Sheep happens.

Monday, January 29, 2007

People think I'm crazy.

Updating on a school day, this wouldn't happen that often anymore. The >5 day training week is my pride and my joy.

People think that I'm crazy. True enough, I say. Five trainings a week is no pushover, and I am usually left too exhausted to be able to do anything useful at night. Physically, fine, it might be a bit inhumane. Mentally, 5 trainings a week would also deplete my mental consciousness, as trainings would require much focus and grit.

Why am I doing all this?

You can call me crazy, but I will not deviate from this path I'm on. Championships do not drop from the sky (thanks yh), and it is only my duty to do my best for the team. No matter what the rest of the team is like, I will do my part, and be proud of myself. I do not expect silverware this year, given our standards so far, but we have one thing called hope.

Still, no matter how much I put in, softball is still a team game. 9 players on the pitch, with the rest to back them up. A team is as good as its weakest link, and unless we change our attitudes, the team is going down. Down and down.

Something has to be done. Action has to be taken.

I swear Catholic High Softball is heaven.

Saturday, January 27, 2007

Weekend Effect..

I wouldn't know if the Hwachongian has a typical sort of weekend, but these three weekends sure felt exactly similar.

Sigh, and once again I remind myself that "to err is human, but to forgive, divine". Not as if I'm some heavenly being. I really cannot bring myself to forgive this group of people, really. Not that I am in the position to blame them, nor do I have the right to anyway.

I still have to thank God for providing me with another obstacle so that I can become stronger and wiser.

What actually is the cause for the fabled "Weekend Effect"? I have submerged myself in a whole ocean of questions just to find an answer to this question, and I think I may have found it after all. On weekdays, the average person would go about on his/her routine, studies, work, anything. The hectic lifestyle that they undertake gives them barely enough time to breathe, what more reflect? This cycle goes on for the five-day (if not five-and-a-half-day) week, and the weekend is the only time they are able to think straight.

By then, all their worries and problems would have accumulated and rooted into their minds. The person has no other choice but to let it all out in one go, unless he/she wants to accumulate another set of problems to worry about in the coming week (which isn't really what the typical human being would do). The leftover worries then becomes the foundation for the growth of another set of worries to build up, in preparation for the next "Weekend Effect".

I think I have no life.

I have been living a life of absolute fanaticism in these few weeks. I am crazy about anything I commit myself to, actually. I am one who works on impulse (even though I don't really spend on impulse due to my perpetual state of financial crisis), and I am one who would give my all for a cause. I would fight to the very last breath to defend all the things, and all the people I believe in. Even though it may seem as if I don't really care, please. I value friendship.

I respect myself, and I respect my dreams. Nothing, I repeat, nothing, is going to get in my way. May God be my guide on this journey.

Thursday, January 25, 2007

Miracle.

Found what I was looking for. Freaking miraculous. Its as if I woke up a new person.

Miracle. I never thought this would happen, but it did. I think its psychological. Ultra psycho. Whatever, I'm fine now.

Time to play ball! :D

Saturday, January 20, 2007

Living in a Curry Puff

The weekend is finally here, and boy am I glad that I managed to survive the week. I have absolutely no intention to do any school-related work today, so I am going to attempt another story... It seriously isn't anything serious.

Weekend Short Story 2: Living in a Curry Puff

Onward I looked, and saw nothing there, except for a potato wall of brobdingnagian proportions (a.k.a. the Great Potato Wall) surrounding my humble, miniature abode; a miserly piece of egg, encumbered by a barrier of organic matter. How in the world did I end up in such a godforsaken place! For 20 years (according to the Jo approximate bacteria-years, which is amount to about a few human hours) I have been living here, on this commiserable piece of egg, while the rest of the world led royal lives, feeding their faces with elephantine mountains of scrumptious curry.

Life is so unfair.

My house of egg was falling apart, due to my own excessive consumption (owing very much to my insatiable appetite and my allergy to potato consumption), and I was going to have to look for alternative lodging. The poor usually had no problems surviving, as they are able to consume potato without any side-effects, but I had to somehow figure out a way to get myself into at least a middle-class lodging without any money on me!

