rebound!

I just realised that the last time I blogged was before I ran the Army Half! It's been a while man...anyway, thank God that I'm done with the Army Half. It was an experience,indeed. Haha! And like what I've been telling people, I was the last amongst my fellow running enthusiasts to complete the race (not like it's worth "boasting" about anyway)... Like any race, I've learnt a great deal about the dos and donts of marathon running:

1. Start slow, no matter how fast the others are running.
2. Run with music for runs that are longer than 10km. (The 21km felt like forever to complete!)
3. Eat an extra banana. According to the Banana Theory I've developed, 1 Banana could sustain me for 10km so for 21km I should have just eaten another one cos I got hungry halfway...heh.

The waterpoints were horrible it made despos out of us. (Still can't believe Josh just drank from a random bottle by the roadside!)

Anyway, this week was a rather hectic one...I'm not taking the music module anymore cos of (unjustified) timetable clashes but at least my Devt Psych appeal got through so besides this mod, I'm taking Abnormal Psych, Social Psych, Singapore Film (Haha to "Hang Jebat!") and Brit Lit. So far the people in my tutorials are quite nice, some familiar faces here and there and I can't believe ___is in my tutorial, how lucky can one get? XD

Other than school, the only other thing that's taking up a considerable amount of time would be Big Create. Just learnt new stuff from Wenyi for the band, and realised e. guitar's not as easy as it looks! I still prefer Bass btw....Anyway, the musical is 2 wednesdays from now and I've yet to perfect my part! :S

Last but not least, I've had a great birthday this year! Thanks to everyone who wished me or celebrated it and stuff...really appreciate everything, even if it was just a birthday greeting :)

Stay healthy folks!

I don't know why but I'm starting to feel jittery. Ok, maybe "jittery" is an understatement, I'm freaking out right now!!!

It's always easy in the beginning when one agrees and commits by registering and paying, it's only when you're in the process of training (or doing otherwise, which is highly likely!) ,or when that day draws closer after what seemed like eternity that you begin to realise the impact of your actions...haha!

21km sounded OK initially but the digits start to get bigger, now that I'm just 8-9 hours from the real deal. Maybe it's due to all the well wishes prior to the race (especially today) that make the run more of a reality. It's not that I haven't been doing anything to prepare for it, I have been upping the distance by 5km for each jog I did in the last few weeks. I've managed to hit 10km plus before the whole sore throat thing came about, which stopped the training regime even though it was one week before the actual run so....I don't know whether I'm prepared for it. Cedric was telling me the other night about his experience (he's running tmr too!). He ran CONTINUOUSLY for 21km but then, it's not very surprising considering the unit he hails from.

Nevertheless, I'm already in it, there's no turning back! Note to self: I have to get a grip. It's not like I'm climbing Mt. Everest (!!!)

And today's devotional was very, very apt for the occasion:

" Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore, I do not run like a man beating aimlessly...No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize."
[1 Corinthians 9:24-27]

Guess I'll just do the best I can tomorrow and run with a purpose!

B&B

Recently, I've been shoe-shopping...hmm,then again it seems like I've been shoe-shopping since a long time ago. I keep telling myself that I have WAYYYY too many pairs of pumps,shoes,sandals, the works...but in the end I'll lose my defenses and mom will start nagging at me for occupying almost the whole shoe cabinet!

Anyway, my "wedges" phase is almost over (after acquiring 2 pairs and gaining much satisfaction!) Recently, my latest feet fetish would be nude stilettos (OK, beige stilettos/heels in an effort not to sound crude). No more glaring, bright footwear that will catch the eye of passersby but the humble pair of nude footies.

Beige footwear tends to soften what would otherwise be a formal look, don't you agree?


Hayden Penetierre!

For some reason, it makes me feel one with Mother Nature cos it gives me the feeling that it's back to basics, that there's nothing to hide and everything is there as it is (OK, I'm starting to wax lyrical already!). Besides, I think I might justtt be able to pull it off, after my experience with brown peep-toe pumps...heh.

Good decision to put Meredith Vieira in beige patent heels with this outfit, makes for a more relaxed setting on a talkshow...

Chloe Sevigny in her beige strappies, a nice alternative to the nude patent stilettos I had in mind!


Just discovered that Christian Louboutin also had the nude/beige look in his signature collection and I believe Ayumi Hamasaki was one of his clientele for the look but unfortunately I can't find a picture of Ayumi wearing it! Nevertheless, I think Jessica Simpson looks nice and sweet in this one...

