot of time to joke still lor. In the end i saw volcano erupt.. and then don't know why the lava shoot dao wo.. hao suay ar. I never ask stupid question leh. Who knows lor.. never say who know... bu gong ping~

Today the junior strings joined us. They are sooooo cute lor.. feel like bringing one home. Hhaaha.. although still very young.. they can play liao wor. Pro. Don't know why.. today i got hearing deficiency or what.. kept hearing 'not in tune'.. ar..

Glad from the practice was, at least the volume without mic seems ok. LOL.. and the rainbow WL did it quite well on the entry. LOL.. the 'demi godlike'. Hahaha.. Seriously, i got what a performer fears most - stage fright. Ok la.. maybe horn player fear other things as well.. like a broken rotary string, a reservior of water stuck inside the instrument.. and "what? only 2 horns nia?". But i get nervous when got extended attention. LOL.. maybe people don't really care.. maybe they don't really see.. but, it still happens. Room for improvement wor.

After talking to band major, i really think that i still have a long way to go. LOL.. long long long long way.. that is, if i'm not giving up on this instrument. Already the passion was gone since i left jc.. and i wondered why i've spent 6 years in school band. In the past, i enjoyed going to my sec school band.. looking forward almost every tuesday, thursday and saturday. Even if OT also nevermind.. got test also nevermind. Sian only that it ended too early. LOL. How i wished i got that kind of feeling now. LOL.. but FYI, my sec school is just 8 mins walk from my home.. LOL!

Rushed home coz had an 'appointment' at 12mn.. but then... pang seh again! Argh.. Stun somemore. Zzz.

Sunday is concert day, so one more day to practice. Hahahaa.. i make sure i practice in front of a tunner. Ke lian de pakki got to bear with me for one day le. ^^

...............................

A lot of happenings these days at both the micro and macro level. Such an 'interesting world'.

Was at newton having one sumptuous feast there. Got chicken wings, bbq stingray, and got hum also! LOL.. long time no eat hum le.. and so all craving for it. The chicken wing there was super nice also~ Just that the stall owners are still as scary. This was worse than CP lor.. Got customer walk in front of their stall means must grab. But no wonder.. coz most of them sell the same things.. just that some are really nicer then others. A little expensive, but nice food nonetheless. Nice food makes me happy.. of coz when i got no cough, food will taste good, and i'll grow fat.

After food is either dota or movies.. seldom la kopi 1. So watched ang mor version of 'the eye'. Similiar story in a different culture.. looks different, and feels different. Maybe next time should check out the english version de infernal affairs. Then popcorn was very 'heaty' lor.. guess i too greedy le.. ate too much and now sore throat again.. ahaha.

Slept super late these few days.. as if got many things to do. 4am the average and i woke up at 9am. Internet connection was down and suddenly i realised how much the internet had drained my time. Anyway, fixed the connection.. but wasted in buying 1 splitter. Nevermind, i learnt how the wire was wired.

Saturday was off to band at tampines again. Set off early.. very early.. at 4.15pm. But then stupid road works jam the whole TPE. Was standing there like don't know got 30 minutes extra or not lor.. maybe more. Coz i reach TM really late, and had to rush for dinner also. Then this bunch of kids was playing with ice.. then shoot dao wo lor.. super suay i think. Tio jam, tio shoot.. what else?

Orchestra practice was part sectionals. As usual no section.. lol.. but i feels that sectionals drain energy also. And the rest can refer to THP le. Kind of mixed feelings for this practice. I heard praises wor... ahahaa.. but at the same time disappointed also over some attempts. Ok la.. got ears d can hear, i don't wish to say more.

Nice was the trip home was much shorten.. thanks to ade and her brother. Already was very tired le.. i can't imagine if i were to transfer buses back.. confirm reach home and my face turn black one.

My remaining hamster just reached 12 months old le~ LOL.. at least this one lives up to its 'average' lifespand.

Packed my room, and rearranged my desks and comp desks.. lol.. now all ready to chiong studies le.. sigh. I want at least 2 lowers.. but must aim upper.. if not all end up one grade down.

Concert coming soon, but prelims come sooner. And i haven't started yet.. ahaha... this time cham liao lo.. i don't want to run away wor. See how it goes ba.. just 2 more days only.

DIY Again

Too poor to buy new chair.. bo bian must DIY repair. The Leg broke coz it was made of plastic. Next time must take note.. not to buy plastic legs again. I don't think it's a suitable material. Of coz.. maybe my sitting posture also contribute to the structural failure.. but i think i only made it fail sooner.

