Quote of my night

It's now 1.21am.
Here's the quote that made my night.

"If we have to play against New Zealand, I'll explain it like this. To win, their 15 players have to have diarrhoea and we will have to put snipers around the field shooting at them and then we have to play the best match of our lives."
- Argentina second row Juan Martín Fernandez Lobbe on a potential quarter-final match against the All Blacks.

Ain't it so true~
^-^

Moons

Happiness depends upon ourselves.Aristotle
Knowledge of what is possible is the beginning of happiness.George Santayana
No man is happy who does not think himself so.Publilius Syrus


It’s coming to 9 months since I got my black.
I still get a kick out of see my black dobok hanging out to dry.
Proud to be a Dan 1, but sometimes it does make me realize how blessed I was when I wore colour belts.
Let’s face it; once you are black, you are BLACK.
Wahahah~

Day time of Wednesday – Lunch.
Spent with Catherine at Tanjong Pagar.
Irony that I be there 2 weeks ago as well.
Lunch was at a quaint place within a condominium.
Lebanese food.
Something new for me… hehe…
Though the food was good, the fellowship was better!

Wednesday night was full of Moons.
Moon-cake and a very round and bright moon.
Mooncake’s official night was Tuesday but the Blacks had the cake feast right after training instead. Courtesy of Qian Bei, we had mooncakes with all sorts of fillings. Lotus seeds, nuts, chocolate, coffee, green tea and red bean. Mind you, I have yet to get to the snow skin section. That comprised of green tea and blueberry.
QB gave the food out faster than I could chew the cakes.
All hail QB!
His mooncake skills are second to almost none :)
We had two jugs of bear plus green tea to go with our meal.
Don’t ask me how much I drank of either… I was a little confused myself by the end of the night.
Haha~

Thursday was spent at work and at home.
I managed to get quite a bit done after my long awaited afternoon nap.
Sat down to watch the NZ vs Portugal match with my Dad.
Love that Father-Daughter time :D

Now, I must ask if anyone wants notes for MSM, MM or CF.
Yes, I know… I am very late in asking… but better late than never right?
Let me know asap ya?

Yang Mui!
Wanna meet for lunch/dinner?
Ask Diana and Shimin along! :D

Signing off for now~
^-^

Mostly song words

This post is for all the songs in my head.
Hopefully getting them down in words will get them out of my head.
-hystrical laughter-

But before I head to the songs...
Just came back from lunch with Catherine.
Had a good time and the food was exotic to say the least.
Hohoho...
Aight - on to the songs!


Natasha Bedingfield - Soulmate

Incompatible, it don't matter though
'cos someone's bound to hear my cry
Speak out if you do
You're not easy to find
Is it possible Mr. Loveable
Is already in my life?
Right in front of me
Or maybe you're in disguise
Who doesn't long for someone to hold
Who knows how to love you without being told
Somebody tell me why I'm on my own
If there's a soulmate for everyone
Here we are again, circles never end
How do I find the perfect fit
There's enough for everyone
But I'm still waiting in line
Who doesn't long for someone to hold
Who knows how to love you without being told
Somebody tell me why I'm on my own
If there's a soulmate for everyone
If there's a soulmate for everyone
Most relationships seem so transitory
They're all good but not the permanent one
Who doesn't long for someone to hold
Who knows how to love you without being told
Somebody tell me why I'm on my own
If there's a soulmate for everyone
Who doesn't long for someone to hold
Who knows how to love you without being told
Somebody tell me why I'm on my own
If there's a soulmate for everyone
If there's a soulmate for everyone


Llama - Llama Llama Duck

here's a llama
there's a llama
and another little llama
fuzzy llama
funny llama
llama llama
duck
llama
llama
cheesecake
llama
tablet
brick
potato
llama
llama
llama
mushroom
llama
llama llama
duck
i was once a treehouse
i lived in a cake
but i never saw the way
the orange slayed the rake
i was only three years dead
but it told a tale
and now listen, little child
to the safety rail
did you ever see a llama
kiss a llama
on the llama
llama's llama
tastes of llama
llama llama
duck
half a llama
twice the llama
not a llama
farmer
llama
llama in a car
alarm a llama
llama
duck
is THIS how it's told now?
is it all so old?
is it made of lemon juice?
doorknob
ankle
cold
now my song is getting thin
i've run out of luck
time for me to retire now
and become a duck


