Haven't blogged for a whole week.
Been real busy.

Quick summary of my life:

Mon-Tues : Work, work and more work.

Wed: More work, but the Maths HOD trusted me with her car and let me drive to the Science Centre to film some stuff. Realised two things - People somehow trust me and the Nissan Sunny sucks. Engine has no power.

Thurs: Got so fed up with work, coupled with a lack of sleep, that I exploded in the Lab. Shouted at the students. Threatened to kick them all out if I were to hear more noise. Then slammed the door.
Think Everyone was shocked.
I was shocked to hear myself. All the correct voice projection techniques I'd learnt in speech and presentation lessons; commanding/threatening tone I'd picked up in army; the anger and frustration I'd stored up the last few weeks - all came out.
Yes I was seething mad.

Fri: Not so much work. And got to know an interesting nugget of information from a colleague today. Apparently Mark's Mum has been stressing my 'good points' to the office. Her, especially. And making not-too-subtle hints about my eligibility.
Muhahaha.....

I must Really look like a nice boy to her huh? :D

Pity I have no interest in her.

Now, if Mark's Mum were to recommend me to her teachers.... I don't mind mature women? ;)

i've been really busy these few weeks. with work.
yeah i'm serious.
been working late nights (until 6 or 7) and feel like damn shagged out almost every day after work.
still had to bring/fetch/send my sis and bro to/from tuition.
damn tiring, i tell u.
(wonder how my mum managed to do this for so long)

and this isnt even my chosen profession.

cant imagine myself when i've got my med degree yah.

oh! a HOD was asking me today ('cause i was still in school at 6) why i didnt have a date, when its a nice fri evening.
told her "not this month".
whole room of HODs were laughing.

and oh she wanted to introduce some girls to me.

well.

if i didn't have jus 20 bucks left in my bank account and 10 bucks with me* to last till june 7th i'd haf jumped at the oppurtunity.

wait i'd haf had a date today.

i'd haf had Several by today, actually.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*I got 550 bucks for my pay last month.
$200 for my traffic fine
$205 for my insurance
$45 for fuel
=$100 to last the month.

:(

One thing you can do when you're really bored : Read Spam mail.

It can be quite amusing you know.

For example, I just received this mail yesterday. Its title proclaimed : "Every man mus have a sex!!! MUS!!!!"

erm. in this age of political correctnes perhaps that's abit strong huh? i mean... there are in-betweens...?

yah lah. it was trying to sell some sex site.

Oh and the "bank" and "credit card" mails.

At last count I have American Express, Diner's, Discover And Visa cards that require "verification".

And I've a home to mortgage for up to 110% of its value!!!

Not to mention (pre-)payday loans of up to 10 times my current pay!!!

Did I mention I can get cheap medication from Canada too? Like "Viagra".

*One word of advice though - if you want to read spam mails for fun, don't click those that have attachments. They're... not really fun.

I feel quite strongly about accents, actually.

I am in awe of those who can speak with neutral accents. Pure, crisp english untainted by local dialect and slang. Haven't met many who can speak like that. 'Cause I believe to speak with no accent, you have to be supremely confident in your language. You can't mask your inadequacies (grammar or pronunciation) , rather, you need no mask to conceal those flaws, for you will have none (or close to none) if you can speak perfect neutral english.

And I despise people who put on fake accents thinking that their grotesque grammatical errors will be hidden beneath that oh-so-posh British or (usually) American "x-cent".

No its not like I'm elitist - people with bad grammar deserve to die! - but I believe that it shows something when you don't bother to at least try correcting your basics, but instead feel that you're above others just because you possess a half-decent Southern drawl or some quasi-African American vocab.

I'm not talking about those who put on accents when speaking to caucasians - I know its impossible to have a half-decent conversation with most of them in singapore-accented english, I've tried - I'm talking about those who speak to fellow singaporeans in those pseudo-accents.

