Happy New Decade (or How I Thoroughly Enjoyed 2009.)

As a form of deja vu more so than a tradition, Sivalingam and I was out to celebrate the last day of the year for the 2nd year running. Last (last) year, there was Lagoon and Boyfriend with us, and so we played with sparkles and water guns after a long chat at Starbucks Big Splash. This time, Lagoon is back in Shanghai, while Pam and Hwee Teng are navigating their way through the clouds on the way home and Sin Ting is in some countdown party of his own.

So it was just me and Sivalingam the Chinese Indian. We sat at Starbucks again, but at the Raffles City one. We looked to the sky and saw the fireworks which marked the beginning of 2010. Then we settled down and chatted some more.

It has only been a few hours into 2010, the new decade of the millennium, but I'm missing 2009 already.

2009 has been nothing short of awesome, and these are reasons why:

1. Champions. A whole IVP season filled up my January while waiting for the big 6 months Shanghai internship. As the season went on, I was grateful that I had no schoolwork to worry about, since we basically went mad during after-match self-held "parties". One who went to school on friday morning after supper at Geylang was quoted as saying "feel a bit seh seh".

2. Shanghai Shenanigans. Trip #3 in the university days. This trip was a full blown six months of internship during weekdays and studying in Fudan University on weekends. Then more travelling to different parts of the "chicken-like" country on other weekends which finally led to a 13-day travelling stretch from Sichuan to Yunnnan. The whole experience was nothing short of awesome, especially when your housemates are oh-so-huggable and kisseeble (not kissable, cos they're the ones planting it on me.) and I did 2 corporate videos for my company in this span of time, too.

3. Champions again. Sunig 09 came around after I landed in this small dot. Out went the "Fu Lu Shous" + Belicia who was busy with her schoolwork, and in came many new faces, but still, the madness stayed. With charades, Murderer, 7-up and many drinking games, our after-match activities never dwindled down. And so this must be true: A team that drinks together stays together.

4. Spiritual Milk. I finally took the step, and poof, my Sundays from September onwards start with a "Wake up!" message from Joyce at 7 plus in the morning and ends after bible study. It's been a good few months into this walk, and I'm looking forward to having the most awesome and omnipotent God to guide me through the next decade (and more) . One thing to note: Prayer really works!

5. Eff Why Pee (or FYP). Now that we've past the production stage, it's time to sit in front of the computer and start piecing together this little baby into our very own indie flick.

Happy New Decade, everybody!

Day 5.

It's a wrap.

Oh yes.

Day 4.

Day 3.

Day 2.

Lorry + Motorbike

Day 1.

Chili and garlic may be good, but prayer works best.

Meet My Lead.

A nice dye job and we're good to go!

I'd like to make myself believe, that planet Earth turns slowly.

I cut my nails already.

All the centers in anti-you should be rejoicing now.

And it's thursday. A handful of fyp teams have finished their prinicipal photography. Ours starts next week.

Yesterday the sky opened up, and it rained quite a bit. Today too. Well I hope it keeps raining till Monday. Then stop miraculously on Tuesday. (The whole of Tuesday, please.)

Shixiong and group recommended garlic and chili. And I saw Bee Hwee's group bringing their garlic and chili on set during their shoot. It's supposedly very effective against warding off rain. Yes, it does look like there's no causal link between garlic and chili and the elements.

But you know what, we're probably going to try it. Because December is THE rainy season and all our shoots are in the -say it- Great Outdoors.

And if they do work, I'll seriously see garlic and chili in a new light. If they don't, well....

there's always prayer!

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.

Randomness.

Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn.

I was watching the AFI 100 years, 100 Movie Quotes compilation and it hit me that I knew about 40% of the movies featured. It just goes to show how many movies a film student goes through, and of course movie nights in Shanghai helped to. Here's a list of some of my favourites, and let's see if you can get which movie they are from. Some are quite old, but there are a few contemporary ones.

"You talkin' to me? Oh, you talkin' to me."

"I'm gonna make him an offer he can't refuse."

"Hasta la vista, baby."

"Gentleman, you can't fight in here. This is the war room!"

"Forget it, Jake. It's Chinatown."

"Here's Johnny!"

