Momentum.

I've completely lost the momentum to write blog posts lately. School and in particular Research Congress has been sucking the life out of me lately. Although tiring and boring, I actually enjoyed research congress this year. Lately, I've been feeling a bit of desolation, like everything I've done has been in vain. But when presenting in research congress, on my research, the look of wonder and interest on their faces as I present gives me a sense of achievement. That I've contributed, however slightly, to the sum knowledge of everything gives me a sense of satisfaction after so much hard work. To that effect, I'm actually quite excited about SSEF. I know many people, including close friends of mine, did and did not get in, so not wanting to appear conceited or arrogant, I've been playing down SSEF. In fact, I'm quite excited and honored by it. However much people say SSEF doesn't really mean anything or doesn't look good on your transcript; the fact that random people can look at my hard work and independently agree that its good just validates my work in a way friends or teachers, who may be compelled to like it, does not.

Heh, I'm sounding like Bryce now. But fear not, I'll still clean the toilet :D I just really need this nice thing in a shitty week right now.

Highlight of the week: UK people. I haven't hung out with them enough to make any judgments, but I find them to be a laid back bunch, probably a bit stiffer and on guard in foreign climes. The fact that we're feeding them all sorts of weird stuff doesn't help XD All the UK buddies having the time of their lives as usual :D Although I'm insanely jealous. As I sit here typing this, they're probably having drinks in Timbre or a BBQ at Ms Tan's house. >:O But good for them all the same :)

Lost the momentum to do all the homework I set out for myself today. Will try again tmr. Listening to simple plan now. The earlier songs. Reminiscing about the past. I realised I've lost a lot of friends along the way. Not really lost. More of forgotten, as I've made new friends. In chronological order, Robert, Song Jing, Issac, Jeremy Tan, Boon Kuang, Zhi Ping, Byron, Jan. And these are just the few I can remember from primary school. I wonder if I could recognise their faces today. Probably not. Not to mention the New Town crew, Bukit Merah crew, random scouts, random people I've met. Sigh.

Perhaps I should give some of them a call. Or one of them.

Dry Spell

Woah, I haven't been posting for a while. Since Vday actually. Not discussing that stuff here. Too much drama recently in 605. I wish it could go back to post Tioman mood. That was so nice in hindsight.

Lots of things going on at the moment, none of them particularly interesting or fun. Research Congress, thats a big one. Making the poster took up a whole weekend already, and I'll still have to get it proof read, printed, and get script cards for the presentation. Sian.

APs are getting closer, which is bad because I don't particularly feel like studying. APs are important and stuff, US university and the Big Plan in the sky with the diamonds. Then of course, 2.4km run tmr, my barrier to OCS. My stamina is crappy, i think its the way i breathe when i run. The rest should be fine.

UK people coming tmr! :D Ronald's got a buddy, that should be super fun XD I love the British, they're a lot more subtle and sophisticated than Americans :D Oh oh. I've been watching the Ricky Gervais Show for hours on the end, while doing up the poster. Ricky Gervais is the most awesome British comedian of this generation :D Go watch him!

Sigh. Everyone's having fun now. I feel kinda outside all of a sudden. Not a very usual feeling. Just an odd, aching kinda feeling. Ah well, chin up.

Next 3 days will be hectic. Monday: Poster proofread, print, 2.4 run, give invitation to Dr Tomczak, PAP internship at night.

Tuesday: Do everything not done on Monday, rehearse presentation

Wednesday: Research congress. 6 hours of standing around looking nervous.

I was pretty overjoyed when I got into SSEF, slightly downed when I found out that a lot my friends didn't, they'll probably be touring the Science Center without me on the day :( And now SSEF is proving to be a whole shit ton more work. Oh. And Amanda didn't make it either. Not sure how i feel about that...

Oh. Bright side of things :D JM sent me Portal 2 pre order today XDXD

40 quid though. Changed my wallpaper to Portal 2 :D Time to forget Black Ops. Even though I've only played it for 6 hours o.O 6 hours for a call of duty game? I clocked 80 hours on MW2. Thats weak Treyarch. Weak.

New thing

No news today, so i'm gonna freestyle.

Finished Assassin's Creed 2. Recommended to KT. Awesome game.

Thusly said, I have no more games. I am sad.

I have no idea how to write a poster. Thus putting it off. Sadder.

SDYC today was boring, could've saved 3 hours using an email chain.

Today was boring ok?

So I propose a new game. Find someone on MSN, convince them to go offline, take their profile picture, and change your display name and pm to theirs. Chances are, people won't notice the email address is different and start talking to you as if you were your friend. Hilarity ensures :D See how long before you're discovered or try to fish for information XD

Colors of the wind as a title makes so much more sense now :D

Eh.

Its a slow news day.

