Top of the Pops!

I remember the time when I was so music-oriented. I had this longing for playing the drums plus I was glued to MTV and Channel V, watching those award shows several times (as they tend to get a bit more airtime than you'd imagine) and reading up mostly on UK teeny boppy pop magazines (Smash Hits, TOTP and the like - can't really remember the titles now). I guess those were the days. I knew the pop/rock genre so well that I knew pretty much where each artist is coming from and what's happening to who. That was one season of my life.

I still love music although I do not possess the same obssession, and I still love CDs and though I earn a bit of money now, I'm still as picky as I was before when it comes to buying them. Just bought a couple of CDs today. I find CD shopping to be relieving. Very therapeutic for some reasons.

Tuesday I intended to run some errands for mom but as I checked something with her, she said, "what if we decide to not head down to Sydney and you come home instead?"

My world suddenly shook. The compartamentalized clockwork I operate with just got shaken. I didn't know what to say but decided to dig through the reasons and justify my side. We basically left it hanging.

Next day, mom took a step towards getting me to go home and I reacted rather negatively but it was never confirmed. Up until now I don't know what to think. However, I shoved the thought aside and decided to leave it there for now and just wait and see until we get to the time when that matter will once again demand my attention.

I slept in between work and uni that day. Was meant to wake up at 4pm to get ready for my 6pm class but alas, I slept through the alarm and woke up at 6pm! Made a mad dash for uni but didn't get there until 7:15pm due to heavy traffic. Decided to wait until half time and the break when I can sneak in unnoticed but they never went on a break.

And so I ended up going to the library to find Pauline and her roomie there, went to dinner with Al and then had coffee prior to calling it a day.

Yesterday I was rostered to work at Transport House with Jen, the new supervisor. I do not really know her and I shall hold all judgment about her until such time when she gets on my nerves or makes me really happy or something along that spectrum.

She wasn't there at 10 past so I decided to ring Roy. I didn't have Jen's number. But I have Christine's who's meant to come at 8am. It was Roy's day-off, too but why did I decide to ring Roy? I did not really have to debate in my head about who to ring. I just did it instinctively and it is a bit of a rage release. I'm exaggerating.

To cut the long story short, Roy came in because he couldn't get in touch with Jen but he didn't have a key cos he forgot until the very last second that he gave it to another girl. The search for a key was a bit on the frustrating side and so we ended up having to wait for Ms. Christine to come and just opened the store at 8am. As soon as we got in.

The big question as to whether I should stay on or go elsewhere still lingers.

Uni was boring yesterday. I was nodding off for like an hour and a half, out of 2 hours. I still tried to take down notes. Went for Jazz with Amy afterwards which was heaps and heaps of fun. I was overly hyper until the euphoric effect died down and I felt once again that I am tired and sleepy.

Aging Gracefully

Had a chat session with my flatmate last night. I'm glad she's around, perhaps as glad as she is that I am around. God's provision. I never knew she was coming when I decided to head down under and we weren't even friends. In fact she didn't ahve any idea who I was until she came here. Okay maybe at the rearest of her subconscious she did but we officially met when she first landed on Sydney soil.

We talked about the fleeting time, how in Sydney each year is so different from the next. In the Ivannah world, each year is like a different movie from the others that preceeded or succeeded it. Not radically different but just different in a lot of little ways that make up a rather significant difference. I change with the times but overall I'm still the same person inside with perhaps evolving views and principles but pretty much rooted on the same base beliefs.

And with time comes age and how it just becomes numbers becoming less significant than they used to be that sometimes I even have to pause a while and think 'how old am I again?' But then I don't really go oh I'm old and 24 and really fret about it because I've realized how much I value what I've been through in life and everything else that came with the aging process.

I read this article from the weekend paper (I still don't read the papers unless they're society and lifestyle-related!) about age and beauty where at that certain age you just grow and appreciate the attractiveness of an old person.