"You had me at hello."

"Show me the money."

"Carpe diem, boys. Seize the day."

"May the force be with you."

"Rosebud"

"I feel the need- the need for speed."

And the one that gets me in chuckles everytime:

"Stella! Hey Stella!"




And no, there's no "You jump I jump" in there, thank goodness.

Ready, Steady, Go.

The last few days, I had imagined myself mostly as Ironman, or Doc Ock from Spider-Man, or any other superhero with a mechanical arm.

The steadycam workshop was a two day studio workshop with only 5 people, and we had plenty of time to try and wear the vest, put on the arm and act like some high-tech soldier with a gun attached.

Other than that, it's mostly chatting with Vincent (technician), and gettting more information about what equipment the school has and what we can use. Most of us who are doing film as our FYP have started their principal production, and it's good that the students in BSC are really enthusiastic about helping one another.

FYP, to me now, is really a love-hate relationship. And I'm hoping that we'll all come out of it satisfied.

And alive. (hahaha.)




Aubree, student by day, sharpshooter by night.



My camera phone does no justice- she looks like she hadn't slept in years!




Note to self: Remember to put as much effort in as possible in the preparatory stage, so that you'll not regret when you look back! It's the biggest, biggest film in your university life!

the 100th post complains.

Stupid weather.
Stupid tv monitor which stubbornly refuses to detect stupid macbook.
Stupid scheduling conflicts.
Stupid morning to night schedules with lack of sleep in between.
Stupid deadline.
Stupid sulky temper.
Stupid idiotic drowsy double eyelids.
Stupid repeated questions over and over again.
Stupid certain deafness in everyone.
Stupid mumbling.
Stupid equipment headaches.
Stupid irritating phone bill. And I just paid my last bill. Sheesh.
Stupid unholiday-like holiday.

Okay. done with complaining. Moving on.

The Stand.

You stood before creation
Eternity within Your hand
You spoke the earth into motion
My soul now to stand

You stood before my failure
Carried the Cross for my shame
My sin weighed upon Your shoulders
My soul now to stand

So what can I say
What can I do
But offer this heart O God
Completely to You

So I'll walk upon salvation
Your Spirit alive in me
This life to declare Your promise
My soul now to stand

So what can I say
What can I do
But offer this heart O God
Completely to You

So I’ll stand
With arms high and heart abandoned
In awe of the One who gave it all

So I’ll stand
My soul Lord to You surrendered
All I am is Yours


It was last night, there and then, that I felt, and I knew.

Experience the Filmmaking Process

Youths, we want you.

http://fattripodfilms.wordpress.com/experience-the-filmmaking-process/

22.

Thank you guys.

For the facebook and phone messages, the practical gifts, the cards, the ice cream treat, the Kuishinbo extravagance, the Sushi Tei lunch, the Korean feast, the Karaoke-ing, the Starbucks frappe and (boring) orea cheesecake, the calls, and most importantly,

the love.

Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou!

(now to get back to FYP. Note to self: Deanna Tan, your 22nd will forever be synonymous with fyp-ing. Go go go!)

Every step we take, challenges ahead, we turn them all to gold.

My exams are over.

But but but before you glare at me with disgust and seething teeth- yes you who still have that one last paper to go- I have to say I'm not smelling the freedom at all. Not one flowery citrus-filled ounce of it.

This is my last term break of university, the last "holiday" of my official school days, but coincidentally, also the crunchtime of my Final Year Project.

Thus, instead of sweet, sweet freedom, I smell plastic equipment, burning lights, and (I assume) the salty odour of my fellow Fat Tripods' blood and sweat. Nevertheless, pleasure comes in different forms for different people, and this, to me, is pleasure wrapped underneath a whole truckload of pain (work).

Today was a packed day of doing FYP stuff. So was yesterday. I forsee that the following weeks will also be highly devoted to these three magical letters. However, funds are limited (ZERO at the moment and we're going to be in deficit soon) so I would like to emphasize- guys, I need money. Moolah, cash, ch-ching, dough, dollars and cents.

There.

