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Monday, 14 July 2008

Hello USA!

I know it's been a long time since I last blogged, feels like it at least! I guess it's about time to blog yet once again! What's more, considering where I am right now I should have plenty to write about, right? I guess I do! It's after midnight now and I'm at my sister and Eric's place, chilling out with my lappie and cool music playing really softly 'cos my sis & Eric are asleep!
I just have to say, this is really such a rare opportunity, 6 weeks break in USA, and a bit of Canada too, how often do I get that? So, I'm loving and treasuring every moment I have here right now. I've been doing lots of things here, visiting places, meeting up with friends all over, shopping! etc.
Basically on a whole scope, this is where I've been:
1st week: Utah, visited Salt Lake City and Provo.
2nd week: Disneyland, at Orange County, Los Angeles. Also visited Hollywood, at Beverly Hills.
3rd week: Road trip to Seattle, Washington. Drove up to Vancouver, Canada. Back to Seattle again, and on the way back, stopped at Portland, Oregon, for shopping, and then drove to Medford, Oregon and stayed a night there. Back to San Jose, California.
Well, it's still kinda where I'm at now, will update more soon! This trip has been awesome, some highlights are such as these:
- Just being in Salt Lake City itself is almost like a dream come true- I'm not exagerrating! :) I love the Salt Lake temple and the history behind it, I am amazed beyond words. My sister & I performed baptism for the dead in Salt Lake temple, I can't imagine how much I miss entering the temple and performing temple ordinances. The last time I went was with our Clementi ward temple trip, almost 6-7 years back. It feels really great to be back again.
I watched a movie at Temple Square, entitled, Joseph Smith: The Restoration. It is the most touching movie I've ever seen, we learn so much more and feel so much closer to our dear prophet Joseph Smith. It is a must-see I really have to say. The next one we wanna watch now is the Emma Smith movie, we've got to pay for that, US$8. I've really learnt to respect and look up to Emma Smith. She's got real hard times, but she was always there for her husband.
Also saw a couple of sister missionaries from Singapore there. We actually even had 1 of them do the temple square tour for us- since we requested for a chinese tour, and one of our Singapore sisters came out! Pleasant surprise! Can you imagine that? Chinese tour! Yay. :)
- Visited Byu. 1 word: Wow. My sister brought me around almost the school, it is huge! And Byu bookstore? Way cool. Ok I'm such a nerd, I can't help it! Sometimes I wonder, did I really not go to Byu? Yea, why again? It's alright, I'm sure there were reasons, and it's ok, who knows, could perhaps go there some other time too, right? heh ;)
- Saw all the princesses at Disneyland! Took pictures with all of them! (except Cinderella, but don't worry, just pretend we did, heh) One of my favourites was watching the Musical: Aladdin. It was SO way cool. Aladdin was of course, so charming, and the singing was splendid. Plus, a flying carpet- literally! Above our heads. I totally loved it! I love all the disney movies! Need to brush up on them though, so far I've re-watched Cinderella, Aladdin, Little Mermaid, Mulan on this trip. And watched for the first time, High School Musical 1 & 2, Monsters, and I can't remember what else. Haha, will check! And will watch more! I really liked High School Musical 1 though, the songs are just so good.
Sat on almost all the rides at Disneyland too, except the really baby rides, and those that basically aim to make you puke. Example, the spinning cups, if you know what I'm talking about. One thing was that we didn't ride on the water ride though, cos my sister didn't want to get wet, and guess I wasn't too adamant about it too. Heh. But we rode on as many that has the 'physical sign' rides as we could, basically that means fast. Some weren't all that fast at all. A couple were really, really good though, in particular the Indiana Jones ride & the Space Mountain ride. Cool! We were shooting around so fast in darkness, my lungs sure got a good fill-up of air! In California adventure theme park we rode on the roller-coaster. Finally! First time in my life I get to sit on one, that actually goes round 360 degrees! I always wondered how that feels. Now that I've sat on it, it wasn't actually that very scary as it seems, I can't even really feel I was going upside-down! I could feel the pressure, yea for a second, but it was over real quick. No flying off your seat or what. But it was such a cool ride, fun!
- At Seattle we ate so much, once we had a real tin foil dinner over the campfire out in our friend's backyard. It was such a cool first-hand experience. We literally stuck our hotdogs to the end of a long stick and placed it over the fire. Everything tasted so good! And our friends in Seattle have such cute cute cute so cute babies, Clancy & Matthias, you will love them! Have to thank all of our friends in Seattle for bringing us around for such good food! ;)
- In Canada what was more heart-warming was actually meeting up with our good old friends! They used to be in our Clementi ward too, for all those many years, they're like family! Meeting up with them this time felt so good, you never know how much you miss these people until you see them and start chatting with them again. I can't wait to see them again! Vegas, next stop. ;)
There's still a lot more stuffs, but I guess this is really just the highlights of the highlights! Haha. Will be back for more again, definitely! ;)

My sister and I in front of Salt Lake Temple. Beautiful.

