T'Day Is Our D-Day

Exams have been over for a couple of days but frankly I haven't had the chance to feel it.

I've been immediately down at Bishan for consecutive 12 hour days to help in whatever little way I can with the T'Day skit.

It's tiring but after thinking about it,I feel more pity for the cast.I've been in their shoes before. To have to go through the all-draining rehearsals and still have to face school at 8am the next day,isn't very exciting.But we have to be hard and push them,it is not surprising that they would push back and feel really miffed.

But,from experience,it is almost certain that they will be actually missing the moments of exhaustion that they are going through now.The way it's going,they might actually pull this off. Their day is almost coming and I can somehow see things coming together and they can actually put on a decent show that they have every right to feel proud of.

As for me,I feel I haven't been of much use in the training stage,I'm much more comfortable at the conceptualisation stage.The training I've mostly left to the more astute student advisers and Sofia,the drama-trained VP.I've taken more of a background role,giving my two cents worth whenever I feel I should and just giving a lil bit of advice to Sofia here and there.I've not taken too much of a hands on approach with the cast,unlike the others,I just try to help them whenever I can.

We've made positive progress during the rehearsals and I hope it's well-received cos it's totally new shit that ain't never been tried before.The thing is,it has the chance to be spectacular.I think it really does.It can at the very least make the audience say that 'hey,that's new and interesting',we ain't seen that before'.

It's up to everyone involved to reach for that,from the cast,the backstage crew, the multimedia people and us old heads helping out.

Oh,just thought I'd mention.The MacroEcons paper was alright.Not sure about my graphs,whether they were correct.I'll receive my results on the 13th of September via SMS.

I was told that the book in which my story (the one I wrote Inspirations competition) was compiled in is going to come out on Monday.Nothing big cos it's an internal release.But it's cool cos it's the first time one of my stories is gonna be in any sort of compilation.I saw the rough copy just now.My musings,immortalized in print.Hah.

Actually I'm more excited to read the other stories.I already read my stories.

It's more soccer talk but this time,it's really serious stuff.Maybe you won't appreciate the first part but definitely you should for the second part.

It was a grey day in soccer a day or two ago.

Ole Gunnar '20:O-LE-GEND' Solskjaer announced his retirement from football.

He was always my favourite Man Utd player and I'm sure of many others as well. Why? He was always and the model professional and yet he did the business better than many other glamorous names.

Famous for scoring the goal that won his team the European Cup,I love him for so many of his other qualities,like when he sacrificed himself,making a last-ditch tackle which got himself sent off but saving his team's ass.As he was walking off,he got a standing ovation from the 60,000 home fans.How fitting.

He was a striker,he's supposed to score goals.

I honestly believe from the bottom of my heart that,he is the BEST natural-born finisher that United has had in the days of Alex Ferguson,behind only to Ruud van Nistelrooy.Half a chance,that's all he needs.He has the striker's instinct that cannot be taught.His humble personality off the field and his merciless attitude on it earned him the moniker 'Baby-faced Assassin'.

Thanks,Ole,for all your years of loyal service.

Then,the grey,turned black...

Antonio Puerta,22 year old player from Sevilla,passed away just over a day ago.He collapsed on the field during a league match.They managed to revive him and he even walked back to the dressing room but there,he went into a three day coma which proved fatal.

The thing is,he was due to become a dad in just six weeks.It just hurts me to think about his wife and kid that he left behind.All in football mourn this loss.

...

Rehearsals again today,for the last time,before the big day on Friday,which starts at the insane hour of 630am.We have to be in school by then.Mic Studio's performance is at 10am.Lots of time to prepare but we will be kept busy.

We were told that ITE directors might be coming down just in time to see us perform.Also,some one from the Ministry of Community,Youth & Sports(MCYS) might be coming down also.See,that's why we gotta push these kids.They can do it anyway.

And lastly,I don't want to make it a big thing by talking about it too much...just that...

I'm glad that you liked what you got,old friend.It was nothing much,really,but again, I'm glad you liked it.

Though I have to say,I totally did not expect you to react the way you did...haha.

=)

Time & Effort

Back from my self-imposed exile.Certainly felt like it.The airport mugging session proved fruitful,with loads of material going in my head.The laptop was taken away for a day anyway so that helped me continue the mugging after I got back.

The 2 papers were alright.Organizational Behaviour was better than that accursed Accounting1 paper.I should be able to pass but I don't know about scoring well.We'll see. Now I'm left with MacroEcons on Monday.I stayed in school after the first paper to do last minute studying for the second paper which was in the evening.I didn't have notes for 3 lectures cos I didn't go for those lectures but I managed to get notes from a friend to copy.I crammed the information as best I could.

