It's freezing in summer

Hello from Monterey, California!! ^_^ Jet lagging a little, but its easier to stay awake in cool weather. haha. It's summer here, but way cooler than anyone in Singapore can ask for. Weather forecasts stated 12-20 celcius here, but the past few days have been cloudy and breezy, so it felt more like max 15 celcius even in the day! It's quite chilly, considering it to be summer now. Weather would have been perfect if there was more sun. can't wait til wednesday when i go to gilroy. It's further from the beach and thus a little warmer! ^_^ cya all in HOT HOT singapore in august~~

Goodbye, L

We were just discussing where we should go today after lunch, when suddenly, we had an idea. Changi airport. Happily, it was approved. In secret, of course. It was meant to be a surprise. And since he’s a low profile person, it had to be a quiet affair.

It wasn’t difficult to find out which flight he was taking, as we knew the airline, the rough timing and the destination. To play safe, we reached the airport 2 hours before the flight, and made sure our ‘spy’ informed us when he was leaving for the airport. So we sat at the check-in counter. We waited. And we waited. Half an hour before the departure, and he was nowhere to be seen! I was so sure I saw him with a whole lot of luggage this morning, so he had to check-in his luggage there. Still, we were worried we had missed him somehow.

Suddenly, someone shouted “L!!” and started running in another direction. The rest of us got up immediately from our seats and ran in the same direction. I ran and shouted for him to stop at the same time. But honestly, at that time, I had not yet spotted him. I was just shouting with them. Haha. Then I saw him. He was already handing his passport to the security guy! 6 girls scrambling towards a man, shouting at the top of their voices.. we definitely didn’t keep it low profile! >.<>

Of course, he was TOTALLY surprised when we finally caught his attention. We had almost missed him, as he had a last minute upgrade and thus checked in somewhere else. He told us how sad he was when he was leaving the lab. He had looked around to say his last goodbyes, but to his disappointment, there was noone around (besides the ‘spy’, of course). In the end, he had to bid a pathetic goodbye to someone from the neighbouring lab. Awww.. so poor thing. BUT, what he didn’t know was, everyone was missing coz we were all at the airport waiting for him! With his favourite kueh salat to keep him happy throughout the long flight.

I’m so happy the surprise was so successful. Never have I done such a thing before. I hope he settles down fast over there… but don’t forget us… and come back soon. ^_^

missed chance. AGAIN.

i had gotten over it. or so i thought. until my sis helped me collect the runner's bib and the shape run t-shirt today. I WANNA GO!! booohoohoo. every yr try so hard to sign up for some run, always not free or too late or no more vacancies. this yr, first day it opened, i managed to jio some friends to go sign up. so happy to get a place. and now... i'm flying off on the 19th. the run is on the 20th. how to run!?!?? grr... so not fated to run. and i hope ser and jy have fun running. so sorry i can't join u gals. run faster wor!! ^_^

it's only a week away, when it finally dawned upon me, that i am really going back to the USA! And to a land with Krispy Kreme! but unfortunately, we're not gonna drive around... so most probably we wouldnt' get to eat any donuts. boohoohoo... so near yet so far!!!

oh well. may each trip there be a different experience. This time round, the main food would be GARLIC.. coz it's the annual garlic festival!!! anyone wants garlic from california? ^_^

Friday Night Out

It was my first outing with CB2. I must say, they’re a really crazy bunch of people! Very good example of ‘play hard work hard’. Normally, many of them just smile when they walk past you at work. Then, yesterday at Brewerks, they were challenging one another to down more beer/wine/whisky, shouting funny things around, wrestling with each other.. Haha. As J said, I got to see their drunken side before I get to see their hardworking side! Hee~ Got a few videos down too. And proof of the boss’ funnest side! ^_^ The best thing was, when the younger people left at 10+, the oldest and biggest bosses all stayed to continue drinking the night out! Whoahaha.. I’m so looking forward to a great time with this group =P

R.I.P.

I had such a great start to day, after concussing at 8pm last night all the way til 8am this morning.

It was right after a meeting this morning, that I received an sms from fangers. My precious cells died. And all due to someone’s irresponsibility a few weeks ago. I don’t know who that was. And honestly speaking, I really don’t care. For no matter who it was, my cells would not come to life anymore. It’s like if someone you love has been murdered, and you find the murderer, it’s only to bring him to justice, but that someone you love would not resurrect. 2 months of hard work, gone just like that. Half a year of plans, disrupted in a flash. I grieve for the loss of my precious. Thanks to all who showed your concerns for the departure of my beloved.