Anyway, on a totally irrelevent topic, I went back to my old Junior College today. The "Walls of Hope" have been painted over with brown paint, and the canteen has expanded. There is a bbq corner and the whole carpark has now been fully patio-ed. I wanted to look for Ms R for some help in my FYP, and I ended up coaching and playing with ACJC against SR for a friendly game.

It was fun, nevertheless. Felt like the good ol' times again. When Ms R went on with her debrief (this one's short compared to what I had during my time), I sat on the court, just listening and thinking how much time has gone by since I last did that as a student there.

I always told people, if I had to pick the best time I had during my entire education, I'd pick the times in Junior College, long potassium maganate stained skirt withstanding. For I think I evolved, sort of, and turned my challenges into gold (it's the school song!)

Now I don't know how to end this. It looks to be turning into a melodramatic ending. Which isn't very me. So I'll repeat myself again.

I need money. Moolah, cash, ch-ching, dough, dollars and cents.

The Nomad.

I feel like a nomad these days, going from place to place to study. Have got no choice, because the people converted my usual studying place in school into a research student's office.

!@#@$#$@

Today, I went to Cathy Chia's studying spot. It is a classroom located in School of Bio Sciences, and it is packed with her church people. The best part of all is, there's free food, people come to take your orders for lunch and dinner, there's even more free food.

Did I mentioned there was free food?

The place was quiet and conducive. I think I can finally set up tent and settle here.



Cathy Chia, studying.



Cathy Chia, disturbance.



Chee Harn and Cathy Chia, they happily offered me a free Curry Puff.



After 12 hours (from 9am to 9pm), this is what happened to Cathy.

We Got Study One.

Felily got bored so she doodled on my hand.



Media Law is (the car stop and the driver goes Por Por) SHI~INGZ.



And my favourite song of the moment.

On a totally irrelevant note:
Wanna know what I want for my birthday? http://smellslikedeespirit.blogspot.com/2009/11/its-my-birthday-soon-post.html

You Found Me.

The Fray's You Found Me



I found God
On the corner of First and Amistad
Where the west
Was all but won
All alone
Smoking his last cigarette
I said, "Where you been?"
He said, "Ask anything".

Where were you
When everything was falling apart?
All my days
Were spent by the telephone
It never rang
And all I needed was a call
It never came
To the corner of First and Amistad

Lost and insecure
You found me, you found me
Lyin' on the floor
Surrounded, surrounded
Why'd you have to wait?
Where were you? Where were you?
Just a little late
You found me, you found me

In the end
Everyone ends up alone
Losing her
The only one who's ever known
Who I am
Who I'm not, who I wanna be
No way to know
How long she will be next to me

Early morning
The city breaks
I've been callin'
For years and years and years and years
And you never left me no messages
Ya never send me no letters
You got some kinda nerve
Taking all I want

In an interview, Issac Slade expressed his meaning behind the lyrics of the song:

“You Found Me is a tough song for me. It started from just a song with a lot of hate towards God. More of questions, "why" It's about the disappointment, the heartache, the let down that comes with life. Sometimes you’re let down, sometimes you’re the one lets someone else down. It gets hard to know who you can trust, who you can count on. This song came out of a tough time, and I’m still right in the thick of it. There who’s some difficult circumstances my family and friends have been going through over the past year or so and can be overwhelming. It wears on me. It demands so much of my faith to keep believing, keep hoping in the unseen. Sometimes the tunnel has a light at the end, but usually they just look black as night. This song is about that feeling, and the hope that I still have, buried deep in my chest.”

(from Wikipedia)

Some of the old ones need to listen to this song and reconnect with their faith. With faith, hope and a lot a lot of love, this new soul shall channel her spiritual optimism into making sure of that!


On a totally irrelevant note:
http://smellslikedeespirit.blogspot.com/2009/11/its-my-birthday-soon-post.html

The "It's my Birthday Soon" Post.

Above is the Western Digital My Book 1 TB. It's what I want for my birthday.

Arn't I simple and clearcut?

But it's S$299.99. So, it will be ridiculous to ask just a few people to share and buy that for me.

I'm considerate too.

Therefore, I'm proposing that everyone who would like me to have a very happy birthday this year give me money for the "Happiness=External Hard Drive" Fund.

