Registration Day

I went on half day today, coz today is my registration day at NTU. First and foremost, it was a rather queer sensation, to leave office at half day. It's been such a long time since I went on leave, especially a half day leave. My last leave was in...April? When I went on cruise with my parents. Actually not that long ago, but it certainly felt like ages ago. Heh. Yeah, I'm lazzzy...

Anyways, I had lunch first with the office girls before I went on my way, embarking on the long and arduous journey all the way to the lonesome hill top, which is to become so agonisingly familiar in time to come. Registration was slated to end at 4pm, and I reached NTU grounds approx 315pm. Ok, not terribly early, but should still have ample time right? WRONG lor...

Ok, I was supposed to drop by the Students Services Centre (SSC) to make payment for some administrative fees before proceeding to another building for registration. Armed with a blurry map, I made my way towards what seemed the correct direction, and all was well initially. And then I lost track of the SSC. It was like, so near yet so far. I knew it was in the vicinity of where I was standing, and I would have continued to trudge ahead to what I thought was the SSC. Until this other girl who was supposed to do registration too (she had the same blur pink map) told me that she came from the other direction and the building wasn't where she came from. Pengz.

I walked left, right; tried to look for signs to point me in the right direction at least, to no avail. And it didn't help that this god-forsaken place was a mass of buildings with no labels. I mean, in the map, they labelled this and that building as this and that, but when I saw the physical place, they either don't label the building (no big signs on top), or the signs were hidden at some obscure side panel, blocked by luscious trees! *roll eyes* Of course, I asked some kind souls, and they pointed me in the direction. Guess what? The SSC building sits atop one of the hill top. Literally, I tell u; no kidding. *faint*

That long flight of steps that stretched forever. I tell you, if not for the fact that I run, I think I may just have panted and paused half way up. Anyways, by the time I reached the finance office, it was 350. And I was positively drenched in perspiration. Yuck. And not the prettiest sight, I know. I was stricken with panic to my bones, coz I seriously didn't know what would happen if registration was over and I didn't do mine. 27 was the one and only day allocated to do it. And best of all, I just had to be queuing behind this typical complainy Singaporean.

It was obvious he was in a foul mood, perspiring and in a huff. He began ranting and raving at the person-in-charge, who was preparing for his payment and stuff. He raised a ruckus, complaining that NTU was inflexible, that he had Q-ed for an hour over at the registration place, only to "find out" that he had to make payment first before going to register, peppering his whiny complaints with the occasional foul word like "...you guys are sibeh inflexible...why can't we just do registration then I come and do payment lah...what's wrong with it...etc etc" (excuse my language; I was just repeating what he said).

Hello, "what's wrong"? Yeah, what's right is that you, Mr Whiny, are wrong. What's wrong is that you failed to read instructions. It was written clearly in the letter that you have to make payment FIRST before proceeding for registration. It's not that fault that you didn't read instructions and made such a big boo-boo and caused such inconvenience to yourself. NTU's fault was accepting a graduate student like you into their programme, one who doesn't read instructions, and probably didn't deserve a spot in their programmes. What's more, after I had made my payment and went to the registration place, they had in fact, put up a notice outside, reminding students to make payment FIRST.

What's obvious is that dear Mr Whiny is either blind (didn't see the multiple reminders), poor comprehension (didn't understand what he was reading) or pompous (thinks he is exclusive and can get away without making payment first and hoping to do registeration). Mind you, Mr Whiny is a well-dressed Shenton-way executive ok, with shirt-pants-tie and the works. Probably in his mid-thirties. Can you blame Singapore girls for being demanding about the quality of Singapore men? Anyways, I told Jac I hope he isn't our classmate. Haha.

But well, through his ranting, I knew that there was a long Q ahead, so it wouldn't be possible that the registration will end at 4pm. Heh...that kinda made me feel a little better, a little mroe assured that I still can make it. Hee. I made payment and proceeded to the registration place, and I still managed to make it before 4. Not bad. =) Everything happens for a reason. I guess I ought to learn not to jump into a frenzy so soon, since everything is in his control. =) I mean, if I had reached earlier, I would have to wait anyway. Oh well...I guess it all ended well.

