Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Hellgate London Launches 31st Oct

Hellgate London - the newest game to be launched just today on 31st Oct.



From the creators of Diablo, it is a game set in a post-apocolyptical era. London 2038 taken over by demons from another plane. You play as either Cabalaist - magic welding but demon-controlling mage-like class, Hunter - modern man whom relies on more technology or Templar - wearing hi-tech armor like Halo but using swords and melee weapons. Its a blend of magic and technology.

Today after marking. Its been 10 days of marking. 4 days of PSLE and 6 days of SA2... Headed down to Funan centre after 6pm to check out the launch of Hellgate London. Its kinda low-scale but was more interested in the user-interface and the gameplay itself.

WOW! Its like Diablo, with lots of diablo-style user interface. The graphics are fantastic, a major upgrade. Interestingly can play either in Third-person player or First-person player. And for First-person mode, its like playing Counterstrike, a more high-tech one. Sorely tempted to buy but stopped myself cos I needed my sleep. IF I had bought it, tonight sure game until zombie. But will think about it. The game cost $60 for the single and multiplayer modes. Single mode is story-based. Multiplayer is played online like a MMORPG. Fee paying for multiplayer to be launched later.

So I headed down, looked and was wowed. With a collegue, went to check out also some Palmtops. He strongly recommended Palm. I tried both Palm and PocketPC and agree very much with his assessment of it being very flexible as opposed to the rigid selecting and scrolling style of the PocketPC. Seriously PPC cannot make it. Rather use a computer instead, so wont have to squint and scroll. Will aim for it in January with the new $400 then.

It was kinda fun and refreshing for a change from work. Too bad tom still got work. It really kinda felt like a Friday... sobz

#Day 13
Brunch: Laksa, 1 coffee, 1 sweet drink
Lunch/Dinner: Plate of fried rice, 1 coffee, 1 hotdog

#Day 14
Breakfast: Laksa, 1 coffee, 1 sweet drink
Lunch: Chicken rice, 1 bubble tea
Dinner: 1 bowl of rice, 2 durian puff

Monday, October 29, 2007

Disciplinary explosion.........bah........

Duh.
For this final term, suddenly I am getting many discipline cases exploding in my face. As in these cases that happen to involve my class students are not minor cases but more severe offences.

So imagine every week, I kena an explosion. Especially in the earlier part of a week. Say Monday...

Things like vandalism, smoking, loitering, injury and even break-in, possibly porno etc. Since when was primary so complicated? Cant they stick to playing Maplestory or PSP.

So today I decide to talk to the class about these occurances despite the fact only a handful are the cultprints. I used Sarcasm and Jokes to poke fun at those wrong-doers, their names not revealed. Get the rest to laugh and agree that their actions are silly.

Example:
"You are under 18 so you cant buy cigarettes. It is expensive about $10 per packet. (Using maths, each is about $0.50 so most kids cant afford) It is both addictive and smelly and harms your lungs...(the typical yadayada)...

... Yet if you choose to want to smoke, then just go the nearby coffeeshop, and find those Ah Peks who are smoking. Then go and breathe in the second-hand smoke there. Since it is FREE. Inhale as much as you want. If second-hand smoke not enough, go for car exhaust. Also free. No need to ask permission, not against the law...."


Lets just say we were all roaring with laughter even I couldnt surpress my own smiles and laughter. Well its better than I go and bottle it inside.

Just hope for relative peace for the remaining days.

Day 12:
Brunch: Tempura Udon, 1 water chestnut water
Dinner: Home cooked rice

Day 13:
Brunch: bowl of laksa, 1 sweet drink, 1 coffee
Tea cum Dinner: 2 piece KFC, some coleslaw, 1 coffee, 1 tea, 1 milo.

Sunday, October 28, 2007

More Stereotypes of myself after another nite

Well we have been playing the game of Imaginary for a few times liao. And after the brilliant 'Wonton' stereotype, last nite was another one.

Where would Hellbound kiss after her first date?

