The 2nd Technical Foul.

My bad mood has somehow dissipate throughout the course of the afternoon and the evening.

But I have been thinking about the game, and hey, I really don't think I did a bad job and it was the wrong call.

Now that I think about it, I really ought to be more fierce lest the coaches think I'm malleable. Seriously. I DON'T think it was a wrong call at all.

I shall not smile anymore on court.

And people, seriously, if you're that good, you would have won.

So stop saying that the referee is to blame. When you can't even keep your players and their flying elbows in check.

When I'm wrong, I changed my decision on the spot. When I'm right, I know it.

Why should I penalise good defence? Since when is every contact a foul?

And stop persecuting me based on that one last call on your player. As if I'm the one who handed the opponents the win on a silver platter. As if I'm the one who allowed the opponents to catch up on your 10 plus point lead. As if I'm the one who pushed, pulled and whacked and then cry foul (PUN NOT INTENDED) when it's the 5th foul for the player.

Champions don't have that problem, okay. Champions win irregardless of whoever is refereeing the game.

So stop blaming the one in the gray shirt. It's just pure abuse.

And we're not here to be abused by you.

Final Cut Not-so Pro!

These days, my time in WKWSCI is inside the multimedia lab, staring at Sin Ting's face.




There- Sin Ting's large face.



The groupmates discussing on what to cut.



The very pai seh director.

We're progressing steadily now. Let's go! We can do it!

Oh, if there's any volunteer who'd like to watch a screen test of our movie (so that we can see how audiences might react and if they understand our film), say "AYE" and message me!

An Email From Last Year

I was clearing my email account (still am now) when I saw this email.

Hello conquerors of Qing Dao!!!!

Comrades! Great job in the conquest of Qing Dao! In a nutshell: Traversing on a four wheel "qiche" (as the chinese called it, a typical land automobile), we proceed up north from our base camp at puxi, shanghai to jinan, following that we headed southwards from Jinan to Si Ping Road in qingdao. Stealth and swift movements allowed us to infiltrate with ease.

At dawn, upon arrival, we established a pseudo camp at baoding road. our first objective was si bei shui, mt laoshan. Friendly allied forces escorted us near the top using qiche. We surveyed the area and reported sighting 3 dams and metal plank bridge. our military chefs provided us a satisfying seafood dinner at "pijiujie" (beer street). we scouted the terrain conditions for the beer museum invasion on day 3. In the night, our plan to zhanqiao (standing bridge) was shelved due to adverse weather condition (rain-a form of precipitation)
As the saying goes, we rest to walk a longer distance. we retreat to baoding and rest at there for the night. Intel sources updated us on the objectives at day 2.

On foot, we navigate around the western part of mainland qingdao. places sighted (in chronological order): catholic church, christian church, revolving observatory (resemblance to golden willow mushroom) at xinhaoyuan, da xue road (southern sea qing dao university), an old german house (wanyuan road), beach where we spotted a german ships: a warship, a small battleship and a submarine (the 1 and only submarine in china)

day 3 was the 3rd and final objective of the conquest - invasion of beer museum. we recce the place and reported information on tsingtao beer to our base camp. our mission was accomplished as we headed back to puxi in a tactical sleep-style qiche. The journey continues...

your fellow comrade
!!Eugene

A Question To Ponder.

Bible study was about Jacob's encounter with God, in which he wrestled with Him unknowingly.

God is willing to wrestle with us. Take the time to stretch our faith and let us convince ourselves.

Are we willing to wrestle with him?

The First Day of Chinese New Year

Not surprisingly, I got asked ('bombarded' is a good word) quite a few times about my singlehood since it's fricking 14 February as well. My nanny was the most concerned, with her furrowed brows as she asked "有没有男朋友?"

"Ah ma, 没有。很难找leh。"

"为什么没有？"

"Eh...."

I think I should have interjected that conversation with a "Ah Ma! 你看！恐龙！".