By the time I made my way home, it was nearing 6pm...not much of a half-day off right. Initially I thought I would have some time leftover to perhaps do some shopping or whatever, so as to make my half-day leave more worthwhile. But sigh. I was bushed when I got home; I went to nap for awhile, and woke up like 7+ then went for a short run.

Pauline actually asked me if I wanted to join her at Dbl O with her frens. She's on "vacation"...having just left her teaching job. Though I'm not sure if I'm envious of her or not. Heh. Oh well.

P/S - Countdown: Another 3 more days and my Mr J will be back *grin*

The Last Lap to 1 July

I have this little rubber duckie that actually doubles up as a calendar. It has this little display section where I have to manually turn cubes of numbers everyday, to show the correct day and date. Kinda like winding a clock, except that I'm "winding" a calendar. And I just can't wait to wind it. I just can't wait for the days to turn faster, that I may just keep turning the days and dates till the 1 July. Sigh.

Yeah I know, it's the final week before the big day. But as I've said, the time just can't pass fast enough. And as we enter this "final" lap before the 1st, it's gonna be the hardest week to pass, ever. I just know it.

The pain of separation is the hardest to bear. Especially more so for a super-emo person like myself. It's not that I'm not grateful that he's coming back, albeit a short 2 weeks. Well he would be back for 4 weeks, but he'll be in Singapore only for first and last week. I know it will kill me when he flies off to the States during the 2nd week, especially when I'm just gonna spend a short 1 week with him before he goes off again. And after he comes back from the States 2 weeks later, he'll only have one last week here in Singapore before he goes back to Sydney.

THough he'll be back for a short four weeks, sorry, I mean two, it's gonna be a tightly-packed two weeks. There are days when we have already planned stuff, but overall, we haven't exactly planned a day-to-day itinerary of course, but we just know it's gonna be lotsa time spent together. *dreamy* I've actually applied for leave le...Hmm, coming to think of it, it's only 3 days. Maybe I ought to see if I can squeeze in more days. But anyways, you know what's the hateful thing? Time is just going to whizzed by during these first and last week, and crawl during the middle two weeks while he's away. -.- Well we all know how time crawls when you can't wait for it to pass (like now), and how uncooperative it is when you simply wished the whole world will come to a total standstill (time passes even faster). Don't we all know that already huh.

I know I will surely weep buckets when he has to fly back at the end of July. Gosh. I hate separations. I hate saying goodbyes, even for the short term. It's kinda like a short long-term, you know.

Looking ahead, it's another six months before he comes back for good. And the thought of that is frightening. But we told ourselves that we are just going to shift our focus on what's coming up in front of us, what's going to come up next for us. And take things as they come, welcoming each thing as they happen. Rather than thinking far till the end of the year, wishing that eveyrthing will be over faster. I mean, sure we do wish for that, but it's harder looking so far ahead now right?

So, to aid us, we've more or less have this 2nd half of 2007 mapped out. He'll fly back to Sydney at the end of July. Then it'll be two months of school for both of us, and I'll fly there for a short break in Sept. Then it's going to be a tough 3 months before he finishes his exams and graduates; and I'll probably fly there again in Dec and we'll do a short tour around before we come back to Singapore togther at the end of the year, him, for good. *smiles*

Short long-term - short because well, six months aren't exactly that bad, and considering we'll be seeing each other in between. We purposely planned it this way so that we won't have to go too long without seeing each other *grin* Well, and long term because, six months aren't exactly short too. Another six months without each other. Though perhaps, this later half of 2007 will be busier for me, and will keep me from letting my thoughts run wild. I had actually planned to fly there last week, to be with him while he tackles his exams. But well...work didn't allow me that luxury, so...SIGH

Coming to think of it, by the time he comes back, we would have not seen each other for four months. It's been a really tough four months. I hope there won't ever need be another such four months. Going as planned, like I'd said, the next foreseeable longest stretch would be that last three months at the end of the year. But undeniably, absence does make the heart grows fonder. I guess in a way, precisely coz it's been such a long and painful stretch...everything will be so much more worthwhile. As they say, good things don't come easy =) And honestly, I'm so looking forward to everything that's coming up this next half year...in fact, everything that will happen for us from now on.

