Initiative, initiative

Second law camp dry run today and prior to that I made up my mind that I wouldn't let this day go entirely to waste, but at least pull my weight whilst I was at that dry run. With that virtuous thought in mind I overslept, arrived late, and then went with the rest of my station ics for a leisurely breakfast after the water tele briefing.

However, I *actually* did proper work this afternoon, and set myself to work drawing cutesy sea-creatures on coloured paper for other people to cut-out and decorate one station (called Finding Nemo, hence the sea-creatures). Those creatures came complete with big eyes, long lashes, chubby cheeks, adorable smiles and bashful looks, drawing enthusiastic coos of admiration from various quarters, notably from the females. This task took the greater part of the afternoon. Afterwards we went to set up another station.

So... wasn't entirely a waste of time was it? All it takes is some initiative, which unfortunately for me, comes and goes according to its own sporadic whim.

Ok I have to go for this *tedious* law camp dry run tomorrow (which is what I volunteered for, so I can't complain, even though I am starting to wonder what could have convinced me that volunteering as a councillor would be fun), and I really should be sleeping, but I have just finished a Good Game of AoM and am filled with this sense of accomplishment. Because. I actually achieved victory. By myself. For the very first time... 'Tis something to blog about indeed.

Hardcore AoM fans may scoff at this lone victory, but please, let me take things slowly. Next time will set the settings to 'hard' maybe. Ok one step at a time... Maybe try a few more campaigns first.

Mild regret

Well I've told the tuition kid's mom that I am not going to be able to teach her kid anymore. This tuition is the one I said that I rather enjoyed, and I'll say it again: it's a good assignment, but for the fact that it is too far. I mean, I sit there, chat a little with the kid and guide her through some comprehension questions. She's happy, I am happy. It's not like the other tuition when I have to wrestle to pound some math concepts into some kid's thick skull, and frequently end up grumpy and wild-eyed at that display of sheer imbecility.

But this nice tuition is too far and I can't imagine taking a cab back every time I finish tuition(Yes, I've tried that before, and it was quick and comfortable, although the price was ghastly. NOT something I want to do on a regular basis). So regretfully, I've decided to give it up, and I've told the mom today. She took it very well, no grudges whatsoever, and even had a prolonged chat with me like she was afraid she wouldn't have much of a chance to in future. So well, a few more lessons, and I will never see that kid again *sob*. ('Sob?' Since when did I become so sentimental about this? Snap outta it)

Muffins! yeah

Three cheers for the inventor of such a convenient, easy-to-bake goodie as the muffin, that takes one under an hour to from mixing to baking. The wet ingredients in one bowl, the dry in another; combine both, give a quick mix then distribute into muffin cups and bake. Sounds easy dunnit? It is, in fact. So wonderfully simple and suited for beginner bakers like me and YX too.

Last Friday we whipped up a batch of chocolate-chip muffins to tke to GSA where a kindly PRC couple hd invited us for dinner. Turned out a little wet though, but still tasted fine. As with self-baked chocolate-chip goods, we were very generous with the chips, the result of which the muffin were almost entirely saturated with chocolate. Very rich, also looks and smells wonderful. All for an hour's work. I'm very pleased. *pats own shoulder approvingly*

Chocolate chip is all very well, but we will be more adventurous next time. Apple and cinnamon, maybe?

Agitated

I got bumped out of AoM twice in quick succession! The first time when I was in the middle of a very nice game and had all my defences nicely set up, walls, watchtowers and archers situated behind the walls to pick off unsuspecting attackers. In the heat of battle, that is when some brainless attackers came forth to attack my walls and I was happily directing my archers to attack them THE COMPUTER BUMPED ME OUT OF THE GAME! Oh what an outrage! Then when I tried to start another game, I got bumped out even quicker. Some thing is seriously wrong with this computer. Someone! Help! I start to envision not being able to complete a game in peace, having always to take chances with this temperamental computer and substandard graphics card. Boo. Hoo.

Hot HOT HOT *whine*

I hate heat, especially that of a baking morning that pervades your room and brings on the beginnings of a headache. I hate heat that makes me chose between cooking in the privacy of my own room or fleeing to the cool yet crowded sanctuary of the tv room. I hate heat that makes you restless the moment you wake up to such disagreeable mornings. And I hate the PGP rooms that amplify any heat the day has to offer into a positive thorn in one's side. I'm really grumpy today. So shoot me. (if you give me anything corny on this, Greenlamb, I might just CHEW off one of your woolly ears *growl...*)

I am down in the blessed air-conditioned environment of the tv room, still a bit miffed at having to uproot myself from my room, but also blessing the inventor of air-conditioning. On days like this, expecially in the artificial city environment of urban Singapore almost devoid of natural heat-absorbers one could fry one's brain cells if one did not have the sanctuary of an air-conditioned room to turn to. On days like this one could curse the unknown architect of PGP who designed the place with a view to heat maximization - in a tropical environment! On days like this, one seriously contemplates getting an air-conditioned room in PGP never mind that the cost is almost double that of a non-air-conditioned one. Somehow, twice the price doesn't seem like much to pay to escape a hellish environment in the afternoon.

