The Long Day...

Knocked out last night once again at about 4am or so. I have completely no idea how I ended up on my bed with my laptop and books neatly by the side of my bed. -shrugs-

Got out of bed today thinking it was already very late. It was only 7 plus. Talk about a warped body clock. Anyways, went for a run. Great weather today but darn it felt terrible. I need to take a break from running until I get well.

Worked on some technicals for interviews before heading out with my brother and sister for Tung Lok. Met up with my grandma, some of my cousins and uncles for dim sum lunch. Jeeze, if you had been there to see us eat. 22 plates of egg tarts, and probably around 5 to 10 plates of every other dim sum on the menu. Thinking back makes me feel sick. Still, first time I've done this with my family. Different.

Sent my cousin back and went over to my mom's factory to pick up stuff for my sister. Stayed around until my mom was done with work and came home. Already dead exhausted. Was contemplating some stuff and spoke to my mom for sometime. Needed some peace and quiet to think things through; headed for IHM. When I tried to leave the place, I was stuck inside because there was some function going on at the church upstairs. Had to wait till the cars started moving out before I could get to No Signboard to meet up with some friends.

Dinner adjourned to supper at Xin Wang cafe. Speaking of which, I just realized I haven't had dinner yet. Anyways, yup they chit chatted for sometime before heading home. Was pretty stoned, exhausted.

Took some time off to be alone. Grabbed a drink at the beach pub near to Laguna. I miss hearing the sound of the waves so much. Miss East Coast Park. Saw this really old couple holding hands and walking down the beach in the semi-darkness. Felt really envious and happy for them; they looked so blissful and beautiful together.

Hopped on the car and went for a drive through Singapore. Feeling the warm wind beating against my cheeks. Down ECP, down Rochor, along Marina Square, through the CBD, up Mount Faber... Pretty Singapore bursting with memories. I wonder when I'll see all of these again.

Got home and had consecutive chats, first with mom then with dad. Already a ton of stuff on my mind; now there's more. Well, what's new?

Long night ahead...

晴天

Finally... a day of decent weather. First day I really got to see the sun since I came back to Singapore. Did some last minute work and checks on my applications before taking panadol and taking a short nap. Didn't manage to sleep for long.

Headed out to City Hall area to do some reading...

Met up with Clara for dinner at Chijmes. Bobby Rubino's has pretty awesome ribs; as good as ribs can get in the US. Haven't had the chance to catch up ever since we grew up, amazingly the first time we had dinner out ourselves. Went for a short walk around the old shop houses before going over to Millenia Walk for a drink. It was this place that brewed their own german lager. Not too bad but I guess but half a litre of beer was a little too much fluid to drink in one go.

Walked back to take bus 70 home. I'm almost done with reading the Business Week I bought from Borders the other day. Tired.

Okay, I should go to bed. Already ranting about mundane stuff that means nothing at all. Night... Maybe I'll get some sleep tonight. Maybe.

Entering a Tailspin

With all the work that has been overwhelming me over the past few weeks, I'm totally spinning out of control. Haha. Collapsed last night from exhaustion again at around 10 plus once I got home from dinner with Pat's family. Totally knocked out. I was so exhausted when I was on the road that I was scared of my own driving for once.

I got home safe and passed out until 3am this morning, when I shot out of bed and worked again. Think it's already been in-built into me to get into work anytime, anywhere. Felt like crap as the night wore on and my body continued to break down. Haha. Oh well, I finally knocked out again at 6 plus with a splitting headache and a little fever. I guess, 3 weeks of sleep deprivation has finally caught up with me.

Here I am, working again and double checking the stuff I have submitted that are due today. That reminds me, haven't ran today. *ponders* Maybe I'll give it a break for one day.

Brief recount of the past 2 days. Singapore has been pouring cats and dogs ever since I got back. Weather sucks big time. Been working day and night at my applications, camping out at Starbucks / Spinellis for entire days, shuttling between my Orchard apartment and home. As if there wasn't enough hell, a huge earthquake hit Taiwan and destroyed all of Singtel's undersea internet cables. This has been a most tiring holiday, if it can even be considered one. Quite the nightmare I had expected. Alright, time to go to IHM.

Another few more days and I'm off.

Collapse

Totally knocked out last night. Exhausted with all that is happening around me. Applications are taking forever and I'm in a frenzy to get them done. I worked at one of the Starbucks joints in Orchard yesterday for the whole afternoon and met up with Lennard for a short while. Went around Borders to check out the books too. Orchard was quite a crummy place to be yesterday because of the poor weather, getting me drenched all the time. Apart from that, it was nice to feel the hustle and bustle of the city once again.

Met up with my family for dinner at Mosque Street. The Korean food there was decent. I'm not really a big Korean food fan but I guess it was pretty good by Singapore standards (and way cheaper compared to what I get in the US). I was going to head back to my Orchard apartment for the night and do more work but some stuff cropped up. Passed out on my bed at home while waiting for my brother to come back with the car. Passed out from exhaustion.