AND...today is the last Monday before he gets back to Singapore. *Wide grin* I know it will be a really tough going this week...but I've just gotta hang in there...I've waited four months, what's another one more week right? Yeah...before I know it, it will be Sunday. Sunday afternoon...it'll all pass. IT WILL ALL PASS! *Grit teeth* Grrrrr....

PUH-LEEASE make the time spin faster?

Time positively crawwwwls... *yawn*

What does it take for time to pass faster?! Day in, day out, I swear the hours and minutes just enjoy torturing me! For the first time, I'm so busy, yet the time ticks! What is this?!

Ok, sorry that I'm yelling. I just can't wait. Sigh. Countdown - another 11 days. Or how about you knocking me out cold for the next 11 days, and someone please wake me up on 1 July? *ponders* I think that's a mighty good suggestion.

ELEVEN freaking days!! Goshhhh.........Is there anyone I can bribe for this?

Wedding...

Another batch of photos to put up. These were taken at Michael's wedding. Michael was one of the other boss at our old office, a real Mr Nice-Guy through and through. Not to add, smart too; a straight-A student, just as Mr Moses was. I remember one of the stories he told us before, when he was a student still. His parents never had to worry about him being too playful or not wanting to study. Correction, they had to worry that he was studying too much -.- Anyways, when he was studying for his O-levels (or was it A-Levels)...he tied himself to the chair while he was studying, to make sure he doesn't get distracted by the TV or stuff like that. Goodness me right...Hee...Well see, that's the difference between straight-A (like him) and mediocre students (yours truly) -.-

Michael and his bride, Meishan, had their matrimony in the daytime at the Art Museum. A sweet affair. They played a well-made video (by one of their church's IT guy) of all the happenings. Impressive. The dinner was full house, packed to the brim. Nothing fanciful, but a personal affair. But well, as you can see, we had our own little fun after it was all over. Haa...

As Moses put it, nice weddings like these does make you go aww...and puts that thought in you, about how romantic you want yours to be. The gown you want to wear, the songs you want to use, your family and friends witnessing your biggest moment in your life with you...Oh well, I ought to stop it *grin*

Some "trivia"...

Some pictures to put up. Just one of the outings that took place recently. I nearly forgot to put these photos up until I happened to open up one of my infrequently-used thumbdrvs.

Marche, Vivocity

(Bottom left pic; L-R: Lena, Tricia, Lily, Charis, Tammi and Alicia)

Charis recently came back to temp with Moses during her vacation, and she decided to organise an outing with Tammi and Shirlyn, but Ms Shirlyn couldn't make it coz she was not feeling well. Tammi and Shirlyn used to work in the same office; and Tammi is actually my predecessor. We do such outings once in a while, basically when someone does the organisation. Heh. Moses left before I could make it there actually.

Joy and Happiness...leads to Contentment (part1)

There are a thousand and one things I can say now...and yet, not be able to say. I just dunno where to start! Life's good now, everything is near-perfect =) Near, but not perfect yet (nothing can be ever perfect). I mean, of coz there are the things I can go on bitch about for days (money, work, ppl...etc) But I am almost contented. It's like, everything has started falling into place, and I can start being grateful for all that I have now. Or will have.

I graduated 3 yrs ago, found a job within the month despite the economy being down in the doldrums, and even though it's a small firm, the money sux...the job nature and most importantly, the ppl there more than make up for it. I guess I can safely say I love my boss, my boss loves me...and everyone else loves me =) I may not have a lot of dough, but in the least I make enough to give myself a comfortable life.

And as you would have known by now, I'll be embarking on a new challenge in two months' time - starting grad sch. I nearly wanted to use the phrase "starting on a new phase of my life"...but no, I think that doesn't really count. My life isn't going to undergo some overhaul because of that. Rather, my life will change because of the additional responsibilities I would have, that I would have to adapt to.

