Monday, June 27, 2005

lesson #188: dealing with Mr B.O.S.S

B.O.S.S... That dreaded course-bidding system that SMU students have to make a date with every half-year or so. This is its story.


I managed to get the Audit course which I bidded for. My original bid for it was around $19, but then people started asking me, "Don't you think your bid is a little too low?". The first time round, I could look them in the eye and say, "No." After a few more people have popped the question though, my confidence started draining away. Then The Boyfriend mentioned that he'd heard from his friends that they're all bidding at around $24. TWENTY-FOUR DOLLARS???


So I raised my bid to $20.72, and informed the people I was bidding with of my new bid. Then, minutes before the closing of B.O.S.S, I received news from The Boyfriend again. The bid of his friends has gone up to $27. TWENTY-SEVEN DOLLARS??? So I made an executive decision and raised my bid to $24.72, and then seconds before B.O.S.S. closed I topped it up with another $2 as a safety net. So guess what amount the lowest successful bidder was putting in? $10.88. TEN BLOODY DOLLARS AND EIGHTY-EIGHT CENTS???


Freak. I should've known that The Boyfriend's friends are what you may call Safe Bidders. They're normally very nice people really, and some of them are my friends too, but really when it comes to bidding, they suck. Oh well, it's my fault to for overpricing my own bid. I mean, I didn't have to follow them or anything. But I chose to because I thought it was a strategic move because I thought they're smart and that I should also do what smart people are doing.


Managed to get Company Law (my last-choice course) at $10.30. Seen the results, my bid was the lowest for that class. Not sure whether I'd take it up though, because I bidded the course as a safety net and know of absolutely nobody who's also taking Company Law G4.


My CAT bid skimmed the lowest bid by a dozen cents or so, so I should count myself lucky that I managed to get that class. But at the same time, If I'd known the bid for the afternoon class (I bidded for the 8.30 session instead of 12.00 noon because I was stupid) would be around the same price, I'd have gone for the afternoon class instead. So I was a Paranoid Arse.


Happier thoughts, happier thoughts...
Second round @ Mango:
1 orange sleeveless with panda patterns (it looks much nicer than it sounds) - $19
1 ivory make-up pouch - $13


Literature is food for the brain:
1 July edition of US Cosmo - $13


Balanced eyebrows are the perfect zen:
1 eyebrow shaping session - $18


A picture paints a thousand words:
1 guy in jeans on the bus with huge bulge down crotch area. Either he is really well-hung or he's stuffed something down there. Now don't call me a perv for noticing. I was sitting down and he was standing up, my eyes were level with his cr*tch. It's really quite hard not to notice when it's just, like, in your face.

Saturday, June 25, 2005

lesson #185: the psychological game and MANGO

What's actually the function of the 'forward' and 'backward' buttons of my laptop? If you own a T41, these buttons are to the right and left of the 'up' button. When I was starting up the lappie just now, I accidentally pressed 'forward' and then I quickly panicked and started pressing 'backward'. But when I pressed 'backward', I didn't see any change so I kept pressing. Scared that I've done something stupid, I quickly pressed 'forward' a couple of times to balance them out. Still no obvious change. But I was scared that I've overshot and now I've somehow made myself feel that my lappie screen is looking a tad funny, so I'm worrying myself over such a small thing which probably doesn't make a difference either way but I'm rather schizo in that I don't like to change anything about my lappie screen and now I felt that it's changed and I don't like it.


On a much happier note, went to the Mango sale on the first day. Queued up for half an hour, browsed around for about an hour, and then left the place $96 poorer but with 4 new additions to my wardrobe. I bought 3 tops: 1 lime green tank with sequins, 1 moss green cross-back, and 1 muted red racerback with a beaded button sewed around the cleavage area. Each cost me $19. Also found THE perfect pair of jeans, a lightwashed hipster which cost $39. I didn't try them on, I just flung them over my arms and marched over (well, queued) to the cash register. When I made the purchase, I thought the jeans would be all right. Like, they may not fit very well and I expected I'd have to alter them slightly. But NO. The pair was actually T-h-e O-n-e. I love my jeans! I love them more than I love... my other pairs of jeans. Haha.

Tuesday, June 21, 2005

lesson #187: i want a refund

A refund of my time, effort, sweat, and tears would be nice. I'm talking about my involvement in the musical, of course. Was being literal when I mentioned tears. After a long rehearsal which started out late due to a long pep talk from a long-chinned individual, a dance senior announced that musical rehearsals, usually held from 7.30 to 11.00 pm but which has extended til 11.50 pm, will now be a daily event. Would have rehearsals for the rest of the days of the week, ie. 6 days of waking up early for work (6.30 am) and sleeping in late (2 am) after cleaning up and preparing for the coming day.


