I think it could be attributed to stress but I'm deliberately looking for distraction away from studying. I'm watching more TV than I really should; in fact, I just finished watching Alias (please dont spoil anything for me!) and I'm thinking whether to watch Ed later..
Also, I'm spending loads of time playing the new expansion pack from
The Sims.Does anyone else play that game as well? I totally feel like God while playing the game so I guess thats a welcome respite from my real life. Anyways, this new game allows your Sims to adopt pets and you can actually do some gardening in your own backyard! Talk about total control of someone's life.
Anything to not have to face Machiavelli is a great idea..
If Elbows Could Kill
Presentation went ok I guess. The lecture room was really really cold (plus it has been raining the entire day) and I stammered at some point during the presentation and there were some points where I was going real fast.
But other than that, it's ok I think
Well, to celebrate, I went out for dinner with my friends. It was a nice little Japanese restuarant but we were almost eaten alive by mosquitoes. We had to sit outside partly cos the Japanese restaurant is really little :)
But there was this big group of Japanese sitting near us. There were like maybe 12 people and it's someone's birthday. The thing is: they were taking SO MANY pictures of each other. Just imagine 12 people so I guess there is a significant amount of permutations possible if everyone takes pictures with everyone else. And there were group pictures too. There were so many flashes going off that we thought we were going to be blind soon.
We have no money after dinner to go for drinks :( so we called it a night. While taking the train home (no money for cabs as well) however, there were so many people in the train that elbows were seriously flying everywhere and jutting into everyone's sides. I hate crowds! And trains too!
After slaving for a couple of days over my assigned readings and
Batman(I will explain everything later), I think I'm ready for my presentation tomorrow.
The presentation is actually not that big a deal but it's just that no matter how many times I have done it, I'll still be nervous as hell before any class (whether 10 or 100, but if it's really the latter, I'd probably die before I start speaking). Now, I wouldnt exactly consider myself a nervous wreck, I speak well (I think) but put me opposite my Prof in a class-environment, I just get really uncomfortable. For these presentations, all we have to do is to provide the class with a 1-2 page handout with points for the particular topic. But what
I have to do is to prepare another copy (for myself only) that has the exact thing I say verbatim, word for word. So my copy of the presentation will have things like the following:
"Hi. Evening, everyone. I am presenting on Batman and the rise of the Blockbuster and its effects on Filmic Narration"
or.. "The rise of the blockbuster not only signals the transformation of the Classic Hollywood Studio System... now if
you will take a look at page 45 of your reading..."
You get the point. I'm not so good at fielding questions while I'm in the middle of the presentation cos it breaks my train of thought. I don't mind questions after the presentation but I'm not in love with the idea of them either.
Anyway, the thing about Batman. I was real surprised when my Prof assigned this film for the class on Hollywood Narration. But it wasn't too bad. I watched it before but now I notice several things that's real funny about the film. For example: If you watch the film before (the Tim Burton/ Michael Keating/ Jack Nicholson one), you'd remember that Vicky Vale (Kim Basinger) was taking some photos of the Giant Balloons that were releasing poisonous gases about 20 minutes before the end, and she was told to stay in the car and wind up the windows. Maybe I was bored already but I notice that the right rear window was distinctly only half-wound up during the next scene.
/randomness
I just hope I dont screw up too much or launch into randomness during the presentation.
:)
wow. that was long!
/ramble
And Trouble Draws Near
Nothing much happened today but I am feeling the stress of meeting essay lengths (just tell me the
minimum prof, I'm not ever going to top the maximum in my lifetime!) and deadlines. Haven't been sleeping too well, but of cos that is to be expected.
I'm not too good dealing with stress actually. And being the slacker that I am, I actually mentally plan my studying/ researching around my "entertainment" time. I'd be laying out my books and indecipherable lecture notes etc on the bed (you wont even see the sheets at all!). I convince myself that I'm a *master of multi-tasking* and I read my notes simultaneously with the TV on. Actually come to think of it, it's not really multi-tasking, more like dual-tasking.
I prefer to brainstorm ideas from reading secondary literature, and it takes forever to even plough through one of them thicker-than-the-actual-text books. Right now, I'm worrying myself
sick with a presentation on Machiavelli's
The Prince. It's a very thin book but you would not believe how much harm it can actually cause. If you read this with Sun Tzu's
Art of War I think one can really take over the world.
From
Friday Five:
1. Would you say that you're good at keeping in touch with people?
Not really. I would like to, but I don't.