I leaned back and thought about how I used to prefer going on homestay with grannies than anything because I see them as people with real concerns, with a life before them that is so different from mine. They've walked through a lot of paths I've never even seen and I appreciate stories and adventures like reading Charles Dickens and admire the greatness of the wisdom that comes alongside life's journeys.

cakes and board games

Work: Rocked up exactly at 1pm, JUST in time for my shift, and JUST as Timo was getting busy. It was an interesting shift despite the inevident boredom that has always existed in the arvos at the W.

I haven't worked with Timo in a while perhaps because I prefer the morning shifts and he seems to have problems getting up early and thus having him on too early equals asking for trouble. Yeah I've told him off a good number of times. So this was seemingly catch up session. But then again, with me and Timo there seems to be a generation gap. One that can exist between a mom and her son or an aunt and her nephew. Go figure.

I find that boy an interesting character nonetheless. He's an artsy fartsy trying to conform to the typical granny Asian mold. I wish his mind can wander a little bit, perhaps his current outlet isn't that effective. I'd like to see what happens to him five years down the track.

The after-work: Had to wait a good 35 minutes for the Lindfield bus to go to Amy's. And kaboom, they were still in the process of MAKING dumplings so me and Al lazed around as Amy, Casey and Rosa did all the work. And then dinner was served. It felt like a Honkie movie was unfolding right before my very eyes. If I learn Canto ever so soon, I won't be surprised.

Had a game of Monopoly which was fun, not only because I won and was the only one left with a bunch of 500s. I've always liked the game. I remember making my dad buy me one and we used to play it as a family. It was cool. Seemingly like a game of real life. Today's game made me wish the game can determine how well you'll do in real life. Yeah right. =) It was good to play the game. I didn't wanna leave Amy's until someone went bankrupt. Yeah I was the recepient of the lot. Haha!

The morning after: Got Hillsong TV int he morning. Early call time, yes but since I slept in so bad today I figure I can stay up tonight. Busy day tomorrow but I'm glad it's gonna be the end of the weekend. Yeah I'm being sarcastic. Not! Hoping next week is gonna be nice and sunny.

Stuff: Finals coming up sooner than ever, got important decisions to be made. Pray I make wise decisions this time and weigh the odds more sensibly. Stop fretting, take a chill pill, trust.

Rainy days, wash away my gloom

Rocked up the lecture hall 5 past the designated time. Put a fair bit of mint into my mouth to mask that pesto flavor from that dearly-priced serving of pasta I had a few minutes in between so-called classes.

All was well. My mind drifted from Company Law cases to my lecturer's wisecracks to dancing when my mind suddenly played a bunch of songs as if it went auto-pilot. I was stupid enough not to bring a brolly when these days are like Asian monsoon season. I told a friend how I was running in filo mode when it was so filo to bot bring a brolly when you've got a jacket. Besides, it wasn't raining when I left home. And I was mainly indoors.

Oh well, I'm home now so it's good. Felt like I need a good hour jumping around and stuff but the autoplay sequence in my head went away. Somehow, the playlist was deleted from memory. I was trying not to eat anymore cos it's gonna be my fourth meal but hey I still ate. Had a pear plus a couple of bickies. It's alright.

Weather's really hopeless at the moment. I kept trying to divert my mind to happy thoughts (e.g. how rain is good for the drought and really kiddie thinking such as the flowers will be smiling cos they're being watered). Oh well. Seasons come and seasons go.

I haven't been very productive except for the housework part of things where I FINALLY ironed my mountain of clean but aren't so clean looking clothes. I thought I'd write my CD reviews but alas I can't do research at the moment cos my internet connection's BAAAAD! And it's just plain annoying to research in such unfortunate conditions.

I was unleashing the dragon in me yesterday but I decided to keep it still and think of it no more. Once again, it's been an interesting year. I grew up because I had my struggles.

The grass will always look greener on the other side.

"you keep me sane"

Purpley purpley...
Amy decided to cancel Jazz class but it's ok. I'm still getting my good ending.

It seems like whenever one chapter ends another one starts straightaway. However, each chapter seems to have it's own plot. There is the antagonist and the protagonist, plus all complications therein.

