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Sunday, April 29, 2007
Sick...
Blearghz.. To fall sick in the midst of exams.. I dun usually fall ill, so when i do, it is quite cham.
Yest morning woke up to a terribly bloated and aching stomach (the kind where it feels like s1 is tying up your stomach and tightening it in knots) and had the runs twice. Suspected it's food poisoning (muz be the ban mian of the previous nite). Then it developed into a full-fledged fever in the afternoon, of which it prevented me from sleeping. Finally cun take it and called pa, and he immediately came to pick me up.
Ahhhh.. such is the sweetness of family. I was just reading a friend's blog on unconditional family love. It is true. No matter how long i hadnt been in contact with them, nor the quarrels and misunderstandings, they are always always there.
I went home and slept next to mummy's warm body, and the fever started subsiding by evening. However after dinner( my first meal of the day but of which no appetite thanks to the happily knotty stomach), it came back full force again and i started feeling cold all over. And my xiao mei was so sweet, she covered me up in blankets and tucked me in properly, put socks on my icy feet and fed me water through a straw. i started throwing up everything (including the medicine) i had consumed later.. and continued to feel miserable through the fever that prevented me from sleeping. slowly from cold, started to feel hot all over, and mum and sis were there to hold my hand, the pungent smell of my vomit overwhelming in the room nowithstanding.
It wasnt long before i felt a cool hand on my forehead.. it was mummy checking on me and asking me to sleep in her room. already feeling better, i moved to her room. however, later in the night, suffered a few more bouts of uncomfortable heaviness in my chest area and felt like vomitting but came up with nothing.
Oh it sucks to be sick. Through the night, i kept worrying about my final paper, and thinking if i dint get well by then, i may have to re-take another module in my final semester, and prayed fervently to be well by today. Luckily today was better, although the bitter taste of medicine in the back of my throat prevented me from eating much. Everything just tastes like bile.
Yet at the same time, i felt grateful for my family. they were there throughout.. and although emotionally distant, they were there when i need them most.. the love binds as no other would. The only word is unconditional.
Shu Ling Estrella @ 8:43 PM ~*~ |
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Sunday, April 22, 2007
Sian before Exams
This is a pretty strange semester to me. I'm already super sian before the exams. It's like right now, exams is a ritual for me to go through and put yet another full stop to yet another semester at NUS. I just can't wait for it to be over. So i can do my usual filing away of the notes of the semester, clean up my room, and say hi to some fun with my frenz.
It could really be due to the fact that this semester had been one of the busiest semesters i have had in NUS so far.. The crazy mountain of projects and tutorial preparations and presentations, the weekly meetings with project mates, which leaves me with absolutely no break during the week. It was just a methodical chasing of deadlines except that there were MORE deadlines this semester. I was so stressed out i broke down more than a few times, working through the nitez, and having moments of tension with my project mates. Maybe my threshold of stress was all spent throughout the semester, such that I'm so drained now that i have no capacity left to be stressed for the exams.
And yet i'm really proud of what i had done for my academic work this semester.. The hard work has paid off for some modules.. the results are showing, and despite some tension at times, i pulled through with my project mates.. and still managed to fill up the remaining time i have with outings and hanging-outs with my buddies. I had work and fun, so it was a pretty fulfilling semester all around. And finally it is culminating to these remaining 5 papers which will determine the way my grade will go.. I am not even that super prepared for the exams admittedly, but i'm already tired and wishing it'll be over.
Sighz... come quick 2nd May.
Shu Ling Estrella @ 10:08 PM ~*~ |
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Friday, April 20, 2007
Dear Tan Shu Ling & (the other placement student),
Please note that your supervisors would like both of you to commence your placement only on 17 May 2007.
Ms Charis Kuang is on leave 18 April to 7 May, therefore please email to Ms Ho Hui Ling for any clarification.
Care Corner Family Service Centre (Woodlands)
Blk 345 Woodlands St 32 #01-198 Singapore 730345
Tel: +65 63622481 Fax: +65 63624824
Good luck to your exam…..
