recalcitrance

wad a way to jeopardize the university's credentials on the week of the release of the A level results.
that NTU student who stabbed his prof sure stirred up some fears everywhere.
this happening in Singapore is just as shocking as the massacre at Columbine High.

nothing big happened recently.
less the double birthday celebration we had @ No Signboard Seafood for wy and yw.
haha. even their initials are almost the same.
the food was good, it was also pricey. haha.
but nonetheless, it was a good reward for the completion of the second month of the year.

and that brings me to another topic.
one-sixth of this year is gone! LOL.

just like that.
time indeed does fly.

March is gonna be an incredibly dry month.
no birthdays, no public holidays.
but the most exciting of reality tv programmes should come in this month.
=D
but i am quite determined to work every single day this month.
=P

see if that happens! LOL. =P

just spent 7 days in haikou, china.

it was quite an AMAZING experience.
lol.
totally amazing race.

flew off early in the morning and landed in haikou after a 3 hour flight.
talking about the flight.
the landing was the most horrible landing that i've ever experienced.
i thought my brain was exploding. haha.

after the 2 hour drive and all to the village.
saw bulls, rice padi fields etc.
it was a bumpy ride, like those in india on TV. lol.


after a four day stay in the village,
filled with chickens, ducks, firecrackers, fireworks, children, mahjong.

lol.
the kids there all possess a PhD in Mahjong.
totally li hai.
haha. i lost about 7 yuan overall, which wasn't even 2 sing bucks.
so its not that bad.
haha...

fireworks were amazing.
on the 13th day of CNY, all the different houses start to shoot fireworks in the sky.

and omg it was quite amazing.
haha. with stuff exploding above my head.
took some videos and pictures (all should be at facebook soon).

thats why it wasn't all that bad.
haha. but china tv kinda rocks.
so many channels.
and they were still going on and on about their olympics triumph.
not that they have no reason to.
haha.
every night they will air some sports and interview people in that sport.
a sneak peek into their training and personal life.

until one day i saw a special about zhang yining and i saw the ZYN and Li Jiawei match.
totally.
haha...

the people in the village were really nice to us.
perhaps because we were visitors.
the weather was great.
no mozzies and all.
nothing much to complain about.
the food was great too.
though it was almost the same everyday.

after day 4, we left the village for haikou city.
haha...
stayed at the hotel and all.
haha.

shopped around for 2 days. and bought nothing.
lol.
except dvds.
oooh perfect. LOL.
cheap dvds =)

the food was unbelievably cheap though.
in the village, we drive out for breakfast.
6 people eats, one bowl of unbelievably nice porridge, some you tiao.
it cost us 24 bucks.
CNY.
which means. omg less den 6 bucks.

totally cheap.

when we went out to the city, the food was damn cheap too.
one meal typically cost us 200 yuan, which was abt 40 bucks.
for 6 people. thats cheap.
haha.

had a dinner with 11 dishes?
lol. great great food. =)

shopping is totally dotz.
nothing to buy. but plenty of good street food.

we had oysters! bbq-ed with garlic on top and all.
18 for 2 sing bucks.
its totally-dotz-mamaneem-dunno-how-they-make-a-living CHEAP.
haha.

slept a good 13 hours last night. holy shit. didn't even eat dinner.

haha.
i want more family trips.
because i don't need to keep tabs about how much money to spend etc. =D
haha...

work starts again next monday.
totally dotz.
i love to slack. =(
haha...


its survivor premiere day.
i can't wait!
and american idol this season is damn funny because of this girl.

Tatiana Nicole Del Toro


totally dotz bitch.
haha.

watch this video and see how dotz she is.
haha.

2008 was the year of many many fond memories and happenings.
5 things/events that i remember most fondly (or hated with much bated breath) are:

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1. WRITERS' STRIKE
For those of you who don't know what the writers' strike is. The writers to all major american sitcoms or dramas went on a strike, protesting for 14 weeks and 2 days. holy shit. that meant that all dramas and sticoms like my favourite shows were all suspended. BECAUSE THERE'S NO ONE TO WRITE THE SCRIPT. wth. definitely something i hated the most in this year. fortunately, reality tv shows went on as they are unscripted. maybe thats the reason I didn't die of boredom. but otherwise, this year's television was really great. almost everything I watched produced good stuff for viewers. i love foreign tv. but well some said little nonya is damn nice also. so perhaps can give mediacorp some kudos for producing something that generated all these hype. haha.