So i found one very old and deserted chair, bought perhaps 10 years ago.. lol.. No longer in use, but a waste to throw away.. so it was there collecting 10 years of dust! LOL.. maybe not that long ba.. but then quite a bit of dust.

So i replaced the legs lor.. lol.. ahaha.. Finally got rid of one piece of 'junk' to salvage another would be junk. Why not use the old chair instead? It was bought for less than $20 i think.. and the seat was rather cmi.. even worse than most office chair i've seen. But i wondered why the legs were metal de.. lol.. i thought plastic cheaper? It suits my purpose.. so who cares?


parts from the old chair.. with dust and rust.


The plastic leg that broke.. i'm so pro.. lol


The finished product ^^.

I think i'm just plain bo liao ba.. hahahaa.. especially in the month of february .. Pehaps the pre-exams syndrom is getting to me le. Just let me be ba.

West to East

From west to east, but still as far, if not further. Was late with the same reason as last friday.. sigh.. something is not right leh.. (as usual). Intended to take cab, and from my place to tampines cost around $14 the last time. Now with the higher fare and peak surcharge, it seems scary. I flagged an empty cab, but it didn't stop.. lol.. why ar? business too good liao hor? But luckily it didn't stop.. coz the bus came. Took bus all the way north and waited for 969. 九六九,等很久.. sian.

The trip was rather fast.. maybe 10-15 mins.. but it took me 30 minutes to reach the 969 bus stop. And then from tampines need to take bus again. Other than buses coming at long intervals, i wondered why i need to take 3 buses to reach a given destination.

I still got a lousy tone today coz my throat was still having the burning sensation. Lousy tone i don't like lor.. makes me sound lousy. And then don't know from where, after cny smog, came the haze again. Tell me how to recover like that lor.

Orchestra sounded scary after cny.. suddenly can hear 2 different tempo at one point.. very very scary lor. If concert day like that.. don't know what to say liao. Scary. Tunning is a problem too.. (including myself).. argh.. don't want to shoot le.. lol.. later bad karma. Already very bad karma shooting people when the mic isn't off.. ahahahaa.. then the section beside could hear.. lol.. bad karma liao.

On the way home after a very late dinner, was irritated by what i saw on train. Ugly singaporeans. And maybe coz i bad karma, i alighted at the wrong station.. ahahahaa.. don't know where i left my brain.. maybe still at ICA.

Concert on 9th march, prelims on 4th and 10th march. Sandwiched. Really no mood liao lo.

The End is Near

Yay~! I completed all my lectures le! So glad it's all over.

And it signals that the exams are round the corner.. sigh~ All not ready yet.. lol... i need to clear all my other 'commitments' soon.. i need to get ready for this exam.

Paid nothing this coming eRev.. ahahah.. i am poor, i am poor. And then my chair had to break.. now no money to buy new ones wor.. haha.. and then i dismantle the wheels, and ended up sitting at ground level.. but with a very nice back rest. So i seldom use my desktop le... instead i'm doing my work on laptop. Maybe i'll do all my studies at the gound level too.

Time to work hard.. but sometimes i find that motivations doesn't last.. hahaa.. perhaps i need some other motivations. Perhaps.

The end is near.

Youth Olympics @ SG

Congrats to Singapore for winning the bid for the 2010 Youth Olympics!

Wow.. suddenly so many things happening at SG. We got the coming F1 race, and the 2 IRs on the way, and now the youth olympics.

Of coz other than these events, we still got our toto angbao draw with a payout of 10 million SGD! Too bad i didn't place any bets this year.. haha.. and of coz no buy means no chance lor. But i'm not a gambler.. at least not a compulsive one.. so i guess the IR also won't make a difference.

I think the coming youth olympics will add more buzz to the lion city.. and hopefully, (please) a greater improvement to the public transport system.. especially the buses. ERPs will not discourage people to use public transport.. only an efficient, fast and reliable public transport system will make it better.

LOL.. i'm just making this an opportunity to lament about the buses that seems cmi.. lol.. but anyway, still all the best to SG for the 2010 youth olympics. ^^

Missed

Don't know what seems wrong.. i've been feeling not alright for the past few weeks. Feeling weak and no appetite.. maybe it's the post cny syndrom. For the 1st time, i missed my friday FR coz i wasn't feeling well. Walked to the bus stop but decided to visit the GP instead. Sadly, my GP isn't open for business.. heard that he might be retiring.. so i went home just after 30 minutes of leaving home. I don't like the feeling of missing the FR lecture.. it leaves me rather empty. The coming friday will be the last FR lecture.. hopefully i can catch up with the rest.. if not, really must ask and ask le. Like what my lecturer said, "it will be an insult to the people doing consol out there if you can do it just by reading notes..." I already knew how difficult it is. Hopefully, i will go into this line someday. The banking sector is not really the kind of life i pursue.

