how i wish that all i needed to submit for this thinkpiece was a cloud of my thoughts instead of my thoughts written out in a cohesive, well-thought out, well-researched manner.

hmm.

on another note, i finally got down to searching for some definitions i’ve been wondering about:

emphatic:

1. Uttered or marked by emphasis

2. tending to express one’s self in forceful speech or to take decisive action

3. attracting special attention

empathy:

1. understanding or entering into another’s feelings

2. the attribution of one’s feelings to an object

lately, I’ve been rediscovering the joys of the late afternoon cuppa…gives a really good perk up especially now that it’s needed.

Had the usual tuesday lunch with eejun at the Deck. it really is getting more and more crowded! he too, is battling mind body and essays to go through this semester. he is my friend in taking 6 modules and also my companion in dealing with the unexpected (why why why did we not expect this much work and clashing deadlines??) avalanche of work. Jiayou! ah-hem, we can finally go for the exhibit at the national museum after exams end Good luck for your interview on Monday!

have to finish reading midnight’s children and in the castle of my skin today…am hoping that it will be more enjoyable than it is a chore.

i want my kid to want a blue moustache too.

From mylifeisaverage.com (the angel to FML’s devil):

#1050406 Comments: 35  Vote: Average 838 Meh 87

Today I realised how important communication is. open and honest communication that is. Usually I am someone who shies away from BIG HONEST TRUTHFUL conversation, I like to talk about the weather and to make small talk about things…I like talking about opinions and stuff but I dislike talking about my true feelings and affections. Maybe it’s because being in a chinese family, these things don’t come as naturally! When T and I disagree on certain things, or when I am upset, I have a tendency to keep things inside..to be upset quietly and hope that he gets it. When he doesn’t get it (which he seems to think is a natural thing because guys and girls do not have this instant telepathy) I get even more upset but still..I don’t tell him exactly what is bothering me.

This actually makes things very much worse. I’ve tried to open up more and to cut down the “time in between”. “Time in Between” is the time from the start when I’m upset to the time when we can talk about it and then get over it together…I remember once, Pauline shared in cell group that when she is upset, she will just say it out and get it over and done with and that was the best way…I really admired that! As much as I tried though, I couldn’t get myself to do it..I actually don’t know why! Maybe it’s because I just want to be pampered and to be like those girls on tv whose tv-boyfriends just get it and pamper them like crazy.

But communication is actually the best and I learnt my lesson today. It really does save alot of wasted time, effort and moodswings to just say it outright. I think T might appreciates that more as well. I was just flipping through the Bible and in Proverbs 24:26, it says “an honest answer is like a kiss on the lips”..now when T asks me why I’m upset, I will respond with this “kiss on the lips”!

It is still something I have to work on but better now then never.

furlough:

1. a leave of absence from duty granted especially to a solder

pukka:

1. Genuine, authentic

2. Superior, first-class

I always thought this was a word Jaime Oliver made up for his shows and his food. But it is Indian in origin, from Sanskirt and it usually is meant to say: properly done or constructed and genuine.

Yes, I can see how it relates to food now and is not just a random noise that the naked chef makes.

if nicole richie and joel madden can name their kids: harlow winter kate madden & sparrow james midnight madden…

i see absolutely no problem with calling my first son: theg wafu lee (insert chinese name here).

think lately I’ve been missing out on the smaller things in life…have assignments and work that’s constantly occupying my mind. it’s always about what to do next, what have I not been doing enough of, what I need to re-do, what i need to start doing etc. Even though I had some time off today (i.e. not really rushing out any assignments), I was just collapsing over Midnight’s Children (which is a book that I will re-read after exams to fully enjoy Rushdie’s fabulous imagination…my prof’s words, not mine), ended up on the bed, konking out for awhile.

it’s time to bring my compact camera out and start snapping little things..hopefully some nice photos will come out from this little exercise.

ebullient:

1. overflowing with fervour, enthusiasm, or excitement; high-spirited

2. bubbling up like a boiling liquid

interesting.

technically, the week started off yesterday and I am beginning to wean myself off my habit of not using the weekend to do any work. Also, with the immense amount of work that I need to catch up with, essays to write edit and submit, I’ve conditioned myself to do at least a few hours of productive work over the weekend..on top of giving tuition, cell group, nursery commitments and church. it’s been fruitful and I find myself coming back to school on Monday with a greater sense of purpose and strength!

