Thursday, December 10, 2009

The 100th Entry

The blog has been quiet, except for the occasional random ramblings of petty matters. It's happening because I thought I have to live up to the "do more journalistic approach entries instead of the 'deep' crap involving emotions schemotions" vow I wrote in the very first entry.

That said, I apologise for not obeying that one single rule I made. I am sure a post with one sentence and a photo of the obscene amount of Body Shop products I have does not account for a 'journalistic entry'.

But then again, if you put 'journalistic' in another context...

The other day I read somewhere about the differences between a Diary and a Journal. Apparently a diary is a recording of daily events and you're supposed to write in it every day. I guess then mine would probably go like this: Woke up. Ran errands. Sat in front of the laptop. Read five academic journals *yawn*. Sat in front of the laptop somemore. Went running. Sat in front of the laptop somemore. Went to bed.

Dullsville, here I come.

A journal instead, doesn't have to be written in ever yday and you write when you feel deeply about something, some thoughts and stuff like that. My physical one is a lifesaver. I have a list of my pet peeves in there so that I know why I'm irritated with some people. Since I brought it up, here's a sneak peek:

- a negative perception of life and complaining too, too, TOO much
- repetitively asking me questions that I don't know the answers to
- expecting me to read minds (I can't always do it, okay?)
- being a punching bag, physically

On the first pet peeve, I actually do listen to people and their problems, but there is a limit, and especially when one is not of the exclusive inner circle I'd rather you spare me already known facts that the system sucks and what not. Come on, I'm not Aunt Agony.

As the year rolls to a close, looking back, I think there isn't much to regret for this year. Whatever I did were stuff I wanted to do. Sometimes I do lose focus. I have doubts about decisions I've made. Passion dwindled, novelty wearing off, that kind of things. But I reckon everyone in graduate school feels the same. No wait. I think everyone feels that way in Life. There are times that I did thought of the "What ifs.." and the "If onlys.." but then I know very well those thoughts aren't going to help in any way. What if I have made a different decision, in a different place, surrounded by different people? One can only wonder, but most importantly, I reckon, is to be happy with what you have and what you are doing.

Also that it satisfies your conscience.

I know that along the way, I have been taken advantage of but I believe that everyone gets what they deserve in the end.

For the most of it, 2009 has been pretty filled to the brim with adventures and experiences. I have been high several times -- High on Life. It's a very good feeling. Better than weed. The kind of high that brings tears of joy and this feeling that you're just very happy and thankful that you are ALIVE. (And no, it didn't happen in Amsterdam where in some places the air may be saturated with secondhand weed smoke.)

Some New Year's Resolutions that I can think of for now:
1. Get out of the comfort zone (or something in that sense...I haven't really figured that out yet, just that I want to do Something next year)
2. Run more (not like I'm running any less at the moment, but yea, running is good fun)
3. Complete thesis by June 2010 (this is a Very Solid Resolution)

I have more to write, but I know a lot of people get annoyed with too many words (although that's silly seeing as this is a blog, and it is for writing). But then again, people also complain if there's too many photos. Go figure.

People are stupid.

As if I'm not one.


Cheers all,

Monday, December 7, 2009

Week 2 Training

I'm training for the Borneo International Marathon next year, with thoughts of entering the half marathon...but perhaps 21km is a bit too ambitious? Maybe I should only do the 10km?

Underachiever. LOL.

Let's see how I am by April 2010. In the meantime, second week of training means a new playlist for running :)

No One - Alicia Keys
Crazy In Love - Beyoncé ft. Jay-Z
Thnks Fr Th Mmrs - Fall Out Boy
Sexyback - Justin Timberlake
Stronger - Kanye West
Makes Me Wonder - Maroon 5
How Far We've Come - Matchbox Twenty
Suddenly I See - KT Tunstall
Let's Get Retarded - Black Eyed Peas
Beautiful Day - U2

It sounds like a good mix so I'm looking forward to trying it out!

* Just in case anyone's wondering: I've been running on and off but thought I'd start on a proper 10-week training regime beginning this month. Something along the lines of an early new-year resolution perhaps.

** I'm tempted to get another pair of running shoes. We'll see how the funds are doing first :)

Happy New Week,

Sunday, December 6, 2009

6 Dec 2009

About 3.6 more weeks to the end of the year. That's insane.

One year of grad school down.
One year more to go.
6 more months to thesis submission.
2 more weeks to seminar presentation.

Ha. Annual reminiscing has to come some other time.


Cheer's y'all,

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Hello Geekdom!

Yes I know. Paper to write. Due date tomorrow. wth.

Came across this post on Wired:

What kind of geek are you?


Loving Music Geek's (fig. 2) mismatched shoes,

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Because I was up early today

Which is a very aptly thought up, 'original to the boot' title.

It's not like I went to bed at 9pm (which is highly unlikely, although I am reminding myself not to feed the insomniac-self by going to bed at 5am) but I guess it just wasn't a very good night for sleeping. Definitely not when one kept waking up and almost fell out the bed once.

So I decided to lug my lazy ass out of bed at 5.45am and went running instead.

Firstly, no, running at 6am is not crazy here because it is already bright. Running at 7am requires shades and running at 7.30am will bring about a sunburn (and carbon monoxide overdose).

Secondly, today I have trumped the unpredicatable weather which causes diabolically hot afternoons and insane stormy evenings. The park sucks though, but beggars can't be choosers.

Which kinda make me miss Vondelspark and Tiergarten.


Which leads to wishful thinking and a need for reality-check.


Good day to all,

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Bizarro #2

Like I said, bizarre things always happen to me.

This time it involved the four-legged furry "man's best-friend".

It started with me going about my own business when suddenly a shaggy stray-looking-but-has-a-collar dog barked at me, which freaked me out a bit.

See, a while back ago, I got bitten by a pup when I was out running and had to get a jab for that. Since then, I tend to get wary of dogs whenever I'm doing my daily rounds.

So anyway, back to that shaggy mutt which barked at me, and I slowed down (because it's never a good idea to run from dogs, it just encourages them to chase you and I always imagine them pouncing on me) and tried to not make any "sudden movements".

The mutt trotted beside me, which got me a tad uneasy, and then after awhile, went off farther in front and started sniffing at random things. I felt relieved: "the dog was bored of me" -- then it stopped, turned around, looked at me, waited for me to 'catch-up' and then trotted next to me again! It went on for a while, then another dog came and took its place and that went on for a bit too!

So.

I had dog body-guards while I was out running today.

This is so weird.


I swear it's not a New Moon wolf-pack parody,

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Of Girlfriends

Apart from the fact that I spent the whole day writing up my research paper, I was involved in this extremely long, non-work related email chain.


Distant wedding bells are very exciting :) Girls also get very excited over wedding plans.

Congratulations Yen Chiew and Boon Tatt!!!


Happy for the happy couple,