Time I Got & Time I Need

I was a lot more occupied this weekend than I expected or than I would have liked. Not that it was a chore but I did think that I would have has some breathing space this weekend,perhaps even time to study for the exams.

But I was caught up in doing my minuscule bit,together with the rest,for the proposal,soundtrack selection and scripting of the Teachers' Day skit.Things are not moving as quickly as we would have liked.

As for school,the Macro project,though simple in task,is proving to be a very tricky customer. The collection and dissemination of information is an arduous task.

I had initially planned to go to the airport to study tomorrow,after the project but I remembered that there was a MIC meeting at Bishan at 4.So the study plans are scuppered.

It's not just the exams.The Comm Skills is a coursework module,no exams but there will be a summative (summary-like) test of whatever we learnt.I've yet to study.It is 30% of the marks. Bloody significant,that.

Mock tests and presentations.Urgh.I already mentioned this before.

The obvious way to lighten the load would be to disassociate from MIC for the time being,others might say but quite honestly,as consuming it is,it's the only saving grace from the daily pressures of academics.

Just did the T-Day's script's scene 3 today.Managed to get a haircut too.Bout damn time too.Even managed to get a lil slack time in with friends.

I have only one lecture tomorrow but because of all the other things,it will be long and tiring day.Already been forewarned that tomorrow's T-Day meeting will be a long one.Much needs to be done before we call the cast in for the first day of rehearsals on Wednesday.

To say that I am stretched for time would be an understatement but I think it would be a fair reflection to say that the fault lies with me cos I have poor time management.

Gladiator is playing on cable now and even though I've watched it numerous times,I've just realised how powerful the soundtrack of the movie is.I say powerful and not cool cos the music isn't the normal kind.It's all instrumental and opera-ish.Not mainstream.It really affects the movie.I went online to just check out some stuff and found that others did say the soundtrack was great as well.Especially during the important scenes.

Oh btw,I am a fan of these period 'war-like' movies.Kingdom Of Heaven,Troy,300,etc.

Ahhh,I think I'm affected with too much melodrama this weekend especially after watching Al Pacino receive his Life Achievement Award.His work was showcased and a lot of people played tribute.

I have to say that he is indeed an intense actor.

He was brilliant in the Godfather trilogy,one of my faves.Scarface is a must-see(which I STILL haven't had the chance to see).If you wanna see more of his contemporary films, more current films, watch Any Given Sunday,The Recruit and The Devil's Advocate.

For me,I wanna watch his older shows.As I mentioned,Scarface but also Dog Day Afternoon & Serpico.

I realise that not many readers would be interested to know about what I just ranted on about Al Pacino and his movies and even be bored by it.But it's for the film buffs and film buff-wannabes like me.

I wanna watch The Simpsons this week please.C'mon gang! Let's catch up on the T-Day work and go together.

That's it.I'm done.

Let tomorrow come and let the work come.

It's gonna be like this for a while.

I'll end with a quote from Gladiator.

'Vis et honos'.

'Strength and honor'.

Can I Go Out To Play?

Everything's starting to wrap up now.

For my Comm Skills module,it's be a mock test & presentation next week then the real test and presentation the week after. I'll my pre-moderation marks.

I got back my report grade. My group got a B+. I'm happy to take that.

Tomorrow's also my Organisational Behaviour presentation.After that,I'll be free to study for the exams.

God,how exactly is studying being free? Couldn't believe what I just typed.I just had to type out that thought.

Did my Accounting class test.Kind didn't get to do as well as I'd hoped.Probably will get a low passing mark.

Really worried about my Macroecons project.We have all the information but we will only get down to sorting it out tomorrow.I haven't exactly completed my article analysis for the project either though I already did the analysis,I have no idea what to do for the recommendations...

I'll have to get down to it sooner rather than later.

On top of all that,I'm supposed to work on the Teachers' Day script that was drafted.I won't be alone but I would like to give my input,especially on the script.One of my 'strengths' maybe and one area that I could help Mic Studio with.

Damn,this whole post is about work and not play.Though it must be noted that Mic can get pretty fun sometimes.It's like fun work.Cos you enjoy it...geddit?

I'm not abandoning all responsibility but more like a couple of days straight doing nothing productive and just chillin'.Sounds all right don't it?

I still think I don't get enough 'play'.However,anything of the sort would be have to put back for 4 weeks or so,till I get the exams out of the way.

Still,I wouldn't be averse to the occasional day out.

Rather Meek

Been doing my project the whole day and copying borrowed notes.

