Suddenly swamped
Guess who KR Choir's new Tenor Sectional Leader is? Yes, that's the one who makes sure the tenors know their notes right so they wouldn't get lost during the combined practice with the basses and altos and sopranos. Sigh. Unfortunately, Kelvyn, the previous SL, has to leave the choir this year for personal reasons, and tada, the task is passed on to yours truly. I tried my best to let him stay, or to at least give the job to someone else since I don't feel capable and I'm busy with other stuff and that little fact that I'm more comfortable with singing bass (in the NUS choir) than tenor. Apparently, I am left with no choice but to reluctantly accept. I bargained with Kelvyn though, that I'll be SL for a week and see what happens.
That comes one day, too, after I accepted the offer to be part of the NUS Choir's Varsity Voices 04/05 Task Force (apparently they did some voting during the last practice, where I excused myself early to run for KR Choir session). That's the committee that puts up the choir's annual VV concert. I hesitated before I accepted secretary Keng Khoon's offer, but then I reasoned since I'm turning Year 2 after this sem, I might as well take up higher-than-member positions.
So that's Cheer Team for me all throughout the bulk of this sem (IHG runs till the midterms), an NUS Choir stint with the Chinese Orchestra (this is the one with the Leiyu song) in mid-February, Varsity Voices on February 26th, KR's own culture night in late Feb or March, and the Combined Performances of Hall Choirs sometime else. And that's on top of my killer Probability module, my Molecular Genetics module with Life Science majors, and my Introduction to Literary Studies module which promises lots of readings.
Hmm.. so unless I get my act together, I could potentially be royally screwed this sem. Intense mugging sessions up ahead!
P.S.
We watched my former hall King Edward VII's musical play, Romeo Loves Juliet, at the Victoria Theatre the other night. It's a modern take on Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, with a twist at the end. It was the fruit of the long bloody hard work of the production team, especially by my good Vietnamese buddy and near-roommate Pacey, the director. My Pinoy seniors Nestor and Arthur also were part of the hardworking team, in the admin and ticketing departments, respectively. And my Indian friend Balaji did a very convincing portrayal as the crazy effeminate supposed groom-to-be of Juliet.
The play made me happy, seriously. Although much could be polished here and there, I thought it was a nice, feel-good performance, which, for lack of better descriptions, I'd say if I watched the play with my girlfriend (not that I have any), I'll fall in love with her all over again (I loved the play's Cosmic Love song!). Hah, some crap there. Or maybe I belong to the hopeless-romantic demographic? Hehe. But really, I enjoyed myself well enough to gloss over the few glitches. Kudos to Director Pacey, Producer Joanna (my friend Victor's GF too, whom he kissed onstage after the show ;P), and the entire team!
And oh yeah, I have to surf the net to check cool designs for my sister's prom dress. Haha, the requests I get from her because of free internet here. I'm feeling tired Kai, so hang on a bit okay?
Okay, 5:48AM and it's time to sleep! After a whole day of watching and cheering for KR's Soccer teams and getting a good sunburn. My first tenor sectionals later at 10pm, and I just finished making the Noteworthy Composer score for Beauty and the Beast. Long day today, long day tomorrow, and I. need. sleep.
Music of the Moment: John Mayer's Love Song for No One
Currently feeling sleeeeeeeeepy.
Leiyu
Leiyu
Great. I finished one of those long detailed blogs when I suddenly and unknowingly got disconnected from the NUS network. So when I clicked "Publish Post", everything went pfffffft. Good for you reader, though, since you won't have to bear with my long entries for once. Hah.
Bummer. I'm still thinking about my vivid accounts of this and that. But since I've decided to be optimistic this year (okay, I'm making it the Chinese New Year's resolution if it's too late for the Jan1 resolution! =P), I'm not gonna worry about it. I was only blabbering about my brand new modules and lectures and lecturers, my draining but exhilarating cheering for KR's "crowd" matches in the IHG, on top of NUS and KR choirs, and how bruised and battered my voice is as a result. Haha yep, my voice, my 2004 Discovery of the Year. Lalala. Long days ahead for this short and crazy sem! :D
Tomorrow is NUS Choir practice, and it promises to be interesting like last time, because we're singing a Chinese song, Leiyu (Thunderstorm). It's a major task for the few of us Chinese-challenged in the NUS Choir, but so far we've been coping quite fine.
Wu yun ah, chen chen ya zai xin tou, goes the first lines.
Jayson one of the Chinese Filipinos doing the bridging course, has kindly translated for me. Wu yun means dark cloud, chen chen means deep (or something), ya zai means nadadaganan in Filipino (or being run over, trampled?), and xin tou means heart. (Tatatee, what do you think? Please correct me if I'm wrong hehe.) So there, connect the dots.
I'd like to say Wu yun, chen chen ya zai xin tou might very well describe my life right now. But that isn't fully accurate, actually. Then again, it's not far away from the truth either. Hee.
Music of the moment: Santana's Why Don't You and I
Currently feeling full from terrrrific block supper! Yey D block!
Great. I finished one of those long detailed blogs when I suddenly and unknowingly got disconnected from the NUS network. So when I clicked "Publish Post", everything went pfffffft. Good for you reader, though, since you won't have to bear with my long entries for once. Hah.
Bummer. I'm still thinking about my vivid accounts of this and that. But since I've decided to be optimistic this year (okay, I'm making it the Chinese New Year's resolution if it's too late for the Jan1 resolution! =P), I'm not gonna worry about it. I was only blabbering about my brand new modules and lectures and lecturers, my draining but exhilarating cheering for KR's "crowd" matches in the IHG, on top of NUS and KR choirs, and how bruised and battered my voice is as a result. Haha yep, my voice, my 2004 Discovery of the Year. Lalala. Long days ahead for this short and crazy sem! :D
Tomorrow is NUS Choir practice, and it promises to be interesting like last time, because we're singing a Chinese song, Leiyu (Thunderstorm). It's a major task for the few of us Chinese-challenged in the NUS Choir, but so far we've been coping quite fine.
Wu yun ah, chen chen ya zai xin tou, goes the first lines.
Jayson one of the Chinese Filipinos doing the bridging course, has kindly translated for me. Wu yun means dark cloud, chen chen means deep (or something), ya zai means nadadaganan in Filipino (or being run over, trampled?), and xin tou means heart. (Tatatee, what do you think? Please correct me if I'm wrong hehe.) So there, connect the dots.
I'd like to say Wu yun, chen chen ya zai xin tou might very well describe my life right now. But that isn't fully accurate, actually. Then again, it's not far away from the truth either. Hee.