Yes you see it right. Cold hard cash.

I've calculated, and considering I have quite a few groups of friends, about 6-7 different groups, each group just have to fork out $50 and I'll be on my way to a happy birthday. Any surplus will go into the other 2 funds- the "Sponsor my FYP" fund and the "I'm Not Going Anywhere But Europe for my Grad Trip" fund.

So yes, I welcome surpluses.

I know I'm very practical. But I know you people love me.

Plus I'm having a hard time taking in the fact that I'm not forever 21.

I apologise for behaving so pratically, but I know the importance of giving something useful during birthdays. Many thanks in advance!

Oh hey! I still want a (non-alcoholic) cake, birthday song and a birthday hug too!

Locations, locations, location.

Fat Tripod Films Director of Photography #1 as she walks along the planks, trying to look for suicidal spots (not for herself, for the film).

WKWSCI Class of 2010

The cohort had our last mass lecture today.

At the end of it, Zac and Ziliang got everyone to squeeze for a picture. By the end of 3 or 4 takes, everyone clapped their hands and went woah! Because next semester, there won't be any mass lecture for all of us.

Looking back, it has just been a surreal journey. My mind keeps cutting back and forth, from the moment I got the letter telling me I've been shortlisted for an interview, to the first day of school, to random days in the school, and now here I stand, a senior of WKWSCI. One more semester, and the school will spit us out into the gruelling society.

It hit me a while ago that I had planned my life's course to this school. I knew in Secondary school and Junior College that this was the school I wanted to go. Then now, I have no idea what's next. Okay, I have a slight idea, but you get it, don't you? As a student, we know we have to get into university, get our degree, and get out. Then what? I forgot to think very deeply about that for the past 3 years.

Then again, I have to say, the journey in WKWSCI has been great. From knowing zero people on the first day of school (I didn't go for orientation!) to having a great bunch of friends I can hang out with, even when we're out of school. Even more awesome, is the fact that I've found travel buddies, fellowship friends and the Christina Aguilera/ Avril Lavigne (now Lady GaGa) best west fwen (in 3 years time). These people are uniquely unCS-like, past the immaculate dress sense of course.

And of course the people in my specialisation. We all just have a great time above the crazy schedules and deadlines. I still recall everyone staying over in the editing suite overnight, just to rush the final video which was due the very next day. I could remember my group and Xue Mei's group at 4 in the morning, sitting at the benches, sipping coffee, and we were all mad, tired and just plain sick of the suite. The people in my specialisation were all very nice too! We'd go around helping out in each other's production, which just shows how good natured everyone was. Ahhh.... the love.

Then don't get me started on all the traveling! From 1 and a half months in Korea, to an 8 day crazy adventure in Taiwan, and a grand finale of 6 months of indie livin' in Shanghai, I can truly say I have been to a global classroom.

(Thankfully I cut the deal with my mum saying that if I don't get to stay in the hostel, she'd have to let me go for exchange programmes. The crying and whining was worth it!)

Well, it's been a fun 3.5 years in here. Thanks, WKWSCI.

I shall pat the pillar when I go to school on Tuesday.

12 Midnight

For the first time in the longest time, I slept at 12 midnight yesterday. Adding to that, I also had a 3 hour nap in the afternoon. I was worried I couldn't fall asleep, but then I did, which goes to show how lazy I truly am.

In between my nap and my actual quality sleep, I went to Soon Hui's house to collect the long overdue things from Shanghai. This is the last batch of items from Shanghai, but ironically, the first we sent out via post.




This box is actually made up of two boxes. My vests, white shorts, books and The Simpsons Season 19 and 20 are finally home. Joyce, Felicia, you guys also have a lot of things inside. Come and collect soon!



I decided to tidy up my study table too. Here's my collection of DVDs and CDs from China! All classics, especially the first one on the right, which is Casablanca.

So, you probably don't have to guess what I'll be doing during my exam study breaks.

Documentary Classes

In documentary class, Nikki asked us to fill up a survey form so that she can improve on lessons for next semester. One question was "If there are any additional comments, please write here".

And here's what I said.

"It's good overall, but I just feel sad that my brain works too slow that I cannot think of anything to say every time you ask for comments, so I have no choice but to stare blankly at you."

