MY 200th POST. congrats-me-doo-doo-dum.


I spent one hour plus with Chlo dearest after church talking about stereotypes we dislike. Let me name a few:

1. Girls who don't act their age. 10 year olds pretending to have boyfriends who are asking them for sex and all, please.

2. Guys who have chopstick legs (already) but choose to further emphasize it to make them look like toothpicks by wearing SKINNIES. -disgusting.-

3. Girls who are 'Ah-lians' who act weak in front of guys. Please, when do guys ever dig that.

4. Guys who are such EMOs they take zi-lian pictures with stupid ugly dramatic poses.

5. Girls who photoshop their pictures and put STUPID BRAINLESS CAPTIONS. to name a few examples, "if love is a crime, i'll be your criminal" or, "You're my addiction". PLEASE. mygoodness.

6. Girls who pretend to be homoz. so AA please.

7. Girls who don't dress appropriately for church.

8. Girls who put so much mascara - their eyelashes look like a black chunk, AND they add on Fake eyelashes. Mygosh, are you trying to shelter your eyes from the rain.


all in all, i hate people like me, who stereotype people as stereotypes.


The irony of it all.

Today, i just got down to thinking about the darkest period of my life (so far).

Have you had a period in your life where - if you think back now, most of it would be gray, and painful to even think about.

I've had mine. 'twas several months after my mom passed away, at that point, i was also trying to recover from a breakup with someone very dear. That was the same period i had trouble coping with my studies (Sec 3. tough year.)

Year 2003.


That was the year i had suicidal thoughts. That was the year i broke the most dishes. That was the year i cried the most and the hardest. That was the year where i spent most nights crying myself to sleep. That was the year where i experienced wanting someone so badly. That was also the year i struggled most with everything at home. That was the year i considered dying - i thought about how i should die. And i wondered, would he come to my funeral if i died.


Ah, those adolescent years. those morbid thoughts. those dark days. those gray memories.


dtjw. its time i let go.



OKAY! enough morbidity. :) Jesus will save me.

Today's Christmas! :)

So, i'd like to bless you with two Hotpugs.

In case you didn't know, Pugs are my favourite breed. Their worried faces and flat noses are an absolute love-thing-sort-of-thing. Don't understand right? Never mind.



A Merry Christmas to all!

Even if you're stuck in the smelliest poop, wrapped in the sandpaperest skin, stuffed in the smallest container, smeared on the grossiest wall, juiced in the rustiest juicer, squeezed in the air-tightest ziplock bag,

I hope your Christmas has been meaningful, if not, i pray that your Christmas next year *long pause* will be more meaningful that all the Christmases that you've ever had!

Sometimes i think, i should forget.

But if i do, then there'll be a huge vacuum/hole/abyss/void in my memories.

Then i think, i should let go.

But if i do, then there might be a day i'd regret letting go.

So i think, maybe i should stay put.

But if i do, i'd decompose in my own flesh and rot in the memories of you. (morbidly un-true)

So. Tell me, what would you like me to do?

Because if i don't decide, the next time you come back, I'm gonna waver and lose my balance. And if i ever do fall, again, i'd be a branded a fool. The biggest fool for you.



THIS IS JUST EMO CRAP. SO PLEASE, IGNORE THIS. Go interest yourself with other stuff such as this.

Hello All! :)

Its Christmas Eve already. Too fast.

This year's Christmas - doesn't feel like Christmas. No idea why, but its something internal. I think.

I've been missing so many people (Majority Vietnamese), I've been so caught up with the D-arc ('Arc' for anime talk. 'Phase' for normal talk. 'D' is for me to know.). Thinking about D has taken up too much time, and i'm glad its gonna be over soon. Its a bittersweet feeling. I hate Bittersweet stuff - Except of course, Chocolat Noir.

I really miss Vietnam, the streets, the air, the people, the rooms, the places, the roundabouts, the pollution, the dogs, the tiles, the forklifts, the security guards, the tea, the coffee, the dinners, the homecooked dinners, the motorbikes, the rain, the 'neighbourhood', the Parksons Shopping Centre, the internet cafe, and. The Love.


Its all about the love.


My friends from Vietnam still call and stuff, and i feel so happy and warm when they call. But papa just told me that my 3-min call to Vietnam costed 22 bucks. So, i've decided, until i get a overseas calling card, i won't answer any more calls. And, it really pains me to leave a call (from Vietnam) ringing until all thats left is just "1 missed call".




