Only 1 day left of 2008, but I don’t feel the hype, since time just goes on and the year is but a number to track things better for history and future and whatnot, right?

But just for the record, it’s time to review the year (just a quick one, having a major exam tomorrow) that will very soon be just a number in history.

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Snow disaster, Sichuan earthquake, Tibet riots, Olympics controversy, Olympics, Melamine, Melamine, and more Melamine.  So many events going down the books for 2008 in Chinese history. But of course they won’t be recording the latter event, nor other food scandals, will they?

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Did some things I’m not proud of this year, and there were times I didn’t know how I can actually live with myself, but most of it is now packed away in a box in some corner of the closet and perhaps never see the light of day.

This year, I witnessed how love, or just my weak understanding of it, can reveal itself to be something ugly, evil, something so distasteful, just lurking around the corner of beauty and innocence. But I do treasure the memories. They will always be special to me.

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Then as usual, I try to do many things but achieve nothing.

I’ve been to many places this year, but barely went around Shanghai.

My friends finally visited me, but I barely talked to them while they were here. Oops.

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I learnt that being sandwiched between two lovers who are falling apart is most tiresome and too jeopardizing to friendships. Talking to one puts you on the blacklist of the other, sharing information told in confidence makes you a spy, even though you had every good intention. I don’t ever wish to be in such position, nor do I wish for any of my friends to be stuck in such predicament (sorry, Dino).

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Possibly the best thing that happened this year was, and is, the embrace of such an understanding, forgiving, and laughing (she deserves this as an adjective) MissY in my life. A superb chef, too. I’m all in favour of throwing diet plans (non-existent anyway) aside to savour whatever she prepares for me. Her knack for knowing the way to my heart is the reason why I don’t miss quesadilla anymore, nor do I need to order a certain dish from ING because she does it so much better. She treats me much better than I deserve, really. Even though we have an impending expiry date, I will never forget how much laughter she brought to my life here in Shanghai. Thank you.

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Last year around this time, I was in New York, waiting to join millions to count down to 2008 at Times Square. Last year, I knew I’d be here this year. This year, I have no idea where I’d be come this time in 2009, but gradually I’m having some ideas that involve either Singapore, Shanghai, Seoul, or Berlin (not in order of likelihood).

So, although I look at the crossing of years now without much of a blink of an eye, here’s still wishing farewell to 2008, you’ve been good to me, and let’s hope 2009 does better.

Happy New Year everyone!

Recently I engaged myself in a project for MissY that made good use of some photos and a solid notebook bought in Bangkok. Just to show off some shots:

Have some creative fun with picnik, an online photo-editing software. Some waiting time is involved though, since you’ll need to upload your photos, do the editing, and then download them again. Very user-friendly otherwise, and some effects are awesome.

Not a sponsored post, truly recommended by me.

At this point of writing, MissY is seated next to me playing a PC game 40-minute trial where she serves as a waitress who has to be super fast in ushering customers to seats, getting their orders to them, and then collecting cash. She’s been playing similar games, making me wonder whether she’s living voyeuristically through these games (I secretly think she’s going to own a cafe/bakery in future).

Anyway, even though we have major exams in the next three days (one on each day for me), we had a good time playing Wii instead. MissY missed her bus to church today and ended up at the games shop and bought two dancing games — High School Musical, and We Cheer. High School Musical = dancing, We Cheer = cheerleading.

One can use this as an effective exercise regime if one plays this regularly, for it becomes quite a cardio exercise. But I think we burnt more calories laughing at each other’s moves than from playing the game. Hahahaha.

By the way, she told me to tell her when ten minutes is up so she’ll stop playing, but fifteen minutes have gone past since I said so. Tsk tsk.

For a step-by-step of the Great Singapore Workout, look here.

In an attempt to kickstart some exercise in this freezer we’re in, I let MissY take a look at the long-unheard-of Great Singapore Workout, and she loves it! But well, she loves all the National Day Parade songs I youtubed for her to watch too haha. Was it some minister’s attempt at fitness fun for Singaporeans which later simply fizzled out? I don’t think anybody did it again after those few years, not even in schools. Think it was overtaken by a supposedly New Great Singapore Workout, then there was the We Will Get There dance, and then there was the eye exercise (rub everywhere around your eyes)…

Hmm, I miss those school days.

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Merry Christmas!

What is bad and good on this Christmas day is that I had my German exam, but it’s the last foreign language exam I have for my undergraduate life! So now that it’s over and done with, I’m free from the struggles of German grammar! Until I decide to pick it up again in (what might be the near) future.