Backstreet Boys - Inconsolable

I close the door
Like so many times, so many times before
Felt like a scene on the cutting room floor
When I let you walk away tonight
Without a word I try to sleep, yeah
But the clock is stuck on thoughts of you and me
A thousand more regrets unraveling, ohh
If you were here right now,
I swear, I'd tell you this

CHORUS:
Baby I don't want to waste another day
Keeping it inside it's killing me
Cause all i ever want, it comes right down to you
I'm wishing I could find the words to say
Baby I would tell you every time you leave
I'm inconsolable

I climb the walls
I can see the edge but I can't take the fall,
no. I've memorized the number
So why can't I make the call?
Maybe 'cause I know you'll always be with me
In the possibility

CHORUS:
Baby I don't want to waste another day
Keeping it inside it's killing me
Cause all I ever want, it comes right down to you
I'm wishing I could find the words to say
Baby I would tell you every time you leave
I'm inconsolable

Don't you know it baby
I don't want to waste another day
I'm wishing I could find the words to say
Baby I would tell you every time you leave
I'm inconsolable


Now only time will be the judge.
*hoot*
^-^

Charcoaled me

Happiness grows at our own firesides, and is not to be picked in strangers' gardens.Douglas Jerrold
Happiness is where we find it, but rarely where we seek it.J. Petit Senn
To be happy, we must not be too concerned with others. Albert Camus

Phew… What a week!
As of today, I am officially weak, wasted and turned to charcoal.
That thread of sanity has been getting thinner and thinner with the roll over in lack of sleep. Like the interests rates of our local ‘Ah Long Ge’s, the figures have been jumping and jumping. End game happens when I comatose on queue at the wrong time and wrong place.
Thank God that did not happen to me today!
I did almost fall asleep whilst marking though… geez~

This busy lady has been running all over the place, nothing new there.
Went to watch the Contender match on Saturday.
I am not allowed to talk about it here because I might get sued.
What I will say, with fingers crossed, is that the show is a bloody good production. Brings all the classic elements of a good reality programme together, and I swear some of the fellas could be underwear models!
-migumi laughter-
It was a very fun experience; I even made a new friend in the process!
Heehee :)

I didn’t manage to catch the New Zealand vs Scotland game at White Tangerine as planned. Due in part to my getting the timing wrong and the fact that I lack in the sleep department and … well, there are a few more reasons but I don want to be too chiong hay lah… already becoming too Auntie-fied as it is.
-runs round the house in horror-
Even the volunteers from SP started calling me ‘Mummy’… my tian… where did that come from?
Shang Ming also commented once that I got that ‘auntie’ air.
-continues running around the house-
-pulls self back from digression-
The match, as I have read, was good if not for all the handling errors committed by the All Blacks. Danny boy failed to deliver for most of his kicks, but should not be pinned down for that because the failed kicks were done at the extreme ends… McCaw did pulled the first try out of his magic hat and Doug Hawlett is now the all time highest try-scorer for the All Blacks.
The score was left at 40 to zilch with the blowing of the final whistle, but there are plenty of kinks to be worked out before the next match. Resting is not an option even though the Men in Black have secured a place in the quarterfinals.
One does wonder why there would be handling errors in this match. Could it be that they are starting to show signs of a possible choke?
-touches all the wood in the house-
-runs down to the neighbour’s house to borrow some wood to touch-

Among the usual trappings of a tight and getting ever-the-tighter schedule, I finally managed to find time to sleep today.
Totally knocked out the moment my head hit the pillow.
4-hour nap should have done the trick, but I think I still owe the sleep bank.
Interest rates may be lower these days but it’s always better to have some in backups.
I dreamed of the All Blacks, Renee and some other random people.
Very funny dream that just goes to show how much I have been thinking about the team.

A bit to reminiscing with my downloaded pod casts of the Mr. Brown show. Laughing at the Ah Bengs and thinking about the refurbished tanks, not to forget the interesting aspects of Singlish.