And so I was unpleasantly surprised as I heard of this news, and then I walked out of school crying because I couldn't stand it anymore, I was so upset and angry and that little bit lonely. I do want to have a life, and they've robbed me of it without any compensation. Felt almost like a slave, being ordered around.


But I think I shall be falling sick both tomorrow and Thursday, and so won't be able to make it for rehearsals. Oh no!


Hey, I think I'm entitled to play truant here. I have never missed a single bloody rehearsal before, so if they don't appreciate that, then they can appreciate this *points at butt*.


Let's change the subject to a more friendly one: course-bidding. Wanna bid for courses with my friends but they've all got their own little clickety cliques. How sad! Anyway, gonna bid for CAT (Computer as Analysis Tool), an Accounting core (Audit, or Accounting Info Sys), Technology & World Change (because I wasn't pre-assigned), and possibly Company Law. Any takers?


As a sidenote, the courses above are a few of the more 'interesting' subjects we could take under the Bachelor of Accountancy degree. So you can imagine how thrilling and fun-filled an accountant's life is. I think I'll just use my degree as a convo topic at cofee tables, and go marry a rich guy and let him do the whole bread-winning process. Surely a more business-savvy person than a rich entrepreneur would be his wife, who manages to manipulate the rich entrepreneur into making money... for her.

Friday, June 17, 2005

lesson #181: the guy who gets everything wrong

Met an old friend of G's on the bus ride home today. Shall call him Blue Man 'cos a) he was wearing an awful blue shirt, and b) G can't remember his name. So G and him were talking and I was pretending to sleep so I won't have to talk to him. At first they talked about army life, a common friend who passed away recently, of school and current activities and where they're heading, and then I could sense the strain and the awkward silences. In an effort to resuscitate the conversation, Blue Man took an interest in G's Accountancy major, and G's plans after graduation.


Blue Man: So you wanna be an accountant once you graduate? (smug & knowledgeable) Then you should take the CPA test. (even more smug & knowledgeable) You know, CPA - Chartered Public Accountant.
G: Erm... it's Certified Public Accountant.


WAHAHAHAHA!


Regarding the common friend who passed away recently from leukemia, Blue Man also had a comment.


Blue Man: It's very hard to believe right. Don't know how he could've contracted it.
G: Erm... I don't think leukemia is something that you contract...

Blue Man just sounded so callous and ignorant at that point in time that I felt obliged to expose his stupidity.


Don't know whether it's morbid coincidence or what, but N called and said that his grandfather passed away. It feels like a general aura of gloominess is all around. Then I think of my own grandpa and got pretty scared because I don't wanna lose him yet I know sooner or later I will. N also updated me on his life. About how he's going to chase this girl whom he described as being 'crazy beautiful'. The babe-of-the-month of some freebie magazine. She must be really pretty. And then I wondered whether he was trying to insult me, by insinuating that I never was beautiful as she is. And it did hurt a bit, I'd never liked to be replaced even when it was me who ended things and not the other way around.


But life goes on, and if he were to disappear from my life, then so be it. As long as he returns my DVD. After the call, I realized that what G and I have is tough. It won't be broken by crazy fights, or tons of tears and pain and hurt, or moments of G looking monkey-faced. We'd done lots of stupid things, said some stupid things to each other that hurt real bad, but what we didn't do was run away from each other.


I hope that when I get the odd compulsion to run, he'd run after me.


Now to have a slightly more cheerful ending! Jing got back and we met online and chatted and got sappy with each other for the first time. She's a good friend. She really made me feel happy even when I was in a funk that I was in, grumbling over musicals and what-not. We shall go out this weekend and show the people in da club what dancing is really like, in our dictionary.

Tuesday, June 14, 2005

lesson #186: i would like to

Fuck the musical. But then, I wanna be a nice Catholic girl, and if I were to be a nice Catholic girl I'd have to be a virgin bride, and I can't be a virgin bride if I do something like that. And I really really want to go to heaven! I hope they don't have musicals in heaven. I hope them choir of angels aren't into acting.


The next musical I'm a witness of, I'll be comfortably seated in the balcony VIP box, with my nose turned up to face my lorgnette.


Went to Chinablack on Saturday, and I've never been so insulted in my life. Two stupid guys gyrating beside me were conversing loudly. One of them, call him Gyrator #1, was persuading the other, Gyrator #2, to ask me to dance. Gyrator #2 then loudly shouted that I wasn't his type. Can't remember the exact words (I doubt I actually heard the exact words) but his point was that such a 'showy-dancer girl' wasn't his type. Umm... OK. And there he was, Gyrator #2, jumping side-to-side happily to all songs. Why are guys who can't dance for nuts so cocky? Do they really think they look cool moving about like a chimpanzee that's just been shot by a tranquilizer?