A charming smile

On the way to CG outing at the Settler’s café after church today, yw chris and I decided to take a ride on gb’s pickup. Yeah, at the back. The girls took the pickup, while the guys enjoyed the comfort of the zoom zoom. Contrary to everyone’s warning, it was a cooling day with little sun, minimal red lights and a very straight road. Of course, there was gb’s steady driving too. (way to go, epb!) Along the way, yw and I started discussing that maybe it ain’t so impossible to get a convertible in Singapore after all. Opening the top isn’t as hot as it seems, because there’s the wonderful breeze sweeping past as the car moves. Right after that conversation, a silver convertible passed by. I was so surprised and exclaimed “WOW!” To even greater surprise, the Caucasian guy at the wheel turned and flashed us a charming smile. OH SHUCKS! I had forgotten that we were both in the open, with no windows to block our conversation. He’d heard me! How embarrassing.. >.<

Uncle is back~

And so we had a huge gathering with the extended family. Super duper yummy seafood meal we had at Long Beach. We’ve been there a couple of times, but this time’s menu was THE BEST. And believe it or not, I think today’s the first time I heard my uncle (who’s a reverend) give a sermon! When he was still in Singapore, I was too young and hadn’t started attending services. I must say, he rocks! I loved his sermon, and I believe everyone else did too. Way to go, uncle “AM SO ON!”=P

have a great weekend~

So glad we did screen the video after all. Thanks to tech-savvy MinTea, michelle, wyee, ys and all others who helped in the setting up for the screening. Each time I sit there and edit the video, I laugh at the jokes. I re-edit and re-cut the scenes until I can memorize almost every line in the video, and I can still laugh at them every time I view it. But never did I expect the reactions I saw today. It was the first time I ever saw him so embarrassed, covering his face and turning all red. Hahaha. Every one was laughing so hard. And even myself, I laughed until tears were flowing. It’s so nice to see a group gathering to put something so meaningful (and fun) together for an important person, each putting in her own little bit of effort to make it work. And more so when he told us that this is the first time in his entire life that someone ever made a video for him. I know how that feels, really, coz I was so touched the first time anyone made a video for me, I cried when I viewed it.

And that was just a start to a great evening together. Two years and 8 days in this lab, and I’ve never had a complete lab outing outside the lab. This was the first, and sure I had a great time chatting with them, discovering even more secrets and all. The farewell may jolly well be a blessing in disguise in the end~

it’s a journey

I should have seen it coming. At the back of my head, I know that I have to reach this day sooner or later. In fact, the sooner it is, the faster we can actually progress. But I was really not looking forward to it. Until, today, they spelt it out to us. Suddenly, I can feel myself peeling away from my comfort zone, into a foggy world where everything is uncertain. Noone knows what will come out of what we do. I don’t like it, but this is the nature of the path chosen. As L says, it’s the journey that we have to experience. It’s gonna be so so soo difficult from now on. Difficult yet exciting. And at the same time, I must really learn to be grateful that now I don’t have just one mentor, but three! Count my blessings. And continue to walk hand in hand with The Twin, even if we tread on separate paths. ^_^

I heart pretty clothes

Finally got down to arranging my cupboard. I know i actually have alot of clothes that are pretty but i don't wear them. I keep shopping, buying, then wear one and dump them aside. Not because i dun like them anymore. On the contrary, i often dig out clothes that i bought in sec1/2 and wear them occasionally. Rather, i am usually too lazy to dress up whenever i go out. Quite a waste considering the amount of clothes i have!

See... all my clothes taken out.. take up 2 beds! can open bazaar stall alreadyMy cupboard(s) after rearranging them.. and heartaching-ly throwing away some clothes that are really too small already, but never could part with them.


T-shirts and bottoms (most-worn clothes)
bedsheets, home clothes, shorts (double layer of clothes.. those inside i prolly wun wear.. just cannot bear to throw away) my most comfy clothes

jackets at the bottom. (25 in total after throwing away a few). then all other clothes, caps, socks, belts, bags... (the most expensive section, but least worn)



And 2 years after i discovered my fav bright orange adidas jacket was soiled, i brought it to my mum once again to complain one last time before throwing it away. And.. 2 years later this very day, my mum has more resources as a POWER housewife. She cleaned it!!!!!! woohoo~ this must be the happiest thing that happened to me this weekend. I am so gonna wear that jacket again. Who cares if singapore is hot.

there can be miracles, when you believe..