I just added the finishing touches to my essay that’s due for submission later today…a part of me wishes that today was a holiday for us in NUS but unfortunately, it is not.

On a side-note, after getting into the mode of writing essays, my fingers are now conditioned to type: ctrl+S after every couple of sentences…to save my work, even when I’m typing a blog post!

This week is going to be yet another busy week…there is much to do both in school and out of school but I am constantly encouraged by the hardworking people around me: terence, jieyun, pauline, audrey, rachel, mrlim, sun, pst kong etc. they do so with little complaint and they do what they need to/want to with much fervour, passion and discipline, I’m fortunate to have these good models to look up to!

Before class starts in 12mins, i tought i’d re-visit some blogs that I haven’t been to in a long time…read pst kong’s blog and his response to reactions to Sun’s blog videos and her work. I’m not here to be a part of the debate, but I do enjoy Sun’s music and am inspired by her the work that she is doing in China, Honduras etc. It always gives me a sense of pride when I hear her music on 93.3fm or 91.3fm just as I enjoy all the genres of music that I listen to both on my iTunes and on radio.

alright…that may not have come out the way it sounds in my head but…nevermind. it’s almost time for class, and more coffee later.

have a great week!

In the past few weeks, I’ve been learning about Heian Japan’s Aristocratic culture and aesthetics. In the process, I’ve been constantly amazed by the level of detail and discipline that is applied to their culture and aesthetics…the Japanese art of colour coordination, 5-dye paper, calligraphy, poetry, paintings and visual arts, noh theatre, perfume making and later on the tea ceremony really started during this time and not only that, reached high levels of standards!

We were asked in class if we would want to be born as an aristocrat during this time…my answer was very singaporean: yes, but only if I am talented and good in these practices!

Most of the class said no because such rituals of culture and aesthetics seemed so rigid and the standards so difficult to achieve…but there’s a reason why people (even up till today) look to that period and it’s lasting influence in Japan now, as the pinnacle of aesthetics and civilisation.

we-ll, as much as i’d like to be as cultured and disciplined in my aesthetics (I think the Japanese have the best skills in colour coordination and simple style), I stumbled upon this while browsing through some of my favourite design sites. It really is quite cool, good for hosting and when friends come over…but I think I would appreciate it more than anyone else I know! Maybe when I have time, and am feeling in the mood to indulge in this

There’s also hydrangea drying…

off to lunch! in the meantime, may the weather hold up so that I can escape here with my barang barang and make it home dry and safe!

I just had the luxury of a nap. It’s been some time since I last had a nap, at home, on the bed with the fan blowing. Am feeling rather restful, getting ready for tuition later at half past six. there is much work to do..as Frost said, I have many more miles to go. Am praying that all deadlines will be met with as little hassle as possible.

am thinking of going for a nature-walk with terence sometime soon. maybe BTNR or the southern ridges. sometime away from work and to breathe in the fresh air. also, a good chance to look at the flora and fauna and see what we can spot/identify.

went for terence’s aunt’s twins’ full month gathering. it was quite cool, the twins are really cute. Felicity and Michael are going to be great companions to their older sister, Tessa, and great company for the whole family! While there, we met his aunt’s diving instructor/friend and got to learn about diving and we’re thinking of perhaps starting on it soon! Hopefully, in time to go diving during the ’season’ next year!

there is what i’ve been up to..either thinking OF essay questions, thinking ABOUT the given essay question, WRITING the essay, EDITING the essay, FORMATTING the essay..thinking about the NEXT essay.

how exciting. although there is alot of work to be done, it feels somewhat good to be back in the throes of work. please remind me next time not to complain, doing work is better than remaining idle and languishing in the heat of sunny, hazy singapore.

if you look carefully, you can see the duststorm blowing in the background...it was really cool seeing it from above

we look relaxed here but this was in between two tough parts of the climb. phew!

can you spot wang? this was the last quarter of the trip...all the way to the top!

amazing. totally awesome.

from the top! we made it! and it was worth all the aches and pains the days after...

from the top. never been so close to the clouds, apart from being in the plane.

it was awesome. a really beautiful day, up in the mountains, with good company. the best!