Came saturday, i missed orchestra practice. The kind of same feeling of missing lecture again.. but i felt that in order not to wear my health out, i should really rest. But things were left unsettled at SCC. Instruments were to be moved to HQ, and sorry, i wasn't there to help. Thanks to all who were there to help send my instrument and files over. I'll recover soon and be back at the next practice.

The sort of feeling of missing something that could otherwise be done was quite frustrating. And this feeling kept repeating itself since J2. Kind of helpless against such, yet perhaps not the cause.

Was out today and my schoolmates said that i've lost weight. Quite very true, and as confirmed by the bathroom scale. Haiz. Maybe if this keeps on, i might become a bag of bones by the time the exams are over.

Everytime i met up with my friends that have graduated, i really felt foolish for wasting a whole year of opportunities (coz i retained). I really wanted to work, so that i could reap what i sow. Ya.. those working will agree that working sucks.. but then.. total finacial independence is what i aimed for. Though i stopped receiving allowance and paid for my school feels, some of the bills and insurance are not paid by me.. so finacial independence is what i seek.. and finally financial freedom in the not very far future. Living on passive income is perphaps one of the common goals of the common people.. but it is by no means easy (considering the kind of life i yearn for after retiring, and the age i might decide to retire). CPF is IMO just to make sure that people can be indepedent financially, not really freed. Of coz, if i'm the sole winner for the coming 10 mil toto angbao draw, it'll be a different story... in my dreams ba.. lol.

Still not recovered fully.. but at least a bit better.. better than it getting worse.. and just in time, coz i need to be studying soon.. 1 year is already too much.

3rd Successful Molt!

Just as i thought i'm done with updating the blog, Grande rug got out of its molting. It took around 3 weeks to molt too.. Too bad, i think grande missed out on the 'reunion dinner' for cny le.. haha..

3 crabs, and 3 successful molt. So far, all the crabs had molted once le.. and all their legs grew back! I guess the initial setback from the death of the haha crab had made me want to make sure they lived. Sad leh.. where got crab die less than 24 hours under my care de.. that's why, i can't let them die so easily (no, i'm not going to torture them) anymore.

Congrats to Grande for its successful molt.


Right after molting


Visitors..

恭喜发财

恭喜发财~!

This time the new year came quite fast, and i haven't get into the festive mood.. and it's already 初二. Been busy running about in 'spaceship 5' to relatives' house to collect ang bao and also enjoy all the good food. And as usual, the little cousins all grew up rather quickly (coz i only see them once a year). Finally got to see my cousin's baby.. and i heard another of my cousin getting married soon (means i got more ang bao.. lol.. just kidding). Grandma's place getting crowed le.. coz more and more members. ^^

CNY food was very nice! Too bad i had to cut down on a lot of the heaty stuffs. Drank a lot of carbonated drinks.. and the only alcohol i touched was a glass of white wine. LOL.. i still have my 50% de vodka wor.. haha.. the carton of sprite kept tempting me to open bottle.. lol.

Year of the rat must keep hamsters meh? LOL.. the news that day report that pet shops are selling more hamsters. Think is mickey mouse meh? Buy liao no need to clean cage, no need to feed him meh? Then year of ox how? Buy a moo moo ar?

That day was at vivo doing some last minute of cny shopping.. and i saw michelle chia at zara wor. She looks so tall lor.. Strangely, all celebrities seems to look taller in real life.. maybe my tv too small le? And that day at amk hub saw hui ge also.. lol.

And on the train to somewhere, something funny happened... a couple about my age boarded the train and was standing near me. Then they start to behave rather er xin-ly.. i don't know leh.. i didn't want to eavesdrop, but they were speaking as if they want everybody to know like that. Then the girl starts asking the guy, "do you know my surname?" i was like.. !! ai seh leh... hahaha... got like that one ar? Partor le then only see the face only eh? No need to know name de hor? Hahahaa... then what's more funny is, the guy ask back, "then you know my chinese name?"................. i was trying very hard to control my laughter.. luckily my stop came.. haha.. if not i really buay tahan le lor.

Sounds like sour grapes orh? LOL.. v-day coming.. haha.. and a day to stay indoors (for me that is). Haha.. just kidding la.. I can't seems to find ms right these days.. maybe i tio freeze le.. or maybe all are ms wrong lor.. hahaa.. or maybe ms right in some other country? And this coming saturday at 7pm got show "the notebook" on channel 5. Really must watch leh.. same title as my blog.. ahaha.. ya, i copied them.

