live it up because you can.

2009-04-05T15:09:00.002+09:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xyliq-9wgrQ&feature=PlayList&p=024C43E4C20B0AEE&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=1

"You And I Both"

Was it you who spoke the words that things would happen but not to me
Oh things are gonna happen naturally
Oh taking your advice I'm looking on the bright side
And balancing the whole thing
But often times those words get tangled up in lines
And the bright lights turn to night
Until the dawn it brings
Another day to sing about the magic that was you and me

Cause you and I both loved
What you and I spoke of
And others just read of
Others only read of the love, the love that I love.

See I'm all about them words
Over numbers, unencumbered numbered words
Hundreds of pages, pages, pages for words
More words then I had ever heard and I feel so alive

Cause you and I both loved
What you and I spoke of
And others just read of
And if you could see me now,
Oh love, no
You and I, you and I
Not so little you and I anymore, mmm...
And with this silence brings a moral story
More importantly evolving is the glory of a boy

Cause you and I both loved
What you and I spoke of
And others just read of
And if you could see me now
Well I'm almost finally out of
I'm finally out of
Finally deedeedeedee
Well I'm almost finally, finally
Well I'm free, oh, I'm free

And it's okay if you have to go away
Oh just remember the telephone works both ways
And if I never ever hear them ring
If nothing else I'll think the bells inside
Have finally found you someone else and that's okay
Cause I'll remember everything you sang

Cause you and I both loved what you and I spoke of
and others just read of and if you could see now
well I'm almost finally out of.
I'm finally out of, finally, deedeeededede
well I'm almost finally, finally, out of words.

eargasms (sunday morning happiness)

2009-03-15T12:47:00.006+09:00

almost forgot how beautiful an symphony orchestra can sound :)

am entering a renewed obsession with symphonies & waltzes, an obsession that ended with the commencement of my IB music studies. an awful time during which music was synonymous with homework.

it was tiring to listen critically for all the technicalities in order to score on a paper instead of just sitting back & enjoying the music.

but now, i'm glad to have gone through it. knowing the mechanisms behind the sounds only makes the pieces sound more beautiful and precious.

so i'm embracing youtube with open arms :) haha loving the rich, opulent sounds

& looking forward to seafood... yum...

2009-03-15T11:00:00.000+09:00

my dearest girl :)

cheer up! don't care about what they say :)

because you're awesome the way you are & that would never change.

just be who you are, do what you want.

no point trying to control what others think; that's near impossible.

please yourself, love yourself, be yourself.

don't hide or shy away. be who you truly are, and let others see that.

let your beauty shine through :)

let them see what we see in you.

love you.

xx
che min

happy happy happy niu year

2009-02-03T13:44:00.005+09:00

so how has everyone's new year been? hope it's been good!

i had a great holiday catching up with old friends and relatives, as well as relatives of relatives...and relatives of relatives of relatives....... yes, i am trying to justify why i haven't been blogging.

anyway i am here to tell you about the greatest Singaporean street fashion designer alive: Eugene Ong!! he has great ideas about transforming the originally morbid skull motif into something trendy and alive.

his collection is not very big yet because he is currently an NS officer.

but the S/S 09 is out. so take a look at MOFO inc.!

more at: http://mofo-inc.blogspot.com/

2009-01-13T10:57:00.005+09:00

Varsity Voices 2009

~ MUSICA MODERNA ~

come watch Singapore's best varsity choir sing some of the world's most intriguing and entertaining contemporary choral pieces.

February 21st, Saturday
University Cultural Center, NUS Kent Ridge

early bird discount - $13
after 8th Feb - $16

i urge you to take advantage of the $13 tickets before time runs out!

if you have any questions, do not hesitate to email me at pehcm@hotmail.com or leave a message on the chatbox.

hope to see you there!

2009-01-08T21:22:00.020+09:00

i saw something disturbing today.

my best friend & i were walking along huaihai road after a delicious lunch in a warm restaurant, hands full of shopping bags. it was a wonderful conversation and we were feeling very happy.....then we saw a lady eating from a trash bin.

to be exact, she was drinking the droplets left in a discarded bottle of milk tea. then she dived headfirst into the trash can, trying - but obviously to no avail - to find something nutritious to help her get through the harsh winter day.

we gave her some RMB to get some decent food. but no matter how much we give, the cash will only last her a while before she has to go back to ingesting rubbish for survival.

it is evident that the PRC needs to provide more welfare! and the filthy rich should try to do something too.

6 years ago, i saw a scene like this when i first came to shanghai. to see something like this on shanghai's Park Avenue in 2009, when china tops FORTUNE's 50 Richest...how to describe it? disgusting would be an understatement.

but the PRC govt policies + billionaires' minds = not something within my power to change.

in this new year, let's make a difference by giving some moolah when we see these unlucky peeps OK!

after all, it only takes 30 sec to give a fellow human some decent days. worthy exchange, no?

*

on a lighter note, weather woman says it may be snowing tomorrow! let's do the snow dance!

p/s: i went back to ssis on tuesday. only saw half the juniors/teachers i want to see. and can't meet all the lovelies outside ssis, bcos i am leaving so soon! (yes i am greedy) pffft. ANGRY! and it's all bcos i lost track of time when i.......

p/p/s: saw choir again (: new choir teacher is sincere, lovely lady but she is not chorally trained (!!!! what is SSIS doing?!) so she asked me to take over for that session. of cos i gladly obliged. choir has improved slightly. lovely lovely memories with the lovely lovely SSIS choir rushed back during the 1 hour i was there. love you guys! must work harder OK!!

p/p/p/s: it may snow tmr!!! oh, i think i already said that. yep, i did.

2009-01-06T01:18:00.003+09:00

"Child elopers' Africa plan foiled

The three were trying to travel without passports or money

Two German children - aged five and six - have been stopped by police from eloping to Africa to tie the knot in the sun, reports say.

The budding lovebirds, identified as Mika and Anna-Lena, packed bathing costumes, sunglasses and a lilo and headed for the airport.

They even had the presence of mind to invite along an official witness - Anna-Lena's seven-year-old sister.

The three got as far as Hanover railway station before police intervened.

The young couple were "very much in love" and had decided to get married in Africa "where it is warm", police spokesman Holger Jureczko told the AFP news agency.

Sun-seekers

The idea for the getaway wedding was born as the children's families celebrated New Year's eve together and Mika regaled the two girls with stories of a recent holiday to Italy.

They can still put their plan into action at a later date

Holger Jureczko
Hanover police spokesman

The following morning, as their parents slept, the intrepid trio walked 1km (0.6 miles) to the local tram station at Langenhagen, where they hopped aboard a tram for Hanover central station.

But the group aroused the suspicion of a guard as they waited for a train to the airport, and police were called in.

Officers persuaded the children they would not get far without tickets and money, but consoled them with a free tour of the police station, where they were shortly picked up by relieved parents.

Although any marriage plans have been put on hold for now, police did not altogether rule out the possibility of an African wedding.

"They can still put their plan into action at a later date," AFP quoted the spokesman as saying.

"

from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7811686.stm

my friends and i were laughing over this....but oh, what is a helpless young romantic to do!

2009-01-05T14:02:00.030+09:00

it's so freaking cold in shanghai, i think i will turn into an ice block if i were to step out of my apartment. so i will not entertain any possibilities of leaving my sofa and blanket!!! until tomorrow, when i will meet my best friend and have a shopping spree.....

i've just returned from taiwan. a gorgeous trip with my beautiful family & friends in a wonderful island (:

i had never taken the name Formosa seriously because i thought the Spanish simply wanted to market it, just like the explorers who named an icy, barely hospitable region Greenland to entice politicians and businessmen to go there...but Taiwan has proven itself to be a true Formosa (Spanish for "Treasure Island"). i think i understand why the Spanish, Portugese, Japanese (and several other nations which i shall not name) scrambled over themselves to claim the territory.

you see, if you want good shopping, there are the trendy, cheap wu-fen-pu street stalls as well as Taipei 101 and her neighbours. taiwan street style seems to emulate japan's, but to good effect. in fact the taiwanese do kawaii so well, they have a special way of pronoucing ke-ai. =P

also, all towns have night markets that serve delicious pearl milk tea, juicy lu rou fan, fragrant fried cuttlefish and other local fare at its best, provided (of course) you choose the stalls with long queues. my favourite is Shilin Ye Shi because it is the biggest, and it is sheltered - a very important feature in winter because it rained every day when i was in Taipei! i think everyone has to like ye shi at least a little bit, but my father absolutely fell in love. he explored the night markets like a child unwrapping his christmas presents!