I don't expect much of a social life over the next few weeks.In fact,I don't expect much of a life at all.

Come to think of it,I haven't exactly been painting the town red during my time in TP so far.

My point is,the exams are coming.I also just realised that study week begins on the 2oth so my last day of school is on July 17.4 weeks away,I think.

I did mention that I should get started on revisions soon.But I think I'm gonna wing it alone so that distractions would be minimized.

Accounting test at the horrible time of 1915. Ready for it? Not really.

Due to some payments previously not anticipated,I'm sorta broke and waiting for the 28th to come.It's only next Saturday and I probably will survive.And I had actually planned this month's finances.

I need a new pair of jeans.

Also,the money will come in time for me to go and catch The Simpsons on the big screen.

High School Musical 2 is coming up and I hope it's gonna be as good as the first.Don't think they're gonna show it in cinemas here but there are ways to watch it.They're also in talks for a 3rd one so apparently,Disney's really rolling with this one.

I've been craving Popeye's for a while.They only have one outlet,at the airport.I know they don't taste as good as KFC but I just want a different taste of fried chicken.Might go there for dinner soon.Perhaps fit it in with a overnight study session.

Should start snooping around for a part time job,given the lag times that exist between looking, applying and getting a job.

Mic Studio's CCA event will be over by the first week of the break so it should be all right.Things shouldn't be so intense as the other group takes over for another event. PACESetters workshops are the only thing left taking up my time.

I do apologise if I seem to be going on and on about the same old thing.Nothing new ever seems to happen.

It's boring as hell.But I ain't got much else going.All I got are movies and favourite returning TV series to keep me company.

That's all I got.

Could Be Better

Nothing much happened in the week so I thought I'd let it pass before making a post.

Caught Harry Potter.A worthy watch.

Life's been good. It's been good cos I've been strong in the face of uncertainty at times and not let it bother me.I think too well of myself to crumble under this pressure I've come to face.It's crazy sometimes but I would be disappointed with myself if I succumbed to it.

I've come to realise that all the trials and tribulations seem to come in a package,like,it was fated to be that way.I was supposed to face all the troubles all at once.A test from the divine perhaps.

I've no trouble dealing with this cos I know I'm way better than that.That's why despite this test,I can say that I'm still all right.

What I'm afraid of is that all this will expose the old me,the one that was afraid.The one that didn't dare because he was afraid of failure.I see glimpses of that sometimes,let's hope he won't make a full return.

Moving on...

Just thought I'd mention that the last time I checked,Hayden Panettiere (the one that plays the 'indestructible' cheerleader in 'Heroes') is going out with Stephen Colletti of 'Laguna Beach' fame. I think that's pretty cool cos in the past,Stephen really liked this other girl,Kristin,but she played with his feelings and he got fed up with her and moved on.

Btw,for those who don't know,Laguna Beach was a reality show,so even if it reality shows are somewhat scripted,I think Stephen really did like that girl.

So I think it's great for him that he's getting rewarded by hooking up with Hayden,one of Hollywood's rising breakout stars.Her last name,Panettiere,I read somewhere,translates to 'baker' in Italian.They're both of Italian descent.

Heck,this is Hollywood I'm talking about.Who knows how long they will last? I hope they do,for a while at least.

I just realised how markedly different the content is so far in this post.One is so introspective and deep,talking about my feelings while the others is unabashedly shallow,talking about Tinseltown celebs.

Been back to Bishan over the week to deal with the upcoming Teachers' Day skit.Sometimes,I feel like I can contribute more but I don't.I really should be contributing more.Hopefully I can.
The new kids seem to have the enthusiasm.Though this and committment can be seperate sometimes.

Today I went back to TP for the 1st PACESetters meeting.I felt overwhelmed but also excited somehow.I think I felt overwhelmed cos my self-doubt was creeping in again as mentioned earlier in the post.The excitement came from the fact that I knew I could do a lot if I wasn't afraid.

But I was a bit of a mess.It was a throwback to the days where I was socially inept.Not good enough.I don't know why I was so nervous for.Maybe it's cos I never ever felt truly at home in TP,so I'm cautious and hence,I'm a bundle of nerves and my speech and thinking become rushed and all that.

I really shouldn't be affected.Not with exposure to crowds that I had.But yet I am affected.

That's completely out of order for me,acting like a stupid tosser in front of new people.

I don't know about the whole cohort of the new intake yet but the people I met in the CCA so far and the people in my group seem like really friendly and accomadating people.I hope that I don't disappoint them,disappoint myself and not let them see what I can really do,just cos I'm 'nervous'.

