AlwaySane Is In Da House

Grandpa, I'll miss you

2008-07-14T10:31:00.002-04:00

Deeply saddened when I heard the news that grandpa, you are no longer with us.

I will never be able to forget the moment I met you and grandma at the Long Beach train station.

It was in 2002 and there I was, traveling around the east coast after my exchange programme. You graciously invited me to stay with you after learning I was almost mugged in the subway.

Your smile was mesmerizing. I remembered you and grandma were holding hands as you were looking out for the "Chinese girl wearing a light blue Ithaca sweatshirt".

I stayed with you for a short 3 days but those days were unforgettable.

You brought me to the Boardwalk and showed me where mom and dad (my "adopted" US parents) got married, in the middle of WINTER.

You showed me the neighborhood and beautiful houses.

You almost made it to Singapore, if not for the dreaded SARS.

However, I am glad I had the privilege, blessing and honor of seeing you again after that. Grandma left us before I could see her again but still, I was glad I could speak with her over the phone and said my last goodbye.

You looked great and we had a great conversation when you visited during Dina's graduation.

You asked me if I wanted to return to do my PhD. I remembered saying "Maybe" and laughed.

Think we said goodbye then.

I hope you received my card and well wishes, and truly, you are missed.

Grandpa, thank you for treating and loving me as your own.

Flowers!

2008-07-04T10:56:00.002-04:00

Hee...

Caused quite a commotion at the office today.

I was just working, minding my own business, when suddenly I heard a whole group of people shouting my name.

And I mean SHOUT!!!!!

I stood up and looked, wondering what happened.

I really didn't know what to expect, except for someone looking for me and someone very important.

There walking towards me is an uncle, holding a BIG BOUQUET.

Of white lilies and roses.

I signed the delivery order and thanked him.

I hold in my hands, a BIG BOUQUET of seven roses and six lilies.

Beautiful.
.
.
.
.
.
Thank you, sweetheart.
=====

"Housemen" makes me fat

2008-06-30T21:20:00.002-04:00

I don't know whether it's a blessing or a bane, but ever since "Housemen Corner" - a food & drinks kiosk - opened its shutters for business near my work place, my eating habits have taken a turn.

For better or for worse.

Better - Variety definitely helps. Chee Cheong Fun, Soon Kueh, oh-my-so-lovely Waffles with Blueberry jam, Shui Kueh (cute lil rice cakes with salted vegetables), teh, teh-c, kopi, kopi-c, kopi-siu-tai.....

Worse - Variety of image-threatening ingredients, oil, fats, carbohydrates, calories, sugar...

In the past, when food around me wasn't that magnificent to begin with, cereals with milk happens to be the best breakfast option.

Now now. I still have cereals for breakfast, but my heart tickles for some variety.

And that variety is making me FAT!

Maybe I should stop walking past that way.
1. Out of sight, out of mind.
2. Walk more, burn more.
3. No more fragrant wafts of waffle-smell coming through my nose into my sensory system.

Out.

=====
sane choices.

Work on Saturday

2008-05-30T20:08:00.002-04:00

Oooooh yeah!

Why am I writing this at 8:09AM on a Saturday, when half the world my age is still deep in sleep?

Got to work.

It's kinda funny how when we were having dinner last night that ALL of us had to get up early to work the next day. It's almost like thou-shalt-work-on Saturdays karma...

Anyway, I had to be at Orchard at 9:30AM for a photoshoot for the staff magazine. It's going to be fun and full of laughter, I'm sure. I mean it's a blessing that for 2 consecutive shoots God has planned for me great talent for my models. :)

Pretty.

Cute.

Handsome.

Nice smile. :D

I just pray fervently that there will be NO RAIN...

Back track to last night. We were talking, talking and suddenly we started talking about traveling. I hope that our HK trip in September will materialize.

=====
short sane.

I'm Floored

2008-05-28T21:58:00.002-04:00

I don't usually do quizzes. Especially those aimless ones like "What kind of angel/devil am I?" or "If I am a kind of pizza, what toppings will I have?" so on and so forth.

But when I tried this, thanks to my friend Kit, I was completely and totally floored.

Here's what it says:

What Sia Jia Hui Means

You are the total package - suave, sexy, smart, and strong. (me: AMEN, AMEN!!!)

You have the whole world under your spell, and you can influence almost everyone you know.

You don't always resist your urges to crush the weak. Just remember, they don't have as much going for them as you do.

You tend to be pretty tightly wound. It's easy to get you excited... which can be a good or bad thing.

You have a lot of enthusiasm, but it fades rather quickly. You don't stick with any one thing for very long.

You have the drive to accomplish a lot in a short amount of time. Your biggest problem is making sure you finish the projects you start.

You are usually the best at everything ... you strive for perfection.

You are confident, authoritative, and aggressive.

You have the classic "Type A" personality.

You are fair, honest, and logical. You are a natural leader, and people respect you.

You never give up, and you will succeed... even if it takes you a hundred tries. (me: IS THIS SERIOUS?)

You are rational enough to see every part of a problem. You are great at giving other people advice.

You are truly an original person. You have amazing ideas, and the power to carry them out. (me: HALLELUJAH)

Success comes rather easily for you... especially in business and academia.

Some people find you to be selfish and a bit overbearing. You're a strong person.

You are a very lucky person. Things just always seem to go your way.

And because you're so lucky, you don't really have a lot of worries. You just hope for the best in life.

You're sometimes a little guilty of being greedy. Spread your luck around a little to people who need it. (me: SPREAD A LITTLE LOVIN')

What's Your Name's Hidden Meaning?

OH.MY.WONDEROUS.GOSH.

=====
One. Two. Three. FLOOR.

中国

2008-05-20T09:15:00.000-04:00

坚强吧，中国！

日后会有更多奇迹出现。

会继续为你们祈祷。

Bumper Sticker

2008-05-18T22:16:00.001-04:00

Do what makes you happy
Be with who makes you smile
Laugh as much as you breath
Love as long as you live

A good example

2008-05-17T21:30:00.002-04:00

I was traveling on the train from Jurong to Tampines and along the way a male Chinese national came on board and sat opposite me.

I could tell he was not local.

As he sat there, I noticed he was making funny faces at a little boy next to him. The little boy, about 2-3 years of age, was with the parents then. It was quite a cute sight to behold.

A couple of stations later, the family alighted and the man shifted over to the side.

Just about then an elderly lady walked in and sat opposite me, a couple of seats away from the man. I think it was Aljunied.

As the elderly lady was walking in, however, a piece of used tissue dropped out from her pocket. She didn't notice.

Without saying a word, the Chinese national took out a small plastic bag from his backpack and removed its content. After that, he used the small plastic bag to pick up the used tissue from the ground and kept it with him.

All the way until he alighted.

I was so impressed with his behavior and at the same time wonder if it was me, what would I do?

Yes, I'd probably just leave the used tissue for the cleaners to pick up.

Such is the behavior of me who grew up in a place where cleanliness is held in high regards and where being clean and green is a mandate. This is also the place where the name of the country is synonymous with CLEAN.

But no, my behavior and mindset do not even match this young man who may have arrived a couple of years ago. And yet, he showed me what it means to be gracious.

I remember back when I was in the US, I traveled to Maryland to visit a good friend of mine. He never fails to impress me because no matter where we are, he will be picking up trash from the ground and putting it into the trash cans.

I asked him why is he so adamant in picking up these trash?

His response was he couldn't stand seeing the place dirty.

Maybe that's how the Chinese national felt. Maybe because he has made Singapore his second home that he can't bear to see it littered and dirty.

No matter where we are, no matter where we come from, being gracious should be in our nature.

Whether or not the country has a first-class cleaning system is not important.

=====
Sane is educated.

Decision

2008-04-28T08:56:00.000-04:00

Finally... My decision is to stay put.

Yup, it may sound like a downer but after hearing sound advice from two people who have been there and done that, it may not be such a great idea after all for me to get a third communication degree.

And do I really want to end up as a professor, with such little real work experience?

Maybe not.

It doesn't mean that I won't be getting one in future. I may, after I get more work experience and have a clearer idea about what is needed in the area of health communication and social needs.

But for now, I think it's a no-go for PhD.

And I feel great about this decision. =)

Permanent Head Damage?

2008-03-17T06:52:00.002-04:00

I just knew this day is gonna come. But it's a little too soon right?

Should I or should I not? What is this all going to mean?

Another four years of pure, intensive research and back into the furor of school.

Should I even entertain this thought?

Yes, I do have a scholarship and all that but it will also mean a lot of commitment, sacrifices and devotion on my part.

First, I will have to go with a small stipend for the next four years. Will this be fair to the people around me?

Second, my life will be inundated with research, writing and presentation. Can I handle it?

Third, pursuing a PhD and doing research have always been my heart's desire. So if I don't go for it, will I be shortchanging myself?

Dear Lord, guide me.

Free Willy, only bigger and better

2008-02-29T21:52:00.001-05:00

Just watched Water Horse and I highly recommend it.

It is entertaining, yet heart-warming.

Do not expect an epic but it is as good as a feel-good movie could be.

The film is paced very well, with episodes when you are just sitting at the edge of the seat.

Death?

2008-02-27T21:54:00.004-05:00

We've all come across countless of quotes about deaths - positive or negative. For example:

"When death smiles at you, the best thing you can do is to smile back" - Gladiator

"Because I could not stop for death, he kindly stopped for me" - Emily Dickinson

"It is worthwhile to live and fight courageously for sacred ideals" - Norbert Capek

I was just reading a book this morning on the way to work and this one line the author wrote struck me deep inside, right to the core of my being, shaking every ounce of flesh in me.

She said:

"Death does not linger where it has been defeated" - Anita Diamant, The Red Tent

You see why I was so overcome by emotion not simply because of the depth and profundity of the subject matter, but the brevity in which it describes what it means to us all who can proudly proclaim that we have conquered death, through the ONE who conquered it for us on the cross.

The Red Tent is a fiction novel about Dinah, the daughter of Jacob and sister of his sons. We hardly hear about her, except for when she was raped.

Anyhow, The Red Tent expounds on her and her life with her family and eventually in Egypt.

Be forewarned though, that this story does not strive to hold truth to biblical-sense. The author tries to give us a sense of how life could've been like in the times of Israel and she tries to bring in elements of their times such as the herbs they would've used for cooking and healing, the machinery, the kind of work they do, the kind of houses they live in. However, as far as character development is concerned, the author took the liberty to carve out personalities for each of the brothers, Jacob, his wives and handmaids, and of course, Dinah.

We read how the brothers banter among themselves:
"Reuben was, by nature, kind to children, but we avoided Simon and Levi, who laughed at us and teased Tali and Issa, the twins. 'How do you know which of you is which?' Levi taunted. Simon was even worse: 'If one of you dies, our mother won't mourn since she'll have one exactly the same.' That always made Tali cry."