for nature-lovers, there is the Taroko National Park with grand mountains and treacherous white-water rivers. and 20 mins from the Taipei CBD, there is Yangming Shan - gorgeous waterfalls and refreshing scenery for anyone who wishes to take a break from the bustling city that never ever sleeps.

should you feel like resting in a hot spring, Yilan (just a few hours' drive from Taipei) is waiting with all her natural springs and cute little hotels.

for a dose of culture and exquisite beauty, there is Gu Gong which is more valuable in terms of the importance of relics from China's 5000 years of jade, porcelain, painting & other fine arts than the whole of PRC Mainland itself because Chiang Kai-shek had exercised great foresight when he selected the most gorgeous pieces from Beijing's museums during/before he sought refuge from the reigning Communists in the 1940s.

and for crazy festive celebrations? the New Year's Countdown at Taipei is fantastic with a hysterically happy, young audience that seems to know the words to every single song that A-Mei and Mayday performs.

a definite plus for Taiwan = her people, who provide such great service that it is hard not to believe that the Taiwanese are just born hospitable and gregarious. anyway, i always think you can tell how developed a city is by judging the quality of the service people. in Singapore, Manhattan and HK, a hotel receptionist would politely decline your request because of a company policy, and then offer an alternative. in China, you simply have to ask to see the manager or maybe insist a little bit more. then you will get your way, because the systems are new and not fully established yet. in Taiwan, the hotel receptionists are the most polite and cheery - the people are just naturally charming. even the random passerby would help you with street directions, with no hesitation whatsoever and many warm smiles.

also, Taipei and her neighbouring towns are beautifully planned, partly due to the almost-fastidious obsession with perfection that is a most distinctive idiosyncracy of the Japanese, who ruled the island for 50 years from 1895 to 1945. however i hope it is an influence that the Taiwanese will soon outgrow, because the architecture and customs of the island bear too much of a resemblance to have an allure that is authentically and absolutely Taiwanese. but i suspect that many will say such things about Singapore too. after all my beautiful homeland was, essentially, a British colony made up of immigrants from all over.

regardless, Taiwan is a charming island and i cannot wait to return to see the beautiful places in the central and southern parts of Taiwan - treasures that i could not see within the 8 days i was on the Formosa!

2008-12-24T11:46:00.007+09:00

VARSITY VOICES 2009

~MUSICA MODERNA~

come listen to Singapore's best varsity choir perform some of the most intriguing and entertaining contemporary choral pieces.

21st February 2009, Saturday
University Cultural Center, NUS Kent Ridge

early bird discount - $13
after 8th Feb - $16

quick, grab the tickets while the discount lasts!!

email me if you have any enquiries - pehcm@hotmail.com
or just holler at my chatbox.

hope you can join us in the long-awaited night of Varsity Voices 2009.
see you there!

2008-12-24T11:46:00.006+09:00

fashion's biggest names designed beautiful Matrioshka Russian dolls for Vogue Russia's 10th anniversary.

here are my favourites:

Stella McCartney

Marni

Giorgio Armani

Moschino

Antonio Marras

aren't they the loveliest things?

more at http://www.vogue.co.uk/celebrity-photos/gallery.aspx/id,250?Page=1

a-Carol-Ling! ;D

2008-12-22T00:46:00.010+09:00

Hilton Shopping Gallery

i conducted today (: it was fun.
i have learnt a lot.

thanks people for your guidance and tips!!! (:
especially Harris who has generously and patiently guided me
& of course my dear Ling, Carol, Yiling, Jiatian, Khairul and Jeremy (in order of SATB! mua ha ha!) who actually stayed back to be my personal mini choir so that i can practise conducting the carols (:
also of cos the rest of NUS Choir...just for singing, which is beautiful in itself!
thanks dears!!

wonderful experience!

my awesome supportive family who came to Hilton and then...

followed us to Forum Shopping Center! gam sia haha
and thanks jing wen, zhi xian & aaron for coming too!! (:

carolling with NUS choir has really made the Christmas season (just like we sing) the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!!

dear santa, i've been good all year....and i'd be ever so merry if you would just give me

2008-12-17T18:05:00.010+09:00

soft colors by musicarousel

furrrrry by musicarousel

recession? what is that? by musicarousel

I brought my grandma out today (:

She spent more than S$500 in two hours.

Conclusion: I cannot be blamed for shopping a little too much sometimes. After all, it is in my blood.

here we come a-carolling

2008-12-15T01:05:00.004+09:00

we're here to spread the festive good cheer!

did something new and enjoyed it

2008-12-14T23:36:00.026+09:00

i am officially one giant step closer to one of my "Before I turn 30" To-Do items (FYI, i blogged about it on 03.09.08)

6) Dine alone in a fancy restaurant and enjoy it.

to enjoy being alone...not because of unforeseen circumstances like a friend caught in traffic, but because one is able to survive and indeed, enjoy, without the usual, typical habits of depending/interacting with others...i think it takes a very confident, self-content person to do that.

so...inspired by a friend's innocent remark, "you're alone now? what a loner!" i was travelling on the MRT after shopping with friends...so there was plenty of time to conjure plans up...and ta-da, i decided to experience going out by myself...just because i've never done it before.

of course shopping or movie-watching do not qualify for this concept because these activities are rather engaging and do not require much company. i chose to go to the Botanic Gardens because there would be lots of time to think and to be with myself. *oooomm...namaste*

here are the beautiful momentos:

frangipani in the loveliest shade of pink.
i wonder why they are associated with pontianaks, the opposite of the gentle beautiful flower.

so, where to?

i randomly picked paths and ended up at a place my friends & i failed to locate in previous trips (which were all cut short because of bad weather or time constraints) - the Orchid Garden!!!

this shower of sunshine has a beautiful name that i cannot recall at this moment!

student's admission fee for the Orchid Garden: just $1
for the rest of Botanic Gardens: a healthy pair of feet

so i enjoyed it (: that was a new way to enjoy a day!

so, how about you?
are you ready for an adventure at the Botanic Gardens?
try going there with yourself...and maybe you'll discover beautiful places too!

michelle in singapore (:

2008-12-14T23:29:00.005+09:00

michelle!! (:
woman, you have been ignoring our plans to jio you out for a meal!!

something i would love under my christmas tree - lots of candy and maybe even a cute moving toy train!

granny's lovebites

2008-12-11T10:15:00.012+09:00

this is mostly to document the masterpieces my grandmother churns out every day without fail.

but of course, the secondary purpose is to make brandon and other possible singaporean-food-deprived friends/readers drool in front of their computer screen.

are you ready?

3,
2,
1.

you may drool now:

chicken curry (:

just the right amount of coconut and chili - spicy enough to excite your senses, creamy enough to soothe and satisfy.
the chicken is sweet and succulent because it (my grandma uses drumsticks only - the rest are, in her kitchen, good enough only to cook stock) is cooked first in boiling water so that the excess oil is left in a separate pot, before my grandma cooks it with the curry.

fried rice - organic.

fried rice easily turns out to be either too greasy or too dry but this is perfect because olive oil creates a smooth texture (as well as light fragrance).

hor fun.
i finished the lobster before i took this picture so you just have to imagine it.

my grandma boils pork, chicken, dried scallop for 3 hours to create the stock for this. the result: hor fun that melts in your mouth, leaving a sweetness that lingers and tempts you to ask her to cook the same dish the next day.

so how much have you drooled?

***

cream teddy bears (:
also known as carbonara pasta.

my work seems puny beside my grandma's, like a 5th-grader's art piece beside picasso's. but it's a step toward one of my many aspirations - to make food as beautiful as my grandma's.

*

as you can see, much love is put into the cooking - with no corners spared of attention.

cooking is my grandma's way of expressing her love and care for everyone else. she takes care to include someone's favorite in every meal.

ah-ma is already 76 but she labors on, insisting on cooking dinner for 10-18 people every day.

and that - the selflessness, the strong will to live strongly and productively - is something that deserves respect.

it is often said that the stomach is the way to a man's heart. indeed my grandma has won mine, if not all of ours.

2008-12-11T09:42:00.008+09:00

i couldn't decide which picture to start off with, until i recalled how much huixian loves this bridge. so this shall be a tribute to huixian's favourite bridge.

grace & i playing with the display at

Clinic - wheelchairs n all that barang barang.