Telly Flicks & Hard Volleys

I really should have posted a new one over the weekend but I didn't,so there...

I wanna go to the Singapore Music Festival or SINGFest (2nd day) but the ticket prices are murder.Gym Class Heroes and Avenged Sevenfold are coming.Guess I'll be giving them a miss.

Caught 'The Blossoming of Maximos Oliveros' on Thursday with a few old friends. It was a Filipino flick.Not exactly run-of-the-mill stuff but it was cool to catch an arthouse flick for once.The Cathay Picturehouse was a cool and cozy place but I didn't agree with its no-food policy.Not when I was in desperate need of food.

On Saturday I just about starved myself for the whole day in anticipation of my dad's dinner treat at Pizza Hut.Others may wonder what the big deal was.Yes, while I wouldn't say that I'm destitute,Pizza Hut isn't a routine thing for me.

Come to think of it,my family could probably afford it once a month with no problem, which is quite all right,actually.

It was just nice to meet up with dad and the rest of that side of the family cos we don't meet up that often.

Sunday was a kickabout at the soccer court.I think it's nice to have one,once weekly or twice a month.It was real fun.Even if I did get my face done in thanks to a skewed shot from a mate. Soccer ball to the face...ouch!

I had stars in my eyes for quite a while.

It's happened to me a few times before and I thought this one was just more of the same but I was told that I was slightly bleeding.Apparently the ball had pressed my glasses in which in turn cut into the skin of my nose.That was new...never really happened before.

It hurt for sure (considering it was hit by one of the strongest and best shooters amongst my mates) but it's part and parcel of football.We both understood and I told him so when he apologised.No biggie.

Today,I went down to Bishan and we really got into the nitty-gritty of planning for the Teachers' Day event.Scheduling and all that stuff.It was pretty draining but satisfying.It's not the CCA's fault, it was perhaps due to all the project deadlines that I'm facing in the polytechnic.

Oh yeah,this Saturday I have to go back down to school for the 1st Pacesetters meeting + training session. There goes my Saturday morning sleep-in.It starts at 10 and ends tentatively at 1.

Just 5 more weeks...I guess the countdown has started in my brain.Why do I have the feeling that these 5 weeks will pass by oh-so-slowly...

To end it off,the 3rd season of Entourage will be coming back on HBO on 30th July. Woohoo! I like this show...

It's a show that follows the journey of Vincent Chase (Adrian Grenier) and his 3 best friends as they navigate through Hollywood and the trappings of fame.Loads of real celebrity cameos, like Mandy Moore, who played the lead's girlfriend.

Jeremy Piven is brilliant,acting as the unscrupulous agent of the lead character.He even won an Emmy for his role.The chemisty between the friends is fun to watch as well.

"Lets hug it out, bitch" - Ari Gold (Jeremy Piven)

The very memorable quote that became very popular.

Get It Over & Done With

The exam period starts on Friday,24th August.That's approximately about 6 weeks.I figure I'd better get ready or at the very least start considering preparing.The way I've been going, I think I need the early start.

Maybe I should think about putting in an all-nighter at the airport.Like I did once.

With the backlog of project deadlines and mock tests and actual tests,I will be very busy, whether I like it or not. And I don't.

It does please me to think that the semester will be over in just a while.6 weeks sounds like a long time but if I didn't think much of it when I wasn't busy, it's gonna move pretty quickly now, especially when deadlines are involved.

Speaking of which,the Macro project is due at the end of this month and I've barely started.

I didn't feel it go past me and I'm glad I was oblivious to it.It's better than knowing the days are moving slower than a snail on crutches.

Holidays start on the 7th but it could be even earlier if my exams finish before then.And they should.So that should give me at least 7 sweet weeks of holidays.

Look at me,talking about laying back when the hard part's just about to start.

But when it does start,I'll know .The strain that I'd feel won't be shy to introduce itself to me.

Being Chris Columbus...

Right,so much for Monday.

Today ended without getting really started.I shall expound further...

I was gonna go get lunch today.I bought take away,specifically asking for no sauce but when I got home they had put in extra sauce.That irked me so much I didn't eat what I bought.I decided to skip lunch and just head out.

I only had a Macro lecture today at 12.As I was getting ready to leave,I got a message from my friend saying that she wouldn't be coming for today's lecture.Thing is,she borrowed my book to copy notes as she didn't attend last week's lecture.So there would be no point for me to go.Sure,I could sit there and listen but I wasn't gonna look dumb without my lecture notes.I could have faked it but still,I would know.