The Red Tent brought us from the beginnings of Dinah's mother and aunts (Rachel, Zilpah and Bilhah), which is about one-fifth of the novel to Dinah's story. And eventually we read about Dinah's death in the arms of her true love Benia, the carpenter in Egypt.

We also read how she met Joseph, who was already Pharoah's right-hand man and how that brief meeting was so brief but poignant.

It was because in the novel, Dinah truly loved the man, Shalem, whom the brothers killed, along with the rest of the men in Shechem. In The Red Tent, Dinah was heart-broken beyond belief and went on to curse her brothers and her father, for allowing the murders to happen.

The Red Tent continued to spin the story of how Dinah eventually settled in Egypt, gave birth to Re-mose the son of Shalem, watched her son grew to a man, met Benia - the carpenter with whom she spent the rest of her life with and died in Egypt.

The chronicle of Dinah was compelling and believable but as the author mentioned, this is a fictional novel.

Read it for the love that Dinah has shared and has the privilege to share with the people she knew - her mother, her aunts, her brothers, her father, her true loves, her son and her people.

"Death is no enemy, but the foundation of gratitude, sympathy, and art. Of all life's pleasure, only LOVE owes no debt to death"

=====
Truly, love knows no bounds and death has been defeated.

Happy (lunar) new year!

2008-02-06T03:57:00.000-05:00

Can you believe another new year is here. Another time of eating bak gwa, collecting ang pows and entertaining relatives.

Seriously, before I met the only men I put my tabloid faith in, 新明and晚报, I never knew there to be so many interesting news about Chinese New Year that I bet you don't know about.

Number one: Chinese New Year is supposed to start on Feb 5.
That is according to the solar calendar, which says that Feb 5 is actually the first day of the new year. Darn I feel cheated. I could've gone on leave much earlier.

Number two: No red for rats.
All rats beware. Red is not a good color for the first day of Chinese New Year. Instead, you should be wearing green. This has something to do with a combination of your birth sign, the opposing elements and feng shui. Apart from rats, there are three animals that are not supposed to wear red for the first day of CNY, but I don't remember which. So, just wear by faith.

Finally, here's a new year goodie for you:

Quickkkkkkk

2008-01-25T06:09:00.000-05:00

Just wanted to blog about two things.

1. Bus
I was on a SBS 143 this morning and I tell you the driver has some major issues with jam-braking. He was basically just jam-braking the entire journey: stopping at bus stops, stopping at traffic lights. just stopping. I was like, hasn't he learnt intermittent-braking?!?!?

2. Patriots vs. Giants
Where, oh where, are they showing the game? Will really want to see it......

=====
Sane signs here

Dong Dong Dong Chiang!

2008-01-25T00:46:00.000-05:00

12 more days to Chinese New Year!

I'm so so excited!!!

Not because of the ang pows I'm going to get. Anyway, based on progress report done by Ah Tan for the last two years and a forecast for this year, I think the married will not be too generous so the singles will still be poor.

Was anyone at Chinatown? I took a bus that passed by that place on Sunday - which also happened to be the day when "lighting"-thing happened. So I was stuck on the bus at the bus stop near Smith Street for a total of 10 minutes. Bad timing...

CNY this year is going to be a little different, for two reasons. One, that father of mine will be going to Vietnam on Chu 2. Bah... Leaving me alone at home while he goes sightseeing. Two, Chu 3 the cousins are all going to chalet! Woohoo!!! This is the first time that we cousins plan a chalet and it's going to be fantastic. There's even a Responsibilities Chart.

Lao 1 (that's me) - Book chalet. Collect money. =)
Lao 2 (Ah Tan) - Bring entertainment and snacks.
Lao 3 (Ning) - Security guard at the pool and all public places.
Lao 4 (Ayu) - Give directions. Entertain all parents.
Lao 5 part 1 (Jian) - Food coordinator. Da-Pao Expert.
Lao 5 part 2 (Qian) - Roster toilet and bathroom schedule, and not to get lost.

Fun right!!! We're going to play Skip-Bo and 99 all night long!

I've also planned my diet for Chu 1. Since I did not celebrate CNY for the last 2 years, I'm going to make sure I make up for it through my diet. So this is what I'm going to do:

8:00AM Pre-Breakfast:
8 pineapple tarts, 5 love letters, coffee

10:00AM Breakfast:
3 Bak Gwa, 2 pineapple tarts

12:00PM Lunch:
More Bak Gwa, Fried Bee Hoon, Chicken Wings, 3 more pineapple tarts

2:00PM Tea Break I:
2 Bak Gwa, 6 Shrimp Rolls, 5 Kueh Bulu (or whatever those are called)

3:30PM Tea Break II:
6 Bak Gwa, 5 pineapple tarts, coffee

5:00PM Pre-Dinner:
3 pineapple tarts, chrysanthemum tea

6:30PM Dinner:
5 more pineapple tarts, 3 kueh bulus, Fried Bee Hoon

8:00PM Pre-Supper:
2 Bak Gwas, Chrysanthemum tea

10:00PM Supper:
The rest of the pineapple tarts, bak gwas, kueh bulus and 5 packets of Chrysanthemum tea

Thereafter I will proceed to exercise like mad from Chu 2 to Chu 6.....

-_-

Sad things

2008-01-22T19:29:00.000-05:00

Too much departures happening in our midst.

With Benazir Bhutto's passing late last year, comes this year's deaths early on in 2008.

MC King, beloved comic actor, passed on Jan 4.

This morning, another heart-breaking news in the form of the death of Heath Ledger. You'll remember him most from "Brokeback Mountain", but he was also the star of "10 Things I Hate About You" with Julia Stiles, acted in "Monster's Ball", "The Brothers Grimm" and others.

At a loss for words.

Rest in peace.

Jingle bell rock

2007-12-23T20:25:00.000-05:00

Dear friends,

Here's wishing everybody happy holidays!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Pandan Reservoir

2007-12-20T20:54:00.000-05:00

Finally, for the first time in 27 years of Jiahuism, living right next to Pandan Reservoir....

I ran the whole circumference of the reservoir.

From my house, to the factories, to Teban, then back to Pandan.

Rock on!

Sitting in silence no more

2007-12-05T22:00:00.001-05:00

Am deeply heartened by what Jennifer Love Hewitt said on her official website.

Excerpt:

I know what I look like, and so do my friends and family.
And like all women out there should, I love my body.

To all girls with butts, boobs, hips and a waist,
put on a bikini -- put it on and stay strong.

When will we put aside our prejudices against sizes, and see people for who they are.

Their talents, humanity, love and dignity.

In a society where cellulite counts for more than health, I would like to implore all of you to stop judging yourself and others by how much you or they weigh.

Instead, celebrate the body that we have inherited and been given.

Above all, thank God for his love that makes us different.

The world would be a rather boring place if we have been all skinny or curvy.

=====
Sane celebrates the body

Mean bean

2007-12-05T02:09:00.001-05:00

I know I'm being a mean bean for doing this, but seriously, he DOES look a little "interesting"...

:D

His expression = priceless

In a happy mood

2007-11-30T10:07:00.000-05:00

Must be the jokes I kept on receiving in the office these days.

Please, laugh with me.

-----
On a test in Sunday School, kids wrote:

Adam and Eve were created from an Apple tree. Noah's wife was called Joan of Ark. Noah built an ark and the animals came on in pears.

In the first book of the bible, Guinessis. God got tired of creating the world so he took the sabbath off.

The greates miricle in the bible is when Joshua told his son to stand still and he obeyed him.

Jesus was born because Mary had an immaculate contraption.

Jesus enunciated the Golden Rule, which says to do unto others before they do one to you. He also explained, a man doth not live by sweat alone.

Solomon, one of Davids sons, had 300 wives and 700 porcupines.

Christians have only one spouse. This is called monotony.

(courtesy of Alice)

Some kids went even further...

"Our Father, Who does art in heaven, Harold is His name. Amen."

"And forgive us our trash baskets as we forgive those who put trash in our baskets."

-----
A mother was preparing pancakes for her sons, Kevin 5, and Ryan 3. The boys began to argue over who would get the first pancake. Their mother saw the opportunity for a moral lesson.

"If Jesus were sitting here, He would say, 'Let my brother have the first pancake, I can wait.'"

Kevin turned to his younger brother and said, "Ryan, you be Jesus!"

(courtesy of peishang)

快笑死了

2007-11-30T02:10:00.000-05:00

今天收到了一封电邮，快要笑死了！

-----
小学生造句

题目: 其中
小朋友写: 我的其中一只左脚受伤了。
老师评语: 你是蜈蚣？

题目: ... 就....
小朋友写: 一只娃娃就要一百块。
老师评语: 老师笑到不行..

題目: 你看
小朋友写: 你看什么看! 没看过啊

照样造句：
例题: 别人都夸我( )，其实我( )
小朋友写: 别人都夸我( 很帅)，其实我( 是戴面具的)。
老师评语: 什么面具这么好用???

题目: 难过
小朋友写: 我家门前有条水沟很难过。
老师评语: 老师更难过......

题目: 天才
小朋友写: 我３天才洗一次澡。
老师评语: 要每天洗才干净。。。

题目: 好吃
小朋友：好吃个屁
老师：………

题目: 况且
小朋友：一辆火车经过，况且况且况且况且．．．．．
老师：……………

想要更多的话，请告诉我。我会电邮给你。

=====
笑死了

Something good

2007-11-29T22:22:00.000-05:00

Just a short plug for an event at Geek Terminal...

From Dec 3-7, Geek Terminal is hosting a Free Lunch Charity Drive for all who can attend.

The beneficiary of this charity drive is the MILK Fund in Singapore.

Please support.

And did I mention they have phenomenal coffee?

=====
sane speaks here

Home

2007-11-29T19:01:00.000-05:00

It's 8:05am on Friday and I'm still home.

Usually, I'm out of the house by 7:20am. Just not today.

Because... my daddy is driving me to work! Yippee!!!

We have this pact that whenever it rains, he'll drive me to work.

I expanded the pact to include days when it SEEMS like it's going to rain.

Makes sense to me.

The rain covers at SGH isn't exactly easy to maneuver. From the bus stop to my building I have to at least cross through two areas where it's entirely open to nature.

And me, I have this gift.

Whenever I have my brolly with me, it won't rain.
Whenever I don't, it pours buckets.

So everytime I walk to work and if it rains, since I won't have my brolly, I'll get drenched.

TWICE already!!!

Here I'm using the remaining 10 minutes to give you a short one. Just in case you think I've neglected this blog.

Just a plug, if you're ever in need of great coffee, please visit Geek Terminal at Market Street, opposite Golden Shoe carpark.

Not only is their coffee phenomenal, they serve good food in a form of a buffet spread.

You can choose to have just the soup and salad (which is good enough if you ask me).