Music of the moment: Santana's Why Don't You and I
Currently feeling full from terrrrific block supper! Yey D block!
Happy Birthday
Happy Birthday
I was at my first practical for LSM1102: Molecular Genetics this morning, and I had a sudden surge of inferiority complex. My first thoughts as I entered the room some 45 minutes late (not my fault, the lesson plan said come at 10am, but it started at 9am): WHAT AM I DOING HERE?
(The answer to that, by the way, is that I am checking out the possibility of taking Biostatistics as my major. And to do that I must brave a module with Life Science majors. Scary.)
The lab manual seemed utterly foreign to me, and some equipment ala CSI I had never or seldom used before (I was in the Techno not the Science Stream in high school), and something about chemicals and organisms and DNA didn't seem to fit me well this morning. Thanks to my partner, a newfound friend Kathy, I survived the first practical (extracting genomic DNA from E.coli). Yey!
Towards the end of the session, as we removed our lab coats, I saw a cool shirt of a guy classmate across the lab table. It said, with a slightly fancy font and a sleek design, "I'm blogging this." I want I WANT that shirt! Or some shirt with a message to that effect. :)
Guess what it reminded me of? Hehe, it reminded me of this. That's my first blog entry one year ago. Hehe, I tried to recreate the original template, so that's roughly how moonstruck86.blogspot.com looked like one year ago (the current is version 2.2 I think). You can click here too, to dig through the complete first week archives. Ahhhh... memories! Haha. Maybe it's just me, but I somehow don't feel like that's the way I write now. Could I have.. no, it's impossible.. could I have grown? Hehe. I seriously think large chunks of memories about our own selves years back are laughable. :)
So, predictably, I wish you dear bloggie a Happy 1st Birthday! Sorry there isn't much fanfare, since I'm currently going insane handling my new modules, my almost-daily cheering for KR Hall in the IHG, and, as if my voice isn't beaten up enough, my choir practices. (Yes, my voice has officially saved me from idleness)
So what exactly do you bloggie get from me on your day? My sincerest gratitude for being my shoutbox and mind-monsters depository for the past year, and, tada, a space in the January issue for the Ridge. Yes, I wrote about blogging in my article for the school publication. Hah.
Dunno what that makes me though. A blog addict, perhaps? "A good blogger" would be just fine. ;)
Music of the Moment: Bone Thugs' Shoot 'Em Up
Currently feeling sore in the throat!
I was at my first practical for LSM1102: Molecular Genetics this morning, and I had a sudden surge of inferiority complex. My first thoughts as I entered the room some 45 minutes late (not my fault, the lesson plan said come at 10am, but it started at 9am): WHAT AM I DOING HERE?
(The answer to that, by the way, is that I am checking out the possibility of taking Biostatistics as my major. And to do that I must brave a module with Life Science majors. Scary.)
The lab manual seemed utterly foreign to me, and some equipment ala CSI I had never or seldom used before (I was in the Techno not the Science Stream in high school), and something about chemicals and organisms and DNA didn't seem to fit me well this morning. Thanks to my partner, a newfound friend Kathy, I survived the first practical (extracting genomic DNA from E.coli). Yey!
Towards the end of the session, as we removed our lab coats, I saw a cool shirt of a guy classmate across the lab table. It said, with a slightly fancy font and a sleek design, "I'm blogging this." I want I WANT that shirt! Or some shirt with a message to that effect. :)
Guess what it reminded me of? Hehe, it reminded me of this. That's my first blog entry one year ago. Hehe, I tried to recreate the original template, so that's roughly how moonstruck86.blogspot.com looked like one year ago (the current is version 2.2 I think). You can click here too, to dig through the complete first week archives. Ahhhh... memories! Haha. Maybe it's just me, but I somehow don't feel like that's the way I write now. Could I have.. no, it's impossible.. could I have grown? Hehe. I seriously think large chunks of memories about our own selves years back are laughable. :)
So, predictably, I wish you dear bloggie a Happy 1st Birthday! Sorry there isn't much fanfare, since I'm currently going insane handling my new modules, my almost-daily cheering for KR Hall in the IHG, and, as if my voice isn't beaten up enough, my choir practices. (Yes, my voice has officially saved me from idleness)
So what exactly do you bloggie get from me on your day? My sincerest gratitude for being my shoutbox and mind-monsters depository for the past year, and, tada, a space in the January issue for the Ridge. Yes, I wrote about blogging in my article for the school publication. Hah.
Dunno what that makes me though. A blog addict, perhaps? "A good blogger" would be just fine. ;)
Music of the Moment: Bone Thugs' Shoot 'Em Up
Currently feeling sore in the throat!
Fockerized and Hustled
Fockerized and Hustled
With the prodding of Ferron and Cecilia and Robinson and Gail, I jumpstarted the new sem with back-to-back movies.. at moviehouses! (Yep, this time it's the legal way!) I don't usually go to cinemas in Singapore since they're so pricey here compared to those in the Philippines (and yes there's that file-sharing option), but since I've always maintained I'm not a killjoy (unless I really have to for some serious reason), I decided to go watch movies with them two nights in a row. Ferron and Cecilia are still the hall-of-famers, though, with their three-night streak.
Meet the Fockers (@ Plaza Singapura) was crazy. It was a movie with enough smarts, enough plot, nice production value, and more than enough laughs to keep you entertained all throughout the movie. It was well thought out and STILL funny, and I give it an 8.5/10! And Barbra Streisand and Dustin Hoffman, I'll never see you the same way again. Haha, that's a great compliment, actually. ;) And of course, for a comedy film with a title like Meet the Fockers, how can you go wrong?
Kung Fu Hustle (@ Jurong Point) was out of this world. My God, it blew my mind. It has no plot (according to movie seatmate Gail), but it's a tremendous laughtrip! I salute actor-director-writer Stephen Chow for coming up with those wacky ideas which I doubt will ever be churned out by my best creative juices. It's not too smart a movie, but for sheer mindless fun and creatively terrific fight scenes, I give it an 8/10. Haha, quite refreshing after watching "brainy" shows like CSI (and its Miami and NY spin-offs), Survivor, The Amazing Race, The OC. (Okay, so maybe OC isn't much of a brainy show). And I suddenly miss my old hall KE7's cooool Wushu Team too!
W a t c h people, and be fockerized and hustled!
* * *
But you know what's really Fockered up? MSN. And my modules! Argh, I'm so disappointed my American Film module just has to clash with the tutorial for my Molecular Genetics! Ugh. And of course I can't drop Molecular Genetics since I am open to the idea of taking the Statistics (with concentration in Biostatistics) major. And MSN.. sigh. Please let me send messages to my friends, will you?