I know I may seem kinda hypocritical here - I do put on some weird accent subconsciously sometimes when I speak - but believe me, I try to stop myself when that happens. I believe that if your english is of a decent standard, you should be able to code-switch; if you have some self-respect, you will not consciously put on a pseudo-accent to show that you're better than the rest. 'Cause if you do you really aren't.

Just a general rant, actually. Felt like writing something vaguely argumentative so yeah. Oh I prob was influenced by 3 straight hours of Bookworm. (Level 12 at last!! Yay!!! :D)

I just realised something - Go listen to Howie Day's Collide and and Billie Myer's Kiss the Rain. One after the other.
;)

Well I wouldn't say its a rip-off lah. And don't really care.
Sometimes you're just in the mood for such sappy songs.
It's like...working in a secondary school like I do, you get frequent flashbacks of ages ago... Then you just feel so old.
You look at their IC numbers, which I have to do daily, and you realise just how much older you are. Oldest starts with 88.
In fact, most of the kids I come into contact with have their IC numbers start with 9.
I feel Ancient sia.

Don't know why but it seems like I can't stop laughing today.
Was suppressing sudden bouts of almost-uncontrollable grinning the whole day.
Exploded when one of my 'heads' showed me a drawing of her students' drawings. She wanted to digitise' them.
I don't know, perhaps it was the way she described her lofty ambitions for the drawings, or perhaps it was the drawings themselves, I burst out laughing and couldn't stop for ages.
Seriously. I must have embarrassed myself terribly (lucky there weren't any other teachers there), but I just couldn't control myself.
The endagered siberian tiger one group drew was exactly like those cute cuddly cats you see on KidsCentral!!!
And a 'rabbit'...which looked like a succulent roasted pig... she didn't help by mentioning 'stew' (something about rabbits disappearing into stews?)... haha
Still can't stop grinning now.
Muhahaha....

On a lighter note.
Read this!
http://sg.news.yahoo.com/050424/5/singapore144225.html
For some reason I find it damn funny.
OK maybe it's jus cause I'm in this I'm-not-happy-with-the-way-this-world-works kinda mood today.
Just feel like ranting against something - no, everything - lah.
Yes some people might classify this kind of mood as 'bitchy'. Or 'grouchy'.
Perhaps its jus the horrible hot humid weather today. Or it was 'cause Southampton lost today without a fight. And probably is gonna get relegated. As I predicted in 2002.
But anyways. Can't find anything else to grouse about. (Oh perhaps the US's inability to convince itself that smoke from exhaust pipes IS harmful, and 4-by-4s are meant for the jungles, non-concrete ones. But that... I'll leave to another day.)
Have a nice day.

Jus heard Britney Spear's "Do Something" again on the radio. Got reminded of the mtv.
It's just wrong I tell you. Her promoters/managers/whoever's manipulating her wardrobe, image and G-strings behind the scenes.
You know the gradual transition from innocent teeny-bopper to grown-up sexpot? I think its so damn wrong.
If I were a conspiracy theorist I would say those people are subverting young girls' minds by firstly drawing them to her, then when they've got them hooked line and sinker they lead them on, unsuspectingly, towards an amoral lifestyle where sex appeal and slick dance moves rule over actual success in society.
But I'm not. So I'll just say that this... all-too-common trend of meta-morphing images for pop idols isn't morally correct. It probably Is necessary for pop idols to extend their appeal to new demographics with each new album, as well as to 'grow up' with their core group of fans.
It still is not correct.

Realise I'm pretty chinese at heart. Its like no matter how messed up my chinese is (and it prob is very) I'll still use it as my preferred means of communication with most of my pals. I mean, I guess I can be pretty much at home with English, and can even fake an accent or two... but I don't know... it seems like Chinese just acts that little more intimacy in a conversation, esp with your close friends?
And its not just the usage of Chinese as a language. All the Chinese customs, food, culture... all that I can't leave behind.
I need to have regular contact with friends who are more 'traditional' in their outlook towards life, to stay grounded.
That's prob why I'm gonna come back after my studies. And why my mum insisted she wanted me to be born here in Singapore. (I was 'conceptualised' in England. Prob would haf turned out quite different if i was born there.)