Or choose to have main course (which is this whole line of delicious cuisine).

And best of all, that place is meant for people who are on-the-go. Meaning it has wireless internet, laptop for you to rent, photocopying and faxing services (stapling even, I think). You can even hold meetings, conferences or events there.

So if you're outside and suddenly you remember:

"I have an urgent email to send!!"

Do not worry. You can always rent a laptop, connect to their free wi-fi, and send away!!

I will totally go back to that place again just for a sip of their most-aromatic coffee.

You should even have a chat with its boss, Mr Danny Pang. He is extremely friendly, and will even show you how to brew that perfect cuppa! Of course, you need to buy the perfect machine to brew that perfect cuppa but that's another story altogether.

Anyway, if anyone of you are interested, I am game for a lazy afternoon at Geek Terminal.

Just for the perfect cup of Cappuccino.

In case you're wondering, they do not just serve coffee as is. The baristas will actually have "designs" on the coffee and it looks so beautiful, you just want to sip slowly in case you ruin the wonderful design they've created.

Something like that...

And if you want to have that same aromatic coffee back at home, fret not for Geek Terminal has it all prepared for you.

You can buy coffee machines and coffee powder right at the cafe itself. And it's illy's coffee!! *drool*

Since it's made with a techie in mind, you can even choose to buy a computer, laptop, or mouse from them. It's like a one-stop shop for a hungry, zone-out techie if you ask me as it has food, coffee and all the technology to blow your mind away!

So who's game?!

Disclaimer: I did not receive any rewards to write this blog so all that I've written is a result of a wonderful experience. I did, however, receive a card which entitles me to 11 FREE cups of coffee at Geek Terminal.

SCORE!

=====
asane

Did anyone see the MDA senior management rap?

2007-11-27T21:54:00.001-05:00

Scary lah their stuff! Can view it on their website.

Since we're on the topic of scary, what's even more scary is the way youngsters write nowadays!

(I feel old as I was typing that...)

Anyway, has anyone seen the way they write now? It's unintelligible!!!!!

It goes something like this:

iie theenk iit's beecoz auf de cre8tif speereet iin dem oor sumting, bart doo eeew eevun unnderstaand a wud iie juz tyyped? eemagene readiing a hole blog lyke dat...

Goort iit?

=====
siao sane

Photoshoot was a success!

2007-11-26T00:45:00.000-05:00

Photoshoot with grandmama for her birthday was so much fun!

I never thought that it'll be such an amazing experience but the truth is that there are so much enjoyment and pleasure rolled into the 4 hours we were together.

Verdict: Well worth the time and money we are spending!

There were lots of entertainment, reminiscing and plain pure fun for a Saturday.

First we took the MRT together to Bugis Junction, where we walked over to Liang Seah Street's Lai Lai Family Restaurant for early lunch. As usual, the lazy pig didn't join us because she woke up at only 10am and we were there at 11:30am to eat.

Didn't plan to eat much cause 1. we didn't want to fall asleep at the photoshoot and 2. we didn't want to look fat. Nonetheless, we still ordered the set meal for 4.

There were 6 of us so two had to order something else.

Note: All along my grandmother thought we were bringing her to the BEACH. Sibeh random. Don't ask me how that came about 'cos that wasn't my idea.

Back to ordering.

I ordered a hong shao beef noodles, along with three other cousins.
Here's one thing we DIDN'T know. The hong shao beef noodles are superfulliciously spicy.

Damn it!!!!!!!!

One cousin was tearing.

Another was trying to avoid the noodles and just eat the beef.

I couldn't take it and exchanged it with grandmama. She had pork ribs with rice. Thank God.

So we ate and ate and ordered dessert for grandmama.

Lazy pig FINALLY rolled over and off we go to photoshoot!

PHOTOSHOOT

We started with a brief introduction to our consultant. She's a very nice lady, bubbly and goth looking because of her black attire and make up. But once she started speaking, we knew we will have a lot of fun. :)

First: Make up. Mine was nice. I was wearing pink so my eye shadow was a shade of red/maroon.

At first I had this shocking pink lipstick that scared the living daylights out of my tush. I begged the make up artist to please change it to something else.

We finally decided on nude, which looks cute. But I must say my make up artist was very good. She did my hair too, which was pretty decent. Could've been better though.

Second: Casual shoot. Our warm up was standing against the white wall with just one leg. Then throw balls towards the ceiling and towards the photographer.

One of my cousins managed to strike the photographer, twice. Hilarious. Can't be help. She's a basketball player.

We then took photo individually with grandmama.

Third: Sub-formal shoot. We all changed into dresses and skirts and proceeded to this pink room where we do another round of photo shoot. This time, the poses are more sophisticated compared to the casual one.

Fourth: Photo selection. We sat in front of this mac and picked and chose the photos we wanted.

As usual, the place kept on bugging us to sign up for their membership package which was quite exorbitant. In the end, we decided on two photos...

The casual one...

And the sub-formal one

And finally
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There's ME!!!

Verdict: Photoshoot was a HUGE SUCCESS!

=====
sane satisfied

Photo Shoot

2007-11-23T18:56:00.000-05:00

Cousins are bringing grandma out for her birthday trip.

It started out as a harmless thread on friendster about what we want to give to our grandma for her birthday this year.

My grandma, by the way, is super-happening and trendy.

one -- she has more friends than us.

two -- she has more accessories than all of us, combined.

three -- she is going for more trips than us.

four -- her make up is even more sophisticated than MAC.

five -- she has......EVERYTHING!
.
.
.
.
So all cousins were in a fix.

We had several ideas what to get for her.

Make up -- she got them. lots.

Dress -- ok ok. that's my idea. but we've done that too.

Food -- too common.

Cruise trip -- our friend is already going to shanghai. bleh...

Tour terminal three -- not a bad idea.

Chinese opera ticket -- also, done that. and doesn't need us to get for her. she has friends.

Sexy underwear -- DONE THAT. VS summore!

Bring her shopping -- our friend has friends, and very high expectations. we cannot afford Coach.

Photo Shoot -- that's it!
.
.
.
.
.
Some of the reasons we've decided on this.

one. WE HAVE NEVER DONE THIS.
two. This will be something she can keep.
three. This will be truly something all the cousins can come together and do.

We're all going this afternoon to Bugis first to eat, then take photo.

I know, the sequence is a little lopsided but we figure if we take photos till 3pm, we're all going to drop like flies due to starvation.

Therefore the result is since we're all going to look fat, so no one will look fat...since all of us will look fat.... get it?

First, we're going to Lai Lai Family Restaurant for lunch.

Then, we're going to Foto Gallery at Beach Road for the photo shoot.

We'll get make up and hair done. All 7 of us!!

We'll have one wardrobe change.

From casual to not-so-casual.

At the end of the shoot, we'll get two HI-RES photos to print.

Will post some here when we finally get it.

=====
vainsane

OH.MY.GOSH.

2007-11-23T04:17:00.000-05:00

This is so surreal...

PROJECT RUNWAY 4 is here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Way to go, Bravo!

Whacked Stupidity

2007-11-22T21:22:00.000-05:00

Just like the telephone scammers and Nigeria bank cheaters, sometimes I wonder if people still fall for these tricks?

Best of all, do these tricksters still stick to the same tactics, even though they have been shamed publicly in the light of media and news report?

Apparently they do.

Every week, there seem to be at least one person who fell victim to the so-called "你中奖了！" tricks. And these are your literate (meaning they can read newspapers and watch news on TV), educated young people.

Imagine.

WILL YOU, FOR THE LIFE OF YOUR MOTHER, PART WITH $60,000 TO A BLOODY STRANGER JUST SO YOU CAN WIN SOME NON-EXISTING MOOLAH FROM A NON-EXISTING COMPANY IN HONG KONG?

I won't.

See, lucky draws will not require one to pay in order to get the prize. If not, it will be not called a prize, but a transaction.

Coming down to the bottom line, anything that requires us to pay a price first before us seeing any results is NOT a prize.

Unless the price is the taxi fare from my house to the collection center.

That's worth it.

Anyway, just when you think that these people have woken up and thought of better ways to cheat us of our money, DEAD WRONG.

Not only have they not thought of new avenues (talk about creativity), they are so careless!

For example, I received in my email today a winning notification from British National Lottery.

Note: it's BRITISH National Lottery

There are many problems I see with this email.

So many errors that just make them seem less legitimate. Here are their flaws:

1. It's a freaking BRITISH lottery. Why send it out using a .nz email account?!

2. For goodness sake, change the reference and batch number each time you send a mail!

3. Grammar, Grammar, Grammar.

4. Don't you have a more legitimate-looking email account than a yahoo.co.uk?

Anyway, I'm so sick and tired of these scams that I actually read them just to have a laugh.

Just wondering, how many scams have we encountered so far?

1. The magic-whatever (old news already, where they target old women and tell them that buying that magic stone/water/paper will cure them of their rheumatism or whatever ailments.)

2. Nigeria Bank (Need to transfer money out of the country so that they can keep the cash... don't they have friends?)

3. 你中奖了！You've won! (Some Chinese national calling you and asking you random questions, then call you a few days later and say you've won some lucky draw, proceeds to ask you to transfer quite-a-lot-of-money to their bank in order to get the cash... yeah.)

What others have you encountered?

=====
Sane laughs

Yet another eventful Saturday

2007-11-17T22:24:00.000-05:00

I'm totally not amused with the fact that my body has the worst reaction to the slightest bit of wine I drink. No joke.

Me + Wine = Disaster

The last time that happened was in 2002. I had wine at a fancy restaurant in Ithaca and that night was a field trip. I tossed and turned at night thinking that my middle was going to explode.

It didn't help that I was stuck in the middle of campus and my roommate was fast asleep.

The toilet bowl was my best friend.

Took awhile for the purging to happen. When it finally did, I felt better and that was it.

Saturday's episode was on a larger scale.

Things went on smoothly the night before when I had dinner, dessert and A GLASS OF SAUVIGNON BLANC.

Evil

Just ONE GLASS.

Nothing happened for the next few hours but drama began at 10:30pm.

Scene 1 - The monster surfaced

I started feeling a little woozy. My tummy started stirring and my head hurt a little.

After a while I started losing my senses and my tummy HURTS.

Went to the bathroom twice and when in there, I sweated buckets.

Diarrhea. You know what that's about.

Thou art my best friend

Went to bed and curled up. Had no energy left in me.

All the while my tummy was not too happy.

All was well until 1:59AM.

Scene 2 - Growth of the mammo-lithic tremor

I woke up because of a SHARP pain in my middle. Think about cramps, gastric, punching and piercing rolled into one.

First time in my life I yelled from the pain.

It was EXCRUCIATINGLY painful.

Took po chai pills and drank warm water. None of those work.

Tried to induce vomiting but that didn't work.