I am starting to cool down. The headache is starting to subside. I am glad that I actually uprooted myself from the heat of my room upstairs and come down here. The tv room is actually quite deserted after all, and the television is turned of and does not grate on my nerves. There are hardly any people here, maybe because 1) the holiday stayers are slowly leaving and the other people haven't returned from their vacation yet 2) it is a Saturday morning and uni students in general like to sleep in as of a weekend morning (and afternoon). I am feeling a bit more mollified now and more at peace with the world. I could actually stomach some corniness on Greenlamb's part at this point. Also, I'm sure his woolly green ears would be to tough to chew off anyway, and I could really think of more delectable items to sink my teeth into at this moment. Like lunch, maybe.

March of the Cockroaches

I have never seen cockroaches out on the go en masse until quite recently, when I first saw quite a number scuttling over the roads on one warm night after tuition. Even then I thought it was due to the area I was in (kind of lower middle class neighbourhood) and maybe the presence of ideal spawning grounds in the drains below.

Two nights ago when I was moving rooms (from one end of the hostel to another, which involved long treks across the basement laden with odds and ends, and pushing a stubbornly unmanageable trolley), me and my team of musclemen were greeted at various points along our journey by several cockroaches also running their own errands. Whereas I would previously have reacted to the sight of a cockroach by taking aim with a firmly grasped slipper, this reaction seemed unnecessary given the sheer number of cockroaches at large that night. Or maybe this was also because I felt less threatened by the sight of a cockroach outside a human dwelling. Oh, I remember when the sight of a cockroach would immediately provoke a reaction of stealth and deadly intent, and measured, stalking actions leading to a swift fatal blow. The screaming came afterwards, after the deed was done, and was more geared towards releasing pent-up tension than to elicit any protective reaction from males within the proximity (actually given that I stayed in female dorms for 2 years, there wouldn't have been any males within the proximity even if one might have needed them). But that was indoors, when the cockroach(es) could have been considered to have trespassed on my territory and invoked the sentence of death. But outdoors... I figured they had about as much right as I had to be there that night.

Go in peace, cockroach. And make sure I do not see you in my room, ever.

A little something to line one's pocket

I have just finished my eighth lesson for one tuition kid and received my first tuition payment. 45% went to the agent, but still, one feels a sense of accomplishment to be able to count money earned off the sweat of one's face. It's not really a lot but it is a different feeling to be handling hard cash directly instead of a cheque, a flimsy piece of paper which still needs to be presented to the bank and cashed. One envisions all sorts of possibilities (Philip Pullman's Dark Materials Trilogy!) and one contemplates all manner of dainty treats and luxuries (Ritz's Apple Strudel! Grape Seed Body Butter from Body Shop!). Even a bunch of daydreams can be so pleasant. Beautiful thoughts. How they warm the heart.

Countdown to the weekend

The weekend makes its blessed arrival in 1 hour and 45 minutes when work ends. I need sleep...

Even the absence of inquisitive, supercillous NPG does not perk me up to any extent. Sure, I have the computer to myself but I am actually supposed to be researching statutes, and supporting material to fight a case that looks hopeless but actually should not be approached with that attitude. I find myself browsing other people's blogs sure I'll get down to the research when I've taken a look at this rather interesting blog entry, and now I am thinking about how the weekends really should arrive a little faster.

I feel better. Back to work.

Excuses, excuses

I didn't actually intend to slack off in my posting, but somehow the days seem very short now that one is working and teaching a little tuition on the side. The situation is further aggravated by the presence of AoM crazy friends who like to call you gamer and tempt you to join their nightly sessions (ok, it's not that I need much tempting). One finds that one hardly has time to sit down and think or write, let alone post on this blog. Sometimes I get ideas for posts but if I let them cool for too long without typing them out, then I well, lose the inclination to develop them into posts. I sometimes blog in the office when it's my turn at the computer, but then NPG hovers around, sometimes reading my screen, and secretive person that I am, I refuse to post if he is looking.

Tired of plain old Nutella

Of all the things that I could have blogged about after this period of silence in my blog I feel a compulsion to talk about something that I had for breakfast recently.

But I'm sure this is justified because (I pride myself that) this is an interesting yet beautifully simple innovation over an everyday (albeit enjoyable) piece of food.

I'm tired of plain old Nutella (on bread of course, even this chocolate fan is not so sinful as to eat it plain. Well, not all the time), so I MICROWAVE it. It tastes wonderful: richly fragrant, hot and creamy. Even better: becuse it spreads thinner on bread than refrigerated Nutella, I use less (I hope), which should amount to less calories. Hot Nutella seems to penetrate more deeply into one's tastebuds than otherwise, and offers one much more enjoyment from the same amount of Nutella.

Decidedly Alarming

This is a post I wrote for YX's blog, which I would also like to share with you here.