Somehow, this pair of beige/ off-colour yellow heels seems to tone down Victoria Beckham's intimidating/diva-like persona...at least, something new for a change!

Hmm, don't really have a thing for beige flats but these pair on Angelina Jolie doesn't look too bad...

Ahhhh! If only I can have Marissa Tomei's beige patent version...it's perfect! 8)

This is my favourite picture out of all I've posted so far. Somehow, this shot of Penelope Cruz dressed in soft cream/beige (not forgetting the matching beige footwear!) just proves that dressing simply can make one look elegant. Besides, I think this colour scheme's her element, it sorta complements her personality actually.

OK, I'm not into fashion as most of you already know and this shoe spread is just a one-off thing so...haha! Sartorial issues aside, I have some merry news..hahaha! I got all my 5 modules already,thank God seriously! :D

For core mods, I'm only doing Abnormal Psychology and Social Psych cos I'm unable to get Developmental Psych as it was in high demand (?!?!) And it was quite a relief that I didn't get Stats II cos I can't bear the thought of going through all that Stats shit again la (even though I have to face it eventually in subsequent semesters).

I used up my last elective mod on "Music in the Global Context", which is quite cool cos I finally get to do something I really want (with no obligations and stuff) and I get to actually have lessons at Yong Siew Toh Conservatory! XD

The other 2 would be British lit and Singapore Film (in an attempt to fulfil Uni requirements and actually, or hopefully, have an enjoyable experience out of it). Hopefully my appeal for Devt Psych gets through...

School's starting next Tuesday! No more slacking...I have to swing my CAP upwards from now onwards...crazy muggers....

PS: looking forward to the weekend :)

Period.

Feeling quite satisfied that I've met my target of running 7km today! :D Been procrastinating since Friday and if not for Nelvin, who keeps issuing constant reminders to "WAKE UP AND DO YOUR RUN!! 10 ROUNDS!!", I would still be idling at home! (Ps: Zhiyi! When are we ever running together again?)

The recent weekend wasn't a pleasant one, especially on Saturday. 'Was angry, disappointed and hurt all at once due to some things my mum said, which was quite unreasonable. Anyway, today would have been a better day to R&R since things have mellowed down a little and I'm feeling more objective ( I hope). Sometimes I wonder if things would have been better if I had furthered my education overseas and have more freedom. It would have been a good break from them anyway, although I can be sure that I'll miss some aspects of Singapore life...

My paternal grandpa's discharged now and thank God that he's fine. Visited him with the family on Saturday and it all would have turned out well until the security guard at the lift lobby had to ruin everything. I was fuming mad cos of all the commotion/fuss he created and if not for the sake of maintaining my testimony, I would have given him more than a piece of my mind!! (Now I know why they always say that anger can lead to high blood pressure and all sorts of things cos' I was so angry that I became giddy, I don't even know how it happened!)

I'm just thankful that Ye Ye is home now. Think I should really spend more time with him man...I can never forget that forlorn look on his face when we first entered his hospital room. And also the genuine happiness in his voice when I called him and Mama today. Seems like I should reorganise my priorities and spend more time with people who truly appreciate it, rather than on those who have been taking me for granted...

Maib's birthday is around the corner but since she's down with fever and H1N1-related symptoms (not that she's actually inflicted with the virus), she has to stay indoors for a week. The good thing about it, according to her, is that she gets to skip her 2.4km run but on the other hand, it would mean that she'll be spending her birthday in bed! XD

Anyway, just received news that my MATERNAL grandpa was just admitted to the hospital due to some lung problems (is there no end to this?!)

OK, think I should stop wallowing in self-pity...this is badd!! Other people have it worse than me (eg. the starving children in Africa, the homeless and destitute, etc...). Now's an apt time to catch a comedy online...

on Cloud 9 and three quarters!

YAY! My wish came true! Actually it's not really unattainable, just that I didn't imagine that it would happen so soon. I COULD FINALLY GO TO DEMPSEY! :D

Yeah,yeah...some of you might be thinking no big deal, but for an east-sider like me who usually do not frequent such far-flung places for no apparent reason, it was happiness to me man!!!

