Fill my heart with song, and let me sing forever.

Happy Valentine's, everyone!

2007-02-14T19:04:00.000+08:00

*Alert: Post consisting of random lines follows.*

Oh, yes. A Happy Valentine's it was for me, especially as I was on the giving end - even if for some of the time and not all.

We had a good showing today, right over there, in that place that has been both friend and enemy to me, and "I was filled with such delight" and hope that one can only feel when one has experienced a miracle. We can do this, everyone. We can. My faith in it, in it all, and in us all, is renewed. We will be CGSSC-, I can just feel it.

And you - you may be a host, but you should be gracious. Please. Do not force me, or else, (amateurish language switch) hostis hostilis.

(switch languages) Singing off. I cannot afford any more time to post.

Happy Birthday Huiyi!

2007-02-01T21:58:00.000+08:00

Happy Birthday to my fellow former 6A-ian of 2004!

Oh, and you too, Lorraine, 3I-ian Bio rep.

Though late by one day, the vote closure is officially in place.

Here's the final vote count:

Saura: 43 votes
Sopra: 22 votes

Discounting the extra votes cast by a certain ardent Saura supporter makes no difference; the majority of the votes is with Saura. So be it, then. I shall get to work on Saura when I have time.

Updating shall henceforth be confined to once a fortnight if I can even afford to do so.

Signing off.

Happy Birthday to Wan Ping and Niroshini!

2007-01-26T20:08:00.000+08:00

Ahem. Neither of their birthdays is today, but they'll be occurring over the upcoming weekend - and I doubt I'll have time to update then. Still, I wish them both Happy Birthday in advance. And I got to mention the facts today. Yes, I beat Charis to it.

I rock, because of that, and because of some totally different issue too - I finally know how to go to where I will find her, but (switch languages) ce qui passera, passera, (switch languages) and I doubt I can change that, ever.

Tag replies now. I just realised that I have many unreplied tags from last year... dear me.

[30 Dec 06 00:52] glamgarden: hi=) Pls visit our blogshop @ http://glam-garden.blogspot.com Selling earrings/bracelets!
-> Visited! And they're beautiful, but I'm broke. In the meantime, here's some moral support!

[30 Dec 06 14:44] # charis!: i'm not very persistant what-.- [following tag] just asking luh :X [following tag] i appreaciate whatever comment u give (:
-> Given, granted, forgiven.

[01 Jan 07 10:23] zhiyi: happy new year! (:
-> I know it's late, but - you too! And how's 2007 been for you so far?

[02 Jan 07 15:16] jiaqi: HI PENELOPE! happy new year! woots! (: good luck in ur new class! xD CHEERS!
-> You too! :) CHEERS to a great Lunar New Year ahead.

[02 Jan 07 21:57] caroline: yeah 2p one. good luck in your new class :D
-> I replied you in school but I'll do so again here: Thanks; you too!

[03 Jan 07 18:49] sak: pennyyyyy i'll only be back on mondayyyy =(
-> It's great that you've recovered.

[04 Jan 07 16:37] sak: bio's gonna rock! WHOOOOOOOOOOO!!! can't wait to see you on monday! Wait, do we have bio on monday?
-> We did. By the way, our teacher's not given us the reward yet... La-dee-dum...

[8 Jan 07, 17:14] LIYANA!: HELLO PENELOPE : D [following tag] all the best for 2007, yeah?
-> You too, dear junior!

[16 Jan 07, 21:06] heeai: hello penny! havent been dropping by for a long time!
-> Yeah, we're both busy, aren't we? I hope for us to meet up in the same school soon.

[16 Jan 07, 22:05] clara: I've been good. Pretty free, not schooling, just waiting around for results. It's nice to have nothing to do and not have to worry about anything in particular. [following tag] How has sec three been for you thus far ? I hope you're doing fine !
-> It's lovely, Clara - both your good news, and my Sec 3 year thus far!

[17 Jan 07, 20:51] annette: you tagged my blog so i'll tag yours =]penelope i think your english is damn cheem lah you need to be proud of the singaporean singlish and start breaking your english ha..
-> I already broke it in a tag on your blog and I have no further intention of further breaking my written English. Still, thanks for the feedback, Annette.

[19 Jan 07, 18:12] chinyu: hvnt been tagging for sometime already haha how're you? [following tag, after I replied that I was doing fine and asked her how she was] haha yeh im fine thankyou :D
-> Great to hear. Have a great Sec 3 year!

[21 Jan 07, 00:43] CHARIS (:: erm. up to you. i had my fun (:
-> So be it if it was fun, but - like the Spiderman saying goes - with great power comes great responsibility. Just bear it in mind.

[21 Jan 07, 22:29] huiyi: sorri 4 not tagging ur blog 4 a long time..... how r u? hope u r coping well wif ur sec 3 life!!!!!!!
-> Doing fine. How're you doing? I'm sure it's just as fine on your side, am I right?

[24 Jan 07, 00:19] yying: GREAT! i'm goin back for choir prac tmr(: yay! sing sing sing!!!!!!
-> Thank you for visiting us! By the way, I'll survive Pure Geog as best I can, all right?

[24 Jan 07, 21:40] LIYANA!: HAHA! yesyes yanhui is denyse's friend! [following tag] and trust charis to start the birthday song earlier. HAHA!
-> Thank you for those confirmations, Liyana.

[26 Jan 07, 04:49] LIYANA!: haha yesyes! JIAYOU PENELOPE! haha today must fasterfaster start birthday song!(: [following tag] although her bday is tmr. but whatever! [following tag] ooh wow look at the time
-> I did, didn't I? And what's with tagging at four in the morning? Go get some sleep; it's for your good.

And here, I shall dedicate a special section to replying the "Bimbo" who's found her way here.

No, dear "Bimbo", I didn't delete the tag because I thought it true. It's just hurtful; such things are not meant for the online platform. Had your comment been racist, you would've sparked a great furore. Everyone has their eccentricities, but perhaps mine are incomprehensible to you. And I did not cause our English teacher to give us spelling; she reassured me so. Besides, if you bother to either memorise the phrases she picks out or come up with similar lines, your composition writing will improve, believe me.

And I shall cry - in jubilation. That way, I fuel the joy of two people and don't get hurt. That's right; I shall bring sunshine to my personal (switch languages) lacrimarum valle, (switch languages) so that the hurt shall vanish.

"Praise with elation, praise every morning - God's recreation of the new day."

Just that alone is not enough; if one really treats each day as a divine work of art, then it should not be sullied except by the Lord Himself.

Self-quote: "An anagram of WORDS? SWORD; as a warrior, to live by."

And again, I shall.

Singing off - there's homework to tackle.

Happy Birthday Elizabeth!

2007-01-19T20:50:00.000+08:00

Here's wishing a Very Happy Birthday to my great Sectional Leader (though she might not come here anyway)! (turning to her) And by the way, Liz, that's NOT a stone, and NOT a pebble - have you heard of anyone who "pebbles"? Haha. (turning back to readers in general) So what can it be? Hmm... I think I'll leave you to puzzle this one out.

Aside from it being her birthday, today was a perfect day, as perfect as I could make it. Let's see what we can call it... I think I'd call it "Dorothea", meaning "gift from God".

And I'm inspired to sing - this.

Morning has broken like the first morning;
Blackbird has spoken like the first bird.
Praise for the singing, praise for the morning;
Praise for the springing fresh from the world.

Sweet the rain's new fall, sunlit from heaven;
Like the first dewfall on the first grass.
Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden;
Sprung in completeness where His feet pass.

Mine is the sunlight, mine is the morning;
Born of the one light, Eden saw play.
Praise with elation, praise every morning -
God's recreation of the new day.

Today, indeed, was one of the best days of my secondary school life.

I awoke today with joy in my heart. Don't ask me why; the reasons are best kept to myself.

Things went smoothly at school - Geography, Literature, Chinese, Chemistry, E-Maths unfolding hitchlessly - and I had a nice chat with Mrs. Low over the Reading period because she spoke words of encouragement whenever I made a negative statement (though, of course, not before finding out why I'd said that). I took home a few lessons from there, but there won't be any sharing here.

For the Assembly period, Mr. Cartoon Artist was back - to give us a recap of the skills he'd taught us last year and to add on. He even went into caricatures, and did one for a certain Yanhui (spelling?). He caught her face quite nicely, but when I saw what he was doing as the caricature's body I was so disgusted that I buried my head and went back to my own drawing - inventing an anime-style eye glare pattern for my friend, which is now complete, with her input. (Frankly, now that I've checked and I know that that Yanhui is Denyse's friend, the disgust has been compounded.)

And then, Choir practice - and finally, a chance to greet, and pass my present to, the birthday girl. I'd have wanted to start the birthday song at the end of the session but Charis beat me to it by having it directly after warm-ups. Ah well, not all things can go as one person plans. Still, I had power over other things, and that's what matters.

On this last day of Capricorn's astrological reign, I felt great.

Praise for the miracle that was the whole of today; amen.

And (turning to you) - I didn't lie to you; I just got released from Choir an hour earlier than when I messaged you, so I finished my lot ot homework in between.

Singing off - no, wait, make that "signing off". I don't think my body can take it if I sing again today. I'll sing in my heart instead.

THIS POST SHALL BE IN FRENCH.

2007-01-17T21:15:00.000+08:00

(switch languages)

Encore, on est séparée, et pourquoi?

Mais elle est la meilleure, et moi, seulement une autre élève.

Elle me manque, et me manquera; ce qui sera, sera. Maintenant elle travaille à un nouvel Centre, à Ghim Moh, et je suis encore au Centre à Bishan. Je ne peux pas changer ça, et c'est tout.

Le changement est, parfois, cruel. (en tournant au Changement) Changement, dois-tu faire comme ça?

En ces moments, Changement, je te hais.

Je te hais.

Je te hais.

Bien sûr, je te haïrai encore, mais maintenant, je te hais.

JE TE HAIS, CHANGEMENT.

(switch languages)

Now, the verb "haïr" has a hard sound, so the expression is "je te hais" and not "je t'hais".

And now I'm signing off.

An almost ordinarily random day

2007-01-16T18:23:00.000+08:00

The class name was just decided.

And here it is (drumroll please...)

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It's 3I<3U.

NO; not "3I is less than 3U", but "3-I-love-you". I don't know how to get the heart shape upright. It's not too bad a name, I suppose, considering the other submissions (and their respective popularities, too). Updating profile soon to reflect this class name.

I am sad. (switch languages) Où êtes-vous, ma chère professeur? Dites vite, s'il vous plaît. Je m'inquiète de vous... (switch languages; turning back to readers in general) It's true, I worry. She was a great teacher, and now we're separated by the winds of change.

But I'm also happy - for my dear little brain-baby. Allow me please... (turning to it) Coo, coo, cootchie-cootchie-coo, goo-goo-ga-ga? (turning back to readers) Yes, I'm THAT happy for it.

All right, it's time to sign off. Cedarian duty calls.

A vierd, vacky and vile first week

2007-01-06T16:31:00.000+08:00

That is how it's been, seriously. However, because it was more vile than weird and wacky, the alliteration is on "V"s and not "W"s.

Weird and Wacky: You weren't at practice on Friday although I saw you with your walking partner twice during recess. It's not like you - were you tied up?

Vile: This is going to be long.

Hey, you. (You're not the same as the one addressed above.)

Please don't banish [she whose name means "victory-bearer"] just yet. I'd really like to know the grounds for your accusation. Based on what she told me, she's not guilty enough to warrant an early send-off. I'd really like to know your side of it, what evidence you'd use to back up your case, and such. What if she didn't have a parents' letter, but a horde of witnesses instead? Please don't kill this mockingbird too soon, please.

Really, it was more vile than anything, and I made up my second (musical) composition based on the grief I felt.

I think I'll put in my memories of yesterday.

After Choir practice I decided to go to the train station with [she whose name means "victory-bearer"] and Rachel and one more - was she Steffi? - and we were chatting along the way. "Victory-bearer" then recounted the vile stuff as we rounded the bend. Really, I was angry, but I'm very glad that I very sanely kept my head.

Along the way we were loosely joined by Qixuan, Eunice and Dionne, who just happened to be on the opposite side of the road and who were also headed toward the station. I remember "Victory-bearer" following me through the fare gates and boarding the same train as Eunice and I. We had a good chat (fret not; she wasn't brainwashing me), even singing some carols at one point.

Thank you, "Victory-bearer", for accompanying me all the way to the North-South part of the NS-NE interchange.

No more details. I have a headache.

I was elected class PAL, and am currently on probation to see if I can keep the post. Nuts. I doubt I can, but I'll try. 3I's a nice class.

Singing off.

Does it have to be this way?

2006-12-29T16:12:00.000+08:00

Does my past always have to return to haunt me?

Hey, it's haunting me all right - in terms of my classes for next year.

Guess what my Cedar class is next year?

Or maybe I shan't let you guess. It's 3I.

Nice. Just look at what happens when I put the letter names of my Cedar classes for the four-year stay; I get - IPIP. Erm, hooray?

Break it up and you get "IP, IP". It's as if the thing is haunting and taunting me. IPPI; thanks so much, teachers, for reminding me. I wanted to put that phase behind me, all right?

By the way, why do we, as a cohort, have to be different?

Quoth an SMS conversation between me and my SL yesterday:

Me: [I'm in] 3I. It's not conventional, is it?
SL: Nope.
[...]
Me: It's weird; 3C, H and A are the trip-sci classes.
SL: Ya I know. Haha it doesn't matter.

Yes, Liz; it doesn't matter to you, but it does to me - a lot. Just know that it does.

Why do we have to differ from those before us?

And then, there's my French class.

Here's my response to the search results:

Class Name: I'm OK with any name.
Timing: OK, just fine. It's the normal time.
Days: Perfectly normal, normally perfect. What am I saying? They're the normal days, and they're perfect.
Classrooms: Why do we have to have two classrooms? Anyway, it's OK, I guess.
Teacher: HER again? NO ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Really, I'd have liked another teacher. My first teacher, in fact. However, be it thus; I'm still notched up against Leon, and we're now on equal ground again. It is time to truly rise up.

Oh, well - I guess I really have to try to make the best of it all. At least, in 3I, I won't be the sole Chorister anymore, with Rachel and Nandini around. However, I think the curse of the 2005-initiated cohort's P class has claimed another victim while releasing me from its grip.

And - guess what?

I've locked myself out of the E-Campus. Oh, this is great.

Signing off; I'm too frustrated to sing.

update at 5.15pm: I hacked my own account successfully! IPPI... now I think I'll send myself my new password.

Let's have tag replies to celebrate!

[21 Dec 06, 11:25] sak: it means lazy. sorry but i've taken to typing a mixture of malay and english in my blog
-> Wow - "malas" is Malay for "lazy"? OK.

[21 Dec 06, 22:31] Chinyu: lol i cant find you ahh. get another pic like maybe showing you & your friend only or smthng? haha (:
-> No can do, Chinyu - my no-uploads policy forbids it.

[22 Dec 06, 12:43] Chinyu: eh are you the one laughing or smthng one?
-> I don't intend to re-reply this here.

[22 Dec 06, 21:08] caroline: whee hee hee chanced upon your blog. hi. :D {she did a double tag}
-> Which Caroline are you? If you're the 2Purity Caroline, then - hi and feel free to browse! If you're my Immersion partner, (switch languages) salut! Bienvenue à mon journal en ligne!

[23 Dec 06, 22:49] # charis!: erm, u missed the greatest part though, u missed a lot. the part i wanted u to come and see, u left ))): [following tag] BOOO! )): [following tag] but can i invite you to church one day? (:
-> Lots to consider, Charis.

[24 Dec 06, 21:35] jazmine: hi penelope! its x'mas eve and heres wishing u a very merry x'mas ! cheers!
-> Though belated, I wish you the same - and a Happy 2007 too.

[25 Dec 06, 00:36] Chinyu: ah nvm bout it penny its alright :D {red} MERRY XMAS TO YOU :D
-> Thanks Chinyu! Merry belated Christmas and Happy 2007!

[25 Dec 06, 13:05] liyana! (:: MERRY CHRISTMAS PENELOPE! (:
-> You too Liyana - and Happy 2007! Start thinking about your subjects and how to score!

[25 Dec 06, 14:14] jiwei: heys merry christmas ! (:
-> Marry belated Christmas and Happy 2007!

[25 Dec 06, 19:13] # charis!: aiyahh! don't need consideration luhh! [: just for one dayy, take a look-see around?(: [following tag]by the way, merry christmas {red} ♥ [following tag] hope you can come on day! (:
-> Happy 2007. And yes, there's lots to consider. I'm not taking this invitation without taking Jean's.

[25 Dec 06, 20:40] CALL: haha im chinyu representing call, wishing you a merry xmas & continue supporting our blog~! heh (:
-> Sure thing Chinyu.

[25 Dec 06, 21:51] sak: joyeux noel, penny!
-> (switch languages) Toi aussi, Sak - et bonne année, mon amie!
(switch languages)

[27 Dec 06, 13:14] bubsnow: Merry Christmas :P
-> You too, Bubsnow, and Happy 2007! Remember the new route here, please!

[29 Dec 06, 16:27] sak: I checked our classes, we are in the same session but youre in F3B. different rooms for different days so you better go check.
-> I checked before posting this, but thank you for alerting me!

Singing off.

O Hostia Salutaris...

2006-12-26T09:47:00.000+08:00

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Fortuna Dies Natalis,
Fortuna Dies Natalis,
Fortuna Dies Natalis!

Haha, did I fool you into thinking that I'd be typing out the lyrics of Salut de la Veille des O? Why would I want to?

I sang that - as in the lyrics that I typed - yesterday. I bet, however, that I'll have messed up and come up with something that's not up to my usual standard. It's excusable in this case, because I'm not fluent in Latin anyway.

Aside from this song, my Christmas was pretty much an ordinary day, save for all the messages I got on my phone and the interesting SMS-chatter I got involved in.

I shall post some memorable lines from these SMS-chats. Please note that I may not remember all the details of each message. Also, all [square-bracketed] words were not in the original messages, but were put in to give a better understanding; arrows indicate my little 'reflections'.

Here goes ~ ~

Me: ... I'd like to wish one and all a Merry Christmas and a Happy 2007. :)
(countless replies later)
Yufan: Same to u! -yufan frm nepal
-> Wow - he went to Nepal? My. (turning to Yufan) Hey, how's life there? *sound echoing off the mountains*
(turning back to blog)

Pamela: Maybe you'll get to know [your class posting] on the first day at school?
Me (inadvertently):
Me: Sorry about the blank message - it was a slip-up. I sure hope so.
Pamela: Haha. OK.
-> I'd meant "I sure hope [we will get to know the postings on the first day]", but look how the message can get lost - now when I read it, it seems as if I've half-intended to send her a blank message. Nuts :(

Me: Yeah, so you pawned [practices] - for how much, eh?
Berenice: Priceless free time.
-> This one cracks me up.

That's all the memorable stuff there is from the SMS-chattering.

Shoutout: Charis! If you really want me to go then you'll have to follow my words. Save the Scorpio intensity for Choir, please.

I'll always remember Jean Tan, always, for she is a leader's essence personified.
For that same reason, I will remember Denyse and Wan Ping.
If they are stars, I am the astronomer.
I may not be, right now, but (switch languages) je serai, si je peux. Je crois que je peux.

(switch languages) Next year is the last chance.

Singing off.

Happy Birthday Li Miao!

2006-12-24T16:52:00.000+08:00

Yes, indeed, Happy Birthday, fellow Chor1ster! May all your wishes come true - if not now, at least in the long run! Also... (switch languages) viens vite, mon Chor1ste! L'année scolaire commencera bientôt!

(switch languages) Heard of this Christmas carol?

Deck the halls with boughs of holly,
fa la la la la, la la la la;
'tis the season to be jolly,
fa la la la la, la la la la.
Don we now our gay apparel,
fa la la la la, la la la la;
Join the ancient Yuletime carol,
fa la la la la, la la la la.

Oh yes - donned we then our nice apparel.

I'm referring to my family and I; we just went for a stay at the Fullerton. It was a blast! The place is simply grand and cosy, and so was everything else about it. The clothes we wore were very fitting to the surroundings. Our stay was so great that Dad and Mom asked us to take them there in future. Sure I will.

However, I think I'd like most to book a room there and check in wearing the same outfit, but with someone else. :)

One more thing.

Dear style doctors,

You will be pleased to know that there is some change to my look. It may not seem obvious at first, but I think anyone can detect it at just one glance.

Please don't say that it's too minor; I won't shorten my school skirt, if you must know.

~Seraphine Chorister~

I wonder what Miss Chye and the Choristers will say if they happen to notice the change.

And yes, Annette, I shall answer when we meet again.

See you around; I'll be singing off.

Finally.

2006-12-21T05:12:00.000+08:00

I do believe this to be my first post in six days, is it not? Hmm. Shoot, the birthday season's already started and I didn't manage to post. Anyway I gave Sophia a birthday tag in my usual style - multilingual (no pun intended).

Frankly, I do have something to post, but I think I'll try to submit that in my portfolio. It's got to do with languages though (and I'm NOT going to copy Karen's entry; that's stealing).

I'll just do tag replies now.

[15 Dec 06, 22:05] cherise: polled.
-> Thank you Cherise. Your help's greatly appreciated.

[15 Dec 06, 22:55] louisa: hey! hahah yeah sure, i voted (:
-> Thank you Louisa. Your vote's no less appreciated than the others.

[15 Dec 06, 23:42] annett- (with hyperlink): hey! annette from choir here.. what's with saura and sopra.. haha oh well
-> Replying this query in one week's time, Annette... See you then! And I've linked you! I see you've done the same for me too; thank you!

[16 Dec 06, 10:24] # charis!: Not that we are buddies, but i just fell in love with her skinn [following tag] but the fact that we are, thats are plus point + (: [following tag] LETS JUST SAY: YOU CAN TELL WHEN A PERSON HAS GOOD TASTE :p
-> Oh... OK.

[16 Dec 06, 20:52] huiiyi: nice blogskin girl!!! u go girl!!! n i hav voted...
-> Thanks Huiyi - for your compliments and vote!! :)

[16 Dec 06, 22:23] heeai: hi penny! ive voted! hope it will be of some help!
-> Most certainly, my friend, it will help. Thank you!

[17 Dec 06, 20:28] melissa (with email): hey penelope! how're you doing? anyway i voted and dunno anyway to contact you offline so why dont you get back to me instead. haha. left my email.
-> Sending you soon, Mel... But currently depending on circumstances. Wish it didn't have to be this way though.

[19 Dec 06, 13:46] den;: hello! ahahah (: [following tag] i voted already too (:
-> Thanks Denyse. You've helped me yet again. Oh dear me - how do I repay? By working as best as I can with all the Choristers? :) I know I can.

[20 Dec 06, 17:22] Chinyu: hey penny post some photos up thr aight! i wna see how you look like recently cos i hvnt seen you for a loooooong time.
-> But Chinyu, I have a no-uploads policy; I will not upload any photos with the faces of me or my friends (or acquaintances, or enemies... you get the drift, right?) in it! Anyway I think I'll make an exception this time. Scroll down for it!

Right, so, as Chinyu requested, I'll upload a photo with me in it.

This is the most recent photo I'll upload. It's not exactly very recent, but - well, what can I say - still loving Choir 1. However, Blogger is currently NOT letting me upload it from my computer, so I'm loading from the source - Denyse's blog.

Chinyu! Try finding me here! My expression's a bit weird though, or so I feel. :X

Speaking of Choir 1 and Chor1sters, the birthdays of two Chor1sters are coming up. Just in case I have no time to wish them here, in the titles, on their actual special days - happy birthday / sheng1 ri4 kuai4 le4 / joyeux anniversaire / otanjou-bi omedetou gozaimasu to Joseph Wong and Li Miao.

Also, Ren Yan's birthday is coming up. Happy Birthday, my Sec 1 French rival. I would've liked to compete with you again this year; too bad you dropped out.

Hmm, who else? Yes, I hear you, but the actual birthday might not have been on this day. Still, Happy Birthday Jesus (though it's four days early).

Hey Chinyu, is this a satisfactory enough picture?

Signing off (if I sing now, it will wake everyone up).

Tag-replying time.

2006-12-15T18:34:00.000+08:00

[06 Dec 06, 20:19] Chinyu: hey finally a new blogskin (: btw i didnt delete the links eh, its navigations now. you didt see them?
-> Thanks for pointing them out to me Chinyu!

[06 Dec 06, 21:04] den; oh hello! (: nice blogskin! <3>
-> Thank you Denyse. And how was Novabelle to you as a buddy? I'll bet she was a good buddy.

[06 Dec 06, 21:06] Chinyu: http://www.blogskins.com/info/122593 {line break} thought you might want to look at this. its a blogskin inspired by our SYF 2007 setpiece yeh? haha take a look. [following tag] & hmm, since when edwin suggested a cls gathering? i didnt hear of that tho.
-> I don't think I'll upload the set-piece skin anytime soon, but it's in a nice scheme of autumn / evening / sepia tones. Ed Ang mentioned a gathering on his blog.