LOL.. a bit divert.. and so 初二, i went to my cousin's place for lunch.. Pakki wasn't allowed to go.. haha.. and he sort of knew where we went.. so he was making some very pitiful noise (as usual). Ke lian de pakki.. haha.. coz from my cousin's house, we went to senja kaikan to bai nian (he cannot go kaikan wor). Strangely.. i thought i haven't been to senja.. but maybe i had.. i'm still not too sure. Was really surprised wor.. the village chief actually volunteered to drive my grandparents and i there. My aunt and their family also went, but their new toyota wish had more than enough place lo. But he didn't want to join us.. haha.. just drive us there. That was enough for now.

初二 and i already quite tired from the running about.. and the test after cny really kills all the festive mood lor.. lol.. plus, my papers are coming le.. aiyo.. sian.

In Orchestra Today,

i sounded bad. Especially so during waltz of the flower. Maybe the flower waited for 2 weeks, and hence withered? And not only i think that i sounded quite bad... that is, quite bad le.

My tone was bad, counting was bad. The only excuse i could think of was maybe i haven't recovered.. lol.. actually i also don't have the strength to be disappointed too much. Also, the whole orchestra sounded weird too.. maybe coz there were less people around.. and as usual, the lowest brass was again, the horn. The we only had 1 cello and 1 bassoon.. no double bass, no tuba, no nothing.

And then there was something difficult to say.. lol.. anyway, it wasn't my idea.. so i decided not to say. In the end, the one who wanted to say also didn't say, coz it was really difficult to say. LOL.. no idea what i'm talking about right? LOL.. it isn't anything bad.. just a minor change of certain order.

Bo form today i guess.

Actually was quite recovering from the flu + cough + fever + headache le.. but then i studied through the night on thurdays becoz i thought there was going to be a class test the following day. But then.. lecturer say no test wor. I thought 100% sure got test lor.. coz he said that cannot owe after cny... lol.. i guess the cny mood really affects a lot of people wor. And so after 1 whole night of midnight oil, my throat burns again.. and it got worst when it rained on friday. Weather really fierce these days lor.. how to recover like that? And i lost weight at quite a scary pace.. already almost 2kgs gone like that.. lol.. when will i reach my 'optimum' weight?

Then in class on friday, a group of int students sat beside me.. i usually had nothing against them, just that sometimes they talk a lot and make some weird noises that i haven't heard before... other than that, their enthu participation in class doesn't quite bother me, not to mention that they usually fill the front few rows. (now i guess i know why they sit so near le.. coz end of lessons must get lecturer to sign ma..) Anyway, this particular group was really very mei li mao. Lecturer was passing the notes around, and this bugger sitting beside me don't even bothered to pass it to me.. why, i transparent ar? Wa lao eh lor.. i was so damn angry.. even if not enough also didn't bother to let me know. AND, it wasn't 1 time.. it was 2 times lor. And i didn't know got 2 sets of notes until the lecturer ask us to change some of the figures.. then i found out i didn't have... KNS.. this group really no manners de. In the end i still got to go to the front to get.. and then hor, they swarm towards the front as if Jay came to our LT like that.. omg.. can't stand them. Next time i better find some seats far far away from these people.

And then this pakki is beginning to act as if he is king le.. ahahahaa.. he actually slept on my bed lor. Don't since when he discovered that my bed is nicer than his.. hahahaaa.. and that is a bad thing.. coz when he wakes up, he will come and 'disturb' me until i wake up.. if not he will bark until someone attends to him.. really king wor.

5 more days to cny, and i couldn't find any cny clothes i liked.. wahhaa.. but i don't want to wear 'old' clothes leh.. lol.. i really no flair in buying clothes lor.. hahaa.. but i got flair in eating, and at the same time not putting on weight.. lol.. so when i recover, i want to eat all the ba kua i can, and drink all the cold drinks i want.. hahaha... seriously, i had quite enough of the 2 daily cans of liang teh at room temperature le. Maybe like what they suggest.. fight poison with poison? lol.. then maybe i really no need to go get my angbaos le..

Pakki's Storm

Yesterday, Pakki gave us all quite a scare. During dinner time, he was limping.. we all didn't know what happened, but he wasn't much the usual playing schnauzer. Got all of us so worried, and this incident caused a storm at the village. It seems that all are so concerned, yet nobody knew what happened... and then i heard something.. but i knew it was said coz they were concerned. And still there was this on going blizzard.. also becoz of pakki..