And yessss, tomorrow will be total Hustle day. It's crazy, I'm stressed even just thinking about it. So I plan to sit in for Diana's Algebra class at 8am-10am, and then I bid for the Reading Visual Images module through CORS in the hope I get in, then it's a 12-2pm Probability lecture, a break, then Calculus at 4-6pm. At 615pm I'll drop by PGP for the NUS Choir practice, then I'll have to excuse myself at 730pm and go over to the Basketball match of KR and cheer with the Cheer Team (I'll call it Cheer Team instead of Cheerleading team ok? We just yell and clap anyway.. NO STUNTS), then it's back to KR Hall at 930pm with the Cheer Team to lead and teach the hall cheers for IHG (Inter-Hall Games), and at 10pm till midnight, there's still tenor sectionals for KR Choir.
Argh. But that's okay, actually. I like the hustle anyway. And I like the feeling of somehow being "fully-booked". Hah.
Music of the moment: Fatboy Slim's Kung Fu Fighting
Currently feeling anxious about tomorrow's classes!
With the prodding of Ferron and Cecilia and Robinson and Gail, I jumpstarted the new sem with back-to-back movies.. at moviehouses! (Yep, this time it's the legal way!) I don't usually go to cinemas in Singapore since they're so pricey here compared to those in the Philippines (and yes there's that file-sharing option), but since I've always maintained I'm not a killjoy (unless I really have to for some serious reason), I decided to go watch movies with them two nights in a row. Ferron and Cecilia are still the hall-of-famers, though, with their three-night streak.
Meet the Fockers (@ Plaza Singapura) was crazy. It was a movie with enough smarts, enough plot, nice production value, and more than enough laughs to keep you entertained all throughout the movie. It was well thought out and STILL funny, and I give it an 8.5/10! And Barbra Streisand and Dustin Hoffman, I'll never see you the same way again. Haha, that's a great compliment, actually. ;) And of course, for a comedy film with a title like Meet the Fockers, how can you go wrong?
Kung Fu Hustle (@ Jurong Point) was out of this world. My God, it blew my mind. It has no plot (according to movie seatmate Gail), but it's a tremendous laughtrip! I salute actor-director-writer Stephen Chow for coming up with those wacky ideas which I doubt will ever be churned out by my best creative juices. It's not too smart a movie, but for sheer mindless fun and creatively terrific fight scenes, I give it an 8/10. Haha, quite refreshing after watching "brainy" shows like CSI (and its Miami and NY spin-offs), Survivor, The Amazing Race, The OC. (Okay, so maybe OC isn't much of a brainy show). And I suddenly miss my old hall KE7's cooool Wushu Team too!
W a t c h people, and be fockerized and hustled!
* * *
But you know what's really Fockered up? MSN. And my modules! Argh, I'm so disappointed my American Film module just has to clash with the tutorial for my Molecular Genetics! Ugh. And of course I can't drop Molecular Genetics since I am open to the idea of taking the Statistics (with concentration in Biostatistics) major. And MSN.. sigh. Please let me send messages to my friends, will you?
And yessss, tomorrow will be total Hustle day. It's crazy, I'm stressed even just thinking about it. So I plan to sit in for Diana's Algebra class at 8am-10am, and then I bid for the Reading Visual Images module through CORS in the hope I get in, then it's a 12-2pm Probability lecture, a break, then Calculus at 4-6pm. At 615pm I'll drop by PGP for the NUS Choir practice, then I'll have to excuse myself at 730pm and go over to the Basketball match of KR and cheer with the Cheer Team (I'll call it Cheer Team instead of Cheerleading team ok? We just yell and clap anyway.. NO STUNTS), then it's back to KR Hall at 930pm with the Cheer Team to lead and teach the hall cheers for IHG (Inter-Hall Games), and at 10pm till midnight, there's still tenor sectionals for KR Choir.
Argh. But that's okay, actually. I like the hustle anyway. And I like the feeling of somehow being "fully-booked". Hah.
Music of the moment: Fatboy Slim's Kung Fu Fighting
Currently feeling anxious about tomorrow's classes!
Back!
Back!
Guess who's back. Back in Singapore. Back to unlimited internet access. Back to glorious schoolwork. Back to downloading TV shows. Back to blogging!
I miss home already, don't get me wrong. My laughing sister who forever thinks she's growing fat (she's not really, but she needs to lay off from the TV more hehe), my mom and dad and lolas and family and friends, I miss them all! But maybe I'm just so busy with stuff, POSSIBLY and strangely excited about school maybe, that I don't feel so homesick anymore. At least, not as much as some friends I know here.
It only struck me that I'm FINALLY back here to do my more serious occupation of studying when the Silkair plane finally touched down on Singapore. I've always been anxious everytime a plane lands, maybe because I feel that it's the best time (the worst time actually) for a disaster to strike. But this time, when the wheels hit the ground with a thud and a screech, accompanied by that sickening pop in the ears, not only did I feel anxious, but this feeling of "Holiday's over you bastard, get your act together because it's time for serious mugging!". Something like that.
For the first time, the 3-hour trip didn't seem long, too, mainly because I was seated beside a friendly and talkative Pinay girl who was to fly for Israel after a short layover in Singapore, and airplane food is always nice. Yummy white wine and orange juice too. Made me forget my usual plane-ride headache. And unlike my last trip back to Changi Airport, I didn't get lost anymore when claiming my baggage. Hah.
Singapore's a nice place. It's nice to see everything still normal here. The same bright city lights, the same bustling metropolis lined by trees and greenery, the same messy hostel room, the same foreigner neighbors and same Pinoy group (although Robs is sporting a new haircut now..thank God. Looks great on him, really. No more afro! Haha!)
I'm pleased at the familiarity that has greeted me when I arrived, and I hope that you Singapore will be good to me this semester. I had a funny feeling it was a little hostile to me last year. Haha, memories.
Speaking of last year, my blog's turning one year old very soon! New template? That's a thought. ;)
Music of the moment: Joss Stone's Super Duper Love
Currently feeling lazy to unpack my stuff just yet. Soon!
Guess who's back. Back in Singapore. Back to unlimited internet access. Back to glorious schoolwork. Back to downloading TV shows. Back to blogging!
I miss home already, don't get me wrong. My laughing sister who forever thinks she's growing fat (she's not really, but she needs to lay off from the TV more hehe), my mom and dad and lolas and family and friends, I miss them all! But maybe I'm just so busy with stuff, POSSIBLY and strangely excited about school maybe, that I don't feel so homesick anymore. At least, not as much as some friends I know here.