I lay down on my egg-bed and gazed dreamily at the potato ceiling, wishing that I had been born on the surface of the crust. Many a tale has been going round, telling of a certain exit somewhere in the west which led to the fabled land of freedom, where one could lead a carefree life with no worries about anything. I was so intrigued by one particular tale that I decided to attempt the impossible: attempt an expedition to the surface.

My friends thought I was crazy, my mother disowned me, and my community shunned me. I managed to find someone who wanted to buy my piece of egg, and I used the money to purchase travel equipments to aid me on my journey. For once I felt like a true bacteria, able to stand up for my own beliefs. I began my journey, taking a step towards the West. I felt like nothing could stop me... Until the ground began shaking violently.

The Great Potato Wall quivered with such intensity that it threatened to buckle. The whole community was in chaos. No one had any idea what was happening. The ground began shifting about, creating faults everywhere. Large chunks of potato were falling onto helpless bacteria, and all I could do was watch helplessly.

Was this the end of the world?

Somewhere not too far away, a little boy ran up to his mother.

"Hey Ma!! LOOK!! A small piece of EGG in my curry puff!!" He said as he took a big bite off the pastry.

------------------------------

I know its lame! :D

Thursday, January 18, 2007

Platitudinous, or rather, screwed.

I thought I would have to wait till the weekend before I could update! Hwa Chong has introduced me to an extremely hectic lifestyle (mostly self-inflicted) in which I would only reach home at around 7 or 8pm for every single school day of the week. The workload has been quite reasonable, considering the fact that I was competing (or "learning together" to be politically correct) with the cream of the crop. My L1R5 for prelims was a 10, and I feel slightly out of place here. Everyone here had either 6 points for their prelims or a pretty good MSG (although certain individuals have referred to IP as cheating), but all the same, I had started the race with a disadvantage.

Basically, the class has been alright so far, but the lessons have been pretty platitudinous. Nothing really special, dry as the desert and as boring as fishing. The card tricks did not work AT ALL. Wasted lots of time staring into space. If I spend more than a hundred hours walking from class to class in one year, I think I spent like, a thousand hours stoning. I seriously stoned my way through almost every lesson today, listening to GEPers and MAPers battle their way through series and series of tutorials, filling their heads with the much needed information. I, on the other hand, sat there attempting to absorb something useful. I tried to be like a sponge.

I ended up drawing sponge. Bob.

Training has basically been quite screwed up, with "generous" servings of sprints and nothing else. Sprints, sprints. Pitchers had to go and be assistants for the outfield training before being sent to pitch without any tips or comments or any form of guidance, and then we get sent for the second 2.4 km of the day. I mean, how are we supposed to improve? There was and there is no way we are going to improve their techniques and basics just by listening to hesitant instructions, recited from a notebook. I feel stupid and wasted. I am deviating from the path and I am screwing up my throw bad.

The coaching problem has to be solved. I envy the girls; they have Coach Jerry.

I think I'm going to end up running 7.2km tomorrow..

This is beginning to suck already.

Sunday, January 14, 2007

Weekend Short Story

Orientation was so cool and exciting that the weekends seem so dull in comparison. So... I've decided to write something, just for fun. =) NOT anything like "Loose Pants" or "Living in a Curry Puff". Something quite funny i think haha.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

The Pool: A Short Story

"Goodbye! Have a great day!" His classmates chirped as he walked away towards the pool. He replied with a short, curt wave of the hand and proceeded on his way. He glanced at his classmates through the corner of his eyes as they walked away, and silently in his heart he wished that he could be just like any one of them, living carefree lives filled with youthful camaraderie. He felt alone in the world, even when he was surrounded by throngs of people. No one cared, no one understood. No one ever tried to.

He trudged on down the bedraggled pavement, wishing that things would change for the better. He wanted to just let go of everything he had, for these were but ephemeral, earthly things. He needed something more; something which belonged to a class of its own. That thing everyone around called "Love".

Love. What was it? He had heard of the word umpteen times, but what did it mean? How did it feel like to love and to be loved? Everything around him seemed like a deep shade of grey. Hope was fading with every step he took.