Thank you
Regards
Lim Shan Shan
Dept of Social Work, FASS
National University of Singapore
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Now is this good or bad? Good side: I actually have more time to rest and hang out with my friends before the placement. Bad side: My placement is going to start only 10 days after the normal date of 07 May, which alot of students would be starting their placement already. Some are requesting to start early (so they can end early), and some are required by their agencies to start before 07 May. But mine is starting that late, which means i will end almost 2 weeks or longer (if there are unfinished cases, as told my seniors that we are required to finish even though the placement period is over) than the other students in my batch. Which effectively means i prob end less than a week to the due date of my report. And my report is due 25th July. Blearghz. And there's the lowly pay of $250 for 2 and 1/2 months. Double blearghz.
No money. Long working hours. STILL got report to write.
Bleargh... what is the social work field coming to? But then, i chose this route. I wanted to get my hands and feet dirty in it. Hell, i love what i am doing right now. And it actually excites me to know that after one feverish year of cramming SW modules in stuffy ol' NUS, i'm gonna go into the midst of it and take on the hands-on side of it. Now, if only i can NOT be so bothered about the money.
But i need to eat. and travel. and buy clothes. and pretty stuff. and hang out and have fun with my friends. BLEARGHZ... Social Work, u sure get me in a fix.
Shu Ling Estrella @ 6:46 PM ~*~ |
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Thursday, April 19, 2007
Stress-reliever
So fun this game... Stress-reliever for those in the midst of exams preparation...
http://www.eddiezone.net/flashgame/restaurant.swf
I tried twice but the highest score i got so far is only $910.. haha let me know how yall find the game. V cute!
Shu Ling Estrella @ 1:50 AM ~*~ |
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How I already do miss grace... my stabiliser over my uni years.. constant kept-in-touch companion... Already starting to miss her when we hung up on the phone whilst she was travelling to the airport. She should be on her flight to her first destination, Copenhagen.
For the first time in 4 years, she won't be around in Singapore during the exam period (given that she has ended so early), won't be around for her birthday (meaning a late celebration), and won't be around for my SW placement.
Haiz. babe, do do enjoy your grad trip and just wanna say, will miss ya. Somehow, strange not to feel ya around this time round despite u having flown off so many times before. Maybe it's cos this time, u r actually flying off way before any of us finished this semester, albeit this being the final semester in many's lives.
Hopefully when you come back this time round, you'll bring more beautiful stories to share with me. Most importantly, u'll bring back a happier and more-rested grace. take care.
Shu Ling Estrella @ 12:44 AM ~*~ |
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Tuesday, April 17, 2007
My day out with gracie...
My lack of punctuality is becoming a serious problem. i always did have that problem in the past, though i managed to curb it for some time.. and it became worse again in the past year or so. I made poor gracie wait for me for more than an hour today.. so so sorry babe.. Promised her to change the habit when she comes back from the graduation trip. I should too, else i'll get into trouble with my work in future.
Today was my last outing with gracie for the next month or so. She has ended her semester and would be going on her grad trip tmr night, so today was just accompanying her around Orchard to get some travel stuff and good ol' shopping. it was also the first time in a long while since i got to spend any quality time with her, given that this semester, our timetables really clashed, and she was so busy with her work, i with mine, and most of the times we met up was just to study at her place. So was really happy to just hang out with her today. In a way, i got a breather from the relentless studying of the past few days too.
Gracie got some really good buys today, and was happy she bought much for herself, which i think she really deserved, as her work this semester had prevented her from spending time outside properly, she hasnt even been shopping much. In a way, reward for her hard work she put in for her final semester. So was just flitting from boutique to boutique with her, she bought 2 really pretty new dresses and perfume, as well as some stuff for her travel. I was trying to control myself not to spend, as i needed to save for a new bag, but just accompanied her to try on some clothes. But eventually I gave in to this really beautiful off-shoulder top which gracie picked out for me in Mango. It's a really beautiful and classy piece, one of the nicer off-shoulder tops i have seen in some time. So made it my only buy for the day.
Today's the first time in some time that i been to Orchard as well.. and i was amazed at the amount of renovations that was taking place in the major shopping centres. It seems that in the up-and-coming competition put up by the likes of new shopping centres such as Vivo and Central, Orchard needs a revamp too. However, i personally wish that Orchard would just leave itself alone. After all, it has its own charm which made it the main shopping attraction for Singapore all these years. When it starts to evolve itself to look like the new shopping areas, what character does it have left? it would just be another clone of the new shopping places.