It only struck me that I'm FINALLY back here to do my more serious occupation of studying when the Silkair plane finally touched down on Singapore. I've always been anxious everytime a plane lands, maybe because I feel that it's the best time (the worst time actually) for a disaster to strike. But this time, when the wheels hit the ground with a thud and a screech, accompanied by that sickening pop in the ears, not only did I feel anxious, but this feeling of "Holiday's over you bastard, get your act together because it's time for serious mugging!". Something like that.
For the first time, the 3-hour trip didn't seem long, too, mainly because I was seated beside a friendly and talkative Pinay girl who was to fly for Israel after a short layover in Singapore, and airplane food is always nice. Yummy white wine and orange juice too. Made me forget my usual plane-ride headache. And unlike my last trip back to Changi Airport, I didn't get lost anymore when claiming my baggage. Hah.
Singapore's a nice place. It's nice to see everything still normal here. The same bright city lights, the same bustling metropolis lined by trees and greenery, the same messy hostel room, the same foreigner neighbors and same Pinoy group (although Robs is sporting a new haircut now..thank God. Looks great on him, really. No more afro! Haha!)
I'm pleased at the familiarity that has greeted me when I arrived, and I hope that you Singapore will be good to me this semester. I had a funny feeling it was a little hostile to me last year. Haha, memories.
Speaking of last year, my blog's turning one year old very soon! New template? That's a thought. ;)
Music of the moment: Joss Stone's Super Duper Love
Currently feeling lazy to unpack my stuff just yet. Soon!
The right approach
The right approach
Thanks to the infamous CORS module-bidding system of NUS, I've experienced the wonders that the right approach can do in appealing for a module. The module I want to take this sem is ST2131: Probability, and strictly speaking, I'm not licensed to take it just yet.
Approach #1: The Polite I-Really-Need-It-Pleeeeease Approach
Appeal No : 200520033172
Appeal Type : Waiver of Module Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Module : ST2131 - PROBABILITY
Appeal Reason : I wish to apply for Computational Finance after my first year, and to do this I must take ST2131 (Probability) this sem. I mistakenly did not take the prerequisite, MA1102R (Calculus), in Sem 1 because I wrongly thought that ST1131 will suffice. In any case, I have already taken both MA1301 and MA1306 (in a bridging course last year), which also discuss Calculus. May I request that I take MA1102R and ST2131 concurrently then? Thank you.
Approve Authority : -
Appeal Result : APPEAL NOT APPROVED
_____
At this point I was about to give up on it, but Arthur suggested I re-appeal and try a different approach. (Angas, btw, means a bit cocky.)
_____
Approach #2: The Angas Approach
Appeal No : 200520034814
Appeal Type : Waiver of Module Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Module : ST2131 - PROBABILITY
Appeal Reason : I have taken MA1306 so i think i have the necessary knowledge to take up ST2131. I request that I be able to take MA1102R and ST2131 as co-requisites. After all, MA1306 and MA1102R preclude each other. This is also so I can read the qualifying modules to apply for Computational Finance after this semester. Thanks.
Approve Authority : Prof Chua Tin Chiu
Appeal Result : APPEAL APPROVED
***
I'm ecstatic my appeal was approved! And although this promises to be a killer module, I'm glad I still have a shot at Computational Finance as ST2131 is one of the qualifying modules. Thanks a lot to Arthur for suggesting I re-appeal and try his angas approach!
Thanks to the infamous CORS module-bidding system of NUS, I've experienced the wonders that the right approach can do in appealing for a module. The module I want to take this sem is ST2131: Probability, and strictly speaking, I'm not licensed to take it just yet.
Approach #1: The Polite I-Really-Need-It-Pleeeeease Approach
Appeal No : 200520033172
Appeal Type : Waiver of Module Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Module : ST2131 - PROBABILITY
Appeal Reason : I wish to apply for Computational Finance after my first year, and to do this I must take ST2131 (Probability) this sem. I mistakenly did not take the prerequisite, MA1102R (Calculus), in Sem 1 because I wrongly thought that ST1131 will suffice. In any case, I have already taken both MA1301 and MA1306 (in a bridging course last year), which also discuss Calculus. May I request that I take MA1102R and ST2131 concurrently then? Thank you.
Approve Authority : -
Appeal Result : APPEAL NOT APPROVED
_____
At this point I was about to give up on it, but Arthur suggested I re-appeal and try a different approach. (Angas, btw, means a bit cocky.)
_____
Approach #2: The Angas Approach
Appeal No : 200520034814
Appeal Type : Waiver of Module Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Module : ST2131 - PROBABILITY
Appeal Reason : I have taken MA1306 so i think i have the necessary knowledge to take up ST2131. I request that I be able to take MA1102R and ST2131 as co-requisites. After all, MA1306 and MA1102R preclude each other. This is also so I can read the qualifying modules to apply for Computational Finance after this semester. Thanks.
Approve Authority : Prof Chua Tin Chiu
Appeal Result : APPEAL APPROVED
***
I'm ecstatic my appeal was approved! And although this promises to be a killer module, I'm glad I still have a shot at Computational Finance as ST2131 is one of the qualifying modules. Thanks a lot to Arthur for suggesting I re-appeal and try his angas approach!
Decisions, decisions
Decisions, decisions
Yey, new year's finally here!
So there I was, in my Lola S's place, waiting for the clock to strike midnight, but oddly, I didn't feel so excited about the new year. I remember being so excited about the new year, that I repeatedly practised writing the numeral of the new year on imaginary paper, just so I wouldn't commit those silly errors in actual writing. But this time, it was more of a surprise of sorts, with me feeling, "Oh, is it New Year already?"
Must be the news. Let's pray for the tsunami victims. Depresses the hell out of me when I think about it. And must be because of too much thinking too, about stuff.
Anyway, I just came from Kidapawan, from a quick but nice visit to my Lola C's place, and now I'm back online to bid for my modules. It's a monster, this CORS system of NUS, but so far I'm not getting too lost just yet. Thanks to Arthur for helping me around.
I realize that I have some major decisions to make regarding my course in NUS. I thought the battle was between Statistics and Computational Finance, and for a while I thought Statistics had won, but now I'm seeing a whole lot of options once again. So Computational Finance MIGHT just open its doors to me (that is if the CF Department grants my request to take St2131: Probability this sem) , and of course Statistics is always an option (I've come to like it). But suddenly this minor in English Studies is coming into the picture (yey), my Dad's suggestion to take up something business-related to complement the "more academic rather than practical" Stats has made me reconsider a bit too, and with Arthur's suggestion, I might just consider jacking up my Statistics into Statistics with concentration in Biostatistics.
