*143 - really really bad throat

And you thought making 6 butterflies was considered 'mass production' (by the way I had to make another 2 within a day of posting that picture up) - now look at this!



18 pairs of Goldilocks, for an RG Dance item! Thank goodness they gave us ample time to get all the earrings done (:


I think I'm going back to the doctor in a while, when the parents come home from church. My sore throat is so bad that it's been waking me up at unearthly hours like 4.30 am last night and 3 am the night before, and I've had to crawl downstairs in the middle of the night to get medication and mentholated sweets.

The mentholated sweet was actually a bad idea, and I crunched it up and gulped it down in the end, because eating a sweet meant having to swallow periodically, which was just too painful to bear. Right now I'm just surviving by not swallowing at all, which seems to be working fine because for some reason, I'm not producing much saliva.

I know drinking lots and lots of water and keeping my throat hydrated is the best cure, and that sort of worked yesterday when it wasn't as bad as it is now (that got me running off to pee every half an hour though), but I've tried sipping water for a painful 5 minutes and it isn't working.

Tummy's rumbling, but eating would be hell. So. -twiddles thumbs and thinks of other things-

*142 - hibernation

I think my body's going into hibernation mode. Storing up the fats, sending me to sleep after ever hour or so of being awake.

But somehow every time I wake up, my condition seems to worsen. Now, my slight runny nose has become a perpetual blocked nose, I've completely lost my voice, and my itchy throat has developed into a phlegmy cough and a stabbing sore throat. But at least I'm not feverish anymore.

Back to hibernating.

See y'all in spring.

*141 - cottage industry

Indeed! Cottage industry it is, xY!

We have a new necklace.



I think my sister is pretty, in a not-so-conventional way. I also think the necklace is pretty, in a very-not-conventional way.

(:

*140 - mass production

Yesterday, the sky turned so gloomy that it looked as though a tornado was about to hit.



See what I mean?

And, I feel like a factory mass producing wire butterflies, because 3 different people ordered a pair each.



How's this for an absolutely random and pointless blog entry? (:

*139 - sick

Actually, I could sense it coming. Stress + lack of sleep happen to be the instant mix formula to getting sick for me. Am down with a fever, but I should be up and about by tomorrow, I hope.

Found out today that Joel was actually one of the top students in Cornell. Perhaps they'd remember him and his marvellous contributions and assume that his sister is as brilliant as he is.


Just one of the gardens in Cornell. Gorgeous, isn't it? Looks like a fairytale (:

Something tells me I shouldn't set my heart on one single objective at the moment, although a sense of purpose is always good. Is it terribly wrong, though, to leave a less prestigious option (which I think I will enjoy a great deal) as a last resort, simply because of personal pride? Hm hm.

So I just woke up from an hour's nap, ate some apricots and a chocolate mint and had a cup of juice, and I think I shall go back to sleep now.

PS: The bunny isn't fat, really, it's just an illusion the fur creates (: Actually, I have yet to meet a truly fat rabbit, they mostly tend to be rather bony. But I do agree that fat-looking rabbits are CUTE (:


[edit: 7.30 pm]

Perhaps I am sicker than I thought. Panadol worked for a couple of hours, but now the fever's coming back. We'll see if I'm fit for school tomorrow after I see the doctor later. I don't want to miss school, really - It means a lot of catching up, and I'm already so behind.

And then there's that PSC psychometric test thing on Saturday, and if I'm unwell I doubt I'll do very well. Not that I'm too keen on getting a PSC scholarship, but it's good to keep my options open, right?

Sigh. Being the brat I am, when I'm sick I like people to sayang over me, but right now it's just me and my tutorials and books.

[/edit]


[edit: 9 pm]

So, I went to my doctor and he spent 2 minutes diagnosing me, and then we spent another happy 15 minutes chatting about my career options, while the queues outside grew and grew. Strange to say, he adviced me against becoming a GP, because it's very hard work with pay that isn't always that great. Which is funny because in my opinion he's earning a heck of a lot of money owning that clinic of his!

He suggested doctor, accountant, lawyer, teacher, to which I said no, no, no and no, and then he was surprised to hear of my seemingly not-so-lofty aspirations, and urged me to think of a profession which pays well. But then, I realised that to him, anything apart from owning landed property and having a large car means "not well off".