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I am halfway through The Screwtape Letters and I have already come across several startling bits in the book. Not sure of exact exerpts, but the parts when the devil is instructing his nephew how to exploit the weaknesses of the human psyche to draw him away from God is especially alarming. I suppose I realise that those situations are all too real, and they strike an uneasy chord in my memory. I cannot in good faith say that I have never exhibited those weaknesses before, cannot say that I have never been comfortably lulled into that false sense of security before, cannot say that I have never offered the devil those chances to draw me away from God before.

The author really has delved into the diabolical mind of the devil and has offered us a terrifying view of the way those mental cogs turn. Human can be such weak creatures, and can be so foolish. They can be so puffed up with their own pride, they can be so blind to their own weaknesses. Thank the Lord for His sanctifying grace, and His patience with our foolishness.

I am really devouring with horror the Screwtape Letters. A work of fiction though it may be, there is a ring of truth that transfixes your attention to every word, to every appaling detail of the devilish strategy, to every manifestation of glee at a human's downfall and displeasure at the human's communication with the Lord. It makes one want to cry:"Good Lord, save us!" Hats off to C.S. Lewis. This is a warning bell that chimes very loudly indeed.

Little pampered tykes of today

I was enjoying a very nice dinner of fish fillet and fried rice at Redhill hawker centre prior to tuition when this family sat down at the same table as I, the other tables being already taken. my attention was drawn to their little boy of about 7 or 8, who looked a robust little tyke with chubby cheeks, rosy lips and bright eyes, the very picture of health. Dear old mom and dear old dad positioned themselves on either side of our little tyke here. And what would our little tyke have to drink? Certainly not soya bean milk of which the dad had already ordered two glasses, but sugarcane water. Dad obligingly trotted off to the drinks stall again.

The food came. Plates of chicken rice with a dish of chicken and a dish of vegetables. Maybe mom and dad weren't hungry or something, but they busied themselves (both of them!) cutting up meat and veg and placing the bite sized morsels on their little darling's plate. I mean, mom and dad even seemed to have ths system worked out already, like , you cut the chicken and I'll cut the vegetables, so that our precious poppet can have a balanced, healthy meal. And so they busied themselves sawing away at the food when their robust little tyke looked as if he could have downed two whole pieces of chicken in one mouthful. As for their own food, oh it was not important, really. After all what coould be more important than seeing that precious poppet got all of his food in bite sized morsels? Certainly not their own dinner, which was besides the point really, and only meant to be despatched in hasty mouthfuls after ensuring junior's plate was well loaded.

From time to time, dad would proffer the glass of sugarcane water to the kid and hold it as the kid sipped. Thus the meal proceeded. I couldn't have been better entertained.

My day off

Back in the office this morning. Was so tired yesterday morning that I couldn't face another long unending day of work and then tuition. Made some calls and cancelled both. The tuition kid's mom was none too happy with this but I sounded genuinely apologetic and maybe that appeased her. I spent half my day off sleeping and the other half doing a little reading and writing, such that I haven't had the chance to do in ages. That was a much needed break indeed.

The week that has passed me by

This has been a rather busy week and I rarely get to warm the seat of my chair for more than two hours at a stretch before I have to get up and go again. I feel like I am really running around a lot, in part due to some tuitions that I am giving. People ask me why I choose to commit so much time to tuitions, but really I have no pat answer. Actually, it is not too much -- only 2 tuition kids. Besides, tuition is not exactly an unenjoyable experience, although a lot of it depends on the kid one is interacting with. From another perspective, three nights a week is not too much is it? since I have no homework to prepare. Also, a little extra money is always welcome.

Besides the tuition, I have this one other competitor for my time -- Age of Mythology, a strategy game that I have taken up recently (in view of the extreme addictiveness of computer games, I hope that I can let the addiction run its full course before the school reopens).

Wednesday was a public holiday. I took a trip to JB and the entire holiday just melted away like that. I came back late and tired, and my limbs were already asleep even before my mind was.

Today is Friday *Hallelujah!* and it is now nearing 6pm on Friday *Double Hallelujah!* the night of which I plan to spend entirely immersed in the fantasy world of Philip Pullman from the moment I take the second book of his "Northern Lights" series down from its shelf in Kinokuniya till the time the bookstore finds it absolutely necessary to close for the night and shoos lingerers out by dimming all the lights. I have finished the first book of this novel already (in one sitting on one fine Saturday while the bright noon daylight outside the large glass window in Kino faded into evening gloom)in which the heroine and her daemon crossed the bridge between the worlds and entered into an unknown fate on the other side. While I am on this subject, let me go on a little further about good old Kinokuniya on whose smooth wooden floors one can sit blissfully undisturbed the whole day in the company of a wonderful book and a couple of choice buns from BreadTalk. This excellantly conducive reading environment in Kino has so served to endear that place to my heart that I am almost resolved to buy that trilogy of books, even after I have finished reading it. But where in the world is the elusive 20% Kino discount voucher said to be in the ST and the oher major newspapers? Long have I sought it but in vain...