It's been a pretty tiring holiday... It's good to see my family again and spend time with them. The night life is good too. And of course Orchard Road is a great place to hang out and people watch. Somehow, I can't wait for this holiday to end and get back to the US, where classes and work await.

Lost in the tiny island of Singapore... Time for a run.

Life of a City Dweller

It was a hectic and almost horrid Christmas Day. Checked out from chalet and drove the huge gang of kids in 4 cars to Joo Chiat for 云吞面. Had a quick, filling breakfast before rushing to the city for lunch with my paternal grandpa and grandma. I was still very full from breakfast when I sat down for lunch. Oh well, I knew my grandpa was happiest when he saw us eating the food he ordered happily, so I just didn't think too much about it and ate a ton of food. Don't get me wrong, it was gorgeous food. Anything to make them happy. So glad to see my grandpa and grandma a lot better. One of my happiest moments in the day.

After lunch, I drove my brother and sister home. On the way back, we dropped by IHM to wish Pat a Merry Christmas. Dar, you haven't been forgotten ya? *hugs* You'll always have a special place in my heart...

Picked up some clothes and odds and ends from home before heading out to the apartment in Orchard. I'm staying here alone now; it's pretty fun I must say. Quiet sanctuary in the middle of the city. Orchard road is just a 3 minute walk away. I can also just cross the road and be in Shangri-La within 1 minute. Anyways, brought my sis out to watch Charlotte's Web yesterday with my brother. I was dozing off in Lido throughout the entire show. I don't know if it's me or the movie, but I think it didn't do the book the justice it deserves.

I was going to send my siblings home and drop by Parkway to pick up some stuff. Thought the better of it. So, I stayed in the apartment and did some work after my brother drove my sis back home. I took a walk down Orchard Road to see the Christmas lights and then headed out to City Hall area for a drink. To my only pal who was willing to head out in the middle of the night on short notice, thank you.

Singapore Sling is decent but way too mild. Oh well, I'll stick to martinis next time. I was going to take a long walk back but the weather got ugly. Maybe next time. Came back to my apartment and did some more work until I passed out, exhausted.

Christmas is just so different without you around... I miss you.

Time to chart the couse of my life and seriously think about where I want to go, what I want to do. Decisions.... Oh well, if anyone wants to look for me, call me at my old number. I'll be camping out in one of the coffee joints along Orchard Road, working on my internship applications or preparing stuff for my interviews.

Happy Boxing Day to all.

P.S. Ah Ma, Grandpa and Grandma, my parents, my family, all of you are the best! =)

Christmas 2006

The end of the year is finally here with the Christmas of 2006. This year has been a real rollercoaster ride for me. When I look back at myself one year ago, I simply can't imagine how much has changed in my life. I'm sitting here in the Wireless Surfing Zone in SAFRA Resort early on a Christmas morning. Sent my brother out to take a train because he couldn't get any cab to come pick him up from the chalet. The rest of my cousins (16 out of the 22 stayed yesterday, including myself) are still sleeping on the floor in the chalet. It's been awesome spending time with my family.

One year ago, I woke up on Christmas day, tired from a trip to midnight mars the night before at Queen of Peace with Pat and her family. Dar, its the favorite time of the year for you. Christmas, your favorite holiday. Having a good time up in heaven?

A short recap of the past few days. Saturday, I woke up early in the morning and ran to Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary to see Pat. It's been such a long time... Went off later in the morning to my grandma's place to visit her. Needless to say, she was absolutely delighted and cooked food personally for me. Best grandma in the world! Headed to Reds to get my haircut and then headed to do some visiting.

In the evening, came to SAFRA with my mom and got to see all my awesome cousins, aunts, uncles. The kids stayed up ridiculously late as usual.

Sunday morning, sent a few of my cousins and an uncle out to their church and then headed to Pat's home to visit her family for a short while. It was nice to see all of them again. Her room feels... so empty, yet so familar. Memories...

The rest of the day was spent swimming and playing around with my cousins, BBQ at night and then an earlier night for all the kids since they were dead tired. I got up early this morning and here I am, checking my results. Didn't do as good as I hoped this semester. Even screwed up enough to get a B+ for Finance. Sigh. My favorite class...

Oh well, better buck up and work harder next semester. Hopefully my GPA is decent enough to get me some interviews when I get back. Breakfast with all the kids later and then lunch with my 公公. Looking forward to that.

Time flies. So much has changed. Walking on...

Best wishes and Merry Christmas. I wish all the people whom I love and cherish the very best, a Merry Christmas and may the joy and blessings of Christmas bring them hope, happiness and love, always.

家

After flying halfway around the world (literally 12 time zones away), I'm finally home. It's great to see mom and dad... Thanks for picking me up from the airport even when you're so tired.

The flight was long and painful to say the least. Nothing I couldn't put up with. Got home and it's in quite a mess because of the renovations that were going on. Just went for a short run. Nice, warm and quiet... Singapore is really quite beautiful at night.

Got back about half of my results. It was crap. I wonder where all the hard work went. Sigh. 2 more subjects to go before I get my GPA for the first semester.

Will go for another run in about 4 hours time. Slightly further run tomorrow; a run/visit which I have been waiting for...

I'm home.