That's us outside the Conference Hall after listening to the awesome Mormon Tablenacle Choir! Kudos to them!

Friday, 06 June 2008

Who's back in town! :)

Feels like I haven't blogged in ages! Neglected my poor blog for more than a month. Ok here are some quick updates.
I'm still up and kicking, just been partially impaired due to the immense boredom of examinations. But good thing, it's all over! Whoo, my life officially begins!
So here's the gist...
In the midst of exams.. my friend got married! She had her wedding dinner right before my 1st out of 4 papers, was a good chance of destressing for us!

Gorgeous, right?
I mean the one on the left.
Haha! Ok... Here's her evening gown.

Very pretty gowns but too bad... not church standard.. =( But it's alright! I'm sure there are beautiful and unique church-standard gowns out there! I will find it!
After my 3rd paper, one of my closest, bestest friends had to leave for Canada. For good. Sad! Couldn't bear to but what's there to do, she got married into Canada!
Another marriage! So few days before, we-- my JC class girls and I had a farewell dinner for her, we ate at Ajisen Ramen and spent the whole night just sitting there and simply chatting! It felt so great. I forgot how much I miss all my JC class girls, they crack me up SO much. We all become crazy girls whenever we're together. :)

But the main character's not here.. She's the one taking the shot. ;)

There she is! The one on the right, Ying. :) Our threesome group in JC. :p

Being silly again... ;)

Love them!
Ok I'm so sleepy already, shall have part 2 again soon! ;)
** My thought of the day: I really wish I have more than 24 hours a day, more than 7 days a week, more than 30 days a month. How can I find that?

Sunday, 13 April 2008

General Conference Telecast
There was General Video Conference today. As always, I'm glad I went for them. I attended the Sunday morning and afternoon sessions, but sadly I missed the Saturday sessions. Unlike in October last year, I made it to both Saturday and Sunday. I feel regretful that I didn't attend the Saturday's sessions, I had really wanted to! But unfortunately, what's a mugger got to do... Yea..
I really wished I could have attended the Saturday one too though! We sustained our dear prophet President Thomas S. Monson, and all our other apostles as well. Well, though I couldn't have stood and sustained with them in the chapel, but I do so in my heart!
I caught it online later on, which of course was really good. I love the way how all our prophets and apostles speaks. I really respect our prophets, their words are ever so encouraging and inspiring. I enjoyed the talks a lot as I feel that their words are so very important in helping us make our decisions in our daily lives, their words are words of teachings that I could never ever get outside of the church, nor from anywhere else. Their words are so precious as they help leads us back to our Father in Heaven.
My friend today asked me which talk did I enjoy the most, it was hard to decide as I liked a lot of them! I like President Uchtdorf a lot, his first talk that I heard ever was given last year, on the 'Point of No Return'. I will always remember that. Because ever since then, I had grown to like him a lot. His talk really did touch me. So you can imagine my joy when I heard who was being called to 2nd cousellor in the First Presidency. Heh.. Somehow I feel a sense of closeness with him, as well as President Monson, and Sister Susan W. Tanner, whose talk I really loved too. Like my friend on his mission who would always ask, which is my favourite talk? Which always sets me pondering for awhile.. So right now I'm going to prepare my answer beforehand! Heh. In President Uchtdorf's talk, he told us to 'persevere cheerfully, and to hold on to the faith of our fathers', and in Sister Tanner's talk, she told us that 'miracles will come, even if it comes in the fourth watch (near dawn), it will come.' How simple and comforting is that? So that is my highlight amongst all other highlights. I believe in miracles, and I believe that it will come, as long as we persevere. :)