Actually it was quite unexpected. Cos after the wine-tasting with Trina and Nelvin, the latter suggested Dempsey cos an earlier agreement between him and me was that if he drove me to the "Land of the Atas", he would get a Ben&Jerry's treat in return! XD In the end, Alan treated all of us AND I get to go to Dempsey! Blissssss! Feeling quite guilty (but VERY satisfied!) now cos before Dempsey, they drove to Adam Road to appease my prata cravings and that was after we had the wine and fries! XD

Anyway, as some of you might know, I was quite disappointed and upset about how I performed for Mulan even though they said it was good....we should have done a full-dress rehearsal! Anyway, enough of feeling negative already, feeling quite sick by just thinking about it all the time. Most importantly, I'm very happy that what I prayed for is starting to yield some result, no matter how small it is and that is more important than the drama. Thank God!

School starts officially on 11th August! My slacker lifestyle is finally coming to an end, which is good and bad cos my mind will finally be stimulated after months of hibernation but with that comes the stress and all, especially for this coming semester but I'm believing that it'll be a better sem than the previous 2 so...yeah...haha!

HAPPAYE CLAPPAYE! :D:D

So far so good.

Thank God that this week was quite a fruitful one. It was madness compared to the past few weeks of slacking and lazing around, 'was wondering why I get easily exhausted these few days but maybe 'cos the body couldn't adjust to the sudden flurry of activity...Urgh, better do something about it :S

Anyway, the "Zhong Hua Ying Xiong" event is like my baby now, in the sense that I've been quite immersed in preparations for the event (something which I've never really committed to before for past church events). From the painting of props (which was more challenging than I thought!) to the brainstorming of ideas for the booth decor, as well as the rehearsals for the mini-drama, I'm starting to wonder how on earth are the pastors able to manage (and sustain) event after event! Their dedication is seriously admirable,not only must they plan and manage the people and logistics for the event, but they have to see to the people's welfare (eg. sending them off after rehearsals, ensuring their basic needs are met during prep for the events, availing their homes for practices,etc...) And this doesn't even make up half of their job scope!

Anyway, the drama is coming along well. The choreo's much better now (David, Joelle and I spent almost the whole afternoon coming up with it!), all it needs is a bit more sponteneity and energy from the cadets. We had a stage rehearsal, which was quite good (depending on how you see it) cos the cast was more into their roles, to the point where Ben ripped the wire of my cordless mic and Alan was so violent that he splintered the bamboo stick! XD

Hmmm...still need some direction on how to portray Mulan, especially THAT particular part...


And I really have to thank God again. Pastor Mong Yee called me last night!! I might be in Music Ministry now and 'cos of that, Mom and Sis are attending Alpha with me! Don't think you'll understand my joy but it really means a lot to me, ya know XD

And I know all of you will say I'm crazy but I'm running in the Army Half-Marathon (yes, HALF MARATHONN!) in August! Nelvin really suits his day job man (that's sales, btw)..think he managed to convince Alan (who wasn't too keen about it initially) to join too, and he even got Trina! Pray for me man, I don't wanna end up half-dead, with foam and drool oozing from my mouth (with my life flashing before my eyes) during/after the event!

And to end on a nice note, Esther kept to her promise! Not sure whether I'm allowed to post this picture..don't think she visits my blog often..heh...

To mark her "coming of age" and her sole, courageous voyage into the Twenties, I "graduated" her! Happy 20th! :D

A Day in the Life of...

"Zhong Hua Ying Xiong" (aka Chinese Heroes) night is approaching in 11 days' time! I'll be acting as Mulan in the Region A drama. Still feeling a lil' jittery 'cos this is my first time acting in church so if you can, come for the event okayee! Ask me for more details!

And Yee, I don't think we are allowed to videotape the drama 'cos I think it's prohibited so you'll have to go if you wanna see me "live and acting like a woMAN"...haha!

Actually, it's an adaptation of the Disney Film, a more contemporary setting without losing its essence. For now, the cast and the script is more or less settled...the soldiers are really a motley crew of...hmmm..adolescents...haha! And the Good General's not as bad as I thought (phew!)

Did part of the choreography at Pastor Quee Beng's place just now, even though I feel that they could be a little more synchronised. This might get better over time though, when the guys are getting more familiar with their roles. Hmmm, better not reveal too much lest it breaks the suspense! XD

Class gathering yesterday, mainly cos Rach's back (another excuse to meet up!) Waraku's food sucked! Miso Ramen was so salty!!! Maybe that's why they used the big,ostentatious-looking bowls to make up for it....argh! And Paulaner was great but I was slightly groggy by then...


More pictures on FB!