Ah well. Had a great time today. Thanks babe! :)

I've come to realise this - I can't think seriously when I'm happy. Its like your higher mental functions just shut down when you reach a certain state of bliss.
Maybe I should try this next time somebody gets into an argumentative mood. Do something absolutely stupid and hilarious when somebody disagrees with me on some thing or another. Or start to grin or laugh abruptly.
Hmm. *thoughtful look*

Just turned on the radio when I heard Girls Aloud®'s latest attempt at a sappy love song. (Quite successful, actually, imho)
Well there's this line that goes like "'cause I've been to the dark side too".
Suddenly recalled a recent Foxtrot® strip.
Hehe. :D

Just saw a video which the greenridge students prepared. A CIP trip to China. Was really touched.
Man I just feel like doing something similar soon.
Anyone want to do the same? :)

OK now that I've got the politically correct stuff out of the way.

I've got overtime pay!

I think it was because I complained (conveniently) a bit too loudly to the clerks whilst Mark's Mum (yes intentional Caps there :P) was in some corner of the office talking to some other people.

At last I'm gonna get some compensation for the long hours I've worked so far. I tell you, I've not gone off on the dot Any single day since I've started work.

So yeah. More money.

Yay!!!

Finally got the lyrics to this song I just Lurve!!!
It's I'm Not In Love by the Fun Lovin' Criminals.

But. I just realised I can't put it here. I may get sued for copyright infringement.

So yeah. I'll jus do my bit as a responsible listener who listens to original CDs and urge you to go buy their CD. Or listen to this song. It's great.

And yeah. Please don't download it from the web without authorisation.

Let's stop piracy.

Hafta leave home by 630 tomorrow!!!!
Gotta send my bro and sis to school!!!!
That means i gotta wake up by 530!!!!
AAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Feeling pretty down today.
Got saddled down with quite some work in the day - though its still manageable - and met with this major mishap. Think the teachers' opinion of me now are like jus gone, man.
Oh jus in case you'd like to know, there was assembly today. I was supposed to help out the AVA members set-up the audio/visual systems. You never knew I was proficient in such stuff? Well. I know nuts about it.
So yah. One of the performances (belly dancers and percussionists from outside) required music. Well the music was in the laptop. And everybody thought it was in the control room. So yah confusion reigned and the students got quite dissatisfied. No matter. Just as I was about to go down to perhaps save some face for the IT people, the power tripped.
Blackout.
Didn't know what the HECK I was supposed to do. Asked around for the mains and nobody knew where it was.
Ran down, let everybody see my panicked face, went back up. Power came back.
And tripped again.
Ran down again, showed my helpless face, problem was solved by somebody else again.

When assembly was over, I had to ask the IT head and the operations manager how to solve similar problems in the future. They looked amused. Knew I was new lah.
But what I can't get over is the fact that I was hired to help out with AVA, amongst other stuff. I'm supposed to be quite an expert in this area.
Feel I've like let Mark's mum down by showing that I don't know anything. Thereby reinforcing the idea that I got in just by connections.
Damn.

And oh attended El's 21st bday party in the evening. Kau knew like nobody there lah. Whoever I knew were in their cliques. So ended up eating and acting cool (when I was all hot and bothered, standing next to the tea-lamps - no place else to stand) whilst waiting for Mitch to come. And ended up eating and acting cool together with him whilst waiting for Dee.
Went in, found places to sit on the couch. Bad idea. Bunch of people we didn't know crowded around. Not enough space to squeeze my butt on the couch. Ended up in this awkward half-butt-on-the-couch-and-half-in-the-air position. For quite some time.

Anyways. Was quite interesting lah, the party. Though I didn't get to know any pretty girls. Wasn't introduced by the host lah. :(

Well another adult now. Another initiate to the sad facts of adult life.

Damn I'm just feeling damn down lah. Sigh.