And i hate to say that i don't feel Christmasy on Christmas Eve, because Christmas is my favourite season. And i'd have to wait a whole year for another Christmas - so i really don't wanna let this go.


Why am i not receptive to the Christmas Spirit. Am i missing the real meaning of Christmas?

I'm so screwed. How did i even get started on Bleach.. AGAIN.

URGH.

(thinks to self: there are 152 episodes on crunchyroll. and i'm at ep 132. which means i got 20 more.)

Ep 132 is a damn good filler :D even though its a filler, its a Good filler.

(Warning: Bimbotism comin' right up.)

HITSUGAYA IS SO COOL! WALA HALA HALA HALA. with that bleached hair and OMY!

AND O! KISUKE URAHARA! WALA WALA WALA WALA! (he's my phone wallpaper. >,<)

*throws heart-shaped confetti* (i got that from Xuan)





YOKAY. thats enough bimbotism for.... one day. teehee. toohoo.

Happy Hari Raya, Ros! and all other muslim friends reading ziz post. <3

TODAY, Papa has the day off, so he pestered me last night to help him clean up the house today. So i did. And since his shoulder hurt, i got assigned the mopping job cos its harder work.

So i mopped and scrubbed and mopped and scrubbed the kitchen floor. And now its SO MUCH CLEANER! mygoodness. but it was not an easy feat man, i think i burnt some calories back there. After all the scrubbing, Papa walked into the kitchen and exclaimed, "WOW! SO CLEAN AH!!"

I think i'm gonna forbid my grandmama to cook in my kitchen - ever again.

Anyway. There was a really funny conversation that went on whilst mopping. Papa was incharge of Vacuuming. So, he'd vacuum then i'd mop.

Me (Mopping and prespiring): Papa!

Papa (was done Vacuuming, so he was sitting and resting): Ha?

Me: You didn't vacuum the floor underneath the pail right >: (

Papa: I did! I did!

Me: NO you didn't! There was a dead fly and a dust bunny there. >: (

Papa: ... (some gibberish) (He was guilty)

Me: HAH! Trying to cheat ha!

-end of convo-

its funny to see how things have changed. usually for that kinda conversation, i'm the cheater.


OKAY. Papa's making me go bathe.

Cell was definitely great fun, watching all the ladies sing Christmas Carols at the top of their lungs. And how they'd try to gradually sing the choruses louder and all, Really peaks the Christmas mood!

To my project group, i'm sorry i wasn't able to join you guys in the afternoon :(

Just a bit of reflection. I was watching Channel 5, and Mark Richmond was giving updates for the ASEAN Games. And they showed this clip of Singapore's Proudest moments for this season of games. And i couldn't help but feel proud of Singapore - or maybe, i feel proud of the people standing with their Gold medals, with Singapore's flag on their backs, bowing to the cheering crowds.

Its pretty amazing. and it gives me goosebumps.

To you: I'm happy! :) I don't miss you that much anymore. And i'm happy about that :)


So. Today tons of stuff happened. I slept for two hours in the morning, then i woke up at 4am to continue working on my report. Then i bathed like madness, and i rushed down to school. Reached at 7am. and continued with my report. Then rush like mad again. And ah. Long story, but i managed to get my report submitted (30mins late).

Anyway, after all that mad-rushing, my adrenaline was all gone, and i was as grouchy as can be. I felt like all the fatigue accumulated from the past week chose to self-reveal today. its like, for the past week i've been sleeping 4+ hours every night. Plus, today morning i was plagued with a BIG bad flu. My voice is still a little off.

Anyway. I was supposed to meet Joel for dinner today, but his camp called him back earlier. So :( we had to cancel. But i'm quite confident we'll go out again soon. :)

And FYP meeting was quite fun. :D all the ghost stories about dolls and pontianaks.

Then i came home, and i was surfing the net and then i heard from the TV outside my room - JEFF CHANG'S CONCERT NEXT MARCH! and they were playing all his oldies, and thats how i was able to recognise even though my room door was closed. I wanted to go, quite badly, but i knew Jeff Chang-ers my age were a RARE case. RARE.