Went to the bathroom and that didn't help either.

Was yelling so badly that my dad realized this is serious. So 4 hours later at 6:30am, off we went to A&E.

Scene 3 - Checking in

Arrived at the hospital. Saw the triage nurse and told her about my situation.

Nurse: So any vomiting?

Me: No. No vomiting.

Nurse: OK. Go out and sit. The doctor will call you.

Me: OK. (Went outside to sit, and started throwing up. FINALLY).

Nurse: See! Got VOMIT!!!

Me: (Duh.... and continued to vomit)

Anyway, first doctor I saw was an Emergency doctor Dr. Lee.

Dr Lee used to be my JC schoolmate. How coincidental is that!!!

She went on to put me on the drip (which is painful), gave me 2 injections, tried to take blood (not successful...hee) and an X-Ray.

After all these, I was pushed into a room with SEVEN other people to be OBSERVED.

**Basically, observation means to sleep in the room and wait for 2 hours before the doctor comes to see you.

While there, I had to do interpreting work for 2. One was an auntie who spoke only Malay and Hokkien. Another was a PRC who only knew Mandarin.

All the while my dad was trying to entertain himself reading the newspapers and eating breakfast.

That two hours went by. I thought I got better but when the doctor came, the pain came back (damn it)

It was bad this time.

The doctor (new doctor this time. A Dr Seth) said I had to be under observation for another 2 bloody hours.

More injections, more poking around my mid-section...

Called my dad, asked him to leave first. It was 10:30am...

Scene 4 - Observing the monster

Continue sleeping. Pain came and went. It was hard to sleep especially when the light was shining right at my face and two new patients came in, along with their villages.

I heard so much about them that if I took a test, I could recount their entire life and score 100%.

Zheshen came and kept me company. Witnessed my writhing in pain.

Poor guy was also responsible for calling the doctor and nurse, because by 12:30pm, I was ready to go home.

Scene 5 - DONE DONE DONE

Dr Seth came. (He is very nice in fact)

Was sure that I was doing better. Poked a little more.

Then he said I CAN GO HOME!

Yay!

Gave me some meds and an appointment with the doctor.

At 1:15pm, I was out of the hospital.

So yea, that was my wonderful Saturday.

And because of this, I missed my friend's wedding (Sorry Shiyun!! And congratulations on your wonderful day!)

Learning points:
1. When time comes for your wedding, gather all your jie meis and brothers and have plain porridge for dinner (Zheshen's contribution)
2. No more wine for me!

-----
Something fun for you to see.

This video was taken at Ithaca College Hockett Recital Hall.

This was a REAL recital.

Half-naked man is a professor and his instrument is the dumbbells.

=====
Now well sane

What to do when it's raining during lunch time, and you're still in the office?

2007-11-11T22:51:00.000-05:00

If you are keen to try out...

打包

Something like Campusfood, but for the offices (or lazy people lazing at home) in Singapore.

Shiok ah!

Book Launch

2007-10-17T21:42:00.000-04:00

Well, my absence of over a month does not mean that I've abandoned the blog. It just testifies to the fact that I do not have the self-multiplication ability.

So today is the day that the book I've been working on, aka my first BIG project with SH will be launched.

The book looks great and to say the least, I thought today would never come.

But it's here!

Cultural Journeys: By Nurses For Nurses will be officially launched at 4:50pm today. Look out for it!

=====
me back

I have a date with.......

2007-09-15T05:52:00.000-04:00

My ironing board.

On a Saturday.

What a life!!!!!

=====
I iron!

Alive yeah

2007-09-08T21:19:00.000-04:00

For those who haven't heard or seen me you probably think I'm dead.

No no... I'm actually still very much alive and active.

The past month has been really hectic and eventful and it has given me little time and energy to do anything else except to eat, sleep, and relax.

Yesterday was the first month anniversary of me at my new job.

Right!

I started on 08.08.07 remember?

I insist on a super-duper-fragilistic-exuberatious-celebration next year when I celebrate my one-year anniversary on 08.08.08!

Just to make it clear once and for all, I'm now working at SH, which is the cluster group office of several hospitals and specialist centres in the eastern part of Singapore.

I'm also "stationed" at SGH so if you're around the area just give me a buzz and I'll introduce to the most amazing Yong Tau Foo Curry at 155 cafe.

What do I do?

I put out fire.

No, seriously.

It's only my first month and I'm already thrown into the deep end. Working through the situations without any prior knowledge is pretty hard but it's also a good chance for me to challenge myself.

For example, the two publications that are under my portfolio needs to be produced in the next two months. How I will do that, I have no clue. But they have to be done.

And there are other ad-hoc projects that come along that I need to write about.

As well as other design-related projects.

But there's one exciting CHANGE coming up and I can't wait!

There are also lots of areas that I can see myself working on, which is exciting.

All in all, I praise God for a wonderful team that I work with, and a nice position which is challenging and yet not overly-demanding.

At least I still get to sleep and catch up with close friends.

Oh, in case you don't know, I'm with the Corporate Communications Department, Internal Communications.

Will be back with more news.

Out

=====
Sane is still alive

Harry has a cafe!

2007-08-31T23:04:00.000-04:00

Ahhh...the wonders of food.

Far, far away tucked in the middle of the hills lies a magical power unknown to many.

But from within it wafts sweet-smelling aroma of roast beef and fried chicken.

Yes, I'm talking about a restaurant opened by Harry Potter.

No, no.... I lied.

This magical place is Potter's Cafe.

Potter Potter Potter, an amazing name for a more amazing place serving the most amazing food!

I'm serious.

Not only is the food good, but the value is even better.

Let me first begin with the ambience.

Low lighting without getting too dark, so at least you still can see what you're eating.

There are not many tables in the place, which means you have space to walk. You know, sometimes restaurants pack their tables so closely that when people walk by your table, you can literally kiss their a$$e$.

But it's not too sparse either. And you can have a choice of sofa seats (for just dessert and drinks), round table (if you intend to share your food and also for those who cannot decide who sits opposite who), and your usual squarish-rectangular tables for meals.

The cafe has an indoor eating area overlooking a swimming pool. For those who'd prefer the natural light and air, you can also choose to sit outside. You can eat and enjoy the breeze and the chlorinated fragrant of pool water.

Not that that's bad.

So now to the most important aspect of Potter's Cafe.

The food.

Yes, they are really good.

It's not a strict Western or Oriental restaurant. And it doesn't try to go all atas by having some sort of fusion theme tied to it.

Basically, it's a cafe which caters to all who cannot decide what nationality their food should take.

For example, the cafe has Italian food like spaghetti and lasagna, Western food in the form of chicken chop, seafood platter, and fish & chips. There are also daily special Oriental dishes like claypot chicken and sweet & sour pork.

For me I tried the masala fried fish.

One word - Superb.

I think that's as fusion as one can get. As for the masala fried fish, the masala gives the ordinary fish & chip an Indian flavor without being too overpowering.

And best of all, it's not expensive!

Mine is a set meal that comes with soup of the day (corn soup with puff pastry), a drink (ice lemon tea), side dishes (potato salad and raw vegetables), as well as dessert (your ordinary canned fruit cocktail).

Apart from the dessert that they offer with the set meal, the whole experience was AMAZING!

The masala fried fish set meal costs $12.90.

The chicken chop set meal costs $9.90 (can you believe that?!?!?!)

And the combo platter for two, which includes rib eye steak, fish, and chicken, costs only $32.90!

The others...

Soup of the day costs only $2.90 (and the portion is decent)

Teriyaki chicken $8.90

8" pizza $8.90

Brownie with ice cream $4.90

And many other value-priced dishes!!!

So the place I'm talking about is Potter's Cafe at Safra Mt Faber.

It's located at Telok Blangah, very near to Alexandra so perfect for those who works neat Pasir Panjang/Telok Blangah/Alexandra side.

It's accessible by bus number 176, which goes to my house by the way.

Should you want to take a look, you can view it online and then go and have the most amazing meal ever!

Out.

=====
Sanesational!

Super disappointed

2007-08-09T07:25:00.000-04:00

It's a car.

"_"

Ladies and gentlemen, I was wrong.

I expected a speedboat.

Or helicopter will be nice too.

Sampan, also can.

But noooooooooo.

It's a car.

I'm so disappointed.

8.8.07

2007-08-07T01:30:00.000-04:00

OMIGOSH!

What a whirlwind week it has been! For those of you who know, I've been grappling with two very excellent job offers. I had a hard time deciding, and for awhile was contemplating confronting the parent that gave me this indecisiveness beast in my gene.

So for those who kinda knew already, after 6 days of non-stop praying, list-making, rationalizing, sleeplessness, and irritability, I've decided on the 2nd offer.

My company is one of the health clusters in Singapore, and its office is located at Outram. I'll be working with the corporate communications team.

And I will be tasking myself with the responsibility of christening the department with a Chinese name.

Will be starting work tomorrow!

Keep me in your prayers, will you?

=====
Sane thanks all of you. Photos really coming up.

Karaoke

2007-08-03T10:10:00.000-04:00

Awesome!

KTV with the girls and maybe boys on National Day!

Yay!!!!!

Be your own fashion trend-setter!

2007-07-28T10:09:00.000-04:00

OH MY GOSH!

What can lazing at home, doing nothing all day to to you?

It brings you to websites after websites, and finding fun stuffs to do!

Let me introduce you to...

P.O.L.Y.V.O.R.E.!!!

You can scour various fashion or non-fashion websites and find pieces of garments or accessories and combine them into your unique style.

Here's mine first attempt...

Not bad huh?

:D

To love

2007-07-28T05:07:00.000-04:00

For one human being to love another;
That is perhaps the most difficult of all our tasks...
The work for which all other work is but preparation.

- Rainer Maria Rilke

She's still alive!

2007-07-18T20:25:00.001-04:00

I know I know.....

Just to clear all doubts once and for all, I'm still alive. And I'm not amnesiac, so I still remember I have a blog.

Considering how bad this jet lag is, I'm amazed (and thanking God with all my being) that I can still talk in sentences.

11 days

That's how long it took me to get over jet lag. 11 whole freaking days!!!

Zheshen bore the brunt of seeing me all zombified and non-alcoholic hung-over.

Let me give you a day-to-day account of how I battled the devil also-known-as jet lag.