Sunday, 06 April 2008

Hec, Hec, Hectic!
Finally over with this one week! It's been so packed up that I could hardly breathe. Seriously, I should really think more than twice while arranging my time table for school classes in the future! When I initially saw my week schedule beforehand, I was flabbergasted. School for practically everyday! Even Sunday! It wasn't that I didn't know of it as I was picking my time table, apparently I didn't have any much choice. But it's seriously a whole matter of difference between just picking it and actually going thru' it all physically.. Well, I just ended my 6 hour class today. So, all in all, this nightmare week is over! I must have been missing out on lots of things happening in the real world outside, I feel like I'm trapped in some time capsule which only remains still for exams prep!
It's funny how I didn't feel this 'up to my neck' during last year's examination period. I don't remember stressing out over so much nor camping out as much in libraries. Last year must have almost seemed like a breeze compared to this year! Maybe that's because I slacked too much last year. Once this week I almost wished I didn't have to give tutoring, I almost wished I could just call them up and say cancel, stop, that's it. Just give me time to bury myself in my notes. But ugh, how irresponsible is that. So I dragged my body there with a dreaded heart, only to realise that hey, it wasn't so bad after all. It helps me feel better when I'm helping other people! It's ironic how the student's mum was even suggesting to me an extended tuition duration, while only a moment ago in my head I was thinking of stopping! Heh heh... Fine, I know I won't do that.. That's just a thought!
Also, after I had a new piano teacher, things' been changing! I didn't use to give much time or thought to piano, maybe just a little. But now, my new teacher, is a 魔鬼教练! Better not let him see this.. He wants to torture me! Pro.. and I couldn't say no. But weird.. his methods seem to work. It does! Maybe after making me play the same piece for almost 10 times in a row, with that blood-hurling metronome ticking and ticking in my head, finally, his efforts are starting to pay off. He says my wrists bounces when I play? I don't even know there's such a thing. Apparently so with me, which I didn't even notice for the past 10 years with my other teacher. So, he's going to make me correct that with his killer teaching methods. Which miraculously works on a lazy student like me. Yea, so! That's an extra thing on my time table!! Somehow always feel like cancelling too... Heh bad bad bad. Well, of course I won't.. Just another thought.. Been having too much thoughts lately huh?
Oh right, my orthodontist just tightened my teeth this week, and added new metal devices as well. So, now I can't bite properly!! Everything I eat I can only just swallow, sad, I can't savour the taste of my favourite food. Where's the enjoyment in life?! Like it's not bad enough with no life due to school already.. Now I can't enjoy my most favourite too! I guess that's the price to pay for having such teeth... Hai.. Can't wait for my teeth to be done up nice and pretty!
Okay.. next week is a slightly better week. Great! Back to libraries again though.. And I think if I'm not careful, I'll be falling in love with the library very soon... instead of a prince charming... Heh.. But I'm almost done with my Econs! Yay! Hwaiting!

Sunday, 30 March 2008

My tiny little world

Can anyone be more dead tired. I can feel the tiredness practically suffocate me, the debris of it flattening me, removing all liberty of movement from my bound limps. I'm so tired of feeling tired.
It makes me think of how wonderful it would be right now if I could turn into a snail, a turtle, or a hermit crab.
Just anything that gives my head a place to hide, my body a hide-out to tuck into. How great that would be.
I would love to be a snail, and take my own sweet time crawling up and over ferns, beholding the beautiful scenery that my tiny eyes limit me to, protecting my sight a safe distance away from the truths of the world, the harsh realities of the human life. How good it would be to be a snail. Isn't it?
When it drizzles, I would be able to feel the soft droplets of rain on my shell, pelting plop plop plop with each sound it makes.
Crawling on the pavement I could only see the welcoming puddles ahead of me, the cheerful birds chipping and sipping as they pass.
Lifting my eyes high up my head, perhaps I could even catch a view of the pretty butterfly hovering above my leaf, flapping its tiny little wings, on its way to find its hopeful, awaiting partner.
When I'm hungry I'll have plenty of fresh plants around me for perusal, but in actual fact, I am happy with any kind of plant.
And when I'm lucky, I would perhaps even spot a worm crawling out from a hole in the soil.

I would love my freedom, my adventure in my tiny little world. There would not be a tinge of worry in my world.
The drooping leaves will shield me from the scorching sun, the soil will give me a comfort as my bed.
And when I'm in the middle of the pathway, amidst the fast-pacing humans above me, praying for an escape from their stomping footsteps, perhaps, a soul so kind, will pick me up and put me safely back onto the soil-beds, saving me from being crushed. And that person shall be my angel.

And perhaps, just the tiniest bit of perhaps, I might give up my comfortable life as a snail and become a human again for that angel.