For Once.

Even though it's kinda dented, it's still a pleasant Surprise nonetheless. Thank you :D

Tyra Banks says "I Don't Believe You"

My most significant memory of the last Media Law lecture was only of our Spike doppelganger lecturer showing a youtube video of Tyra Banks imposing her opinion on this poor Asian girl who was just trying to get prettier flaps on her eyes. While the girl tries to explain her stand, Tyra jumps in and snaps, "I don't believe you."

I half expected Tyra to whip out one piece of photograph amid a transition into the music which goes "You wanna be on top, top, top", and then blindingly blinking her eyes and going "The judges have commented that you wanna be white. Like me! Look at the hair weave, look at it! We all wanna be white."

Then she'll snap her fingers, shake that head in a diva "S" shape and screams "No go, girl."

These, are of course, figments of my imagination. But it goes to show how people can forget their respect for one another, and how easily they want to impose their views and standards. As one girl said in class, "Tyra ain't no Oprah!"

Yeap, Tyra's no Oprah.

But lest we flock immediately to Oprah, remember Mr James Frey and his Million Little Pieces of lies.

What We Do In Astro Lecture

Also the reason why me and Felicia failed our astro quiz.

Geez Wheeze.

After a series of immense coughing fits by yours truly, the mother became so agitated she demanded that I go to the doctor's immediately and put on one of the 40 state-of-the-art N95 masks I had bought to combat H1N1.

Well, I'll go later. WITHOUT the mask.

It's been two weeks of playing cat-and-mouse with sickness. First, the throat had much fun playing "tickle-me-Elmo". And in social situations, the dilemma of whether to cough or not to cough is more frustrating than the tickling feather within the gullet, for I know that putting myself out of my agony requires a massive bout of hearty wheezing which will instantly make me an old man. It is the classic case of damned if I do, damned if I don't. And don't get me started on the nose. While I'm grateful that it hasn't cried me a river yet, it has produced matter of a certain distinctive brownish tinge, reminiscent of the Tiger Leaping Gorge's massive river. Teh Terik, anyone?

I was even on the brink of getting the big disease- Fever. I believe the germs were on the sidelines already, waiting for the right time to play inside my organs. However, I finally declared I'm going to bed early, and I hit those unicell organisms with a mighty bout of sleep attack. Take that, arseholes.

Well, ultimately, I got better. It's just the cough that's sticking to me like glue. Featherman is still working his wand, tickling my oesophagus with every opportunity. (Especially during sticky social situations).

Anyway, I'll probably be fine. I'm not allowing myself to have that big fever I had in February, where I was basically living at home as if I was living in a hospice. Exams are near, times have changed and the weather sucks. Therefore, I'm going to combat every cough with a poker face in the spirit of Lady GaGa.

And with each time I mention her, I never fail to dive into a rendition of the song.

"Can't read my, can't read my, oh you can't read my poker face. Cough's [sic] got me like nobody".

Supplies!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcTMKaQPRSA

Go to this address to see how we spring a surprise on Wan Mei.

Songs.

"I don't wanna fall to pieces, I just wanna sit and stare at you."
- Avril Lavigne's Fall to Pieces

When I blogged with the other, Avril-Lavigne inspired blog, it was teen-angst and many tiny little things. One practice I liked to do was to include lyrics of songs I like at the top of each post. Looking back at my old blog (with all the horrible sentence structures), I can't believe that time has flown so quickly that some of the songs that I've written on my blog are no longer on the radio.

I love lyrics. While the melody catches my attention, it is the lyrics that I remember and ponder over. It is the lyrics that has this reflective ability. In secondary school, I have this file where I print lyrics I love and slot them in. I'd stay in one corner of my bed, and try to memorise them, just for the sake of memorising them. And somehow, I'd invest a part of my present into it. The mood, the feelings and places.

As time works its course, the song goes into oblivion. However, when the song starts playing again anywhere, it triggers the part of the time line and boom, my memory's back. The emotions, the feelings and the mood, they all come back too. Listening to Michelle Branch's first album never fails to bring back the image of me buried in my desk, studying for O levels. Listening to Stephanie Sun's previous hits jolts me back to my year 1 days in university, and most specifically, the image of raindrops cascading down on the shuttle bus window. Then Fish Leong came, marking the rest of my university days.