Lotta mumbo jumbo there. I'm still thinking about it. And as Five for Fighting say, I don't know where I'm going yet, but I sure am getting there. Precisely!
Music of the Moment: Five for Fighting's Easy Tonight
Currently feeling hungry! Must get home quick! :D
Yey, new year's finally here!
So there I was, in my Lola S's place, waiting for the clock to strike midnight, but oddly, I didn't feel so excited about the new year. I remember being so excited about the new year, that I repeatedly practised writing the numeral of the new year on imaginary paper, just so I wouldn't commit those silly errors in actual writing. But this time, it was more of a surprise of sorts, with me feeling, "Oh, is it New Year already?"
Must be the news. Let's pray for the tsunami victims. Depresses the hell out of me when I think about it. And must be because of too much thinking too, about stuff.
Anyway, I just came from Kidapawan, from a quick but nice visit to my Lola C's place, and now I'm back online to bid for my modules. It's a monster, this CORS system of NUS, but so far I'm not getting too lost just yet. Thanks to Arthur for helping me around.
I realize that I have some major decisions to make regarding my course in NUS. I thought the battle was between Statistics and Computational Finance, and for a while I thought Statistics had won, but now I'm seeing a whole lot of options once again. So Computational Finance MIGHT just open its doors to me (that is if the CF Department grants my request to take St2131: Probability this sem) , and of course Statistics is always an option (I've come to like it). But suddenly this minor in English Studies is coming into the picture (yey), my Dad's suggestion to take up something business-related to complement the "more academic rather than practical" Stats has made me reconsider a bit too, and with Arthur's suggestion, I might just consider jacking up my Statistics into Statistics with concentration in Biostatistics.
Lotta mumbo jumbo there. I'm still thinking about it. And as Five for Fighting say, I don't know where I'm going yet, but I sure am getting there. Precisely!
Music of the Moment: Five for Fighting's Easy Tonight
Currently feeling hungry! Must get home quick! :D
Yearender Report
Yearender Report
6 hours and 9 minutes to go! I'm not exactly itching to start afresh, but it feels good to have a new sheet of paper to write on or tear apart or smear mud on or mutilate or whatever. It's great that here's another chance.
This isn't a detailed yearender report like those 2004 yearender TV specials chronicling newsworthy items throughout the year, though. It's just a short entry I'm squeezing in once again, in my attempt to mess with CORS, or the Centralized Online Registration System of NUS. It's a report saying I'm still here, I'm still alive, and I'm having a blast.
I'm doing great! I went to my friend Jesa's debut at the posh Marco Polo Hotel the other day, where the theme was informal, something of a bar. It was basically one big clubbing session, complete with lavish cocktales, but with some small party games and some snippets of her artsy pretty-pretty cheerleader-kind life flashed onscreen. Very cool. And instead of us bringing gifts, she instead wanted us to donate a few pesos to send some out-of-school youth back to school. Very nice. And it was reunion too, of my friends in high school (hehe who I meet about twice a year anyway hee), and even those in grade school! Total blast from the past. It was super. I learned later that most everyone had the impression that I had turned to a drunkard of sorts already! Note to self: Drink your SMB's quick, and don't hold the bottle while dancing (even if it's convenient).
Yesterday, we had an overnight at this lovely lovely family resort of Clang, one of my batchmates. It was a high school reunion (as if Jesa's reunion wasn't enough) and it was jsut the perfect place to unwind and relax and talk and laugh! It was the perfect place, really. There was a hanging bridge, some hammocks, viewdecks that give a terrific view of the sea, an open dining area with a bar and TV with karaoke(!), a small swimming pool, some of those whatchamacallit beds/benches that sunbathers use, and this newly-built antique-style resthouse for Clang's mom. All that plus my high school friends. Great fun, needless to say.
I've been out almost every day I'm here, going out to shop for gifts (always futile but it's fun walking around) or to meet up with friends and watch a movie, and also, there was this other time, I went out with my lola to watch Mano Po! Hehe. First time she's seen a movie in the cinema after 3, 5 years? My sister's turned 16 too, and she had a blast hiking up this hill of sorts in this island near Davao. ;)
Anyway, I have a few days left before I head back to SG, so I'm making sure I maximize every minute! Have a happy new year everyone! Be sure to make those new year resolutions, even if you don't keep them (try at least). =)
6 hours and 9 minutes to go! I'm not exactly itching to start afresh, but it feels good to have a new sheet of paper to write on or tear apart or smear mud on or mutilate or whatever. It's great that here's another chance.
This isn't a detailed yearender report like those 2004 yearender TV specials chronicling newsworthy items throughout the year, though. It's just a short entry I'm squeezing in once again, in my attempt to mess with CORS, or the Centralized Online Registration System of NUS. It's a report saying I'm still here, I'm still alive, and I'm having a blast.
I'm doing great! I went to my friend Jesa's debut at the posh Marco Polo Hotel the other day, where the theme was informal, something of a bar. It was basically one big clubbing session, complete with lavish cocktales, but with some small party games and some snippets of her artsy pretty-pretty cheerleader-kind life flashed onscreen. Very cool. And instead of us bringing gifts, she instead wanted us to donate a few pesos to send some out-of-school youth back to school. Very nice. And it was reunion too, of my friends in high school (hehe who I meet about twice a year anyway hee), and even those in grade school! Total blast from the past. It was super. I learned later that most everyone had the impression that I had turned to a drunkard of sorts already! Note to self: Drink your SMB's quick, and don't hold the bottle while dancing (even if it's convenient).
Yesterday, we had an overnight at this lovely lovely family resort of Clang, one of my batchmates. It was a high school reunion (as if Jesa's reunion wasn't enough) and it was jsut the perfect place to unwind and relax and talk and laugh! It was the perfect place, really. There was a hanging bridge, some hammocks, viewdecks that give a terrific view of the sea, an open dining area with a bar and TV with karaoke(!), a small swimming pool, some of those whatchamacallit beds/benches that sunbathers use, and this newly-built antique-style resthouse for Clang's mom. All that plus my high school friends. Great fun, needless to say.
I've been out almost every day I'm here, going out to shop for gifts (always futile but it's fun walking around) or to meet up with friends and watch a movie, and also, there was this other time, I went out with my lola to watch Mano Po! Hehe. First time she's seen a movie in the cinema after 3, 5 years? My sister's turned 16 too, and she had a blast hiking up this hill of sorts in this island near Davao. ;)
Anyway, I have a few days left before I head back to SG, so I'm making sure I maximize every minute! Have a happy new year everyone! Be sure to make those new year resolutions, even if you don't keep them (try at least). =)
Happy Christmas
Happy Christmas
I'm home now, and it feels grrrreat! Never mind if long plane rides make my head spin.