2. Which communication method do you usually prefer/use: e-mail, telephone, snail mail, blog comments, or meeting in person? Why?
Email, and meeting up in person. I hate hate hate my cell phone, esp having to receive (and thus reply via) text messages on the phone. I should never have gotten it. I use it for a clock/watch/alarm now. I just dread it when the phone rings, and it's not someone I want to hear from.
3. Do you have an instant messenger program? How many? Why/why not? How often do you use it?
Erm.. 2 I think. MSN Messenger and Yahoo. I use MSN more often as my friends are all on it. I don't even remember why I got Yahoo at all. I have ICQ too, but havent used it for ages.
4. Do most of your close friends live nearby or far away?
Nearby. But we dont meet as often as i'd like as we are all too busy. A big regret/ pity.
5. Are you an "out of sight, out of mind" person, or do you believe that "distance makes the heart grow fonder"?
Yes I am. Sad to say. But of cos there are exceptions :)
A new Library branch opened in town and I went to check it out with my friend. I love it! It's georgeous! It only has Film, Music, Dance titles so it is a pretty small Library. But the selection is pretty cool. The part that appeals the most I guess is that you can actually rent 4 DVDs a week for only S$20.60 a year. That is DIRT cheap!
Also we were really excited about the music selection cos we found, to our utmost surprise, the library actually has Promise Ring, Radiohead, The Anniversary etc. Amazing! We didnt get to see much cos there were so many people around though. But this definitely has hangout potential in the future.
The new Library is situated in this building right next to the River and it was really nice to go there after and just enjoy the breeze.
However, there was this guy sitting next to us who i s taking pictures on his digital camera of the water (!!!) He's just taking pictures of the fishes I think. But it was like 8 something already. Even with flash, I dont think the pictures will come out right. Maybe he's just bored.
I've been researching on digital cameras and my mind is nothing but numbers, figures, model numbers (why cant they just name the cameras, instead of sticking numbers at them? Instead of abcd563, why not, Stella? or Raymond? or something?)
ok. I'm pretty much familiar with
cnet's recommendations of
Top 5 Budget Lists, Midrange etc.
but I'm not sure if I'm ready to commit to any particular model as yet. I do like the Sony Cybershot pictured below.
It doesn't make it easier to know that by the time I do make a decision, they would probably have a better and cooler model out to make my heart flutter.
Does anyone has any recommendations?
I could be in a better mood today but I'm not.
So I thought maybe a kick-arse album like
Manic Street Preachers'
Generation Terrorists would maybe make me feel better (more like deaf). But after a frantic search, I realise that some idiot had borrowed it off me and never returned it!!
I hate this!
Why are people so mean?! Just when I really wanted to listen to that CD too.
And the worse part is, I've bought this CD TWICE already!
My ex-bf never returned the first one I bought (and it was a Japanese Import I think!! which makes it miles worse), and right now, just thinking about the stack of my CDs he's "borrowed" off me, I can't help but go seething mad.
It doesn't help that I have a memory like a sieve. I hardly, if not never, remember who I lent things to. Just when I need a particular book or cd, it will hit me that I've lent it to someone who has never returned the item. And half the time, I dont even remember who I lent it to. Sometimes, when people do remember to return things, I will forget that I had even lent them the particular book or CD.
I know that even if I get the CD back tomorrow, the mood I'm in right now will be different. This, I guess, is what really sets me off.
I normally dont do this but I went for a rather expensive haircut today. I'm not going to discuss how much poorer it made me(cos this is all relative, no?) but let's just say that i'll find it tough-going this month.
But I must say that I feel really pampered and well-taken care of. People are so nice to you when they know you will be spending a bomb at their shop!
The haircut was an impulsive thing and by the time I got done, it was too late to make plans to go out and show it off. Everyone has either got plans or they are too tired to go out for a drink. And I had to be satisfied just showing it off on my way home.
sigh.
I live about 12 hours ahead of NY and it's been 1 year already since that horrendous day where I was virtually stopped dead in my tracks in my own living room when the news trailers start coming in.
I remember being really confused; I didnt know what was happening and I'm sure no one does until much later.
The images on TV were the worse. They hit home immediately like a slap across the face. I was sobbing along with everyone on TV.
I remember trying to reach my friend in Boston just to hear her voice.
I hope nothing like that ever ever happens again.