I find myself listening to Avril Lavigne these days again.



Perhaps there's a yearning desire to be young again.

Desert Song

Ms R.

I'm taking a break from dealing with the 3 letter word since the hotmail account is a bit cranky right now.

Just stared at the things piled up on my table- look at your table! is my mum and dad's favourite phrase now- and the letter and photos stuck on my windowsill. Ms Rivera's letter is still the most motivational one after all these years. From my A Levels to my University years, I never stopped reading the first two lines over and over again.

"Things don't go wrong and break your heart so you can be bitter and give up. They happen to break you down and build you up so you can be all the things you intended to be."

These days, every single day is a day of demands. There is an agenda to be fufilled, tasks to finish and just administrative things to do. And I do admit, I'm not being very hardworking at it either. Sometimes I have to remind myself to focus on the task, or I'll just lose it.

FYP is a year-long thing. I cannot afford to lose it.

Not if I want it to be the way I intend it to be.

Kicking off the week.

Me: You know, I feel that we're the same age, like you're my age.

Shi Hui: No no, I'm not your age! You should say you feel like you're my age, not the other way around!

Stupid 20 year old. Show-off.

But nevertheless, I had a good Sunday to start the week. Church was good. Saying good morning to Felicia was good. Studying for bloody astronomy with Joyce was good. Training was also good. And ice cream with the person in the picture was also good-- even though her mum may have thought she was kidnapped by bad people.

Even though I'm going to trudge through the rest of this new week- what, with FYP auditions and other grants to work on, which means a whole lotta work again- I'm just happy I started off right.

I can't wait for Friday to come.

In astronomy class, I see a different set of stars.

The Simpsons are Twenty!

Homer Simpson and family have gone through 20 seasons, and today, they celebrate with a naked Marge on the cover of Playboy.

I love The Simpsons. And it reminds me that the 2 box sets of season 19 and 20 are still in Soon Hui's house, along with goodness-knows-what-other-items-I-shipped-from-Shanghai.

But there is no time to get them.

4am. That's my sleeping time these days. 4am in the morning.

The workload keep tumbling down, raining down. An avalanche. A snowstorm. A "insert any natural disaster" of epic proportions.

Then there's the sidelines. 2 of 'em. Freelance writing and whistle-blowing. I think I can make a juggler look ashamed of himself. For Europe, for my big fat movie of the year, and to sustain life, the sidelines are here to stay.

But I could be exaggerating.

However, in the midst of such chaos, it becomes a joy to squeeze precious time out for simple things. Some night safari madness, an impromptu movie last night, spending a bit of time before I sleep to talk to Him. (Sometimes I doze off and forget to say "Amen". Yikes.)

When crunch time comes, it's always unavoidable. But I believe in my strength. And not forgetting, there's always season 1 to 18 of The Simpsons.

Psalm 6:12

From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

The China Diaries Part 11- 最后回顾

已经3个月了。
仿佛过去的6个月没有发生过。
仿佛13天的旅程都是幻想。

可是，一想到在上海认识的朋友，Wing, Yan Jing, 老板们，就知道这些都是现实。
想到12个小时的记程车 （其中4小时是痛苦的），走婚的小张，和只穿T-shirt爬雪山的辉强，就知道这些曾经都发生过。

一滴滴细节都模糊了。
这并不稀奇，因为时间总是把回忆搞乱。
有发生过的好像是丰富的想像力而已。
长宁路1188弄已经不是我的地址了。
龙之梦已经不是我每天看到的商场了。
家里的沙发不是我睡着的地方了。
复旦不是我的学校了。
在往外潭对面看到的东方明珠已变成明信片的照片。
上海，我的钥匙还给屋主了。

北京欢迎你
最新的杭州的交通旅游图
南京、南京
上有天堂、下有苏杭
青岛啤酒
烟花三月下扬州
黄山归来不见山
每次离开上海火车站的心情都是一样的。
脸上一片笑容，贴着车窗，看世界在眼前走过。
在青年宿舍，拥有一张床就够了。
够我们环游，够我们买下一片天空。
新加坡的阴影在那些地方不见了。
中国的魅力散发了、迷死人了。

可是中国不是家。
上海不是家。
长宁路不是家。

“悄悄的我走了，
正如我悄悄的来；
我挥一挥衣袖，
不带走一片云彩。”

Riding East

Anything with three legs is a very stable object. Therefore, Fat Tripod Films explains the power of three different forces coming together to form one kickass FYP group. We’re three final year students from Wee Kim Wee School of Communications and Information, Nanyang Technological University, in the midst of making a short film for our final year project.