So i went to youtube and started watching all his MVs, and of course, sang along with my ko-yak voice. Then Xuan saw my "i love JEff Chang" nick.

and.............................................................................


turns out she's a Jeff Chang-er too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THATS ONE OF THE TWO BEST NEWS I'VE HEARD SO FAR. WE GOT ALL EXCITED AND WE HAVE DECIDED TO SAVE UP FOR JEFF-CHANG'S CONCERT NEXT YEAR SO WE CAN GET GOOD SEATS!!! :D

Well. the Second really-good news is that........................................

I found out yesterday that G loves YANNI TOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OMYGOODNESS. YANNI Fans are rarer than rare. but i don't expect alot of people to know/like Yanni since his music is contemp Classical. But can you imagine my shock when i played one of his songs and i said it was by Yanni, and G gave me the wide-eyed look and said, "G, I love Yanni!"

WOAH WO-AH. WOOOO-AHHHHH.


Music is love, is life.

I remember, i wrote a song very long ago. Just two verses. But its who God is to me. So here:

His love is fresh like the dew drops in the morning,
His faithfulness is for eternity.
His joy is warm - like the warmest streak of sunshine in the sky
O, i'm so in love with Him.

Though there'll be trials and battles to fight,
I know my Lord will walk with my for life.
He'll hold my hand, and wipe my tears, He'll take away my fears.
O, i'm so in love with Him.

~

I'm...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................



Tired.

Although i've left Vietnam for more than a week already, it seems my blogger thingy is still... reminiscing. Look.



Anyway. it brings back memories of Vietnam :) kinda sweet.

OKAY. so i was reading up some stuff on Wikipedia. And after some clicking, i came to the article about "Bubble Tea".

I read the entire article.

Its weird to see how elaborated Bubble Tea can get when it is explained in proper english. I mean, its just a drink with Tapioca Balls in it. But Wiki has a whole article on it, explaining things like the special big straws, the gummy texture and size of the pearls, the different kinds of drinks and flavours offered, and how ice-blended drinks should be consumed faster than the tea-drinks cos the coldness would cause the pearls to harden which makes it "less enjoyable to chew". Quite funny ay. :D

O, and I always thought that the drink was called Bubble Tea because the Bubbles referred to the Pearls since they're round and they occasionally float around in the drink. ITS NOT AY! the "Bubble" refers to the bubbles floating on the drink as a result from shaking it to mix the tea with the syrup. >_< what a revelation.

Knock yourself out, CLICK.

My bum is collecting more fats because my brain refuses to tell my body to stand up and get moving.

But thats okay. i'm gonna go for a jog tonight.

My brain has not been thinking much since i got back. Adapting to Singapore Life has not been easy. Just like how when i went back to school yesterday - everything felt alien. Everything. The noises everywhere - which were once mere sounds - were too much to bear. The canteen, the benches, outside the LTs.. everywhere. I just miss the serenity of Vietnam. But then again, Vietnam is anything but serene. The traffic is one good and very big example.

SO.

Since i got back, my brain has been plagued with pieces of Vietnam. Then, just as if Vietnam was not enough, a piece of History came back. And so, for the past 6 days, my mind has been soaked through with Vietnam and that piece of History. and my body has been plagued with Nausea.

I was told to work at church this Sunday. At first i was quite okay with it, cos i wasn't really thinking when i agreed to work. Then after some time, i really wanted to attend Worship. At least Worship. But... i can't. Cos we're shorthanded. So. I'm praying that God will teach my Spirit to be obedient. I wanna enjoy work. I really want to.

Funny how everyone i've met so far carries the same expected conversation which would typically go like this:

Me: Hello ____!

Person: HEY! YOU'RE BACK!

My Evil Brain thinks: Doh. I'm standing in front of you.

Me: Yep :)

Person: When were you back?

Me: Sunday :)

Person: So, how was your trip?

Me: Loved it. Didn't wanna come back, but I was forced to. *smiles*

Person: *Laughs out loud*

My evil Brain thinks: I wasn't joking.




I can be quite evil. I know.

TROI OI. TROI OI. TROOOOOI OI.

I just revisited my Archives and read that One post about you that i blogged last year.


I CAN'T BELIEVE AFTER ONE YEAR, I'M BACK WHERE I AM.


I'm gonna rip my hair out. Either that, or i'll just sing Bic Runga's 'Sway' so loudly you can hear me from Mulberry Ave.

So. Today's only the third day of school, and i was stuck there till 10.30pm.

Although this term's timetable is EXTREMELY slackish.................