Pakki got a lot more attention from all the villagers.. i guess, sometimes he breaks, sometimes he makes. But at least all are committed to his well-being.. just that the method is different. Sometimes, the signs may just elude some.. but i don't think the point is to determine who is at fault. I know this always happen.. elsewhere too.

Thankfully, pakki's leg was alright this morning. I slept at 3am, and woke up at 6am to check on him. He seems alright le.. ya.. the usual playful schnauzer. LOL.. and someone else lost sleep because of him.. whahaha.. still wondering what happened.. maybe he play too much then sprained his leg? (he jumps around de.. like rabbit like that.. hahaa..) or was it that his nail grew so long that it hindered his walking? And just like a baby, he couldn't speak.. so its quite impossible to know.

Speaking of dog's nail, i got quite a scare the other time when i tried to trim. Ya.. i didn't know they had something called 'quick' - its like having veins in your fingernails like that. So, it bled and i got scared... thankfully i wasn't doing a deep cut, so it was just a minor bit of blood. But who knows nails also got veins de la? Ok.. my fault for not doing my job of finding out. So i just found a technique of trimming the nails, that is, a bit at a time. Really a bit lor.. haha.. but that is for the quick to retract, so that i can cut the nails shorter as time goes on. Actually the groomer also will do it la.. but then, they also can't do much.. coz if they cut a lot of the nail, then the poor dog will bleed a lot. The best way some say, is to take the dog for regular walks, and let fiction do the work. But then again, it's good to know they got quicks ba.

Just in time, pakki is due for his grooming. Nowadays, the shop got so crowded that they had to reject some of the customers.. wah.. business very good hor? So from 10am to 2pm, he was at the shop waiting for his turn.. lol.. and during this time, it felt strange for not having him around.. even mum says so.

I won't know what else will happen in the run of many years to come, but i'm sure pakki will get all the support he can from each of the villagers.

Long Time No Sick

Its been a while since i last fell ill. Maybe too long never ill, hence this time it lasted quite a while. Coughing and having flu.. plus stomach getting weak also... already almost 2 weeks le, and non of the liang teh and cough drops seems to help. I guess, it must have been the late nights and irregular eating hours. My bio clock seems to be in a mess these days. Quite irritated lo.. plus cny coming soon, and i don't want to miss any of the good food.

Semester ending soon, and i am still clueless of IM.. ahahahaa... wonder what i've been doing.. sigh.. and now feeling so illish, i also won't know whether got time to study for friday's FR test or not.

Almost 15 years living in this estate - from industrial estate to the so-called 'villa' after the upgrading.. and finally there is going to be a train station! Yay~ Hahaa.. and i think is 2 of them! Yay yay~ one of them which is due to complete next year, is near one of the top JC in sg.. and the other, although that station is set to bear the name of my neighbourhood, will be near the 'up the lorry' hub.. if i'm not wrong. LOL.. 塞翁失马 leh... but then again, this newer line will be completed 2020~ lol.. by that time, i might have my own car le. If they really can improve the whole public transport system, maybe i can consider. Just imagine this lor.. from central to west need 1.5 hours.. if i drive, the most is 0.5 hours.. who will want to take some bus that seems more intent on bringing passangers on a sight-seeing ride? Just last friday, IM lesson ended half hour early.. and the naive me thought that i could reach home at least 30 mins earlier, if not more.. but who knows? Stupid buses took a whole half hour to reach, and then like every busstop is packed with half hours' worth of sardines. In the end i reached home LATER than usual... LOL.. It seems strange.. during the non-peak hour, the frequency of the bus is 38 mins! and during peak hours, you can't even get on the bus.. no wonder la.. no wonder the road is so packed with private cars.

Market is volatile these days.. and some say that it's a good time to enter.. IMO, the economy doesn't seems too strong... well, if the strategy is to hold long term, then maybe can invest lo.. provided there is no need of the cash in the near future. There is opportunity cost involved.. and learnt from IM, the best strategy for liquid traders is to hold long term.. which means that, if you don't have superior information - either through extensive research or whatever (by the way, insider trading is illegal.. but then again, the law of large numbers will always win... so who has the most money wins lor), holding long term should be relatively safe. If not, i see no difference from betting big/small. Too bad i didn't major in econmics.. lol.. because they are always right.. for whatever that happened, they always have a reason... 马后炮 i think.. hahaa... And then as if the FIs are not busy with the fallout of the subprime crisis.. there is another pro involved in a trading fraud. The amount surpasses that of the famous nick leeson.. an amount totalling 7 billion. LOL.. 7 billion leh.. is he pro or what? Amazing.