Some pics for today:
L-R: We tried out this little Japanese place tucked away at the back of the Taka food area. It's really quite obscure, towards the back, behind the escalator, but the food's really not bad. I tried the katsu curry set whilst gracie had the chicken katsu. It's supposed to be famous for its katsu sandwich, which we saw these two Caucasians sitting next to us eat. Rather uncoventional. The jap curry was quite different from the usual kinds i ate before. Grace and I at TCC cafe enjoying an afternoon, post-shopping drink.
Will miss ya babe... Do enjoy your grad trip and promise to be happier k? hugs...
Shu Ling Estrella @ 10:02 PM ~*~ |
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Monday, April 16, 2007
Childhood memories...
Was revising my Human Development module, reading about the different life-stages of human life, today in the National Library with sha as usual.. and then during lunch, we touched upon the topic of childhood. was initially talking about the kinds of games we used to play... Sha used to play with alot of boy's toys, like action figures, whilst i was a very girlie girl, liking my masak-masak, nursing my dolls and playing jia jia jiu, cooking pretend-food. And then we talked about the kinds of childhood playmates we had, and she shared that it could be her playing with boys that attribute to her like for rougher games and boy's toys when she was younger, but it was different for me.
Few friends, except those close ones, know that when i was very young, i hated school. I skipped the whole of nursery school year cos i cried and kicked up a fuss whenever i was brought to school, to the extent that my poor mum had to forfeit half-a-year nursery fees cos i refused to go. Kindergarten 1 was mandatory.. and yet i kicked up a fuss when i was made to attend school again. I remembered my aunt and cousin physically dragging me to the kindergarten, and i cun stop crying and struggling, and the kindergarten teachers receiving me at the door by pulling me in.
It stopped (from my cousin's account) when i met this little boy, who remained my playmate for the next 1 year or so. He was the son of the fruit-stall-cum-grocery shop owners next to my male cousin's shoe shop in Jurong East then. I used to hang out at the area alot, and i got to know him as my childhood playmate cos my cousin and the shop owners were on very good terms. He was the same age as me. He used to come over to my aunt's place alot to play too.. and i would go over to his place (which was above his parents' shop) to play. He saw that i hated school, and cried whenever i was made to go, and one day, he held out his hand, and said "Come, let me bring you to school".
For some unknown reason (according to my cousin again), ever since then, i would obediently go to school. But only if he was there to hold my hand and bring me. So for the whole of Kindergarten 1, my cousin had to transfer me to his kindergarten, tho there was one nearer my aunt's place then. I would not go to school without him. During assembly, we would sit tger. During playtime, even when the teacher split us into groups of girls and boys, playing with separate toys (the boys playing blocks and trains, the girls with cookery sets), and even with the girls surrounding me trying to make friends (probably encouraged by the teacher due to my "infamous" crying bouts initially) and play tger, and even as i gradually warm to them, my eyes would always be fixed on him, to make sure he's still there, and be comforted by his presence. And after a while, he would sometimes come over to play with me, to calm my unease. After school, we would go home separately, change, eat lunch, and come out to play tger again. When we are at the playground, he would patiently play sandcastles with me, or the swings and slides. When we are at each other's houses, we would introduce each other to the toys we have. And he would patiently play masak-masak with me too, despite being a boy. When we played with my neighbour's daughter, he would join in our girlie games as well. He was an extremely sensitive and fun playmate for his age, and brought me through my fear of school at 4-5 years old. We were innocent happy little 'uns, playing each day, carefree of the troubles of the world.
After Kindergarten 1, after my cousin saw that i had settled properly into school, she transferred me back to the Kindergarten nearer my aunt's place, and i never saw him again. I heard that his family moved away after that, and gradually we lost touch with each other. At the young age of 6 years old, i soon forgot about his existence in the joy of making other young little friends, as kids usually forgot about stuff.
I dint remember him till i ran through some old childhood photos and my cousin told me of what he had done for me, overcoming my fear of school. There were only vague memories of a botak little boy always playing tger with me when i was young, but no more.