I don't know. Enjoyment/fulfilment seems to outweigh high pay at the moment, but maybe when I'm a pauper staying in a squatter settlement riding a rusty bicycle to work, I might live to regret this.

[/edit]

*138 - winfrey

We have a temporary pet bunny! (: Someone asked us to help take care of it for a few days while she went away on holiday.

I LOVE BUNNIES and it's been a long time since there's been one in our house! Winfrey (the rabbit) has the sweetest, most docile personality ever, and she's settles down immediately when petted on the head. SO CUTE LAH she reminds me of Tubby (the rabbit).


Winfrey on my shoulder, peering cutely into the camera (: Look at her eyelashes!


1. Winfrey perking up
2. Winfrey settled, looking fat and sleepy (post-petting)
3. The ultimate soporific position for rabbits: flip them over! Cool eh?
4. Sniff sniff what's up there?

Look, she has a 'collar' of fur around her neck!

Isn't she lovely (:

*137 - one of those days

You know how some days start off pleasantly (or as pleasantly as waking up to the alarm can get) and everything seems fine and dandy, and then one little itty bitty thing happens and makes you slightly upset but it's gone in a second, but then another itty bitty thing happens, and another, and another and another and another, until every itty bitty thing that wouldn't normally affect you seems like a MASSIVE catastrophe, until you completely lose it and feel as though the entire world is against you and KABOOM you overreact and slump out of school by yourself just so you can spend some alone time away from anything and everything that could potentially hurt you, when actually the only thing that's harming you is yourself, yes, your own stubborn selfish silly self.

Yeah. Today seemed like one of those days.

But at least it's all okay now. (: And everything shall be a-okay.

The one thing that has scared me into studying was my sister who mentioned, in passing, "Are you studying? It's about time you went into Panic Mode, you know." And since the sister knows best,

asdfjkl;*@#PANICa;oghapw!!!111!!

*136 - turnturnturn

First time dancing in a very very long while today. (That doesn't include the silly dancing in the shower.) Today's dance routine was like a turns sequence sprinkled with dance steps.

Step step pose, step step right turn. 4 chaines turns with change of direction each time (toughie!). Turn, reach, turn, pose. Step step step kick, attitude turn, soutenue turn. 2 pique turns, single turn, pose. Turn, pose. Shoulder/butt sway thing, turn. Run forward, reach, run backward, pose.

And all the turns were different turns, only that they don't have specific names.

Good stuff (: Overly turny ( = very difficult!), but nice choreography nonetheless. Lyrical jazz is great.

Realised today that I'm still flexible and all, but my core stability and control and sense of balance are waaay off. Oh dear.

Had a nice time with Maddy, who promised to be my dancing buddy until we're grannies. Dancing grannies, that would be cool (:


Also, Elisa & I have revamped the main page! (Click!)



Spot the differences! (I insist the "News!" that I drew is obviously a torn piece of newspaper, but Elisa doesn't think it's very evident.)

And, we have necklaces now! Cool innit?



New earring designs too! (: I'm quite pleased with my "Giselle", which I made up as I went along, and it looks completely different from what I originally had in mind. They look so much like little cygnets in black tutus and shiny pointes! -beams- And someone bought it within an hour of us putting it up on the web (wah so pro)! Perhaps more aspiring ballerinas will be smitten (:


(And I have a question! I shouldn't be asking this, I know, but I've always pronounced "Giselle" with the G sounding like the J in "jeans", but Elisa says it's pronounced like the G in "goat". Which is it?)

Does anyone think it's time I stop fiddling about with wire and beads and start doing my work for once?

*135 - bimbotism

Sister: "Try to look dao!"



"That was a bit too dao. A bit more fire in the eyes, please."



(I think I look jaundiced. It is either the lighting, or my computer.)


[edit] To my-longagojunior: It must be the smirk! (; And who are youuu? [/edit]

*134 - not medicine, please ):

Email reply from 7-Eleven:

Dear Ms Evelyn

Thank you for your patience whilst we carried out our investigations.

We would like to thank you for taking your time to share the invaluable feedback with us. Please accept our sincere apologies for the inconvenience caused when you and your friend visited our 7-Eleven outlet at Citylink Mall recently.

Following our investigations, the staff concerned has been reprimanded for his tactless behaviour and reminded to always offer immediate assistance to our customers when required. Please be assured that providing good customer service is our primary concern and we will not hesitate to take stern actions against any staff who tarnishes our image.