Okay, so I've popped by this net cafe Net Xpress for a while to check my email mostly, and so I can squeeze in one tiny entry!
Well basically this one's just a quick MERRY CHRISTMAS greeting to everyone!
Have a truly happy one, you people. I wish I could take digital photos and upload them here, but Konica's still hogging my poor little camera. :)
Help me pray my grades are okay! December 26, 1pm! Happy holidays!
I'm home now, and it feels grrrreat! Never mind if long plane rides make my head spin.
Okay, so I've popped by this net cafe Net Xpress for a while to check my email mostly, and so I can squeeze in one tiny entry!
Well basically this one's just a quick MERRY CHRISTMAS greeting to everyone!
Have a truly happy one, you people. I wish I could take digital photos and upload them here, but Konica's still hogging my poor little camera. :)
Help me pray my grades are okay! December 26, 1pm! Happy holidays!
Homebound!
Homebound!
It's 2:27AM and I'm still blogging. To kill time I guess. Because at 9:15AM I'm gonna be flying home to Davao City, Philippines! Woohooooooooo!
I know I'm gonna miss Singapore a bit though. But I shouldn't, since I'm only gonna be gone for around three weeks!
So I may not be able to update this space too much in the coming days, unfortunately. But of course, you know blog addicts; we find ways. ;P (Besides, I'd have to bid for my modules online for next sem too) And also, isn't the previous entry loooong enough to last weeks? Hee.
Should get back to packing. I'm sleepy, actually, after some exhausting last-minute shopping session with Ivy at Bugis's commercial strip. Got myself an OP bag and Giordano drawstring shorts! Both 20% off! But as much as I want to get a good night's rest, I cannot and should not, since there's no more roommate to wake me up at 4AM. And I sure don't want to be left by the plane again. Hee.
Happy holidays everyone!
It's 2:27AM and I'm still blogging. To kill time I guess. Because at 9:15AM I'm gonna be flying home to Davao City, Philippines! Woohooooooooo!
I know I'm gonna miss Singapore a bit though. But I shouldn't, since I'm only gonna be gone for around three weeks!
So I may not be able to update this space too much in the coming days, unfortunately. But of course, you know blog addicts; we find ways. ;P (Besides, I'd have to bid for my modules online for next sem too) And also, isn't the previous entry loooong enough to last weeks? Hee.
Should get back to packing. I'm sleepy, actually, after some exhausting last-minute shopping session with Ivy at Bugis's commercial strip. Got myself an OP bag and Giordano drawstring shorts! Both 20% off! But as much as I want to get a good night's rest, I cannot and should not, since there's no more roommate to wake me up at 4AM. And I sure don't want to be left by the plane again. Hee.
Happy holidays everyone!
Photos galore!
Photos galore!
December 19 was photo day. It was the eve of Karen's birthday too (happy birthday you Karen you!), and we spent the day with fellow bass chorister Kundi at the Esplanade and later in Orchard for dinner.
This is supposed to be a short blog entry (short of text that is), and one of those extremely rare photoblog entries I make. My digicam is still at Konica for repair, so it was grrrrreat that Kundi the photography afficionado brought his cam!
***
What's wrong with these lovely pictures of the NUS Choir during their Esplanade Concourse performance? Stare at the photos carefully. Get the answer right and I'll kiss you.
Of course, what's wrong is that I'M NOT IN THEM! No-brainer question. =P
Hehe. These photos were taken on December 19th, the second day of the show. I had to sit it out since there were too many basses already (8 basses & 5 tenors), and not everyone was able to perform on the first day, the day I sang (See previous entry). It was fun playing audience though.. as much I wanted to sing. I <3 NUS Choir!
And yes, I'm gonna sleep more during the Christmas break to rid me of these zits from hell. Ugh.
***
After the two 30-minute sessions of the Choir, and while waiting for the Choir to get out of the dressing room, Karen and I took the opportunity to take photos of ourselves! And all right Karen, I (sadly) admit I'm no longer photogenic and yes I ruin the photos. Hmph. I still maintain though, that I'm the better photographer (nope, I shall not agree that Karen is photogenic haha). It takes a good photographer to bring out the right emotions, you know.
Nice ones right? In fact, for the last one, Karen agreed that the photo, for some reason, made her boobs bigger. Hah.
Look what photos Karen took of me gave in return.
Ugh. Karen messed my hair (don't fix it! she said), told me not to smile, because we were working on this new look: the smirk. I couldn't quite get it, because I'm a smiley not a smirkey. Okay, so maybe I'm not as camera-friendly anymore.
But wait, here's the worst shot of all. I dunno what on earth Karen was thinking. She didn't even mean to do it.
There. Joseph as Peter Rabbit.
But for some reason, Karen took a risk at a candid shot, and it was quite acceptable. ;)
Hah. Maybe I'll use this photo for my next blog template. =) I mean, even if it isn't superb, there are definitely worse pics.
Here's a shot of Karen and me. I took this photo because Karen's arm wasn't long enough. Hah.
***
By this time, Kundi arrived from the dressing room and took terrific photos. What can I say.
A pretty pink flower!
Some artist had an exhibit of his fiber glass creations. They're basically images of really big (read:fat) people with big heads and big body parts. Cool artwork, I must agree.
The beautiful Esplanade. It's pronounced /esplaneyd/, I insist. Also known as the durian, the bumblebee, or whatever else. Cool place.
Karen was playing around. I was harassed.
Me and the small but big city.
This one's cool. If you've seen CSI:New York, this could very well be one of the show's favorite shots. But of course, there's the Merlion and no Statue of Liberty.
To Jay. There actually was a ferry named Princess Jasper. Funny. At least your name's royalty, Jay. ;)
Oh, and here's some cotton candy.
We walked around, sat around, went to the Fullerton Hotel a.k.a. the Grandest Hotel in Singapore to take a leak (and it felt good!), went window shopping a bit.
On the way to City Link Mall to MRT Station to Orchard and to this cool outdoor resto, NYdC. We learned it stands for New York Dessert Cafe.
Whatever it means, it means this:
That's Mochamisu for Kundi, non-frightening Screamin' Demon Cheesecake for Karen (because Mango Tango Cheesecake was unavailable), and Irish Cream Coffee Elephanccino
with a scoop of Chocolate Chip ice cream for me. Terrific pasta too before this. Tres Amigos for both me and Kundi, and Karen went All-American. Their menu's the coolest.. I wanted to keep it as a collector's item! Or at least, it was an entertaining read with wacky pictures. NYdC's officially one of my new favorite places on Earth.