July 6 (wee hours in the morning 1am)
- Arrived at Changi International Airport Terminal 1
- Ate at Crystal Jade Holland V
- Reach home at 3am
- Went to bed at 4am
- Slept at 10am
- Lunched at noon
- Slept at 2pm
- Woke at 4pm
- Met Zheshen for dinner
- Felt like dying at 8pm
- Went to bed at 10pm

July 7
- Wide awake at 1am
- Slept at 7am
- Woke at 8am
- Went to see grandma in the afternoon
- Felt like dying at 2pm
- Had snack with cousin at 9pm
- Went home and slept at 10pm

July 8
- Called Zheshen at 11ish to chat because I can't sleep
- Went back to bed at past midnight
- Woke up at 1:30am, can't get back to sleep
- Tossed and turned throughout the night
- Slept a little, on-and-off, from 8am to noon
- Zheshen came to my house and we left the house soon after
- Felt like dying at 3pm
- Went home
- Slept at 8pm (Fell asleep on the couch)

July 9
- Woke up at 1:30am
- Settled internet, phone, and bank
- Met Zheshen for lunch
- Went home and fell asleep at 3pm
- Forced myself up at 7pm for dinner
- Slept at 10pm

July 10
- Woke up at 1:30am (I was afraid this was going to become habitual)
- Took sleeping pill (which didn't work)
- Saw a couple of people in the afternoon
- Went to M1 to find out what's wrong with the broadband device (problem fixed)
- Met friends for dinner
- Felt like dying
- Went home and slept at 10:30pm

July 11
- Woke up at 1:30am
- Felt like dying at 3pm
- Slept at 10pm

July 12
- Woke up at 2am (slightly better)
- Felt like dying at 4pm
- Slept at 11pm

July 13
- Woke up at 1:30am (damn it)
- Went to see old colleagues
- Met Zheshen for dinner (and he was LATE!!!)
- Felt like dying at 6pm
- Took a bus home at 9:30pm (and couldn't help dozing off)
- Slept at 11pm

July 14
- Woke up at 3am
- On-and-off dozing till 6am
- 3pm Dim Sum Dollies with the Butter
- Zheshen joined us at 6pm
- Shopped and went home at 9pm
- Slept at 10:30pm

July 15
- Woke up at 4am
- Went to church with Zheshen and spent the day with him
- Went home at 4pm
- Dinner
- Felt like dying at 8pm
- Slept at 10pm

July 16
- WOKE UP AT 5:30AM (prancing ponies!!!!)
- Relaxing day
- Went to gym
- Felt like dying at 9pm!!!
- Went to bed at 10:30pm

July 17
- WOKE UP AT 6:30AM!

I can officially say that my 2007 jet lag saga is OVER, after 11 days!

And in those 11 days, I took sleeping pills on 4 occasions.

Sad to say, sleeping pills don't work.

-----
Anyway, pictures coming up.

Stay tuned!

I'm back

2007-07-10T11:12:00.000-04:00

I got my Internet today!

Yay!!!!!

Sam 李圣杰

2007-06-20T16:00:00.000-04:00

Does anyone of you, my beautiful blog readers, know if songs like 最近 and 很想说 are new songs of the most magnificent, hunkiest, loveliest singer ever lived in my world?

Does he have a new album?

----
Admirer of Sam Lee

Reporting Live from Washington, DC

2007-06-13T14:06:00.000-04:00

亲爱的朋友们,

I'm now sitting in Starbucks 星巴克市 typing my first ever blog after what seems to be a very long absence from here. Don't worry, I'm still alive and well.

I just recovered from an extremely bad flu that lasted for about 3 weeks. Seems like the days of activities, traveling, graduating, and packing do not go well together.

It's a rainy day out. The weather here in Maryland and DC seem a little like a Singapore April. Hot and sunny one minute, rain another, and back to hot and sunny. Maybe this is a practice for me before I arrive in Singapore in about 22 days.

Anyway, will be going to Philly to see my spouster, then back to MD, and then to Montgomery, Alabama to see Jesse.

What a trip!

See you soon!!!

Tomorrow

2007-05-29T23:24:00.000-04:00

At 11:30am EST, I'll be leaving the place that I call home for the last two years for the last time.

I feel a tint of melancholy, but at the same time, I'm excited about going home.

I can't wait to see my friends in Maryland and Philly.

But I can't bear to leave the people in Ithaca.

They have become like family to me.

My housemate, my landlady, my friends, my professors.

It has been a truly amazing experience and it would not have been possible without you.

Thank you.

I know we will meet again. We always do.

Think of me.

My spouster

2007-05-28T09:52:00.001-04:00

Oh how I miss you.

Photos of Graduation!

2007-05-23T08:15:00.001-04:00

Here you go! Photos from my graduation and my dad's visit!

Enjoy!

-----

AT THE HOODING CEREMONY

At home. Getting ready for the Graduate Hooding Ceremony.

Hooded.
Photograph courtesy of the Ithaca College 2007 Commencement Website.

At the reception, with happy daddy!

My dad, me, and XX (housemate)

Us, outside the library!

AT THE COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY

The stage.

The Doctors of Physical Therapy. Love their hats.

Singing the school anthem "Ithaca Forever"

Ithaca College President Peggy Williams speaking.

Me and Ellie. We sat together throughout the ceremony!

Many people who contributed to the tuition fund.

Me and yellow flowers!

Receiving my diploma!

Holding my diploma. It was actually very cold and very windy...

Can you see the Singapore flag?

School is over

2007-05-14T21:34:00.000-04:00

Now that exams are over, I find myself floating into a bottomless pit of restlessness.

I've been doing nothing all day long.

Playing computer games.

Watching TV.

Looking at the dogs.

Staring into space.

Thank God my daddy is coming on Thursday!

At least I get to move about.

Well, haircut tomorrow!

Wish you could be here for my graduation...

All your heart

2007-05-05T08:34:00.000-04:00

“Do not fear. You have done all this wickedness; yet do not turn aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart. And do not turn aside; for then you would go after empty things which cannot profit or deliver, for they are nothing. For the LORD will not forsake His people, for His great name’s sake, because it has pleased the LORD to make you His people. Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you; but I will teach you the good and the right way. Only fear the LORD, and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you. But if you still do wickedly, you shall be swept away, both you and your king.”

- 1 Samuel 12:20-25

And [Jesus] Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.

- 1 John 2:2

Therefore rejoice! For our sins have been washed clean by the blood of Jesus!

=====
Early morning sanity

From The Count of Monte Cristo

2007-04-30T19:47:00.000-04:00

The Full-Dress Rehearsal Clip of The Count of Monte Cristo (Courtesy of IC Fuse)

Pieces on a chessboard
Don't move without a hand
To push them swiftly forward
All subtlety be damned

King and queen and bishop
Pawn and knight and rook
In a game that can be boring
If you play it by the book

- Fernand and Danglar, plotting against Edmond Dantes

Thank you Brett!

The Count of Monte Cristo is an original musical written and composed by Ithaca College senior Brett Boles '07. It premiered at Ithaca College Theatre in Spring 2007. Great play, awesome set and costume, talented cast and crew, resulting in an unforgettable afternoon.

Mercy Saw Me

2007-04-29T10:16:00.000-04:00

The years had left scars
The scars had left pain
How could He recognize me
I wasn’t the same

I knew I should pay
And I knew the price
For justice and law
Demanded my life

But His tender heart
Heard my desperate cry
And He saw my past
Through merciful eyes

Beautiful
That’s how mercy saw me
Though I was broken and so lost
Mercy looked past all my faults
The justice of God saw what I have done
But mercy saw me through the Son
Not what I was
But what I could be
That’s how mercy saw me

Wherever you’ve gone
You can’t go too far
That His eyes of mercy
Can’t see where you are

He loves you too much
To leave you alone
You’re flesh of His flesh
And bone of His bone

And His heart cries out
For your heart to Him
See yourself through His eyes
Then you will say…

You’ll say
Sin has stolen my dignity
And all my self-esteem
But I’m made brand new again
When mercy looked at me

Beautiful
That’s how mercy saw me
Though I was broken and so lost
Mercy looked past all my faults
The justice of God saw what I have done
But mercy saw me through the Son
Not what I was
But what I could be
That’s how mercy saw me

Not what I was
But what I could be
That's how JESUS saw me

- Becky Davis "Mercy Saw Me"

Wait and hope

Sigh no more

2007-04-24T14:35:00.000-04:00

Sigh no more, ladies
Sigh no more
Men were deceivers ever
One foot in sea, and one on shore
To one thing constant never

Then sigh not so
But let them go
And be you blithe, and bonny
Converting all your sounds of woe
Into hey, nonny nonny

Sing no more, ditties
Sing no more
Of dumps so dull and heavy
The fraud of men was ever so
Since Summer first was leafy...

"Much ado about nothing" - William Shakespeare

=====
but love may transform me to an oyster

Doing this deed may cost you

2007-04-23T15:11:00.000-04:00

About S$1.50

Help Shane Bernier fulfill his wish of getting 350 million birthday cards. He's a 7-year-old boy who has Leukemia, and he is really looking forward to reading your card.

http://www.shaneswish.com/index.php

Peace.

=====
Sending my card

Blatantly stole this

2007-04-18T13:41:00.000-04:00

From Missy Kit

“Find a guy who calls you beautiful instead of hot, who calls you back when you hang up on him, who will lie under the stars and listen to your heartbeat, or will stay awake just to watch you sleep... wait for the boy who kisses your forehead, who wants to show you off to the world when you are in sweats, who holds your hand in front of his friends, who thinks you're just as pretty without makeup on. One who is constantly reminding you of how much he cares and how lucky he is to have you.... The one who turns to his friends and says, 'that's her.'”

More seats?

2007-04-17T16:22:00.000-04:00

Some designers, who naturally have not been on board the economy cabins before, came up with this brilliant idea of seating arrangements that promise to cram more seats into an already-crammy cabin.

One day, we may engage in elbow battles 15,000 feet above sea level!

Article here.

I'd like to draw your attention

2007-04-16T09:16:00.000-04:00

I started out this post with my usual rants of cold blizzard in the middle of April fiasco we are dealt with here in upstate New York, until something tragic hits us in the morning of a cold Winter-weather Spring day.

In Virginia Tech, 32 people are shot and died from a shooting rampage (number accurate at 2:37pm EST). The killer is reported to be among the people found dead. There are also about 22 people injured.

About an hour ago, people who were dead was numbered at 22.

I am saddened, because innocent people died.

I am horrified, because no one has thought that going to school means you may lose your life any minute.

Please pray for the victims, their families, and all who are affected by this tragedy - the worst school shooting ever in the history of the United States.

currently

2007-04-15T21:17:00.000-04:00

my life is full of sadness, frustration, irritation, uncontrollable rage

rising temper, increasing tantrums, agonizing anxiety, and fear

i can't control

nothing

At a conference

2007-04-13T21:11:00.000-04:00

Here I am, blogging from a hotel room in Bolton Landing, NY. It's about 4 hour's drive from Ithaca. It's cold here, and it's SNOWING. Yes, I can't believe it either. It's April, for crying out loud.

I am at the Bolton Pines Motel, which is pretty decent. It has minimal amenities, but the room is clean and it looks well-maintained. I'm quite happy and thank God for I had a worse picture of how my room will look like.

As there are few people on this trip, I got the room all my myself. Which is good.