I do wonder occasionally where he is now, and if ever one day, our paths cross again, i would want to thank him for bringing me through that part of my childhood and sharing it with me.
In the midst of my own confused feelings, i suddenly realise, this is probably why up to now, as many other friends told me too, that i'm such a romantic idealist when it comes to relationships. Because he once laid that foundation for me when i was just 5 years old.
My childhood friend and i...
Shu Ling Estrella @ 11:49 PM ~*~ |
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Ok... so now sha and i now know that it is near-impossible to stroll into the National Library at 10plus am (for me, 11plus am) and still expect to get seats on a Sunday... we spent a quarter of our day today navigating from one spot to another, one level to another in the 10plus-storey National Library, just trying to find a spot to study. Big as the Library is, there is no spot we can call our own =(
After being chased off by the security guard for attempting to study on the empty 4th level, we went to this little-known courtyard known as The Retreat on level 10 to do our work. Accompanied by ants, strawberry Pocky and the threats of a downpour (the weather teased us the whole afternoon by keeping up this rumbling thunder in the background), we managed to do our work there for the rest of the afternoon. Actually it is really not a bad place, cool breeze, a cool view, accompanied by the freshest air u can get, with the plants grown there. For a while whilst taking my break, i was leaning back against the glass pane with a book in my hand "He Chose The Nails", which the social work society had given me as a parting gift, and just closing my eyes and enjoying the peaceful sounds of nature. And despite the creepy-crawlies, i could still manage to accomplish some work with sha.
Anyway tmr, i shd think about getting up early for once and fight for the seats in the study lounge wahahaha..
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The Retreat @ National Library
Shu Ling Estrella @ 12:15 AM ~*~ |
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Sunday, April 15, 2007
Memories + Sian-ness
was just scanning through some of my older blog entries...
The emotions then, the innocence and naivete, the intensity of feelings... they seem like a million light years ago but in reality only 2 years back.
the changes... the thinking... the people.
ahhh.. memories, how i embrace u.
_________________________
i'm just feeling sian again. haiz. it jus sucks to be in this position and the other party knows exactly how this position feels and there's nothing that can be done about it.
It's that kind of flitting from semi-happiness to sian-ness to wanting to be always-there-for-the-person over and over, depending on the person's reaction to you.
Humans are cheap, really fan(4) jian(4)... always seeking for comfort and looking for happiness in all the wrong places.
F.U.C.K.
Shu Ling Estrella @ 2:44 AM ~*~ |
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The Little Things in Life We Sometimes Forget to be Grateful for
I was just reading cat's blog about little gestures in life that people, passers-by do that brings a smile to your face, and i was reminded by a couple of incidents myself.
Today i was on bus 151 on my way to NUS to study, and i was looking out of the window, as i usually like to do, and saw some foreign Bangladeshi workers clearing the drains at the side of the road. There were 2 workers working on each drain along the side of the road (i saw about 6 workers in total), and they were digging out the mud, clearing the gunk in the drains, some even using their bare hands. How many times when we dropped a coin or something into the drain, we go "EWWWW..." and then go on our way, lamenting over the loss of our belongings but not daring to reach into the dirty drain to retrieve it. But these workers were working nonchalantly, some even enthusiastically, emptying mud and gunk into the garbage bags they were holding. Oh you say its their job, but honestly how much credit do we give these people? We just take it for granted that come rainy days, our drains wun be clogged and stinking? I wanted to tk a pic as part of my "Share-a-Pic" project for today but the bus moved off too quickly.
That brings me to the next incident. My urban youth lecturer mentioned how she brought one of her groups of youths under her charge to visit the lesser-known jobs in Singapore, namely the garbage collectors and road-sweepers, and the group of youths asked to take a picture with the garbage-collector. The group of youths were all huge smiles as they put their arms around the garbage-collector's shoulders, but somehow the garbage-collector refused to look into the camera and smile. Instead, he even hung his head. Upon reflection, the youth lecturer shared that garbage-collecting is still very much seen as a demeaning job, and the garbage-collector cud be well-acquainted with this fact and is shameful of his job. Remember the times when u were young and your parents used to threaten you, "Study hard, or one day, you end up collecting rubbish/clean toilets?" The stigma still stands.