But I think what is and what will be life changing for me, is the new addition in my life. Strictly speaking, he isn't a new addition to my life. *grin* He's always been around me; friends we've been for close to ten years I think (when I was in JC1). Somehow, things just didn't happen..or rather, it was kinda like wrong person or wrong timing. I guess we've come a long way indeed. There were the wrong people in between, bad situations, etc. It's sorta like what many would have heard before, you are looking and searching, but the person has actually always been around you all this time. Yeah, that's it, something so simple, yet complicated by little twists of fates. But seems that everything has come full circle now. Life's funny like that, once you let go of the wheel, you just might end up right where you belong. And I guess I do feel that with him, he is where I belong.

These past 2 months or so has been life-changing for me...ok, too strong a word. Life-transforming. We both have developed rather fast, but positively, I would say. He was cautious...very, I should add. Or perhaps I should say I don't like to look at things too complicatedly. The world is complex as it is; it doesn't need any more input from me. But well, things remained that way.

Anyways to cut the story short, we had a sort of burst-up, and that's when he realised he shouldn't be making me sad anymore (he told me so...hee). I'm glad things turn out ok. It was kinda surreal in the beginning, coz the fate-twisting moments and the fairytale ending made everything seemed unbelievable. But well...it is happening. Has happened, actually.

Some very important things I've learnt. One - both must want this to work. Both must work together. We all know it takes two to clap, but how loud, how resounding is the applause? That depends on both parties now, doesn't it? How much strength you apply, how fast you bring you hand down, how you fashion your clap (I know this sounds kinda physics-y); it all makes a whole lot of difference. Simply said, it's the effort you want to, are willing to and WILL invest. Talk is cheap, but actions and speech goes together; neither can do without the other. You need to share your thoughts and do it.

The other thing I've learnt - Sharing. Sharing your thoughts, sharing your plans and ideals...basically, sharing your lives. It makes a whole lot of difference, and I appreciate that really a whole lot more because he isn't in Singapore (for now at least). It makes me understand the meaning and value of sharing. I guess that's the case with human beings; when things come easy, we tend to take things for granted.

But I do believe in one thing - what doesn't kill you will only make you stronger. *smile* We've had our fair share of quarrels, some petty issues, some big arguments. But at the end of the day, there is an unspoken consensus; that these quarrels are a process for us to get to know each other better. It doesn't entail anything more than learning to understanding each other. Some people tend to see quarrels as a breaking point, that it is an indication of ill-fit. Granted, I'm not saying quarrels are ALL good. Everything must serve a purpose. You don't quarrel for the sake of arguing or winning an argument. At the end of the day, we must solve it, learn from it...or at least move on from it. Much as we feel like a perfect fit, like a glove to a hand, we are also still learning to accomodate each other in some areas. Tweaking and fine-tuning the works. And this is a never-ending learning process. Once you think you've got it all...then I guess it's time to start worrying. Because you can never get it all.

But of course...it helps quite a fair bit that he gives in to me *hee* or rather, he knows what makes me tick...the stuff that makes me melt and go all soft and gooey. Heh...He picks up fast. Haha...

I guess it's all about looking at the positive side of things. I'm probably the last person who has a right to talk about optimism. But hey, there are still things I know I should be positive about. And I'm learning still, to be less pessimistic.

I certainly don't mean to sound like a self-righteous guru now...you should realise that I'm just sharing some aspects of what I have personally gone through. Every person is unique, and that makes every relationship one of a kind too. I'm sure you've got your lessons to share, your stories to tell. I'm just sharing mine. =D but I guess I oughta stop now, in case I become too overbearing. I'll share more in Part 2...soon, hopefully =)

P/S: I've just realised that I took 2 weeks to write, finish and post this entry. Yes, hopefully the nx won't take as long...There are just thousand and one things I want to include la...heh

Tricia's Birthday *click on photos to read captions*

Another new post of photos =) a picture paints a thousand words, aint it?
Haha...well I'm actually in the midst of writing a very long post, so it still is "in production". In the meantime, I shall just put some photos up to satisfy some bored souls while I try to get other entries in order. Amateur photoshopping, so no laughing allowed.