I hate it when people do not have commonsense! It's quite pointless to open your mouth and say something out of nothingness, what more say something out of nothingness and annoy the hell out of other people?

I'm still glad today's first chapter ended fine. I guess for one honesty is the key and really if you find true friends they'll be there come hail or thundering skies.

I've come to realize how sick of work I am becoming, plus the fact that I do long for change. November 10 will mark my one year in Wynyard, not to mention my 2 years and 4 months plus in the company. Ugh!

My Master of Commerce might not be my last student endeavor after all. I came across a Media Sales Cadetship program which is for residents but it guarantees your foot into the media door provided you do well in the course. They start at the beginning of each year and so I passed the info on to Carlo for now and we'll see what it can do for moi when my time comes.

Future seems bright.

The Battle of the Conscience

In the midst of all the happenings, this is definitely Not Fun.

Weather's weird with probably 90% chance of rain and no sun. Ugh. And so I declare it a Starbucks day. A date with my Finance Book.

Yeah it's definitely time to crack the book.

Ending the night with some Jazzy work-out. Should be a good finish to the forseeable sucky day.

Yesterday was rather boring. Tried to study at home but ended up dozing off. However, did go off to Hills to do the wonderful TV stuff. A good finish nonetheless.

Todaloo.

Jog, Skip, Hop [more thoughts on the day that has just gone by]

\\ James

An English lady came in the store with her little boy asking for lollies. I had to give her the whole Aussie Quarantine issue bit again to explain as to why we do not and cannot get lollies (or after-coffee mints) into the country. Then the lady turned to her son and said "Sorry James, they don't have it." And they decided to check out our lovely pastry case for that 'something else.' Little James' eyes landed on the OJ which I passed on to mum whilst Casey gave them a straw on her request. They grabbed a few other things and little James had stuck his straw behind his ear and was showing it off as if he had a cool new headgear on. It was really cute. I was thinking more along the lines of him being a potential performer of some sort when he grows up.

One of the little pleasantries of work. And life, I might add.


\\ That caffeinated bit

I had three shots of espresso during the first half of my shift, of course, diluted with light soy. That probably released my happy hormones. Pretty good except I didn't get much studying done.I still enjoy my coffee but hey it's a marvel how I do not have to have it each day of my life.

Some things do change.


\\ On best friends

My theory is, there is that spectrum of best friends in general and different people just lie on different spots. Very subjective interpretation but hey it's good to have one that's close to the David-Jonathan (in reference to the Bible) sort of friendship. They're all friends and perhaps calling someone your best friend is like putting a stricter label that may come with certain exceptations some people choose not to deal with. If the so-called best friend fails to live up to some ground rules, it's just way worse than if that person is just one of those people u call your friend. Ack.

Yeah, such is life. Am I quoting myself or a terrible cliche?


\\ Expressions

"Like hello!?!" from Casey is "like heller!?!" from Carlo. Just created a whole laughing madness out of those. I wonder if Casey got that from Carlo. He didn't have a clue. I know I got my "oh my goodness!" spiel from Na. I didn't realize until I heard her say it. Where else could I have gotten it from? It's funny how different people influence you in many different ways and well it follows that the more time you spend with a certain person the more his or her mannerisms and ways become more akin to yours. Perhaps afterwards that is how you gauge how much a person has been a part of you.

And there you trace the intricate patterns of intertwined human lives.


\\ Live and RELIV

My parents have been taking food supplements in the form of health drinks and they got me some to take. I hated it at first but now they're not that bad. Halfway through those things. I don't really know what they do but one thing's for sure, I still have to cut down on food and exercise more. It's just annoying how you can't fit into your old pair of jeans anymore. Rosa misses her Rugby, too. Casey gave me his guest passes to the gym. Have yet to try them out. I think I might stick to Jazz and just do a tad more on my own. What Rugby is to Rosa is what Jazz dance is to moi.

I'd like to stick to doing the artsy fartsy stuff.