Ah well. Watched Sin City on Sunday, it was surprisingly nice! I thought it'd suck like most other comic adaptations (Spider-man is an exception) but it didn't. It's basically made up of three stories, each happening in the locale of Sin City, and somewhat linked to each other chronologically. The movie really makes you think after watching it. You'd have to digest the stories for a bit before the full impact gets to you. It's cool. It didn't look too dirty even with chopped limbs and blood splattering all about because it's got this noir look to it. Grayscale colours mostly, with a spattering of red and yellow here and there. And damn, there're lots of famous faces in Sin City! Bruce Willis, Jessica Alba, Elijah Wood, Josh Hartnett, Clive Owen, Brittany Murphy, et cetera et cetera. A must-watch!

Friday, June 10, 2005

lesson #183: you are invited

Babes and dudes, let's go clubbing this Saturday. Venue: tbc, but certainly not Zouk. Time: for as long as you can last. Date: hell yeah it's a date! RSVP to: me.


There are a lot of things I need to release. Feeling very jaded nowadays. Like I'm just a shadow of myself. I snipe at everyone and everything, and seem to be surrounded by lots of bad karma. The only thing keeping me going is thinking up hiphop steps in the shower (causing me to be late for work). I miss dancing the way it should be done. So, on Sat, will go full-out.


The only things that exist then will be your feet and the music.

Tuesday, June 07, 2005

lesson #178: a period joke

Proof that women are the superior sex:


When a man bleeds for five days straight, he'd have to be taken to a hospital. When a woman bleeds for five days straight, she can still shop.

Monday, June 06, 2005

lesson #179: i like to move it move it

Thanks to Madagascar, now that annoying song's stuck inside my head. The penguins were so cute and misguided! But the plot left me hanging. At the end I was silently asking, "Huh? Is that all?" It's kind of an anti-climax. But Madagascar was, I have to admit, one of the funnier animation movies I've watched (better than Shrek, but not as good as Nemo). Mmm... will recommend watching it, but watch it at home in pirated DVD format, not at the cinema.


Jess started working at our department this morning. It feels kinda funny. Like we have our own SMU clique in the office. But it certainly beats working alone, so it's cool. But kinda bad for the wallet, because will wander off to Raffles City after lunch and come up with some kind of shopping bag or other.


List of things bought, not including those from Raffles Clinic trip:
1. Pink pair of Indivi shoes ($65)
2. Corsage ($2.45)
3. Black leather URS shoes ($62)
4. U2 white exercise pants with red stripes ($25)
5. Biotherm eyeliner, dark brown ($26)
6. Cheap green tie for G ($19)


Not inclusive of essentials like facial wash, toe plaster, Syd's present, red pen for work, etc.


I hope you're not adding up all the dollars.


F*** I'm screwed! Shall not spend any more this month. Still need to save some money for the dry cleaners (oh, how I'm paying for those suits!) which I'll have to visit every week. Biotherm lipstick is running out, still need a haircut and need to get eyebrows re-shaped.


Oh no...!!! It's time for Plan B: win 4D.

Friday, June 03, 2005

lesson #190: never blog from the office

I'M SO BORED I'M SO BORED I'M SO BORED!!!


HEEEEEELP!


59 minutes to freedom. Tick-tock tick-tock! Mich just popped by and we discussed buying new black shoes (her pinkie's poking out of her current shoe). Gonna watch Cursed with G later. He'd just come out of reservist and surely will be a stinky-poo.


Went to Thos Chocolate Room just now (yummy shop @ Raffles Hotel) and watched a few gourmet chocs being made. It looks so fun designing chocs! I wish I have that job... (then hopefully can sneakily take a few choc balls for myself)


BORED. 45 mins!

Thursday, June 02, 2005

lesson #175: it's delightful! it's delicious!

Come come... Why won't Ares work?? I so wanna listen to Robbie singing It's De-Lovely! Aaaack. What if OC starts before I get a chance to download?


Anyway, I wanna have that song played for my wedding! La la la... it's the best wedding song ever!


Yesterday went to the doc's at Taka to get an MC. Along the way accumulated stuff such as a camouflage top from Forever21 ($23), lime green cami with pink frills from Osmose ($17.60), cheap green flower diamond studs for work ($6.90). I love going to the doc's in town! Mwahaha. Also wanted to apply for UOB campus card and Visa mini, but felt too lazy to walk down past Heeren. But will apply very very soon! UOB Visa mini holders get priority queueing and no cover charge at liquid, hope to make use of this promotion on Sat! Want to go want to go want to go on Sat. Zhi babe, tame your musical boys please (esp Billy Tong) so that we can finish the practice fast!


I take back my words in the last post. Sounded very evil and mean. It was how I felt at the point in time when I wrote it but I don't mean it anymore. Shouldn't go around looking for enemies... And couldn't care less about the event which instigated it now. A few days can make such a difference! Also last night finally found out something which I've suspected all along, but still it was nice to know for sure.