I am at the CSTEP conference, which stands for the Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program. It is targeted at college students enrolled in science and technology-related fields.

Why am I here?

Because I am a graduate intern at CSTEP for my boss Richard dacoolestguyintheworld O'Brien.

I really like it.

I basically heard the best opening keynote address ever.

It's motivating, uplifting, and full of life!

If you want to be a keynote speaker, these are what you need.

Anyway, some things that I will share with you today...

The issue is not about setting a high goal and missing it, but about setting a low goal and actually hitting it.

Setback is a setup for a comeback.

Watch your thoughts for they become your words.
Choose your words for they become your actions.
Understand your actions for they become your habits.
Study your habits for they become your character.
Develop your character for it becomes your DESTINY.

=====
Wow-ed.

Do you know

2007-04-10T16:50:00.000-04:00

That in US society's 17th and 18th century, heterosexuality (or woman-to-man erotic desire) was considered an "abnormal manifestation of sexual appetite because it connoted sex as pleasure, and a heterosexual was defined as 'an unequivocal pervert'" (Allen, 2005 - In Engaging organizational and communication theory and research: Multiple perspectives)

Go figure, again.

Kick his a$$ or kick his 8utt?

2007-04-09T13:42:00.000-04:00

I tell you, kids these days...

They just make me laugh so hard.

Not funny

2007-04-08T13:41:00.000-04:00

I came across something important.

First of all, it involves a very disturbed boy.

Second, there's blood.

Third, it's not funny.

Watch to find out.

And please help.

=====
Sane does this all day.

April's Fools

2007-03-29T15:48:00.000-04:00

We will be welcoming April 1st in about three day's time.

April Fools Day. Any idea how that day of pranks and practical jokes came about?

I received an email in my college mailbox and they attempted an explanation which I thought was quite a refreshing look at the tradition we hate to love and love to hate.

So anyway...

It began in the early 1500s when certain people decided to change the celebration of New Year's Day from April 1 to January 1. News travelled and soon many people all over Europe and the American colonies got to know about the switch. However, some refused to change and continued to celebrate New Year's Day on April 1st. These traditionalists were then labeled as "fools" for being so stubborn in their backward ways. Hence, that's how April Fools' day came about.

Which gave us the reasons to switch classrooms with the students in the next class, freaking the teacher out, or wrapping the toilet seat with cellophane paper.

Go figure.

=====
Just a little bit of sanity. Seriously, I don't mind celebrating New Year's day on January 1 AND April 1.

Yet another narcissistic moment

2007-03-23T21:26:00.000-04:00

One narcissistic self never forgets to remind herself how good she looks, even before she has to go to her thesis defense in an hour's time.

*guffaws in epileptic laughter*

Quick, quick!

2007-03-21T22:47:00.000-04:00

Come see! Spongebob was spotted in Trinidad by Richard Da'coolestguyintheworld O'Brien!

Love it.

Check this out!

2007-03-20T17:50:00.000-04:00

http://www.bagborroworsteal.com/ui/welcome

Borrow a designer bag by the week, or by the month.

I'm Serious.

One hour later.....

2007-03-20T14:51:00.000-04:00

I am so glad to tell you, on this blog, that me Alwaysane the Sane One has.....

PASSED HER THESIS DEFENSE!

No revisions needed!

I got a good YES! Clean, clear-cut YES!

Ahhhh!! Thank you Peppi for praying for me.

And my sweetheart, you are simply my one and only.

I LOVE YOU ALL!

=====
wooohoooosanehoooooooo

De-Fend-Ing

2007-03-19T15:59:00.000-04:00

Yes, it's finally here. The thing I've been working for these past years is finally coming into fruition.

On March 20, approximately 1pm EST, I'll be defending my Masters thesis in front of my committee members.

Please, when you have a moment, think of me a little and pray for me a lot?

=====
Shaking sane

Just did it

2007-03-16T17:05:00.000-04:00

I bought my air ticket home.

On July 4, 2007 from Philadelphia International Airport.

Arriving in Singapore International Airport Terminal 1 at 12:55am on July 6, 2007.

It will be a new phase of my life, once again.

Who will be there to receive me?

After I came back from New York City...

2007-03-12T18:55:00.000-04:00

The first thing I did was to check out the Nut's page and did a quiz.

Here I am, thus presenting myself as an X-men character...

=====
iFreeze

Mr Koolkat goes to the hairdresser

2007-03-08T15:18:00.000-05:00

BEFORE

AFTER

=====
Come, dawg.

Go digg my new haircut, brotha.

Great classics

2007-03-07T14:43:00.000-05:00

Believe it or not
From Greatest American Heroes

Flying away on a wing and a prayer.
Who could it be?
Believe it or not it's just me.

Come together
By The Beatles

He got joo-joo eyeballs, he one holy roller
He got hair down to his knees

=====
Sane loves classics

The diary of Riley

2007-03-06T16:29:00.000-05:00

Dear God:

How are you? We haven't met but I've heard great things about you. How you are all omnipotent and omniscient and all that. Well, let's not waste time anymore, shall we?

I have a problem. Two huge ones actually. You see, for I don't know the n^th number of time my dear Master has left us for greener pastures. And in her absence, Ming and I had to make do with her two lowly servants. You know, I like them and all (except that they smell funny) but there's something about them that makes me suspicious that they are sent by the devil.

I know how much you hate the devil. Yes, he's the mean one. You see, uncanny as it seems, I DO see some resemblance between the two lowly servants and the devil. Really. Let's just call them the two evil Beelzebubs.

For one, they leave early in the morning and left us alone. What they need to do so early in the morning I don't know. I hear one Beelzebub tell the other one to go first and she will be late, and then she runs out of the house after her. I don't know about you, but for us canines, we stick by our kind. You know, we don't leave one alone. So they must be doing something really bad outside and don't want us to know.

Then, by doing that, they left us alone in the house to fend for ourselves. I know, I know. WE are supposed to be the house-protectors, the enemy-watchers, the canine-enforcers, but before we can do that, we need some food. Them, they just left us without any. I can't even jump out of the bed, for Your sake! What am I supposed to do, scare away the evil-doers by looking all cute ON THE BED?

This is not what I'm supposed to do! I can't protect the house by sitting on the bed!

That's not all, they hardly ever give us any food. Yes, they do feed us and we ask for it by not finishing them up and later the Fat Cat (whom I'm convinced is a third Beelzebub on her bad hair day) comes and devours it. But you see, those are STAPLE food. We are EXQUISITE. STAPLE DOES NOT EQUAL EXQUISITE! We sometimes leave our statements of DISapproval lying around the house but that does not work out. They will just wipe them, flush away, and walk around as per normal.

I am convinced that the two Beelzebubs are stupid and need a new hobby. Just today, they dragged Ming and I to the basin and sprayed us with water. And worse still, the smaller Beelzebub (no doubt also prettier, but not as pretty as my lovely Master and Ming) rubbed me with some gross-looking, foul-smelling liquid. They call it sop, but I think it's more like yuck. It has a strange oatmeal smell. OH NO LORD! Do you think they are trying to feed me to the cat? Please rescue me Lord! I will do whatever you want me to do! I tried to escape but they were holding me so tight! I can't help it, Lord! I thought I was going to die by spraying. (What? You want me to stop peeing in the house?...Is there an alternative?)

Anyway...

That ordeal took 7 minutes and 43 seconds. It was the worst ordeal in my entire life. (Let me tell you a secret. I think my Master has been brainwashed by the Beelzebubs a little. You see, she called one of them and actually sounded happy! She thinks I can't hear but I was wide awake and alert as well. I also hear the ugly Beelzebub telling her how happy Ming and I were. LIAR! If only I have a phone, you big show-off lying being!)

Now, I have hypnotized one of the Beelzebub as I am sitting on her lap. I've hypnotized her mind and all that she is typing are my thoughts. I just want you to know, God, that I will do ANYTHING to let you know how much pain I'm in. I hope you understand.

Sitting on the ugly Beelzebub's lap and hypnotizing her... It doesn't take much effort to control her brain. Really.

You are asking me what kind of pain? Uh well... you see, after they are done with spraying me, they said they are giving us a T-R-E-A-T. I don't know why they have to spell it, thinking we are stupid or what. I know what they are talking about, the lousy slimes. T-R-E-A-T means B-A-C-O-N or H-A-M or C-H-I-C-K-E-N! But being stupid and exceptionally evil, they only gave us each a dog biscuit.

ONE DOG BISCUIT!

As if that's going to appease us of whatever misfortunes that befell us when our most-admirable Master left. They even pretend to take us out for a walk, and all they do is to wait for us to poo and pee and bring us back! How sneaky those evil ones. As if we're stupid! We played till we've had our fill of fun before we give them their golden gift! HA! To think they were happy when we did that, those silly cows! The walks they bring us out to isn't even worth my effort to put on my clothes!

The red turtleneck doesn't even fit my fur color and shaggy 'do! It does not even have a brand!

I will let you know, the most Almighty One, that if you don't save us, I think we'll be left to the mercy of eternal badness. Please help us! Or at least, help ME!

I have to stop hypnotizing her now, in case she gets suspicious and tortures me by patting my head and seeing my head turns everytime she says "Do you want to go OUT?"

Oh yes, another thing. How in the world did the ugly Beelzebub gets so stupid? She thinks it's fun whenever she says that and my head turns but doesn't she know that OUT means a lot to us! It's like a royal decree, a word of prestige and honor! It's something you say and we respond to as an agreement to conquer the world! But she just stands there and repeats that sentence five hundred times! And worse still, the smaller Beelzebub is following her action! It's an epidemic!

I have to go. The other Beelzebub is waking up and she might get suspicious.

I hope you send your angels fast Lord. For I am afraid we're not going to have much time...

Your lovely, most handsome, most adorable and definitely smartest creation:

Riley A.

Pachabel's Canon - Dissing it with passion

2007-03-02T20:05:00.000-05:00

Amen! Amen!

8 notes, that we repeat for 54 times.

Not like the violin, nor the viola. We get 8 notes.

Such a great melody, and 8 notes for the cello.

I love this guy for speaking up.

With passion.

By the way, I think this is way cool.

They call it a 720 spin dunk.

I promise!

2007-02-26T23:18:00.000-05:00

I will not post any more videos but I HAVE to post these up!

These are gems!

TAKE THAT IS BACK!

You heard me right!

With their new singles!!

Wow!

Now I can re-live my secondary school dreams!

I love Mark Owen!

Sane loves Mark Owen!

Mark Owen loves me!

Mrs Owen!

I can almost remember the day when I have dreamt about going to UK to study just so I can stalk Mark Owen during recesses and holidays.

And I can remember vividly the day when I got the bad news about the split.

I was in Chemistry class and our lab was facing 爱礼楼. I was sitting in the 3rd row. My friend came and told me the news. I burst out crying.