Need to prepare for the coming weeks… one more month in my gig, and I will be cut loose again. Not exactly looking forward to it. Job search is on.
There are many things to be done.
*duh~~*

As always, there are so many things I want to do, so many people I want to meet up with, but the constrains are time and my inability to fly.
Hopefully one day I will gain the ability to teleport or fly. Then again, I might end up getting charged for the use of Singapore’s limited air space.

Other things I have been up to:
Finally passed Adelyn her Birthday present.
Went out with TKM.
Went out with YKM.
Window-shopping at Compass Point.
Preparing my kids for grading – this coming Sunday.
Dinner with my SP kids.

Just apply pressure and I'll become a diamond... Hehe~
I’ve had some highs and a few really bad lows, but thank God for my friends.
Those special individuals are my angels.
Thanks guys.

The new week starts and time for me to kick it in the butt!
Chioong ah~~~
^-^

ICCS 2007

Action may not always bring happiness;but there is no happiness without action.Benjamin Disraeli
Great effort from great motives is the best definition of a happy life.William Ellery Channing
The rays of happiness, like those of light, are colorless when unbroken.Henry W. Longfellow

RUGBY WORLD CUP!!!
Current match being played (whilst I am typing): New Zealand vs Portugal.
Points at halftime stands at 52:3.
Since I don’t have cable.
The official website is my best bud at the moment ;p

Been a real rush of a week, but let me start at yesterday ok?

Friday class then rushed down to Kallang to meet XJ.
Did work in the office. She with the PPTs and me with my marking.
Missed out on the England/South Africa match but no biggy, it was like reliving the camp (or so to speak) all over again with XJ. Brought back some memories… haha~
Stayed overnight in the office in order to make sure the NUS ‘advance-party’ had someone to meet when they arrived today at 7.15am.
I’ve learnt my lesson. Need at least 3 in numbers the next time. Best would be to have at least one guy around. It’s better for my nerves and a hell of a lot better for getting rest.
Shang Ming was kind enough to join us and allow me to have some rest before today’s event.

International Coastal Cleanup Singapore 2007.
A huge mud-fest.
One should always come prepared for getting muddy and into all sorts of rubbish – literally.
The members got their booties on and walked right into the muddy areas to lead the packs of students in their collecting of rubbish during the low tide. Speaking of which, the tide came up in record time today, thus our time spent knee-deep in the ‘trenches’ was radically cut short. *bleah* I was looking forward to cleaning up the marina and hauling as many trash bags as possible over to the PUB ‘Uncles’.
-shrugs-
On the brighter side of things, we did manage to get the message across to the students who came down to join us. Most of them, especially the girls I was looking after, were aghast at the amount of litter that was in the marina. The youths were all about debating the problems, which we face due to all the litter in this area. Both good and bad. Think about my sentence and maybe you might get what I am hinting at.
Hopefully they will not easily forget this day.
The numbers will be tabulated very soon and uploaded to the Internet.
I expect that seeing the numbers will be exciting and yet depressing.
We did get more than twenty bags on our side.
Don’t need to wonder about the rest of the world, just ponder about the rest of our dear island and that’s enough to make me lose more hair.
But, I see God's hand in all the events that transpired today.
Praise God!

Rushed down to work not long after the last student left our compound.
Class was fruitful.
I have found a new method.
-evil laughter-
Stayed back to do marking and stoned for quite a bit.
Had a strong urge to put my head on the table and start looking for my sheep/lamas.
Good thing I did not. Haha~

The rest of my week headlines:
Dinner for Jimmy.
Afternoon with Shoon.
South Africa leave England with a huge egg to suck. (36:0)
Lunch with Jay.
Classes.
School program.
Administration.
Library visit.
Boy vandalizes tables.
Same boy scolds vulgarities while in class – gets shelling from me.
Insurance headaches.
Ran into Cat.
Another boy pukes during and in class.
Bought dinner for Mum and TKM.
Expensive cab fare.
Lack of sleep.
Haka fever.
Search for the elusive Black jersey.