[06 Dec 06, 21:34] shernice: sweet blogskin!!! hahas..hope to see ya soon!
-> Thanks Shernice! Yes, I do hope to see you soon too!

[07 Dec 06, 00:20] rg (with email):send me the pics yeah? my email is my name hehe click on it
-> Already did, Rachel.

[07 Dec 06, 18:38] # charis! (with email): send me e pic:D my mail's there.
-> Done too.

[07 Dec 06, 18:39]# charis!: choir DOESNT take u closer to heaven, knowing {supersized} JESUS {normal size} will (; [following tag] i dun wna serenade the butterflies :/
-> I know that; it was just a pun. You don't have to serenade any butterflies; it just used to say "taggy here here" where the line about serenading butterflies now is.

[07 Dec 06, 22:48] heeai: hello!! check out my blogskin too! i just changed it!
-> It's nice too. Lately, however, it seems that there's this Princess Hours / Goong craze... and that you've been hit too.

[08 Dec 06, 16:07] # charis!: OH, it a pun :X [following tag] haha, yes i clearly agree u dont use that kind plus its a demo, eg of how u shld put:D i know u just wna pust some [following tag] * put some feel into yer blog:D
-> Yes indeed Charis.

[08 Dec 06, 17:50] louisa: hahaha oh okay okay i get it now :D thanks!
-> Don't mention.

[08 Dec 06, 18:35] # charis!: can i all u PEE-NELOPE! *laughs* haha, sry (: [following tag] PEE WEE (x [following tag] ok sorry la i know u are angry :x [following tag] but i wna invite YOU! and YOU ! [following tag] to this event on 21 dec called JOINT organised by my youth grp called Revival Generation ! [following tag] will tell you more on next choir prac.! (: [following tag] thnks for e pics, [following tag] (: [following tag] shall tell you more la next tme :]]
-> Erm, nobody may call me that, much less you, Charis. Depends on my folks' words. I'll tag you when I have their response. But most likely I'll have to leave halfway.

[09 Dec 06, 18:55] sak: when will we know our classes for french next year?
-> Search me.

[09 Dec 06, 21:51] lisa: umm, puritans are a branch of christianity that do not believe in laughing, smilling, having fun, or doing anything on sundays. thankfully, they've mostly died out. [following tag] heheheh i've JUST realised what you meant by the t.a.x trio. X)) mind you i'm not JOINING them.. i'm joining the school. debate or choir?
-> Thank you for telling me, Lisa. I know better now. However, "Puritians" differs from "Puritans" by one "i". And I know you're joining the school, but it's a bit long to put into a mouse-over comment, don't you think?

[10 Dec 06, 20:04] sak: omg penny! do you understand what he is saying? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mdky-L042Dw&eurl= i feel that i should understand but im so blurrr!
-> Sorry Sak - I still haven't watched. I'll try to catch what I can though.

[10 Dec 06, 23:41] Chinyu: hey thanks anyway yea (:
-> Don't mention it.

[12 Dec 06, 18:12] louisa: thanks penelope! hahah but whoops, i dont understand some of those languages xD i do know that they all mean happy birthday though!
-> Well, you got the gist of it all. And I'm sure you had a happy birthday, right?

[13 Dec 06, 20:48] sak: hey hey! i changed my blogskin! care to comment?
-> NICE!! And it's good to hear that you made it. HOW did you?

[13 Dec 06, 21:08] liyana! (:: HAHA yes penelope you should be one of the 4 soloists (:
-> Thanks for your faith, Liyana.

[14 Dec 06, 16:57] sak: Well, basically you need to know what you want to do. Then you just find images and edit them using photoshop to make a banner or even a frame like this. Then you code using HTML/CSS. [following tag] I can help you out with base codes if you want =D
-> Thank you Sak. Hmm... I need a scanner but don't have one.

[14 Dec 06, 16:58] Chinyu: thanks for tagging call blog (:
-> No prob, Chinyu.

[15 Dec 06, 00:44] rg: hehe :P I did something naughty, I voted many many times :P hehe when I voted saura was 8 and Sopra 11 (this includes my vote)
-> Thanks for letting me know, ardent Saura supporter. I don't think I'll discount those extra votes - it they don't discount the extra votes for Singapore Idol, why should I discount this? Then again, you can only vote once in elections. Oh, dear me.

[15 Dec 06, 09:58] avery: hihi!!! yep. keep on tagging calls blog!!
-> Yes, good way to toukeepch (keep in touch).

(At this point a certain "somebody" tagged me to tell me that I seem like a smarty-pants and that I should tuck out more.)
-> Thank you for your feedback, "somebody", but I need you to tell me where it seems like I'm a smarty-pants, or acting like one. It can't really permeate all the posts, can it? And as for the school blouse issue, I'm simply conforming to the school rules - not the popular style - and loving it. On another note, if you've the courage to speak up, why not be courageous enough to leave your name? It's not like I'm going to take things out on you when we get back to school. Besides, I think the closest I've ever come to tagging anonymously is tagging with my name backwards.

[15 Dec 06, 13:52] clara: Hey, I've voted. Will ask you what it's about if i happen to meet up with you
-> Thank you for your opinion, Clara. Sure, I'll tell you if we happen to meet up.

[15 Dec 06, 17:46] # charis!: err,,,,what a weird quiz -.-
-> It's no quiz, Charis. It's a poll.

Nothing much else to post, so I have to sign off here (note the spelling accuracy). See you.

I'm in a dilemma...

2006-12-14T16:51:00.000+08:00

And therefore, I could use some help.

By clicking on the word "~Remember~", you will see this poll that I created. I need you to decide between two names to help bring me out of it. Don't tag me to ask me why or what this is connected to - or even what the names mean. I will answer such questions only if they are asked offline. Thank you for your kind understanding.

I'll be doing some tag replies soon, but not now; there's too little time.

update at 10.15pm: This is just going to be a long shoutout again.

Hey, you.

Were you really oblivious to that fact or were you just pretending? I doubt it was the former, but to be frank, I don't really care. Sending us all off in the pool at one go - is that really wise?

You told us last time that (the coach whom I usually see on Thursdays) is the Head Coach. Let me tell you one thing: you could take a leaf out of his book. When he sees that the pool's too crammed, he'll immediately divide us into groups and dispatch us accordingly. This usually happens after just one lap. How long did it take you to realise that? Three laps? Four? Or does it really take a complaint to jolt you into action?

Just to let you know, Coach, I endured a direct kick to the area between the left shoulder and neck.

I hope it doesn't have to happen again, and that I never will have to attack another person here.

Alleluia!

2006-12-13T18:57:00.000+08:00

Or rather... (bursting into song)

Ha- *clap* -llelu- *clap, clap* -jah, ha- *clap, clap* -llelu- *clap, clap* -jah, ha- *clap, clap* -llelu- *clap, clap* -jah, ha- *clap* -lle- *clap* -lu- *clap* -jah!

(no longer singing) Haha, that was, admittedly, a little random. However, I just want to say that I SUCCEEDED!! Yes, I succeeded!

For this success, I am grateful.

First and foremost - thank you, Denyse, for your advice and help back then!

And last, though not the least, but more the most - thanks be to the Lord for helping me achieve it today! Alleluia!

Finally, I can now proudly say that I'm a Believing Mage. Now, the next thing is to keep the same state without losing it, if not picking it up again without having to use the "summoning gesture".

The following also happened today at practice - the conductor actually got four of the leaders to sing the solo part for part of When You Believe (near the end). At first she had just wanted four people - two Sopranos and two Altos nominated by the SLs - and then she asked for volunteers - and after that, all the four more prominent leaders who were there.

I remember seeing Liyana turning around and calling my name a few times over this short period of time. (turning to Liyana) Thank you, but I really felt that today really wasn't my turn. I don't really dare listen to the vox populi when they're mooting for a soloist and the leaders haven't had their turn yet; seriously, they're better, or they wouldn't be the leaders anyway. If I can, I'll try to grab the chance the next time.

However, the conductor voiced her plans to make us do this four by four and then pick the best four (for Orientation, I suppose). I seriously doubt she'll be able to get her best four from the entire choir by the time the hols are over - I mean, how many more sessions are there? - unless she plans to speed up the process by cramming 'auditions' for up to five groups of four within the same session.

Random line, though also related to Choir practice today: Out of sight - end of the sixth, or start of the thirty-seventh?

I'll be off to sing to the ~~butterflies~~ Lord now.

Happy Birthday Louisa!

2006-12-12T15:22:00.000+08:00

Yes indeed, it's dear Louisa's special day today. May all your wishes come true today, Louisa!

And - oops - I forgot that the special day of my fellow 2Purity classmate, Xinyi, passed two days ago. Erm - happy belated birthday, Xinyi.

The ring(s) are hurting me, but I think I just might want to add one or two to my collection of (switch languages) bijoux.

(switch languages) You might ask why, but below is the only answer I'll give.

My Heart Will Go On (Titanic Theme) - Celine Dion

Every night in my dreams
I see you, I feel you.
That is how I know you go on.
Far across the distance
and spaces between us,
you have come to show you go on.

Near, far,
wherever you are,
I believe that the heart does go on.
Once more,
you open the door
and you're here in my heart and
my heart will go on and on.

Love can touch us one time
and last for a lifetime
and never let go till we're gone.
Love was when I loved you,
one true time I hold to;
in my life we'll always go on.

Near, far,
wherever you are,
I believe that the heart does go on.
Once more,
you open the door
and you're here in my heart and
my heart will go on and on.

You're here;
there's nothing I fear,
and I know that my heart will go on.
We'll stay
forever this way -
you are safe in my heart
and my heart will go on and on...

Singing off here.

To a certain Sop 2 junior...

2006-12-11T18:17:00.000+08:00

I'm not naming you here, and I most likely won't be naming any other people involved in this.

You do remember that we went to (Alto 2 junior)'s house to practice for the November auditions, right? It was then and there that, during one of our breaks, I played for you the piece that I'd made up (in spite of my low-level music background), and you suggested that I add something between the repetitions to add interest.

I'm not slamming you or anything because I don't intend to.

Today, I successfully added an intermezzo somewhere in there, and it sounds fine. However, I really don't think I'll even consider making it a fixture of the piece. I did tell you that I made it up while thinking of someone, didn't I? Well, I'd just like to say this: the interest is there, but when I play it, it breaks the momentum of the spirit and emotion that flows through me. It feels as if an army of Russian marionettes has invaded my piece.

It doesn't matter if the emotion doesn't flow from me into the original piece and into my audience; when I play the original, the emotion is inside, stirring my blood, stirring my heart, stirring my soul. With the intermezzo, the flow of emotion in me is disrupted, and hence I think I'll just stick with the original version. Thank you for the tip, though. I might want to try it again when I become as experienced as someone (not the same as the someone above) - and possibly work my grade high enough to be able to do something like Mr. Ko Matsushita did with our set piece.

Your senior, Penelope

On another note, I just discovered that my little orange lizard beanie is a fake. It doesn't matter anyway, because it reminds me of three people whom I either like or respect, or both.

Singing off. ^_^

Flame of the Dies Irae

2006-12-10T10:23:00.000+08:00

It's been burning in me ever since last night when I found out about two things. I'm going to be firing some salvos here so this post will be really charged-up. I apologise if I've hurt anyone.

First and foremost, a long shoutout to you.

You are the one who caused my flame of love for drama to freeze over, do you know that? The thought of having to be in your class at every session was too much to bear. Choreography won't get us anywhere. It only brings in money for the choreographer while the performers who have to present the dance have to slave to get the moves right, do you understand that? Of course it's easy for you to choreograph and then get us to perform, but, like, you bloody well just choreographed my batch's dance out of mid-air when you couldn't remember your initial moves. YOU DIDN'T EVEN MASTER YOUR OWN DANCE, AND YOU WANT US TO MASTER IT. Is that even fair, I wonder? I doubt you even dared to choreograph the Chingay or NDP or whatever large-scale performance that you choreographed in this I-can't-remember-so-I'm just-making-it-up fashion.

Besides, you say flexibility matters to an actor.

I say NOT.

It just has to flow through you. It's just like music. Once you understand the melody taken by your part, you will automatically feel it. No doubt stage actors have to use big actions to try to get the message across, but that can be achieved without flexibility. I CAN DO IT WITHOUT YOUR WARM-UPS; SO CAN THEY.

It's not that I dispute your professionalism or your expertise - I just think that you shouldn't have been there.

You are the one thing that caused me to quit. It's not Mr. Monitor's calling me a "crazy baboon" that forced me to quit. Speaking of the monitor and monitress, I felt that I was more mature than them back then, and I still feel so now. So what if they are popular? Mr. Monitor was immature enough to call me names.

Either way, thank you for the honour of letting me be one of the floor dancers last year. That's an honour that I'll gladly junk away with the rest of the trash.

I'm glad some of the juniors got to take part in a drama item within this year's showcase. Good for them, unlike me; I had to suffer at your hands all this while.

Now, for the second cause of my anger.

I shall only address the situation in a few lines, unlike for Mr. Choreographer.

Your superiority complex evidently has the better of you, even after so many years, or should I say, centuries. After all this time, I can't believe you still have it. You've evidently inherited it from your ancestors. Come on, people, Isabella is long gone, and so should this rotten attitude. And to think my teachers took away the drama from some of the Literature students in my level in favour of studying your situation back then. I can tell you, it was really a rotten era. So was the Apartheid era in South Africa - the South Africans were second-class citizens in their own homeland, in favour of your ancestors' descendants who are there.

On another note, return the Olympics to the Greeks, please. They should be the ones to set the standard, not you. And I don't understand why, at the Asian Games, all the names are changed to fit your format.

It's true, the second group of people were descended from the same kind of people who landed on South Africa and brought about the Apartheid.

Now that all the salvos have been fired, I think I shall leave my blogblog in peace - after this one last line.

O Salutaris Hostia, da robur, fer auxilium!

Singing off.

为什么会这样？

2006-12-06T13:45:00.000+08:00

Indeed, why is it all like this?

(switch languages)

每个人都希望有进展。
虽然我们有最好的＿＿，但是我却发觉我自己并没有什么进步。我好讨厌这种感觉。
经过团长的一封简讯，我才明白我在哪儿做错了。
原来，我一直都在邯郸学步。

谢谢团长的解释。我一定会尽力。

(switch languages)

Elizabeth asked me to aid Azilah, and so I stayed back for fifteen minutes to do so. It feels wasted, somehow. There was a chance to do so earlier on when Wan Ping asked us to practice in our pairs. I'm not blaming them for doing so, but Stephanie and Suet Far came over and asked to combine pairs, and so we did as instructed.

Shoutout: Azilah! If you're reading this, here's a reminder to work at it; you can do it!

Tag replies now.

[29 Nov 06, 19:04] ~Seraphine Chorister~: One more thing: since when did Rui Wen trust me so much, I wonder?
-> Usually, she doesn't trust me that much.

[2 Dec 06, 23:04] CALL: ^^
-> Huh? Hey C.A.L.L., what do you mean by this? And who posted it anyway?

[3 Dec 06, 15:18] Chinyu: haha its me ah, cos you always tag call blog so i represent call to thankyou! (: lol.
-> Oh OK. At least now I understand... :)

[4 Dec 06, 14:58] # charis!: yeah need to keep working hard...today seniors scolded me :X i feel so {superscripted} down [following tag] sorry it was suppose to be {subscripted}down [following tag] TO SEE HOW DOWN I AM. [following tag] yeah...really SAD [following tag] and mood swings, arh, terrible thing i tell u [following tag] i want thy photos! WHERE ARE THEY )):<
-> Yes you need to work hard. And I don't remember the "B" key being so close to the "P" key, do you? Cheer up. Photos are on their way.

[5 Dec 06, 12:01] ~Seraphine Chorister~: Edwin speaks of a gathering. I'm not going lest I be called extra again. Yes we all have feelings for 6A 2004, but I was turned to frost back then. I'm not stepping into a freezer anymore. [following tag] Goodbye, PCPS 6A 2004. My feelings are there, but they're not magnetic. {three-line spacing} Choir - the CCA that's closer to Heaven, because we're a Choir.
-> I tagged the first of these two tags at C.A.L.L.'s blog and Avery came back with "penelope, why u feel this way? we are all 6aians wad! dun like this! u r not extra? who says so rite?" Thanks Avery!

[5 Dec 06, 17:30] wp: hey penelope, you're linked! (:
-> Arigato gozaimasu, Wan Ping!

[5 Dec 06, 17:31] sak: ooo niceee!
-> This goes to show that I HAVE TASTE. Haha. Thanks Sak!

[5 Dec 06, 17:52] louisa: haha no it's okay but 8 days to what?
-> Right now it's six days to ~~SOMEONE'S special day...~~

[5 Dec 06, 18:07] heeai: hey i lyk ur blogskin! the border!!
-> It's all thanks to its creator! I just added a little of my own touch.

[5 Dec 06, 22:00] bubsnow: quote from Mariah Carey: 'butterfly follows me wherever I go... ' nice :)
-> AND you were saying that you forgot how to come here, eh, Bubsnow? Anyway you came, all the same. Thanks!

[6 Dec 06, 14:06] sak: yeah i know. i just think it's nice. oh and about the tags, don't worry about it =)
-> Agreed; I wouldn't have chosen it otherwise. I can be very picky (though none of my Star Signs is Virgo). Thank you for not letting the flood get to you!

I still need to improve. I really do. In addition, I need antacids.

Singing off here... off to sing to the butterflies. They will get into my stomach if I don't.

P.S. Mon amie, il y a un loupe ici! Prends soin!
note: 'ici' = here, "prends soin" = form of "prendre soin", meaning to take care.

Yes I know I'm not just sharing this with "mon amie", but the world. I had no chance to tell her though.

Unfreeze blogblog!

2006-12-05T15:14:00.000+08:00

I know I said I'd be on hiatus, but I swapped blogskin. No matter how I tried, I couldn't make my own so I'm giving up, and this skin is nice anyway. I modified it a little, though - gave it my own touch.

Here's some info from the Skin Info page:

wwei~TheButterflyGarden
Contributed by: wwei15 on May 26th, 2006 at 1:58 am

And I'm like, wow. It was put up three days before my birthday this year! That's something.

I'll be off to serenade the butterflies now.

-_- ...

2006-12-04T20:00:00.000+08:00

Really. I do feel like that.

I only have one word for yesterday, and it's not even a word I frequently use.

Yesterday was so malu. To be precise, it was so bad that I'm going to borrow a line from the other widely-known Cedar Choir Leader: congratulate me because I had just humiliated myself and my upbringing as a __________________ (try filling in the blank if you want).

Today was just as bad.

Why me?

Dark Soprano - wings clipped, nowhere to fly;
she knows not why.
Arms outstretched, she leaps.

And lands, in a pool of blood.
A thin thread of it
trickles from her mouth.

All is still, all is calm, none have
noticed; there are no
kith, no kin to come
round and try
to rouse her.

Just one

lone

girl.

For your information, though I fit the description (the first two words), I will never take that path, but some of my brainchildren might. I don't know.

When it happens, will I even weep?

I look dark and am dark. In fact, I am a shadow of my former self - just pure, dark umbra. Why is this happening?

---

Nothing is straight; nothing is right. If only saving the situation were as simple as a call of my name, but no.

For that reason, I'm going on hiatus again. Like I said the last time, I'll be back for Christmas. Or rather, I'll be back for the days before it. Lots of people I know have their birthdays then.

See you all around Yuletide. For now, though, just let me do something to my blogblog...

(writer concentrates on something between her hands, raises her quivering arms and hurls a snow-spell at this blog)
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edit on 4/12 at 8.30pm: Oh, and I forgot to wish Liz a nice trip. Now, to continue...
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Drats.

2006-11-30T14:03:00.000+08:00

Hey, I've forgotten who requested - or who I promised - to send photos taken during the Choir Barbecue. Please contact me? I only remember Charis and Rachel, and Cherissa - but I don't know hers. Shoot.

Please tell me ASAP. Thanks.

Sincerely, Penelope

Nothing to do...

2006-11-29T18:09:00.000+08:00

And so, I'll just be replying tags.

[26 Nov 06, 21:38] rg: yup there is someone called pei chun and you'll be facing her next year, cuz she's an OAL. But she's really nice!
-> Yes, and you can play a pun on her full name too. I'll demonstrate here: boo to my second primary school!

[26 Nov 06, 22:44] ~Seraphine Chorister~: (in my heart, to Wan Ping) I know I will, but - one voice is not the vox populi. But I still will. Two-thirds of the blood may be new but we shouldn't agglutinate; it should be of one type. [following tag] A, B, AB or O, we are one now, a new type: CGSSC-. We must stand as one, never to agglutinate, never to fall apart, forever in sync and working well together.
-> These two were self-tags, but I feel the need to put them here. I saw something at Wan Ping's blog (and I'm not hallucinating) that made me want to write this, and I feel that I should keep it.

[27 Nov 06, 09:34] ALYNNA: HELLO PENELOPE! [following tag] SEE YOU .. SOON! (: [following tag] BYEBYE TC :D
-> Hello! Yes, you tagged me before the barbecue. It was fun right?

[27 Nov 06, 09:46] clara: yeah it was, what's there between the two of you anyway ?
-> She means, "yeah it was [me who tagged Lorraine about being mean to you], ...". I've replied her and am not intending to reply again here.

[27 Nov 06, 19:37] melissa: hello penelope! i really dont remember any meng hui fei or you being the soloist you know!
-> That was the original arrangement before Madam Yap decided against it. Were you an OPA (Outstanding Pupil Award) finalist then?

[27 Nov 06, 20:30] sak: eat in stages! porridge->instant noodles->normal noodles->rice->meat =D
-> Thanks for the tip Sak!

[27 Nov 06, 23:01] sak: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bH9gAQyK6vY old school rock and roll! but in FRENCH [following tag] couldnt understand most of it tho
-> I watched and also couldn't catch a lot! But thanks for pointing out the video to me!

[28 Nov 06, 16:07] melissa: yeah i was an OPA finalist, but i do remember singing meng hui fei! [following tag] as in, i know i sang it but i cant remember :/
-> Hmm, that's oxymoronic...

[28 Nov 06, 16:27] sak: well, nuts are last but you get it... [following tag] eep! my post disappeared! i said sausages are fine, its just chicken and red meats that are tough and should be attempted last
-> Thanks! But about the disappearing tag, fret not, I had a similar experience once, but on a Flooble Chatterbox. And I'm not advertising for anyone - neither Cbox nor Flooble. Just pick what floats your boat.

[28 Nov 06, 21:01] yingwai: hello there i just dropped by to say hi, by the way you've got great command of the english language! hahah anyway take care and ah, keep on singing! (:
-> Gee, thanks, Ying Wai! You used to blog, right? Do you still do it? Please drop by and leave a link if you do!

[29 Nov 06, 00:20] liyana! (:: HELLO! (: BBQ was fun!
-> Indeed it was, Liyana!

[29 Nov 06, 17:42] CALL <3: please link/ tag us, thankyou much ^^ [they gave their link in the following tag]
-> Sure will, old 6A-ian pals!

[29 Nov 06, 18:14] Chinyu: hey penny thanks for tagging us! replied you at call's blog alr (:
-> No problem Chinyu. Link coming up!

Random line: One phrase: bella premunt hostilia.

See you around.

"Wings clipped; nowhere to fly ..."

2006-11-28T20:18:00.000+08:00

That is a self-quote - in the doctor's room yesterday, that was how I felt and I drafted it into a message.

Before heading to the East Coast for the Choir Barbecue gathering, I had to head to the Spine Doctor's at the Health Promotion Board. According to the X-ray, the curvature's actually improved by three degrees. I'm still in a daze - I really can't believe it. Looks like prayers for the Higher Authority to fer auxilium have helped. However, it was because of this that I missed Section Bonding.

Then after that, down to the ECP (P standing for Park) it was - I joined the Choristers. However, it pretty much looks like the leaders' plans might have been scuppered by the rain (if they had planned for outdoor games, that is; I wouldn't know because I was only there at 4). Nothing much was happening; some were in the shelter while others - including the leaders - were walking around. Then after that the leaders decided they wanted to move the two plastic bags of water bombs to the beach and Elizabeth needed an assistant (Denyse and Yun Min were handling one pack). Guess what Rachel did? She went something like "Oh, my dear Elizabeth," and I don't remember the rest of her words (yes, I'm aging), but it was in such an amorous tone that I went "Lol?", quizzically as well as in disgust.

(I remember getting a call from Sharon - via Liz - about an invitation to her caroling group's musical around this time in the shelter, but I just cannot remember when in this sequence of events. All I remember was that Liz was looking at me weirdly and I was thinking, "No way that can be from my family; none of them know Elizabeth's number!")