"I need divine intervention", he sighed as he looked up at the clear, blue sky in despair.

Then he saw her.

He was confounded in a moment of awe. He felt something churning in his stomach and his heart missed a beat. What was this feeling?

Utterly confused at his own reaction, he turned away. Was that what people call "Love"? Not daring to look, he discreetly shrugged away into an empty corner of the stands. He gazed in her direction, and his heart missed another beat. The feeling was overbearing, but what was he to do?

A war between logic and feelings waged fiercely within him. Logic won out in the end, and he threw himself into the pool.

"WAHHHHHHH! COLD!"

*******************

She heard a shout coming from the pool and looked up from her magazine. What was that all about?

Apparently some attention-seeking guy had just thrown himself into the ice-pool, what an idiot. She took another glance at the struggling figure in the water and went back to "5 Steps to Finding Your True Love".

*******************

He struggled and struggled, and he finally got out of the ice-pool. Why the hell was that pool so cold! People around were laughing at him and pointing at his direction, but she was still reading her magazine. He was pretty sure she looked at him just now though. Now he had to find out why the pool was so freaking cold.

Glancing around, he noticed a colourful banner hanging in the stands. It read "Hot day? COLD SWIM! Ice-pool every friday!"

No wonder the pool seemed so empty. He sighed as he saw a piece of ice floating by on the surface of the pool. What luck. Now she was going to think that he was some desperate attention-seeker.

**********************

Step Number One: This guy must catch your attention in an interesting way.

"Jumping into an ice-pool is quite interesting..." She said to herself.

**********************

He sat down at the poolside, thinking of what to do next. Yes, that was it. He was going to walk right up to her and start a conversation! He proceeded to stand up, but as soon as he did, he felt something small pressing on his knees. Something which felt like... A hand. He turned around and saw a little kid smiling menacingly at him.

"NO! PLEASE! NOOOOOOO!"

A slight push was all it took, and with that he fell right into the pool.

"WAHHHHHHH! COLD!"

***********************

Step Number Two: This guy must be consistent in action and speech (reduces chances of two-timing)

Now that's damn consistent. Falling into the ice-pool two times in a row. Who the hell is this guy?

***********************

He climbed out of the pool shivering. What the hell! Stupid kid! Now the plan was ruined. He had to think of another plan that instant. Plan B, what was it? She was looking straight at him now.

"AH DAMN IT. PLAN A."

He ran up to the stands straight at her, but as soon as he got close, his heartbeat grew so fast he couldn't catch his breath. He stopped in his tracks to catch his breath.

************************

Step Number Three: Shows signs of nervousness before talking to you (which means that he has feelings for you, enough to make him nervous)

This is getting a bit freaky, she thought as she stared at the guy standing before her.

************************

He moved up the steps groggily, eyes fixed on her. He was going to do it, no matter what the outcome was going to be.

"Wo...wou... Would you like a cup of coffee?"

************************

Step Number Four: Guy must know your favourite drink in the first try

Crap. This is freaky, she thought.

"What kind of coffee would you buy for me?"

*************************

He certainly thought it sounded like a trick question. Maybe it was.

He was going to take a wild guess...

"Venti Java Chip."

*************************

Oh my gosh. This guy must know telepathy. She looked back into the magazine.

Step Number Five: Goes to buy the drink right away (congratulations!)

She looked up, and there he was across the road buying a Venti Java Chip from Starbucks. He had to be the one.

*************************

He passed her the drink. She was staring at him straight in the eye now. Oh my goodness, those eyes!

It was time to ask her out.

"C...ca... W...wou... Would you want to go to the..."

*************************

She listened in closely...

*************************

"Would you like to go to the library with me?"

*************************

Precautionary step: All of the above would not apply if he asked you out to a place you do not like

She slapped him in the face and walked away.

-------------------------------------------------------------

That's it! Haha I know its lame, but its the best I could write for now. Should practice more eh? Give me suggestions If you'd like!