Wisdom nugget: Don't ever go to Orchard Road on the last Sunday before Christmas. It was swarming with people, and there was this parade too. I thought I was gonna drown in the see of people when we crossed the pedestrian lane. And of course: Don't even attempt to queue up for a cab at the taxi stand even if it's 11pm. Take the bus.
With all this said, happy birthday to Karen the Queen of "Cheesecakes".
(Note the quotation marks. Hah.)
Music of the Moment: Ding Dong Merrily on High
Currently feeling Christmassy of course!
December 19 was photo day. It was the eve of Karen's birthday too (happy birthday you Karen you!), and we spent the day with fellow bass chorister Kundi at the Esplanade and later in Orchard for dinner.
This is supposed to be a short blog entry (short of text that is), and one of those extremely rare photoblog entries I make. My digicam is still at Konica for repair, so it was grrrrreat that Kundi the photography afficionado brought his cam!
***
What's wrong with these lovely pictures of the NUS Choir during their Esplanade Concourse performance? Stare at the photos carefully. Get the answer right and I'll kiss you.
Of course, what's wrong is that I'M NOT IN THEM! No-brainer question. =P
Hehe. These photos were taken on December 19th, the second day of the show. I had to sit it out since there were too many basses already (8 basses & 5 tenors), and not everyone was able to perform on the first day, the day I sang (See previous entry). It was fun playing audience though.. as much I wanted to sing. I <3 NUS Choir!
And yes, I'm gonna sleep more during the Christmas break to rid me of these zits from hell. Ugh.
***
After the two 30-minute sessions of the Choir, and while waiting for the Choir to get out of the dressing room, Karen and I took the opportunity to take photos of ourselves! And all right Karen, I (sadly) admit I'm no longer photogenic and yes I ruin the photos. Hmph. I still maintain though, that I'm the better photographer (nope, I shall not agree that Karen is photogenic haha). It takes a good photographer to bring out the right emotions, you know.
Nice ones right? In fact, for the last one, Karen agreed that the photo, for some reason, made her boobs bigger. Hah.
Look what photos Karen took of me gave in return.
Ugh. Karen messed my hair (don't fix it! she said), told me not to smile, because we were working on this new look: the smirk. I couldn't quite get it, because I'm a smiley not a smirkey. Okay, so maybe I'm not as camera-friendly anymore.
But wait, here's the worst shot of all. I dunno what on earth Karen was thinking. She didn't even mean to do it.
There. Joseph as Peter Rabbit.
But for some reason, Karen took a risk at a candid shot, and it was quite acceptable. ;)
Hah. Maybe I'll use this photo for my next blog template. =) I mean, even if it isn't superb, there are definitely worse pics.
Here's a shot of Karen and me. I took this photo because Karen's arm wasn't long enough. Hah.
***
By this time, Kundi arrived from the dressing room and took terrific photos. What can I say.
A pretty pink flower!
Some artist had an exhibit of his fiber glass creations. They're basically images of really big (read:fat) people with big heads and big body parts. Cool artwork, I must agree.
The beautiful Esplanade. It's pronounced /esplaneyd/, I insist. Also known as the durian, the bumblebee, or whatever else. Cool place.
Karen was playing around. I was harassed.
Me and the small but big city.
This one's cool. If you've seen CSI:New York, this could very well be one of the show's favorite shots. But of course, there's the Merlion and no Statue of Liberty.
To Jay. There actually was a ferry named Princess Jasper. Funny. At least your name's royalty, Jay. ;)
Oh, and here's some cotton candy.
We walked around, sat around, went to the Fullerton Hotel a.k.a. the Grandest Hotel in Singapore to take a leak (and it felt good!), went window shopping a bit.
On the way to City Link Mall to MRT Station to Orchard and to this cool outdoor resto, NYdC. We learned it stands for New York Dessert Cafe.
Whatever it means, it means this:
That's Mochamisu for Kundi, non-frightening Screamin' Demon Cheesecake for Karen (because Mango Tango Cheesecake was unavailable), and Irish Cream Coffee Elephanccino
with a scoop of Chocolate Chip ice cream for me. Terrific pasta too before this. Tres Amigos for both me and Kundi, and Karen went All-American. Their menu's the coolest.. I wanted to keep it as a collector's item! Or at least, it was an entertaining read with wacky pictures. NYdC's officially one of my new favorite places on Earth.
Wisdom nugget: Don't ever go to Orchard Road on the last Sunday before Christmas. It was swarming with people, and there was this parade too. I thought I was gonna drown in the see of people when we crossed the pedestrian lane. And of course: Don't even attempt to queue up for a cab at the taxi stand even if it's 11pm. Take the bus.
With all this said, happy birthday to Karen the Queen of "Cheesecakes".
(Note the quotation marks. Hah.)
Music of the Moment: Ding Dong Merrily on High
Currently feeling Christmassy of course!
At the Esplanade Concourse
At the Esplanade Concourse
Yesterday the NUS Choir sang at the Esplanade Concourse. Nope, it's not the Esplanade Concert Hall, it's just the neat little free space outside it, in this posh comfy open area a few steps as you enter the main doors. It's like a big lobby of sorts, where they have all this artwork in frames, and some cheery Christmas decor including brightly-lit Christmas trees, and this cool abstract thingamajig (that's as descriptive as I can get haha) that greets visitors as soon as they step in.
It was an afternoon show, and we were set to sing for two 30-minute sessions at 3:30pm, and at 4:30 pm. It was crazy before the show. I was cursing the sudden rain which hindered me from leaving the hall. I had to take a cab, but luckily I saw alto sectional leader Josephine at the bus stop and so we shared the cab fare (Joseph and Josephine in the taxi =P). Goody, we were right on time at the designated meeting place. Minutes later, I saw NUS Choir President Wey Ling stressed like never before. And for good reason, too. The latecomers were, well, very late, and some not in full attire and make-up too, causing terrible inconvenience and undue tension since the dressing room wasn't easily accessible.
Some of the tenors also hadn't gone to the practices, and so they didn't have scores, or had to sing the songs without rehearsal at all. When our conductor Weiwei warmed us up in what few minutes we had before the actual performance, many of the tenors were busy talking or doing something else, causing Weiwei to be quite annoyed. I myself became a little irked by the arrogance and the come-what-may attitude of a few of them, but of course, being a newbie I couldn't quite complain.