Starting work tomorrow!
Yay!!!!

No its not 'cause I'm a total workaholic. If you can pay me to slack hey I wouldn't mind slacking.
Yeah its the money. Not much, but well its an adequate amount. Hopefully.

Am reminded of Ms Sutherland's description of this particular Indian tribe where they spend an extortionate amount of time preparing these blankets with elaborate designs - lots of 'em - before having this ritual one night where they set fire to 'em and have this huge bonfire where they dance and prance around singing songs.
Kinda like money, you know? Our spending of money that is.

In this present world wrecked by consumerism and its insidious effects.... bleah don't feel like crapping today.

Shall sleep. Need energy to work tomorrow.

Oh I know this is gonna be DAMN bhb but can some girl enlighten me regarding my looks?
I'm really curious. So please.

1. Do I...
a. Look like a little boy? OK younger than my age.
OR
b. Look more mature than my age?

2. Am I...
a. Handsome?
OR
b. Cute. (Yeah, Ugly but adorable :P)
OR
c. None of the above.

OK why do I need to know? 'Cause I'm confused. Seriously. And I need to know how to act. I mean, if I look 'cute' its no point initiating serious conversations; spouting philosophical half-truths and generally acting suave rite?
It just wouldnt work would it?

Once again, I feel the need for social contact.
Especially with girls.
Craving.

Once again, I am broke.

If all goes well, I'll have a job by Tuesday. $5 an hour. "Technical Officer"'s the official name.
Dignified term for AVA rep +/- computer tutor (if I can manage it.)

Anyone interested in attending music performances with me? Girls OR guys. Don't really care.

I am so. Damn. Bored today.

Watched Be Cool today. Alone.
Jus felt like it lah. Then haf been waiting to watch the movie.
Well the movie theater was quite empty. Seriously, I could count the number of people there (4 others) before 6 others popped in midway between the ads.
Two single middle-aged people (of the opp sex), and one young couple.
Yes and I had time to think as well. (Advertisement time took eternity. AND they're raising prices. Prob to pay for dat 'sponsored' ad for the singaporean army huh? :P)
Oh well.
Thought of something I read somewhere. "Men are social creatures." (And women.)

Led me to think about school and work. You know how you always reminisce your schooldays? Like no matter how bad they are, they always harbour some... soft spots in your heart. And then you enter the workforce, u feel so... alone?
Sure both school and the workplace provide the backdrop for social interaction.
But. In school you have a common 'enemy' - your teachers with their incessant demands for results and horrendous homework. In the workplace you're basically forced to cohabit with your competitors. Sure you have your superiors to answer to, and subordinates to manipulate with. But can you find any true 'allies'? Can you make true friends in the workplace, and even if you can, what happens when there is a conflict of interest, eg when you're competing for the same project/honours?
I'm not saying its not possible to find worthy friends in the workplace of course.
But my limited experience in working (in the medical centre - its not even 'real' work) has already shown me the... intricate politics that can take place in a, well, workplace.
I've even got quite good at it, u know. Currying favour (from everyone) without appearing to do so; 'smoking' ur clients, basically beating around a thick bougainvillea bush hoping they'd get lost in there; assuring superiors you're better than you really are.
I also find myself putting on, no, showing, rather, a side of myself I don't show outside work. Its like this... professional side, you know?
Its like you don't mix work with leisure?
Is it just me?
(OK I know I took army too seriously. But I mean generally, in the working world.)

Anyways.
Blog getting too long. And that was the gist of my thoughts in that 10 mins or so of advert time anyways.

Oh. Be Cool's quite nice lah. Its got the pre-requisite babe (Uma's HOT!!! Can't imagine she's 41!!!) and beefcakes (Lots of 'em). And a pretty decent storyline. Though I'd prefer more double-crossing and weird coincidences like Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. Luuurved that movie.
So yeah. Worth your $6.50 (on a weekday afternoon, for now).
Next up on my to-watch list - The Pacifier.
Can't forget that scene - LAND!!!!!!!!
;)