Once again, our sincere appreciation for your feedback and your support. We will continue to provide more training for our team members and certainly look forward to providing you with a better shopping experience on your next visit.

I feel slightly guilty for being such a typically Singaporean Complain Queen and actually writing in, but it certainly quenches my exasperation whenever I encounter disgraceful customer service. Friendly, helpful salespeople who don't cling unnecessarily are the best – despicable ones, beware. Muaha!

Singapore's service sector leaves much to be desired, but at least they've been trying hard to improve.


Today has been a mighty embarrassingly leaky day (twice, I can't believe it), scooting around school and dodging behind pillars, not daring to sit down or move unnecessarily. Thank God for powerful hand driers.


Discussions about scholarships, testimonials, university courses etc. brought me into a state of despair yet again over the fact that I haven't got much inclination towards anything academic. The thought that a large aspect of my future hinges on my decision now is pretty daunting.

I think I have a vague idea of what I might enjoy doing, but it sounds rather silly when everyone around me is aspiring to do medicine. But ultimately, I think I'll go where my interests and talents lead me, as whimsical as that sounds, because I'll rather be happy with a lower-paying job than be miserable living as a gazillionaire.

*133 - unnecessary

Unwanted. Not exactly despised, but just a general feeling of being superfluous (I know that's the wrong way to use the word), like if I vanished, no one would notice and no one would really honestly truly deeply care very much, not for long at least. Everybody's lives would just keep on functioning perfectly normally without me, I'm not the gear that keeps you ticking, I'm not that little jigsaw piece, I'm unnecessary.

Sometimes it's not enough to be the essential of that one person's life. Although I am very thankful for him and I don't know how I would cope without. But it's not everything. The feeling of being in a crowd and feeling alone, but worse yet, the feeling of being in a crowd of people you know and still feeling utterly, helplessly alone.

*132 - don't play with my heart

So, I know that Bio prac occurred weeks ago, but I forgot about it until now.

Meet Mr Heart perched on my finger via the aorta, looking disturbingly like a puppet of some sort. (Do you see his mouth?)



Pulling on your heartstrings. (aka chordae tendinae, but that doesn't sound half as romantic.)




She scares me because she reminds me of myself some years back. I don't want her to endure what I once went through. It's deceiving; you think you are strong but it only makes you weaker. Please stop?

*131 - feet!

I was turning off the lights and opening the door with my feet, the way I usually do when my hands are full or dirty, and didn't realise that it was slightly unusual until Mummy commented.

Flexibility has some use after all.

*130 - perfect for me

Played badminton today after school for a short while today with the most powerfully stinky badminton rackets ever! It took 2 rounds of scrubbing with soap and 1 antibacterial wet tissue to remove all traces of stink. Haha!

Mich and Marcus on 1 side, Jon and myself on the other - the guys were nice and gentlemanly and even used their left hands to play (admittedly still more forceful and pro than Michelle and I, but hush). Jon and I came up with a foolproof tactic - aim for the spot right between Michelle and Marcus, and neither of them would even try hitting the shuttlecock (: Yay!

After Math S, walked to J8 with Liru Michelle Yiling & Justin to eat chicken. Hehehe. Due to a sudden craving of mine last night. And after that, we discovered that all 5 of us could take the MRT to Ang Mo Kio and take buses home from there. And so we did (:

What got me into the super cheery and bubbly mood that I am in now was a phonecall from NY gym! Inviting Melissa and I to perform Nightmare for their concert! Because they watched it and enjoyed it most! This is the 2nd time we've been invited to perform our item! Which makes me happy because it means people like us! (:

Heeheehee.


Realised that I've been talking to quite a handful of people about relationship problems lately. (If you think I'm referring to you, it's not only you, haha!) I realise that lots of people think Justin and I cruise along smoothly without any problems whatsoever, but that's not really true. It's just that I don't confide in anybody about our problems, rarely at least, because the best way to solve our problems isn't to tell other people about them but it's to talk to each other and work things out.

Sadistic and heartless as this may sound, I also realise that hearing about relationship problems and trying to give good advice actually reminds me time and again how privileged I am to have somebody like Justin (: He's the sweetest ever, he'll always be there loving me no matter what terrible things I bombard him with (insults, tantrums, PMS, ...), he understands me like noone else does, I can tell him anything and everything ... basically, he's not a perfect person (who is?), but right here right now he's perfect for me.