It's slowly taking shape and even though there are still a lot to prepare, a lot to be done, I have a good vibe about this. Our working title is "Riding East", and it's an adventure story.

Anyone interested in casting or crewing OR sponsorship (very important) can go to fattripodfilms.wordpress.com for more information.

If you have any friend who is interested in acting in productions, this too is a chance for them. If you are interested in looking at what goes behind the scenes, you can also leave your name as a crew. It is a paid job. PAID JOB guys! So come forth, if you're a talent, or want to be, and be part of this amazing production!

When the Going Gets Old, the Old Gets Cranky Knees

This is my wallpaper of the moment. I didn't want to change my current wallpaper, so I stuck the picture of my team on my desktop how a teenage will stick her favourite artists on the wall. I now have a vivid flashback of a super huge poster of Westlife which I woke up to every morning in Secondary School. Kian Egan is smiling at me, but his Bop Bop Baby days are over for now.

I wonder if it's because my FYP Professor is called Knee, that my knees are now beginning to get worked up and cranky. I know, this link is pure rubbish. But for comic effect, anything goes.

My knee feels like it will pop out anytime soon. Which I hope it doesn't (and never does).

But just in case, if anyone happen to see a runaway knee anytime soon, it could be mine.

Or it could my Professor. Double check before you contact me about it.

The Amazing Angel and Mortal Game

I woke up with bruises and blue blacks on myself today.

Nope, it wasn't because I slept violently, but it was "collected" from yesterday's carnival. It was held at Kampong Ubi Community Centre, and I was in my piercing (no, not roadsweeper) orange jersey. After all my games, which involved rolling, diving, and almost poking my hands into someone's nose- oh disgusting, I went to sit with Julie at some lamppost to watch the semi finals, and we talked a bit about the sUNIg games while watching my champion teammates zip across the basketball courts, and one in particular, in her own words, "running like a cheetah". Julie said that she thought Anti You was so "zhuai" because we were making so much noise on the bench during the finals. I compare that to today's carnival, where my teammates' faces were almost all black and frustrated, and it feels so different, so different.

Coming home, I went to re-read every single letter given to me during the sUNIg season. The champion team played the Angel-Mortal game again, and my mortal was someone close to me. My angel, on the other hand, called herself "Plaster", which made me believe, at first, was someone who has been around last year and who'd witnessed all my pathetic facial lacerations.

But no, it wasn't. I first began to suspect Shi Hui after my stuff to my angel never gets collected and my angel wrote about Shi Hui being a lousy defender. Cos nobody in this team will put their teammates down unless they're that mean or they're talking about themselves. So on a friday night, I bombarded the poor girl with so many questions on the way home from Boon Lay until she wanted to listen to her mp3 player. I even told her it's okay and she tried her best. I think she really broke down because she finally said, "Ya la. I'm your angel." But she was quick to say "Maybe" 3 seconds after that sentence.

In the meantime, I was trying to draw my mortal's attention away. And I succeeded, because she suspected Yan Yan as her angel. I also adopted Qinling, who was so sure that I was Ah Fang.

Then one day, Cynthia came and told me, point blank, that Shi Hui wasn't my angel. My angel was someone who asked Shi Hui to help her write during their "lim teh" sessions, hence the bad English. I wouldn't be convinced if not for Cynthia's innocent "xu sexy" bambi doe eyed face. And Ah Fang too, told me that my angel was someone else.

Two people popped up and adopted me. One was "adopted angel" and the other was "power angel".