Saturday, 29 March 2008

Strings Concert
Did I ever mention that I love to go to musical concerts? No? Okay, never mind, now I shall say it. Yes-- I love them! They are awesome, spectacular, way beyond any expressible words. It made me wonder: how come I never attended any of them before??
So, for the first time in my life, or at least for as long as I can remember, I attended a muscial concert held at NUS. I brought my Young Women along as well as my other YW leader. It was a strings concert. So basically there was, the violin, the viola, which is slightly larger than the violin, but not by much, the cello, and the double bass, which is by far, the largest instrument I have ever beheld! And the person who was playing it that evening, was a medium-sized girl. She carried her instrument out onto the stage on her own, and I was thinking, how heavy does that thing weigh? It must be pretty hollow and light, ain't it? Either that, or else she just must be a very strong woman!
Well, judging that this is the first professional musical concert that I've been to, it is really up to standards. There was this 1 girl soloist who really stood out, as well as another guy soloist. This girl soloist really caught me off guard when she first started off, as I wasn't expecting the initial big breath that she took and the sharp swing of the head before she poured out her whole soul through her piece. She almost gave me a fright at first, but I realise that, that is what makes her so professional. Not everyone can play a piece with so much emotions and movements. I think it is pretty tiring, no? Every single stroke of her violin she made, she expressed it through her whole body movements. And can you believe she memorized that whole piece? That piece lasted for about 15 minutes, and it wasn't even the only piece she memorized. Just speechless.
And when the last guy came on, the one who was extremely tremendous, he practically made my jaw drop, I think rather, my jaw must have just hung there. He was FAST FAST FAST!! My goodness, I never seen the violin stick, I don't know what it's called sorry, I never seen it move that fast, I can barely see the stick anymore. Serious! You know, it's really different when you're just listening to a music piece on the radio, compared to when you're actually watching them play it. You can never fathom how fast the violinists are really moving, your eyes can't leave them a moment because they got you too captivated.
Well all in all... It was great! I want to go for another one soon! I have to attend a piano concert one day! How can I possibly leave out the piano? And while I'm on the topic of performances, might as well throw in a couple more too, a Ballet performance? Throw in the waltz too! Better yet if they're on ice yea?

Tuesday, 18 March 2008

Sleepy sleepy girl
I'm so sleepy. I lack sleep! I think an upside-down life's not going to help me out here. Ok new target, sleep by latest 12 midnight every night!!
Yea right. Did I think I can do it? I'm always saying that but I never manage to do that. So, no point saying.
I'm counting down to end of exams... I can't wait till then! But well, still seems like a long way. In the meantime, I'm just going to continue my boring life studying!