Bye for now =)

Wednesday, January 10, 2007

TURBO!!!!! *zooooom*

I simply cannot believe that orientation has only been seven full days. It has been rather unbelievable, really. These few days of orientation felt like AGES. Come to think of it, I've only know my CT for four days. We're bonding fine I guess.

We had war games, and in case you do not know, I am in Athena faculty and I am loving it. The war games were fun, of course, and winning was a great bonus for us! Me and Zhao Xuen were the defenders for the faculty, armed with two LG cardboards to block off attacks from opposing teams (mainly apollo). We jumped around hacking the incoming water bombs with the cardboard boxes at first, but the boxes soon gave way and we had to use our hands to block the attacks. I made one damn nice catch lol I caught the water bomb still intact, so I threw it into the battlefield hahaha. It felt great being the so-called "heroes of the day", but I doubt it would last. It was pretty much ephemeral, but it felt amazing all the same.

CT is sang another version of pengyou lol, turned out to be pretty crappy. Our flag ROCKED, but well, they had to choose the 6A "Genesis" flag because it looked like Genesis! Our flag lost, of course, but the Athena item was pretty cool! STALL NO.5 Xiao Mi Mi Econ Rice FTW! Our faculty dance was actually quite nice, but I have to agree that the Apollo dance owned. Our towels rocked though. Being 80% water resistant, it is the towel that I have been looking for all my life. What more, it looks so cool and it made us look like a... Forest?

"Campfire" was held in the hall with a plastic fire due to the weather, but it was great all the same! I went up to the second level of the hall to get a better view of the programme and to wave my Athena towel =D We still had the fireball at the end anyway and it totally owned! It was too bad I had no camera, but whatever. Some things are meant only for the eyes, eternalized in our memories, like the cave in Pahang during the Sec3 camp. I will never forget how it looked like! Before the fireball we actually had a song and dance session, and it was awesome. We had "trains", danced around as if there was no tomorrow, sang to our hearts' content and had a great load of fun!

After campfire we went to Christopher's house (one of the seniors from the senior class), and the sight of his garage nearly sent me reeling. Four cars. Another one parked outside. FIVE. He had a nice dog (smelt crappy though), a swimming pool, a drum set, a stereo system, WHATEVER. You name it, he's got it, or he'll go buy it. Ate pizza, chips, drank some awesome mango drink, played "truth or dare" with no dares, watched Gui Rong and Christopher get thrown into the pool and went home.

Woke up and found that I was alone at home. Wanted to go for training but couldn't leave until Mum came home, so I waited like an idiot for 2 hours and it started raining. Gosh.

For all the good things in life?

Think OG. We have an outing today! =D

Saturday, January 06, 2007

Hwa Chong!

I figured out that I should do an update of my blog, my first update of this new chapter in life.

JC life.

I have been posted to Hwa Chong Institution (if you still have no idea, which is most unlikely) through DSA, seeing that I only had 10 points for my preliminaries. I just feel really lucky to be in this awesome school. I have heard many disciminative remarks about Hwa Chong in my secondary school years, but boy am I glad that none of them are true. Hwa Chong is the place to be, I swear it really is.

I was down for OG41, where I met my first friends in JC. Seriously, the group has truly been a blessing. We have had no lack of humour, unimaginable magnitude of fun and unbeatable team spirit (even though we lost quite a few games). Too bad we did not get to play slippery slope, but it was alright. The hose had enough water for all of us.

These three days were actually exceedingly phenomenal in my life. I mean like, dance with a girl? Never in my life have I held a girl's hand, and now I was to dance with one and even do the sick forfeit (you-know-what push ups), it was a great leap forward (not the mao one) from secondary school. Well I think I used to have girl-phobia or something during secondary school, but I am going to face my fears (if I haven't already). This is a new chapter in life and I am going to make it a good one, have to make more friends!

Sadly the OG days (literally days) are over and we would all have to be split into our CT groups, well I guess nothing lasts forever. Edmund brought a good point across though; CTs would be more permanent, and that would be a good thing. Of course I'm not saying that we should just forget our OGs though. Keep the friendships, make it last, and I am sure that these two years would be one of the best ones of our lives.

Here begins a plethora of Hwa Chong ephemera.