That brings me to the 3rd incident that i suddenly thought of. There's this very weird but extremely smart guy in my Social Work cohort. He comes to lectures dressed in running shorts and torn singlets and a perpetual worn-out sports-cap worn backwards. I have even heard that he is not v hygienic.. one friend seen him wiping his mucus across his arm. On top of that, he's extremely loud in class, always making asinine comments. Yet, i remembered once when we were preparing for Social Work Week, when he passed us doing logistics, and we asked him for help, without hesitation, he went like "What do yall want me to do?" and stayed till night helping us put up our decor stuff, painting our banner etc. And when we were waiting for our collage board, my society friend accidentally dropped her notebook into a huge drain. it was drizzling and she was perplexed cos the notebook contained all her notes for the event. The guy, without hesitation again, took hold of the drain cover, bent into the drain, and retrieved the notebook for her, dirty water splattering nonetheless.
There are times one comes across these people and go "EWWW... dun come near me. you so dirty and smelly and unhygienic". Just dun forget the contributions these people have still been able to make in your lives, no matter how unknown the job is.
I do STILL have pics to share with yall. haha, karrie and i got bored studying in the Central Library today and started posing with Strawberry Pocky. I Love Strawberry Pocky!! yumz yumz.. it's good brain food!!=D
Acting cute with our Strawberry Pocky!!! heee
Shu Ling Estrella @ 12:09 AM ~*~ |
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Saturday, April 14, 2007
i was going through my usual exercise regime tonight when i happened to look at the night sky. In the busy-ness of my days, i realised i haven't looked at the night sky in ages.. and i remembered the blog entry i dedicated to the night sky 2 years ago in one of the down periods in my life. Tonight they offered me the same comfort and solace as only stars are able to.
The cold night wind hit my face as i did my rounds, and i happened to chance upon a twinkling star in the distance. I raised my head up and saw more stars above me. Rare for a night sky, especially when it had been a heavy downpour the whole day. Love stars.. the twinkly brightness piercing the coal-black sky as if to tell me of the bright bits of hope that still exist in a persimisstic world, the brightness piercing the numbness of my heart as if they are like bits of fire warming me on a wintry night. I cun stop the tears from welling as i stared at the stars. How i have missed you, my close companions.
Tonight i felt yall comfort more than ever, at a time when i needed solace most, a hanky to my tears, a balm to the bleeding, a hand to hold me through, yall have provided tt for me.
Thank you...
Shu Ling Estrella @ 12:15 AM ~*~ |
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Thursday, April 12, 2007
pleased and proud...
This is gonna sound rather BHB but i dun care.. anyway it is a boost to my academic confidence this semester. This semester, after having taken more higher-level Social Work modules, i am really worried about the amount of knowledge and expertise i have in the field, especially with my upcoming field practicum. So this is really a boost to me=)
I received 79 for my counseliing term paper!! Heee... and it was by my strictest SW lecturer. i was really frightened for this paper, as i had known beforehand he was well-known for dishing out really low grades when the paper was not written in the way he wanted. When i went to him to ask him about the comments he put on my paper (despite being one of the best SW lecturers, he has really illegible handwriting) and was told by him that it was one of the highest amongst the papers he marked, really pleased and proud, especially when he smiled and said well done. It certainly is a good feeling to receive a compliment from him, as i really respect him alot as a lecturer and a Social Worker.
This is certainly a boost to me, as I was really not confident about my modules this semester. Especially having scored not so well in my Human Development module test and Forensics Science paper. Really really happy so let me flaunt it here abit hahahahz.
Anyway it gives me a huge boost to gambatte for the coming exams.
Same to u all too.. all you that Ling loves... Gambatte and we'll party after the exams!!
P.S. Was listening to "Endless Love", an old duet by Diana Ross and Lionel Richie. So beautiful.. I happened to chance upon it in You Tube, as I usually chance upon songs for my music library. The lyrics are simple, beautiful and just touching to the heart, as old songs tend to be (none of the complicated-ness of present love songs). Highly recommended. =)
Shu Ling Estrella @ 9:58 PM ~*~ |
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Wednesday, April 11, 2007
a pic
I decided to start this little thing in my life... called "Share-a-Pic".. Whenever i come across anything that catches my attention, memorable or cute or weird, i'll take it down.