\\ The psychological stuff

I could have pressed a replay button somewhere. I tend to do the 'this time last year' portion as in MTV or Rick Dees and the like portions and get some thinking going.It's either I torment myself about something to the point of boredom thus overcome the whole greatness of such thought or flow into the fantastic boundaries of possibilities and what if's that I encourage my mental creativity to flourish within. I reckon that's how my 'graphological specimen' changes every now and again.

It's all a matter of how you think and where you place yourself in the picture.


\\ ..whatevers..

I felt bad for preferring weekdays over weekends here. Bad because it felt so abnormal. Had a bonding session with Na over brunch yesterday at New Orleans Cafe somewhere down the next neighborhood. I raised my appreciation for weekdays saying how it was like there is serenity over the whole nation and there is order in the sense that each and every person had their own little thing to do. It was utopia for me and to my surprise, it was for Na as well.

As I always say, great minds think alike.

I'd be having this end of student life celebration after my exams. It should be fun. So far my whole year's planned out.

Christmas is still a bit of a mystery, as is my publishing career. Again.No biggie though.

bludger blogger

Final minute til tomorrow. Clearly nonsensical. Anyhoo been a ho-hum day right from the start. I think I woke up to the sound of my alarm clock thinking I had nothing to do and I was just repeating some "sleep in! sleep in!" mantra that worked for like an hour and ten minutes.

Thereafter I managed to put some sense into my coconut husk and realized I HAVE TO GET TO WORK AND I AM ALREADY BLOODY TEN MINUTES LATE!!! Tried to ring Casey but his phone was 'disconnected' which was weird. I still took my shower, then rang Casey to let him know I was on my way.

About 8 minutes to 8am I got to work, grabbed a till and got Casey to open the loverly shutters whilst I try to set up as much as possible as I saw a couple of guys lurking around. Potential customers and yes, they did come in and ordered a couple of Venti drinks!

Work was bludgy, a bit on the boring side yet good fun. Dropped by Circular Quay cos Rosa's finishing her shift and then we headed home whilst Al went off to the uni library.

Came home, wrote a long overdue response to a letter I got like half a year ago and tried to cram in a bit of studying. I so couldn't concentrate for some reasons and well I was happy I was able to write letters again. Haven't done that in ages so I was trying to get into the swing of things again.

Off to Casey's for dinner as I gave up reading Accounting. Had another one of Casey's feasts and then just a lot of blabbering around and laugh-out-louds with him and Rosa. Amy was at work so she missed out. Talked about funnies and psychological stuff (triggered by this telly show called Monk with that dude with OCD).

My muscles still pain me. All from the rigid Jazz dance warm-ups. It's the good sort of pain. I so needed the work-out.

Attack of the Moths

I'm just a tiny bit too cheery for someone who's only halfway through an essay due in less than 24 hours. And I still need to squeeze in at least 8 hours of sleep.

Had two tiring lectures today. Finance class was like walking in the middle of a movie with a rather complicated plot. I just don't get it. Yeah I have a clue but I don't follow because I haven't caught up with readings and tutorials and yeah I just hated the lecturers.

Company Law wasn't too bad. It was rather interesting. But at that time of the night you really start thinking of home sweet home.

It's final. We're pretty much staying at St. L now. Which is good because merely thinking of all the hassles involved in moving just pains me. It makes my knees so weak I can hardly think of what I ought to be doing the next minute. We'll be signing a 6-month contract in exchange for the new digital lock they will be installing.

Nothing weird's been happening this month but who knows? The real estate agent was asking me why someone's picking on us. Told him how we don't even know anyone around and he went 'hmmm... ex-boyfriend...' I just had to laugh.

That's one main thing to be happy about and perhaps another is the fact that my essay is actually going somewhere. I just need to find relevant cases and legislations and stuff but the framework's all set.

Nezzie's become Art Director at Mccann! It's like omg! omg! omg! I would have died if I were in her shoes! She's back in Indo. Don't think she can come back here although she wants to but it's great she's going places in Jakarta. I dunno if I'll be riding similar waves should I end up in Manila.

Cheers to Nezzie!!!