Monday: 1 Tutorial
Tuesday: No class
Wednesday: 1 lecture, 1 tutorial
Thursday: 1-hr lecture
Friday: No class

(Technically, "No class" doesn't mean no class, because we are supposed to visit our assigned company to work on our Major Project. BUT. Our company has requested us to go down as little as possible. They'd rather us do Tele-conferencing. So we can do our work ANywhere, so long as there's a speaker phone of some sort.)

BUT.... I can foresee a hectic (final) term. For one, i'm only on my first week and i have this much to do:

Thursday: Complete Vietnam Exhibition
Friday: Present Exhibition, and prepare for Presentation next day
Saturday: Oral Presentation for OSIP, meeting with YPC advisors and Committee
Sunday: Chiong OSIP Report
Monday: Hand in OSIP Report
Tuesday - Thurs: Complete FILA-thing for Major Project
Friday: Submit weekly report for Major Project
Saturday: Rest my butt off.


I can see why Aaron's so stressed.

Anywaay. To my two biggest loves in TP - Aaron and Gavin:

Aaron my love, don't worry please. You know you can count on the 2 Gs. We're your Egg Yolks, dude. Even if you don't do well, even if you screw up everything, You know we'll be there for you. I promise (on behalf of Prata-G, too.).

Gavin my prata-love. I loooooooooove you, Prata Boy!

I'm glad we met up.

I'm glad we talked.


Thank you.


-
Don't Stray.
Don't Ever Go Away.
- 'Sway' by Bic Runga

Its funny how people whom you think have disappeared for life can try to contact you when you're in Vietnam, and then just the day after you're back, they manage to get you on the phone.

Anyway. Much can be learnt from watching the National Geographic Channel, here's some valuable animally information for all you animal lovers:


Elephants

1. Elephants have the longest gestation period. While a typical human's gestation period lasts for 9 months, an elephant's last for 22 months.

2. Elephants were evolved from animals that live in the sea.

3. The elephant's trunk contains 39000+++ more muscles than in an entire human body. It can uproot trees with just its trunk.

4. A baby elephant takes about a year to fully learn how to control its trunk.

Dogs

1. It is possible for a litter of puppies to be from different dads. Because when a dog mates, the eggs from a female doggie is usually not 'ripe'. So the sperm will attach itself of the uterus walls to wait for the eggs to ripen. When the eggs ripen, the sperms will then dash to fertilize it. So, during the wait, mummy dog could have mated with different daddy dogs. Hieu Khong?

2. The largest birth from doggies so far is a litter of 24 puppies. SHOCKING.

3. When a puppy is born, the mummy eats the placenta - This is a crucial and important step to end the gestation period as the chemicals from the placenta will trigger the mummy's body to produce milk for her puppies. Hence.

4. A Dog's whiskers are more sensitive than a human's fingertips, and they serve to protect its eyes. According to Nat Geo, if you touch a Dog's whiskers, it will cause its eyes to blink. :D


Dolphins

1. Dolphins are the only organisms other than humans who can have sex for pleasure. In other words, they can mate 365 days a year, while other animals just mate when they're in heat.

2. Foreplay for Dolphins last a few hours, but the act of the intercourse itself only lasts a few seconds. Its too dangerous in the ocean.

3. Sea Water kills Dolphin-Sperms, so during the mating session, both dolphins would come so close to each other that it is.. water-tight.

4. Dolphin Ancestors are a breed of Dogs (in the prehistoric era) that used to fish in rivers but they live on land. Hence, during the Gestation Period, Dolphin-Foetuses grow legs, but the legs are retracted sometime before birth. Which means that Dolphins were once land animals.




If you're wondering why everything above has to do with Sperms, Eggs, Gestations, Mummies, Daddies and Babies, Its because i was watching 'In The Womb: Animals'.

I'm home. Singapore-Home.

Don't get me wrong, i love Singapore.

But Vietnam... feels so much like home too. So much.

I miss everyone so much.

My last moments outside the hotel were.. a little sad. There were some funny moments though. Like how our luggages were so heavy that when they were loaded on to the taxi, the taxi actually moved by itself.

But then, i was supposed to meet someone for the last time before I leave. I told him i was leaving at 6am, so if he could make it before 6, he'd call. Then i called him at 5.50am. The line got cut off halfway. I had the impression he overslept. So we left for the airport. At 6.17am he called me, just when i arrived at the airport. I told him i was at the airport. And he said "Oh... Anh.. Hotel." He sounded so sad, i could feel the sad-waves transmitting thru the phone. Turns out he rushed to the hotel. But we left.