Here's my pic of the day (it's a tad blur):
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A cute pushcart outside the National Library which resembles a huge shopping bag. Sha and i spotted it on our way back from dinner during our study session today. She commented had it been during the day when the pushcart is open for business, you won't have thought it resembled a shopping bag. heh. Isn't it cute?
Right. that's my pic for the day.
Shu Ling Estrella @ 12:44 AM ~*~ |
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The Health email
Just read this farnie email my mum sent me (i sent to some of u guys too=))
HEALTH QUESTION & ANSWER SESSION
Q: I've heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life; is this true ?
A: Your heart is only good for so many beats, and that's it... Don't waste them on exercise. Everything wears out eventually. Speeding up your heart will not make you live longer; that's like saying you can extend the life of your car by driving it faster. Want to live longer ? Take a nap.
Q: Should I cut down on meat and eat more fruits and vegetables ?
A: You must grasp logistical efficiencies. What does a cow eat ? Hay and corn. And what are these ? Vegetables. So a steak is nothing more than an efficient mechanism of delivering vegetables to your system. Need grain ? Eat chicken. Beef is also a good source of field grass (green leafy vegetable). And a pork chop can give you 100% of your recommended daily allowance of vegetable products.
Q: Should I reduce my alcohol intake ?
A: No, not at all. Wine is made from fruit. Brandy is distilled wine, that means they take the water out of the fruity bit so you get even more of the goodness that way. Beer is also made out of grain. Bottoms up !
Q: How can I calculate my body/fat ratio ?
A: Well, if you have a body and you have fat, your ratio is one to one. If you have two bodies, your ratio is two to one, etc.
Q: What are some of the advantages of participating in a regular exercise program ?
A: Can't think of a single one, sorry. My philosophy is: No Pain...Good !
Q: Aren't fried foods bad for you ?
A: YOU'RE NOT LISTENING !!! ... Foods are fried these days in vegetable oil. In fact, they're permeated in it. How could getting more vegetables be bad for you ?
Q: Is chocolate bad for me ?
A: Are you crazy ? HELLO . Cocoa beans ! Another vegetable !!! It's the best feel-good food around !
Q: Is swimming good for your figure ?
A: If swimming is good for your figure, explain whales to me.
Well, I hope this has cleared up any misconceptions you may have had about food and diets.
And remember:
"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways - Chardonnay in one hand - chocolate in the other - body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming : Woo Hoo, what a ride !
******
my mummy is so cute.. wahahhaa
Shu Ling Estrella @ 12:26 AM ~*~ |
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Monday, April 09, 2007
The last de-stress period before exams...
yeah! I just started on my exercise regime.. hope i can keep it up! feels good to sweat.. I oredi feel much less tired..
Here are some last pics from my last weekend of de-stress before i plunge into the exam study fever.
*7 April*
:::The Places:::
L-R: Max Brenner's in Esplanade. It's my first time there. The sweet smell of chocolates overwhelms when u enter the place.. i simply loved the simplistic and oldish layout of the place. Managed to catch the local production play by Toy Factory Productions-251, featuring the infamous Annabel Chong ala Grace Quek, who performed 251 sexual acts with 70 men in 10 hours and set a world record in 1995. This play tries to take an insight into her mind. Although there were parts of the play i could not really understand, or took me a while to digest, it was my first time inside the Esplanade Theatre Studio, and i admired the non-fussy layout of the play, and the cast of only 5 actors portraying the entire play. Non excesses whatsoever, just simple plain good acting focusing on the emotions. The set design was non-excessive as well, simplistic and beautiful. I was amazed to find out after reading the programme that it was done by my primary school classmate, but then she already had a flair for art in her younger days. Very impressed and proud of her achievements. It was lucky i purchased the tickets early. I heard they are all sold out within a couple of days of the opening of the show.