Hunger Pangs

I've reached the half-mark essay-wise. It's time for another leg of research but I'm getting hungry. At this time of the night, that means it's time for bed.

Haven't done this in a while. I meant surf the net until I go hungry. It's more of a time element than anything. I really cannot eat that much not because of inability but because of discipline.

Tomorrow's looking brighter just because I know where my essay is going. I really really have to pass this semester. I know I gotta work for it. Al's been my law adviser, Casey my unassuming shrink-for-the-moment and Na keeps me company. Of course, here is the roof above her head.

Looking past Company Law assignment deadline, my shcedule still looks tight. I have three CD reviews I wanna write. All intangibles so they do not rank high on my list.

The smile's more genuine now. I'm off to lala land.

black olives & rice

Meant to be typing up my Com Law essay. I've done a fair bit of research. The rest of the research I can do online. Procrastinating again.

I caught the train home with a friend last night. We were discussing flatmates and was saying how he's sick of spending too much time with his flatmate. I said I'm not sick of mine but I dunno if she's sick of me. We have our own lives, you see. I would think he has a life totally separate from his flatmate. I guess some people just ignore the boundaries.

When something from your past suddenly appears in front of you, what do you do? I would have thought I'd say hi and walk away but when reality struck, I just did the walking away bit. I was neither happy nor sad. A good reaction, I have to say. Did it affect me? Not really.

I haven't had proper dinner in days. I just ate and now I feel bloated. All the more reason to not fall asleep and start writing my essay.

media buff status: at it again!

Hillsong Life
This marks my first day on the Hillsong TV Crew! Such a joyous moment! Yeah it was just nice to be back in that line again! I can just stay there forever! Errr... well... I have to eat, too. Maybe that's just where Starbucks comes in. Waaaah!

Cell's on again next Tuesday and I have to miss it AGAIN cos of a make up class, this time. How disappointing.

The Apartment
John the real estate agent's popped by to show a couple of couples THIS apartment and I picked that moment to discreetly tell him of the keyhole jamming incidents. Aparently, he wasn't aware of it. He should have because 1. we've left his receptionist a message about it on the phone, 2. the strata manager should have called him and 3. we mentioned it in our lease termination letter.

But anyway, he ended up openly discussing the scenarios and proposing solutions to counter the crime. I think I used more adjectives than I was supposed to throughout my story telling. So we might actually stay. But it's all up in the air at the moment. What's new? We decided to postpone the deadline anyway.

That was one load off my back.

CONSOLIDATION and all that JAZZ

Ahhhh! Felt so good to do jazz again! It's been ages since me and Amy have gone. Our prepaid tickets are expiring so we're trying to use them all up! It's so excellent we're gonna go again tomorrow! We did a cool routine. It's rather very 80's.

Had dinner at Pancakes with Rosa and Al afterwards and then lounged around at Starbucks Circular Quay.

Me and Na are still looking around for a new place. It can get frustrating at times but I guess I get enough euphoric vibes from jazz to lift me up through that and all other things going on.

I have a Comapny Law essay to write so I thought it's time for another visit to the Law Library. All the books are gone! Alas!

Such is life. Tomorrow I'll be back at work but hey I'm planning my next two holidays so it's all looking bright.

BloggeRANT!

*Breathing exercises!*

I haven't really slept in like two days now. Was catching up with the Singaporeans yesterday which was very very surreal. In every sense of the word. It was like going on a mind journey. These film people are nuts in every sense of the word, and that "every sense of the word" included philosophical.

I am once again aggressively confronted by my To Do List. I begin to ponder, I begin to sort myself out. I even wonder, sometimes out loud, whether I am okay or not. Psychologically. That is one major thing. Inevident to the majority but very evident to me.

I am well though. I just need sleep and then a bit of hard work in the morning to set things just right.

Did I say something about the coolness of having French movie marathons? I saw a German one and a Korean one, too. Plus a bunch of mainstream ones. Oh and The Notebook is really really commendable. Storywise, that is. I still think it could have gotten a better title.

I just passed the Yes Asia post to Josc. Hopefully she gets it.