Hot Stone served pretty good steak.
however, the DIY concept = clothes that smell of food.

huixian is too tall for something =P

silvery and christmasy~~

tsuz, don't you dare to die in NS ok!!!!
(: (:

note: all pictures are from grace's blog.

2008-12-10T12:29:00.000+09:00

going out now, can't stop to blog. but this, i need to post.

SOME THOUGHTS
by Paul Smith

Start something new
Take pleasure seriously
Work is not about shorter hours or longer hours, it's about every hour
Look at the world through the eyes of someone you respect, admire and love
You can't do it without doing it
Make room to break the rules
Stop making sense... Logic is predictable... Think differently

"I was sitting in my office one day and jotting down some thoughts about life - and then I just left them on my notebook and someone from the team came in and saw them - and the next thing I knew they were framed and on the wall. Then the New York team requested them because they wanted them on the wall of the New York shop..."

From Vogue.co.uk

christmas came early this year

2008-12-06T13:11:00.000+09:00

school is officially out so it already feels like christmas. of course, the beautiful lights and decorations along Orchard and Esplanade helps greatly in reinforcing the festive mood.

but before anything else, some shoutouts:

happy anniversary, mom & dad (:

happy birthday, tau!

get well soon, ziying jie.

have fun in japan, jing wen!

so today, i'm snuggling in my bed with my laptop because nothing is more important than catching up with Gossip Girl Season 2!!!

was supposed to go for a haircut and (another) KTV session with my cousins, but eugenia isn't feeling well :( carolling is also cancelled :( i don't feel like going out anymore.

had a delightful day: manicure (my nails are a pretty maroon!!! i love it) with Jing Wen, a lovely lunch at T.A.K. (soft-shelled crab...yummy...), KTV with my friends (yay! it was fun! haha), and then dinner with MICHELLE!!!

we ate at Glutton's Bay, which serves reasonably-good hawker fare at not-so-reasonable prices. but i think the atmosphere of the place was good: Esplanade, seaside, street music.

it started raining halfway through our glutton session, but we were freaking lucky because we were seated at one of the few sheltered tables.

it felt so nice talking to a close friend, sheltered from the rain and well-fed and watered.

first time i was caught in the rain while going out (as michelle reminded me, it's because it's impossible to get in the rain when you're in a shopping mall) but my cute little umbrella saved the day!!!

we took some pictures, and i plan to upload them soon.

just not today. it's the first day of my holidays and i deserve an excessive amount of sleep, procrastination, sleep, Gossip Girl, sleep, chocolate, sleep and good clothes...before i awake and start holidaying proper.

in lieu of all that festive good spirit, happy holidays everyone!

mmmm... the tantalising smell of freedom

2008-12-04T12:19:00.000+09:00

at this time tomorrow, i will be done with my last paper!!

if you happen to be my mother (hi mom, i know you read my blog!) or a very caring friend, you may be thinking: what the hell is she doing? isn't she supposed to be mugging? well, i swear i will be off in...10 minutes time. Umm actually, how about 15?

anyway, i just cannot wait for tomorrow's long-awaited manicure with dear Jing Wen & dinner with Michelle whom i'm so excited to be finally meeting again!! (: (:

and then, there's KTV and carolling on saturday, my grandpa's death anniversary on sunday (i think it's glorious to pay tribute every year, because it's like meditating on the loss while having some semblance of the person's presence - a good way to approach it. i'm tempted to go on, but i should probably time this musing for some other day.)

there's just so many things i can/wish to do this holidays!

oh, my BFF is going to prison!!! not literally, but as in NS =P do you guys have any ideas how to send him off?? because hx and i were thinking of asking him for ideas. but knowing his i-am-a-party-animal-with-no-boundaries nature, i'm quite apprehensive of just doing whatever Tsu Ern says.

i'm cooking cream teddy bears for lunch. do you want some too? (:

btw, i just can't wait for this movie to come out. it's only the big-screen adaptation of my favourite book of all time - The Time Traveller's Wife.

the movie release dates are not out yet, but i'm pretty glad with the casting - Eric Bana (who was superb in that show with Scarlett Johansson and Natalie Portman. I cannot recall the name!!!) and Rachel McAdam (gorgeous!!)

the promo posters aren't released either, but do read this book!! it's a darling that will definitely make your holidays feel lovelier and warmer.

P.S. I did some surfing on Hersheys.com and I realised they provide some recipes for baking!! Ahh, inspiration strikes!! I shall bake a Christmas log cake! Let's see how this idea turns out... (: (:

In the meantime, Happy Holidays!!

the pink ribbon project

2008-12-02T19:25:00.000+09:00

breast cancer is lethal - for men and women alike. so, bring yourself and your friends for a check-up today. it could save lives.

http://nm2220.co.nr

disclaimer: it's my team's Media Writing project. so do not try to call any of those numbers or to write a check to us. if you kindly wish to contribute to the breast cancer cause, you could contact http://www.bcf.org.sg/home/index.php

this is why the death penalty should not be abolished.

2008-12-02T19:13:00.000+09:00

jail and caning only? seriously?

Nov 28, 2008

Teen raped on birthday

By Sujin Thomas

http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_307942.html?vgnmr=1

they're so disgusting, they ought to be wiped off the face of the earth!

all you can do is to take a breath. a really deep one.

2008-12-02T00:02:00.000+09:00

we were 40 minutes late for my Marketing finals today after getting caught in the traffic jam at the ECP, leaving us with 2/3 of the time we need.

needless to say, we were in quite a state of panic!

but we survived (: finished the paper ahead of time after some crazy scribbling.

after that, had a great day with great people!!!

premature celebration, considering my paper on friday?

anyhow, i'm in love with her style - so young, so elegant, so hopeful. i just want to steal her clothes. but i would have to fly to paris first.

take a peek: http://www.thecherryblossomgirl.com/

The Internet is for.... PORN!

2008-11-22T17:35:00.000+09:00

Avenue Q is a genre of its own - the multimedia musical replete with puppets. awesome! it was hilarioussss and refreshing (:

however, it's not for the prudish or faint-hearted...particularly if you grew up watching the muppets (like my friend, haha) because most of them proudly proclaim that the Internet is for porn...and expose their darkest, murkiest secrets.............

looking forward to the musical Cinderella next January. not only is Cinderella my favourite Disney princess, the lead will be LEA SALONGA!!!

look, how pretty:

also, Bridge Project featuring Ethan Hawke~~

I love Singapore (:

can't wait to see my baby!

2008-11-19T11:31:00.000+09:00

my baby's growing up! it has expanded so significantly, it can function as a full four-part choir! i can't wait to see it (:

in the meantime, i'm studying for my finals which start next monday. sigh...

looking forward to the 5th of december! (;

白头偕老

2008-11-13T23:25:00.000+09:00

we saw a white-haired couple kissing each other goodbye at the interchange.

it was the sweetest thing (:

2nd sweetest - "Dear Bobbie" by Yellowcard

Dear Bobbie,
Do you remember when you were young and very pretty? I do.
I remember pleated skirts, black and white sattle shoes.
Do you remember dancing that night?
I do, I still think of you when we dance,
Although we cant jitterbug as we did then.

Do you remember when,
How long has it been?
1945 you opened my blue eyes,
To see a whole new life.

Do you remember when,
I told you this that night,
That if you're by my side,
When everyday begins,
I'll fall for you again.
I made a promise when,
I told you this that night.

I'll be fine.
Cause when I die, then I die loving you.
It's alright, I'll be fine.
When I die then I die loving you,
Loving you, loving you.

Do you remember the times we would give up on each other and get back together.
Then we finally was married in 1949.
We drove the yellow convertible all night long.
Do you remember? I do.

Life has led us here,
Together all these years.
This house that we have made,
Holds twenty-thousand days.
And memories we've saved,
Since life has lead us here.

And I'll be fine.(I'll be fine)
Cause when I die, then I die loving you.
It's alright,(it's alright) I'll be fine(I'll be fine)
Cause when I die then I die loving you,
Loving you, loving you.

I'm coming home to you,
Slipping off my shoes.
Resting in my chair.
See you standing there,
The silver in your hair.

I'm coming home to you,
When I lay tonight, when I close my eyes,
I know the sun will rise,
Here or the next life.
As long as your still mine, then its alright.