Thursday, 13 March 2008

Hello Muggles!
I have just finished reading Harry Potter part 7!!! Whoopie! Finally I am done with it! Finally I know the ending! Finally! It took me so long I am almost ashamed to be hurraying about it now. But, it doesn't matter! I'm just too happy that I've finished it! I have sacrificed countless nights of beauty sleep in attempt to finish the book. I would have felt guilty for myself if the whole story hadn't been that awesome! Of course, it lived up to expectations. :)
What I'm really happy about some things after finishing the book:
1) I like the fact that until the end, Harry did not use the killing curse to kill Voldemort. Instead, he shouted 'Expelliarmus!' and got the wand. He didn't have to use the killing curse! It's an evil curse and I'm glad Harry didn't have to use it.
2) I'm glad Snape wasn't all that bad after all! Alright! I guessed it right! I knew that wasn't all to him, there had to be something more! In fact, he was not bad at all. Remarkable. It isn't easy to be a spy, it is way dangerous and he must have been under mounts of pressure when dealing with Voldemort. He didn't want to give himself away, but yet at the same time, he wanted to help the others. He tried to save Lupin up in the air, but missed and hurt George instead. It was sad Snape had to die eventually. I liked how Snape helped them with his Patronus, the silver doe. Also, the fact that Snape's Patronus was the same as Lily Evan's was sweet. You can tell he is a sentimental man in ways. It was a shame Harry never had a chance to know his true colours before his death.
3) I'm glad Percy Weasley came back. He was not a true traitor after all. :) When Fred died, and Percy didn't want to let go of Fred's body, it really touched me. No true family member can really betray his family and disown them, unless they're heartless. And Percy's not one of them. I also liked how Harry without speaking, made to lift Fred's body and bring it to a safer place because of how Percy wouldn't let go. He is really considerate of others' feelings.
4) I liked how Kreacher the house-elf started treating Harry and his friends so well in the Blacks' residence later on. House-elves are loyal to their masters! It was kind of sweet.
5) I admire Harry's character a lot. He is so cool. I really liked how he acted when they secretly entered the Ministry of Magic, how he shot the toad Umbridge with a curse, 'Stupefy!' when she lied so blatantly about stealing the locket. He was so full of leadership quality right at this crucial moment when they had to escape the Ministry, it was cool. And the way he so was swift in producing his Patronus to get rid of the Dementors, shouting my favourite spell of all, 'Expecto Patronum!'-- Way, way cool.
6) Harry saved Draco Malfoy. Whoah. You can see from here how forgiving Harry is to others, he does not hold grudges, and he saves people as long as he can. Of course, except those who sought to kill him. Even so, Harry did not once aimed to kill. He's got a big heart, and is totally selfless. Draco Malfoy is on the Dark Lord's side! And had tried to kill Dumbledore. Even though we all knew that he could never have done that. Draco is not altogether evil, I could tell. Otherwise he would not be so disturbed and anxious when carrying the orders of the Dark Lord's. Also, in the room where you can hide stuffs, Draco saved his friend Goyle even though Goyle was already unconscious. He's not that bad after all.
7) Luna Lovegood? She is good. I like her! She is one who is loyal without having to say anything, you can just see it through her actions. She is always encouraging Harry. When no one believes Harry, you can count on Luna. There was a part near the end when she helped to distract the crowd so Harry could get a moment of silence, you can see how Luna really understands Harry without having been told.
8) I loved how everyone from Hogwarts came to help in the end. IT WAS SO COOL!
9) Ron and Hermione!! Kissed! I love it! You can tell how Hermione really values symphathy and emphathy for others, because that was how her true feelings showed, making her rush over to kiss Ron, right on the lips. ^_^
Ok that's it for now. Shall continue more discussions up next! This is not the end! :) I like the book! For those who didn't read Harry Potter, I'm sorry, you probably wouldn't have understood a word I've said. So, what are you still waiting for? Go and read it now! 100 points! You won't regret it! ;)
Goodbye prelims! Hello finals!
Finally over with my prelims! It was really just something that passes by whereby you can choose whether or not to be bothered by it, considering how our finals are not affected by it. Lots of people in my school wouldn't even go for the prelim paper I suppose, since it didn't really matter. But yet, I find myself surprised to see so many people coming for the papers, to see the exam hall so filled to the brim with students. Guess people are working hard! I have 4 papers and I guess both of them went pretty alright, but the other two.. was quite a laugh.
Accounting, I have no comments, since I didn't prepare enough in time for it. However, even if I had, I seriously cannot see myself producing all those answers that were required. The questions seemed way too profound for someone who has little fate with numbers like me. Ugh. It's crazy.
Managerial Economics, rather, was interesting. As the paper, made me really wonder: Is that it?? But not in the way that it was too easy, rather, in that how short the questions were, and yet they were given such heavy weightage of points! I was so sceptical and worried that there might be a trap somewhere, leading us to think that all they wanted was a short answer, but in actual fact, ripping us of all our points. It was such a short paper that people were seen leaving the moment an hour was over. (You can't leave the hall within the first hour.) Well, I'll get to see how well the trap was set soon!
So next up, or rather right now, is all studying time! All that's left to do, really, is to study. I have a month and 3 weeks left, better buck up! And after everything is over, I will have a great present awaiting me-- A trip to the States! To visit my good old sis! The United States! Blimey!

Monday, 25 February 2008

It's what I learnt.
Life is so fragile.
Do you know that?
All of the things that you thought comes to you easily everyday, treasure it. 'Cos it doesn't come that easily to everyone.
Cherish your life. It's precious.
Don't let it be too late before you know it, love every day you live.
If I am lost for a day; try to find me
But if I don't come back, then I won't look behind me
All of the things that I thought were so easy
Just got harder and harder each day
December is darkest and June is the light but this empty bedroom won't make anything right
While out on the landing a friend I forgot to send home
Who waits up for me all through the night

Calendar girl who's in love with the world Stay alive
Calendar Girl who's in love with the world Stay alive

I dreamed I was dying; as I so often do
And when I awoke I was sure it was true
I ran to the window; threw my head to the sky
And said whoever is up there,please don't let me die
But I can't live forever,I can't always be
One day I'll be sand on a beach by a sea
The pages keep turning, I'll mark off each day with a cross
And I'll laugh about all that we've lost

Calendar Girl who is lost to the world
Stay Alive
Calendar Girl who is lost to the world Stay Alive

January, February, March, April, May I'm alive
June, July, August, September,October I'm alive
November, December, you all through the winter, I'm alive
I'm alive