Then when i reached Singapore, i felt a little depressed. But thank God for my famille. My dad, Korkor, aunty leng. They were all there to pick me up. And everyone was happy and chatty, made me feel better. We had lunch and all. Then when i got home, i totally dreaded the unpacking part. Totally. I hate unpacking.

Everything smelt like Room 504, the clothes, the books, the bags, the plastic bags, the socks, the papers. Everything. Then, he called. And he asked how was i. And the normal stuff. But i started tearing. And i couldn't stop!

Everything was all grey. gray. I went to my kitchen, it was drizzling. And i stood by the kitchen window for a little while to smell the air - as usual. Everything i smelt, everything i saw. Everything in reality, was replaced by memories of Vietnam.
I said a little prayer to God, asking for strength, asking for his protection for the people i love and left. I prayed that i would not be overwhelmed by memories.

And thats how much i miss Vietnam.

i'm 2 + 5 + 3.5 + 2.2 + 1.8 + 4.5

I think that adds up to 19. If it doesn't, then cancel that. I'm 19.


First of all, THANK YOU NAT. I LOVE LOVE LOVE YOOOOU.

It was the night of 15th November. And we decided we were not gonna sleep that night. So we dropped by the bookshop to go crazy a little. We ended up buying 32 pens for our friends at the office. It was GREAT shopping. :D

Then, Nat insisted on buying cake to Happy-Birthday me, so we went to Gloria Jeans, I got Chocolate Cake, and she got Tiramisu. Then... we realised we had no Candles. So we went back to the bookshop to get candles. But since we didn't know where the candles were, Nat suggested i look on the second floor while she took the first. And so, we got candles!

Then we went back to the hotel, continued with Project:Pen. Then, at 12am, We celebrated me turning 19! :D It was a simple but absolutely wonderful celebration. I loved it. THANK YOU LOVE.

Then after Nat was done singing my birthday song, she presented me with my present! It was the 2008 organiser i was eyeing at the bookshop. And guess when she got it. When i was up there looking for candles on the 2nd and 3rd floor. HOW SLY SIA. :D LOVE YOU FOR THAT, BABE.

THEN we watched Supernatural, freaked ourselves out a little. And we slept. and went to work! :D

So, as we entered the warehouse, as usual, all the Security Guards were all there, plus the Store Assistants. Then I walked in.. and some of them started applauding and singing Happy-Birthday!!! I got so embarrassed. Hehehe.

Then for the rest of the day, the Security guards were all saying happy Birthday and all. extremely sweet. :D

THEN!! OUR COCONUTS ARRIVED! :D WOOHOO! o. i forgot to mention, we (nat and i) decided to buy coconuts for everyone. as a surprise of course, to celebrate my birthday. and we ordered 35 Jelly Coconuts! :D So everyone got a coconut. And we were both very happy people. :D

So the day went on, and i was discussing some work stuff with my Supervisor, then, the Supplier Lady (who works at the office too. who happens to be very rich.) came and discretely asked my Supervisor for my name and Age. Then about half an hour later, SHE CAME BACK TO THE OFFICE WITH A HUUGE CAKE. O MY GOODNESS.

BEfore i knew it, all the porters outside gathered just outside the office to take pictures and all. MY GOODNESS. Then, before i knew it, the Warehouse Leader started looking thru their CD collection for their version of Happy-Birthday. And he played it on so loudly!! my gosh.

Then all the staff gathered to sing Happy Birthday. And i gave half the cake to the Security Guards and Porters outside, the other Half was shared among the staff inside the office.

These are the people i wanna thank and hug (if possible):

Nat love.
Ms Thuy (Supervisor)
Ms Thuy (Supplier)

(Sister) Chi: Ngan, Tao, Van, Dang, Luan, Thuy.

(Brother) Anh: Trung, Trung, Duy, Yan, Giau, Do, Duoc, Dung, Tung, Phong, Tinh, Diem, Khanh, Canh, And so many more.

I love all. Love love love love all.


So much, i can't even bear the thought of leaving Vietnam.

This post shall be read discretely and left undiscussed.

For that brief moment 2 actually sounded serious. Which left me baffled. How else am i supposed to respond. There was You, and there was me. If you're saying it just as everyone else is, then i'll treat you like everyone else. But don't say it, and turn around and ask me. Because it changes everything.



Tam Biet Anh Do.