Sigh.. sick liao not a very nice feeling.. like everything also no strength to do.. wondered will the flu bug pass on to the critters at home or not? Hahaa.. 9 days into the molting, grande should be doing well ba.. so are the rest. Even bacon is doing well.. seems like he gained weight again. I on the other hand, have been losing weight.. sigh.. do hope i can recover soon.

Inheritance

Bacon 'inherited' ham's estate.


A 'new' cage for bacon wor.. lol.. and all the accessories from ham's stash.

For the Hamster that Crossed the Rainbow Bridge

One of my hamster died last night.

No wonder i felt something was amiss.. just suddenly can sense it.

Actually was kind of prepared for it when i saw the balding patch on its back.. don't know whether it was due to aging or disease. But then, it seems to be quite active a few days back.

This dwarf hamster had only been with me for 10 months.. still short of the 12-18 months of their average lifespand. But then again, not all hamsters are created equal. Well, it was the 2nd death of hamsters i've witnessed.. the rest were given off before they've reached the end of their lifespand.

A many years ago when i'm still in primary school, i got another exotic pet.. It died a short while later, but i didn't know. I was told that it was 'returned' back to the seller. Well at least, i got to know the death of this hamster 1st.

So this ham had crossed the rainbow bridge.. hopefully all will be well.

...1% Moment

Like the crab also, molt for one month, but the actual molting process takes a day only. The rest of the time is use in preparing for the molt. 99% preparation.. 1% moment. Don't know whether the grande crab decides to molt or not.. it keeps digging in and coming out.. anyway, i've already isolated it.

And then.. the venti crab changes its shell again. LOL.. this time is black colour de.. whahaa.. so vain sia.


LOL.. same pose, different shell though.


The 'best' pic so far.. look how big venti grows..

Friday saw on "frontline" that people are keeping shrimps also.. lol.. more and more exotic pets wor. Their lifespand is around 2 years, and nice ones will cost over $100.. lol.. the $8 hermit crab can live up to 15 years. Even longer life than pakki lor.. haha..

99% Preparation...

They say its all 99% preparation and 1% moment. Perphaps i wasn't prepared enough. (or over prepared?) Sometimes think too much and in the end got it all wrong. Well, it happens elsewhere too.. but then, some people are just able to.. why not me?

After yesterday's practice, was quite demoralised by the screwed up solo.. Wasn't that i wasn't able to, but sometimes when it comes, it didn't come. I guess it was over prepared for "over the rainbow". Too much weightage on certain things le.. especially when the whole orchestra wasn't playing.. lol.. very stress de lor. Wanted very much to hand the solo over.. but nobody there to take.. what can i do? But then.. like this also not a long term solution wor. Sigh leh. Run also cannot, fight also don't know can or not.. lol.. think is play dota meh? Just quit game can le meh?

Disappointed with myself over "over the rainbow", but then was glad to hear some guidance, and some words of encouragement from the instructors.. hahaa.. 1st time hear praises wor.. hahaa..

Nice was the orchestra for the day. We had a lot of strings and of coz, our tuba is back.. very nice to have a base for support.. for once i didn't feel that the middle section is the support.. and for once it wasn't empty. But then.. pian pian i had to screw the solo up.. wahhaa.. felt so bad to waste all of their time lor.. my bad =(

Was actually much anticipating nutcracker to boost morale.. but then no time.. ahaha.. pract ended later, and went JP mac for late dinner. End up reaching home after 12am.

Let me see if i can achieve anything within this week.. if really can't.. haha.. maybe i can try harder to look for a replacement horn player le.. lol.

Poor Wor..

4 more lectures and it'll be time to prepare for mocks. Just paid nearly 1.6k for the papers alone.. and my bank got reduced by the same amount. All in all, i've spent around 5k more because i retained... and so this year i must really pass.. and attain a lower.. if not, the addtional time and money spent will all go down the drain le. Not as if i enjoyed being a student so much, especially when the cashflow is constantly bugging.. and there isn't any inflow since a long long time.. wondered when i'll go broke. Decided not to attend lectures given by the lecturers from UK.. partly coz i want to save the $50 per lesson.. and also coz i won't really have the time to ponder over the additional lecture materials.