The most logical would be lips bah, somewhat chosen by moi and a couple of friends.
Some had to be irritating, go choose tonsils... as if I know how to french kiss?
One smart ass has to go choose feet?!? Yar that is her fantasy of me...

Disturbed friends I have. Some have fantasies of me... some have funny ideas...
Where are the more 'normal pple'? *shivers down the spine*

Food Count Day 11
Brunch: Bowl of mee hoon soup
Dinner: Soup spoon and cup of ice lemon tea
Supper: 6 piece nugget

Saturday, October 27, 2007

Your Score: Jormungand
You scored 50% Esotericism, 54% Power, and 40% Malevolence!


In Norse mythology, Jormungand is one of the three children of the god Loki and his wife, the giantess Angrboda. The gods were well aware that this monster was growing fast and that it would one day bring much evil upon gods and men. So Odin deemed it advisable to render it harmless. He threw the serpent in the ocean that surrounds the earth, but the monster had grown to such an enormous size that it easily spans the entire world, hence the name Midgard Serpent. It lies deep in the ocean where it bites itself in its tail, and all mankind is caught within his coils. At the destruction of the universe, Jormungand and Thor will kill each other.

My test tracked 3 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender:

You scored higher than 51% on Esotericism

You scored higher than 81% on Power

You scored higher than 76% on Malevolence

Take: The Mythological Profile Test

Last night, I weighed myself after dinner outside. Lost 0.5kg. Keeping this up until I see a reduction of my tummy.

Food List:
Day 8
Brunch: Laksa, coffee, 1 bottle of sweet drink
Tea: Coffee, tea
Dinner: Fish and Co Sea food platter and Deep Sea... there goes one day of dieting.

Day 9 -
Brunch: Lontong, coffee, 1 bottle of sweet drink
Tea: Coffee, tea
Dinner: Home food.

Day 10 -
Brunch: Lontong, coffee,
Tea: Coffee, tea and 1 slice of pizza
Dinner: Yoshinoya beef bowl, miso soup, coleslaw, 1 peach juice, 1 peach smoothy.

Hmm still too early to say if I am making it. The easiest gauge is the bulge of the tummy. It is not signinficantly smaller. When it is, I would know, have lost 2kg liao. Need to be much flatter before I've lost that 4kg.

One good thing about dieting by watching calory is not about starving oneself but making conscious choices about the food, based on the calory, nutrition etc.

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Day 6 and 7

Ultra nice song by Skillet - Whisper in the Dark.
Surprisingly this is a Christian Rock band. But their other songs I dun really like.
This song is uber-cool cos of the nice rifts by the guitar.
CHECK IT OUT!



Dieting continues

Its been a week into my diet (err just weighed myself... half kilo down? Will double confirm tomorrow)

The challenge to maintain the calory-counting continues at work. So far so good I guess?

Day 6:
Breakfast: 1 coffee, 1 bowl of lasak with half egg
Lunch: 1 bottle of sweetened drink (135 cal)
Dinner: 1 bowl of rice with fried fish soup, 2 slice of sweetened pear

Day 7 (today)
Breakfast: 1 coffee, 1 bowl of nasi lemak, 2 nugget and 1 stick satay
Lunch: 1 bottle of sweetened drink (135 cal)
Dinner: Some chinese fried stuff, 2 slice of sweetened pear, 1 waterchestnut water

Hmm today's meal seems extravagant compared to earlier ones. Cos I reached home around 3.45pm, my earliest in a long while. The rest of the week, I can forget it. Down for marking until 5pm ++ from tom onwards... Bububu

Nothing much else happening in my life, except sorely tempted by the Subahru Challenge but yet cant go cos it eats into weekdays...

Stupid drama at work again. Same problem person... Why cant they just leave instead? Luckily I am not at the receiving end but yet it really dampens the day.

Nvm 3 weeks 3 days more til the end of the term. Really hope to say a permanent good-bye to those problem cases and not see them for a year at least. Well I ain't such a great Educator.

Just have had a damn trying year, teaching-wise, cca-wise, admin-wise, event-wise, problem cases-wise, parent-wise. Let it all just end quickly.