2. MARIS STELLA SYMPHONIC BAND ALUMNI
Well, looks like we made it another year in this organisation. I honestly wonder how much longer we can all stay in the band and make music. when Uni starts, when schedules get tighter, it seems that if we do want to stay in this band, we'll have to either sacrifice something or manage our time really really well. but hey, i believe this band is just another wonderful platform for us to meet, chat and what not, and we should totally make use of that. very glad that kel and bernard decided to come back again following a N year hiatus. fueled by the win in SIBF, let's see if we can make a miracle in 2009 to get enough sponsorships to make people wanna go for WMC. ha!

3. TABLE TENNIS
Following the nation's sudden passion for the sport, the gang started learning the sport a few months back under jinyan's persuasion and we never looked back. It was like learning a new sport altogether, just like how we learnt badminton. Table tennis (or TT) is now just another part of our lives.

4. ORD
i wouldn't say i remember a thing about how i felt before i ORD or when i got my IC. it seems just like another ritual that every guy goes thru and I'm glad i finally completed these 2 years. to think that i was quite sad after coming back from the hongkong trip with the gang because i am due to enlist 3 days later, thinking how time is passing by DAMN slowly and totally thinking that the ORD date would never come. it came though, slowly and steadily. but it still came.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

i guess its just these 4 things that are etched quite deeply in my mind.
with that, i happily round 2008 off by setting 9 new year resolutions for 2009.
some are relatively easier to achieve and some (like no. 1) sounds damn difficult.

1. SAVE UP!
2. do well in school when it starts.
3. pack my room more frequently. haha =P
4. exercise more to prevent myself from expanding any further!
5. learn to appreciate the many good things in life.
6. be safe and healthy.
7. buy only cheap and good things (contridicting no.1 but buying stuff seems rather essential.)
8. spend more time with my family and also my friends.
9. last but not least, enjoy life.

this year was great, until lehmen brothers collapsed.
after which the new year's outlook is what is described as GRIM.
totally harry-potter-like. LOL.

therefore i'm extremely glad that we're entering uni next year.
by the time we graduated, hopefully the market would have picked up a little.

for all within my social circles,
the marist gang,
the vjc people,
my family,
thanks for a great year and i wish you another great year ahead.




2009 is what i call a highly anticipated year.
i can't wait.

last friday was my ORD! haha.
and for many many other people, it was their ORD too.

I'd say it ain't as exciting as I thought it would be all along the two years.
but I'm glad I finally finished repaying what guys owe the nation - 2 yrs of their lives.

had breakfast with the whole bunch of NSF clerks at some ulu shop in sembawang.
but their pork rib noodles are really really good.
the surroundings are quite picturesque.
a good place for breakfast.

den exchanged my clearance form for my IC and stuff.
before I left the office one last time at 12 noon.

after which, the BMT people met up at had a dinner at the Glass House.
it was kinda good to see everyone again.
ok maybe not everyone, but 17 people attended the gathering.
quite a number I'd say, up from 11 (iirc) last time at seoul garden.

took quite some pictures (they are all at facebook).
haha. loved how sunshine conquered the fish n co seafood platter for 2.

apparently, he already conquered the manhattan one.
someone should give him a prize. haha...
=P

rested really well for the weekend.
before I started work at NUS Business School Career Services.

it's a cool place i guess.
with loads of nice people.

i'm still superbly not used to the fact that we get to call "regulars" at work by their names now.
after how we call almost everyone in office "sir" and "mdm".

haha. the job scope is pretty much hectic at the start.
to clear rooms and stuff.
but its almost finished and maybe less of such labour-intensive jobs next time.

back to my favourite hobby.
Survivor and TAR both ended with their finale episodes the past two weeks.
for survivor, I must say it was a rather deceptive season (which i like).
and for TAR, I just hate the ending.

actually Surivor's winner sucked too.

looking back.
both seasons had sucky winners to me.
but its ok! a two month wait and Survivor: Tocantins and TAR 14 will be out!
i seriously cannot wait for both series.
meanwhile i guess i'll just be stuck with Grey's Anatomy and House M.D.