I got the job (finally, a meaningful way to spend some seconds) and followed the leaders down to the beach and there we wrote things in the sand after they'd brought the water bombs to wherever they'd wanted them to be (halfway there, we stopped for a rest and the plastic bag handle that I was carrying snapped. Grr...). Then the leaders gathered everyone at the beach for a dog-and-bone game hosted by Rui Wen and Wan Ping (with a water bomb for the 'bone' of contention). In the end, we were bursting so many bombs that our hosts decided to just let us have a water bomb fight. I suppose I'm not really used to wet games (I was shocked at how wet I became), but it was enjoyable in a way. Then I went back to the shelter to get my things and change into my dry outfit, but in the end I ended up getting everyone mobilised (because I told Wan Ping about it and she got everyone around the area to help) to find my sock, which I ended up finding near the shelter. -_-"

So anyway I went to Mcdonald's to swap outfits, and found the whole place congested due to - what else - the whole load of Choristers waiting to change. I ended up being the last to change, but I did it as fast as I could, and walked back with the others who'd gone to McDonald's to change (they'd stayed behind to wait out the rain, or for some other reason). By this time, the leaders were busying themselves with the preparation of pit 26. Cherissa came at around this time and I requested that we have a shot taken together. Since she said she wasn't quite settled down yet, I let her do what she had to while Rachel, Charis, Jia Xuan and I had some fun taking turns to snap each other. Usually my hand isn't shaky, but I have no idea what happened then - the photos I took were blurry. Soon I got a Cherissa-and-I shot, and some of the juniors wanted to be taken too, so we had a few group photos as well. (Unfortunately for you I have a no-uploads policy; I'll be e-mailing the photos out soon to those whose email addresses I know.)

The leaders at pit 26 were cooking way before we who were working on pit 27 were, because of their headstart. Admittedly, I was just chit-chatting (I found out that Jia Xuan had also been a primary school chorister - we sang part of The Silver Train together), but I jumped at any chance to help - I willingly carried out Rui Wen's instructions to the best of my ability, but the only task I succeeded in doing was getting plates and cutlery. I really wanted to help, but it seems that I might have been 'extra' again because the place was pretty much overstaffed. Due to the "fleeting flames" over at the pit here - we had to light up at least four times - we ended up with a lot of uncooked food at the end and Liz decided to shift everything over to pit 26 when she and the other leaders saw it.

I just wish I could have stayed to clear up, though.

Here's the message I drafted, which pretty much sums up how I felt the whole day:

Wings clipped;
nowhere to fly, though my soul touches the sky.

I'll be there, Choir.
Regardless of how late, I'll be there.

An anagram of words?
Sword; as a warrior, to live by.

So therefore,
these words I'll keep: I'll be there.

I will be there, by my word;
I shall be there.

Really, I wish I could've stayed to clear up.

Impossible circumstances - prison bars.

Singing off here.

Free am I!

2006-11-26T13:33:00.000+08:00

And I sing a wordless song that shall never, never, never, never have an end, for I feel free. Though there is no reason, I feel free.

It turns out that a certain Dream will not fly, contrary to the song.

I'm referring to the song entitled《梦会飞》, which, when literally translated into English, means "Dreams will Fly". It's beautiful. The Pei Chun Choir got to sing it once, at the 2004 Prize Presentation for the Primary 5 and 6 pupils. The Primary 6 choristers had to join in this last collaborative effort with their juniors (even if it hadn't been compulsory, I'd have wanted to). The accompanying actions (simple left-to-right swaying, if I'm not wrong) were beautiful too. At one point, towards the end of the song, the juniors would part (like the Red Sea) to allow us, the graduating seniors, to come to the front, where we would deliver the last lines (the main soloist taking the second last line herself, and the rest of the solo group joining in to lift the last line and make it warm).

On a side note, I remember then that many were resenting Madam Yap's choice of main soloist - me, the (in)famous Penelope, who had come from some lowly neighbourhood school (Kheng Cheng, if you must know) and was performing no worse than the rest. Still, I took it all back then, and it froze my heart; I will remember Pei Chun as a winter wonderland where the sun tried to shine through but could not warm the snows enough to melt them.

Anyway, I'll translate some of the lyrics to rhythmically fit the tune:

There's many a dream at your doorstep,
And it's your choice to decide your fate;
Dreams that burn bright shine proud in their light,
Overriding all reason to wait.

Dreams can fly, dreams can fly, 'cause there's love;
Dreams will soar, dreams will fly, 'cause of love...

Beautiful, isn't it?

A Midsummer Night's Dream is just as beautiful (if not nice in a silly way), but sadly, this Dream isn't even going to take off for us, the students studying SS/Literature.

By the way, Pei Chun really is my second primary school's name. I know there's a senior with a similar name in Cedar. PLEASE DON'T CONFLATE THE TWO. Thank you.

As expected, the Choristers noticed my wired-up teeth. Hopefully the braces don't interfere with eating by tomorrow.

Speaking of the Choir Barbecue Outing, I have to extend a word of thanks to Elizabeth and Denyse! Now I can find my way there without having to trouble anyone; I'll be there late.

Tag-replying time.

[24 Nov 06, 12:57] sak: just tell me when you're going, alright (that is, if you are going during the holidays) woohoo! get blue and grey rubbers! [following tag] oo! and i'm a lazy piggy so I just placed my order for the books online! I don't feel like lugging those heavy books from school to my block to all the way up here
-> I sure will; just wait till I get used to them - then it'll be all the colours on the school crest all at once and not just blue and grey (or silver, according to a certain alumna)!

[24 Nov 06, 13:44] # charis!: it would be funn:D[following tag] cat fight! MEOW~ [following tag] sak, ur name remind me of..no offence...but [following tag] jap sak-e [following tag] :D [following tag] and penelope i updated:D [following tag] i nid to start reading lit. GRRR (x [following tag] i havent done it. so darn dead :X [following tag] and tag! MORE! [following tag] :D :D:D:D
-> Having a hate tagger is fun to you?! Well then, so be it. Yeah, update when you want. I don't flood you, so please don't flood me. The statement that goes something like "滴水之恩，不忘涌泉相报" doesn't apply here, please!

(Following tag was a self-tag. After that...)

[24 Nov 06, 21:19] den;: hahah hello! xD yup i sure hope so! yes see you on mon! [following tag] oh you're taking ss/lit next year? is midsummer night's dream nice? lucky you! xDD
-> It is nice! And may the barbecue be a success!

[25 Nov 06, 00:07] rg: hep pens~ I heard that we won't be doing a midsummer's night dream :(only the mining thingy and to kill a mockingbird
-> What?!? No ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ (sound echoing off the walls)

[25 Nov 06, 01:07] sak: weehee my books came just now! i immediately went to do my chem hw! hahahaha..I'm so weird...
-> I don't find that weird.

[25 Nov 06, 12:42] # charis!: HELLO! just dropping by too :D keke.
-> Yes, hello! Feel free to drop by anytime!

[25 Nov 06, 12:51] # charis!: D-U-H. i am [going to the bbq] [following tag, after I asked if she could follow the leaders' directions] no i cld not [following tag] but i cldnt care less. [following tag] i have my own form of transport :D [following tag] ++ no one wna follow 'em. LOL
-> Oh my, poor leaders.

[25 Nov 06, 14:05] louisa: hey! (: haha i'm taking english, hcl, double math, chem, physics, e.lit, elec geog+ss [following tag] yeah i think that's all! (:
-> Oh, OK! Hope you love your combo... All the best!

[25 Nov 06, 14:35] louisa: ooh hahaa, my school doesn't give us a choice of lit as an elective, but i like lit enough to take it whole (: all the best to you too! (:
-> Thanks Louisa! Oh, you don't have SS/Lit at your school? Oh well :(

[25 Nov 06, 21:53] sak: -pokes- [following tag] TAGGGG!!! -grins-
-> Tagged! *nudges*

[26 Nov 06, 12:00] den;: oh no you're not doing midsummer's night dream anymore? [following tag] why? x( [following tag] what will you be doing then? i thought there had to be a shakespearean work?
-> I have no idea, Denyse. I only heard from Rachel (points to tagboard). It seems that they're choosing the syllabus (they being the teachers). Back to the theme of Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry for us SS/Literature students, then. The play is nice, though silly in some respects. Aww gee, I would've wanted to do something by Shakespeare, be it bloody tragedy or lovey-dovey comedy.

And that concludes the tag replies.

Roll of thunder, hear my cry; bring back the play!
On and on, anon will come the day -
The day to enact the old-time trouble:
drama like potion, to boil and bubble.

I hope the relevant authorities' minds be changed anon. Amen.

Singing off.

New books.

2006-11-23T22:03:00.000+08:00

Popster and I went to get them today.

Shernice greeted me upon my arrival in the foyer (she happened to be there) and she noticed my wired-up teeth. Oh well, they're bound to be noticed sometime. What will the Choristers say, I wonder? Hmm...

Anyway, back to the books. Apparently one of the books isn't needed for SS/Literature, but Sabrina (a fellow 2Puritian who's taking it too) didn't know which. Shoot - now there's one extra book on my hands, and I don't know which one it is! Great. So Popster and I got the full set of Literature textbooks, along with all the other books that we should get.

I returned home and chomped on my copy of A Midsummer Night's Dream. Something didn't go down right, and I have some bones to pick with the authors (Shakespeare as well as the person who put in the study notes).

Friends, readers, passers-by, lend me your eyes! I have come to expose the errors, not to praise the authors for making these mistakes! (Hahaha.)

Hail all, to Selene, Artemis and Aphrodite, never to cease!
Turn your backs to Luna, Diana and Venus as you please!
No doubt, they are identical,
But I, for I am critical,
See what is not;
For the benefit of you lot,
The latter names are by Romans bestowed,
While the former set, the original Greek-endowed.

DON'T CONFLATE THE NAMES WITH EACH OTHER LIKE SHAKESPEARE DID,
OR I SHALL SOON BECOME LIVID.

So that was Shakespeare's error; aside from that, he did a lot of research into the culture of the place, and I have to give him credit for that, no doubt.

Now, for the errors made by the writer of the study notes.

Towards the end, in the play within the play, there is a mention of the Fates. Here the writer of the notes names Lachesis as the Spinner, Clotho as the Measurer and Atropos as the one who cuts the thread after the weaving is finished.

The bone I have to pick with him is that he has confused Clotho's and Lachesis's roles! Clotho is the Spinner while Lachesis measures the life-thread. Furthermore, there is no weaving involved; there're already two women - one a lady, one not - and a goddess in Greek Mythology who take charge of weaving. The goddess is, of course, Athena; the woman is Arachne (she tried to hang herself after losing to Athena in a challenge; the latter let her live on as a spider), and the lady is my namesake; she was the Queen of Ithaca. (For your information, this blog can be considered my tapestry, thank you very much. I have no intention of undoing it - my namesake undid a tapestry of hers out of faithfulness to her King.)

OK, done. Hopefully typing all that out here will mean that I don't mention them in class and disrupt lessons (if we who are taking SS/Lit are even working on the Dream, that is).

Tag replies now.

[19 Nov 06, 23:36] Chinyu: hey hey hey its [scroll]physics + chem[/scroll ^^ [following tag] whoops broken tag. {with scrolling effect} physics+ chem! [following tag] 19 Nov 06, 23:37Chinyu: & haha hey yay you let me call you penny!!! {scrolling effect and upsize} WEEE =D
-> Oh really? Wow... OK, it's your choice after all. And - yes - you can call me by short name!

[20 Nov 06, 17:14] Chinyu: heyyy. you're posting in chinese! lols. [following tag, after I asked if she had a problem with it] haha thr's no prob laah of cos.
-> :) Good that you noticed...

[20 Nov 06, 22:52] hanle!: diao cy is close to flooding liao! xDDD {with scrolling effect} LINK ME!
-> Done.

[21 Nov 06, 18:00] weewee-: y mi linkk pink color de?? [following tag] walao...they dunoo how ta speak broken english issit?? [following tag] so OUTDATED [following tag] i'm not SAYING euu but...so toot
-> Welcome to my community, Cousin Lizzie. Welcome to my community.

[21 Nov 06, 18:11] hanle!: im {with scrolling effect} not pretty {and another scrolling effect to separate her points} not charming {no scroll} and my chinese sucks [following tag, after I told her that was what I felt about her] hahaha. my chinese results are like very sucky. guess how much?
-> I'm not guessing, Han Le. I'm not guessing. Mine could very well be in that range too...

[22 Nov 06, 14:32] sak: i got chem/bio too! what humanities are you taking? im taking pure hist with ss/geog =) [following tag] ooo sorry didnt read properly! haha.. guess most people are taking pure geog. i'm saying HELLO to HITLER!
-> Ugh, Hitler... (HATE YAMASHITA! GRR...)

[22 Nov 06, 18:21] sak: yup! i love love love my combo! from the start i was debating, lit or hist lit or hist? but everything sorted itself out and now im taking PURE HIST! <3333
-> Be prepared to be somewhere around 3S... Good for you since it's one of your initials. And it's also good that you love your combo. (switch languages) Travaillons dur et bien! (switch languages) All the best to us!

[22 Nov 06, 18:22] sak: woah you got you braces on already? woah.. did ou get them metal or rubber? if rubber, what colours?
-> All's currently in silver. Wait till I get used to them... then I'll be donning support for Cedar on my teeth.

[22 Nov 06, 19:43] # charis!: OH MY. this moving words thingy is nothing but a... {with scrolling effect} diesease [following tag] looks like i've caught it. LOL! (x [following tag] NO AUDITS! [following tag] (((((: [following tag] for now... SIGHS ): [following tag] {superscripted} up {normal }&& {subscripted} down [following tag] hahhaa, betcha dunoe ;D [following tag] i {br} know {br} you {br} duno {br} how {br} to {br} do {br} this {br} ahahahhaa {br} ((: [following tag] hahaha, i am evil:D [following tag] HOHO (x [following tag] {orange} YOUR BLOG SERIOUSLY NEEDS LOVELAYE ORANGEEEE! [following tag] hahaha, wonderful:D
-> Yes, thanks for that myriad display of abilities... but it destroyed quite a few of my tags too. Keep your flood down to no more than eight tags next time, OK?

[22 Nov 06, 21:03] Chinyu: heh the choir setpiece is out alr eh? hahaha. goodluck for your choir =D
-> You've seen it?! Nice. All the best to you too.

[22 Nov 06, 21:16] sak: penny! (can i call you that?) guess what? i got a hate tagger if you want entertainment! -grins- [following tag, with e-mail] huh? you got msn? i left my email! add meeee
-> OK... and I don't have any messenger, but I'll drop a mail soon.

[23 Nov 06, 11:51] # charis!: hello sak. though i dont know you. i wna a hate tagger!~:D [following tag] GIMME ONE! (: [following tag] my blog is dead. its needs Revival:D:D:D [following tag, directed to me] oh my. u are sooo [scroll]{upsize}SMART!!![scroll] [following tag] EEPS [following tag] BROKEN TAG! [following tag] never mind, i am tired. *grins sheepishli* [following tag]
-> You want a HATE TAGGER?! -_- Thanks for the compliment. And what's with being tired at... midday? Erm...

[23 Nov 06, 12:56] sak: of COURSE you can call me sak, penny! and charis! even tho i don't know you, why would you want a hate tagger? it's annoying but entertaining, nonetheless. [following tag] oh yeah, did you buy the french books already? where, when, and what do we buy?
-> Bingo, Charis, those were the thoughts I was trying to articulate here, but Sak's already done the job... And Sak, I think the books should be bought at the Centre, but I don't know when and what to get. Sorry...

[Following tag was a self-tag. After that...]

[23 Nov 06, 20:50] Chinyu: heh, we've seen the set piece alr aight. jiayou for ur choir=D
-> Yours too.

Well, that settles it all. Since it's already so late, I doubt I should be singing; I'm signing off instead.

Happy Birthday Mr. Sagittarius!

2006-11-22T17:42:00.000+08:00

And just grow up, will you?! I don't want to have to shout at you again. But then again, you're already quite grown up.

For Choir today, Miss Chye was conducting. She taught us something really interesting (I won't say what, again), to be frank. That was before getting us to brush up on our pieces. (switch languages) On aura l'Or avec des Honneurs, Choristes Cédariennes! Travaillons dur et bien!

(switch languages) After lunch, I went to the dentist's again for the actual brace fixation. Ugh, the chemicals tasted awful, really. I'm thankful it's all over; right now, I just feel - erm - all wired up? Hahaha. However, there's more pain to come... Grr, I can do this! Strength and grit! I know I have these within; the question is, how deep down within are they? Surface, strength and grit!

Random line: Mockingbirds beware. I've got a rifle.

Singing off.

One childhood; cherish it.

2006-11-21T12:27:00.000+08:00

It only comes once, along with all its fairytales, pretty princesses and dashing knights in shining armour, and elves and leprechauns and wizards/witches who try to wreck your plans and turn the tale into the roller-coaster read that it once was.

Who doesn't long to go back to their childhood days? For some, they might choose to revisit their youthful days. That's fine enough. Everyone longs to go back to happy points in time, don't they?

However, when the fairytale is dashed, there is no going back.

Allow me to digress a little bit...

Recently, Berenice updated with a serious post. Its theme word was "image". I think I might want to do something similar, but the theme word is different (though both start with "i").

What do you think of when you think of the word "idyll"? For me, they're such words and phrases as "innocence", "fairytales", "lollipops", "cuteness", "teddy bear" and such.

What would you associate with such things? Or rather, who would you associate with such things? You can name me as many people as you want, but I'm sure they're all children. (I'd be surprised if you can name me an adult whom you can associate with at least three of the above items.)

Red and yellow and
pink and green,
purple and orange and blue;
I can sing a rainbow,
sing a rainbow,
sing a rainbow tune.

Yes, the Rainbow Song. I'm pretty sure most kids like it, just as I did.

Once the children find out about the perverse connotations tied to the rainbow, however, I'm not sure what will happen.

I just found out that there is a flag, dyed in six colours, that stands for a not-so-glorious cause. Worse still, the colours on the flag are all bright and merry. I can just imagine a supporter of that cause handing out small portable versions of this flag on the streets.

I can imagine that there would be many children who would want a flag; their parents, knowing what the flag stands for, would drag their children away. The kids would be crying and screaming at their parents for a flag, but their parents would not tell them anything because they wouldn't want their children to know about such things lest they become involved.

I would have to agree with the parents in the above scenario.

In fact, I think the flag I mentioned above could be why the Peace flag has an inverted-rainbow colour scheme.

For me, however, reading about that flag shattered the holy impression I had of rainbows.

So, I'm shattered too, not just the good impression I had of rainbows. Once the idyllic glasses through which kids see the world are broken, there is no going back, and I need time to recover from this new shock.

That's all I have to say about children's idyll.

On another note, the people who support that cause had better get a better symbol, or so I think. (turns to supporters of the cause) Yes, you're ****-*******, and you're proud of that fact. Fine with me; why not just conceal it and live among us like normal people? That is, unless you want to make a spectacle about your support for the cause.

(turning back to readers in general) I'd rather they not shout it out using the rainbow. It wholly defiles the holy symbol that the rainbow was meant to be.

Signing off here.

我还以为是那样的。

2006-11-20T10:54:00.000+08:00

结果，一切都是虚幻；我的记忆背叛了我。虽然如此，但是我还是信任我的五官。

我也信任一些东西、一些人。
这些人当中，有亲戚、朋友、合唱团员，还有他。

我相信，我信任。
我相信以上的这些人不会离我而去。

我相信。

我真正地相信。

(switch languages) Indeed, I do believe, and fervently. I trust them.

Now I'm off to link someone. Toodles.

抱歉。（抱歉吗？I'm blogging in Chinese after all.）

2006-11-19T15:29:00.000+08:00

I seem to be drifting around in nothing.

(switch languages) 我好讨厌这种感觉。真的，它令你觉得心里空空的，而我，虽然不喜欢，但是... ...

为什么？
我全部的情绪都消失得无影无踪；做东西时，只好行尸走肉般地敷衍。
我的头脑在，灵魂却不在。
能见到灵魂的时候，只限于与四德女子合唱团一起练歌的时间。

不行，一定要把它给装满，让我有事干，这才行。

虽然我是双人，但在别人眼中，他们对我的印象迥然不同。可是，依我看来，我并不是什么神秘人物。
我真的会给大家那种感觉吗？
我并没有沉迷于自己的星座。我真的想知道，因为我好像发觉到，我有可能给过这样的印象。

我真的那么神秘吗？
(switch languages) Really, I don't think so.

Tag replies now.

[18 Nov 06, 20:23] xc: wah.. something happened at my blog as i switch to new version.. some of my contacts and other post are deleted! urgh...
-> Ooh boy, that sounds bad... I gave you my link, so please re-link! (note to self) I guess I need to download a backup copy of my blog if I'm going to switch to BETA?

[19 Nov 06, 00:25] Chinyu: hey penny wht stream are you taking eh?
-> It's all here. And (frowning) since when did I give you permission to call me Penny? Haha, just kidding. (switches to a smile) Actually, all friends are welcome to do so after the first period of being together (I let Hee Ai use my short name after the transfer to Pei Chun, for example).

Singing off.

I know, I know...

2006-11-18T12:34:00.000+08:00

Yeah, I know I neglected to mention Liyana's fainting and Miss Chye's return yesterday, but those are pretty much close to my heart, my innermost feelings (in spite of the fact that it's really pretty much not a secret).

I'm going to have tag replies here today - I don't have a lot to post otherwise.

[8 Nov 06, 22:17] heeai: hi penny! sry tt i dint come here to tag for a long time :p [following tag] u went for immersion programme! tts so cool! oh and u can blog in french!! *clapsclaps*
-> Yes, I did. But when you tagged, it wasn't over yet! And it still isn't over.

[10 Nov 06, 19:24] # charis!: TAHNKS PENELOPE! (: hahah!
-> No problem.

[11 Nov 06, 21:47] (Cassie gave me her e-mail address)
-> Thanks Cassie!

[11 Nov 06, 23:53] rg: eh and btw just so you know, my blog will be very angsty, most of the time that is
-> OK then... (preceding tag was deleted, because it hurt)

[12 Nov 06, 08:39] den;: hahah sorry that was a technical glitch. it's not so jarring anymore.
-> Yeah, and you've since changed your blogskin. Going through a rainy season, you sunny girl? Haha. You know the pun because I explained on your blog.

[12 Nov 06, 19:36] rg: er no I didn't get someone to translate for me, I used an online translator that will translate phrases so it doesn't sounds so weird or something like that :P
-> OK... But online translators aren't very accurate...

[The next two were self-tags. After that...]

[13 Nov 06, 23:35] # charis!: AHAHAHA! penelope! u must pass choir audis! [following tag] zzzzzzz i know you will passs....so ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzZZZZZZZZ [following tag, after I asked what the 'z's meant] i mean zzz mean obvious **
-> I replied this in the following tag: "Oh, really, Charis?" and she came back with "YEPPIES[:". Thanks for your faith in me, Charis!

[15 Nov 06, 19:59] Chinyu: haha hey. erm i just finished goong. maybe watching again?
-> Suit yourself!

[15 Nov 06, 22:51] den;: hahah about the skin, is it that bad? :X [following tag]when i have the time i will find another blogskin xD [following tag] what made you shocked? :X
-> I've already told her why I was shocked (on her tagboard) and I have no intention of repeating it here.

[16 Nov 06, 09:56] jiaqi: hi penelope! (: take care! <3
-> You too!

[16 Nov 06, 14:52] jiaqi: hey! sry i noe my vocab not tt good!(: but wad's caesarian ? [following tag] oh yah! give me ur email can? i realised i dun hv it:D
-> Explained and given. "Caesarian" is in the dictionary, all the rest of you... Go check, please.

[16 Nov 06, 17:11] ME - tracy: ooh! i didn't know u had a blog! hellos anw. happy holidays
-> Are you Tracy of 2P 2006? Please tell me... Thanks.

[17 Nov 06, 18:02] jiaqi: i noe wad it means! tt the cedar results are out SLOW!
-> Bingo! Yay Jiaqi!

[17 Nov 06, 22:33] clara: congrats on the stream, lit is a lovely subj and you all get really good books next year. what are your other subjs ?
-> Chemistry, Biology and Pure Geography - the Literature is my SS/Elective.

[18 Nov 06, 12:10] # charis!: hahha, mangana! *clap* LOL. i tink i am becoming obsessed with the song O.Olll [following tag] hahaha, congrats on yerr stream! [: [following tag] and *OUCH* u pulled out your teeth. OH MY. poor you. ): [following tag] u brought an orange lizard for lucky charm? hahahaha , so cute! (x
-> I'm also going crazy over it - mangana! (clap) Thanks, but you must work hard too - in addition to being sensible about it - to get your stream of choice. It's OK, my mouth feels better now. And did you even see the orange lizard beanie? Anyway I doubt I'll be bringing it again until the next audition. My little lucky lizard :)

[18 Nov 06, 12:33] # charis!: OH PLEASEEEE BRINGGG! i wna see the beanie! hoho:D [following tag] do u have msn? i wna add yer!(:
-> You'll have to wait! In the meantime, perhaps e-mail me to get a picture (but don't upload it to your blog please)? And unfortunately, I don't have any kind of Messenger whatsoever. Sorry :(

Now for a bit more substance.

