Mac-ed Up and Ready to Go!

Hoohoohoo.

I am so delighted because I have finally bought a Macbook Pro. And now, I feel as if my life is complete. I don't miss my HP laptop at all. AT ALL!

Okay, so I'm exaggerating just a little.

But I am very happy indeed. My baby looks so cool. Awesome.

And in other news, I have finally got my visa. I got it on Thursday, exactly a week before I fly. What a relief! I had been all antsy the entire time my application was processed, thinking of reasons it could be rejected. But of course, the Lord is with me and I claimed favour over my application. As usual, my Abba never fails to deliver. Praise Jesus!

So the question which I've been entertaining as the day draws closer is, "How's the packing coming along?" Well, I'm please to say that the packing is somewhat done. Just some finishing touches that can only be done the day before I fly. Otherwise, I'd say, "All my bags are packed, and I'm ready to go..." :)

The nervousness is somewhat getting to me. I feel ill-prepared for it. Partly 'cause I've been watching a Korean drama for the last 2 weeks or so, and as most are, I've been caught up in it. I feel kinda dumbed-down now because it is so frivolous to watch Korean drama and laugh and cry. Plus the invigilation a week ago has also been a mind-numbing experience.

5 days to go, amigos!

5 Sep 2010

I must remember today. This day. This weekend.

What an awesome weekend; what an awesome day I had.

Dental, checked. Fish Head Curry, checked.

Yesterday was a busy, busy day. Much like the day before. And the day before.

I had a dental appointment. My first with a new dentist. My first dental visit in...like...3 years. I know, I'm not proud about it.

So I had this super teeth scaling and polishing that made my gums bleed. By bleed, I mean serious bleeding. It's as if my gums were having their period. Argh. It was a little uncomfortable at some bits, cos as much as I think I have been taking good care of my teeth, I haven't been taking good ENOUGH care of them.

And so, the dentist said it could be that I am prone to gum disease, and promptly gave me 2 special mouthwash to complement my dental care. And I promptly headed to Watsons after that to get me some new floss as well. No more half-hearted flossing. There is gonna be some SERIOUS flossing. I am determined to keep my sparklies sparkling for 1 year, till I can come back for my next dental.

My teeth felt so clean and bright, that I actually felt guilty drinking or eating anything besides plain water.

The irony was that I was meeting the past & present Hilltop girls for Fish Head Curry at Banana Leaf Apolo for dinner.

Argh!

Dinner, however, was FANTASTIC. While waiting for the 2 current Hilltop girls, Karen and I ordered a fish cutlet (minced fish, potato, spices) and some deep-fried onions-in-spices-thingy. When the girls finally arrived, we went straight for the jugular, and ordered a fish head curry, a masala prawn and a masala chicken. We all had biryani rice, which was yummy, and heaps of papadum. YUMMEH!

Dinner, of course, is not complete without lime juice and lots of updating, gossiping and chit-chating. It was a blast and I had fun picking on the leftovers while listening to the conversation(s). It was awesome.

No pictures because when the non-camera folks (past and present) come together, we generally forget to take photos, even when we already HAVE camera phones. Or maybe it was because we were all too hungry to bother. lol.

I'm so glad we met up. I'm so glad to know them, to have them as firm friends. They are part of a small group of people I know whom I feel I have some kind of affinity with. Some things just click with them. And it doesn't happen very often. So I'm glad.

Overwhelmed.

I think the stress leading up to today made me very tensed. It was super nerve-wrecking. Having gone through two times of hopefulness, and then to be told "please try again" when the bank does not seem to wanna help, is not helpful at all.

I'm glad the bank saw the light, and could now help.

And as nerve-wrecking as it was, I managed to pull through and got it done.

There, it's done. My part is done. Now it's not up to me.

And I have only 23 days to go.

EVERYTHING is riding on this. So I am still...very...worried.

I feel quite faint just thinking about it.

And then, trepidation sets in. This...that...what happens if...how am I gonna...? All kinds of questions. All kinds of scenarios.

Oh dear God, I know you'll answer my prayer. I have favour. I claim favour. Thank you, Father. In Jesus' name. Amen!

All Cutesied Up!

I can't remember if I've mentioned this before, but in a bid to NOT spend $20-$30 bucks on a diary, and also to make use of my vast notebook collection (so that I can buy somemore), I decided to use one of my existing notebooks to create a schedule-cum-diary for the academic year. Yes, like one of those academic schedules/diaries in the market.

I kinda did it waaaay back in April or something; one of those months that I was too free and too broke (hence, the great idea). I used my highlighters, koped my sister's colourful thin marker pens, and started from September 2010 to June 2011. I figured, any further than June 2011, or specifically 2 July 2011, I will just jot them after that. Can't really see or imagine what I'll be doing after that anyway. For now.

So, it's a boring black notebook. To the naked eye, it looks...just like a boring black notebook.

BUT, thanks to Serena, who got us a whole bunch of cutesy stuff, I managed to cutesied it up a little.