:::The People::::
L-R: My favourite Gracie and I at Asian Kitchen Citylink!! Watched 251 and had Max Brenner with her. A breather for us both. A break for her away from her numerous research papers, and my break after a hectic week of presentations. Karrie and I, Shem and Zheyan in Cafe Cartel Junction 8. Sorta "saved" Karrie and Shem ahahaha.. it was a pretty fun night of talking and the guys were appalled i believe, by the amount of bread Karrie and I kept eating. Actually just wanted to pass zheyan his gifts but ended up a long dinner. Thanks dude for hanging out=)
:::The Food:::
L-R: The amount of food i had over the weekend is appalling. That's why the need to get some exercise. There was the absolutely delish choc cheese cake i shared with Grace at Max Brenner's. Isn't the presentation just beautiful? Then cheesecakes again at Cafe Cartel AGAIN at night.. haha.. shared the New York cheesecake and Oreo cheesecake with zheyan, karrie and shem, cos half-price after 9pm. APPALLING.. Not to mention my fave prawn wanton la mian and xiao long bao at Asian Kitchen earlier in the day with Grace, and the lagsana at Cafe Cartel, and the countless amount of bread and butter (which i had not taken pics of). SIGGGGGHHH... but Food Glorious Food! yummy! hehe
*8 April*
:::The KTV Session:::
A fun KTV session before the exam period for Karrie, Shem, Jingyang and I.. Another fun night of screaming our lungs out loud to the fast tracks, dancing and jumping about on the sofas ( i swear i can feel a sore throat coming on soon), and crooning to the "emo" love songs (as Karrie calls them). Just see Shem's expression in the pics, it's all the same tilted face. i swear he has a neck muscle problem. wahahahha
Shu Ling Estrella @ 9:47 PM ~*~ |
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Sunday, April 08, 2007
a happie ling
just an insanely, infinitely, nutty ball of happy ling tonight, and i wanna share my happiness with all who loves Ling. Heeee...
Shu Ling Estrella @ 12:07 AM ~*~ |
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Friday, April 06, 2007
Monetary Future
This is something unavoidable. After reading colin&jo's blog, i'm struck by the thoughts of how financially secure i really am. Ultimately, the reins over my own monetary future has to fall into my hands someday. In truth, I have been given control over my accounts since after JC, but being a silly girl then who dint know how to handle the money, i hadnt thought to invest my money in a fixed deposit account, and now, with 2 accounts combined, the money under my name only amounts to a 3-digit figure. Even with the money loaned out returned to me, my account would still amount to only a low 4-figure sum. I have just been lucky enough to have a mother who knew how to handle the cashflow in the family well enough to keep us all floating.
Haiz. it's time i really think seriously about savings. Right now, after consulting my cousin, my only existing policy that is still under my parents' account for me is one life insurance policy. Only one because my parents really dun believe much in insurance. I had bought another savings policy which i am paying myself from her 2 years ago, in an attempt to force me to save at least a sum monthly. With my impending graduation at the end of the year and with the prospects of finding a job, i really have to take more financial responsibilities for myself. More insurance is certainly a necessity then. And then with the responsibilites i had to take up at home as well.
Right now, really have to learn how to budget well. It all should start when you are young. But then better late than never. Realising this now at least force me to think about my priorities where money is concerned.
Shu Ling Estrella @ 1:30 PM ~*~ |
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Thursday, April 05, 2007
As a Human
Human-to-human relationship is one of the most complicated thgs Life has created for us.. It need not be, but Humans chose to complicate it more for themselves as well. But along the way, i have learned that things dun always turn out the way i want.. and when i dun get along with someone, or dun see eye-to-eye with someone i have stopped learning to blame myself.. and to trust myself more.
That's why right now, i just stop letting the comments bother me much... as i have better things to worry about. Lesson learned: The more attention you pay to a certain thing, the more u fret over it, the more u have let the other party achieve his/her purpose in letting him/her know that s/he has gotten to u. When these people have shown that they aren't worth bothering about.