I'll be fine(I'll be fine)
Cause when I die, then I die loving you
It's alright,(it's alright) I'll be fine(I'll be fine)
Cause when I die then I die loving you
Loving you, loving you

You have gray hair now,
But you're a beautiful women,
And the years have been good to both of us.
We walk slow now, but we still have each other.
The glue of love is still bonding us together.
Love is what I remember. Do you remember?

choir craziness (: (:

2008-11-12T23:21:00.000+09:00

may our paths meet again

2008-11-09T20:44:00.001+09:00

us all (:

tzening, norma, and christine!!

huiling!

iris (: do you think we look alike???!

us, with GLEN!!! (:

KTV cars - the new Partyworld

2008-11-03T23:51:00.000+09:00

i'm so happy! because Jia Tian drove us home... all the way to Tampines! and we sang along the way... such a great night (:

and choir was great too! especially The Cow... omg, and XXX came today so sopranos had a field day laughing.

Terence's voice class was also very fun... haha different approach as compared to Aunty Mary~

lalalalalala, hosana in excelsis!

i love Mondays and Thursdays (:

Louis Vuitton City Guides - The Ultimate Travel Companion

2008-11-02T23:35:00.000+09:00

go to http://www.mensvogue.com/magazine/guides/lvmh_guides for this week's tipsheet (:

my heart is over there, travelling

2008-11-01T15:44:00.000+09:00

Royal Botanic Gardens, Madrid

wanderings of Don Quixote

sun, sea, sand

lighthouse from which you can see the Tower of Hercules

so, what did you dress up as?

2008-11-01T00:04:00.001+09:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, YANG TING! (yesterday)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HUI YI! (tomorrow)

MAY YOUR WISHES COME TRUE! we know you had a great one!

my friend dreamt that we got attacked by bandits while we were travelling in shanghai, but !! i exhibited extraordinary kungfu skills... and saved the day!

i couldn't stop laughing when i heard about it...haha cute dream (:

sigmund freud says that dreams reflect what we really think/feel.

so by the logic of induction, i look like a kungfu fighter?!!

anyway...it's the WEEKENDS!! (: not that there really is a difference these days... because i've been playing so much! feeling guilty now because finals are approaching, classmates have already started studying, and i'm feeling like i'm enjoying a summer vacation.... hmm... che min, wake up?!?!!

my friend brought me to this amazing cafe the other day. (http://www.hediard.com.sg/index.php/singapore-cafe-boutique.html). it's worth a try. and after trying, i promise that you will be looking forward to it!

btw, happy (belated) halloween!

what brandon misses most

2008-10-26T13:10:00.001+09:00

ცჱ says:
GO LEARN CURRY
ცჱ says:
...
ცჱ says:
now i am all worked up..
ცჱ says:
.......
ცჱ says:
..
ცჱ says:
but i dont think u will come..

hahahaha UBC is good because JLOH and Brandon are both there. and jloh's pics are so incredibly enticing!! crunchy leaves and all...

but UBC is like 2nd most competitive exchange destination! will have to work so hard and play so little...

in the meantime, it's so much fun to tease brandon about the food in singapore WAHAHA

ცჱ says:
ai~

khong guan, oh, khong guan

2008-10-26T12:53:00.000+09:00

i grew up eating these adorable little sugary things with my playmates.

scissors, paper, stone

person who wins gets to eat one

but

"Excessive melamine was found in 18 of 47 biscuits produced by the Khong Guan and Khian Guan brands and they have been ordered removed from the shelves immediately."

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/10/16/nation/20081016125216&sec=nation

what can we actually buy now?

but who cares, just as long as you don't live on them.

i, for one, won't give up my chocolate for anything.

lalala sing a happy song

2008-10-26T11:50:00.000+09:00

somebody told me the other day that people like Amy Winehouse aren't real musicians - they're merely well-marketed hypes that have absolutely no talent in their blood.

but when it comes to music, does it really matter?

some people listen only to the most popular songs of the moment and criticise those who listen to oldies as out of their own generation, or out of the world.

others listen only to classics because they adore the exquisity and timelessness of the chords and rhythm. they tend to look down on the current trends, calling them fads or wannabes.

yet other people choose to drown their emotions in loud, angsty music. they don't like the mainstream music - because they consider themselves alternatives, read: unique.

many people are highly selective in their music preferences, conforming to pre-defined conceptions of themselves, the outward appearance of the artistes, the boxed-in classifications of music genres and other factors. most of the time, they don't listen to any music out of their usual range.

but is it all really necessary?

because when one comes down to it, we're just all out to enjoy ourselves to a good beat, beautiful lyrics and pleasing music... why not broaden your horizon and experiment the different styles?

that said, it's not necessary to have to spend the effort to move out of your comfort zone (if you're not already capable of that), since it's something as non-serious as music, after all.

haha random =P

2008-10-21T21:24:00.000+09:00

devoured Eleven Minutes by Paulo Coelho because it's beautiful... he manages to write poetry with simple prose.

i didn't use to like his books because i couldn't connect to them. but obviously i love his books now.

i'm so glad Jing Wen is supplying me with more of his books hahaha

*

i feel light (:

ooh-la-la

2008-10-18T11:07:00.000+09:00

some people say that life isn't all jazz. why can't it be? everything depends on how your perception and decisions. if you think working is fun, it's all jazz. if you don't like to work, go play - and that's all jazz.

i don't believe that life has to be a certain way. don't believe in predetermined goals. don't believe in defining things too specifically.

it's so important to be spontaneous & change your mind when necessary. that's what makes the best decisions & the most interesting lifestyle choices.

and that's what i love about my life now. i haven't decided on my Major...haven't decided on XXX...and the number of possibilities available make me dizzy to think about... but i think that's great - it's what being young entails (:

anyways.

this week has been awesome!! so freaking slack & fun (: go out with my closest gfs and one guy bff (although i'm going to dump him soon HAHA) everyday...watch movies, go shopping, eat nice food...

yah and House Bunny is just hilarious (: like Legally Blonde, but so much funnier!

Painted Skin is kind of scary, but oh-so-romantic! what would it feel like to be so in love that you'd die for your lover??

bought a lovely dress at Forever 21 with jing wen ((: haven't been shopping like that in sooo long!

the only regret i have is not bringing my camera around =s

note to self: bring camera out to Winnie's birthday! i promise to upload some pix soon so that my blog wouldn't be all words and no images.

got hold of Jay Chou's newest album...it's quite disappointing :( there's only one good song!

hmm...i really want to go to Paris: http://travel.nytimes.com/2008/10/19/travel/19hours.html?em

The City of Lights

who wants to go to europe??

maybe we can go there on Student Exchange Program... hmmm...

sing & laugh to your heart's content.

2008-10-12T22:52:00.000+09:00

老大!!! 我爱你!haha!

LING! (:

HAHAHA LING + CAROL

ling so funny right!! tell her tell her! =P

waiting....
huiling, huimin, shushan, me + carol (:

i love my drink! thanks baozhu (:
us + nick

yay sops!

with joel joel joel

khairul (:

TAO YAN!!!

now i understand why the seniors say that camwhoring is choir's favorite pastime (:

2008-10-12T14:53:00.000+09:00

dear friend/reader

i hope you haven't lost hope on this blog just because i haven't been blogging very frequently. i've just been so busy!

but hey, mid-terms are over!!! it's a champagne-popping moment. i also promise to blog more often. please help to pray that the tutors go easier on us.

seriously, all those people who say freshman year is a breeze after high school is either telling a big fat lie or not familiar with NUS bizad curriculum. we're so busy, it's not even funny anymore! pfffft =s

btw, last night's Jesuit Refugee Services concert was awesome (: i think we could have done better with O Magnum but Gloria and Requiem were so much better than they were during rehearsals! nothing to say for Ecce because though nice, it's veeerrrryyy slow & honestly bores me out. but overall, proud to say that i am a part of NUS Choir.

pictures will be up soon after my friends have uploaded them (:

regarding matters of the heart, there's been so many situations where i've decided to stay on the safe side of things - simply because i can't fully grasp the alternative. it means i haven't done things that i regret but i have not taken chances and on hindsight, i don't know if i made the right choice... how much is enough to spur on a leap of faith?

anyhow, i'm looking forward to this

chick flick in its pinkest shade. hope it doesn't let us down tomorrow (:

have you watched any nice movies lately? any recommendations? (:

have a fantabulous weekend!

love,

che min

2008-10-12T14:22:00.000+09:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO TSU ERNNNN
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!!

happy birthday my dear!!
although this is 2 days late, but you know i meant to blog on the day itself! (ok, not really, but i did sing that to you on the phone OK!!!)

hahahaha and uncle, sorry for calling at such an ungodly hour. i honestly forgot about the time difference.

too lazy to put links at the sidebar, but very interesting blog here -> http://wdfman.wordpress.com/

singing puts me on a high. btw, would you wear your heart on your shirt?