And then the Bull is lao sai-ing.. almost can see the bear de head liao. Everyday seems like a new low (don't know whether the revised index had anything to do with it).. lol.. whoever said that the old STI would break 4k by the end of 2007 is a real genius. But who would have thought.. the lowering of rates due to the credit squeeze, rising fuel prices, shortage of food supply and so on would have flown into the inflation pool.. and then suddenly some agree that it might be worthwhile to realise their gains ASAP. When the BB unload, those retail go pick.. and the BB throw somemore.. and a bit more.. how not to get new lows like that? But then again, it's all a cycle.. and those with the cash to invest might see some new opportunity to kio some 'bargains'.. and especially when the FIs are in need of cash.

Now i really know what is 'leong'. LOL.. and my small small investment also shrink.. luckily my 2nd decision seems to be better.. lol.. at least something learnt.

Poor but at least can DOTA at home for free.. lol. Saved $2.50 per hour like that lor.. lol.. and save transport somemore.. hahaha.. Always dota with the usual few, but i still quite noob.. hahaha.. like what my colleague says, "must have talent one..".. lol..

No more pek chek liao.. lol.. coz i finally know what happend during the nutcracker suite le.. and i thought i was being stupid. But now upon closer 'inspection', the 3/4 was written to sound like 2/4... no wonder i got so confused.. lol.. Tchaikovsky too pro for me le la.. and it was the same case as in Pavane.. no wonder i always thought i couldn't count.. it just sounds different from what it seems to be. And i can be certain, the dance of yao will also have the same problem.. but nevermind.. at least nutcracker cracked liao.

Pakki seems to like to sleep in my room these days... lol.. maybe coz got other critters to accompany him? LOL.. Shifted the tall crab (s.rug) into the main tank to live with the others le.. so far so good.. just that the venti crab (L.rug) grew so large after molting that the tanks seems too small for it.. maybe 好吃好睡 wor..

Maybe financially poor now... but ain't so poor in other aspect.. lol.. just 6 more months to go, and maybe i may regret that i say i didn't want to be a student.

Pek Chek

Was very pek chek yesterday.. don't know why, maybe the journey to the west took me too much time. 1.5 hours there and another 1.5 hours back.. 3 hours leh. And then got there and still couldn't get things right. Sian. Same old problem, and i didn't want to say anymore.

I got short term memory though.. had a GG of dota after midnight on LAN, and then was quite happy le. And as if that wasn't enough to offset my pek chek, my small hermit crab came out of its molting! LOL.. and it got its full set of legs back. That is enough to make me happy lo.


Really the ISO tank, with the molting container shifted inside.


Top view.

LOL.. i still think that keeping crab is easier than keeping hamsters in the long run.. maybe cheaper also.. haha..

顺其自然

Got to know which rug the exo belonged to.. lol.. it was the old exo of L.rug. Heng ar.. it never kill my small crab.. haha.. Then i quickly seal off the molting area.. but 3 hours later, M.rug disappeared from the tank. (i sealed off the molting area le.. still got place to dig in meh?) Now i only know the location of 2 of them. Saw some digging movement in the molting area.. but one of them is missing.. (again). LOL.. this is definately a test of patience.. you never know when you'll see the crab again.. if ever. Maybe it died inside le i also don't know lor. But then again, sometimes must 顺其自然.. so i see how lor.. no need to wait also, coz also don't know wait for what.

Strange.. Strange

I hoped my s.rug doesn't tio owned. Found 2 crab legs on top of the molting area.. and i don't know is whose. Seems too big for the s.rug, and it's empty.. meaning that it is definately an empty exo.. but what is it doing outside? Strange.. strage... wondered if s.rug is still alive or not.. or maybe got murdered by L.rug? Read that some crabs will eat fresh molted crabs. Got so tempted to dig them out to find the truth.. but then again, digging them out means killing them. It's a crab eat crab world.. lol. That is one mystery that maybe time will tell.




Other mysteries, maybe time won't tell. A few days back, i saw a copy of CL (Creative Life) on my desk.. and it was addressed to me (by SSA). Strange.. strange. I never subscribed leh.. and last time our family subscribed (subsription already expired), it was under my mum's name.. Strange.. someone subscribed for me.. and paid for too. Eh.. like that how can? Didn't even know who to thank. Anyway, i appreciate the intention.

Saturday's orchestra practice was cold. Physically i mean. Got drenched in the rain, and the aircon was like in full blast.. Winds section as usual didn't have much people.. really wondered where all the winds player go to. It's true that orchestra don't need so many winds... but then again, bo lang eh see liao also cold lor.