` To a certain 'fan' of mine `

To Mix-Tone,

If you've gone to school to get your results you will have known that I got a Double-Science stream with Biology in it. Don't call the teachers cruel; it was a change of heart on my part, and so I did get my stream of choice.

Please, stop dogging me or I will have to do something drastic, which I don't want to. I don't want to have to tell you again, nor to have to say anything to you or do anything with you or have anything to do with you.

I don't need grilling, I need peace. Life is already gruelling enough. Don't add to my troubles, please.

In advance, thank you.

Your Cedarian level-mate, Penelope

It's true. I don't need her to keep on doggedly following me. One of my Western Astrological Signs makes me enough of an enigma already.

I'm still trying to solve the riddle that is myself.

Singing off.

"Can't help. I started out [in Choir in general] as an Alto."

2006-11-17T16:24:00.000+08:00

And, to that, my SL responded, "You sound like an Alto." Really, now? Soprano range and Alto tone. Hmm, guess I need to modify things a bit.

Let's start in chronological order.

I went to school and the first thing I did was to check my stream. Nice; I got the stream of my FIRST choice! Lovely, lovely, lovely. I wonder who the Literature teacher will be. I'm hoping to get Mr. Sourberry; I want to get a taste of his teaching style.

For a start to the Choir practice session, we (the Cedar Choristers) sang in the school foyer today before discussing Choir Barbecue Outing details and... [Aboriginal piece] auditions. The auditioning started out as auditions (for the first [number of?] groups; I was in the second), but then the leaders decided on intensive one-on-one training for the rest. I'm not sure if I passed or not, but I certainly hope my orange lizard beanie toy brought me some luck (and I reckon it might have). For one-on-one training, I became Elizabeth's assistant because a certain Leo wasn't around (and I won't reveal the second reason because I don't want to be thought of as cocky).

After the one-on-one training, Stephanie asked what the word "tone" meant, and, in answer, Liz decided to compare mine and Annette's by asking us to sing the same part of the song. Shortly after, we said the two lines that were featured above. Hey, it's a fact that I started out as an Alto, and I love the fact that I currently have a Soprano range; I hate squashing my voice until it sounds masculine. That happened in my second primary school Choirgirl days, for a piece known as Domine Deus. It was one of our our Top 5 Choirs pieces. It took place at Victoria Concert Hall, and we LOST TO ROSYTH back then. Ugh... bitter VCH memory; the Gold award was clinched during the performance at the Nanyang Girls' auditorium.

Anyway, back to the present time and day. So then after practice ended at 1pm, I returned home and went out again shortly after for my second tooth extraction. The First Top-Right Premolar was the most stubborn of the four extracted premolars (though that was no fault of its own); it resolutely refused to budge after the dentist's fourth try. Then again, it has two distinct roots. I'd like to say a big thank-you to my two Right-Side Premolars for accompanying me through the audition, and a special word of thanks goes to my Second Bottom-Right Premolar for being obedient and coming out quickly.

At the moment, however, the sites of extraction hurt in spite of the anaesthetic; I reckon the gum space for my First Top-Right Premolar is hurting more. Self-prescription: a nap. Yes, you know what that means.

See you around; I'm going to sleep.

Long-lived souls?

2006-11-14T20:20:00.000+08:00

It's said that when you mention someone and that someone walks in the door / contacts you, that person will have a long life.

Really?

Then if that's the case, I know someone outside my family who will be long-lived.

It all started out quite innocently on Sunday. I was looking at the Cedar Yearbook 2006 (yes, the one entitled Growing from Strength to Strength). More specifically, I was looking at the Choir leaders' spread (Go figure out where it is).

And - just then - one of the leaders called me. Don't bother asking me what she called about, it's not relevant here. Not only is it not relevant, I'd also like to keep it under wraps (although it isn't really under wraps).

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious (it means "absolutely stunningly fantastic", according to http:// www.epennypress.com/ Words_Starting_with_S/ sunburned_supercontinent/ supercalifragilisticexpialidocious_definition.html [remove the spaces and enter the URL into your browser if you want to visit it]). Liz's going to be long-lived (although I doubt she would ever believe such a thing).

Then again, how do all these things come about?

People have feared death since time immemorial, myself included (no forwarded morbid chain mails, please). Hence, you have longevity being pinned to staying up to guard your parents' age over the night of the Chinese New Year's Eve (as in the Chinese custom of 守岁), or the abovementioned phenomenon (known in Chinese as "说曹操，曹操就到"; the English equivalent is "speak of the devil", but I find that a lot worse).

Come to think of it, do we need to fear death?

Perhaps, not.

It's just a part of life. After all, once we are born, we have to age, we have to perish. Why, you ask?

Biologically, youthful life simply can't be sustained. I think this is due to the decline in production of growth hormone, or something like that. (I'm not putting any Net research here; the Net search is so massive that it's giving me a headache.) Since death is such a natural part of life, so universal that nothing can escape it, should we fear? No; it's normal.

However, the above doesn't mean I approve of people trying to hasten the natural process. In fact, the group I was referring to in the previous sentence doesn't even use any viruses or anything (though they might in future). They use primitive kitchen weaponry.

Apart from that, death isn't really welcomed because of people's sentiments for each other (be it family or romantic love, friendship, et cetera). Face it, we all have to go. When Atropos cuts the thread, when God signals the time's-up, it's time to leave.

And it's not time for me to leave just yet, although I should just leave my blog alone until I have more to post.

To someone whom I really respect...

2006-11-13T13:19:00.000+08:00

To you, whom I'd rather not name here,

I wonder what made you change your blogskin to something like that, which is completely unlike you, or rather, the you whom I know.

Orange would've been fine, but why that choice?

I'm not sure if I even understand anymore.

As I type this, the words sound foreign, even to me.

Pardon my language switch here, please.

Pourquoi toi, Présidente?
Tu peux me dire pourquoi?

Then again, is there even a reason?

Just yesterday, I was shocked, but this shock is even bigger. I know not what to say, except one word: the questioning word that is formed by my initials.

To me, it's just as much a mystery as I might have been at times.

Your junior, Penelope

P.S. Until we meet again, on Wednesday.

Just a random snippet or two...

2006-11-12T14:51:00.000+08:00

Random stuff again. I know, I know. I hear many people groaning. I'll try not to be random the next time.

Just this past Thursday I took the train to the Lycée Français. It was only when I stepped out that I noticed it was covered in Cadbury squares scattered onto a purple background. At regular intervals, there would be the question "Wouldn't it be nice to ride in the Cadbury train?" and a smiley face next to it (with Cadbury squares for the eyes and a white smiling mouth).

Not that I'm against Cadbury or anything, but Cadbury train or not, it's a Silver Train which does its favourite sightseeing everyday (won't it get bored?), according to the piece by Mr. Job Tan. Yes, I'm referring to the choral Set Piece in the SYF Central Judging of Choirs 2004! It was a fun two-part piece. There's this part where he tries to create the effect of trains going all over Singapore and then meeting at a common destination, and I dare say that he's done it well. The sopranos would sing about the lines covered by the trains (by just mentioning the endpoints of two lines, and two interchanges), while we Altos would go "up and down, up and down, to and fro, to and fro..." The meeting point? Raffles Place... Chin Yu! Jaslyn! Mel Lim! Don't you people remember?

Since then, I've always seen MRT trains in Singapore as Silver Trains, and never anything else (although some of them have a black-red-white colour scheme now). So don't give me any Cadbury Train stuff. Besides, we're not allowed to eat or drink on public transport anyway.

On another note, the terrorists had better stay away from my beloved Silver Trains. We don't need their kind of extremism, we need peace.

Brace yourselves, people, for my new look!

No, I haven't gotten spectacle frames like Cherissa's yet. I'll be getting my teeth wired up in braces to straighten them up.

Four of my premolars have to go. Two were extracted yesterday; both were second premolars on my left side. It didn't hurt much because of the anaesthetic; the only real fear that I felt was during the extraction proper. It felt as if the dentist was trying to loosen all my teeth! Only the target teeth came out, though, roots and all; the rest was intact. Right now, it feels awkward when I run my teeth over the affected area. The good thing is, though, that the blood has clotted well enough, and physically, I am bleeding no more.

When's the second extraction session, I hear you ask?

It'll be after the audition for our Aboriginal piece.

The Lycée Français Immersion Programe was my choice, and is my gain-loss (I see it as a gain-loss because I see both gain and loss in it).
Not much to be ashamed of, is there?
If only that were truly true.
The audition is coming in less than a week.
I cannot, and mustn't, fail!
I won't be able to answer to anything otherwise.

Self-quote:
"I can wait for [the audition] to come.
I missed two practices, and I'm basically not good enough.
I need a one-on-one with the Conductor.
(switch languages) S'il vous plaît, tirer sur moi et laisser moi mourir. (switch languages) I'm just NOT up to it.
I may be an aspiring Daaé, but I'm not a Daaé just yet."

Another self-quote:
"... [Acing the audition is] not as easy as before. With everything else in place, I cannot. It's just like bars, prison bars."

With everything else in place, I am trapped. It's a fact. I have tried to do it all on my own, but it doesn't come out half as nicely as when in the group. Something is wrong; I need extra lessons with her, now.

Couldn't I just lie comatose and just forget the world, and not return to consciousness altogether?

I think I've explored something similar, though, but in French.

Besides, it's an ecapist mentality, yet I cannot help but want to fall into this mode of thought.

My Soul Crystal is regressing, again. Why? It'd just attained NominCryst status, and now it's slipping back into the Deuxième SuivantCryst state.

I used to sing for fun, to amuse myself. Yet now, I'm running away from the song that is to be tested; I sang part of If We Hold On Together today. Oh, how ironic.

For the love of singing, I have sung.
For the love of Choral Singing, I haven't yet done so today.
For the love of the Cedar Choir, I have to, and soon, very soon. Gold With Honours, Cedar Choristers.

Why does it feel like I'm part of the Final Generation?

When we (Chin Yu, Jaslyn, Mel Lim and I) sang at the SYF Central Judging of Choirs 2004, the Pei Chun Choir took home a Gold, and was among the Top 5 Primary School Choirs; at the SYF Central Judging of Choirs 2006, it had to make do with a Silver.

When they (the Cedar Choir seniors) sang at the SYF Central Judging of Choirs 2005, they brought home a glorious Gold With Honours, and were among the Top 5 Secondary School and JC Choirs; what will become of the SYF Central Judging of Choirs 2007?

I have a feeling that my time for glory is past. Or shall I push the boundaries?

Perhaps, the latter, then. I have passed another test worthy of a Cedarian before; completing the eight laps of Freestyle swimming set by my instructor when I got palpitations during the second lap.

I stayed the course; I am a Cedarian. I can't give up.

With strength and grit, we'll surmount. Add my name to that, please.

I can't give up, I mustn't give up, I WON'T give up.

I'm a Cedarian Chorister; hear me roar.

CEDAR CHORAL DEVOTION; KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!

I'm blogging in English.

2006-11-10T17:53:00.000+08:00

You heard me right, I'm blogging in English. No more French until next time.

So, I'm going to do the combination of posts first before an account on yesterday and today, and then anything else I have to add.

>> Countdown to the French Local Immersion Programme: 3 more days.
-> On November 2, 2Purity of 2006 went to the Yakult factory, and I got the Ace Light version - which has cute lightsaber-like straws - after a tour by the friendly Mr. Yap. On November 3, we had sectionals during Choir practice - just Sopranos and Altos, this time around.

>> Regardez (look)!
-> I mean, just watch the video; you'll understand why I was surprised. The coins are real enough.

>> Bien évidemment, je suis fâchée.
-> That means "It's very evident that I'm angry." I was wondering if my Immersion Partner would have to follow me around wherever I go. She'd be shut out of Choir practice then, just as I was in Sec 1. Then the next part was in response to something I'd seen on Rachel's blog, and it was just as angsty. But then, I considered all that wouldn't have happened had I not been born, and I came to the conclusion that I love my life. The rest was tag replies.

Now... yesterday and today!

Yesterday first; we had French first, then Hist-Geo, then Sports, and Math. I nearly forgot the fifth lesson - English.

French: It was mainly about tone in written French.

Hist-Geo: This was about French citizenship - how to obtain it, the rights accorded to citizens, and what is expected of them in return. If you want to know more, come to me and I'll show you my notes regarding this topic.

Sports: They did baseball this time. I'm glad I didn't participate, though; at least I wasn't the last one who held up the rest this time. (Nobody did that, anyway.)

Math: More on algebra. I actually got the in-class practice question WRONG - when I'm already supposed to know the subject matter. Sheesh.

English: We started on Cry Freedom after the students had their test papers corrected. Halfway through it, though, the teacher got so fed up that she made them start on the questions she meant to set as homework. Poor teacher. She's really nice and kindly.

Today now! Before lessons, I got a note from Geraldine. Aww... it was heartwarming! Really! I gave my Immersion Partner a notebook too. It was just as heartwarming to get her "thanks" - in French, of course.

I took the cam along today, so I got a tidy number of pictures.

As for lessons, there was French first (again), then English, Music, Hist-Geo and Chinese.

French: More on tone and viewpoints in written French. I think I took home the most from this lesson. (switch languages) Merci beaucoup, Madame!

(switch languages) English: More on Cry Freedom. I must thank the teacher for telling me where to get their version of the book. I'll start with that, though I might want to move on to the unabridged version later. (Theirs is simplified.)

Music: The students had to listen to a Requiem, and answer the questions on the worksheet given by the teacher. Then she got them to play a certain portion of it (called by its makeshift title, Libera Me [which is in Latin]) on their recorders. The score had lyrics, and I wanted to add it to my repertoire! However, the owner didn't lend it to me for as long as I'd wanted. Oh well, never mind.

Hist-Geo: It was on European citizenship this time. I don't have the complete notes for this section, though.

Chinese: The students learnt some vocabulary on food. I asked to snap the Joking Julien, but he declined flatly.

And now, some thoughts.

Is something wrong with the karyotype of my soul?
Is something wrong with the genotype of my soul?
Is something wrong with the phenotype of my soul?

Please, just tell me if you think so.

All of you have always been saying that you see certain things in me.
Why is it that I have not been able to see them, up until now?
I still cannot see at least one thing about myself that you claim to see in me.

Please, tell me the truth.

There's an audition coming up for the Aboriginal piece.
I can wait for it to come.
I missed two practices, and I'm basically not good enough. I need a one-on-one with the Conductor.
(switch languages) S'il vous plaît, tirer sur moi et laisser moi mourir. (switch languages) I'm just NOT up to it.
I may be an aspiring Daaé, but I'm not a Daaé just yet.

One of these days, I am just going to burn myself. Hopefully, the flame that I use won't be the flame of anger, but the flame of Choral love, or the flame of Celestial Devotion.

I want to sing like a Cherub, but I can't, just yet. I need more time; what part of this do you not understand?

I need time to break free of this. Anger is being channelled into me by an invisible force; I feel chained down. I need time to break free. Or maybe I need an evening nap. It shouldn't fail. After that, and only after that, I can just let love consume and sustain me.

Hopefully, it'll see me through the audition with flying colours.

I want flying colours. I want to ace the audition. And yet, it's not as easy as before. With everything else in place, I cannot. It's just like bars, prison bars.

Spiritus. Deep breath in, and out. It still doesn't help.

May Choral love and Celestial Devotion conquer all obstacles.

Can I? I can.
Can I? I can, and well, too.
Can I? I can, and it's very well evident.

Strange, it doesn't have the effect that it did the last time. I'm too angry.

Here's a toast - to the conquering of everything by Choral love and Celestial Devotion. *downs drink in one swig* Yes, I think I'll drink more, so much that I'm so full that I want to sleep. (By the way, the drink is water.)

See you around. I'm going to get myself drunk on water.

(changeant des langues)

2006-11-08T13:56:00.000+08:00

If you guessed that that means "switch languages", you're right. Tell me that you're all happy, because I'm going to blog in English today! But this isn't going to be the combined post that I was promising; I'm going to blog about the Local Immersion Programme (thus far; there're two more days to go).

To start off, a tag reply:

[5 Nov 06, 21:33] den;: you're going for a french local immersion programme? sounds interesting x)
-> Indeed it is, Denyse. And it's fun too.

(turning back to readers in general) How was it fun, I hear you ask? Read on to find out!

First of all, meet my "correspondant" or partner, Caroline! Finally, a nice Caroline, unlike another one I know.

OK, I know, there's no picture. But I wouldn't have posted any photos anyway. Sorry. And I actually forgot to bring my camera for the past three days.

Now... to the lessons!

On Monday, there was Math, English (with Literature combined in), Sports (aka P.E. in a local context), Technology, and History-Geography (which should correspond to Social Studies/History and Character Education, combined).

Math: The lesson was on algebraic functions and such things as factorising. With two math-haters (or people who dislike math) next to each other, I'd have thought the material would be tough. But it wasn't. In the end, I was explaining the method to Caroline as best as I could.

English: The French students will be doing this book called Cry Freedom, about the Apartheid era in South Africa; on Monday, they handed in their research, and the teacher explained to them the background context of the story. Once more, it's an epic battle between Black and White people, a tale of the consequences of the then-European greed for power and control. I won't say whether it exists right now, but it did back then.

Sports: Everyone underwent a fitness test comprising 10 laps of freestyle (they have a pool) and 10 laps of running. I was the slowest. Still, I must say Merci Dieu that I made it. However, because I was slowest, we had about 5 minutes to have lunch. We ended up eating into the next lesson and having to leave behind half our lunches (I paid $4.30 for mine... grr).

Technology: While the French students designed webpages with the help of the French version of Dreamweaver, we local students surfed the net. Everything was allowed, except playing (but of course). The French keyboard is different from ours; you have to press SHIFT to get the numbers on the number keys - you get accented letters if you don't. I researched the Apartheid era during this time, as well as a bit more about Choir.

History-Geography: It was all in a French context. I'm not sure what it was about though.

On Tuesday there was Life and Earth Science (corresponding to Biology and, perhaps, Ecology combined?), Physics-Chemistry, Foreign Language, Hist-Geo and English (combined with Russian Revolution History this time; Caroline had a test to take, so I was diverted to another class).

Life and Earth Science: The lesson was Bio-oriented; it was on gamete formation. Does anyone who's reading have any idea how many different gene combinations you can get in gametes? 2 to the power of 23. That's around 8.3 million! And that's why it's very highly unlikely to get identical twins unless the zygote splits into two during division.

Physics-Chem: It was more Physics-oriented. Nothing much sank in, for some reason. I'm still figuring it out.

Foreign Language: Caroline and I had to split up here because she takes Spanish, which I don't understand. Instead, she told a friend who was going to a Chinese class to bring me to their class. Therefore, by right, I wasn't really studying a foreign language. The foreign stdents were made to introduce themsleves to us. Their accents were a bit strange, but we (the other Immersion students from the MOELC and I who were in their class) could understand - all but Rohan, who's Indian. One of the French pupils, called Julien, made fun of his own assigned Chinese name and called himself "pig face" (in English) when it was time for him to introduce himself to us. He's a real joker.

Hist-Geo: This time, the lesson was about the French national symbols - the tri-coloured flag, Marianne, their motto (meaning "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity" when translated into English), and their national anthem, titled La Marseillaise. They don't sing their national anthem in the morning, though; it originated as a war cry during the French Revolution, and was meant to stir the men of the time to fight. Then the teacher threw the ball into the court of the local students and quizzed us about the national flag of Singapore and our national anthem, Majulah Singapura.

English: I was diverted to the "Advanced" class, which has English combined with History. I took home nothing but one thing, which I shall now share. If you didn't know already, do take all political stuff with a pinch of salt.

Today now. There was Foreign Language, French, Math and Art, and Early Dismissal. Haha, did I fool you there? Hope not.

Foreign Language: Just like yesterday, I went to the Chinese class. While the French (plus the American) students were taking their test, the teacher revealed that their attitudes were bad because some had been forced by their parents to take Chinese and that they didn't see it as a core subject. And Julien got a name change. The pinyin of his name is no longer zhu lian, but zhu li en. It's indeed better, I think.

French: We were given texts and asked to analyse the viewpoints of the writers (it wasn't that hard really, it was just a question of First or Third Person).

Math: More on algebraic functions. Again, I had to explain to my partner what she didn't understand. And there was something we both couldn't understand!

Art: They did printing, something that Cedarians have done. The teacher let the local students have two pages (or rather, one sheet) from a sketchbook. Guess what I drew? I'll bet it's not really consistent with the PhOTO story, but I drew Christine running after a "retarded-looking" Raoul (my fellow local student said this of him, not me; I meant for him to pause in his footsteps on hearing Christine), with the PhOTO himself looking angrily at them from a high balcony. (Does anyone know what I mean when I refer to PhOTO now? You ought to, or so I think.)

Early Dismissal: Normally, we're dismissed at 4.30, but this time we were dismissed at around midday.

There - my informal report's done! I was blogging while waiting for my food to digest. Now, it's time to train. See you around, people! (changeant des langues) Au revoir!

(changeant des langues) Other tag replies:

[6 Nov 06, 16:13] liyana! (:: HELLO PENELOPE! LINK ME! (: hee.
-> Sure!

[8 Nov 06, 17:51] me: Heya! Are you french?
-> Who're you? I don't tag as "me" on my own tagboard. Please leave a name and link! I won't reveal it until you tell me.

(changeant des langues) Et maintenant, c'est vraiment "au revoir".

Bien évidemment, je suis fâchée.

2006-11-05T19:50:00.000+08:00

Oui. Je suis fâchée. Désolée, tout le monde. J'espère que je ne serai plus fâchée demain, quand je vais au Lycée Français.

Demain, je vais y aller. L'année prochaine, ils iront à Cedar.
Vont-ils me suivre tout le temps?
Vont-ils me suivre quand j'irai aux Labos de Science ou aux Labos aux Ordinateurs ou au Studio de la Musique pour les leçons ou l'entraînement Chorale?
... quand j'irai pour l'entraînement Chorale? Mais, l'année prochaine est l'année du concours Choral de la FJS! ...
L'année dernière du concours Choral de la FJS pour les collèges et les lycées était en 2005, quand j'étais en Sec 1, et j'étais interdit d'aller dans la salle de l'entraînement Chorale.
Oh, non.

J'ai vu le journal en ligne de Rachel.
Oui, je voudrais bien écrire quelque chose comme ça ici.
Si je n'étais pas née...

Mais, je sais ce qui se passera actuellement...
-> Mes parents auront moins de problème entre moi et mon frère
-> Mes amis n'iront pas me connaître
-> Mon petit ami aura une autre chérie

J'aime bien ma vie.

(changeant des langues) Now to continue with tag replies.

[10 Sep 06, 18:48] Cassandra: not that I dint wanna visit u ppl..i had extra lessons on dat day...gomenasai~
-> Forgiven, Cassie. Perhaps drop by after the SYF Central Judging of Choirs?

[11 Sep 06, 18:35] yuting: HELLO!
-> You too! Do you blog? Please leave a link!

[11 Sep 06, 20:42] eva (with hyperlink): hellos!!! (((=
-> Yay, Eva Seah! You found me!

[12 Sep 06, 11:19] WEIYI =D: hahaha hello!(: mm the melwee is your cousin! hahaha yeahyeah erm go and ask her for her number luh! >< -> The next tag is the reply, but I'm just going to reply again: Really? Hey, not once did she acknowledge me. I asked another of my cousins to tag me but she hasn't! :(

[12 Sep 06, 19:33] ~Seraphine Chorister~: To Weiyi: Hey how'd you know I have a NYGH cousin called Melissa? (turns to Denyse) That's not the Melissa that you and Ruiwen posed with in that photo.
-> Yes, that was a reply to the above tag.

[17 Sep 06, 20:23] heeai: hi penny! haha im quitting german b4 EOYs so i wont be taking the oral. all the best for ur french!
-> Ugh! Lost contact! Sheesh. All the best to you though!

[22 Sep 06, 21:00] huiyi xD: jia you 4 ur EYEs!!!!!........... good luck!!!
-> Thanks!

[23 Sep 06, 11:50] jiaqi (with hyperlink): hi! (: didnt noe u hv a blog. haha. link me ks! xD
-> Done.

[29 Sep 06, 21:35] clara: hey there. i didn't know you blogged, will link you up soon. anyway, thanks for the encouragement & the vote of confidence. you take care too, i'm sure you'll do well for end years, [following tag] and enjoy yourself in choir and school. see you around(: [I asked her what a 'vote of confidence' is and she said, the following day...] like, lke, you know, believing in me & all that stuff
-> Thanks Clara. Thanks a lot.

[2 Oct 06, 21:46] melissa: yupp my mum and sis pointed out but i have yet to read it
-> She was referring to Nora's winning Pen Awards entry. (Melissa! Read it already?)