2008-10-07T09:57:00.000+09:00

sorry for the long lull...i've been really busy!!

ling & i only got home at nearly 11 last night. but it's okay, because choir puts me on a high. much excited about this Saturday's gig at Raffles Hotel, so i think the intense rehearsals are worth it (:

O MAGNUM MYSTE---RIUM.

i wonder if you, like me, sometimes feel like bursting out in song. i know i did that (hopefully not too often) in SSIS, but not here. simply because there are so many people around...it's sad and the cause of it goes right to one of the things i miss most about Shanghai - the familiarity and warmth of our class.

yes, kawaljit you're one of the Most Missed too (:

btw: HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHEHUI!! good luck in Shanghai ;)) i miss you already.

and also HAPPY BIRTHDAY WEI LING (:

oh, and i saw some tie-dye/gradient clothes on gojane.com but the designs aren't very nice. like this:

i like how tie-dye looks so happy and carefree. something like, i don't care about rising electricity prices or thursday's statistics mid-term or saturday's economics mid-term - i have shorts in different hues of blue so nothing can bother me. HAHA! i think it's just me.

lovely colors, but i wonder if there is a necessity to wear one's heart on one's shirt.

what do you think?? is tie-dye/gradation a good choice?

so we watched CHANGE from 5 pm to 3 am. the dvds have been lying around for some time now because we couldn't find the time for a TV marathon. i wonder why...because it is soo good!!!! kimura is of course very good-looking and any show w/ him as the lead is, of cos, very feel-good!

Asakura Keita bullied by his 5th-grade class. so cute.

Keita as Prime Minister of Japan. plot was so absurd it makes me wonder if it's a lampoon against the almost-hereditary nature of Japanese politics. but as usual, the Japanese made the story flow & the leads look gorgeous.

uh no, Anne Hathway wasn't a guest star. but she looks so good in this photo i had to share.

btw, http://justjared.buzznet.com/2008/09/14/tina-fey-sarah-palin-video-clip/ here lies Tina Fey's parody of Sarah Palin. imitation isn't always flattery; you've been forewarned.

if you're American, please please vote for Obama...even if not for the man himself, then at least for the hair-raising fact that Palin will then be "a 72-year-old heart beat away from the most powerful role in the world"

road trip - in singapore! (:

2008-10-01T22:29:00.000+09:00

we drove from East Coast Park to Mount Faber to Kranji farms to Sungei Buloh Nature Reserve. in a day.

just like when i was little, and my dad brought us on little road trips every weekend (:

*
today, i realised singapore has a lot of potential for tourism-related development.

Mt Faber, with the cable cars and pretty greenery, has the potential to become the equivalent of The Peak in Hong Kong. with some exclusive residential estates, high-class bars and modern landscaping, Mt. Faber can become so much more!!!

& then, Kranji has the resources to turn into something like Perth's renowned Margaret River. there were so many cockles to be caught (: slow-moving getty, organic farms, lots of untouched forest land......why not have a mini back-to-nature respite in Singapore? then we wouldn't need to go to Malaysia or Indonesia for those weekend getaways.

read this article a few months ago about how singapore lacks A New Singapore Story to lure investors. Ecotourism and/or a more vibrant nightlife could be the answer.

*

btw, saw soooo many indian foreign workers watching/playing cricket at Boon Lay today. also passed by several workers' quarters in the day. the quarters are placed really out-of-the-way...not like serangoon gardens proposal.

wonder how the foreign workers feel, to be so ostracised?

seeing the hordes of people speaking in a different language, obviously of a different lifestyle and mindset...i felt quite overwhelmed. with them so entirely disintegrated from everyone else, are foreign workers a social bomb waiting to explode?

vanilla swiss roll + strawberry juice = a fresh, sweet start to a holiday

2008-10-01T09:38:00.000+09:00

Ms Leanne Ong, my favorite drama teacher (but also the only) & a big-shot in Singapore's drama scene, recommended me to the casting producer of this teenage docu-drama.

since i've never tried anything like it, i sent my resume and photographs in.. and got an email telling me to come downtown for Casting on friday afternoon! (:

i was getting all happy, before i realised i have classes on all timeslots offered :(

oh well... i forgot to think about the BRACES anyway!

anyway, my gfs and i have been lusting after this beautiful restaurant: http://www.streetdirectory.com/restaurants/singapore/reviews/images_list-My_Secret_Garden-1903.php

shhh - let's meet at the Secret Garden

Song of the Mood: Corona and Lime by Shwayze

2008-09-27T22:23:00.000+09:00

this week, though mind-bogglingly bee-zee, has been great (:

keeping to a 7-month promise, my closest gf and i watched MAMMA MIA! yesterday. relished the movie as well as mouthfuls of mac and cheese, popcorn and a gigantic lemon tea which we couldn't finish. we fed each other food because we were too lazy to pass stuff & i wondered if the couple behind us thought we were a couple too....hmmm...

anyway, the movie was one of those that make you leave the cinema feeling light and happy.

pierce brosnan was quite a let-down though. he had a lot of lines but he delivered them as though he has to 90% of his attention on singing on pitch. obviously, 10% is not enough to look 007 good AND act convincingly at the same time. pity, pity.

on the other hand, meryl streep seems to breathe & live in every role she's thrown at. oh but we must also give credit to the hair and makeup stylists who made her demeanour belong to that rustic Greek island.

the black horse of the show is undoubtedly seyfried (a.k.a. the Mean Girl who uses her boobs to predict the weather!!) who, surprise surprise!!, has a sweet and clear voice...we give her the benefit of the doubt in assuming that it was not edited with 21st century technology.

so, perhaps just because of the talented Streep and the gorgeous Brosnan/Seyfried....if not for the allure of ABBA...MAMMA MIA! is worth a watch!!

4.7 stars, says i (:

met classmates for work, after which we tried the much raved-about macaroons at Canele...which were, of course, aweesommmee. thanks JZ for treating us (:

btw, i left my camera home as usual ): but Canele is genius and macaroons are lovely.

we also saw the F1 test runs (: exciting and hyped up atmosphere, but neither of us are race-car fans. are you?

ohhh and the family's back! with lots of lovely hugs, heart-to-heart conversations and beautiful gifts..........my sister just did me a pedicure (:

however.....exams start next week....sigh... :'(

this screamed "double post"

2008-09-24T19:40:00.000+09:00

it's amazing what a simple email check brings.

doesn't this nanny look very happy with her wards?
yeah well, but she's not a nanny!!!! she had EIGHT children! twins followed by.....sectuplets? is there a word for it? imagine the amt of milk money and everything...omg...
but look, how adorable <3

2008-09-24T13:45:00.000+09:00

edit: i love this blog http://sophie-jade.blogspot.com/2008/09/things-of-fairytales-and-magic.html i feel like she writes how i sometimes feel. plus, she likes michael buble as well!! loves <3

in his interview with CLEO, Jason Mraz sounds just as geek-cute as his songs promise (: like a real life version of Seth Cohen!
i knew it would take a great personality to deliver such beautiful songs.!!

anyway: a friend sent me this email and here's the funniest excerpt:

BUSINESS LOGICS

Father: I want you to marry a girl of my choice
Son: I will choose my own bride!
Father: But the girl is Bill Gates's daughter.
Son: Well, in that case...ok

Next, Father approaches Bill Gates.

Father: I have a husband for your daughter.
Bill Gates: But my daughter is too young to marry!
Father: But this young man is a vice-president of the World Bank.
Bill Gates: Ah, in that case...ok

Finally, Father goes to see the president of the World Bank.

Father: I have a young man to be recommended as a vice-president.
President: But I already have more vice-presidents than I need!
Father: But this young man is Bill Gates's son-in-law.
President: Ah, in that case...ok

This is how business is done!!