I started complaining to Ah Qin about this since just before Chinese New Year eve. And the result is the following hilarious SMS conversation.

Ah Qin: "....Your relatives never ask you got bf that kind of qns meh?"

Me: "got la! all the time can..and all my younger cousins got bf at the age of like wad, ten? Grr, I'm only 22 la. Next yr wear a 'i not lao chu nu' tee go liao.

Ah Qin: "HAH kids nowadays. Hahaha I like the I nt lao chu nu tee idea! Or wear something like "i popped my cherry" hahaha.

Me: "hahaha! haven pop la, cannot wear! I'll wear a "don't ask" or "hanna I'm still single" or "too bad you're a cousin."

If others would like such tees, do contact me and we'll buy in bulk in preparation for next year's onslaught.

Nevertheless, I got a long flower stuffed toy! It was from of Mr Oily who gave each of us 3 single ladies one stalk each since we went to watch the movie "Valentine's Day" without a valentine with the sole exception of Mrs Oily.

Here's some visiting photos.



This top was a dress but then it looked too short on me so I had to transform it. Let's just say it was a really HOT day yesterday and in future, I'm not going to wear any jeans.




Sleepy brother.



Sleepy father.



Happy mother at her old house.



The in-house contractor in front of this old painting that has been in the house since before I was born.

Alright people! Let's just get this festive season over and done with- with loads of R&R in between, and as a consolation, remember we're getting ang pao money for being single!

Toothache and the New Year

In the midst of a nagging toothache probably caused by a growing wisdom tooth (or tooth decay la. but I hope it's the first, if not very pai seh.), I have traveled to my Ah Ma's house in Punggol 3 times today.

Ah, the duties of the family driver.

Later, I'll be driving over for one last time where I can finally sit down and enjoy a sumptuous reunion dinner with the family.

And also entertain the usual questions. "Still no boyfriend huh? Or just shy to bring?"

I'll sms you when I get one and plaster his face all over Facebook, Friendster and whatever, thank you very much, auntie.

I'm only 22 la. I'm not some 老处女.

A random thought! If one day someone wants to open a Christian themed coffeeshop, they can call it "He Brews".

Okay, next.

Time for some rest now before the BIG meal.

Have a happy Tiger year everybody! What time is it?

It's Tiger time!

Operation Hard Disk.

I'm one car ride away from Anti-You, 20 minutes away from checking if data from hard disk has been recovered and also one moment away from saving a whopping $1000.

Pris' boyfriend's data recovery software cost $118 and after 1 night and half a day of data rescue (imagine files and folders lying precariously on high ledges, preparing to jump, then in swoop the SWAT team and negotiators.), I see the most important data safely in another hard disk.

Major whew.

Seriously, after 2 weeks of agony and pain, of hearing the IT guy say that the inside plate was severely damaged, of the thought of having to part with an almost non-existent $1000, I am so thankful that data recovery doesn't cost a bomb.

And kinda ticked that someone tried to charge $1000 (ok technically $850 plus 7% GST) while claiming that my hard disk is "quite badly damaged". Even though I don't claim to be an IT expert, logically I know that if there's 1 plate in a hard disk and 2 other folders (partitions) in that same plate can be mounted, how physically damaged can it exactly be? It's just like saying your whole fridge is spoiled when it's only your freezer which can't work. DUH. Plus, the most physically exerting thing I did to the hard disk was to yank out the USB cable. Didn't even touch the object itself.

So let it be a lesson guys. IT idiot or not, logic still applies. Don't let those bespectacled nerds tell you otherwise.

And pray hard too. It works! My God is good. And I thought of a good song.

"God will make a way
where there seems to be no way (eg. $1000!)
He works in ways we cannot see
He will make a way for me (eg. data recovery software + successful sponsorship request)
He will be my guide
Hold me closely to His side
With love and strength (yea!)
For each new day (everyday!)
He will make a way (everyone sing along!)
He will make a way. "

The Farewell and The Birthday

I'm so lazy that I've decided to merge two events of last week into one single post.