But those days are long gone because....

TAKE THAT IS BACK!!!

YAY!!!!!

Bad Day

2007-02-26T21:12:00.000-05:00

First, the bananas that I bought a week ago still refuse to turn yellow.

Second, I lost my bus pass, student ID, library card, and house key.

What a day!

Damn.

My stuff has since been found. Praise be to God!

=====
Had a bad day.

Beer-battered Surf and Turf

2007-02-25T19:26:00.000-05:00

Now don't get me wrong.

I'm not crazy about cooking or anything.

I'm still trying really damn hard to finish up my thesis and my seminar project. But thank God no more stats, for awhile.

Just did my colloquium. Must really thank my housemate for listening to me practice and giving me the greatest comments. And also for not looking bored when I was speaking up there at the podium. Thank you, JXX!

This week will be scary too.

Monday:
1. Email proposal and contract to seminar client
2. Print tracking chart and work breakdown structure at Park Lab ('cos got color printer)
3. Write thesis (again, again, again)
4. Pilates (which I seriously am in need of after today's dinner)

Tuesday:
1. Meet a participant for lunch
2. Meet seminar client to sign contract
3. Write thesis (die die must finish)
4. Work meeting (got pizza, so never mind)

Wednesday:
1. Submit thesis to adviser
2. Write and print tracking chart narrative
3. Chili's to celebrate the end of yet another week

Then, after that, my life will return back to normal.

-----
Dinner today was a crazy affair.

Before I go on, I shall repeat the recipe for Beer-battered Surf and Turf

Just in case you are wondering, the reason behind my attempting this recipe is because I have a hell-lotta pancake mix left. I am going to be here for only 3 months and I'm not going to eat 500 pancakes in the mean time. So I looked online for food I can prepare using pancake mix, besides pancakes and waffles. So I found this and today's dinner.

But just a word of caution:

*Don't try this at home. Seriously. Just go to Fish & Co. or something.
** This recipe tastes good, but hard work.

Ingredients:

Pancake mix (prepare batter according to instruction, replace milk with beer)
Fish filet and shrimps (onion rings too if you desire)

Directions:

1. Heat about 1-2" of oil in a pan at high heat
2. When it's hot, bring the heat to medium
3. Dip fish and prawns in batter
4. Release them into the ~~ocean~~ oil
5. Wait about 5 minutes for each side
6. Scoop out, put on paper to remove oil
7. Serve with ketchup

The truth is, the end product tastes great. Amazing, in fact.

But it was tiring. Super tiring.

Some postscripts after today's fiesta.

Never, ever fry anything with high heat. You are going to end up with a chao-tah (burnt) victim with very raw insides.

Also, if you think you have enough fish and prawns, you probably have too much. I don't know how, but the food seems to expand after frying.

Wear long sleeves. Hot oil hurts.

Use a spoon to gently place the fish and prawns in the oil. Never dunk them.

One last advice: Just buy ready-made beer-battered fish, like what my boy said.

Out.

Note: Just so he can spite me, the boy went to Fish & Co. for dinner right after I posted this. Bah!

=====
Damn Tiredsane

If you can recall...

2007-02-21T10:37:00.000-05:00

Last week, exactly seven days ago, on February 14 aka Valentine's Day, we the people in Ithaca, NY were experiencing this.

It was also the storm of the century, with snow accumulation of more than 20 inches overnight.

School was closed the 2nd time in our 114 years of history.

People were trapped in their houses.

Walking outside was almost impossible because it was so cold.

The average temperature was about 10 Degrees Fahrenheit, which translates into approximately -9 Degrees Celcius.

The heater in the house was working overtime.

And today, exactly seven days later, on February 21, we the people in Ithaca will be out in T-shirts this afternoon because of this...

40 Degrees Fahrenheit is approximately 6 Degrees Celcius.

HIGH 40s means approximately 11 Degrees Celsius.

Can the weatherman please make up your mind?

This pretty much sums up our Saturdays

2007-02-20T23:24:00.000-05:00

=====
Poo, flush, stuck, and plunge

Pictures courtesy of Maggie Market. Thank you, Maggie!

Did you know?

2007-02-19T13:09:00.000-05:00

Spend 6 mins 7 seconds on this to find out stuff that you never would've known.
.
.
.
.
.
Now you know.

=====
Sane knows too.

I have the weirdest dream (which was part 3 of an ongoing series) and it is driving me insane. I did the most logical thing and went to check out the dream dictionary. Turns out I am "needlessly distressed and irrational".

The perfect breakfast

2007-02-16T18:45:00.000-05:00

Delicious Sausage Peach Breakfast Bake

Serves: 8

-----
Ingredients

The Dish
2 cup pancake mix
16 oz can sliced peaches
8 oz package sausage links (or 5 hotdogs)

The Syrup
1/4 cup sugar
1 tbsp cornstarch
1/4 cup maple syrup
1 tbsp margarine

-----
Directions

Preheat oven to 350 F

Halve the sausages (length-wise) and cook till they turn brown

Prepare pancake mix according to package directions EXCEPT use only 1 cup of milk

Pour mixture into greased 13 x 9 x 2 inch baking dish

Drain peaches, and keep 1/2 cup syrup (set syrup aside)

Arrange peaches and sausages on top of batter

Bake at 350 F, 30 minutes (do the toothpick test)

Cut into squares

In saucepan, combine sugar, cornstarch, and peach syrup

Cook and stir until thick and bubbly

Stir in maple syrup and margarine

-----
How to eat

Place a square onto a plate

Pour warm syrup over it

ENJOY

My Flowers

2007-02-15T10:12:00.000-05:00

Set against the backdrop of my messy bed

Poses the Sane and her Valentine's Day present.

=====
Thank you, my darling.

RESPECT

2007-02-14T16:27:00.000-05:00

This snow day has garnered my utmost respect for the people who are truly keeping the city going.

1. The postman - Who trudges the snow, charging against the winds, bracing the storm, walking from home to home and sometimes falling due to the slippery, icy road in order to deliver our mails.

2. The food delivery guy - Without you, we won't have dinner.

3. The bus drivers - You who drank countless cups of coffee just so that you can drive us to our destination. You personify the term come rain, come snow, come sleet, come ice.. we'll drive.

4. The news casters - Thank you for showing us how bad the weather is and warning us off the road, but yet you are out there in the middle of the storm.

You truly deserve our respect.

February 14, 2007

2007-02-14T08:20:00.000-05:00

Today can be no less than a historical moment right down Ithaca's memory lane.

It snowed so much, I mean literally, overnight that Ithaca College has no choice but to close its doors.

I've heard from friends and professors that IC NEVER closes.

Today is the exception.

Because of the severe weather predicted to continue throughout the day, Ithaca College is closed and classes are cancelled for Wednesday, February 14, 2007. Essential personnel should report to work. - From IC Intercom

The snow this morning was about 10 inches high.

We've been told that this will be the STORM OF THE CENTURY.

Look at the snow on the cars!!!

Riley says brrrr......I'm turning purple

=====
An early Sane update

Happy Valentine's Day

2007-02-12T16:41:00.000-05:00

Now take a moment to enjoy these Valentine's Day gems. You know, it's a special day.

Celebrate with the one you love ;)

Well, your love can be a car.

Am i wrong?

=====
Sane wishes all of you a happy day on Feb 14 :)

Congratulations!

2007-02-10T12:15:00.001-05:00

Zijia, you have done well!!

You're a perfect 10!

Congratulations!

Anna Nicole Smith, 39, dies

2007-02-08T20:02:00.000-05:00

Guess what was on the news from 4pm till now, NON STOP.

YES.

Anna Nicole Smith.

~~29.~~ 39.

Found dead in hotel room.

Cause of death under investigation.

Her son, Daniel, died in September 10, 2006.

He was 20.

Autopsy found methadone and anti-depressant in his system.

Likely to be the cause of death.

Anna Nicole Smith has just given birth to daughter, Danielynn, on September 7, 2006.

.
.
.
Thought you'd like to know.

Sheep: Thanks for pointing out. That was a mistake in a moment of haste. Thank you. It has since been rectified.

Some funny license plates

2007-01-29T17:53:00.000-05:00

As some of you may know already, some drivers here in the US have pretty imaginative and creative license plates. Such as:

PB4WEGO

PMS 2DAY

L1TE W8

Y WORRY

LUV 2 LAF

-CSHFLW

2FST 4U

=====
Some fun on a Monday

minuses

2007-01-29T17:49:00.000-05:00

From Sunday, the average temperature in Ithaca has been minus (-) 12 deg celcius.

When I came home today, my landlady commented that my nose is red.

My response:

I'm glad I still have my nose.

=====
Much warmth, from Ithaca.

First week in retrospect

2007-01-27T08:34:00.000-05:00

The first week of school started in a shebang of confusion and mayhem, but I'm glad it ended quite peacefully.

What I learned in Statistics:
- First class usually starts on time and ends very early, about 20 minutes after class has started
- Different types of data - nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio
- Importance of presenting data clearly and accurately, so as not to mislead others
- Frequencies, standard deviations, and probability
- SPSS - software for analyzing data (which is quite cool actually)

What I learned in Seminar:
- It is very important to find a client BEFORE school even begins, because after that, you only have 12 days
- To know your limitations, that you have only 4 months to get the project done and up-and-running
- Work on one and only one deliverable
- Looking at the scope, I think I may just die before the semester is over

What I learned in Thesis:
- Nothing much yet. Meeting today.
- That it is always good to give your adviser PLENTY of time
- Reading more = Changing more

What I learned in the computer lab:
- The discovery of the deadly epidemics

=====
Sane signing off

My gripe

2007-01-24T13:14:00.000-05:00

I know, I know…

I should be doing something constructive, like reading “Organizing for the Long Term” or start to understand terms like standard deviations or analysis of variance…

But I have to write this down.

Seriously, I think this coming to school and treating every where you go as a bookstore has to stop.

Or even better, coming to school and not being able to read is an even graver offense.

Taking the cake is coming to school and developing amnesia, especially when the object of concern involves your school bag.

Ladies and gentlemen, may I present to you, the top three epidemics sweeping across campus now as I write…

1. Multiple-Bookstores Sighting Disorder
Also known as MBSD, persons plagued with this rare disease are unable to differentiate between bookstores and other places besides the bookstores. People with MBSD will have the ongoing illusion that everywhere they go is a bookstore. Serious case of MBSD will also have the wrong illusion that these places that they go to are bookstores with benefits, meaning they can get whatever they need for free. Be it paper, pens, pencils, staplers, scissors, notebooks, files, etc. And people with such disorder think that such items are available everywhere, hence giving it the term multiple-bookstores sighting. They can borrow pens from the computer lab, paper from strangers, and even a notebook from someone who is eating at the canteen. Most often than not, MBSD sufferers can't seem to remember to return the items after use. With correct and timely treatments, such as forcing such items into their schoolbags before they head off to school, such disorders can be managed. However people with MBSD and Misplaced-Memory-Syndrome (MMS) may suffer relapses should they misplace such items. In such situations, the cure can only be a forced-payment-inducing treatment and shock therapy, such as $15 for a ballpoint pen.