Moral of the story:
Even if you have nothing, you can get anything...as long as your attitude is positive (:

mind all over the place (:

2008-09-23T22:50:00.000+09:00

Lehman Brothers bankrupt, Merrill Lynch feels need to be bought by Bank of America...

while i'm still trying to make sense of it all, i wonder how much the job market will be affected...this year's Finance grads will probably be getting it really bad...hope it'd recover soon!!

so busy these days! just started with some management science and i got sooo bored i'm here instead (:

at least career planning is over (; that's 2 days in exchange for 6 Wednesdays - so worth it!

disgusted by the Chinese food scares. have some heart, people!

in the meantime, kidney check-ups anyone?

bear in the house

2008-09-20T21:22:00.000+09:00

from http://kingdomofstyle.typepad.co.uk/my_weblog/2008/09/put-your-books.html:

'Put your books in the bear'
Now that's not something you would say every day.

hmm...i bet it'd feel different to read a book from Joe the Polar Bear bookcase ((:

the real thing - you only get it in singapore

2008-09-20T13:09:00.000+09:00

it's recess week next week :)

but i'm down with mumps :'(

i actually had a similar infection when we went to Yunnan... but my doctor says this is the real thing.

see, that's what happens in China - many things are counterfeit, even mumps.

:'((

I hear in my mind all these songs

2008-09-18T17:55:00.003+09:00

perhaps because of all the technical music training, i've never really liked Easy-Listening songs...

now, i'm addicted to indie music with the likes of Leslie Feist (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leslie_Feist), Regina Spektor (http://www.reginaspektor.com/) and Carla Bruni (http://www.celebwelove.com/Carla_Bruni/).

here's Fidelity by Regina Spektor. i love her voice, the lyrics as well as the music, which is rare because i'm quite picky with music. (:

it's amazing how the acoustic guitar line repeats throughout the song, with the same rhythmic pattern, strumming technique and pretty much the same chord...which usually sounds annoying but Spektor pulls it off with high, whimsical pitches at 'hearts' and 'break' that makes you smile.

cheeky, sentimental, strong and beautiful at the same time, this song just pulls at my heartstrings. and it doesn't let go until spektor thinks it's time.

I never loved nobody fully
Always one foot on the ground
And by protecting my heart truly
I got lost in the sounds
I hear in my mind
All these voices
I hear in my mind all these words
I hear in my mind all this music
And it breaks my heart
And suppose I never ever met you
Suppose we never fell in love
Suppose I never ever let you kiss me so sweet and so soft
Suppose I never ever saw you
Suppose we never ever called
Suppose I kept on singing love songs just to break my own fall
Break my falli was just thinking.

i love music, i love communications new media, i love business... so maybe i should start some music critic business?!?! it would be great to earn money by listening to music and writing about it... just a thought (:

2008-09-18T17:55:00.002+09:00

ever thought that Cat Woman is sexy? think again.

http://queenoftheposhandbroke.blogspot.com/2008/09/catwoman-returns.html

i'm a bubble, you're a bubble, so let's be bubbly!!

2008-09-18T17:55:00.001+09:00

it's been such a Good Thursday! don't tell you why... WAHAHA! kk i'm just too high to blog seriously...and i just found my camera-PC cable so i'm going to take a trip down Nostalgia Lane (:

i think we were high that day.

normal pic! but i had to post it because it's already...2 mths (?) late! it was the SYF Drama Night. The 4 SYF-Drama-Gold JCs presented their pieces and it was really quite nice! wow...i know one of the cast!!! kk it's the "old lady"...guess who???

the guy beside tsuz is really really talented! couldn't stop laughing at his pitch-perfect parody of a PRC teacher. he has a lot of potential.
another pic of the crazy day...poor christine got squeezed out of the picture by the crazy person on the right. you can't even see christine's face!!!

THAT'S ALL FOLKS!!!

A bloody painful day. Literally.

2008-09-15T20:47:00.000+09:00

Warning: do not read if you are already in a pretty bad mood.

The only bright spot in this moody Monday was this rather heartwarming phone call from Vancouver =D Joanney, you haven’t changed!!! That’s a good thing.=D=D and you sound so happy too!

So. Gungho me assumed teeth extraction would be nothing much, I told everyone I’ll just go myself straight after school. Luckily my grandma turned up unannounced because...

I never knew a 70-year-old face could become so scary when holding a syringe with a thin protruding metal tip...Seriously, I was so freaked, I thought I was going to cry. (But I didn’t =D)

Dentist: Don't worry lah...Just three more injections!!!

Me: protests come out as indelible mumbling

Right now, I'm still giddy from 5-hour non-stop bleeding & the awful memory of four anesthetic injections. Friends who will be doctors, please be as encouraging as my dentist!!!!

Halfway through the dental, I tried to distract myself by recalling the mechanisms of the blood clotting process. Can only remember prothrombin, thrombin, and the activating factors (that includes Ca2+ and K+)..can't recall the enzymes...haha Random facts put me through the day when chocolate fails. I guess Ms Wong would be happy to know this.

Oh, and to justify the amt of whining in this post, I’m going to insert some numbers here: I lost 2.8 kg in 3 weeks!!!!

So, by the way, if YOU are thinking of getting braces, DON'T DO IT!!!!!! Unless, perhaps, you have monstrous teeth - which I don't think you do!!

I'm still unsure whether I should go to school tomorrow... I have doctor's MC =D but there's group work tomorrow........how????

P.S. a friend featured chehui & i in his blog. in a very cute manner. http://www.jiayouernvfan.blogspot.com/ haha! David,take care OK! =D

so proud of our NS men! Majulah Singapura <3

2008-09-13T20:22:00.000+09:00

"If you who are growing up do not understand that you have to defend our country, then I say in the end we will lose." -MM LKY

my cousin booked in as a full-time National Serviceman this afternoon. yes, my closest childhood playmate is now in NS!!! =s

dear eugene, hope you survive it without all the haagen-dazs, clubbing, expensive jeans & mcdonalds 24/7 delivery! man...

but it was surprisingly clean and the food is quite OK! i only had the soup because i can't bite...however, everyone says it's all right! so, people going to NS, don't worry!!

hmm...my aunt was scoffing because i'm all patriotic but i would never want to enlist! NS is so tough because of all the physically strenuous activities!!! they had to march today under the hot sun...i think i would die...

i guess i'd just be patriotic in some other way. maybe i'd just listen to PM Lee and have more than two. =P

purple wired teeth a la Ugly Betty

2008-09-12T18:53:00.001+09:00

i was still laughing at my own teeth after i left the dentist.

i actually wanted to post a picture of myself (with braces) & draw specs like ugly betty's...just for kicks.

but half a day later, i'm not laughing anymore...

because the wires have started to exert their pressure & omg it hurts!!!!!

the worst thing is i can't eat normally....and my aunt bought snowskin champagne white choc truffle mooncakes from Raffles Hotel &*()@%^&*!

to top things off, the dentist already marked out the to-be-extracted teeth!! Operation Kill Che Min starts next next friday. (honestly, i'm quite scared.)

Thank God It's Friday? not for me!!

it's ironic. when there's a lot to blog about, there isn't time to blog.

2008-09-10T20:51:00.000+09:00

surprise surprise! i got sick of the pink....any templates to recommend?

dear diary, i met someone very interesting.

2008-09-07T22:01:00.000+09:00

here's to baking yummilicious cupcakes with mouth-watering icing
& intriuging NS ghost and experience stories ((:

NEWater tastes funny & my imagination runs wild....how can my country possibly be expected to, someday, turn to this post-sewage water for survival?

2008-09-07T15:57:00.000+09:00

punished for not being a good student on weekdays, yours truly is stuck with homework. so i'm unable to laze around & do justice to Lazy Sunday.......

and omg, management science is torture!!!! whoever intends to do Business Administration, pls remember that IB Math HL Calculus will be continued in college.

on a brighter note, here's what we did during our previous study session.

Top 3 favourites! Enjoy...

"Sexy, Handsome & Erotic" NTU Lecturer (video really starts only after 1-minute mark): http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=ntu+lecturer&search_type=&aq=f

2 very creative, successful ads:
grand, funny, musical: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mv5U0W8FDDk
hilarious Thai mini love series: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D49C4K1Y1Iw

hehe i love youtube! don't you?

okay...back to sensitivity analyses. sigh...

P.S. dear people in JCs, good luck for your prelims!!

when you have more, you should give more.