It was good that I did cos questions on those topics did come out and they were heavy on marks. To think I almost wanted to go home and skip those topics.I would have been dead in the water had I done that.

It's grandma's birthday celebration today and though I'll be a bit of a geek,bringing the Macro book and mugging,it'll be good to have people at her house tomorrow.People and noise.It used to be a lot more fun at her house when I was younger,maybe cos all my cousins were younger as well and we entertained ourselves pretty well.

Grandma's great-grandkids are the ones bouncing around now but I still feel that there could be more,you know,to make more noise.For that to happen,more of the cousins have to get married...don't look at me,I'm at least 5 years away before I even think about marriage....

The onus is more on my sis then.Lol.

Grandma's birthday isn't actually tomorrow.I think it's on the 27th or the 28th.I could be wrong.
But hopefully she'll be happy with tomorrow cos she deserves it.Everyone of us is always busy doing our own things.

After the paper,I'll be free.I'll head down to town to get something.According to the schedule, there will be a T'Day rehearsal so I'll be at Bishan after that.

Hope the rehearsals for T'Day are going good,well,as good as they can be.Haven't been to the last few cos of the exams.

Hmm,I don't know since when I put in so much effort for my studies.What I mean is,usually the change would be more noticeable.I know I was a slackoff during my secondary school days.A real slackoff.But I noticed that my mom doesn't concern herself with my studies like she used to Maybe it's cos I'm supposed to be more mature and deal with it myself.I hope I am doing that.

But as much as it is,it isn't enough.I'm not gonna do fantastically well this semester.Just all right. Being in a class where they all got in with good 'O' Level scores means I gotta work doubly hard just to keep my head above the water.

I'll just be happy to see the back of the exams tomorrow.No need for so much mugging.

Digging In

I figure I better post one while I can cos I'll be pretty much taken up with mugging till the exams are over.

On a random note,I just saw a rerun of Hostel on cable and it is a movie that creeps the hell out of me.The depravity of the actions depicted in the movie is insane.It does have Quentin Tarantino involved in the production so that explains a lot.The movie is just gruesome.It's pretty much the same thing for Hostel 2.Both movies make me have fleeting doubts about wanting to travel to Europe.

And yet I want to get both on DVD.Somehow.The uncut version of course.In this case, censorship is no fun at all.

Anyways,trying to mug this time round has been really difficult cos I'm finding it tough to deal with distractions.I have to find a way though.Did study at Rivervale Plaza till 240am before cabbing home.I really wanted to stay and do some more but my head couldn't take in anymore information.

Sis is taking an 8-month Advanced Diploma in Mass Comm.I hope it works out for her.Might be a viable last resort option for me in 3 years time if I see and hear good things from her about it. Guess she's not looking to use her Diploma in Infocomm from TP to lead her into a job that she'll have a sustained interest in.

I have to go to town to get something but I have no idea how I can fit that in between mugging and resting my brain after mugging and I have to go and get it before Sunday,where I',m supposed to be mugging for my third and final paper,MacroEcons.

Let's see,what's on at the end of the month? The end of the school term on the 27th.Nothing after that till the Heroes cast come on the 31st.May or may not go see them.,think they'll be at Vivocity though I can't confirm.

Oh,and of course,the MIC Studio guys have the Teachers' Day performance on that day in the morning.Won't be seen much cos I'm busy mugging and I'm supposed to come tomorrow.I said I would but I'm not sure now cos I still have so much to cover.

And cover I shall...it's gonna be a long night.

A Love Story Is A Byproduct Of Greed & Boredom

Mom forgot to pay the StarHub bill again.Says she'll get it done soon.Meanwhile here I am at the school library typing this out.

It's really quiet after six.There are still people around of course but it's not a sea of people like it is during the day.It is odd that I'm here this late in school for such a trivial thing like using the Internet.I figure there isn't much to do at home so I decided to waste some time here and then go home and study cos there's nothing to do otherwise.

Suddenly felt like YouTube-ing music videos.Don't really do at home cos of the lagging connection.I do have broadband but it's all slowed up due to all the viruses.

A lot of The Used (I like Box Full Of Sharp Objects) and also the newest vids off TRL on MTV.com.

I might even study in school around this time in the future cos I feel it's kind of conducive.It closes at 9pm so that's cool.

I was walking past one of the school's numerous notice boards till I saw one that said this...