I still had a project to do after the lecture I so I to go to school anyway.

Before school,I made a side trip to the mall to go get a new pair of earphones, an accessory for my phone.I was prepared to pay $20 but I was dismayed to find that I would have to eke out $38 instead.

I did get it and I made my way to school.I had to change buses.While waiting for the 2nd bus,the one that would get me to school,I got another message from a group member saying that they wouldn't be doing the project today cos everybody kind of had to go off early anyway.

Any other day I would have been fine and I actually still was but I just thought it was incredulous that my day fizzled out before it actually began.A wry smile did escape me.

But before that,I do wonder if anyone's ever felt the feeling of 'liberation'?

That you've been under so long,so caught up with a thought that you almost wrapped your life around it.

But then,you break free.Your life is no longer dominated by the chase of the idea that you had.

Suddenly,you surface and see so many possibilities that you didn't notice previously cos you were so focused on chasing the idea.

Yeah,sure,it gets real uncertain at times but that's expected.Just let it pass and try again the next day.

That's what I've been feeling.I'm not sure where I'm headed in this 'matter' but I do have to say,the fact that I have options is...well,almost exciting.

Rather vague I know but I'll leave it to you to hazard a guess or two what the 2nd part of this post is about.

Cloudy Skies Ahead

This post will constructed a little more lucidly than the last.

A couple of things happened.

I did get into the PACESetters after all.

Yeah,big whoop.

Forgive the lack of enthusiasm but while I honestly do appreciate the fact that I managed to get through,I'm just not a great place in my life to really celebrate.I just ain't feeling it. Anyways, there's still the probation period to go through.

I got my Macro paper back. 77/100. As expected.I did say I expected losing 12-15 marks.

Doesn't matter.It's still a B+.

I got wind from the paper that the Heroes cast is coming down to Singapore. It's listed there at NBC's web portal as well.30 or 31st August.It's the exam week for but I hope that they'll be done by then.

And I hope Hayden is part of the contingent that comes to Singapore.I don't think that there will be a meet-the-fans sessions but I wish there was though. I know there are Milo Ventimiglia and Masi 'Super-Hiro' Oka fans among my friends too.

There are just about 7 weeks to go till the exams.I just want the 1st semester over with.Simply cos it's the first.

It's all about the GPA, people.As simple as that.Put it this way,I'm not exactly looking for love in the Big Apple.

I went down to HMV over the weekend but it was quite a bummer that they didn't have the albums that I wanted in stock.Not sure they had them in stock in the first place.

Feeling a bit better.What I mean is that I'm feeling a bit more chipper now the sinking feeling that I had last Thursday.All it takes is positive thinking and putting things into perspective.It doesn't make my life all better but it does give me renewed impetus to get up and try again.

I was racking my brain,trying to think of something,anything in the week that could be a certainty that I could look forward to but damnit,I got nothing.

It looks like another week of mind-numbing routines.

Such a gloomy forecast.

Sigh.

Along Came No One

I should really be finishing up my tutorial but what the heck.

I could have posted an entry earlier in the week but I really didn't feel like it. It's been a tumultuous time for me. It isn't tortuous but it has been confusing.

I'm just sick and tired of 'wingin it'.In other words,I'm tired of just going on faith day-to-day that things are going to turn out fine and carry on as if nothing is wrong.

Nothing is really SERIOUSLY wrong but all of life's little daily irritants add up to really irk me and for once I guess I'm saying I need a breather.I'm tired of bottling it all up.

I'm not gonna explode and start talking trash about others cos I don't have a problem with other people.It's personal.It's about me.There isn't a specific problem though.

Like I said,I just really need a boost.A recharge.

I'm a little low on faith right now.

It's been the only thing keeping me going for quite some time. I have to cos I've not been lucky enough to have anything else going for me right now.

It's not an issue of self-esteem. I'm just a lil exhausted to be the only one telling myself that I'm doing fine and things will work out in the end.

I like helping my friends with their problems cos it gives me a good feeling to know that I've tried to be of help or a place for them to vent,even if the problem isn't exactly solved after.I also treasure the times some people have listened to my problems.

I psycho-analyzed myself and came to the conclusion that I'm not doing that now perhaps it's cos I'm afraid of troubling those people with the same old troubles.

And when I sit down and wonder,I struggle to come up with who actually might want to listen.

I'm not actually likening myself to one but I'm asking just figuratively 'who does the psychologist go to when he needs help?'

Ignore this post. It is SOOOO random.Nothing of substance in it.I'll be back a better one soon.