Okay, she got us these cute index-stickers, and I thought, why not use them to index the different months? So I did.

Isn't it adorable! They look like little cutie-pies peeping out of the pages! hahaha...

And then, I thought I'll spice it up a little to add some class to it. I happened to have some Chanel ribbons from an event months ago. So, tada!

Serena also got us some cardholders.

I don't really know what to do with them. My sis suggested using the one of the right for my transport card when I go over. My sentiments exactly! So that I will do. Not sure what to do with the other though. Hmm...lemme go figure.

Random Future Shopping List

As the days go by, I find myself thinking of the most random things I need to buy when I get there.

And I am being serious.

Like, coffee and tea. I need my coffee. 'Nuff said. I like green tea on a cold, winter's day. But once in a while, I would like some homemade lemon tea too. So I need red tea, and lemon slices. Hmm, I don't even make homemade lemon tea at home now.

That brings me to sugar and milk. Definitely need sugar. Even if I am getting instant coffee, I'd need the sugar for sweetening my tea and for cooking. Milk is a definite. I need milk for cereals.

So I need cereals too. I wonder if they have Koko Crunch there. That's actually the only cereal I eat.

If not, I'll need bread. To make breakfast. And cheese. Yes, cheese. I can make grilled cheese sandwich.

Condiments? Salt and pepper. Olive oil. Not sure if they have wonderful Chinese condiments like soy sauce, sesame oil and oyster sauce. That's all I need to whip up a homemade Chinese meal.

Rice? They have rice, right? So I've heard. I can buy some pasta too, and spaghetti sauce. Oh, and cans of soup! I love soup! Tomato soup, minestrone soup, mushroom soup, chicken soup. Yes, cold climates are the best climates for soup.

All the kinds of detergent, powder and stuff I need for cleaning: laundry, cooking, bathroom, general cleaning. Sponges.

And what about things to wipe? Paper towels, tissue boxes, toilet rolls.

Toiletries! Shampoo, conditioner, body wash, facial wash!

Hmm...have I left anything out?

At least I know I can print this if I really need a shopping list then.

Countdown: 30.

Yup. It's THAT close!

:)

Packing up, up, UP!

I like packing. In fact, I love packing. I can pack waaaay in advance and find reasons to re-pack again, and again, and again.

Say for example, this BIG trip I'm going on. I started packing 4 months in advance. Yup, I'm all about 80% done with a little more than a month to go. And get this, I even create lists to help me pack.

But there is also packing that is not that fun.

Packing my room, for example, is a chore. No fun. At all.

And I kinda have to pack it up before I leave, seeing as to I won't be around for about a year. But looking around the room now...makes me sleepy.

And so I procrastinate. Another day. And another day.

And each time I wait another day, things pile up slowly.

I know! I shall make a timeline for when I need to do what! I love timelines too!!!

And lists. Did I mention I love to create lists?

45!

It's National Day! Singapore's Birthday! 45th!!

And coincidentally, it is also 45 days to go. Woah!!!

As you can see, I'm generally very excited about National Day, because there is NDP. It's been like that since I was young. National Day = NDP. And it's even more exciting because I'll be heading down to the Padang to watch NDP up-close and personal! Woosh!

This would be my 4th consecutive NDP. The last 3 years, I was on the ground with a pass. It was work, but not really. By the time it is actual day, there is very little left to do and I can really soak up the atmosphere, watch the parade, get all jumpy and excited when the troops march in/marchpast/march out/VIPs come/aircrafts zoom past, and sing the National Day songs, swinging my hands in the air and getting all watery-eyed.

And this year, I'd be on the stands. Still excited. Still happy I got blessed with tickets to go with my mum. She's excited too. I told her to prepare a red/white top, cap and sunglasses. She was parading in them yesterday. LOL.

On another note, this week is gonna be quite a special week.

Monday kicks off with National Day and NDP.

Tuesday and Wednesday - I'll be having my last lesson with my 2 classes. (Unfortunately, I may be observed for one. Argh.

And right after class, I'll be heading somewhere for a loooong over-dued relak-Jack holiday! Woosh! Sun, sand and sea, here I come!!!

And next Monday, I have my very important appointment. Fingers crossed, everything will be done!

To Do List...before I go

I have a brilliant plan.

To stuff myself with yummylicious food, loads of activities, and clear backlog before I pack my bags and am ready to go.

Here it goes.

1. Eat steamboat. At Tian Tian Steamboat.

2. Eat fish head curry, either at Muthu's or Banana Leaf Apollo.

3. Eat Tian Tian chicken rice at Maxwell. (Yes, I see the pattern here...tian tian.)

4. Eat otah. The one from Jalan Kayu. Loads of it.

5. My fill of chwee kuey, chee cheong fun and white kuey (in cantonese, I think it's "Pah Tong Gou".)

6. I need to use up my mani/pedi package. Last set, I think. My nails are in a terrible state. Argh!

I think that's it for now. Heeheehee