The Reunion
Perhaps against my better judgement, I went along for my class reunion today. Nothing fancy. Just some japanese ramen restaurant that's not too bad actually. Out of my class of 22 (I think) people, only 9 showed up. Some couldn't make it because of work, some couldn't be bothered. I went because I was curious about how my classmates turn out. And to be honest, they all turned out better than me. Most of them have stable (read: high-paying) jobs. One of them even has a wife and a KID!! I was so shocked! The guy who was always clowning around in class actually started a family! The strangest things happen. Unbelievable!
Hanging out with them, I feel really older than my chronological age (24). On one level, we were still laughing around like we were still classmates but we also know (or at least I'm the one who is acutely aware) that after dinner, we have to go back to our own lives, our jobs, our insecurities, our fears and stuff. For me sitting there laughing at probably the same old jokes we had before, I feel almost sad. I wish I could go back to being the care-free student I once was at 17. No money matters to worry about, no work to be stressed about, nothing period.
Of cos I also recognise that i'm (hopefully) grown a bit now and have my own takes on most issues and all that grown-up mature stuff. But I also think that maturity is well over-rated.
The world is a cruel heartless place, and the sooner you see that, the better it is for you.
Check out American Film Institute's List of
Top 100 Greatest American Movies of all time. If you are really free (like me, but of cos I'm supposed to do loads of readings!), go figure out how many you have actually watched. I have only watched a miserable 35. I'm off to the video store!
Here's a shorter list to get you started:
1. Citizen Kane
2. Casablanca
3. The Godfather (but of cos!)
4. Gone with the Wind
5. Lawrence of Arabia
6. The Wizard of Oz
7. The Graduate
8. On the Waterfront
9. Schindler's List
10. Singin' in the Rain
11. It's a Wonderful Life
12. Sunset Boulevard
13. The Bridge on River Kwai
14. Some like it Hot
15. Star Wars
Frankly speaking, I dont think much of Citizen Kane. But maybe that's cos I had to watch it for the film class and I watched it after lunch when I was feeling real drowsy..
Some odd inclusions in the list: Dances with Wolves (No. 75: even though its probably Costner's best film, it's still not very good. The scenery is cool though). It's ranked higher than Unforgiven (No. 98)!! The injustice!
Please voice out all other injustices in the comments.
I know this is corny and cliche but a picture paints a thousand words, they say. Today was a pretty uneventful day but I thought I would still be able to post something maybe worth reading. But it's just an off-day for me, pretty much the entire week has been a blur. I dont want to blame this on school, but there doesn't seem to be another reason/ excuse.
Anyways, i do like the painting by Magritte. Though I am very sure that the painting is not called "c'est nes pas une pipe," I can't, for the hell of me, remember the actual title of the painting. I had to do some analysis for this painting for a art history class before i think. It seemed so far away now.
This is totally random. But I received a call from my ex-classmate from school asking me to attend this class reunion thingie on monday. Totally casual (or so I would have myself believe); just dinner and hanging out. I'm not sure whether I should go. I hate awkward oh-so-how-are-you-doing? rubbish. But i sort of got bullied into it cos they were like, but "we never see you anymore" at me... My mom thinks its a good idea cos she thinks i'm getting too anti-social. I don't know. I like it this way.
p.s.: sorry for such a random post
Lesson of the Day: Maturity does not come with age.
There is this guy who works with me and 2 other girls in the same office (or rather, pig-pens) and he's already a dad with 2 kids. You would imagine that dads with 2 kids are usually more mature, but he throws tantrums like he's a 10 year old kid who can't get his way. He throws things too! We tried talking to him (actually in my case, I yell at him: I'm not the most patient person around) but he just doesnt get it. Because the other girls and I are good friends-cum-colleagues (i actually dont mind going out with them after work), he gets affected by our comraderie and complains that we dont like him. We don't!
God! I feel like telling him to GROW UP!
I'm working with you, but that doesn't mean I have to
like you.
This reminds me of a movie that I watched years ago, called
Clerks. I love that show. Hey, maybe I should base my final project on Clerks! Hmmmm...
/indecision
/randomness
<
It's been a long time since i felt this productive about my weekend.
After working a full day yesterday (9 AM-6pm), I went home straight for dinner and started right away on good ol' chaucer.
I wouldn't exactly recommend it to anyone (not when you have coupland to ogle at, e.g.
kellyanne) but it's really not that bad as I thought. This is cos previously i had the olde english version which didnt make much sense to me, but i downloaded an interlinear edition and suddenly everything is clear and good!
What else did I do? Let's see. erm. oh yes. I started on my readings for film class, even though I didnt really want to.
That's productivity for you!
I love the painting below.
It's from
richard stine and it's supposed to be a card.
I think the picture says it all, don't you?