2008-09-05T22:53:00.001+09:00

that's what Bill Gates' mum taught him. and she grounded that idea in his smartass mind very well.

a few decades and many billion dollars later, this mummy's teaching has become the fundamental reason behind the prominent Bill Gates Foundation as well as the root force behind the expanding global idea of Corporate Social Responsibility. featured as the cover story of TIME newsmagazine, CSR is growing bigger & bigger...it has even earned a tab of its own on several company sites, such as Burger King's.

while it's heartwarming to know that the rich & fabulous do try to share some of their luck with the less fortunate, i'm bothered by the idea that when one gets down to it, CSR is simply a cleverly delivered marketing concept...

how much of what we do is from our hearts?

10 things I want to do before I turn 30. otherwise titled: a girl can dream, right??

2008-09-03T18:06:00.000+09:00

edit: tonight, i skyped with my sisters....dammit i miss them!!! they are my ya-ya sisterhood, quite literally. XOXO

1) Fall in love (& hopefully get married in a Vera Wang dress.)
2) Get a 5-figure monthly salary.

3) Travel all around the world & climb some tall mountains, maybe by backpacking! (tsuz, michelle, audrey, huixian, grace + anyone nice...you wanna join me?? let's start planning/saving soon!)
4) Buy a Volkswagen Beetle for myself & dare to drive long distances. 5) Cook meals so delicious, even my Top-Chef granny and mum would both honestly approve. (people, a few years later OK!! siwon, michelle, christine...no more KFC, is homecooked food!!) 6) Dine alone in a fancy restaurant and enjoy it.

7) Meet, and have a conversation with, Lee Kuan Yew and/or Bill Gates. they are my idols!! 8) Own some Manolos!! Sarah Jessica Parker (as Carrie Bradshaw) in Manolos! btw, notice her oh-so-quirky-and-cute bag? love love!

9) Stay make-up-free. i just don't really like it. it's quite uncomfortable! hope the social stigmas and pressures of the competitive corporate world won't make me cave in........

10) Experience singing on the streets for money...

also:

this is for you. if you ever need any impetus to work/study, view: http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=the+secret+world+of+hatue+couture&search_type=&aq=f

a documentary split into 6 videos so it loads faster, The Secret World of Haute Couture (pronounced OAT COO-TOUR. tsuz, is that right?) exposes you to the decadent high-fashion lives of Manhattan's elite.

watch the wives of FORTUNE Top 50 Richest order in exclusively-for-them Gucci/Prada/YSL clothes after New York Fashion Week; see an 80-year-old ang moh tai-tai wear a different tailor-made Chanel suit every lunchtime to her daily hangout at Park Avenue.........

witness the glamorous lifestyles of the luckiest asses in the world!

the subtle fragrance of new books

2008-08-31T12:06:00.000+09:00

Mood: Sofisticat
You're an adventurous soul with a bit of a romantic outlook. You're always up for new experiences that will broaden your mind. And if there's a chance to get closer to nature, then you'll be sure to dive in. When it comes to art, nothing is more impressive than high fashion. Hefty price tags are definitely worth it. You care about how you look; you make every effort to look your best. At all times. As for music, for you it's all about memories, joining in, singing along to all your favourite cheesy songs. You want some easy going low-key fun with your friends.

this personality test was one of my Media Writing module assignments =D it's interesting, not the usual Q&A. you can try it at http://youniverse.com/statement/module/PersonalityModule/New_Personality_module

oh no!!! i keep getting distracted!! i need to finish my tutorials today but i keep ending up on facebook or other equally distracting sites...and i blogged twice today haha!

in shanghai, parents & sisters always keep me in check. here, grandma puts me on a pedestal & i'm always doing the right thing NO MATTER WHAT...hahahaha

help? XD

i left my beautiful golden scrapbook in shanghai. so this is my new scrapbook of sorts. it's fire-proof, water-proof, dog-proof....

2008-08-31T11:33:00.001+09:00

do you believe in life? i think i do! so, come what may; i'm going to have fun anyways!

2008-08-31T00:49:00.000+09:00

2. We talked about the make-up class for the lecture of Oct 7. I have to attend a conference on Oct 4th in Ohio and am unable to come back to teach. We therefore have to run a make-up lecture, and we agreed to do that before term break. LT16 has been reserved for September 13 (Saturday). Thus, I would offer two sessions: one from 11AM to 1PM, and the other from 2PM to 4PM. You are free to attend either class.Again, I apologize to ruin your weekend. But (1) this course has an extremely tight schedule and we cannot afford losing one lecture; and (2) please understand that a mid-age man is too old to take a 30-hour and 4-stop flight and teach from noon to 6pm in five hours after landing:-). Thank you for your understanding. Have a nice weekend!Best,Qiang

haha! so cute! i love my econs lecturer!

and i love CHOIR!!!! yay!

pfft because of my braces, i cannot go to the gathering tomorrow!! been talking about/planning it for ages =( i haven't seen some of the seniors, ALRIC and MS YAP in eons!!! pffft.

i really don't understand why huixian & nic want to leave NUS....i think it's perfect! ppl are nice, food is awesome, fees are cheap, weather is okay, global rating is high.......but i guess everyone has their own preferences!!! and well, the all-alone-overseas experience would be fun & enriching. aii but then i'll be the only one in NUS!!!! okay...yeah actually not like we're in the same faculty or have the same timetable!

aii GOOD LUCK PPL...

*Hugs&Kisses*
che min

the day when lynn tsuz & i turned up all wearing green.

2008-08-29T22:27:00.000+09:00

bye lynn!!! TAKE CARE! i'm sure you'll enjoy yourself there with your bubbliness of a fishball =P if you want to talk, i'm just a phone call away!

the metal rings cut my tongue every time i talk/eat/drink...how did all my friends who have gotten braces survive almost entirely unscathed? i've never been so aware of the movements of my tongue, and i kept laughing at myself because i sound retarded =P ya ya, tsu ern, keep mocking me!!!! wait till i......um....see your new hairstyle!! =P

oh and i bought CLEO simply because the lovely Blake Lively (hey it rhymes!) was the cover girl!!! final verdict- VOGUE and Seventeen are still better for their own reasons. but they didn't feature BL! only good thing about the mag --> the following soundbites:

Sarah Jessica Parker - I don't judge others. I say, if you feel good with what you're doing, let your freak flag fly.

i hold this viewpoint about certain things i've been seeing/hearing...i think there is no need to judge others or to hate with passion, because what for? the world would be so boring if everyone was perfectly normal and by-the-book. unless, of course, you did something unforgivably awful to my friend.

Kate Beckinsale - I'm the worst wife in the cooking department. I've always thought you can't be good at both food and sex. You can always order the food in. I'd rather he didn't order in the sex.

hahahaha! i literally LOL-ed at this. it's such a convenient excuse =P

random musings:

the line between boring & practical is thisthin: in this spotless little island where everything is perfect, we can be so practical & efficient that we may even skip steps in important once-in-a-lifetime processes. many of us hear/experience marriages that go right past the stage of the romantic one-kneed proposal to the calm HDB applications... whatever happened to unbridled passion?

east-siders unite!!!

2008-08-26T00:30:00.000+09:00

just came out of the shower & omg...i feel like dying on my bed! but there's a very important email from a certain someone that i have to reply to.....

choir ended early today...but early is subjective and it ended at 9 pm. while that is still okay, it takes me 2 hours to get home... but what always makes me feel better is meeting people who also live in the East!! and today i met Ling, who stays in Tampines too =D and she is likeable and funny! so...yes i'm very happy =D

oh, i've side-tracked!! i was going to blog about choir...anyways...they sing quite a lot of Latin songs so that's not so good, but i guess it improves my technical stuff. hope they sing more contemporary pieces like the one by vaughan williams =D that is our Choir Anthem!!! maybe we should design a Choir Flag too...oh i side-tracked again. what i really want to talk about is the fact that...

our conductor is NELSON KWEI!!! happy happy happy. and he came today!!! heard so much about how genius he is...and in person, he's just really friendly & witty. don't you just love to see qualities like that in people who have rose to the top of their professional circle? and i love how he manages to incorporate stiff theoretical knowledge into casual language that does not alienate non-music-learners & interests music-learned-ers at the same time. in short, ya, i really admire him!!!

oh...and Mr. Ong is bringing Amanda, Christy +++ to NUS this Saturday to receive their well-deserved awards!!! anyone is free/wants to come support them?? =DD if you do, call me & i will tell you the details.

tutorials started TODAY...and i have a 4-hour break on Monday!!! CRY.

btw, malu thing #1: i left my handphone in the tutorial room!!!!!!!! had to go back & get it...and the next tutorial had already started.! malu thing #2: i lost my EZ-link card! AGAIN! luckily this very nice aunty lent me $1 to pay the bus fare...