End of mush, you may open your eyes now. (:


Anyway, I shall be off to make earrings, because there has been a recent onslaught of orders. And I have to grapple with my schoolwork at the same time. We all know how long I take to make my notes - Liru & Gabrielle, who were laughing at me today for taking 15 minutes to write out "agricultural biotechnology" in 3 different shades of pink/purple & silver, can surely attest to that.

*129 - i want!

I realise this is the third time I am blogging today, but I have to release some bimbotic-ness here.

THREE POUNDS ONLY LEH for a lovely set of hoop earrings, it's just too bad they don't ship overseas.



-weeps-

Okay, bimbotic moment over (:

*128 - best seller

I think it's faintly odd that our "best seller" is probably Cindy:



I can't really count how many pairs we've sold, but if I were to buy something from the site, it'll definitely be something bigger and bolder. I suppose that's just me!

Fast becoming a next best seller is Michelle, and speaking of which, I think it's about time I tell Michelle personally that I named those after her, because I don't think I have! (:


[So, if you're intuitive enough, you might have noticed that this quick and rather pointless entry mostly serves to push that nasty picture of the geoduck down because I simply cannot stand having it as the first thing I see when I check my blog. Haha!]

*127 - gooey duck?

Dinner at Crystal Jade with Justin and the family last night was disappointing. It didn't really feel worth the price ($300). I don't think we'll be eating there again. (Except for the xiao long baos, but they didn't have those last night!)

On the way out of the restaurant Justin and I spotted live geoducks in a tank! In my opinion, they are the strangest-looking creatures alive. So I went home to research on them, and here's what I discovered:

I've been pronouncing "geoduck" wrong all my life! It's actually pronounced GOOEYduck. Ok, that only makes it sound even grosser.



To be honest I had a frightful time looking for a photo. To quote Wikipedia, the siphon has a "phallic shape" (heh heh), but that's not really the problem for me. The fact that it looks like a giant evil monster slug bursting out of a tiny shell scares me. I can't look at the photo very closely -cringe-

Apparently they use the long thing to burrow and eat plankton. It bursts out of its shell so much that sometimes the 2 clam shells aren't even connected anymore. Ridiculous, really!

*126 - sweeping the medals away!

Gym competitions yesterday - so proud of the juniors for sweeping away all but one medal (:

Remember the days where the RGS team consisted of more than 20 people? Well for RJC, here's the entire rhythmic team, J1s and J2s included:



Tiring day yesterday, from helping the J1s prepare to watching, what, 6 hours of competitions, to a crazy dinner at Seoul Gardens where I felt I was entertaining a bunch of 4 babies (the J1s) ... but it was fun, and Amy and I kinda realised we missed all that.

The glory of winning trophies galore for yourself and for your school,
the thrill of walking onto the mat and hearing people screaming your name and seeing all the videocams suddenly pointing in your direction,
the special bonds you forge as a team training and sweating and crying together,
the way we fear laoshi and get pissed off at her but we then love laoshi so much,
all the little things like the exchange of gifts and goodluck notes, the rush to take photos with the piles of medals after every competition, the celebratory dinners,

I guess ever since we 'retired' last year, we'll never have such an experience again in our lives. This is pretty much it, for us J2s, all those years of gym finally coming to a halt.

*125 - little black book

Thank you Angie (and Wanjun)! (:

Go check out their site - The Little Black Book - a fashion blog by the fashion gurus (:

*124 - misconception

Desperately need to clear up a misconception but it's a little too late at the moment for a phone call, so. Just want to say I'm sincerely sorry for any misunderstandings, and to clear things up -

In entry #121, I am not referring to Joel. I do not and have never felt that he is either obtuse or evil.

Realised that to an outsider, that entry can be easily misinterpreted. Thanks to the tip-offs from all the people who told me about it. Sorry sorry sorry.

Rather ironic and mildly amusing that the person it was directed at most definitely read it as well and almost definitely didn't think it was referring to himself.

And, to preserve the tagboard comment forever because it's so cool -

Bernie "Botak Jones": "Told ya! Don't so hard on yourself, you're gorgeous. Thanks for the review."

Mr Botak Jones found me!!! :D