We finally went up from the cool dressing room (it was so cool it had mirrors framed by some bright twenty bulbs like those we see on backstage footage on TV, this hotel-like washroom, and the lift leading to it could fit the entire choir), and proceeded to perform. We sang a total of 14 Christmas songs, mostly those hymn-like (no Frosty or Rudolph, but there's Silver Bells and White Christmas). It turned out rather funny. We sounded a bit off here and there, but the crowd which gathered seemed to appreciate it.
During the break, everyone was rather tense a bit. We knew we screwed up a little. Some said that the basses couldn't be heard (ouch) and that we basses were quite off in Gloria (double ouch). But I admit I was quite unsure with my notes, so I wasn't able to sing as loud and confident. And that Gloria song I never quite mastered the two verses in our single chop-chop practice. The tenors now had time to scribble the lyrics to the songs, and now some of them heard the songs. (Haha, really I have nothing much against them) Iris, who was doing the descant, this crazy soprano thing where one basically sings some melody in this very high pitch, and who, after being complimented that the descant sounded very beautifully in the indoor acoustics, confessed that she rushed through the other soprano parts and saved her energy for the "screaming" parts. Hee.
Weiwei was quite kind to us, critical but still encouraging, and we had a short warm-up again before the 4:30 performance. Kurien had to leave though, since he had to sing with Temasek Choir, so I was quite worried for the basses. Jeremy arrived from a wedding, and so the basses were complete once again. Kurien's leaving proved to be good for me (disclaimer: he sings very well and most definitely isn't one of the weaker links) because I was able to sing beside Lyndley, this kind guy who almost never gets lost in the songs. And sometimes that's all I need, someone to follow during times I get lost.
And yey, the second performance turned out great! Weiwei was visibly happy about it, as he commented "very good" or gave the thumbs up sign in between songs. He was smiling more too, (in fact smiling a little too much to make the choir smile too) and he seemed visibly pleased. The crowd was bigger too, the applause quite louder, and the choir seemed more confident and sang without any noticeable hiccups.
"More! More!" said some of the audience at the right side. Unforunately, we only had 30 minutes, so we just walked back to the dressing room heaving a collective sigh of relief.
***
I went to the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd for the sunset mass, then went to do some window-shopping at Raffles City, City Link, and finally Suntec City. No great finds still! I want to spend my money on something good and nice (and not-too-expensive too!) but apparently I have to look elsewhere. Had a double mushroom cheeseburger from Burger King for dinner, and I took Bus 10 to KR hall, feeling that my Christmas task here in Singapore is done, and it's about time I do some packing!
Music of the Moment: NUS Choir's Away in a Manger (hah!)
Currently feeling the Christmas spirit!
Yesterday the NUS Choir sang at the Esplanade Concourse. Nope, it's not the Esplanade Concert Hall, it's just the neat little free space outside it, in this posh comfy open area a few steps as you enter the main doors. It's like a big lobby of sorts, where they have all this artwork in frames, and some cheery Christmas decor including brightly-lit Christmas trees, and this cool abstract thingamajig (that's as descriptive as I can get haha) that greets visitors as soon as they step in.
It was an afternoon show, and we were set to sing for two 30-minute sessions at 3:30pm, and at 4:30 pm. It was crazy before the show. I was cursing the sudden rain which hindered me from leaving the hall. I had to take a cab, but luckily I saw alto sectional leader Josephine at the bus stop and so we shared the cab fare (Joseph and Josephine in the taxi =P). Goody, we were right on time at the designated meeting place. Minutes later, I saw NUS Choir President Wey Ling stressed like never before. And for good reason, too. The latecomers were, well, very late, and some not in full attire and make-up too, causing terrible inconvenience and undue tension since the dressing room wasn't easily accessible.
Some of the tenors also hadn't gone to the practices, and so they didn't have scores, or had to sing the songs without rehearsal at all. When our conductor Weiwei warmed us up in what few minutes we had before the actual performance, many of the tenors were busy talking or doing something else, causing Weiwei to be quite annoyed. I myself became a little irked by the arrogance and the come-what-may attitude of a few of them, but of course, being a newbie I couldn't quite complain.
We finally went up from the cool dressing room (it was so cool it had mirrors framed by some bright twenty bulbs like those we see on backstage footage on TV, this hotel-like washroom, and the lift leading to it could fit the entire choir), and proceeded to perform. We sang a total of 14 Christmas songs, mostly those hymn-like (no Frosty or Rudolph, but there's Silver Bells and White Christmas). It turned out rather funny. We sounded a bit off here and there, but the crowd which gathered seemed to appreciate it.
During the break, everyone was rather tense a bit. We knew we screwed up a little. Some said that the basses couldn't be heard (ouch) and that we basses were quite off in Gloria (double ouch). But I admit I was quite unsure with my notes, so I wasn't able to sing as loud and confident. And that Gloria song I never quite mastered the two verses in our single chop-chop practice. The tenors now had time to scribble the lyrics to the songs, and now some of them heard the songs. (Haha, really I have nothing much against them) Iris, who was doing the descant, this crazy soprano thing where one basically sings some melody in this very high pitch, and who, after being complimented that the descant sounded very beautifully in the indoor acoustics, confessed that she rushed through the other soprano parts and saved her energy for the "screaming" parts. Hee.
Weiwei was quite kind to us, critical but still encouraging, and we had a short warm-up again before the 4:30 performance. Kurien had to leave though, since he had to sing with Temasek Choir, so I was quite worried for the basses. Jeremy arrived from a wedding, and so the basses were complete once again. Kurien's leaving proved to be good for me (disclaimer: he sings very well and most definitely isn't one of the weaker links) because I was able to sing beside Lyndley, this kind guy who almost never gets lost in the songs. And sometimes that's all I need, someone to follow during times I get lost.
And yey, the second performance turned out great! Weiwei was visibly happy about it, as he commented "very good" or gave the thumbs up sign in between songs. He was smiling more too, (in fact smiling a little too much to make the choir smile too) and he seemed visibly pleased. The crowd was bigger too, the applause quite louder, and the choir seemed more confident and sang without any noticeable hiccups.
"More! More!" said some of the audience at the right side. Unforunately, we only had 30 minutes, so we just walked back to the dressing room heaving a collective sigh of relief.
***
I went to the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd for the sunset mass, then went to do some window-shopping at Raffles City, City Link, and finally Suntec City. No great finds still! I want to spend my money on something good and nice (and not-too-expensive too!) but apparently I have to look elsewhere. Had a double mushroom cheeseburger from Burger King for dinner, and I took Bus 10 to KR hall, feeling that my Christmas task here in Singapore is done, and it's about time I do some packing!
Music of the Moment: NUS Choir's Away in a Manger (hah!)
Currently feeling the Christmas spirit!