Sunday, October 21, 2007

#Day 4 and 5

#Day 4
It was a rather plain saturday except I had suggested to Tab to go for a game of pool after Jap test. Cos its kinda boring and unhealthy to just go for dinner, then walk around to shop, then end up at some cafe for a drink. We've been doing that for countless times. When was the last time, we did an activity for a change?

Anyway we headed to the Lucky Plaza after dinner to play pool. Surprisingly, pretty soon the pool parlour was almost full. Guess its a good activity to do on a Sat nite. After some initial hiccups for Tab, not having played for so long. She kinda warmed up and started winning. As for me, was on the verge of sleeping during dinner, I woke up as the night progressed. Also with an activity, its hard to fall asleep. Hehe after 8 rounds, the score stood at 5-3. Discounting the 2 wins due to luck ie shoot the black ball in, or white ball followed after black ball. The score stood at 3-3, a tie. Hmm its kinda fun. Should include it in more of future hanging around activity.

Later we were trying to see what other activities besides shopping and eating one could do while in town. It stood at:

1) Pool
2) Arcade
3) Movie
4) Lan gaming
5) Board games
6) Going to those Gyms along Orchard
7) Throwing darts @ Cinelesiure

Others I managed to think up later on... includes
8) Going to skate at the Youth Park and complain of muscle aches
9) Playing Paint Ball but that will only cost $300 for 10 pple
10) Cycling at East Coast only that is at East Coast and no transport...
11) Going around with Cameras to take artistic/sceneic pics and send for competition to win money
12) Going to some gallery to try our own hand at painting and creating master pieces worth millions?

Game?

Well as for the other activity I am mainly doing now, Calory-counting, the food list for the day goes as follows:
1) Brunch - A pack of rice
2) Tea - 1 bread, 2 vege buns, 1 oat milk
3) Dinner - Tangy tomatoe @ Soupspoon and 1 peach juice

Hmm looking back, its seems kinda healthy. Should keep this up.

#Day 5
Guess the main challenge for my dieting is from work. Tom marks another 4 more weeks of work, where the irregular eating habits comes back again. It will be a challenge to monitor my diet but it cant be helped. Just have to work around it in order to succeed. Wish me luck and perseverence.

Today's Food:

1) Brunch - Chicken rice set with soup and chicken feet, 1 can of Whatever
2) Dinner - 1 bowl of rice with vege n meat

Hmm even lesser calories I guess. Staying home has its perks for I eat lesser or drink less of sweet drinks.

Saturday, October 20, 2007

#Day 3

Well yesterday marked Day 3 of the Diet.
Food thus far
1) Brunch - a pack of nasi lemak, 1/4 slice of cheesecake, 1 vitasoy
2) Tea - 2 sticks of sweet potatoe, 1 mango juice
3) Dinner - Half a bowl of mian fen guo, 1 mango milkshake
4) Supper - a big cup of elephantcinno Earl grey tea without whip cream, with low fat milk, little sugar syrup

Hmm seems okay for the food. Thing I need to cut down on is the sweet drinks. Do have a weakness for them.

Anyway I met up with my long-lost friend. We hadnt seen each other for about 8 years. Its unbeliveably long ago yet doesnt seem so far back. We caught up over dinner and subsequently in the Orchard Library Cafe.

A funny note though...
There was a dialogue session held at the same time there and it was a discussion about Foreign maids and their issues. So certain invited parties, maids, doctor, employers and maid agency were represented. I started cracking some jokes when I heard some snippets of the dialogue.

Example 1
Maid: "We are people too. The employer asked me to sleep with him... I am very scared and depressed... "

Me: "My boss didnt ask to sleep with me, YET I still feel very depressed..."

Example 2
Maid: "I work long hours, sleep at 1am, wake up at 5am. Work very long..."

Me: " I sleep late too, wake up early too. Got to sweep floor, pick up rubbish... also work very long."