However, however, however. I might probably only have tonight to rejoice in breaking free the chains of German grammar, and to feel joy in Christmas, because from tomorrow I’ll have to work on a thesis paper, and three other exams next week, and two more the following week. It’s like counting down towards New Year as I count down the number of papers I have left to prepare for, huh.

By the way, I’m sure you guys have noticed the increase in sponsored posts in recent weeks. Pardon them, for they are for supporting this site and personal needs.

After I’m done with my exams on 5 Jan 2009, I’ll hopefully be joining the foreign students’ trip to Beihai, and then to Seoul with MissY, Singapore for CNY, and then KL with my dear mother, before coming back here. I think this year I’ve done more outbound travel then go around Shanghai. Oops. It’s always our own backyard that we neglect. Should mow that once exams are over then.

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Things you’ve already done: bold
Things you want to do: italicize
Things you haven’t done and don’t want to - leave in plain font

My own words, in blue.

1. Started your own blog.

2. Slept under the stars.

3. Played in a band.

Wanna play in own band.

4. Visited Hawaii.

Hmm, not sure if I wanna.

5. Watched a meteor shower.

6. Given more than you can afford to charity.

7. Been to Disneyland/world.

8. Climbed a mountain.

But does climbing stairs up a mountain count? Since the image of someone climbing a mountain involves ropes and carabiners. Otherwise, yes I’ve climbed Huangshan in China and Grouse Mountain (twice).

9. Held a praying mantis.

10. Sang a solo.

How about performed a solo? I think I did in concert band, a very short one at some orientation performance, think it was just a phrase and it probably got drowned with the rest of the instruments. Plus the electone is a solo instrument so that makes a number of times on stage and at studio performances. Hmm, I think I wanna do more of that.

11. Bungee jumped.

Maybe.

12. Visited Paris.

13. Watched a lightning storm at sea.

At land, can? It was a beautiful moment.

14. Taught yourself an art from scratch.

That melt plastic beads thing.

15. Adopted a child.

Might consider this.

16. Had food poisoning.

But the food I eat are all poisoned to a certain extent. I live in China.

17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty.

They don’t allow that now. I went up as far as possible, so does that count?

18. Grown your own vegetables.

19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France.

20. Slept on an overnight train.

Kunming-Dali; Dali-Kunming; Shanghai-Beijing; Beijing-Shanghai; Shanghai-Guilin; Guilin-Shanghai. 8 hours; 8 hours; 12 hours; 12 hours; 22+ hours; 23+hours.

21. Had a pillow fight.

22. Hitch hiked.

Not in the thumb sticking out way, but yeah took rides from strangers and spent time with them, for half a day and for a meal. In Seattle, visited the Museum of Flight with a middle-aged guy and took a bi-plane ride (subsidized by him). In Vancouver, took a ride with two women downtown and had that potato cheese thing (they paid).

23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill.

Plenty of times at school, a few times at work.

24. Built a snow fort.

25. Held a lamb.

26. Gone skinny dipping.

27. Run a marathon.

The furthest I did was cross country. Don’t know if I’ll ever be fit again for such activity though.

28. Ridden a gondola in Venice.

29. Seen a total eclipse.

30. Watched a sunrise or sunset.

First sunset I saw was during an SCGS Geography field trip in the UK, when I was 15. What do I remember most? Too much screaming from the girls.

31. Hit a home run.

Plenty of times with Wii sports. Counted?

32. Been on a cruise.

Actually, yes and no? I went up on the ship but had to disembark because my dad went to hospital. Would like to be on one one day.

33. Seen Niagara Falls in person.

34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors.

Hmm. Visited Xiamen, is that counted as the birthplace of them? I don’t know. haha. But how far up the family tree do I count as my ancestors?

35. Seen an Amish community.

36. Taught yourself a new language.

37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied.

There’s such thing?

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person.

39. Gone rock climbing.

Wall kind counted? Did so at leadership training camp in Junior College (high school).

40. Seen Michelangelo’s David in person.

41. Sung Karaoke.

42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt.

43. Bought a stranger a meal in a restaurant.

44. Visited Africa.

45. Walked on a beach by moonlight.

46. Been transported in an ambulance.

47. Had your portrait painted.

Drawn, counted? Had one of three of us drawn at Orchard Road. There was a side profile paper cutting included too.

48. Gone deep sea fishing.

49. Seen the Sistine chapel in person.

50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

Can go see the tower already not bad.

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkelling.

Yes yes! Both! Redang! Ao Nang (Phi Phi Islands)!

52. Kissed in the rain.

53. Played in the mud.

OMG CG! Remember this? hahahahaha. Thanks to MissY’s enthusiasm and your willingness or else I would never have had this experience of bathing myself in mud. Won’t forget how the cave was so eerie though. haha.