And start off by saying that pimples have been appearing on my face as frequently as the urge to pee.

But I digress.

Last Thursday, after a short LPBT session which lengthened, stands for Let's Play Basketball Together, the juniors took a mighty long time to do something somewhat mysterious- but with my aid due to my superior (as compared to them) technical skills in using a Mac. In the end, they came up with a hilarious and heartwarming video clocking at 28 minutes of all the moments (they'll say mole-ments but don't ask why) we had from last year till now. It was a chronicle of all our drinking outings, charades and Murderer games and the last 2 seasons of basketball. And the video is a real work of blood and sweat for these people. Effort man! Even though the karang guni man called and want his clothes back, Cynthia, you never fail to amaze me.

Man, I'll miss it. Thanks team.

On Saturday it was "Little Miss Wise's" birthday. And the tale of how the team made her present possible became another classic in the team. Seriously, the whole family was involved in getting her the iPhone and there was so much stealth that I thought I was in Mission: Impossible 4. But it was a good "not-so-surprising" surprise still. It was also the first time I saw relighting candles in my life and 1 word- hilarious. For once my old age also helped. After having my own 21st 2 years back (oh it seemed like yesterday), I could contribute some tips and tricks and upon hearing the birthday girl saying that having games livened up the entire party, I wanted to jump up and declare "My idea! My idea!". Well, you get the idea.

And now I'm suffering from poetic constipation so I can't end this proper. But I'm ending this post. Now.

Is having bathroom words like "pee" and "constipation" in the front and back of your post respectively considered somewhat poetic?

And then because Felily Evoked Some Feelings,

I REALLY miss my 中山公园.

My Parents. Classic Parents.

Last night when I came home, my dad excitedly told my mum that they were going out.

"Where?" I asked. "Papa, I want to go too!"

My mum, however, was reluctant. "Don't want la, Papa. I'm wearing PJs and I'm very tired." She complained.

My dad refused to take no for an answer. "Eh, you paid so much, you better go. Don't waste the money."

And so, after some coaxing, my mother finally rose from the sofa (coincidentally after her favourite tv show has finished), and changed.

My dad whipped out the bright translucent "P-Plate" and I realised where they were going.

You see, my mum has been taking refresher driving lessons after her retirement, in a bid to try and learn how to handle her greatest fear- the automobile. She had her license for twenty over years, but hasn't turned a corner or braked at the stop line in that same amount of time. After some lessons, the instructor has decided that she should be ready for the road. And so, my dad is here to teach her on the real road.

After I had pasted the 2 bright triangle plates in the Rush, they started. It was nothing short of hilarious.

"I cannot la, my hands are sweating." My mum said.

"Aiya, just try la. Okay, go into that carpark." My dad said.

After 4 or 5 rounds in a small little roundabout carpark (where she almost hit a motorbike because she stayed too near the side), we were finally out in the main road.

"Where? Pa! Where to turn?"

"Keep right. Eh, no, keep left. Left!"

"My hands are sweating."

"Mummy! You can just 敢敢 press the accelerator!" I exclaimed when I see that she's driving at 40km/h.

"People will horn me, you know. I scared la."

"No no, the P-Plate is here, they cannot horn you."

"You have to stop at the stop line and look, Mummy!"

"Mummy, you can try to brake slowly." I said when I felt a little nauseous.

"Let's go home. I'm done already."

"Cannot, I charge $25 per hour! It's only been half an hour. Now I don't earn anything!" My papa laughed.

And so, in less than an hour, we were home. I was sent to park the car after an irate lorry driver had to wait while my mother panickly tried to reverse the car.

I forsee many more lessons before my mother can finally overcome the fear and start driving like an F1 driver. But this is really a good lesson about overcoming your fears- at the age of 50 odd.

加油, Mummy!

(maybe I should paste that in the car to encourage her.)