And some others. Cracking up my friend with the funny remarks. But it is true. Nowadays being an Educator is like "Zuo Niu Zuo Ma" (be cow, be horse) Everything also have to do. Things like getting your hands dirty, literally. On top of that still have to be "Professional", with all the portfolio and stuff. I find it hard to internalize both aspects. Oh well. Almost halfway there liao til the end?

Later she got to go, met up with the rest to do some shopping. An unintended purchase at Fila sale. Bought 3 track pants, 3 pairs of socks plus one bag at a special price of $10. Total purchase of $95. All for work i guess, save the bag. Its a good buy cos I have been wearing the same pair of track pants for about 2.5years. Its high time to get some before those break. K that concludes my shopping for work clothes.

Thursday, October 18, 2007

#Day 2

Into Day 2 of the diet, I am proud to say, I have kept to it.

Food for today:
Breakfast - 1 doughnut plus 1 nescafe
Lunch - 9 pieces of Mac Nuggets
Tea - a bottle of Heaven Green tea
Dinner - a smaller bowl of rice
and Lots and lots of water.

Hmm seems if I can keep this up, should shed those kilos. Yep lets continue with it.

Not to mention the food at the current place kinda sucks BIG time. Hence dun even feel like eating whatever was provided for the 2 tea time and lunch. Instead choose to eat lunch outside and skip those extra stuff provided for tea.

I had a serious lag in my body clock. Didnt realized that it was already thursday. Hence I called up that long-lost friend to meet up on Friday evening before she goes back on Sat. Sat got jap test ne.

Man I really really wished to take up something like Guitar so that in a couple of years time, I can become proficient in it, like my Jap. Though not the best, I am fairly decent bah. Just didnt want to have to travel too far into the Central part of spore for classes esp during weekdays. Want somewhere nearby yet accessible when on my way back from work etc. Also not somewhere near my workplaces, cos dun want to travel down especially. Hmm will look into it somewhat when my energy is up. Today kinda tired from all that accumulated hours of marking. Ja matta.

On a Diet (date of measurement 18th Nov 2007)

Am pushing myself to go on a diet.
I had gained abt 2kg shortly then another 2kg more, making me at one of my heaviest weight in my short lifespan thus far. 2 weeks back, I lost 2kg. Now 2 weeks later, its back again...

My unhealthy eating habits are to be blamed. Plus the fact that during this marking phase, there is like so many meals. Breakfast, Tea, Lunch, Tea and Dinner... Would tend to overeat, or more common, overdrink sweet drinks. PLUS today I wore my 3quarter jeans and its tight. There was a time not so long ago, during Shittybank days, where the same pair hung loose around my waist... Man where did my waist go?

Seriously its time to start on my diet. Just nice in time for a friend's wedding. Though I wont be her jie mei. Its still good for photos, health and clothes-buying time. Hence I commenced before dinner.

Dinner at Soup Spoon was eventful, as I met a long lost secondary friend whom had just came back to Spore to visit. Wat a small world! Interesting thing was, she didnt recognize me, I called out to her first. (Yep I had changed greatly in appearance, personality and mentally, since Sec days) I am still trying real hard to "UNDO" some of the Programming that are not entirely Absolute Truths and changing my negative points eg my temper. Even I am surprised when I compared myself to Uni, JC and Sec. Forget that pri... its donkey years ago.

Hmm the dinner was Tangy Tomatoe soup with a bread. Later I got hungry around 9.45pm and ate Stir Fry vegetable plus potatoe mash at the Village. Wonder if its kinda a failure?

Will continue with efforts to count the CALORY first. Then die die try to implement an exercise regime into my kinda busy-cos-of-work schedule. Hope to lose the flab and see a flatter and leaner stomache, and firmer triceps - not bat wings... K

Monday, October 08, 2007

Having a Life?

Well for the past 1.5weeks, I havent logged into Maple cos of either fatique (hence sleep early), sian (cos the boss system lagi screwed up and wasted my time) or simply cos I was watching anime instead (piaing Naruto, reached episode 210) Bubu....

The difference without having to be compelled to login everyday is some sort of freedom. The freedom to choose how to spend the remaining hours of the day (though on many days, my tired body and mind chose to sleep early instead of doing stuff...)