Match at full time – 108:13.
No prizes for guessing what colour the winning side wore.
Man of this match: Jerry Collins.
-waves pompoms-
Maybe I will try and find a proper place to watch the next time.
-psychotic laughter-

One match down, two more left for this evening to go~

Enjoy your weekends everyone!
Blessings~
^-^

MINDS West-end Camp @ WWS + RWC 2007

"This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; the being thoroughly worn out before you are thrown on the scrap heap; the being a force of Nature instead of a feverish selfish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy."
George Bernard Shaw

Tis' true, there be a camp at the WWS premises.
I am on 'jaga' duty.
-laughs out loud-
The only one on duty.
-laughs out even louder-

What I am thankful for is that the people who are holding the camp here are nice and friendly.
They are thoughtful and invite me to join them in their conversations as well as partaking in their supper. Hehe... good food form the Old Airport Road Market... how can I say no?
-hysterical laughter-
Singaporeans love food no?
Ren jian de rong hua fu guei ;)

The MINDS West-end camp will be held here from today till tomorrow.
Sadly I will not be able to be here for the entire stretch as there are classes to be taught and items to be ticked off my list. Yes, the serial list-maker strikes again... and in various places all at one time!

There have been a lot of things going on lately.
As usual, I would have posted sooner but Miss Busy is my maiden name. Add to that the results coming out and you have a recipe for total ignoring of the blogging section.
Not that I am unhappy with my results, but getting a full cert is more than looking at marks. There are so many things that go along with the numerals that get printed on that slip of paper. It changes so much and yet does nothing at the same time. Much rides upon that one printed coloured piece of paper - then again, all these things are subjective and at the end of the day, it is what you do with the paper that matters.
What I am thankful for is that there are plenty of options in front of me.
When God closes one door, He opens plenty more for us to find. We just have to make up our minds to stop looking at the closed door and start looking for the openings in other places.
Besides, He has His reasons for everything that happens. He makes everything perfect and moulds me with all the tools that He has at His command.
Praising God gets blardy hard when things are not going the way I want them to, but it is through these circumstances that I grow in Him and become the person He wants me to be.
In the end, everything will be ok.
If things are not ok, then it is not the end.

Everything will be peachy in the end ya?

Thank God for my very supportive family and friends.
They help me daily. :)

OK - now to other things... aka RUGBY WORLD CUP 2007!
-waves pompoms all over the place-
It started yesterday night with the France-Argentina match.
(staged at night due to the time differences)
What a surprise!
Really did not see it coming... France lost to Argentina!
I was so shocked when I saw the scores this morning...
On home soil some more... my tian!
Many heads are going to roll from the gallows.
France are going to get criticised big time while the Argentina camp celebrates to their hearts content - for now.

Today's matches:
New Zealand vs Italy
Australia vs Japan
England vs USA

The England/USA is currently being played... but the defending champions did not start out very well. They were tied with the Americans before the first ten minutes were up.
But I am sure they will be doing their best for the rest of the game...
Japan has their bums handed to them. I read in the news today that the Australians were going to use this particular match as a warm up for the next one against Wales (if my memory serves me correctly). As Marilyn commented, the Japanese were just no match in terms of physical attributes... i guess its a matter of diet?
Oh well... but it is still a good effort. At least they did not go back with an egg.
Now to the match of my evening - All Blacks vs Italy.
Yes, my men were in good form.
Scoring tries left, right and centre of the field.
The man of the match was the captain of the All Black - Richie McCaw.
He made the first 2 tries and literally got the ball rolling for the Blacks to get the game into their pockets.
Dan, mah Man, did the converting most of the converting and penalty kicks.
He and some others got subbed during the second half. Strategic planning from the Coach. Italy also made switches to some of his lineup.
At the end of the day, my Blacks made my night.
Nuff' said.
-does the dance of joy-