Headline:

I visited scouts today. I finally attended CCA after 3 months :P I sat at the back and evaluated the current state of affairs, which were admittedly, dismal. The most colorful part of scouts had been removed: The mixing with the New Town and Bukit Merah folk across the street. Honestly, I think this is one of the most important parts of scouting, and you can teach NUS High people scouting skills all you want, but they wouldn't survive in camps and competitions without contact with people outside our school. Mixing with mainstream people enhances your view so much, builds your character and teaches you how to mix with people outside your comfort zone. Many of my friends in scouting were from New Town, and I still keep in touch with them. Removing this really dulls the experience for scouts. Sigh. I feel really detached from scouting now, like I can't be bothered to help them reconnect ties. But looking around at the rest of the Year 6s, being detached from CCA is normal.

In education today, people are complaining about physics test. In a school where fail is set below 75%, these things are bound to happen. Chins up, to everyone emoing.

In weather, there is a low pressure wave of emo sweeping over everyone these few days. Chins up too.

On the brighter side of things :D NCC was spotted on the concourse today doing parade foot drill to the Ke$ha song We R Who We R. It is as awesome as it sounds :D

Also realised Eugenia and Yan Ling were in my DSA group 6 years ago :O Only remember Stuart XD

Achievement Unlocked: Unlock achievements

I shall have a new gimmick. At the end of every post, I shall hand out achievements like xbox live :D

CNY. Whoop dee doo. An excuse to meet with relatives and drink endless cans of soft drinks, eat all sorts of goodies and have a reason to celebrate. So far, CNY is relatively uneventful. Reunions are okay, hongbao income is moderate, and homework is not done. So yay!

Main events that happened today:

Ms Sie's house! Its exactly the layout of my aunt's house, and Stuart's grandfather's house, so it felt familiar the moment I stepped in. Pizza party for lunch, and we all sat around talking about school, life in general and bemoaned our lives. It surprises me how much I miss in terms of school gossip. Everyone's like, "This teacher left, this teacher's married" and I'm like "really? Didn't notice" But mostly I was clued in, just gossiping life as usual. The main attraction was Ms Sie's cats. CATSSSS. SO AWESOME. They are like little furry assassins XDXD Jumping and climbing like pros, and yet cute and cuddly when they want to get close to their target. If they became intelligent and got weapons, I would never sleep. Luckily, they're quite lazy after food :D

Personally, I wouldn't keep pets, the responsibility of having to answer to their schedule would be too much for me, cos I like the flexibility of going out anytime. Hostel was awesome for that. I miss hostel ):

Anyway, I had to leave early for SAF CDF CNY dinner. Thats Singapore Armed Forces, Chief of Defense Force, Chinese New Year dinner. The military loves acronyms, any project you want to suggest to them has to have a cool acronym for them to consider it. Anyway, my dad got invited back even when he retired, which is awesome. Usually Bernard is there, but he couldn't make it today, so I had to talk to Yi Hui, 5 minute conversation tops :P

So I went around pressing palms. My dad introduced me to most of the Senior Commanders and Officers, who are seriously some of the most capable and intelligent people in Singapore. Good to meet them. As an unexpected plus, their families have kids around our age too, so spent some time scouting talent :) Useful connections for NS really, and for later in life, but I don't think I'll join the military. Ms Sie is right, I lack the focus and dynamic ability to be on top of many things at one time. I'm more of the focus on an interesting problem for a long time kind of guy.

Cousin's house tmr. Darren, the guy from Challenger, awesome gamer. Have to warm up for Black Ops VS marathon tmr. I'll probably lose super badly, I've had no practice :(

Achievement Unlocked! - Not touch homework for the whole CNY - 200G

Achievement Unlocked! - Talk to Yi Hui 100G

And thats that.

Caution: Ranty post ahoy.

This marks post 36. Thats the number of posts on my last blog, which you should not attempt to find.

Ever.

Random note, I love using new paragraphs to add effect.

Like this.

It gives a sense of body language, which being on the internet sorely lacks. Like on MSN, you can't tell if the other person wants to talk to you and is actually engaged; or they're just humoring you. Face to face, you would be able to tell the difference after one sentence. However, entire nights can go past in this limbo of social awkwardness.

January is almost over. Which makes me feel how long this month has felt. So much has gone on in 1 month, enough to fill half my blog so far. Even more has gone on in my head. School, friends, birthdays, activities, other stuff. And it boils down to this.

I'm exhausted.

So I'm sorry. With my investor confidence at about 5% and dropping, according to The Economist, I should liquidate my assets before I hit bankruptcy.. Perhaps the future will be kinder, and I'll buy my way back someday. But I just need a break right now. Needless to say, if you don't know what this means, don't ask

I keep putting off gym. Thats bad. Will try to solve that.

CNY is shaping up to be pretty good. House gatherings, cousins, video games and alcohol. Go family :D My only regret is I may not be able to go to Ms Sie's house on Saturday. I have ST electronics company lunch until 2pm, and SAF CDF dinner at 5pm, i wonder if Bern is going. Will ask. Social networking ftw. Its good to have powerful friends.

Been involved in several secret activities lately, will not talk about lest I accidentally reveal them. I'm very good at that :D

CNY celebrations tmr. I'm thinking shiny charcoal shirt with sleeves rolled up and jeans of course with trademark leather shoes. Blazer would be too much. Comments?