"What is LOVE? And how do you express it?
Send us your romantic literary work and win CASH and a chance to be published! Your writing can be:

A short story (5000 words or less, fiction or true story)
A poem (one per entry)
A love letter (to your significant other on an anniversary, farewell note, marriage proposal, secret admirer etc. or simply just to express your feelings)
A blurb, a one-liner, or even a short phrase, as long as you’re confident it will tug at the heartstrings!

In other words, any literary work that is inspired by love. Our sole judging criteria is how romantic your work is. Be bold, be creative, search deep inside your heart. Write something that will move and touch!

PrizeS

1st Prize - $1000 cash
2nd Prize - $500 cash
3rd Prize - $200 cash"

It's open to all full-time students in a Singapore school.I might enter something if I can get something creative out.It has to be soon,before the 30th of this month.Might just send something in for the fun of it.No harm anyway.A story's too long though for me to do with such short notice,unless I get really inspired.Might do a poem.I actually have a chance to get all sappy and corny and get away with it.

I got a C+ for Comm Skills report writing.Erm,I admit I am a lil surprised.Thought I'd have merited a B- at least or a B if I was lucky. Damn,now it all depends on my presentation marks. It is individual stuff so at least my performance would determine my final grade.Hopefully I did good.

Gosh,no cable tonight.Can't catch Man Utd's early morning game.Great.Only 2 games into the season and I'm already starting to miss them.Let's hope I'll wake up to news of a Utd win.

I'm supposed to catch the Bourne Ultimatum some time this week.Hope I see it through and not procrastinate.It's not just a guy movie,it's a guy movie with brains.

Just remembering that I used to be a lot more regular with my updates.Back then I used to have a post every two or three days.Then again,not that anyone would care anyway...

Right.can't think of anything else.Lets hope my Internet service is back up at home real soon.

Off back home for me.Really not looking forward to the journey home.It's just so monotonous.

Being A People Person

Really, really wanted to sleep in this Saturday.Wasn't feeling too well the day before,slept through most of it.

But I had to wake up early today to go to a PACESetters meet. It was a mixer or a bonding session, if you will and I thought it imperative that I go. It's hard enough for strangers to start to get to know each other,it would be tougher to crack into a group who are already familiar with the people in it.

The sun was bothersome but I did have fun.A lot of running around I have to add.

I met a good bunch of people.Still too early to call it.I mean,true colours yet to be seen.Awfully pessimistic for me to say perhaps but if we do get through the probation period, these are the people that I'll be working with.Having said that,I've gotten nothing but good vibes,even from the senior members.

I had planned to head out after reaching home but I was a little drained from facing the heat and was surprised when the time showed that it was past 3pm when the bus pulled up at my stop.

So I went to get dinner and decided to sit in for the kickoff of the new season of football.Just glad it's back.See how the new boys TenSports perform with their coverage.

So there's a full programme tonight.

So gonna sleep in a bit tomorrow.Hit the books somewhere after noon,probably at Starbucks. Haven't had a dose of Caramel Hot Chocolate in a while.

Revision lectures all next week in school.

I didn't get last season's Man Utd kit.I hope I can get it this season. Probably I'll get Owen Hargreaves' name kitted in, with his No.4 in there as well.

Saw on IMDB that Step Up 2: The Streets is in production.None of the original cast though. Disappointing but usually the norm.Usually,sequels like these are nowhere near as good as their predecessors. The first one was without a shadow of a doubt a runaway hit.

Been watching quite a lot of standup comedy clips of Dave Chappelle and Chris Tucker. Really funny stuff.

27th is the last day of exams.That's 18 days away.

Can't wait.

Everytime I go to the airport to either chill,eat or study, I really feel bummed out that I'm not there to catch a flight.Which would mean that I would be flying off somewhere.

A trip to KL maybe? Sydney.With friends.Exploring the city.Sounds like a lot of fun.

I was just thinking about the world and how I always said that I would perhaps one day,like to contribute.Reach the kids in Africa through sport.Build houses and get running water to communities that need it stuff like that.

I just thought that it'd be cool to meet kids just like me from different parts of the world that have the same idea about this issue.You know,not just having a global forum and just talking about about it but doing something about it.Going to places like these and seeing for ourselves the conditions,instead of being in some convention hall.

In small groups,of 20 or 30.Working with aid groups and volunteering ourselves.I guess they already have it at the school level today with the overseas field trips.

But...

I thought it'd be cool to have it on a global basis.I guess English would be a pre-requisite at first.

And I love it if I could say I had friends from South America,Europe and North America. Haha. Yeah,there is a personal agenda here as well.But if it benefits a community,why not.And we could be backed by rich corporations perhaps,as part of their social responsibility.

Yeah,I know it's flawed.

Just thought of a way that I could meet new people,new friends who are around my age and do my part as a human being to help others.