[3 Oct 06, 01:49] youying (with hyperlink): hey penelope! i found your blog somehow it's great to know someone cares about choir so much.. keep your passion for it burning okay? read 2 of ur entries bout choir btw in case youre wondering
-> Yeah, sure. I'll keep the flame of love burning!

[4 Oct 06, 15:51] yying: i think they're old entries. dont worry take ur time. i found ur blog thru google search cuz i was searchin for keywords 'cedar choir' n i started clickin on all e blogs with that. ahha. so free right
-> I'll bet you're working on O-levels, right? So, no more free time for such things, right? *hands Youying a four-leaf clover*

[8 Oct 06, 19:31] alynna: back again! hahah. i think the 3 levels have the same subj EOYs on the same day ! (:
[next tag] yup, no coincidence.. it was planned.. or how to say? hahah.. i think its meant to be like that.. [following tag] hmm i'm not sure if its sec 1-3, maybe its just sec 1 and 2 the same ! hahahs, well , at least 2 levels are the same =X hahah
-> No it isn't, Alynna... Scroll through to find out why!

[9 Oct 06, 18:59] melissa: yeah [following tag] oops, accidentally pressed enter. yeah endofyears are so OVER!
-> Hooray for the end of the EYEs!

[9 Oct 06, 19:00] # charis!: YAY! finally u linked me...so u know who to change blogskin...the colour is hurting my eyes ): [following tag] BOO BOOs.
-> Really? It hurts your eyes? I'll try to make one soon. First, though, I need a scanner...

[9 Oct 06, 20:20] zhiyi (with hyperlink): HELLO! first time tagging i think. heh (: link!
-> Done!

[9 Oct 06, 22:43] den;: hellohello! hahah you can enjoy exam-free life now! xD
-> How true, Denyse.

[10 Oct 06, 09:28] den;: yeah there're different exams occurring at the same time sometimes.
-> Really? Oh my. Sorry!

[10 Oct 06, 11:28] zhiyi: woohoo. yes blogger always go crazy when i want to post photos. sheesh
-> *nodding* Same here. Except for recently! (points to picture of Princess Serenity posted 4 posts ago)

[10 Oct 06, 14:32] Chinyu: heys penelope! hvnt been tagging you for quite some time eh. take care loads! [I went to her blog and commented on how she likes to swap blogskins and she said...] haha yes penelope, i love changing blogskins (:
-> Take care too, you... erm... blogskin-o-phile? That's not right... OK then, take care too, you blogskin lover!

[11 Oct 06, 10:39] den;: hahah i guess your exams are over too? xD enjoying freedom?
-> Yes, indeed.

[12 Oct 06, 21:12] den;: yeah i think my blogger's set at that time. don't know how to change it -.- [following tag, 3 days later] hello! thanks for the help. but i haven't tried it out yet. =x
-> Don't mention it. And you used it, didn't you? No more (unwittingly) pretending that you're living in the USA!

[15 Oct 06, 22:13] jiaqi: hi! haha i linked u long time ago(: yeps hope u see it! xD-> I did, in the end. Thanks!

[16 Oct 06, 18:33] lisa (with hyperlink): hmm. all the choir loving is a tad scary. X) i shan't be coming for choir anymore (i think) so best of luck in the future! =))
-> You too. And I'm a blatant Choir lover.

[18 Oct 06, 12:54] yying: yeah.. wish i didnt have the load of stuff i'm supposed to study weighin on my mind now. maybe we'll have a choir outing or sth if possible. i'll go ask the rest. haha
-> All the best! Yes, keep in touch!

[18 Oct 06, 15:22] Chek Seen (with hyperlink): Tagg [following tag] wah English A1
-> Yes, indeed.

[19 Oct 06, 23:43] heeai: hi penny! wah a1 for eng! haha jiayou!
-> You too!

[20 Oct 06, 12:28] ber (with hyperlink): boo. finally dropped by. posted a new post. go read? ^__^
-> I read it. You considered a teacher whom I might call Mr. Sourberry (NOT trying to match you and him here).

[21 Oct 06, 14:32] junipher: hello hello penelope! (: do you remember me HAHA (:
-> Yeah, I do!

[22 Oct 06, 00:35] Chinyu: heh, cos suddenly i like goong alot so i chnged my blogskin to goong. haha.
-> You "chnged" your blogskin. Haha.

[24 Oct 06, 14:10] # charis!: WAHH...i am so honoured...lol..special mention in yer blog *_* ahaha....but ur pitching quite good wad..
-> Hopefully it will not waver at all in future!

[24 Oct 06, 21:59] avery: hey i saw u at kpufu today!!! got see me??
-> She meant "koufu". And (turns back to Avery) I didn't see you. I must be blind.

[25 Oct 06, 22:01] ~Seraphine Chorister~: Why's a choir called a choir? Because it's trying to bring Angelic singing to Earth! Sorry if I sounded egoistic.
-> That's a joke I cracked.

[26 Oct 06, 16:43] # charis!: i don't understand you. [following tag] tag me and explain [: [following tag] btw..you can delete wan ping, she deleted her blog ]:
-> I already explained. And Wan Ping didn't delete, she shifted blog.

[26 Oct 06, 18:02] den;: hello! xD
-> Hello! ',:)

[27 Oct 06, 00:33] zhiyi: how come avery always see us and we never see her -_-''
-> *nodding* Is she invisible or something? Haha.

[27 Oct 06, 01:43] clara: hey, haven't tagged you in a while. you blog well. anyway, i hope you get your streaming options. enjoy your holiday and all the best in your remaining two years of cedar life(:
-> Thanks Clara! All the best to you too!

[27 Oct 06, 14:48] # charis!: ...well u haven't explained yet. [following tag] and tell me wanping new blog! [following tag, 2 days later] i don't understand you at all [following tag] your funnaye. in a weird way [following tag] i dont mind being crazzaye in a positive way [:
-> (nothing to say)

[29 Oct 06, 11:29] clara: hey, of course not, free hugs are for everyone
-> Yes, and they rock!

[29 Oct 06, 17:30] # charis!: haiya...you are super comlicated *sighs* [following tag] * complicated [following tag] i, a simple being don't understand you. [following tag] my greatest apologies.
-> Take heart, Charis, not everyone does.

[30 Oct 06, 15:05] Chinyu: hey thr~:D
-> Hey there ~ ~ ~ (sound echoing off the walls)

[31 Oct 06, 11:02] jiaqi: hey penelope! sry i cant help u with the hwrk ya.. i lost mine too. heehee [following tag] n dun worry, i wun forget u! 4 yrs of friendship! <3>
-> You too! Continue to charm the world, yes? All the best!

[31 Oct 06, 18:58] # charis!: Man...u are wayy complex mann.
-> I'm not a man. And I won't grow up to be one; I'll be a woman. Haha. Well, everyone's entitled to an opinion. If you think I'm complex, so be it.

[31 Oct 06, 20:05] Chinyu: haah my blogskin's bout a girl & a robot? hehe. have fun in the hols!
-> Have fun too, you blogskin lover.

[1 Nov 06, 17:32] den;: hello! i hope your throats feeling better now! [following tag] sorry i haven't been to your blog in a while. [following tag] hmm? who's the 3Z person? [following tag] anyhow, take care of your throat alright!
-> I shall! You don't have to apologise for something like that. And I already told you who the 3Z-ian HPN is. (turns to 3Z-ian HPN) Sorry about all that. But you might want to go to all the blogs of those who're pro-Free Hugs and say something in your own defence...

[2 Nov 06, 16:31] junipher (with hyperlink): HELLO (: haha yeah i am from pcps 6a
-> Remember "JESUS FREAKS!"? Haha.

[4 Nov 06, 18:11] eeyang (with hyperlink): penny penny penny link meeee
-> Soon.

[4 Nov 06, 22:09] steffi: heyyo just wanna say sorry! :biggrin: waah that french story is about choir is it?
-> Partially. The word "usine" means "factory", so the first half is about a trip to the Yakult Factory. And you're forgiven.

[5 Nov 06, 18:58] clara: after Os ! confim plus chop ! [following tag] clara: oh, & will hug you the next time i see you, mmkay(:
-> Holding you to that! Thanks in advance!

Whew... that's all. (changeant des langues) Enfin!

Je ne suis pas un échec. Je peux faire quelque chose sans faire des erreurs. Je peux.

Puis-je? Je peux.
Puis-je? Je peux bien.
Puis-je? Je peux, bien évidemment!

Après ça, je me sens mieux.

(en souriant) Au revoir, tout le monde!

Regardez (look)!

2006-11-03T14:58:00.000+08:00

Hé! Comment a-t-il le fait?! Il a fait apparaître les pièces d'argent sans mettre des choses dans ses manches! Stupéfiant, n'est-ce pas?

Et maintenant c'est vraiment "au revoir".

Countdown to the French Local Immersion Programme: 3 more days.

2006-11-03T13:53:00.000+08:00

And since there's so little time left, I think I'll just blog in French. Sorry, people. I'll combine the gists of all the French posts into one (except the yellow text). Unknown words or expressions will be bracketed in {curl brackets}.

(switch languages...)

Je vais parler d'hier et d'aujourd'hui.

Hier...

2Pureté est allée à l'usine de Yakult! C'était ma deuxième fois (j'y suis allée quand j'avais seulement six ans). Notre guide, qui s'appelle M. Yap, était génial. Il nous a conduit autour l'usine, et après, il nous a vendu du boisson Yakult. J'ai acheté du boisson Yakult Ace Light. Les {pailles à boire?} qui l'accompagnent sont vraiment mignonnes! Elles rassemblent aux "Light-sabers" portent par les Chévaliers Jedi dans les films de "Star Wars".

Sauf ça, il n'y a rien d'interessant hier.

Aujourd'hui...

À la session d'entraînement Chorale aujourd'hui, on a eu "l'Entraînement Sectionnel" - c'est à dire, on se sépare en Premières Sopranos, Deuxièmes Sopranos, Premières Contraltos et Deuxièmes Contraltos et en ces sections, on s'entraîne. Mais aujourd'hui, on a travaillé à la chanson aborigène, et on s'est séparée en seulement les Sopranos et les Contraltos. Si tout la Chorale s'est séparée en quatre sections pour la chanson aborigène, les Premières Sopranos allaient être sans Meneuse de Section.

Le concours Choral de la FJS de l'année prochaine sera en avril. Il reste seulement quatre mois de plus, et comme je serai au Lycée Français toute la semaine prochaine, je vais manquer deux sessions d'entraînement. Ce n'est pas bon du tout! Je vais m'entraîner toute seule, tous les soirs.

Au revoir, tout le monde.

More on Soul Crystals.

2006-11-01T17:03:00.000+08:00

OK, so, as I was saying earlier, there are different grades of Soul Crystal:

-> the EmerCryst (Emergent Crystal) is usually possessed by children
-> the SuivantCryst (Suivant, or Following, Crystal) is possessed by more mature people who can't lead yet
-> the LeaderCryst (Leader Crystal) is possessed by mature people who can lead
-> the AngelOECryst (Angel On Earth Crystal) is possessed by mature, endearing leaders
-> the VirtueOECryst (Virtue On Earth Crystal) is possessed by sacrificing, mature and endearing leaders

But at that time, I was pressed for time as I had to leave for choir practice - which rocked, as usual. It'd be nice if we could work more with our guests from CHIJ St Theresa's.

Anyway, I was pressed for time, so I couldn't add all the ranks of Crystals. There should be ten (or rather, nine and a half).

They are:

-> the WakingCryst (Waking Crystal), the representation of babies' souls (and they're just as cute, if not clear, and automatically become EmerCrysts)
-> the EmerCryst (Emergent Crystal), usually possessed by children
-> the SuivantCryst (Suivant, or Following, Crystal), possessed by more mature children who can't lead yet
-> the Deuxième SuivantCryst (Second Following Crystal), posessed by teens who are more mature than the rest but can't lead or are in the elementary stages of developing leadership abilities
-> the Troisième SuivantCryst (Third Following Crystal), posessed by adults who are more mature than the rest but can't lead or are in the elementary stages of developing leadership abilities
-> the NominCryst (Nominee Crystal), posessed by those who show slightly more leadership ability than Deuxième or Troisième SuivantCryst holders
-> the LeaderCryst (Leader Crystal), possessed by mature people who can lead
-> the AngelOECryst (Angel On Earth Crystal), possessed by mature, endearing leaders
-> the VirtueOECryst (Virtue On Earth Crystal), possessed by sacrificing, mature and endearing leaders
-> the H-VirtueOECryst (High Virtue On Earth Crystal, which is only half a step up from the VirtueOECryst), possessed by sacrificing, mature and very endearing leaders

However, the five mentioned near the top of the post are the more basic categories. Did I hear you say it's a step-by-step system? Yeah, agreed, it's much like the APS Swim School's Learn-To-Swim Programme. I know because I've been through it.

I know a few teenage AngelOECryst holders. I could name them, but I think I'd rather tell them personally and have them smile to themselves knowingly.

I was saying that my Soul Crystal could soon overtake someone else's, wasn't I? I hope to leave that someone as far behind as possible. I see only a fresh LeaderCryst in that person (emphasis on fresh). If not, I hope to get to know that someone better for who she is.

Soul Crystals glow, with the glow of H-VirtueOECrysts being the most intense and the glow of WakingCrysts being least intense. Just based on this statement alone, Earth could well have enough brightly-glowing Soul Crystals to form a galaxy.

Around fifty of those star-like Soul Crystals could come from the circle of schoolmates whom I know alone. (The teachers contribute to this galaxy already.) It may not seem like much, but it's a success of sorts. There could be more that I don't know of among my schoolmates.

So... that's currently all on Soul Crystals. Don't ask me about what kind of gemstone I see them to be, or what their usual colour, carat weight or cuts are. It varies from person to person. Some even have mutable Soul Crystals, like me - mutable in terms of colour (pleochroic), cut, etc. Mine varies where colour is concerned. It's pleochroic.

What kind of gemstone do you see your Soul Crystal to be?

On another note, I think I'm going to post all my tag messages here - Cbox automatically deletes the very old ones. If you don't upgrade to Premium, you lose your old tags. And I think I'll also post tag replies to those tags. Please, I implore, DON'T FLOOD MY TAGBOARD with 5 or more posts. Anyone who does so will find me summarising their messages before posting them here.

In chronological order:

[8 Sep 06, 18:25] melissa: hey! haha i'm melissa from 6A (: waa you have a blog, that is so unpenelope, so far as i can imagine (: [following tag] melissa (with hyperlink): do i deserve to be linked?
--> Yes you do, Melissa. I did link you. (This was a very old tag, by the way.)
[9 Sep 06, 14:48] melissa: hello penelope! haha yes i rather you keep a blog. (: writing wastes pen ink! haha.
--> (nothing to say)

Ahh can't do any more. See you people around. I'll continue when I next post.

Random observations.

2006-11-01T07:36:00.000+08:00

Yes, random stuff again. When am I ever going to feel focused again?

I see my plan crumbling around me. I am not going to let that happen.

I just went touring around some blogs and here's a reply to one of the posts that caught my eye (though it may seem ordinary to most):

Miracles do happen. Case study in question: my voice.

I was down with something not too long ago, and it affected my voice. Then, a few days later, after trying various home remedies, I went to the doctor's and got medication and it got better. Hey, I tried various home remedies. I was willing to do anything to combat the illness and get my voice back.

There can be miracles when you believe;
Though hope is frail, it's hard to kill.

And, lo and behold, the lyrics rang true.

Another topic now.

I know, she's passé to most of us. Still, it is related.

Who created Sailor Moon? Ms Takeuchi Naoko (Easternised version of the name here).

In Takeuchi-san's story, everyone has a Star Seed; those Star Seeds with the powers of planets and stars are Sailor Crystals, owned by the rulers of the planets.

Let's tweak that a little:

Within every one of us, there is a Soul Crystal. (Star Seed sounds big yet small at the same time; this is one oxymoronic situation I can't accept.)

There are different grades of Soul Crystal:

-> the EmerCryst (Emergent Crystal) is usually possessed by children
-> the SuivantCryst (Suivant, or Following, Crystal) is possessed by more mature people who can't lead yet
-> the LeaderCryst (Leader Crystal) is possessed by mature people who can lead
-> the AngelOECryst (Angel On Earth Crystal) is possessed by mature, endearing leaders
-> the VirtueOECryst (Virtue On Earth Crystal) is possessed by sacrificing, mature and endearing leaders

So far, I know of at least 2 holders of the VirtueOECryst, around 10 holders of the AngelOECryst, and some people with LeaderCrysts.

Something is happening to my Soul Crystal. It's going to overtake someone else's in the near future. I can see it.

That someone else is the 3Z-ian HPN.

So long, Miss HPN Who Got Free Hugs Banned. I would so have wanted to hug Clara. Good luck to you and your Soul Crystal.

Random.

2006-10-30T09:18:00.000+08:00

OK, I don't have a lot of time to blog, so here goes...

I wonder why I'm so crazy over PhOTO when everyone else is obsessing over Princess Hours aka Goong. I guess it doesn't really have that kind of appeal like Dae Jang Geum (aka Da Chang Jin or Jewel in the Palace) does. I'm crazy over PhOTO so much that I think I could dedicate a whole sketchbook to it.

But then again, PhOTO is Gothic. Its storyline is repulsively captivating. I know that seems like an oxymoron, but that's how I find it. I want to tear myself away, but cannot. I mean, how can any man have the ability to steal a singer's voice, or such a weapon, or that kind of unearthly influence over a student of his?

If you don't know what PhOTO is, forget it. My CCA seniors should know (turns to CCA seniors) because you people sang her that song from the musical in July, remember? Think of it!

(turns back to general crowd of readers) Random statement: If you're a Solar Twin like me, it's best not to have a Rising Scorpion.

Signing off.

Purely shoutouts.

2006-10-28T12:12:00.002+08:00

Yes, this post is going to be made up of purely shoutouts... But the title's also a pun on the class name - 2Purity.

Nobody will be named in this post, although they may be hinted at.

In no particular order...

You! Hey, what happened? I read on (2Puritian's) blog that you got into some kind of trouble... I mean, it's unfortunate that something like that should happen to you, who's good at heart.

And you! I don't really know what to say to you, prefect. Yes, ma'am, I'm not capitalising here, and I leave you to make what you want of it. Nonetheless, all the best to you.

Hey you! Whoa, four years of being classmates, you Prefect! Are we going to break a record, I wonder? Continue to spread your warmth in your signature bumbling way! Not that it's no good, but it makes you cute; that's what's cute about you. All the best!

Yo you! Again, I'm not sure what to say. Good luck in future endeavours!

And now we come to you. For all you've done, I've forgiven, but not forgotten, like David Logan in Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. You owe me what you extorted - emotional health, $10. But let's strike a deal and cut it down to $5. How does that sound?

You! All the best, lab partner!

You, who are the youngest! I believe that there's good in you. I voted you for Prefect Councillor back then, right? All the best to you.

And you! Let's compete with each other and work our way up! Our benchmark-bearers are then and tomorrow. You do understand me, right?

You! I wish I could have gotten to know you better. Good luck to you too!

Hey you! Yeah, cruelty to be kind! But this year's maths rep had it much easier than I, what with (2005 maths teacher's) system of keeping lists! Anyway, it helped. Thank you and all the best!

You! Haha, you expert manga artist! Mind if I ask you for a "Shitman" drawing to remind me of you? Agreed with you, it's cute! Kawaii desu! All the best in future endeavours!

And you! Yeah, you had it far easier than I did, you lucky girl! How's drumming coming along? Better than just OK, I hope! All the best!

You! Another four-year classmate! Don't go to such places again! And I am going to miss you too, even if the rest of 2Purity 2006 fades from memory! Continue to charm the world with your bubbly personality! All the best to you!

You! I can't think of anything unique to say to you; you're just about as bubbly as the one mentioned above. All the best!

I don't really have anything unique for you too, because you're also bubbly. Good luck to you!

Hey you! Four-year classmate, class treasurer! Thank you for your concern on the day of the history exam, and all the countless other times when you were nice to me - I can't thank you enough. All the best!

You! I wish to have gotten to know you better too. Good luck, though.

You! I don't know why you're so crabby around me, but one thing is for certain, I love your good side. But you really shouldn't have taken my costume and given it to (cruel to be kind 2Puritian) that day. Good luck, you crab.

Hello, you! Hey, you're really nice, and I hope to keep in touch with you. Mind sending me that photo of us? Or did you upload it already? Haha. All the best, you jumper!

And you! Someday I'm going to bring food to class (if we even get into the same class) and blatantly chomp on it under your very nose, you Prefect! Just kidding. All the best!

You! Too bad you can't join your bro in VJC. Will he still be there when you become old enough for JC1? And your running is so good that I'm envious. Good luck.

Hey you! I've told you so many times, you have a leaderlike aura; I wonder why you didn't get chosen as a pupil leader. Perhaps you could be a leader of the Dancers? Hope you do! All the best in future endeavours!

You! You're nice. Unlike someone. Sorry for being so forcing that day, but we had to churn out the presentation, right? Yes, had we known that they would be deferring theirs... Grr. I agree, it was unfair. Still, all the best!

And you! You're nice too. If we get into the same class again, please don't sit on my seat again! Haha. All the best to you.

You! Miss Down-to-Earth! All the best, and thanks a lot for helping me through that time!

You! It's OK if you want to stick with someone who won't spoil the image you want to portray, I'm not against that. But you're a nice person to be around. Keep in touch, yes? All the best.

Hello, you, birthday-sharer! Maybe we could exchange greetings on our special day next year? All the best!

And you! What happened, girl? Became complacent? I'm notching you, as much as everyone else is! Good luck to you!

Hey you! Thanks for the tidbits on the last day (2 days ago). I think I forgot to say it in school; this is to make up. Thank you! Wish I could've gotten to know you better, really. All the best!

You! Just like one of those above, I like you for your wacky lameness (when it shows)! Cry no more, OK? Try to be stronger. I think that's what my days as a Puritian have done for me. All the best to you!

Good day, you! Congrats on winning that character award. Continue to be a shining beacon for us all to emulate, and all the best!

Hi, you! Of all the table partners I've had, I think you were the best, along with (2Puritian mentioned at almost the top of the list)! Remember 同感? I love the pun! I'm sure you still do? Then again, you consider puns to be lame. Oh well... Still, all the best!

You! Congrats on getting into Dunman High! That campaign you started about getting people to vote for you to become a Prefect was way out of line, though - you can't possibly return to be one, or split yourself in two and let one half come back to do duties, can you? Good luck to you in all you do. (stomps feet, salutes)

Hello, you! You were a great monitress. Thanks for being one this year. All the best!

You! You were nice. Keep in touch OK? Good luck to you!

And you! I wish I hadn't hurt you then; it hurt my heart even more, although it was just a game! Aside from that, I don't really have a lot to say to you, except for wishing you all the best!

Hey, you! Wow, you wrote notes for the whole class? The one you wrote to me was really heartwarming! Thank you for it! Can we keep in touch? All the best in all you do!

And you! I don't know what to say to you... But you were a great IPW partner along with (2Puritian)! All the best!

Hello, you, stranger of my 2Puritian tenure. You don't have to declare explicitly on your blog that you hate me and (English teacher); we know. And we think we're nice. I thought that working together on the Animal Farm dramatisation would change some things, but it evidently didn't. Goodbye.

And last but certainly not the least, you! Hey, our DNA model absolutely rocked back then, although it was a bit unstable. But it wouldn't have been possible without the epoxy. And I thank you, too, for allowing me into your team as and when it was required. Just for that, though, I can't thank you enough. Here's wishing you all the very best and more in the years to come!

That was for the students. Now for the Puritian teachers...

Special mention to both our Chinese / Form Teachers over the past 2 years! 谢谢你们对我们这么关怀于爱护！我永远不会忘记你们对我们付出的一切！

English Teacher of 2Purity 2006! Sorry I defected to the side of those in 2Purity who hated you. You're really quite nice. The lesson-borrowing incident was a bit messy, though... I won't forget you, though.

Math Teacher of 1Purity 2005! I won't do that again. Next year, I'm going to try to be just like (your most stellar 3Z-ian this year) - stellar! Wish me luck! And thanks for helping the Choir open the practice venue! You rock!

Math Teacher of 2Purity 2006, 1st semester! Will you even be here to see this? I think the reason why my Math grade is so high this year is because of you and your teaching in the 1st semester. But I'll never have the talent possessed by (that alumna of yours). All the best to you! You rocked too!

Math Teacher of 2Purity 2006, 2nd semester! You're also great. That particular Probability lesson rocked! Please make more of your lessons as interesting as that!

Science Teachers over the past two years! Thank you both for grounding me in Science! I know what sciences I'm going to take. The decision wasn't made based on who was teaching mostly what kind of content, it was based on my interest. Please don't take any offence against me for my choice.

Geography Teacher 2005, most of the semester! You were great! How're you doing now? Hope you're doing fine! All the best!

Geography Teacher 2005, last part of the semester! Thank you. I'm not sure how else to put it, but thank you.