Well the good news at least is now I am concentrating on getting that stupid powerful helmet... imagine have to go to the game forum, look for slots to form the party, then login on the designated time and hour and try to hunt it down. Hence I am not infront of my laptop pounding some cute enemies for hours to earn the insane amout of experience to level up. Imagine, I need another 20million experience to level. The most I get from my usual is 1.6k. Calculator...

Yar so at least until the desiginated dates and timing, one session being tomorrow midnight, I can at least defer logging in.

Well should I stop the game entirely? Well I guessed, its still something I do to destress. (There was a recent incident, where I kena sharp scolding-like remarks from P but yet I felt nothing. Cos the night before, I was fighting that big boss and was killed. So my mind was still on that dying before I could take down the boss and get that ultimate helmet... to care about what she had said.) So Mapling for me still serves various useful purposes.

But the main part of Mapling was that it kept me sane somewhat in the insane world of being an Educator. The constant work, worries and issues that keep popping up and even the long hours. There are times especially the weekend, when I had enuff. Just chucked my workbag aside and just login and play. Wont even touch that bag until monday morning. Some long days, I just login to play a couple of hours to destress. Just so can switch my mind off work and the stupid stuffs that happens.

But this past 1.5weeks, dun have mood to maple. Cos of that boss system lah. So until I get that helmet, dun think I will continue with the "training".

The best way to exercise is to incorporate into your lifestyle. Still havent worked the 2 weekly gym sessions into my routine cos the days when I can go back so-called earlier are very uncertain. It could be like I think thur I could go home earlier, then on the day itself, suddenly got some stupid last minute meeting etc. That would upset plans made to slack at home etc etc. Think some would get the picture. So never pack gym gears at all. Also the issue of being hungry around 4-5pm after I just got out of work. Its a dilemna, either home and makan or go gym then after gym then makan. Of course cant last out long.

Why dun I eat my lunch? Well partly cos I am kept busy after the first session of work by misbehaviours, admin blah blah. Then also the food sold at my workplace is UNCHANGING. Imagine Mon-Fri serve the same thing from most of the stalls. Usually I would eat my brunch at 8.30am. It would be either lontong or laksa cos I dun have appetite so eat something a bit spicy to work up an appetite. THEN imagine during lunch, go to the canteen and suddenly not sure if I wanted to eat the same stuff again from breakfast. Yet the rest are not that tasty or appetitizing... Hence I just make do with a bottle of sweet drink instead. Then look for better food or better choices on my way back, where usually I'll be starving. Yar in case you are wondering, the nearest coffeeshop is quite far. Have to walk out, past a few blocks of flats, cross seperate roads to reach there. In the glaring sun, its kinda punishing cos have to climb up stairs when reach the HDB blocks. Its like kinda built on a slope type. Yar one of the main grouses at work from others is about the food also. I only eat once a day and its getting sian. Those who have worked years there must have their tastebuds killed... BUT I am not losing weight, instead gaining, cos I eat better food after work, lack of exercise... Bubu

Today was not an easy day. Had to follow-up (ie cleanup the SHIT from last friday) and scold some real bad. Its kinda a lousy day cos I dun exactly enjoy shouting and scolding pple but some pple really have no COW sense. If let it go, will not change the bad habit. So I suffer, try to talk to, scold, punish to 'help' them change for the better (wishful thinking on my part... really!) Yar will heaven pity this poor Educator and grant my wish of being financially independent after I tio TOTO Gp 1 prize (HAHAHA wishful thinking... Its only a small dream, as I go and buy my weekly dose of hope)

Thursday, October 04, 2007

Some recents events and thoughts

Well as the final term of the year hurried past (wished it would JUST end), at this current point, its been 1yr 3mths into the bond. Another 1yr 9mths to go... unless I strike Toto 1st or 2nd prize...

Dunno the reason why, but since Monday, I have been sleeping much earlier, cos I feel fatigued.
Dun feel like mapling (cos the stupid fighting the super boss system is dam screwed up)
Didnt feel like watching anime online (cos too many episodes, reached episode 150+ of naruto on crunchyroll-a YouTube type video website)
Didnt go much anywhere except to Orchard to eat my late lunch.
Didnt do much at all.