Kill two birds with one stone and they are worthy birds to aim for and not just anything superficial.

P/S: Good on newly-promoted Sunderland on getting a late win.Good start for Roy Keane. Go on Keano!

The Saving Grace Makes A Return

Note: The 2nd part of this blog will be talking about soccer so those who aren't interested are warned. The 1st part will be about diplomas. Normal blogging about normal stuff will resume by the next post.


I didn't plan to blog today.I just suddenly felt like it.

So over the past two weeks,course managers from 3 diplomas have come in once during lectures to talk about their diplomas.

I will have to choose my specialisation by the end of the 2nd semester. Bit early for the course managers to be talking to us if you ask me. I think it would be better if they were to do it closer to the streaming date, where we would have the info fresh in our mind and also gone through more first year modules to make a more informed decision.

I was there for the Logistics talk and today for the presentation by the Marketing CM. I wasn't around for the Business talk last Tuesday cos I skipped the lecture (tsk, tsk!). But screw Logistics (& Operations Management aka LOM),I'm going for either Diploma in Business or Marketing.

I can do either but each of them have their pros and cons. On the surface, Marketing involves more immersion of culture, international exposure and travel whereas Business is still a lot more theoretical than analytical and generally more broad-based learning.

Having missed the Business talk and gone for the Marketing one, I'm currently leaning towards the latter but there's still months to go before I have to make a decision so I expect my choice to keep changing.
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On to a more trivial subject...

The soccer season is back on next Saturday.It couldn't come any sooner.Maybe it shouldn't cos my exams aren't over and might distract me but hell,as far as I'm concerned I'm quite the happy camper.

No ESPNStar for EPL matches this season onwards.Verdict's still out on the new boys, TenSports and how they fare.

Pre-season's been decent. I love watching the youth and reserves play.Though Man Utd mysteriously build up their prospects with a lot of talk and proceed to sell them of soon enough on the basis that they can't be guaranteed first-team football.

I hope these players make a mark this season...Phil Bardsley(who I think is quietly solid,Johnny Evans (brilliant at Sunderland last season),Chris Eagles (I hope he can step up to the big time), and Darron Gibson who's been eye-catching during the pre-season.

Tevez,Nani,Anderson and Hargreaves mean 1 thing...strength in depth.

EPL champs a possibility.Gut says 2nd though.Chelsea to top,Arsenal to struggle and do well,in patches.Liverpool can jolly well SOD OFF!!!

I expect FA Cup to come to Old Trafford at the end of the season and at the very least a final appearance in the Champions League.A League Cup win will be good stuff for the squad players.

At the risk of being labelled a pessimist,I do think that the tag of favourites and the burden of expectations will be the team's undoing this season.I hope for the league title but I think not.

I hope to be proven wrong.

Other than that, lets do the double over the rubbish Mersey Reds and more of the scintillating football this season again, eh United?

Hungry Geek In Need Of New Sneaks

Been rather lazy to post a new one this week but I'm here out of boredom.

I have a little bit of a breather with all the projects officially completed with only one more presentation left.

The Macro project is a major monkey off my back.I didn't do as well as I would have liked.In fact,I think I didn't make a good impression cos I was nervous for the Q&A.

I think I'm gonna start mugging officially tomorrow.Been doing it here and there but didn't cover much at any one time. One more round of lectures to go before the revision lectures.Not long to go.

Knee's been a bit dodgy.Almost wanted to go for a kickabout today but remembered that my shoes were worn out enough anyway.I was supposed to get new ones yesterday but I haven't gotten around to it. I wanted to go today too but I haven't really got anyone to come and tag along; it would be rather sad if I were to go alone.Besides, I need a second opinion whether I picked the right pair or not.

Adidas this time,definitely.Off the Originals line,not Predator or F50.

I want to go to town but I do feel a bit lazy to face the crowds. Wouldn't be so bad if I had the right company. The right company would make it quite all right.

Nothing much was on telly last night.I was very tempted to go down and rent a couple of DVDs. I got as far as the bus stop before I headed home.I convinced myself that I could survive the boredom and it wasn't worth it to spend 12 bucks on 3 DVDs. I went to get dinner and settled for a show on the History Channel about the the history of samurais.

God,that sounded so geeky.A Saturday night in.Not exactly fast times.

I have this sudden urge for KFC chicken.

It's a holiday this Thursday so that's cool.

Just saw a couple of Adidas shoes online and I really wanna get them sooner rather than later.

Right I'm hungry and I'm gonna go get a takeaway dinner.Probably gonna go study after.

I guess I'll continue being a geek tonight.