Geography Teacher 2006! You were great too, and much better than the teacher mentioned in the above shoutout! Class was never boring with you around! Thank you!

History Teacher 2005! You were a great teacher. How're you doing in Xinmin Sec? Hope to be able to see you again. Maybe I should drop by. Hmm... No, please return if you can! Still missing you here! All the best in all you do!

History Teacher 2006! You were also great, and I thank you for it. 2006 was the year in which I finally understood how to answer some of the questions, and I think I might owe part of that success to you. Thank you!

Literature Teacher 2005, 1st semester! Sometimes I still wonder why we had to change teachers back then when you were already quite a good one! How're you doing now? You're now in the public sector, if I'm not wrong. How're you doing? Hope you're fine.

Literature Teacher 2006, 1st semester! What can I say? Thank you for guiding us through Animal Farm. How're you faring in the public sector?

Literature Teacher, 2nd semesters of 2005 and 2006! You had the greatest hand in bringing us up where Literature was concerned. Unfortunately it still seems that I haven't grasped the answering technique like I have for History. In spite of that, I still think you're great. And can I have a cotton plant like 2I's, pretty please? Haha, just kidding. Rock on!

D&T Teacher 1! Sir, I don't have a lot to say, sir! But I wish you all the best, sir!

D&T Teacher 2! It's sad that you'll have to leave, after all those times when we talked together. I won't really be remembering you as a D&T teacher, but more as one who cared for me as much as the Chinese / Form teachers. And do you know why I gave you a stone / paperweight? ~~Well, it's because...~~ I think I'll explain to you in an email, not here.

Home Econs Teacher 1! How're you faring now? I hope you're doing fine. All the best in all you do!

Home Econs Teacher 2! You seem to be the strictest, but I know this is for our good. Yeah, my group deserved what we got. Thank you for giving us that chance.

Home Econs Teacher 3! It was nice knowing you and having you as our teacher. And thanks for the offer of the crabmeat-spread sushi, but I didn't accept, and I don't think I would if I had the chance to go back in time. Enjoy the remaining duration of your stay here at Cedar, OK?

Home Econs Teacher 4! I'm afraid I don't have a lot to say to you, except for two words from the bottom of my heart: thank you!

Art Teacher (main)! Your sense of humour rocks! Others may see it as being lame, but I don't. Your statement that "you point the cutter to yourself, not careful ah, Kamikaze!" was one that really cracked me up, although I know you were trying to drive home a point. It worked. It really did.

Art Teacher (relief)! I wonder where you are now, and how you're doing. All the best! You were a good teacher while you were around.

And that concludes the shoutouts to the teachers.

Allow me to break my no-names rule here, please...

Birthday Shoutout: Jaslyn! Happy Birthday, PCPS PSLE Top Girl of 2004! All the best!

Signing off here.

Hier - un jour aux miracles

2006-10-27T08:35:00.000+08:00

The title means "Yesterday - a day of miracles".

But why was it such a wonderful day?

Before that, let me introduce my favourite songs at the moment...

In no particular order...

1. Salut de la veille des O (Choral Excellence / Festival!)
2. When You Believe from The Prince of Egypt (especially the Hebrew part)
3. Bring Me to Life by Evanescence

Only songs 2 and 3, however, will feature in today's entry.

Remember I said that I was down with something the past few days? It's subsiding. But, better yet, my voice was better in the doctor's waiting room yesterday morning. The doc prescribed me some medication, and soon it'll be time for my next dose. It's helping. Soon, my voice will be restored to normal and...

I will sing to the Lord, for He has triumphed gloriously.

Sorry, people, I can't quote the Bible (if that's where this line came from) - I haven't studied it before.

After the visit to the doctor, I returned to school only to find that I'd packed my rag in for nothing - the wiping part was already done. Anyway, I played games with my 2I friends until 12.50 (with a break somewhere in the middle because my class had only arranged tables and not put in chairs, so I helped out here).

12.50 was when the results would finally be in our hands. When our dearest Chinese / form teacher gave out the report books, tension was mounting within me. Would the nightmare come true? It would be my very worst, one that would never go away when I woke up.

Thankfully, it didn't.

I was so filled with joy that I sang the Hebrew line from When You Believe that means "I will sing to the Lord, for He has triumphed gloriously", and then did a running jump.

Wake me up inside,
wake me up inside;
call my name and save me from the dark!

Thank you, o Lord, for calling my name.

Bid my blood to run
before I come undone;
save me from the nothing I've become!

Now, it is my turn to save myself from becoming almost nothing, and rise above.

Then, I headed down to the MOELC with my three former French classmates (the eventual level champ still was my classmate this year). Thanks, Dad, for the lift! And for granting them permission too!

We couldn't play pétanque as I'd wanted because of the rain. It's fun; I know because I played it in Sec 1 as a post-exam activity (at the Language Centre). It's usually played on fields. Every team has their own silvery metal balls (marked with lines to differentiate them). The aim is to throw them as near as possible to this small ball that is placed on the field, called a couchonnet. The team whose representative throw closest to the couchonnet wins the round. It goes on for as many rounds as you want to set.

When Theresa and I joined our French class, we were told that our teacher was tied up (figuratively), so the teacher, whom our rightful teacher had diverted us to, let us watch a film called Joyeux Nöel, or Merry Christmas. The film was long. Also, the weather was cool, calm, soothing...

I succumbed, falling into a half-sleep for most of the first part of the film, and waking up just in time to witness the miracle to which the film was dedicated. All the soldiers were fraternising with each other in revelry and festivities on Christmas Eve, and working together to bury their dead on Christmas Day itself - a wonder of wonders.

It was based on a real story; that was Christmas of 1914. Yes, smack in the midst of World War I.

I didn't pray for what I'm going to touch on next; it was more of a surprise.

He actually said it. I feel the same way too. But when will our eyes meet again so that they can dance to the melody?

Will the plan come to fruition? I hope it does, and for the first time in x months, we will meet again.

Random shoutout: Elizabeth aka Cousin Lizzie! You haven't tagged me yet, you playful puppy! How was the PSLE? Tell us your results when you get them, OK?

Medication time... See you around!

"That was ingenious!"

2006-10-25T18:51:00.000+08:00

*ahem* That was a self-quote. I think I'll start to begin posts with self-quotes whenever I can to remind myself of an especially memorable event that happened during the day. I'm not explaining this one; it's only for those who were there at that time to understand.

I asked to be let out of Choir practice early today because my throat's still sore. Pardon me if I'm silent tomorrow; I don't wish to hurt it further, unless I can't convey my ideas through any other means.

Because Mr. Sagittarius was at the PC, I turned to the other keyboard in the house. *nods* Yes, people, we have a piano.

I played Für Elise, but for some reason I can't get the original version to sound right in terms of rhythm. So I switched to my transposed version, which is in D minor, and was able to play in time. (Pieces written in A minor can, with a fair amount of ease, be transposed to D minor, and the same goes for pieces in D minor.) Then I attempted to transpose it to C sharp minor a.k.a. D flat minor (the two are the same, but there are different key signatures, one with sharps and one with flats, and so the key signature is read off accordingly), but the tune somehow jarred. The transposition is fine, as a subsequent check (that I did) showed, but it still jars. Beethoven must have played this piece in every single key before deciding that A minor was the best, I think.

C sharp minor is the ideal key for Fly Me to the Moon, and nothing else. (Admittedly, I haven't been exposed to many musical pieces.) In fact, the C sharp minor version is a choral version. It's just as nice when played on the piano, or even nicer with my accompaniment to the melody. The end result is very simple (given the fact that my maximum grade is only around ABRSM Grade 2; I didn't take ABRSM exams), but somehow, I find it magical. I cannot write a score for it; it's more of an aural-kinaesthetic feeling. The ritards. and the accompaniment can be varied according to mood, but my version is fixed. And it beats - hands down - all the MIDI versions of Fly Me to the Moon that you can find on the Internet. I know, it was originally a jazz piece, but the choral version is far, far better. This is just my opinion, though.

If anyone wants to listen to me playing my version of the piece, just say the word, and make sure we're near a piano. And I will only play for people whom I trust.

(switch languages) Et j'ai bu du miel, et c'était bon !!

(switch languages) Linkless tag replies:

junipher: Hey are you from PCPS 6A 2004? Do you blog too? For some strange reason, most 6A-ians never leave their links! Please do so if you happen to visit again!

avery: I must be blind; I didn't! Sorry.

Signing off. (Notice the spelling accuracy?) And, simultaneously, I'm trying to summon the Melody of my Soul.

Happy Birthday Ophanimon!!

2006-10-23T09:32:00.000+08:00

And may you have many more happy ones to come; may all your wishes come true. If any involve me, just tell me and I'll do my best to fulfil them. Oh, and do enjoy the treat you tasked me to make.

I'm down with something involving a fever, and a sore upper palate and throat. I can't find the remedy that I want to have. I'm sure that it can help, but I can't try. I hope it doesn't last until Wednesday though. I'd hate for it to interfere with anything.

To all my Hindu friends, a belated Happy Deepavali; to all my Muslim friends, an early Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri!

P.S. Emulation is more than just once. And Mr. Sagittarius, you really are getting out of hand; I won't be surprised if you ruin Ophanimon's big day today.

Rien ne marche. (Nothing works.)

2006-10-19T19:41:00.000+08:00

Or perhaps it's my perception.

Class was noisy and rowdy as usual today. Sometimes, I wish my soul was capable of astral projection. Then I could step out of the class and none would notice that I was gone, and then I could be with whomever I wanted, for a few minutes. I need to be with those whom I can really call my friends.

I need an escape, from the noise, from it all. All but Choir, of course.

Shoutout: to the one whose message contained the misspelt words "je t'aim"! Even though I'm not ready, frankly, so do I.

I only realised it today at recess.

Love.

2006-10-18T20:36:00.000+08:00

Haha... You might say that I'm doing the Sec 3 essay, but in a less academically-styled form. Yes, "Love." was their wildcard (or rather, single-word / single-line) question.

I'll be separating the "love" part of the entry from the rest of it with asterisks.

Nothing much happened in the morning and early afternoon, save for the fact that the Level Heads mentioned today that there would only be SS/Geography available for those who were opting for Triple Science. I may not be picking it, but I feel that it's unfair; what about those who want SS/History or SS/Literature? I have a sneaky suspicion that they're trying to create the closest possible thing to a Pure Sciences stream and are trying to impose it on all who will be opting for Triple Science. Indignation in the highest!

Choir practice resumed today... I found it weird, though, to see most of the seniors leaving. My mind raced back to that scene... Elizabeth telling Steffi something...

It had had something to do with that. I won't elaborate further. (All the best, Sec 3s!)

The conductor wanted us to do sectionals after starting off, shortly after warm-ups, with the newer Chinese piece. The First Sopranos were leaderless; Liz wasn't around because of the reason that is hinted at in the above paragraph, and the twins weren't either because they had signed up for the Dreams+Teams camp. So... there went our Sop 1 SL and our Senior RP (Junior, had Xuemin stayed). And guess who was their leader? Yun Min decided to take over. Initially, however, the Sec 1s were mooting for me! But I refused; I hadn't been sure that I could get the sixteenth-notes right. Teaching the wrong thing would be... well... wrong, embarassing... whatever. Later on, however, when the sectional was in progress, I saw that their faith in me wasn't really all that blind.

Thanks a lot, Sec 1s! In that moment, a ray of warm hope touched my heart. Thank you all for it, really. I treasure every bit of friendship that I get, because of my "frostbite". Thank you, Sharanya, Jia Xuan, Charis and all of you!! I'm really blessed to have such juniors as you. Hope we can bring the choir to greater heights together!

***
... and the nights were the heat of yearning.

They truly were. When I returned for Choir today, though, that fiery feeling was slowly reduced to a small flame. I felt none of the desire for it that I had felt these past few nights. Agreed with Nicole Tan, it does get draining after a while. I still love it, though.

Oxytocin. That's what brings two people closer. They love each other, even though it's not because of burning passion. The examples of this abound, but people cannot feel the love sometimes; the romantic form of love has most probably been over-emphasised. What I felt in the practice venues today was not a blazing fire in my heart, but warm, gentle Oxytocin-Love.
***

So we finished the piece (albeit jerkily) and returned to the main practice venue where the conductor ended with a final run-through of the Chinese piece, followed by one round each of our Aboriginal piece and You Raise Me Up. A nice conclusion, don't you think?

In short, today was special.

Once more, thank you, Sec 1s! Thank you all for your vote of confidence, for your faith and hope in me.

Disillusioned.

2006-10-17T19:55:00.000+08:00

EYEs 2006 HATE.

Studying didn't really get me anywhere because I was too stressed up during the actual exams themselves.

EYE grades:

English - A1. (duh...)
Higher Chinese - B4, an improvement over last year's C6 that landed me a bout of copying to do.
History - C5. I studied. The omission of my causal was bad enough, and I had to get ten more marks deducted for inadequate support. *groans*
Geography - B3. Another mark and I could've hit A2, but I'm happy. Especially with question 11.
Math - B4. It'll pull me down.
Science - B3. It didn't move a bit.
Literature in English - Borderline-pass C6. What can I say? I wasn't strong in it from the start.

I don't know what the overalls will be like. I'm hoping for the best.

The "best", being that... But all who've read my last few posts will know what I really hope for.

If I don't get it... Tirer sur moi, laisser-moi mourir. (Shoutout: Denyse! This is the worse form of the "tirer sur moi" phrase... message me for the meaning of the whole phrase if you want it OK?)

4B wasn't exactly my most fervent hope. But it would've helped me to spear all my career choices at once. That's right, people, I have my eyes set on a few directions. Three main ones to be exact. They're where my flame of love burns strong.

I think I might want to take a chance and go for a 5-option. If not, then it'll be the one with Pure Geography and the other SS/Humanity that'll help me with one career choice (CC1) of mine. The 5-options will shut the door on that particular career choice, but will prepare me better for two others (CC2 & 4), unless SS/(Humanity that'll aid me on my road to CC1) is available as part of a 5-option. One of the Geography teachers declared that impossible in the Multi-Purpose Hall. I don't care, I'm going to hope for it anyway.

But if I don't get the "best" that I'm hoping for, then CC3 is as good as dead.

I want to keep CC3 alive.

CC3 is my most fervent hope.

Please... please... please... Give me that reassurance and you will see a change in me.

It's not reassurance that I'm a good person; Mrs Han gave me that today. My heart... So it isn't cold at all, but I've been getting chill winds all the time, but there is an exception, and that's when I'm with the CC3-ers.

Please reassure me that I will be able to be with them, one more year, please.

O salutaris hostia... You did save me from my palpitations then, so please... Spare me this fate, or I Thee pray my soul to take. If I am not put back with them next year, please call it time's-up for me, because that's when my spirit will die.

And I shall then be just mechanically doing things, just like a zombie.

Take me away from them without taking my soul away is the worst possible thing that can happen to me, because it won't ensure that my grades won't slip any further. Retention won't work either.

At that point, I shall have died already, and that's why.

frustrated yell

2006-10-15T14:49:00.000+08:00

The Sec 4 seniors who blog have changed their tagboards, except Cherissa, and even then, hers is pretty much dead. Besides, those Sec 4s whose tagboards have changed all have turned 16, and Cherissa hasn't officially done so.

*sigh* One less channel of communication.
It makes me feel shut out.
Why is it happening to me?

Everything is transient; you have one thing one moment and the next, it's gone, just like that.

Will I be the only thing that stands, walks, breathes, runs, after the passing of millenia?

If I ever got the chance to be immortal in exchange for my emotions, friendships and relationships, I would rather not take it. I would never take it.
And yet, it seems that those on the other ends don't treasure me.
I might as well just end it all.
Don't ask me how. It's definitely not through dying, that would be silly.

My heart is frosted over, all over again.

Why am I always a vacuum? Can not I give off light, just once?

Frankly, I used to be able to, but then I became a black hole.

I hate being a black hole. I don't want to be a black hole. I want to sing, and heal with my singing.

I can't wait for the Choral Revival.

J'ai besoin d'aide!! (I need help!!)

2006-10-15T10:13:00.000+08:00

I really do need it. I seem to just be stagnating, floating around in nothing.

Tiara'll be exiting Cedar at the end of the year, and she tried to make people vote for her as a Prefect Councillor. I leave you to make what you want of this.

The haze has returned, and last night the PSI was 116 before I slept. It's just as bad right now. Oh, for the web of links and lines!! Please, stop, I implore! If you were affected, would you not be sad too?

J'ai besoin du miel (I need honey)! It's true.

Is there only one Think of Me MIDI file online? It's not as nice as the choral version. Likewise for the Fly Me to the Moon MIDIs. Choir - mystical, musical, magical, soothing, healing.

Such is choral music. Such is classical music (save for Beethoven's Symphony no. 5, for instance).

I can't wait for the upcoming practice.

Choral revival; Cedar Choristers reunite!
Choir restarts; Cedar Choir, take flight!
Rise and soar, far above all;
Amaze, entrance, enthrall!

My P5 camp cheer is brought to mind by this.

Excellence, excellence,
Something for which we must strive.
Excellence, excellence,
EXCELLENCE for group 5!

~~Now let's change the context a bit...~~

I think I won't modify the cheer and publish it here. That's another brain-baby of mine. All my brain-babies are (C) ~Seraphine Chorister~ 2006. Sorry, people!

I didn't expect my compo class teacher to print my essay out and distribute it to the class. That was yesterday. My brain-baby, delivered? Nice. It would be better, though, if the essay I submitted to my Chinese / Form teacher comes out in the upcoming publication.

Need help, need honey, need Choir.

Some say love,
it is a river
that drowns the tender reed,
some say love,
it is a razor
that leaves your soul to bleed;
some say love,
it is a hunger,
an endless, aching need...
I say love,
it is a flower,
and you, its only seed.

Personally though, I'd agree with the third definition. The flower definition is a bit hard to grasp.

Choir - the CCA that's closer to heaven.

You may disagree, but that's my opinion. To each their own.

~~Singing off...~~

I can't sing. I need honey, remember? I hate not being able to sing.

I call upon the Melody of my Soul...

Mes vœux... (My wishes...)

2006-10-14T19:41:00.000+08:00

They are for Mr. Sagittarius to quit irritating me, and for myself to be able to change. My Sign is Mutable, is it not? So, I hope to be able to harness this mutability and change for the better.

On another note...

I just took these quizzes.

Find your Celestial Choir

OK... wow. But this result would suit someone better. It's ORANGE!!

edit at 15/10, 9.50am: If you can't see the full wording of the result, just right-click the image, go to "Properties", select and copy the image URL, then paste it into your browser's URL field and hit Enter... it should come out. I resized the result image because it was pushing the sidebar down.

What is your inner-power (It will be scary how accurate the answers are!)

You are honest. You are worthy of Respect. These are your inner powers. You teach people. to be kind and to never judge or label people by appereace, but by heart. You show people how to be honest and how to love themselves. You can show people what the right choices are in life, but it is up to them to make them.
Take this quiz!

Quizilla
Join

Make A Quiz More Quizzes Grab Code

Yeah, the accuracy is scary.

What Element Power Does Your Soul Behold? (anime pics!!)

Your soul beholds earth. You are steady and happy. You love to be outside and watch the nature around you, you love to play with the animals around and you just cant get enough of it!^^Eyes: green Hair: Brown Attitude: You are happy and content, you couldn't ask for anything more, well except for the stop of distroying forests Animal: deer Mythical creature: pixy
Take this quiz!

Quizilla
Join

Make A Quiz More Quizzes Grab Code

Oh, wow. Haha. Nice.

What element resides within your soul?(anime pics)

Air- the element of air breathes within your soul. You love the wind rushing through your hair and caressing your skin.
Take this quiz!

Quizilla
Join

Make A Quiz More Quizzes Grab Code

Breathe, breath, breezy. That's Gemini, all right. Mmm.

What Element is in your control? 4 girls updated with pics now!!!

you are air, normally you feel better when your down if you go out on a breezy day and sit and relax. sometimes that is the best of times to do that. normally you're hyper and would acquire a great friendship with a element holder of fire. more than anybody would, you wish you can fly.
Take this http://www.quizilla.com/redirect.php?statsid=20&url=http://www.quizilla.com/makeaquiz.php">Make A Quiz More Quizzes Grab Code

What's with the broken link? And yes, tsubasa o kudasai!!!

And I'm trying to create my skin image, but I doubt that I'll succeed anytime soon... Anyone knows of a site that could help me?

Think of me,
think of me fondly,
when we've said goodbye.
Remember me
every so often,
promise me you'll try.
On that day, that not so distant day,
when you are far away and free -
If you ever find a moment,
spare a thought for me...

Will I be a beholder to a Gothic tragedy?

:NEWSFLASH:

2006-10-14T10:06:00.000+08:00

I'm going to put up a blogskin soon. In the meantime I'll be putting up some test features so please bear with me if I accidentally leave them on.

P.S. Don't be scared of any alerts. OK?

Singing off.

Is it all in order?

2006-10-12T06:12:00.000+08:00

Let me see.

One spick-and-span room: check.
Learnt new things: check.
One beautiful choir file that sits waiting to be opened again at our usual practice venue: check.
Being able to play Für Elise and all those pieces that I set my mind to: no check. I've forgotten some of them too. :(
Being infallible: no check. Nobody can be infallible, right? But here I mean being able to prevent mistakes that are within my control from happening.

Nobody is infallible, and so I'm also not infallible. I shall not make myself feel inferior.

I think, over there, I shall just shut up next year. And I'll try not to break this oath. Only through clues, to the weaker students. Otherwise, nothing.

And sleep. I need sleep. I'll just go, right now, to my comfy, comfy, comfy, comfy bed, and go to sleep.
(switch languages) 我需要好好睡一觉。
(switch languages) Je dois bien dormir bien.

(switch languages) And maybe I should just sleep in and not use my phone's alarm. It's irritating, and I think it's going to get me into trouble soon, if it hasn't already.

*yawn* Good morning, people. I'm going to sleep.

Hoping.

2006-10-11T10:47:00.000+08:00

Does something seem to be missing?

The link to the 'miscarried' predecessor to this blog is gone. I've deleted the predecessor, and am now waiting for Blogger to delete that account, or to release a method that will allow us to delete our own accounts.

The reopening of school will make me feel like a black hole again, but choir... I look forward to it. It'll be so nice, just to reunite against a common hurdle: next year's SYF Central Judging of Choirs for Secondary and Pre-U levels.

Choir... my first love, my lifelong longing, my everlasting romance.

My love for it is not a "Spanish fiesta", but the behind-the-scenes work of a choral festival. And in itself, that is a kind of festivity, in spite of all the hard work.

Speaking of hard work, that's something that Pei Chun doesn't have in its motto, but Kheng Cheng does. (They're my first and second primary schools respectively.)

I still remember why I don't like Pei Chun as much as I like Kheng Cheng.

I can remember that day in January. One of Pei Chun's board members had died in the holidays, and I was a new transfer student, but was made to stand in the sun like the rest and bow to the board member's hearse. I was unable to do it. Firstly, my tolerance level was not that high, and secondly and MORE importantly, I had not known. Nobody had known that I didn't know, or that I was a transfer student.
Besides, have you heard of anyone bowing to a complete stranger?

That was a bitter start.

From then on, my heart was frosted over, although there were some who tried to keep me warm.

I am thankful for the abundance of sunshine in Cedar; it helped to thaw my frozen heart. I might even say that it's melting into a glue that will bond me to Cedar forever.

In 2008, I will become an alumna. Whether I become an Alumna or not will be determined by certain factors. But they seriously need a Choir wing. I'd love to help found it. The current Alumni doesn't seem to have such a wing as yet.

And I hope. (amateurish language switch to Jap) Watashi no kibou... (switch languages to English) ...make it come true.

Random shoutout: Denyse!
I'm sorry. I really am. I had no idea it'd turn out like that. I just want to apologise. If you don't know what I'm talking about, then please message me. Thanks.

Singing off on this note.

P.S. This post was finished at 6am on 12-10-2006.

Believers and Mages

2006-10-10T04:36:00.000+08:00

Lately, I've been taking a kind of rude insult from a socially blind Mr. Sagittarius. I'm not calling him socially blind just based on a spontaneous bad event, but also because I've known him to be like that. He's a fan of it-ism (I'm not naming it here).

And it's because I don't believe.

What does he take me for anyway? A rudderless ship?
I don't believe.
He didn't take this for an answer.

Admittedly though, I do subscribe to a kind of thinking that everything is magical. There's a charm in certain things that makes you attracted to them, while others seem to have this strong repulsive power.
But that's subjective. The magic in question here is making things happen.