54. Gone to a drive-in theatre.

55. Been in a movie.

56. Visited the Great Wall of China.

57. Started a business.

Supposedly set up a tuition agency. Posted ad on Classifieds, subscribed to a new phone line etc. Folded pretty soon after.

Does the flea market stall count? Twice there.

58. Taken a martial arts class

Taekwondo. Karate. Wushu (one class).

59. Visited Russia.

60. Served at a soup kitchen.

Why soup kitchen? Just serving as a waitress doesn’t count?

61. Sold Girl Scout cookies.

I bought them Brownies and Girl Scout cookies.

62. Gone whale watching.

63. Gotten flowers for no reason.

64. Donated blood.

I think I don’t qualify to be a donor with my familial hypercholesterolaemia (inherited high cholesterol).

65. Gone sky diving.

Wanted to when I was in Vancouver. Almost, almost.

66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp.

67. Bounced a cheque.

68. Flown in a helicopter.

Does a bi-plane count?

69. Saved a favorite childhood toy.

I think all my soft toys are still with me. Polly pockets were given away.

70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial.

71. Eaten Caviar.

72. Pieced a quilt.

73. Stood in Times Square.

For six hours yes I did. Last year, the last 6 hours of 2007 till the beginning moments of 2008. With the cousin more affectionately known as “my American cousin”, and then with Vanessa, or more affectionately known as “my Shanghainese friend”. Hmm, I guess I don’t have many American cousins nor Shanghainese friends. Haha.

74. Toured the Everglades.

75. Been fired from a job.

76. Seen the Changing of the Guard in London.

I think I did. In 1999 and 2000.

77. Broken a bone.

78. Been on a speeding motorcycle.

Many times.

79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person.

80. Published a book.

81. Visited the Vatican.

82. Bought a brand new car.

83. Walked in Jerusalem.

84. Had your picture in the newspaper.

Hmm, just name alone not counted? Would like my picture on it one day, for good things of course. But I think I’ll definitely have it one day won’t I? In the Obituaries?

85. Read the entire Bible.

86. Visited the White House.

87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating.

88. Had chickenpox.

89. Saved someone’s life.

90. Sat on a jury.

91. Met someone famous.

Define “meet”. Must I have sat down and had a meal or hold a conversation? Let’s take word exchange. Then how famous is famous? I met Christy Chung while working at Borders and helped colleagues get autographs on magazines. Sheesh. She said two words to me after I said many people in the staff room wanted her autograph: 是吗?

Met Adrian Pang at Borders too. That I did not like. Also said two words to me: yeah, yeah. I had to tell him newspapers are for purchase only (i.e. no browsing).

92. Joined a book club.

93. Lost a loved one.

94. Had a baby.

95. Seen the Alamo in person.

96. Swum in the Great Salt Lake.

97. Been involved in a law suit.

98. Owned a cell phone.

Owned a pager too.

99. Been stung by a bee.

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If my mother saw the state of this hair (which has since been cut, though not much), she would most definitely utter “like ah lian (female hooligan)”. A few years back she was always breathing down my neck for everything I did. The ear piercing looks “like ah lian“, that pair of shoes “like ah lian“, talk also “like ah lian“,… you get the drift. And I hated it. She wouldn’t let things go at that. i was always criticized for doing this or that, for not doing that or this.

But. Now.

She is not making noise when I suggested my not-homecoming this Chinese New Year. Such oversight is unheard of. Have money to go Seoul, no money to go home? How can that perpetually-menopausal woman who wouldn’t let me go house-visiting in half-shoes-half-slippers allow this to happen, and without blasting through my mobile phone speakers? Wow.

Maybe it’s ‘coz the son is finally going home and nothing else matters. But hey! No hanging of dirty linen here.

Anyway, I found a cheap way home and back, so I’m going to show her my “like ah lian” hair afterall.

Finally, flying China Eastern these three years is paying off. I get a free flight from Shanghai to Singapore with my 25000 points, paying only 668RMB tax, and then flying back to Shanghai from Kuala Lumpur on a MYR572 (S$237) Malaysia Airlines ticket. A trip that would usually cost around S$800 is costing me around S$350 this time. Kudos to loyalty programmes.

Brother has suggested buying a Wii set for the parents. Hmm, ok. But if my mother says my hair is “like ah lian” then I’m so gonna confiscate it.

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What is this post about? My hair? My mother? Or about my cheapest way from Shanghai-Singapore-Shanghai? Exams coming, shit. Brain has to overwork after inactivity for 4 months. So I guess this is what happens.

Disclaimer: I know my hair is not “like ah lian“. It’s worse. Ah lians don’t have such bad hair I think.