Just sleep. I would reach home near 6-7pm, sleep around 9.30-10pm. Wake up the next day and feel lethargic, as though I had never ever slept extra at all.
Today I reached home around 4pm, then next thing I knew, I slept until 7.30pm. Now still feeling tired. Was wondering if I should crawl into bed around 9.30-10pm.

Some Recent events and thoughts:
1) Krynnder's ROM on Sat 29th Sept. A reason to celebrate cos she is the first in our Uni clique to hope on the bandwagon. Interestingly all of us has somewhat contributed to her romance and hence are still waiting for the big 'Thank You' ANG BAO, not from her, but from her fiance. *Hint Hint* Anyway congratz and bliss.

It was not that long ago when I accompanied her to walk around Esplanade area before the first date. Talking, listening to her, then finally asking her to go and see how it would be. Haha it seems fairly recent, but its been almost 5yrs ago. Judging from the amount of crap I have lived through, its been a long while since the Redang trip. Nostalgic. Would like to have a trip somewhere, even Msia or what, just to get away from it all. Something like the KL trip would be nice.

2) My dad officially retired on 2nd Oct, ie Tuesday though on Monday, think he didnt have to work. It marks the start of his retirement. So far, cos I only reach home near 6-7pm, didnt really observe how he spends his time. Asked my mom, she said okay so far. MAN, HOW I WISHED I COULD SWAP POSITION. I could easily come up with 10 things I could do with my time instead of doing a second shift until 5-6pm daily.

1)Guitar course,
2)watching all my animes,
3)playing my neglected PS1,2 games - at least 100 games not played,
4)playing Maplestory,
5)observe the Share market and read that bloody TA book,
6)go out to walk around and take pictures, accompany my parents - given my dad retired, mom is housewife,
7)catch up on my sleep
8)go visit and stay a bit more extendedly with my brother in msia,
9)go for Jap class feeling mroe invigorated and handle JLPT at the same time,
10)go the gym at least 3-4 times a week
11)wake up earlier eg 7am, then go out for breakfast, observe and enjoy the sunrise and the nice weather, enjoy the sunset around 6pm, not being too busy until I've forgot to look at the skies.

Well the list goes on. The sad truth about delaying enjoyment until after retirement is that by then, one is much older, hence health not so good anymore. So physical exerting stuff are out. Furthermore being a 'All work and no play', one is hardpressed to find things to fill out the time (though I dun think I have a prob with that, is more of the financial aspect of it)

We treated my dad to a Jap lunch to wish him Happy Retirement and I told him to just drive around Spore first to 'jiat hong', so that is familiar with spore. He always say he didnt know how to go to that particular place etc. Oh well...

3)My sister sprained her back, ie her disc slipped
Hence she is at home on 3 days mc. It somewhat happened cos she sat on a rather low chair for more than a month. She was in pain and couldnt move much on Tuesday. So she was driven to the Sinseh by my dad and recovering at home. She was walking around with a walking stick, haha she so resembles my grandmother. BUT i understand how she felt. Sometime back in Uni Yr 2, I dunno how, sprained my back. I felt as though I was an old woman. I couldnt straighten my back and the pain was on a completely different level! Then couldnt walk properly, until then, then I realized how its like to be old like my grandmother. So scary.

But my sister is complaining. Me and the youngest sister look at her long mc with envy. Haha finally my youngest sister understands how I feel about working. She is also dragging her feet to work. Seems the work situation for all 3 of us are not going so 'shunli'. Anyway my sister was complaining that time passed so slowly, nothing to do and its warm at home from 11am-5pm. To qualify that, today I dozed off in the other room, where she complaint was warm, instead I found it cool and breezy. The difference is she is wearing a rather thick cotton shirt, whereas I was wearing my usual sleeveless top. Oh well... it was a nice long rest. Sadly when I woke up, still feel tired. Need more of it... Motto motto