I'm a Mage, not a Believer. Not yet. However, the liturgical songs seem to be winning me over a bit. (These are those songs that praise God or Christ or the Virgin Mary, such as Ave Verum Corpus, as well as Verbum Supernum Prodiens and its shorter derivatives, O Salutaris Hostia and Salut de la Veille des O [sung at Choral Fest X '06!!]).
Mages toil, and work with their hands. That's what I've been doing lately for (hopefully) A1 grades in the EYEs.
Where Mages are concerned, the power is within them.
Some other people are convinced that the higher powers they believe in will help them along the way, and here I'll call them Believers. I cannot possibly despise all Believers in general because most of them are nice people, for one.
Where Believers are concerned, the power is their Higher Power, which will guide and protect them.
Another reason why I cannot possibly despise all the Believers is that some of them are Mages too. They're the Believing Mages. And very often, it is the Believing Mages who accomplish the most, with Mages ranking second and pure Believers last.
They sweat and toil, and also have guidance from a Higher Power.
Hey, I never said these two work at cross-purposes.

HOWEVER, IT IS THE FORCING BELIEVERS AND TAUNTING BELIEVERS WHO ARE EVIL.

I'm not abusing caps here. I hate Mr. Sagittarius because he's a Forcing/Taunting Believer.
What does he do?

Once, Ophanimon signed me up for a prayer session without telling me, and I was fuming on hearing that. I don't believe in it-ism.
Mr. Sagittarius then asked me why. "Are you a 'it-ist' or a Christian?" Deliberate grammar mistake here because 'it-ism' begins with a consonant if I were to use the actual word.
"You are a 'it-ist'," he declares triumphantly, even after I re-iterate my stand that I DON'T BELIEVE.

I can tell you that in it-ism's way of teaching you to be good, the emphasis seems to be on the consequences of your actions. But in the version of one of their books that I read, it's all in relation to jobs that existed long ago, if not related to animals. I'm not bad-mouthing it. It's true. And the consequences are seriously horrid.

Here're some of them:
Example 1:
Ever wondered why you now... ?
This is because, in your past life, you [did something that is not acceptable].
Example 2:
Woe be to those who [do something that is not acceptable],
for they shall be... [tied to spoked wheels in whichever level of Hell it is and be whipped, be reincarnated as a lower form in their next life, etc.]

I don't stink because my soul mishonestly sold incense a few thousand years ago. That's IRRATIONAL THINKING. I stink because of the presence of APOCRINE SWEAT GLANDS. Get that straight, Mr. Sagittarius.
Anyway, you can see from there, that's a job that most don't do anymore, except for those peddlers outside the temples.

I think you can guess what 'it-ism' is already and be 80% correct, if not 100% correct, on the first guess.

And, as you can see, I HATE irrationality.

Mages, Believers and Believing Mages co-exist harmoniously in this world, and I think I should already be part of this community. But Mr. Sagittarius won't be for some time yet; maybe I should open his eyes and let him see the grief and pain. Then again, he doesn't feel connected by that helpless heartstring I feel that's being tugged whenever it's evident that he's gotten himself into a mess and I can do nothing but watch.

For the record, Mr. Sagittarius isn't my boyfriend. He's younger than me by four years.

Regardless, though, of whether you're a Believer or a Mage or a Believing Mage, you only have one life to live. Don't think that you have next lives' time to bumble along and make messes of this life, but rather, live it the best you can.

I'm gonna transform myself, but it won't be evident in the posts here. Back to Mage mode for me. I'm not going on hiatus, I'm (figuratively) going to set myself ablaze.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
And rise again, with renewed youth, from the ashes, a new self ready to take it all on.

Officially... end of hiatus!

2006-10-09T13:11:00.000+08:00

Yes, it's the end of the hiatus. And also... Happy Birthday, Karen!!

All of my tags will be deleted, except for a few I find meaningful. Birthday shoutouts will also stay on the tagboard (until I lose them due to an overwhelming number of tags). Now, let's look at MY tags and see what happened during this hiatus...

September 13: One weird thing I did today: Rolling crumbled croquette into sushi (Home Econs).
--> OH THAT! That was the day we were doing Japanese cuisine. We were all tasked to do sushi, with some of us doing croquettes and the others doing the okonomiyaki (hope I got the spelling right!). In the end there was so much sushi rice that my partner and I had left over, as well as some crumbled croquette, so... I rolled it into sushi (with seaweed outside of course)!

September 15: Mrs Foo rocks. Or so I think, after what I witnessed today.
--> Well, there was a Literature dramatisation of Animal Farm (and speaking of dramatisations, to think that I spoke of... forget it, I'm blushing) that was to be included in the CA2 this year, and a group of eight happened not to have done it, so they had '0's staring back at them in the Literature section of the progress report, and so they complained about it to our form teacher. Mrs Foo came in to hear what the situation was about and to give them an extra chance, but she also scolded the members. Nonetheless, I could feel that she cared for them.

September 20: Vous, pourquoi est-ce que c'est vous qui est entré dans notre salle de classe hier? On ne povait pas vous dire de vous en aller. On peut voir que vous êtes un loupe. +
September 25: Vous êtes entré dans notre classe aujourd'hui, M. Loupe. Et je vous hais.
--> Oh, I'd much rather not talk about this here, thank you very much.

September 20: Today... tea brewing was the highlight! But I didn't quite get the procedure of washing down pat. But I learnt in the end. The tea was nice, and so was the 茶叶蛋. And the test went well, really.
--> We went to Tea Chapter for our Learning Journey that day. It's a nice, cosy place, at Neil Road, near Chinatown. (Chinatown in Singapore, OK, not anywhere else in the world.) I learnt a few things about tea: Green tea is NOT oxidised or 'fermented' at all. Beat that! And there are six types of Chinese tea, which, in Chinese, are known as 绿茶, 黄茶, 青茶, 黑茶, 白茶 and 红茶. (NOTE: Though 红茶 translates directly to "red tea", it's actually the English "Black Tea", which in turn translates directly into Chinese as 黑茶. Confusing eh?) The brewing is very elaborate. It's so elaborate that I still can't remember it. Chek Seen, I need another refresher!!
By the way, I don't care for the Japanese version, it's an adaptation of the Chinese one.
And speaking of Japanese and Chinese, the National Geographic magazine once mentioned that the Jap word for 'ant' is made up of the words for 'bug' and 'loyalty'. EXCUSE ME. WITHOUT CHINESE, THE JAPS WOULDN'T HAVE THEIR KANJI ANYWAY.
I didn't abuse caps here. I'm really indignant about it.
And I don't remember what the test was.

September 21: The oral... uh, only the dirt added at the end was my saving grace. I totally forgot my vocab. Brr. Got to brush up.
--> It was the day of the French oral. The dialogue was about "You don't want to go to school. Your parent will try to coax you into going." At first I was just "sassing" as Mildred Taylor put it in her book Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry: "Ain't gonna 'pologize to no nigger! [Lillian Jean Simms] sassed." Really, they were just flimsy excuses like "There're lots of projects at school and they're so difficult!" at first, but then, just in the nick of time, I said, hesitatingly, that the Math teacher was sick in the mind, and the examiner seemed satisfied with that, ending the dialogue with something like, "All right, I'll go and talk to your teacher. But right now, you have to promise me that you'll go to school, OK?"
Really, I consider that 'dirt'. But if not for it, I don't think I'd have been able to get out of it with the examiner showing so much care. Monsieur Gilbert rocks!

September 21: I'm starting to love and live! And all of you, thank you so much for the reciprocative luck messages! It's really heartwarming.
--> Erm, that's between them and me.

September 22: English paper: HARD.
--> Self-explanatory, right?

September 28: Yesterday, Kaho Mizuki showed me her bell. Really, she did. It has given me new hope and courage.
--> I found both main language papers hard this year, and was upset by it. I told Elizabeth about it, and then about a conversation I had heard between two Sec 4 seniors (one of whom was Karen). During this conversation, I had heard the senior who WASN'T Karen say that a failure in English equated to a transfer to the Normal (Academic) stream, and therefore, a transfer out. Liz disproved it. Just a small part of the information: "You'd only be transferred to Express."
Like the bell of Kaho Mizuki or Layla Mckenzie in Cardcaptor Sakura, a second chance, in case I did fail.

September 28: Today... French exam! Facile, sauf... (Easy, but...)
--> Again, self-explanatory.

September 30: Biennale Shoutout: Miho-san! You were a great guide! Arigato gozaimasu!
--> I went with Ophanimon, then-Seraphimon and Mr. Sagittarius to the Biennale tour that started at the new SMU campus (with its Hanging Gardens!) and this Japanese woman (was she an immigrant? Because she said she's been living here with her parents...) was our guide. She was really good in her English pronunciation. It shocked me when I found out that she's a Japanese (Ophanimon had asked me to guess what her nationality was, and my guess had been that she's a Japanese, because of the accent), but I think she was even more shocked than I when, after she revealed that she's Shintoist, I managed to name the kami or Shinto deities of the Sun, the Moon and Storms.
Once more, arigato gozaimasu, Miho-san!

September 30: Turned in a single-sheeter today at writing class. But I'm happy with it. The last double-page essay I turned in at that class has 700+ words in it. DON"T ARGUE. I used school (Cedar) foolscap.
--> Yes, I was satisfied with it. And now that I've recounted the words in that double-page essay submitted the lesson before, I think there're 600+, not 700+. Sorry for the error.

October 1: I am going to be in trouble come July 2007. The then-Sec4s will be leaving and... (switch languages) je serai toute seule, sans d'amies vraies.
--> I am not translating the French section of that tag, you hear me? Or read my blog, for that matter?

October 1: You Jin was her children's "rants box". I'm sure all perents can learn from that, abolish the age-based hierachy and build another one in its place. Old things need improvements, eternally. Everything needs improvement.
--> OOPS. I meant "parents".
Yeah. I'm all for it. I'm going to be a rants box to my children next time.
But if I do marry, it doesn't mean being subservient to the hubby.
By the way, just these few days, someone contributed a very sexist article to the TODAY newspaper about his views on married couples. The emphasis is on "his". Really. He simply told the womenfolk to just accept the traditional, archaic role of good housewife and mother. Indignation in the highest. A married couple are PARTNERS, not MASTER AND SLAVE. The latter mentality has lingered in this world for time immemorial, which is time immemorial too long.

October 3: Diarrhoea! That's the only thing that sullied the day. Thanks to the teachers' grace however, I could do the whole History paper with full time! My causal is so dead. But otherwise, I find that I did pretty fine. And Elizabeth's neighbours finally stopped the drilling! Yay for her and me.
--> Yes, the Sec 2s had History that day, and Liz's neighbours finally stopped drilling! The day before, they were drilling as part of renovation works (as she told me). I'll bet you she joined Sharon that day at the library because of the noise.

October 3: I'm going to enjoy my fantastic fifteenth year of existence. The Sec 3s should be experiencing their sixteenth. I want a digital cam for the culmination of my fifteenth year so as to snap shots of myself with the then-Sec4s. But should I take that or the DELF A2? But back to today, I took the exam in the Family Centre, and the AS2 was nearby... I drew the strength to continue from its presence. It's where the Choir practises, and Choir is my continual romance.
--> I took it there because of my diarrhoea, but I'm much better now, thank you very much. In fact, I was fully recovered the next day, and it hasn't happened again this year (whew!). Choir, my continual romance? Indeed. And I am going to enjoy my fifteenth year of existence, my fourteenth year of age, while it lasts, because by the time I gain my fifteenth year of age, my sixteenth year of existence shall be a void.

October 3: Finality's in the air, and I cannot help but cry inside as I cherish this time. It will be the last. It really will.
--> Yes, it is. Next year, it will be their big year, and I cannot, no longer. To quote a tag that followed this one: "And I bleed inside, where the truth is a blade; and my heart falls, when the truth cruelly rips away my wings of hope; and my heart is empty, where the truth is a flesh-eating parasite."

October 4: Denyse deserves it! She deserves the award all right. In fact she deserves the highest. I'm not saying it because I'm a fan or friend, I'm saying it because it's true. Denyse, laudo te!
--> But, in fact, she deserves "laudo te" everyday, because her character warrants it. Yes, that was a character award, and she doesn't just deserve a Merit award, she deserves the highest.

October 4: Oh, and so does Priscilla. Laudo te!
--> Yes, Priscilla Lee from 2Purity 2006 also got it, as she did last year...

October 4: ... I was lonely today so I typed a poem. ...
--> It was cold and embittering. In fact, here's the poem:
~Piece after Lit~

Finally free,
and as I walk out briskly,
chill wind ruffles my hair,
makes it messy.

Amid fellow green-taggers
at me, no warmth, no staring daggers
feeling trapped with no release…
Where're the bumblebees?

I know
but wish I didn't, though;
they're still in the gloom
of the exam room.

And pay no mind to how hard I mine;
sapphires I will never find.
Icicles form on the trees
on their branches and their leaves.

Snow-covered,
as any other,
the bus comes
and it hums,
while ploughing through snowy dunes,
mocking tunes.

I freeze,
cold-seized,
remaining unseen,
and none will care,
among that sea of green
over there.

[Wrote a piece of Literature myself...]

October 5: Maths. *sigh* P(A1) = 1/38. That is so bad. Hate geometry. But then we'll be taking double maths next year. ...
--> It's true.

October 6: Et seulement deux de plus... mais je voudrais trois de plus. Comme elles!! Oh non, non. Demain, elles passeront Phy et Math Add, et lundi, l'Histoire. Ohh non... Je ne veux plus les passer.
--> That, when translated into English, means, "And only two more... but I'd like three more. Like them!! Oh no, no. Tomorrow, they'll be taking Physics and Additional Math, and Monday, History. Ohh no... I don't want to take them anymore."

October 6: Just one more for all of us! Oh, no, wait. Sec 3 people who're not taking O-level History are done already. I want Combination 4B!! I know my career choices already. 3 in Arts / Aesthetics, 2 in Sciences. I want to be a Healer of sorts.
--> They finished that day, because today was the Sec 3s' History exam. And my ambitious resloution stands.

October 6: Earth Cardinal, I cannot bring myself to do something anymore while keeping a fluffy, happy mood at the same time. It's all lost. Quit trying to push stuff to Ophanimon, we're not in the past anymore. And therefore, because we're no longer in the past, therefore don't force the archaic roles on us. If even a worm will turn, so will a pair of twins. So QUIT IT.
--> Seraphimon changed his name to Earth Cardinal. And I'm talking about the Star Sign here, not the rank of church official. I'm not elaborating on the rest.

October 8: Yippee!! I got permission, and a display of faith in me too! Watch out world... I'm gonna storm the literary!
--> *shakes head* Nope, no elaboration here.

All other self-tags have been skipped over; all other tags have been replied back at their owners' blogs.

And now... presenting... a short version of my profile in the sidebar, a few new links, and a new scroller, all to be added shortly after this post!

Today was the Geography exam, and the last paper of the year. I wanted to walk back home with Elizabeth, but couldn't because, firstly, the Sec 3 History paper ended earlier by 15mins, but this kind of thing can't be helped. Secondly, Mrs Lee wanted to see me. Not that that's bad, though; Mrs Lee is really nice. It was sad (for me) to hear that she's going to be posted away as a school counsellor.

I sang part of "If We Hold On Together" while walking past the primary school opposite our block cluster. And while singing it, I felt as if the 'ghost' of the old campus was singing along with me. My first three years of schooling were spent there, before the old campus was torn down and the new one built in its place. I wonder if Mrs Esther Ong still teaches there? She was the one who taught me this song in Primary 3.5. No kidding, the class was called "Primary 3.5", and it was the best class. Maybe I should find out when their next event is, then pop down and say hi to Mrs Ong. After all, she's the teacher who's most familiar with me because she was the Math teacher in P1 and P2, and the English-cum-Music teacher in Primary 3. I wonder if she'd still call my handwriting "atrocious".

Though Yun Min once told me that my second primary school was the one that gave me my crucial three years, I still love my first primary school better than my second. Those were the days that were not marked by childishly sexist arguments as to which pupil would be first in the exams (girls supporting girls, boys rooting for boys). Heard or read that, Yun Min?

I'm glad to be in an all-girls' school. There's no gender bias, so you can clearly see the good and bad in people.

OK, time to add the new stuff. If any, I'll update again later. See you around ;)

Singing off.

Freezing my blogblog.

2006-09-11T18:25:00.000+08:00

But it's not going to die. Not even my Neopets are. I can starve them for years on end and they'll still be around. Maybe I should remove them because I'm not interested anymore.

Happy September 11th. And hey! Guess what, an American woman won her state lottery twice! And her name is... Valerie Wilson! Hahahahahahahahahahaha... Man, if only it had been our dear Mrs Valarie Wilson, the Choral Fest conductor, who'd struck TOTO or 4D twice. That WOULD'VE been something! And yes, I still miss Choral Fest!! Who can sail without the wind to rescue the Saving Victim? Who can? Choir 1 of course! Choir 1 to the rescue! Hahaha.

Hey if the plans for the next chalet come to fruition, I hope singing is in the plan. Oh man I miss singing those two songs! The Cedarian Chor1sters were in the MS on those two days of Best Practice Day at our school, practicing them. YES CHOIR 1 IS PWNSOME LOVE OF A KIND THAT CANNOT BE MATCHED.

I'm going on hiatus after this (that's why I said I'm freezing my blogblog). Any comments about the days on hiatus shall be left as tags on my tagboard. And when I return, I'm gonna combine them all into one massive post.

I'll be back for the December hols. Fret not. I'll be back for Christmas.

HIATUS BEGINS NOW.

Once more, lost in thoughts

2006-09-10T17:51:00.000+08:00

Who were you to me, in our past lives?

You, who were so nice to me, all of you.

You, who treated me indifferently, all of you.

You, who treated me with hostility, all of you.

Who were all of us?

Was I ever my namesake?

Then who is the present incarnation of Odysseus?

And what about all the rest? The Cedar Choristers, the Chor1sters, the classmates and teachers of past and present, my three best friends?

How did we meet? What caused us to meet? When were we? Where were we? Who were we? Why did we meet?

I'm not saying that my life is a mess and that I want to start over. I don't. I'm very happy with it. Really I am. And I am grateful for the bonds, the good bonds. Need I worry about the bad bonds? I doubt.

The world is a motley mix of various types of people. Just as much as you can be surrounded by foes (bella premunt hostilia), you can also be surrounded by friends. It just depends on who you bump into... or does it go deeper than that?

I am grateful.

And here I wish to thank all of you. Though there's no special occasion, I still want to.

In no particular order (special mention to those whose names are capitalised):

1.4 of year 1999 / 2.4 of year 2000!
3.5 of year 2001!
4J of year 2002!
5A of year 2003 / 6A of year 2004!

1Purity of year 2005 / 2Purity of year 2006!

MY THREE BEST FRIENDS!!

THE CHOR1STERS AND CEDAR CHORISTERS! (special mention to named choristers...)

Cedarians first:

S1SL*, S2SL*, A2SL*, Clara, Senior Sec*, Karen, Loshini and Samantha, Senior UM*, Yingfang, Saranya, Yvonne, Youying, Dayna and the rest of the choristers in your cohort!

Pres/A1SL*, VicePres/former HOP*, S1SL/SC/former Sec*, S2SL*, A2SL*, Berenice, Yinxue, Qixuan, Ruiwen, Sec*, Vidhya, Aishwarya and the rest of the choristers in your level!

Yuan Qi, Sonam, Annette, S1SL and RP*, Niro, Dionne, Sunanda, Divya, HOP* and the rest of my cohort's choristers!

Charmaine, Yu E, Jiaxuan, the 1M girls, Jiehui, Charis and the rest! Go juniors!

And not to mention the IP seniors of last year!! Cassandra, Xuemin, Trudy, Kaiyin and Arthi!

* These are the titles held by these people... from these you can deduce right? I needn't explain further.

Chor1sters now!

Li Shan, Lianghwei, Wenqing, Genevieve, Jinli, Victoria (spelling?), Janice, Stacey and a few of the boys (DO NOT GET ME WRONG OK?) such as Joseph and Lester, and one Dunman tenor, and one bass (I really don't know his name, but he's from RV).

*~~* And I shall treasure it eternally.

And hey I didn't forget my parents. Their tribute shall be published in time to come.

Hey Sec4s, how were the prelims? Good luck for Os... No not just good luck, all the best! Here, have my whole plantation of four-leaved clover!! And I do crop rotation too! Every few years I change the crop to... erm... potato... and then I switch back to four-leaved clover! Yeah! So you can have my plantation! I'm only switching to potato in 2009! So there's plenty of luck to go around!!

All the best to all of us for EYE exams. CHEERS.

Should I go on hiatus? Perhaps. If I have to post something to remember, I'll make a note of it in my tagboard.

Will it all really repeat?

And the bonds between us... across different lives... Someday, will I meet you again?

Even if there's someone from another past life that I haven't met yet, I won't fret. I will wait until we meet again.

10th September...

2006-09-10T09:33:00.000+08:00

be sorted @ nimbo.net

Congratulations on making Gryffindor!
Basically, you're brave, daring, chivalrous, and pretty much.. an all around good person. Of course, some see you as a goodie-two-shoes. But hey, it's true! You're really good at winning, and normally always come out as the hero. Everybody likes you.. except, maybe, the Slytherins. You're too perfect. No, really.. You're too perfect. It's annoying to watch you win, repeatedly. Oh well. Be proud anyway.

Gryffindors to Remember:
Harry Potter
Ron Weasley
The whole Weasley family
Hermione Granger
Albus Dumbledore

Erm. But I thought I'd get Ravenclaw. Must be the "magic world" questions. And I'm not good at winning anything. But I guess, it's time to turn things around, get my feel of the tide up, and GO.

Happy birthday to one of my storybook characters! And her matriline. Hahaha.

Et j'attends... (And I wait...)

2006-09-09T12:15:00.000+08:00

...for the answer that I sought this very morn.
Is it her?
I daren't tag, lest it's not, and I find myself all forlorn.
Please tag back, Weiyi, with the info I need, as soon as possible.

...for exams to be over,
and until I can grow more four-leaved-clover.

...for deliverance, from this state on Earth.
It's all so stifling right now.
Yes, fellow (future?) women-power activist, 14 is the age to be.
But everything else is so stifling.
Everything else but singing, and September 5th, 2006, and happy times.

...rather, for deliverance from this state of mind.
In my French comprehension passages, there was one that mentioned a fictional Club Mad.
Depressed employees would go there for one-week stays, and it's hell over there.
And when they return, they're all smiles and happy with their current lives.
Maybe I should go to such a place, to Club Mad.
It's not your happy family resort, it's not Club Med, I said CLUB MAD.

...for the day when I complete spinning my cocoon, and then undergo the changes I have to.
And when that's done, I shall emerge, a beautiful, powerful butterfly.
And not just any butterfly, but an Aethereal butterfly.
Colourless wings of rainbow sheen, every scale of them partitioned by gold borders.

And now I'm singing off.

Lost... and did I find...?

2006-09-09T11:49:00.000+08:00

Did I just find my cousin's blog?

But is it true?

All the info tallies (it shows in the sheer amount of quizzes she takes), but I'm just not sure.

The apparent link is in Wei Yi's blog, but 'melwee' doesn't link out.

Drats. She already knows someone else (who's NOT me) called Penny, the owner of my *SUSPECTED* cousin's blog.

But the thing is, I never knew she had this side to her (if it even is her).

And for another thing, Wei Yi is not in her class... so how could they know each other???

No way. I'm tagging Wei Yi. I want to know. This has to stop. NOW.

I want, fervently, to know. The flame is burning in me, burning up all the Air. This can't do. Soon I'll invoke my Watery side to quench this fire.

Singing off.

Dear Mr. Sagittarius...

2006-09-08T19:32:00.000+08:00

Yes, once more, I'm speaking to you here, although it's unlikely that you'll ever read. However, this is the only way I can tell you without a direct confrontation.

You've made progress. Keep it up. I'm sure Seraphimon and Ophanimon are happier. But why did it take Ophanimon's (literal) chasing you around the place for you to follow the instruction? Volume down. How much simpler could it get?

Keep up the good work, nonetheless.

Your senior, Penelope

~ spook me out. ~

2006-09-08T13:37:00.000+08:00

I wish I knew why.

Yume haunt me all the time.

I'm not giving anyone or anything permission to haunt me. Dreams haunt me all the time. (yume = Japanese for dream[s], sounds like "you may")

Last night's dream was weird. One of my primary school seniors, Fenfang, was due. I'm leaving you to guess, how and in what sense. But it was freaky in that she (the dream Fenfang) was glad about the whole thing. And I'm not talking about dreaming about the future, the dream was set in the present time.

Anyway... that was harrowing.

There was Choir practice today!! Whoot whoot whoot! And sectional practices rock.

We had sectionals, for our new piece. *NOT DISCLOSING THE TITLE!!* And it was so much fun. Especially when the piece is light-hearted and happy. Yay.

Cool - the guys are the ones that give *the aboriginal piece we're learning* its aboriginal feeling, really. And that shouting, towards 'P'... Oh that was THE highlight of the effects that the guys produced. Too bad for us in that we're in a girls' school. But that's lovely in its own respects. *And I'm still not disclosing any titles... HAHAHA.*

I. LOVE. CHOIR. AND. I. SHALL. KEEP. MY. FLAME. OF. LOVE. FOR. IT. BURNING.
I. LOVE. THE. CEDAR. CHOIR. AND. MY. FLAME. OF. LOVE. FOR. IT. WILL. NEVER. DIE.