=)

thinking back. it sort of seemed like 2 years was quite short.

but hell no. two years was damn long.
the two years are gonna come to an end this friday (this sunday specifically).
haha. the feeling of cheating them of two days is such a thrill.
but they cheated me of two years so it seems so unfair.
but who cares, i'm gonna go back to my civilian status in 4 days.

holy shit an shaung.
haha... though countless people have screamed "ORD LO!" in my face for the past one month.

haha. it seem like time indeed does fly and thanks to the need to defend my country, 10% of my youth is given away as a free gift.

argh.

bought myself a new laptop.
finally.
after that fugly but faithful fujitsu died after it turned 3.5 yrs old.
haha.
pretty happy with the new one. =)

and as always.
dec's the end of the reality tv season.
with the amazing race season finale in about 8 hrs time.
it only serves to make me look forward to two things.

1. the amazing race 14 premiere on the 13 feb 2009.
2. maybe attempt to apply for the amazing race asia when i am of age.


haha.
although i bet i will lose.
but it looks quite fun.
haha.

everything is gonna come to an end soon.

and i'm glad for some it finally did.

Haha.
Before I ever comment on the three letters above in my title, got something to share.
My four yr old fujitsu laptop breathed its last and didn't respond to any resuscitation efforts which included a trip down to the service centre or CPR. Lol...

So now I am officially quite handicapped and bored at home.
I'm using the desktop till my bro come back everyday. Den going to my phone, like now.

Haha.... Wi-fi's my best friend without a laptop.
Beside what laptop to get now. It seems that there are a lot of choices.
Ha... will be a difficult choice. (and obviously an costly one)




Now to the issue of my title.
CONGRATS to all ORD personnel!!!
Haha.... All of u got ur coveted civilian status.
Which I will get in about 30 days.
Sounds short. But it ain't short.
But soon I'll join the ranks as MISTER.
Haha....


Can't wait!



Oh... And amazing race's so going into the final stretch with five teams left.
Gonna be real exciting and I won't be able to wait for the finale, which should air when I am liberated from military obligations.
Survivor gabon too! Haha.... I always love bitches on survivor who changes the game suddenly.

hurray! I just love TV.

=P

i was never that happy when the end of the year was coming.
for the past few years (except last year).
the end of the year just meant prelims, o levels, promos and a levels.

wth is so nice abt the end of the year.
last year, the end of the year was quite a happy one.
after my knee operation and all.

this year's end of year is probably gonna be the best I've ever had.
the most liberating one.
the most assuring one, i hope.

the month of october.
two more months for some.
one more month for some.

but in the end, all of us ORD! =)
hahaha.
can't wait.
i really can't wait.

*just a random note. table tennis is real fun! =P*

speaking of ORD.
a PTE did enlist.
but will never officially ORD.
i hate the human body for this.
i hate it when people die prematurely.
i hate it when people aren't given a chance to live their life.
but i must say i love the lesson this hatred teaches.

to value life and live it.


I'm so glad Survivor and The Amazing Race are back.
new survivor already gave me some surprises.
the amazing race was never so competitive.

also, dramas like grey's anatomy and ugly betty are back.

i just love TV.

august is over.
ok well. almost over.
and here comes september.
freaking dry month.
no holidays.
no stand downs.
no medical appointments.
omg.


3 more freaking months!


ah. the countdown's finally starting to make sense.
from "1 year more!" to "9 months more!" to "6 more months!".

to finally. "3 more months!"
ok. those people who ORD in november is 2 months la.
but by the time u ORD, i won't even care abt the final one month.

lol.

to make it even better.
the fall schedules of many american TV stations are really giving away visual treats.

first of all, the 5-time emmy winner of outstanding reality tv programme,
THE AMAZING RACE is back with its season number 13.
really great casting.
back on sept 28 in USA, and hopefully channel 5 decides to broadcast it. =)
since it almost guarantees ratings.
haha...

and secondly!! the 5-time emmy nominee of outstanding reality tv programme,
SURVIVOR is back with its season number 17.
haha. real long series. but outstanding in each and every way.
back on sept 25 in USA, and similarly USA better telecast it.
lol.

thirdly,
PROJECT RUNWAY is already showing its newest season 5.
already 7 episodes in. and channel 5 is only telecasting SEASON 4.
one freaking season behing USA.
why even telecast when it's not the latest version.
its just like telecasting the opening ceremonies of the olympics with a delay of 4 years.
who will care to watch it.

fourthly,
AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL, or better known as ANTM is back with season 11.
on the CW network on sept 3.
it features the first transgendered contestant on any reality show.
should be worth a good watch.
=)

so much good tv coming in September.
looks like it won't be as boring after all.

WHOOPIE!~