Most importantly, i have discovered the importance of respect. respect for someone you have chosen to form a human relationship with. When you start feeling you are above a person to be able to see through the person and be able to strip the person of all the so-called disguises, it isn't a human relationship. It's just a feeding your own ego to make yourself feel better knowing you have stripped the other person. Narcissism. Thinking yourself to be very smart/mature in doing all these when in reality, you have failed to look deep into your own ugly character and the shadows you are hiding in. Feeding upon the flaws of others to fill up your bottomless pit. Weak. Cowardly. True care comes from acceptance. Reprimands yes, but acceptance as well. Acceptance that you are a human as well. And not a beast to be trampled upon.
Anyway, passing through the human relationships thus far, every has a story to tell me, and teach me. They build me... into the person i am. What i need to learn is to make my stand amongst all these stories.
It has failed to affect me.. the words. Cos maybe, true colours causes me to lose respect for the person as a human, the respect that I give so easily and duely to every human relationship I chose to form, mainly cos i felt it's only deserving of a person of the same species as me. Losing respect of a human, even if the person has chosen to leave my life, is certainly a rarity in my life. But when i do, ehhh!... It says alot. Those who have known me long enough know that when i cease to care for a person, it really says alot about the person. Cos i'm pretty well-known for my generosity and acceptance of the people I am linked to.
In a way it is good. I learned to stop reproaching myself and have more confidence in my own judgment. As a Human. Gambatte neh! Ling!
I have vented my feelings. I dun even need to name the person. And in which case, this is the last entry that'll be dedicated in this memory. Cheers. R.I.P.
To you all I care about, I love you...
Ling
Shu Ling Estrella @ 10:52 PM ~*~ |
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Tuesday, April 03, 2007
Lao Zhar Bor's Blog
I came across this when i was blog-snooping... hahaha it's really funny and heartening at the same time.
http://laozhabor.blogspot.com/
It's a blog set up by this old lady.. i'm sure some of yall have seen her act part-time in some Channel 8 or Channel U shows or in Jack Neo's movies.. though i can't remember offhand the exact shows she was in. She was featured in some Chinese newspaper for her blog.
It's really kind of cool.. check it out!
Shu Ling Estrella @ 11:55 PM ~*~ |
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Where is the determination??*hunts*
With renewed determination (esp seeing how my youngest sis' been losing weight), i decided to embark on a new eat-healthy regime from yesterday.
Went to NTUC, and happily plonked a pkt of green grapes in my shopping basket. Grapes is a fruit, and that's healthy. Humming happily, went to the tidbit section next to hunt for the healthy granola bars that Karrie recommended me. One bar is sposed to fill u up for a meal. Threw a box of 12 bars of Nature Valley's Oat&Honey, Cinnamon and Peanut Butter granola bars into my basket as well. And then i turned, and saw this absolutely delish box of STOP THE MUNCHIES! chicken-in-a-biskit biscuits. OVEN-baked.
Sighz. OVEN-baked. shun be that bad rite. Not fried. Less calories than choc chip cookies or chips. Gave in to temptation and bought the box after walking back and fro several times. Now only about half a box is left on my dining table.
Talk about determination. Well, at least i walked home from the NTUC outlet. Whh was about 20mins.
Anyway, i decided as long as i watched what i eat, it shun be that bad rite? And more exercise after the exams. besides the Hip-Hop classes, which have been very fun by the way, i'm not getting any decent exercise at all. Must really get the bones moving and the calories going... swimming.. jogging.. walking..tennis.. whatever.
Determination. Yeah.
Had a really fun time sha babe these couple of mondays. she's a great study pal as well as a fantastic conversationalist. Life's never boring around her. Totally keeps me up in fits with her asinine comments and provoke my mind with the differing views we have on stuff.. Sha is one of the most intellectually-stimulating gals i know.. And thanks babe for listening me out.
Had an equally fun time with karrie.. our talks and pigging-out before or after Hip-Hop.. and the talks.. I jus needed alot of my frens' attention nowadays.. and it's great she is there. Been like a mum to me.. (*Ling.. u shun let them do this to u u know??*) letting me rant and cry and jus babble on... thanks a million sweetie!
And gracie continues to amaze me with her appetite. ok i shall elaborate no further lest she knocks me on the head for listing out her eating behaviours again.. wahahah. anw babe.. jia you for ur papers!!! rem ur rest.. and looking forward to 251!!
love to all,
ling
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Shu Ling Estrella @ 7:27 PM ~*~ |
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