Reply to juan!: You're Juanmin right? Hahaha, Juannifier! Hey Juannify me can? The easiest way to do so would be to leave a link!! Please do on your next visit!!

Singing off!! (Deliberate spelling mistake here.)

Et encore, je suis en ligne... (And once more, I'm online...)

2006-09-06T13:20:00.000+08:00

Yes, I'm online again.

What do you think of when you think of "nature"?

If you think of crudeness, then I'd say, change your thinking a bit.

Everything in it is interlinked. Think of food chains, the cycles (like the water and nitrogen cycles, among others), and much more. It's so true, you know, that "we are all connected to each other, in a circle, in a hoop that never ends" (quote from the song, Colours of the Wind). But I'd like to just tweak that allegory a little: We are all connected to each other in a web of links and lines.

Don't destroy the web of life OK? Let's do all we can to protect it. All of us, let us unite and fight for the survival of ourselves and the planet. Let us not destroy the beautiful lace that is this network of life. What we have torn, let us sew back. We must learn how; we have no choice.

For ourselves, for the planet, for Nature, for Gaia. (Yes Greek myth rocks more than Roman myth because the latter is the copycat version.)

And this part of nature (the part about a whole host of links) manifests itself everywhere, even with regards to the various fields of human skill.

I love being my own instrument, but it is, admittedly, tiring. Still, no pain, no gain, and I must work my way up. And nothing shall dampen my flame of love for singing. I have the Air to keep it burning. And I can now better control my breath, thanks to a re-explanation - of something that the conductor was teaching us - that I requested.

Ask, and you will get an answer. No matter how foolish the question may seem, ask. Just ask.

And if you have any questions about anything that I've posted so far, yes, feel free to ask!! Just tag me on my tagboard.

No inside info on choral techniques however. We have our rivals. Sorry people, no freebie tips or anything of the sort. Never. And I'm not divulging all the details of my life either. That's where the line is drawn. But on all other matters, feel free to ask.

To a certain guy in my life...

2006-09-05T22:55:00.000+08:00

My dear junior, Mr. Sagittarius,

You are getting to be too much. You are really getting to be too much.

Why do you keep on watching that channel when Seraphimon and Ophanimon have specifically told you not to do so?

Why do you keep on relating all those unwholesome things to us?

I have no link to such things, I shall tell you. And there is no way that you are going to change the very essence of who I am. Because if you ever do, I shall sue you until you go broke. And even more. And if you ever do manage to change me in that fashion, I shall challenge you to a fight. And we shall have a showdown, and I shall make sure that no trace of you exists from that point onwards.

I have been kind enough to downplay the bad side of you every time I speak of you to my friends and teachers. Even in that essay pinned up at the Cedar Sec 2 billboard, I tried to play up your good side. But now it seems that I can't find a way to forgive you. Not at all.

I think that what I can be most thankful for is that I am not going to be your guardian any more. I was your guardian for those first two years of yours in our primary school, and I bore the brunt of everything. In fact, I might have worsened the situation, but I gave my all and my best in being your guardian. But because of our age gap, I shall no longer have to face you - in the upcoming SYF Central Judging of Choirs, in my Sec 4 year, in my JC. I shall no longer have to face you.

According to Seraphimon and Ophanimon, however, the way you are is due to your condition. I wish that made it easier for me to forgive you. However, it does not. What you said tonight really angered me, was the spark of an evil flame, unlike other flames that burn bright with love, kindness, truth, hope and promise. Yours does not burn that way, though I wish it would.

Please. Open up your eyes to society and the people around you. Hurry, for time is running out. I fear for you, in spite of the fact that this post seems charged up with hate. I fear that you may not be able to open your eyes quickly enough.

Shall I continue to be your guardian?

Perhaps, but it isn't the most pleasant of jobs. Hopefully I can do it well. Air and Fire, as they say, is supposed to be a good combination, and according to Quizilla's Friendship match based on horoscope, Gemini and Sagittarius is supposed to be a very good combination.

I hope to make it that way, sometime soon. But the thing is, it isn't like this at the moment. It really isn't.

I shall need the help of Seraphimon and Ophanimon, but more importantly, I need you to realise. I need you to see. Just their effort alone isn't enough, what we need is really your input.

I changed my shirt tonight because we were wearing the same shirt, but I wanted to disassociate myself with you and your mind and thoughts. Blabbermouth. Chronic HVD case.

I hope to change it around.

I really do.

And I need your help.

Your senior, Penelope

Chor1sters' chalet day!!

2006-09-05T19:32:00.000+08:00

Today was Day 2 of the Chor1sters' chalet gathering. But I didn't get to use the chalet itself. Mainly I was tagging along with Denyse.

It all began in the morning; we had arranged to meet and then she called and asked if I would like to hitch a ride with her Dad to Downtown East (where the chalet is). And then we found the chalet while the stayers (those who were staying overnight) were having their breakfast. While we waited for them to finish, the both of us just paced the walkway and talked and lamented how the place had changed.

After the stayers were done with breakfast, we went to the chalet itself and Janice(the organiser)'s group played a weird game with Vitruvian men and Stars of David and goblets and phones and runes on cards, and a baton-like object. Basically the game is a little like snap in that something happens when two cards with the same (and it must really be the same) object turn up in the same turn - the two players with the identical cards have to snatch the baton, and the person who does not get it in time takes the cards on the other player's pile. A wrong snatch results in the 'snatcher' taking the other player's cards. The aim is to shed all your cards, like in Uno.

And then, after that, the group decided to head on down to Pasir Ris Park for a spot of cycling. But Denyse, as well as three of the Tanjong Katong Girls * - Genevieve, Jinli and Victoria - and myself, didn't cycle; either we couldn't or wouldn't.

* Why's the word 'Girls' capitalised? Because there's Tanjong Katong Sec and Tanjong Katong Girls', which are two separate schools.

So we went to Escape, the nearby theme park. But the counter staff said that we would not be able to use the rides when it was raining. True enough, it was drizzling. With no alternative (we couldn't possibly return to the chalet without a stamp on our arms), we walked about in the park for a while, the five of us. We even ventured down to the coast. Self-quote: "Oh goodness, we're so close to the sea!" Really, there was so little coast on the side where we landed up that you could measure it and it wouldn't come to five metres, not when we were there. I reckon that was around 11.30am.

Back to Escape it was for us. This time, we got in.

And after that, everything else can be summed up in this marquee below:

~ Denyse. Genevieve. Jinli. Penelope. Victoria. We were together. We rocked the day in our escape to Escape. IT. WAS. FUN. I want to do it again!! ~

Yes, indeed, I want to do it again, in spite of the fact that I got dizzy after the first two rides. And Denyse showed her signature kindness and warmth. Hmm, something for me to emulate.

And one more thing: my hairstyle was mutable (i.e. prone to change) today.

It started out like the hairstyle that Hama Chisaki (note: like in Chinese, Japanese and Korean names, the surname comes first here) models when playing Mizuno Ami aka Sailor Mercury in the live-action version of Sailor Moon, but without the fringe. It's better viewed from the side, like in this scene below (with Azama Myu - on the right - as Kino Makoto aka Sailor Jupiter):

See? But the clock at the top-left obscures it a bit.

This is a better view of the same hairstyle.

(Images from moonromance.net / shingetsu-pgsm.net)

Then, after that, I tied the bottom portion of my hair, then reverted to the Mizuno Ami style, and then, at one point, I completely untied my hair so as to release the tension on my giddy head. But in the end, I changed back to the Mizuno Ami style.

And now... allow me to repeat the marquee below... for two reasons: 1) to celebrate my learning how to do a marquee; and 2) because I really relished the trip there! It really was unlike the previous trips to Escape. And it couldn't have been possible without those four!!

Today was a great day, even without the whole of Choir 1 with us.

Oh yes, and I ought to extend a special word of thanks to Denyse's father. Without him graciously giving me lifts from and to Pasir Ris Interchange, I think I'd have perspired a great deal more.

And so, once more, the marquee:

~ Denyse. Genevieve. Jinli. Penelope. Victoria. We were together. We rocked the day in our escape to Escape. IT. WAS. FUN. I want to do it again!! I really do!!! ~

Finally... finality

2006-09-04T22:00:00.000+08:00

It's all going to be over. No matter how I try to beg time to stay, it just keeps on running.

Yay... got one more person linked. Lost and found. And through the newly-linked person I found a link to she who wronged me first before I gravely wroged her. And to think that she's still the same old her. It shows. It's the kind of thing she would say. "WE *censored...* GAVE THEM OUR CHAMPIONSHIP".

They're both basketballers, the newly-linked and she. And it's natural to get upset over that sort of thing. I reckon I would be too if I messed up a choral competition. Choral Fest - who could possibly mess up such a thing? Not with the intense though few practices!

Speaking of Choral Fest... Denyse and I are going to the Festival Choir 1 Chalet gathering tomorrow. Finally it's going to be over. It's all going to be over.

As in the suspense, not the end of these friendships. Friendships never really end.

Voce. Luce. Pace.

2006-09-02T14:01:00.000+08:00

In English, the title just doesn't sound as beautiful. The English version is "Voice. Light. Peace."

It's in Italian. Yet again, another Romance language. A very apt category name, don't you agree? Because they all descended from Latin which was the language of the Ancient Romans.

Don't come to me about Roman Mythology, because it's actually Greek Mythology. They're one and the same. The Romans only had inanimate gods (true idols) with their flamens.

I hate to see something being plagiarised.

Today... Cedar Open House! Booth-manning was so bad. I was frozen stiff. Seriously. Then I got the travelling choir shift and it was so fun! But in the end everyone got scattered and I didn't know what to do so I ended up in the workshop. I hope the Sec 1s benefited from it. I really do. And in the end... blundered again. Why can't I remember?

EYESONTHECONDUCTOREYESONTHECONDUCTOREYESONTHECONDUCTOREY
ESONTHECONDUCTOREYESONTHECONDUCTOREYESONTHECONDUCTOREYES
ONTHECONDUCTOREYESONTHECONDUCTOREYESONTHECONDUCTOREYESON
THECONDUCTOREYESONTHECONDUCTOREYESONTHECONDUCTOREYESONTHE
CONDUCTOREYESONTHECONDUCTOREYESONTHECONDUCTOREYESONTHECON
DUCTOREYESONTHECONDUCTOREYESONTHECONDUCTOREYESONTHECONDUC
TOREYESONTHECONDUCTOREYESONTHECONDUCTOREYESONTHECONDUCTOR
EYESONTHECONDUCTOREYESONTHECONDUCTOREYESONTHECONDUCTOREYE
SONTHECONDUCTOREYESONTHECONDUCTOREYESONTHECONDUCTOREYESON
THECONDUCTOREYESONTHECONDUCTOREYESONTHECONDUCTOREYESONTHE
CONDUCTOREYESONTHECONDUCTOREYESONTHECONDUCTOREYESONTHECO
NDUCTOREYESONTHECONDUCTOREYESONTHECONDUCTOREYESONTHECOND
UCTOREYESONTHECONDUCTOREYESONTHECONDUCTOREYESONTHECONDUC
TOREYESONTHECONDUCTOREYESONTHECONDUCTOREYESONTHECONDUCTO
REYESONTHECONDUCTOREYESONTHECONDUCTOREYESONTHECONDUCTORE
YESONTHECONDUCTOREYESONTHECONDUCTOREYESONTHECONDUCTOREYE
SONTHECONDUCTOREYESONTHECONDUCTOREYESONTHECONDUCTOREYESON
THECONDUCTOREYESONTHECONDUCTOREYESONTHECONDUCTOREYESONTHE
CONDUCTOREYESONTHECONDUCTOREYESONTHECONDUCTOREYESONTHECO
NDUCTOREYESONTHECONDUCTOREYESONTHECONDUCTOREYESONTHECOND
UCTOREYESONTHECONDUCTOREYESONTHECONDUCTOREYESONTHECONDUC
TOREYESONTHECONDUCTOREYESONTHECONDUCTOREYESONTHECONDUCTO
REYESONTHECONDUCTOREYESONTHECONDUCTOREYESONTHECONDUCTOR

Now I hope I can.

Replies... to linkless tags!

To layeng: Done.

To eeyang: Me too! Do you have a blog too? Leave a link OK?

To tiara: Please link me too...

On this note, I'm signing (and singing) off.

A farewell to August... and a new dawn

2006-09-01T09:08:00.000+08:00

[R][E][D][O][N][E] What is Your TRUE Astrology Sign? (for guys and girls with incredibly detailed answers and incredible pictures)

You are a Cancer, the funniest sign of the zodiac. You are family-oriented, loyal, lovable, kind, sensitive, intuitive and imaginitive! You are very, very protective of your friends, and you give them great advice! The animal you are most like is, a crab! Crabs are very smart, mabe thats why they have lived for over 500 million years! Crabs have a tough exterior in which they hide their soft-selfs (just like you and your emotions). And just like the crab, you have two ways to go in life, the hard lifeless shell or the heart!

-your lucky colors are sea green(the color of your home, the sea) and silver(the color of the moon)

-your metal is silver (me:didn't see that one coming*note the sarcasm*)

-your precious stone is a Pearl

-your lucky day of the week is Monday

-your element is water

-the planet you are ruled by is the Moon. Hey you're just like the tides, you know the moon makes the tides go in and out!! Oh well, guess not

-the parts of the body that you rule are your stomach and breasts(me:stop giggling, he he)

-your true love comes from a scorpio, pisces, taurus, or your own cancer!
Take this quiz!

Quizilla
Join

Make A Quiz More Quizzes Grab Code

Hey ho. I never knew it'd be like this. And the Quizilla user Piratica sure knows where to get their pictures. I modified some things, by the way. Like spelling and punctuation edits. With me, you can't go wrong with language (at least I hope to be like that in future!).

By the way, for my birthday this year, I got a piece of pearl jewellery. Very cheap. And it has pearls on it, and my birthday this year fell on a Monday. A Lunar birthday, so to speak. But my true lunar birthday didn't fall on that day. I wonder when they'll come together again.

Now...

*in the midst of a sombre silence*

Goodbye August 2006. You were the emptiest of my life. The only climaxes I experienced when you were here were passive ones.

By passive, I mean that I didn't do anything to deserve them. Unlike Choral Excellence, which was an active climax.

And I shall look forward to September. Forward, and onward. And nothing more.

Behind I leave my regrets. And onward I carry my visions.

And it is time to bump the revision up. It really is. And time to tie up the loose ends. And there's no reason - astrologically - not to, because my ruling planet, Mercury, is ruling the skies again, this time as Virgo. Yeah, Hermes rocks. He rules intelligence. And I hope that with mine, I can suck up all the info in the textbooks. (No offense intended.)

Signing off on this note.

Update at 6.30pm - reply to avery: Because I didn't think that practically the whole class would show up, according to the pics on Chin Yu's blog. Honestly, when I'm once bitten, I'm more than twice shy - I'm killed forever by that bite.

Aujourd'hui (Today)

2006-08-30T20:43:00.000+08:00

I just submitted my essay portfolio to Mrs Peh. Hopefully I can get into that young writers' programme, the MOE-NUS one.

And the Lycee Francais exchange... I dunno, should I bring people into Cedar given the state it's in according to Mr Suresh?

The leaders had a handover ceremony today. Ohh man, Yu Sin's the new Head Prefect Councillor. And Wan Ping's the Vice-Head Prefect Councillor. Heh, all the better, no matter which way it would have gone. Had my candidate of choice been the HPC you could say that she was Honest, Persevering and Courteous. But if she were the VHPC, the "V" could mean "very". Hahaha! Go Wan Ping!!

Then the PSLs had a handover similar to the Prefects' - the Prefect Excos, past and present, shook hands; the PSL Excos, outgoing and ingoing, did high-fives. The CCA leaders were introduced. I must admit, having Denyse and Wan Ping at the forefront of the Performing Arts Leaders was the best choice. With Wan Ping in her formal Prefect Councillor uniform and a mask in hand, and Denyse in her gown, fanning herself with... a fan, the two Masqueraded down the red carpet towards the stage... as "Lord and Lady"! Hah, that was one splendid choice.

And speaking of choice, the choice of assistant emcee was completely wrong.

The emcees were Vicky (one of the HPC nominees) and another Sec 3 (whom I'll call the assistant emcee). This assistant emcee missed out the Dance leaders! Indignation in the highest - Kor Woong was one of them, and she's my classmate - and one whom I look up to, in fact. The assistant emcee would go on to miss out one leader from the Tamil LDDS. I'd have done better, if I dare say so. FAR better.

But, bad choice of emcee aside, it was a success.

And please, if you tag me, please leave a link. Usually I reply to other people on their blogs. Anyway, I'm gonna reply to linkless tags here...

To huizhen: ?? Are you from 2Purity 2006? Don't remember telling you my url. Who'd you get it from?

To weiyi: Are you Tsang Weiyi of PCPS 6A 2004? If so, leave a link please! I've been looking for you, many people have been linking to you but the links are dead!

Well, that's all for now. Bye!

Good read here...

2006-08-28T16:03:00.000+08:00

Check it out. It's Star by John Singleton.

And I'm gonna write a rap about it. Plot summary. Not for my teacher or anything. And I'm not posting it here.

You can say that I'm selfish or whatever, but I keep the best stuff for myself and only give it out when the time's right. Not referring to abilities here.

And another forum thread got locked. The "Hello" one.

I'm gonna call for a lock on Shawn's birthday thread. It's been online and open for too long.

And... ba-zap! I'm gone! Bye...!

Fine...

2006-08-26T20:06:00.000+08:00

OK, nothing shrank.

How do you tell?

Because I've gone back to my good old small font size.

Now I'm the one who's changing and either expanding or shrinking the fonts. And I have to change font size on 28 posts. Madness.

Do please take my song right back home with thee,
But please leave your smile here with me.
And tomorrow may our song fly to all the farthest shores,
And tomorrow may our smiles bloom and bloom forevermore.

This song was originally in Chinese, and it's well known in China, but I translated it such that it rhymes. It's really meaningful.

And there's another interesting song I heard at Zhonghua, sung by their current choristers at the exchange last week. The title's actually "Ah! Si mon moine voulait danser" instead of "Ah! Simon moine Voulait danser". Who capitalises a verb, seriously? The verb is "voulait", which is a form of "vouloir", meaning to want.

"Ah! If my friar wanted to dance"??

What a title!

Then the verses go, after the first line, "a *name of object* I'll give to him"

And the chorus means something like:

Dance, my friar, dance.
You won't hear the dance.
You won't hear my mill (lon-la is insignificant),
You won't hear my mill running.

Weird song eh? Or so I think.

And again, my dictionary has failed me. I don't know what the gifts are!

Boo hoo.

Now I have to change the font sizes.

Boo hoo hoo hoo...

Oh for the forum...

2006-08-26T08:04:00.000+08:00

It's not even alive. When Denyse's birthday thread was locked it didn't get as hearty a response as Nicole's. But then again, I asked for it to be locked due to the lack of response.

Nicole Ng, Fiona (the #1 Admin), Joseph and I were the only people who responded with a "Happy Birthday" of sorts. Colin called my starting post lame. Well, if I was part of the admin, I'd have deleted his post straight off. IT'S the one that's redundant. It, as well as the one before it, go like this:

Penelope: *starts decorating party room... full of streamers and the like... although it's tomorrow.*
.
.
.

Colin: wad the???????? lame sia......

Redundant, isn't it?

And I'm suddenly feeling inspired to write something.

Here goes:

Lunairise... Lunairise...

You can do it, Lunairise. I believe in you.

Lunairise... please...

OK, that wasn't so good...

I want to be read. From the stores. Forevermore.

Just as I want to sing. Forevermore.

And speaking of singing, Suba said on Wednesday that I could be a soloist. Well, that depends, really... if nobody volunteers, then... *shrugs* perhaps?

Another impossible task: Ever being a Rehearsal Pianist.

And something's wrong with Blogger's image upload function... Because I have an image that fits the above line but could NOT upload it. Nothing's wrong with it...

Oh well... see you around people!

Happenings around me

2006-08-24T18:39:00.000+08:00

Hey, it's true. It's really happened. Shernice tagged back.

Whoot whoot whoot.

Just told Liz where the forum is. And that day on the bus I so didn't hear...

Speaking of the bus, it's a world known fact that I'M NOT IN.

And I'm strangely proud of it.

Yesterday...

Fiesta @ Cedar - More of a Fiasco @ Cedar where the entertainment was concerned, but a huge success otherwise. And at the last minute, someone was invited, but had to go at 1.30 for CCA practice... Yes, we know who. But (to that guest) the appetiser was nice right? (turns back to main audience) And two of the invited teachers, Mr Ang and Mr Lam, thanked us. Mr Lam was doing a double thank-you (for himself, and also on behalf of his wife, Mrs Lam, who's also a teacher in our school and whom we also invited).

Choir!! - We got to work on the song, "Cat", a follow-up to "Cosy Cat Nap". Oddly enough though, we couldn't continue after the glissando. And was that the new Rehearsal Pianist who was playing the triplets? Because they sounded out. The piece is in 2/4, and later, 1/2, timing (the same really except for the way it's counted), and it sounded as if she was playing two crotchets followed by a two-beat note. (Is a two-beat note called a minim? I forgot...) I remember that they were asking for those Sec 1s with Grade 5 and above to stay back once, to let them decide who the new Rehearsal Pianist would be. At what grade are triplets taught, I wonder? I wouldn't know, of course... My max. grade is only Grade 2. (I didn't take the ABRSM system so I wouldn't know a hoot about it.)

And today... not much. Except that there was no French class today, and won't be until the hols are over. *cheers through tears*

And there will be no Choir practice tomorrow, to make up for Saturday, but still... *cries through smiles*

My feelings are mixed, aren't they?

Not really.

I'm happy because there's free time, and sad because two of my favourite activities were cancelled. Yes, I love Choir and French class. I confided this to Trudy some time ago.

Anyone know of a vocal academy somewhere in Singapore? Or a course of sorts?

Because I want to sing. Eternally (or until I can't). It's in my URL.

Fill my heart with song, and let me sing forevermore;
That is all I long for, all I worship and adore.

Yes, I modified the lyrics. Anyone who protests isn't being flexible. I don't have a love of my life at the moment.

Just take this statement: To each his own.

Now, if the people in the situation were women or girls, you would change the pronoun to "her", wouldn't you? At least, anyone who's flexible would. If it were a man and a woman, I'd say, "To each their own".

What do you think?

Yesterday and Today II

2006-08-22T19:49:00.000+08:00

And why not? I have another post entitled "Yesterday and Today" in French.

Today is Denyse's birthday! Happy birthday yo! (Am I overdoing it?)

Anyway I feel kind of poetically inspired again - this time by the birthday girl's blog URL.

~ L'étranger de ma vie ~

Vous, les étrangers dans ma vie, sortez.
Vous, l'étranger de ma vie, entrez.
Allez-vous-en, tous les autres.
Il y a seulement un qui peut rester.

Allez, les étrangers dans ma vie.
Venez, étranger de ma vie.
Sans regard à tous les autres,
je vous ai suivi...

Aux étrangers dans ma vie, je souris.
À cet étranger de ma vie, je dis bonjour.
Mais est-ce qu'on sera comme ça
Pour toujours... ?

On ne sera pas d'étrangers toujours,
j'espère.

[NOTE: I was inspired by the URL, not the occasion. This isn't a poem you'd expect to be greeted with on a birthday.]

I'll only put up the translation at the birthday girl's request. And do please note, this is amateur French, so please forgive any mistakes (if you can find them that is!).

Had a slew of three tests these two days. Science Practical, Chinese Listening and Contrôle 3. I hope I haven't been slain by these tests, at any rate. (Hahaha! Anyone get the pun?)

Science Practical was the usual mad rush. My heart was pulsing through my head, and I couldn't concentrate.

Chinese Listening... très facile (very easy)!

Contrôle 3... For once, I experienced a killer passage. Haven't felt this kind of tension in ages. And I'm glad to be relieved of it.

As soon as I get them, I'm going to post some screenies of the forum thread. And I have to go email the photos.

All you well wishers among the ChoralFest-ers please GO TO THE FORUM. There's a thread there. Thank you.

Thoughts and feelings

2006-08-20T21:56:00.000+08:00

Lame title huh? But anyway...

I think something could be wrong with one of my tonsils. I swallow, and it hurts. Maybe I coughed too hard.

Today was the Choir Twins' birthday. I hope all their wishes came true. I have a wish for them too, which I just mentioned. Seriously.

And back to yesterday, aside from my blunder, everything was good. Aside from all blunders, everything was good by my standards.

It would be sad if everything in the Cedar Choir ended with the 'O' levels. Cedar needs an Alumni Choir of its own. I'm not sure if one exists already, but it would be great if it had one. And I know who I'd make the President if I could, and if she had the time.

And I'd try, as always, to catch up with the seniors' repertoire. It's so nice.