For one week, I was confused. I decided to stop focusing on guessing for it killed my brain cells. I saw the items that Kalai gave on Shi Hui's bed and assumed Kalai was Shi Hui's mortal. However, after two sessions of intense Murderer, I realised that Cynthia was a fan of mind games. She also kept saying "you'll get a pleasant surprise when the time comes". And if her words were true, only Wan Mei and Kalai was my angel. But, Wan Mei never ever "lim teh". Then I thought about Kalai's angel. And remembered Xiao Hei was the bona fide angel of Kalai. One weeknight, I dreamt of Wan Mei as my angel. But it's impossible that it's Wan Mei. After thursday, I had a nagging suspicion that I've been right all along. Then, the night before Saturday, I dreamt of Shi Hui giving me a letter and telling me to read it.

Confused? It's the same feeling I had for the past few weeks.

And finally, by the power of deduction and powerful dreams, I was right. I feel so smart and it reaffirms Sigmund Freud's theories. But for your efforts, Lim Shi Hui, I give you and Cynthia credit. Made me confused for a while. Deanna Tan doesn't really like to think so much, but she had to for this game.

So, here's the 正常 photo you wanted. Of my very cute face and your 正常 face. Haha. I love this game. It makes everyone in the team somehow connected to another person, thereby producing the very loud "zhuai" cheering effect at the end of it, cos we're all just cheering really loudly for our angels and mortals out there.



Amanda described this angel as the "understated player" in yesterday's games because she never ever shoots unless she cannot find people to pass to and she defended like mad. For me, I describe this person as my new found friend whom I love to bully (outside the court la). She's power angel too.

So er... go go power angel.



This is my mortal! While trying to put on a scary face, and I thought it's a really good scary face. She's been with me through thick and thin, and yesterday, I talked to Cheryl Yap, an graduate of NIE, she also told me how she didn't really like the team when she was playing in 2007, and that she was glad it's much better now. So Zhi Hui! Arn't you glad we stayed? Sunig is her last season though. Next season, I'll be the only Year 4. Boo.



My adopted angel. She's none other than the most hardworking captain Ah Fang! Xu Sexy and her had a very big responsibility since last year to put the team back together, and they did it with so much success! Therefore, I hold her in high respect and esteem.

As long as she doesn't call me by what Yaqi calls me.



Qinling! My adopted mortal and my SRJC junior. People have said we have similar traits. Don't you know, all the people who come from SR are this fun-loving and funny? Haha. She's a roar to be with, and she has the most classic imagination ever. Because her angel, Ah Fang, always gave her items which she give, but it comes back bigger or more in quantity, she wanted to give a $10 note so that she'll get back $100.



Last but not least, Yan Yan! Who was sort of an angel, in a more biblical sense. She walked me through the road as much as Felicia and Joyce did, pushing me to go to church and giving me so much goodies.

I really love this team.

Sometimes, people forget the friendship they forge while they build a team. Sometimes, people stop being passionate about the things they once loved. It may be inevitable, but it's sad.

For me, I hope I'll never stop being passionate about the things I love, bruises and all.

The Best Part of Winning is the Team

The Champions did it again.

We retained the right to be called Champions, until IVP season arrives, that is. And the spirit, the shouting, the spontaneity, the jokes, the laughs. They're still here. This is the one thing that no other team can beat so far, and it makes me very proud to be in the NTU basketball team.

This season's highlight is the Angel Mortal game. It was a twisty one for me in guessing who my angel is. But it turned out to be loads of fun, and yes, it was a pleasant surprise at the end of it all. As for my mortal, it's just great that she was the person who stuck with me through since our very first training in this ulu-fied school.

Now, I'm just tired and sleepy after a whole day with my beloved Champion teammates. There's so much I'd like to say, but my brain isn't functioning much. Therefore, I shall leave the intimate details to another day (preferably one where I get enough rest) and just show some pictures of my lovely teammates.




My Angel. Whose identity I found out so fast, but she combined forces with Xu Sexy to dupe me into thinking she wasn't Lim Shi Hui.



But she is Lim Shi Hui. Plaster and Power Angel, all her.



Ben Ben club members.



Winners!



Yan Yan, who always seem to get "Yan Yan" biscuits all the time.



Wan Mei 的结局！