OK...i have to catch some sleep...waking up early tomorrow to go jogging with my favourite aunt =D i actually have time for that because wei ling and her very nice boyfriend will send me to school tomorrow!!!!

that's why i stay in singapore --> people are so nice here!! LOVE MY COUNTRY. MUAH!

good luck jlohhie!

2008-08-24T13:28:00.000+09:00

woke up super early yesterday to send joanne loh off... (met tsuz & grace on the MRT. so qiao!)what i joined was a huuge entourage there with jloh! but jloh didn't cry =(

after that, went to GMPS with xian xian... really like her company! =p

btw, the kids really drove me crazy with all the incessant yelling & running. they seem to believe a curse will fall upon the silent & still.

what i am doing now ---> equivalent of MULTIPLE MATH IAs. seriously, im so glad i took Math HL...because it's somewhat cushioned me from the pains & frustrations of LOGIC. sometimes it takes me hours to accept notions that i realised very soon but dismiss because of trivial reasons. perhaps i'm just not a very logical person.

realised that doesn't sound logical...so maybe i just proved my point! =s

online shopping with eugene yesterday! and he showed me his wonderful t-shirt designs. have to say i'm impressed! i can't tell he's color-blind =P i have to paste a link here when i find it, simply because it's too beautiful not to share.

P.S. my 1st NUS Choir prac tomorrow! actually the 2nd, but i missed the 1st due to....some reason...hahahaha people pls don't reveal the reason it's too embarrassing!

P.P.S. I MISS SSIS CHOIR!! kerri you have to take care of our baby OK! =P

linear programming & microsoft excel

2008-08-22T11:56:00.000+09:00

felt like i was back in IB HL MATH yesterday because i didn't understand more than 10 sentences in the entire mgmt science lecture! it was a good thing melvin crashed that lecture & we left very early =D

lucky jloh & hx didn't stay for that lecture...hahaha

it's so weird. i actually hang out with hx/jloh/grace more in singapore than in shanghai! been having quite a lot of fun with them.

gradually getting used to life here... i mean, it still feels like i'm on holiday but i'm a lot less disoriented.

and i owe that a lot to Wei Ling! so thankful to have her as my timetable buddy. it's quite coincidental that we were in the same OG, we have the same lecture timetable....and that's it for most people, but we live less than 5 blocks away from each other.! plus she is nice! so, like eugene would say, i is happy.

watching the webcast now...trying to understand what Prof. Sim is teaching...really want to give up because he is so crappy!

olympiCrazy

2008-08-19T22:59:00.000+09:00

from my 70+ year old grandma to my 5 year old cousin.... the whole family's been crazy about the olympics! been on starhub channels 601-606 24/7. plus my timetable is so slack, i can do anything i want!

i only watch Gymnastics & Swimming. Gym because it's beautiful. Swimming because of Michael Phelps!

i really admire the U.S. Gymnasts Nastia Liukin & Shawn Johnson!!! Nastia's this beautiful graceful thing & Shawn's a real cute dynamo-fireball. both impressed the world - Nastia bagged 1 Gold, 3 Silvers and 1 Bronze. Shawn has done equally well with several Silvers and finally 1 Gold today!

Michael Phelps is, undeniably, an Olympic Miracle. not only is he the first Olympic athlete to bag 8 Golds for the whole of Olympic history, he also broke several records...and don't forget that he's also very hot!!

pity Liu Xiang. awful turn of events! always admired him because he's so talented.

the olympics can be such a cruel place. a bad fall, a 0.001 second difference...and that's it for you.

oh...and ya i did watch a bit of the Table Tennis. but it was quite obvious China was going to win, so i just kept switching to Gym! but silver is pretty darn good already right!!!! so proud of you, Team Singapore =D

and so interesting of PM Lee to postpone the English telecast... haha! very supportive!!

looking forward to Synchronised Swimming finals!!

you've been forewarned - i'm olympic crazy la!

P.S. eugenia introduced this amazing video. impressive what technology + human prodigies can produce ---> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXYEw6t2o_M Adidas Commercial featuring Nastia Liukin!

family = father & mother i love you!

2008-08-18T23:27:00.000+09:00

aiiiii I MISS YOU!!!!

new shoes are hard & uncomfortable

2008-08-13T23:00:00.000+09:00

went for Bizad Club welcome tea today... whole thing was so formal & stiff. far from what i expected...

Rotaract on the other hand was pretty good. the usual volunteer club, i think. i like that. it feels good to give.

can't wait for Choir welcome tea tomorrow!!!! =D

i miss my music.......it's the one beautiful, untouchable place where nothing can ever go wrong. because, even if it's something sad, you can just put in more chromatic chords & asymmetrical rhythm patterns...and there you go, something bad becomes something really good.

can't live without music. it's my drug, so to speak =D

been feeling a little disoriented going to lecture halls with 200-300 other people, most of whom i've never seen before....... it's now all about making new friends. that's good and refreshing.

but i miss knowing everyone's names, likes&dislikes, family & almost everything else. i miss the class size in ssis, where my smallest class was a one-on-one. i miss being somebody.

besides that, i also miss my driver & my maid.!! hahaha now...i have to take 3 hours of MRT+SBS...iron my own clothes...do my share of the housework........

expat brat no more.

transiting to an entirely unfamiliar lifestyle.

these shoes need some wearing to fit better.

not fated to be with Macbook

2008-08-11T21:44:00.000+09:00

ცჱ says:
mac also got mircosoft excel
ცჱ says:
dont tell me my daughter bought vaio..
ცჱ says:
i will kick u out of the house
ცჱ says:
haha
che min* whiskmeawaynow.blogspot.com says:
hahahahahaha
che min* whiskmeawaynow.blogspot.com says:
phew
che min* whiskmeawaynow.blogspot.com says:
i almost did
che min* whiskmeawaynow.blogspot.com says:
i got toshiba protege
ცჱ says:
...
ცჱ says:
....
ცჱ says:
...
ცჱ says:
finefine
ცჱ says:
i can give u the softwares if u bought mac
che min* whiskmeawaynow.blogspot.com says:
what!!!!!
ცჱ says:
shuai de
ცჱ says:
like my presentation
ცჱ says:
all those
ცჱ says:
too bad
ცჱ says:
TOO BAD*

whatever brandon you're in canada/shanghai!!!!!!
kk not really i'm just trying to make myself feel better =S
oh no...

sunburnt & happy

2008-08-11T21:09:00.000+09:00

i'm so happy to be back in singapore =D

i love my orientation group people
i have a stats lecturer who uses heart-shaped punctuation and cracks me up with her bubbliness
i'm in the same country as audrey and tsu ern
i have three very nice roomies who cook well & give me money
i just got a beautiful new bed
and a motorola V9 (just S$48!)
and a toshiba protege M500 (Macbook is not compatible with bizad-required software. boo)
<3

haha! who said money can't buy happiness...although i've to admit it's temporal.

orientation was really fun!! and dirty!!

there was this game i can't get out of my mind.....they put plastic on a slope & poured soapy water all over it? then we were supposed to climb up!!!! like how gross hahahaha lucky me had an excuse because i had dad's birthday bash after that =D it was funny watching ppl climb up!!!!! see i'm so sadistic. =P

oh and something else really unforgettable. there was this guy in my OG who was a total sport - he donned a superman costume ! he was our clan mascot. such a sport right =D

ohoh and flag day.! my first time flagging in singapore =P some interesting stuff:

there was this little girl who suddenly turned around & said i was pretty! hahaha she totally made my day. but it wasn't a dream because tsuz was on the phone and he heard it!!
these crappy teenage guys asked lots of difficult questions.....and two donated cos "i find you kinda cute"
this scary uncle said "i'm unemployed....still ask me to give. you give me lah!!!"
there was also another scary uncle who said "my eyes are going bad already...! still ask me to give...are you going to help me cross the road? are you going to help me? if you're not, then i won't donate!"

scary people. is there a sign out there that says "bully this flagger because she's a freshie!" ???? but i think it was quite funny overall.

anyways =D my classes only start at 12 tomorrow!! =D it feels good to have such a slack timetable