1. Acute-Ignoring-Signs-Disability
AISD is a relatively new disorder that strikes people who are going to college, but its occurrences are becoming more widespread and is on the way to become developed-nations' epidemic. People with AISD are prone to ignore signs or instructions pasted at strategic locations. Hence, they are always prone to put themselves in danger or placing others at an inconvenience. Severe cases of AISD are unable to process the importance of signs and instructions even when placed in close proximity or repeated every 5 inches. To them, signs are just like a part of the natural growth of mother earth, like trees, tables, or mouse pads. Nevertheless, AISD is especially detrimental for the patient because they have a tendency to place themselves in high states of emotional disturbance due to their disability. For instance, printing class schedules using firefox instead of safari will lead to problems with displaying their grades on paper. Of course, the disorder will lead them to ignore every single sign that is pasted every 5 inches away and they will repeatedly print their class schedules using firefox and each time greeted with printed papers full of mumbo-jumbos. Milder cases of AISD will realize something is amiss after about 8 pieces of misprinting, and proceed to ask others around them, who will direct them to the signs. This usually entails guiding their hands to the sign, tilting their heads, pointing your fingers at the signs, and reading the sign out. AISD patients will normally remember the instructions if pointed out to them. Severe cases of AISD will continue their normal routine, and each time cursing people around them, not knowing that things will work if they simply READ the SIGNS around them.

3. Chronic-Amnesia-Syndrome
Cases of CAS are rare, but is a growing trend, especially in the educational institutions. Symptoms include leaving their bags unattended, forgetting to take their jackets with them, or placing their wallets and leaving the scene. Distinct from carelessness which is defined more as accidentally , CAS is the ongoing symptom of being unaware of one's own belongings. In fact, in severe cases, CAS patients hardly knows what they brought out of the house 5 minutes ago. As this case is still new and growing, more research has to be done to find out the causes and cures for the CAS.

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Another public service announcement by Sane

The Koolkat Assassin

2007-01-23T17:10:00.000-05:00

Meet Mister Koolkat...

Mister Koolkat is serious.

About his job, that is.

"Don't mess with me, ya'll, or I'll blow your brains out," said Mister Koolkat.

"Better learn your kung fu fast, buddy, or you may not stand a chance to live."

In his free time, Mister Koolkat likes to take a dip in the tub with L'il Miss Purrrrl.

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Photos NOT BY Sane. Just really cute, that's all.

Worry

2007-01-22T07:12:00.000-05:00

Jesus did not chide Martha because she was working too hard.

Jesus chided Martha because she worried too much.

Do not worry.

So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
Matthew 10:31

===== Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. - Matthew 6:34

School is gonna begin in less than 24 hours

2007-01-21T12:56:00.000-05:00

Not surprisingly, this semester means so many different things to me.

Spring 2007 will be my final semester as a graduate student at Ithaca College. It seems like yesterday that I just arrived in Ithaca with my one luggage, feeling jetlagged but somehow ready for school to begin.

I think the last 1 and a half years have been very hectic but fulfilling.

This semester, life will be a little different I believe.

And I hope it will be because nothing is worse than a day that is predictable.

I will be taking the graduate capstone seminar class. What this class entails will be seeking to find a client for whom I create and execute a communications-related project. I hope to do something that is based in Ithaca College, just so I can save time traveling. And I also hope to do something design-based, meaning not another sickening paper. I've identified a client, but hope to get thing worked out with her as soon as possible.

I am also enrolled in a statistics class, which was not necessarily per se for my degree, but after a talk with Zheshen and looking at market trends, I think it will be helpful for my future career path, whatever it may be. (I also think I wrote an exceedingly long sentence.) Anyway, the craziest thing about this class is that it is held THREE TIMES A WEEK (MON, WED, FRI), FROM 8AM TO 9AM. Yeah, shit happens.

Finally, I have thesis which thankfully has no appointed class. But this semester will be where all the crazy shit happens. There will be a graduate colloquium where I will be talking about my research to a whole group of strangers. I will also have to defend my thesis and hope with all my might that they will PASS me. And before all that can happen, I'll have to complete all chapters, meaning chapters 1-7.

At the end of the whole course, I also have to write a 15-page paper called the Comprehensive Exam which will test me on all the things I've learnt. Personally, I think this is dumb.

So there you are. My life for the next 120 days.

And I will graduate on May 20.

Read: I WILL GRADUATE ON MAY 20.

Thank you.

PS: Is this a year of getting married??? Because it's still January and I know 3 couples who are getting married already.....

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Sanity may take a hiatus. May be back in May.

Classic Music Videos

2007-01-21T10:59:00.000-05:00

Man I miss these songs...

Take some time to reminisce...

Gabrielle "Out Of Reach"

Fastball "The Way"

Fastball "Out of my head"

Mary J Blige "Family Affair"

Travis "Flower in the Window"

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Enjoy

Quote of the year

2007-01-20T09:53:00.000-05:00

Some random guy...

"I always thought it was Mary-Ann Joseph."

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Just a laugh to restore some sanity that may be lost throughout the week.

Statue: To circumcize or not to circumcize?

2007-01-20T09:43:00.000-05:00

I really think this is too hilarious...

JEWS NOTICE FORESKIN ON STATUE OF SUPPOSEDLY JEWISH "DAVID," DEMAND THAT MARBLE BE CIRCUMCISED

RABBI OVADIA YOSEF ENLISTS FORMER 'THIS OLD HOUSE" HOST BOB VILA TO CHISEL AWAY "THIS FORESKIN ABOMINATION"

NEW YORK - Rabbi Ovadia Yosef says that Jews the world over owe their gratitude to a group of "giggling, inane" American teenage girls in Florence who noticed that the Michelangelo masterpiece depicting Jewish King David as a youth about to enter battle with Goliath is not circumcised.

"These girls, paying far, far too close attention to the statue's tallywacker, have done the world a great service by pointing out that this imposter is not a Jew but some shameless gentile youth," said Rabbi Yosef.

Heidi Jonas, 17, of White Plains, New York, was in Florence with classmates when they spotted the foreskin. "We were like looking at him and we were, like, what a hunk and everything, and then Brittany [Peters], she goes, 'look at that,' because she noticed it and everything, and we were all like, ewww, gross!" she giggled.

Rabbi Yosef said that "if this marble hunk -- rather, this hunk of marble deigns to depict King David, it will need a bris and ritual circumcision."

But a traditional mohel won't do for this job, Rabbi Yosef said. Instead he has enlisted Bob Vila, former host of TV's This Old House to handle the cutting that will be necessary to "convert" David to Judaism.

"I'm going to need a circular saw with a masonry blade," Vila explained to this news source. "And I definitely need extra lighting because this job requires extreme caution. If I take too much off, this young man will be the object of ridicule in the locker room among his fellow naked statues for all eternity," Vila said.

Article from here.

(Scroll down for photograph of said statue...)
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As for me, I would prefer to just leave the statue alone.

:-)

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Sanity of American girls unveil blindness of great men.

This is outrageous

2007-01-20T09:20:00.000-05:00

This article makes me go into a fit right now, I can almost feel my cells bursting into a gazillion pieces.

What in the world is going on now?!

A new rabbinic ruling handed down in recent days, however, is likely to put an end to the trend. According to the decree, haredi women, many of whom earn a living as teachers, would no longer be able to pursue academic degrees in education in Beit Ya’akov, the country’s largest chain of educational institutions for women. The move is likely to significantly limit their future earning capabilities, as teachers with advanced degrees can earn far more than those without them.

Read the full article here.

I cannot imagine a ruling more sexist, demeaning, divisive, and unsound as this.

And let's go back to the reason why women are striving to make it in the workforce in the first place.

Men.

To support their torah-studying husbands, wives take on the role of earning an income which the key rabbis and haredi community finds to be essential.

So pardon me for my outrage but what is their rationale for stopping women, who are in many and all ways mentally as capable as men, not given the opportunity to pursue a higher education?

And mind you, we are talking about a mere bachelor degree here. Not a post-grad, post-PhD, post-post-doctoral terminal degree.

Right. The fourth year of education which leads to a bachelor diploma has been ceased.

What's more, women with higher degree will have more problems finding jobs in the educational institution.

You know what we are facing here?

An epidemic.

One that deprives women of their basic rights to enhance their own intelligence.

Speaking from a woman who is pursuing a higher degree herself, I cannot help but feel a great sense of sadness for these haredi ladies, who just want to challenge themselves and engage in a mentally-fulfilling passion of learning. Besides sadness, I guess the next best emotion to describe how I feel right now is rage.

Blood-curdling rage.

The decree, said Bar Ilan University’s Professor Menachem Friedman, one of Israel’s leading authorities on the haredi community, is an extreme move but nonetheless in step with socioeconomic trends sweeping the haredi community for years.

Besides the fact that the ruling party is trying to block off the paths of capable, thinking women, I don't understand the worries of the leaders, and how it represents a socioeconomic trends sweeping the haredi community.

Number one: this is a trend that is sweeping across ALL soccieties. Women getting a higher degree is not a minority feministic idealism that is plaguing the areas known only to capitalism.

And number two: if this is a trend, it should not be a trend to worry about. Instead, it should be celebrated.

Instead of celebrating a movement that recognizes the positive image of women in the economy, these leaders are downplaying one of the most vital sources of the economic and social growth in the world since World War 2.

I believe that everyone should be given an equal opportunity to live up to their own expectations and ideals. Whether they are able to achieve it is one matter, but at the very least they should be given that opportunity sans red tape and bureaucracy and mindless sexism.

This undermines the women's position in an economically-viable society in the first place.

Their husbands are able to take time off to study the torah, which is absolutely fine because that is what the MEN want to do.

So where does that leave the woman? In a manner of submission and respect and love (I hope), they encourage their husbands' choice of endeavors.

Women have to take on the roles of income generators in the family.

And now, they are denying women the very rights to receive the level of education they desire in order for them to enhance their marketability and value in the modern world.

They could just be looking for a means of increasing their knowledge.

In order to support their torah-studying husbands!

“When you deny an entire society the ability to fit in with the modern economy, you deny it of its only mean of surviving in modern life." - Bar Ilan's Friendman

Right. Its ONLY mean. Not one of the means.

Depriving a society of viable knowledge and manpower.

I'm infuriated.

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This is insane.

An interesting proposal

2007-01-18T10:04:00.001-05:00

Imagine me and you

2007-01-17T16:40:00.000-05:00

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So happy together

Ice

2007-01-15T20:02:00.000-05:00