Needless to say, I am an All Blacks fan.
One of those who is proud to say that she believes in a black jersey.
However, they kinda broke my heart when they choked during the 2003 Semi-finals in Australia. I really hope that they do not do the same thing this year.
I know they have a lot of pressure on them to succeed, them being ranked number 1 in the world going into the competition and everyone pointing at them to succeed England to lift the Webb Ellis Trophy. For New Zealand, rugby is more than just a sport. It is like religion to some, or most of their citizens.
To be completely honest, before the first kick off of the competition, I was predicting that France would be the ultimate winner. Why?
In their last outing at the RWC, they fielded a very young squad. Young and not really experienced, they still managed to get themselves to the top of their category and into the semi-finals. They got 4th after being trashed by New Zealand. BUT my point is that they did very well for a young, untried squad - That is why I kinda think that they will do very well this year. Then again, after their first outing against Argentina for the beginning of this competition, all bets are off. It is now any country's game.
-psychotic laughter-
May the most deserving lift the trophy!
RAH RAH RAH!!!!!
-waves pompoms all over the place-

Yes, typing spree... Me being the only member here today means that I can get a lot of things done. From admin matters to mingling with the other volunteers to doing my marking and keeping tabs on the matches which are going on.
Multi-tasking at it's finest.
Hahahahah~

Yang Mui,
please get well soon!

My pillow is calling me....
Shall update another time... Rugby *HOOOOOT*
Much to do when the Sun rises.
Chaos for now~
^-^

Fun with the Birds

There is only one way to happiness, and that is to cease worrying things which are beyond the power of our will. Epictetus
I have learned to seek my happiness by limiting my desires, rather than attempting to satisfy them.John Stuart Mills
You're happiest while you're making the greatest contribution.Robert F. Kennedy

Sunday – Bethel Family Day.
Location: Jurong Bird Park.
I don’t remember the last time I went there. T’was nice to make new memories with my friends :)
Thank God it only started raining when we left the place.
Check out the photos for the singles and group pictures – the birds I mean. ;p
Humans are also involved but much less.
We went to see the birds right?

The results are out.
Yes, they are out.
According to my friends.
But the server is lagging big time.
Dum da dum dum…

Laterz
^-^

Teachers' Day 2007

The chances are that you have already come to believe that happiness is unattainable. But men have attained it. And they have attained it by realising that happiness does not spring from the procuring of physical or mental pleasure, but from the development of reason and the adjustment of conduct to principles. from How to Live on 24 Hours a Day, by Arnold Bennett
Fortify yourself with contentment, for this is an impregnable fortress.Epictetus
Happiness depends more on the inward disposition of mind than on outward circumstances.Benjamin Franklin


To all my teachers, teachers who are now friends and friends who are now teachers:
HAPPY TEACHERS’ DAY!!!!!
-throws confetti all over the place-

Went back to SRJC to visit yesterday.
I sat through most of the concert.
Very interesting material they had this year.
Then I saw: “brought to you by the 20th student council”
I almost fainted on the spot.
Great God in heaven… how much time has flown by…
-pulls self back from wondering-
Went a searching for the teachers right after the end of the concert with Shoon.
Spoke with almost all the teachers who taught me while I was in that school.
The others have left or are leaving soon. *bleah* We have MOE or some other schools to thank for poaching our teachers and making it harder and harder to go back to visit. *bleah*.
Anyway it was nice to be talking to my teachers about the old times and what lies in the future for all of us. Plenty of changes have been made to the school. Plenty more changes are coming up as well. Nothing is as constant as change aye?
-sings-
“This used to be my fish tank~~~~”
Had lunch with The G and Shoon at Compass Point Jack’s before heading home to make last minute preparations for work.

Work was a breeze, as compared to usual. Some kids gave me presents and cards :)
It is very interesting to get a card with a message telling you the student in question enjoys your teaching – followed by asking you to forgive him or allowing him to not hand in his homework.

Since today is Teachers’ Day, I’ve got the day off.
Which really is a good thing, coz the body has decided to go on mutiny. I doubt I would be able to make it to class with my body going on the warpath.
The good thing is that I expect it to function normally tomorrow and that’s more than I could ask for.
Everything happens on God’s calendar, not mine.

Yang Mui~
Yes, it I admit, the quote is rather generic.
I will reveal the answer soon lah~
Heehee
You been to the doc yet?
Better take good care ah… school starting soon.

Aight, there are things to be done.
September is upon us all.
Hohoho… time waits for no man, so how about a woman? :p

^-^