Thursday, February 24, 2005

Dear Blog

Dear Blog
(sorry to sound corny) It is weird to refer to you as a person, but then I am going to refer to you as a "he" since I started writing/typing/bitching/grousing (if there is a word for that) I have been grappling with your sexual identity. But baring this, I have to sincerely apologise for my lack of committment to maintain you. Rest assured that I am not keeping my troubles and frustrations to myself for it it would be evident in terms of a receding hairline, increased wrinkles or a unflattering paunch due to stress relief eating.

The past few hectic weeks has finaly come to an end and are settling down nicely. I called this period the calm before the next tsunami of academic/miscellaneous BS come crashing in. The week leading up to self awareness camp (SAC) (which I should summarise it in one word "good") and that weekend at OLPS where I was literally the chauffeur cum deliveryman, sending girls to the various Cocoa Tree outlets to "ransack" their supplies of chocolates were sheer madness. I am just glad that everything is kinda settled and the girls can get on wth their studies and I can focus on my family and of course my long overdue Masters Assignment which I had postponed, postponed and post-postponed....

A couple of highlights in the past 3 weeks

1) Michael Jackson kena sued again.. What's new??

2) General Budget out, Good luck to the smokers who will literally see their health and money goes up to smoke.

3) Lessons had to be stopped as 2 female teachers in Malaysia were throwing punches at each other, giving new meaning to the word catfight

4) SAC 2005 for 44 was great, got to know my class better beyond the giggling, the blur, the grouchy, the sarcastic, the gloomy, the gregarious, and the hyperactive. I also got to know my co-facilitator Ms Jo Teo better. Let's hope this new found cooperation and class spirit be there throughout the years

5) Giving up is hard to do especially when a new teacher coming in, I am supposed to give up a Sec 3 History class to her, and due to timetable clashes, I will be giving up the combined class of 3/4 and 3/8. I sincerely believe that the class will benefit from her enthusiastic teaching and new insights

6) My form class - recently extorted comments about the attitute of my form class had been favourable, although some teachers still comment that the students are ather weak in certain subjects. Nonetheless the comments on the attitude are promising. In fact I am now rediscovering the joys of lesson with 4/4, it seems that there is an air of positivity and motivation. Let's hop it will not sizzle off.

7) Crossing my fingers but if all things goes well (ie all my blog fans praying for me) I will be having a new addition to my family. Yes I m going to do my part for Singapore as a loyal singaporean, And Yes finally, I am going to UPGRADE myself again! The Singapore Gahmen keep emphasizing the need to be relevant in society and therefore I am pursuing another masters next year. This time the Masters of Arts. I had applied for an MOE overseas scholarship and will be studying in the land of the free if everything turns out well. University applied - University of Wisconsin, Madison, where I will be pursuring my interest in History. If everything goes well I will be leaving IJ early next year and be relocated in MOE HQ, then I will be leaving for the US with my wife a year. The selection will be sringent and there will be many people vying for this scholarship. Really need all of you to pray for me.

Tuesday, February 01, 2005

Gratefulness

I was trying in vain to try to write an entry on my blog when I realised that I just can't get into the Blogger website. After trying frantically for about 2 minutes and 3 secs, thinking that the server is down or something, I was about to just switich off the computer and leave for home, when I realised that it was that I was using the url www.blooger.com. Rookie mistake... then sometimes a tired mind plays tricks on you, your eyes, your brains and your senses.

I am just glad as the week passes by, we had a wonderful practice for mass and for once i see everyone as angelic as before. I am grateful to be given this opportunity for me to bond with my class and to get to know some of the girls a little better. It is exciting to know a little more about everyone, and I am pretty sure that it will be the same for self awareness camp.

Anyway just a funny note on the things I am grateful for:

1) the stars in the sky when the moon don't shine ( spare me the technicality about the moon reflecting light from the sun blah blah blah) for just bringing a shimmer of hope when things are just down

2) the toilet bowl for allowing me to ease my stuff as I sit and watch the world goes by

3) gravity, knowing that what goes up must come down... a simple revelation of life

4) tears, for giving me a plausible excuse when upset and for cleansing the eyes. Sometimes people just need a pat on the back

5) long sleeved shirts, to hide the flabby arms and to prevent the layers of fats on the arms from becoming an eyesore

6) short sleeved shirts, to flaunt the muscule after an intense workout

7) the marvel of the internet for allowing to express my feelings on issues so close to my heart with no inhibitions

8) toilet paper for giving that fresh and clean feeling after the release

9) Chinese New Year for giving the teachers yet another opportunity to humiliate ourselves and a well deserved break. Also allow the married ones to be "philantropists" for the season

10) the songs "Always look on the bright side of life" and "hey baby" which never failed to cheer me up

11) lastly, God, I am not a believer but I do know that somewhere you are out there, you are watching over us and hoping the best for us. I sincerely believe everything will turn out well