Truly, it was a miracle. So happy, so relieved. Praise the Lord ^_^

i must have been really tired. And it didn't help that i had a whole lot of work to do yesterday, plus a lab meeting to attend, so couldn't finish work early to return home for a nap before dinner. Was quite disappointed about things that happened recently.. everyone was telling me they can't do things coz they don't know. so i should do it. well, i just want to say that I DON'T KNOW TOO. But i put in the effort to LEARN. Then it leads to a whole lot of expectations, thinking that i am an expert who can do a whole lot of things all so easily. So i had decided that i would stop doing anything anymore, and noone will get to see the results. i am not going to take the initiative to arrange anything. If anyone happens to organize anything, i'll gladly do it. otherwise, forget it.

But this morning, i woke up feeling abit more refreshed, and i realized my thoughts the previous night were really quite silly. who cares if noone helps. it was my own idea. blame it on myself for thinking of so many things. well, though not everything's gonna happen, at least i did my own part, and i am proud of it. It's really far from being perfect, and i am not very pleased with it. But it really took alot from me. I put in alot of time, energy, effort... and received alot of headaches, eyeaches, backaches. I am happy that i did it, for not only did i create something personalized (with the help of alot of people too. so they really DID something), i also picked up a skill in the process. I believe the receiver will understand that i am just an IT-idiot who tried her best in a limited time frame. ^_^

I need more rest.

a sudden realization

That I can very soon use the penny that I have kept over the years. The penny that was missed out when I changed the contents of my wallet from US currency to SGD. The penny that still sits in my wallet, and still bring around everywhere I go. The penny that brings back so many memories whenever I fish it out of my wallet while looking for change, in Singapore. I am going back. FINALLY.

Happy 2nd Anniversary!!

To myself. For today marks the 2^nd year of my membership in Microarray. ^_^ But I don’t know why, the day didn’t start out too good. Was suddenly reminded of the (true) story that some friends told me some years back. A story that was so scary even though I wasn’t part of it. (And don’t wish to be). The thought made me so scared I didn’t dare to enter a room alone.

Then, I received an email. An email that set me thinking. It just gets more real, not something I only see in TV shows. Life is just so fragile. So unexpected. And I can’t help feeling scared, that this may happen to me one day. Be it the one who leaves or the one who is left behind. I want to be neither. At the same time, just like wyee dajie said, we have to always remember to appreciate how fortunate we are at this current moment. Til this very moment. May the Lord watch over them during this period of grief.

KTV madness

A free-4-hour voucher led us to an outing. Finally, after all of us being so busy the past 6 months. Felt tricked that it cost so much in the end, but we all had fun. It was great seeing bong getting high and dancing.. and first time we had our own instruments at a ktv!! ^_^

donuts to keep us energized for 4 hours

Our own instruments!

xiao jing teng VS aska yang zhong wei

Bong singing her fav jolin songs

Fangers the star

Group shot~

Singing jay chou’s “listen to mummy”

More videos taken.. can use to blackmail them.. muahahaha

sacrifices to make

It ain’t easy to get a free trip to California, I realize. The entire week, fangers and I have been wrecking our brains to try and find lodging, airtickets, land transport to bring us to places we need (and want) to go, and yet keep within the budget. One week on and we’re still stuck. Hoping to get good news from the scholarship board soon. Rising fuel prices is sure imposing some inconveniences.. >.<

Shopping in orchard

I don’t usually like Saturday Orchard crowds. But that one was really s-l-o-w. Then I found out why. Fiona xie was filming some channel 5 show. Haha.

Congrats to Bong!

To think that the first time I met her, 2 years ago, she told me she was still a young Christian. A blink of an eye, and she’s a faithful one, and possibly getting baptized soon. So happy for her!! ^_^ This calls for a double celebration! (in addition to her good exam results)

This morning while walking to the train station, i had this feeling I'd get the acceptance letter. And true enough, i did! Monterey Bay, here I come!! ^_^

A pity it took me awhile to decide whether or not to share a room with fangers or to get our own rooms. By the time we'd decided on separate rooms, there were no more rooms available at the special conference rates! I didn't expect rooms to be swept up so quickly, in just an hour. So we ended up sharing a room at the normal price, to save money. What a pity. Quite upset about it, even if it isn't our money. Oh well.. that aside, i'm so glad i'm planning a holiday! ^_^ lalala~