Halfway through the pract, my rotary string broke, and i got to switch instrument. Luckily (or unluckily) my colleague didn't come.. so i got instrument to switch to. And strangely, i don't know how to count when playing in an orchestra. In the past i used to infer the tempo from others.. now with the strings, i really really can't feel. Difficult wor... then everytime tio shoot. Hahahaa... and the more i see the conductor, the more i got confused. Zzz... So saturday, i bao everything - from legend to nutcracker.. and i played until the sound pik che.. my endurance cmi.. Aww.. i still missed my secondary school days.. then was a full section and lots of bass for support. Lol.. complain also no use.. i still end up going for pract weekly.. lol.. and there is a school gathering next week, guess i won't be going le.. no horn parts then also difficult for them.. a lot of pieces also sound empty empty de... it just sound so strange.

A lot of strange strange things to start the year.. maybe 2008 is a year of mysteries.

Deprival

Spent another day of 2008 rushing assignments and tutorial questions. Now i really can kick myself for choosing this module. Deprived of sleep for almost 36 hours, and no.. i am not training for the impreza challenge.

But then again, having clear all the assignments, i can take a break for a week before the 31 consolidation questions are here to deprive my sleep again.

Met up with some of my friends for cq steamboat again.. whahaha.. i will never get bored eating cq steamboat.. and after that is DOTA again. Strangely, i was very lousy today.. lol.. and practically tio owned the whole 2 sets of game... haha.. i guess either i really very seh today, or really very lousy liao.

Having orchestra practice tomorrow.. still don't know whether will be going or not.. i think i can sleep until 5pm then wake up lor. And the thought of not practicing.. lol.. i guess my 2008 will be very busy lo.. busy but happy. ^^

First Entry of 2008~

New year le~ but nothing seems new to me.. especially my FR assignments.

Been very busy for the past 2 weeks coz of the need to rush my assignments. 1st time in my whole uni life that i'm so "willing" to do assignments and study for test. Slept no earlier than 6am for the past 2 days.. and i guess today won't be of any difference. Thankfully (and hopefully), i can take a break and "enjoy" the new year after friday's lessons. I can thank all the coffe i had to keep me awake after that.

And then the exams invoice came.. around SGD 1300.. lol.. super broke le.. and don't complain if you hear me complain.. i am really really broked. The exams timetable is out too.. super glad that the dates of the papers are evenly spread, and all are in the afternoon. My last paper should be before 6th june.

Just this morning (early morning i mean.. around 3am), i saw something strange in my ruggie's tank.. i saw something blue.. yupz.. the blue haha crab emerges from its molt! Which means... the conditions are right. I'm so happy.. haha.. effort (and money) not wasted after all. I held the blue haha crab by its shell, and i saw it's new exoskeleton (the crab's own shell).. it is now a bit purple in colour, and i think it sort of grew bigger le.. whahaa.. and as usual, with the blue haha crab around (the biggest of the 3, now even bigger), the settings in the tank got "tanked" around.


Molting means that the crab is shedding it's exoskeleton, which is the red part... like snake shedding its skin like that. The blue part is its home (or clothes if you like), and it doesn't grows, unlike that of the tortise. It came from dead snails and the crab doesn't grow it. It is NOT attached to the crab by any cells or whatsoever.. and the crab can choose to come entirely out from the blue shell if it chooses to (and get attacked most probably).. hope it clears some doubts. ^^ (in this case, the shell is blue in colour la.. i am still looking for a unpainted natural shell and hopes it moves into it some day)


LOL.. all camera shy.. L,rug with M.rug (large ruggie with medium ruggie.. zzz.. stupid me forgot to give them names.. ahahahahaa) anyway, the L.rug is slighty purple.. maybe the exo still new, haven't really harden yet.

Its been 3 weeks since i last saw the blue haha crab.. lol.. and i'm quite happy to see it still alive... whahahahaa.. too bad it missed both xmas and new year. Now only left the smallest crab (S.rug)in the molting area. It should be much more of a challenge for the small crab becoz it had some missing legs.. by right (i read online), it would be more "stressful" for them to grow new legs.. but i guess it should be alright. By the way, both smaller crabs had missing legs when i got them from the shop.. lol.. they are sold at $8 each leh.. so no QC. Haha's is different.. a lot of QC, plus i think the crabs are older (by looking at the size), so higher chance of survival.. but then again.. i wondered why the other crab died on the 1st day it came... =X

LOL.. so interesting.. only that the start up is ma fan (very ma fan).. coz i don't know anything about it.. now i know where to get the items le, and so very much easier.. even easier than keeping hamsters.. lol.. plus the small size means they don't really eat a lot also, plus they don't poo much also.. so not much of changing sand or whatsoever... so.. anyone interested to keep ruggues as pets/hobby? Hahaa..

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.