Short-lived

After reviving for a week or two, my laptop has now degenerated back into that black-screen-only monster that refuses to hear my pleas about deadlines, essays, and World Cup matches. So far, with the screen being all black, I have only figured out how to get the music player Winamp to open, and play songs. So my laptop has become an MP3 player of sorts - what a bulky and sulky one though.

Why couldn't it just stay problem-free for just less than a month...?! If I were in Singapore, I'd probably just buy a monitor and connect it right up, but definitely not doing that here. Already have too much to send back/bring back, wouldn't help to have a new monitor to contend with.

Floorball league match tomorrow - excited-ish but sure have to get up early... 6.30am darn it.
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Really time for a haircut though; the decision about perming or not is still hanging in midair though. The courage and urge comes and goes in waves. Let's see which one catches when I am finally actually going to the salon.

Ciao for now.

Matters

Entering the last 2 weeks of exams and reports due. Yeah a mountainful more than I thought I had. =P

Yet, at the same time, I have had to start planning and indicating/bidding courses for start of school back in NUS. Quite an odd feeling really - neither here nor there - and just another reminder that I am currently traversing two countries, two time planes and basically 2 worlds.

Looking at the modules and courses that I have to take from next Semester (which doesn't sound anywhere as near as the reality of August, i.e.,in 1 month), I could only blank out and think: "oh my." Funny how the oft-quoted "the horror the horror" popped to mind (thanks JC Lit classes!).

Taking honours classes doesn't seem simple. Especially not when I have to overload 1 more module per semester since I need to finish my credit requirements. And the overloading module will be a time-challenging and intellectually stimulating USP class. Oh and not to mention, one of my compulsory honours seminars just happens to overlap a little with Tuesdays training times. What kind of Captain has been MIA for 4 months since the handover, and missed the League with the team, and doesn't know the year 1s (at all), and then now, has to miss 1 hour of every Tuesday training? Oh my. I am suddenly glad I applied for Hall again. Really glad. Can you imagine adding 2-3 hours of travelling torture to that each day?

I am in for =such= a treat. And so soon too.


Right now, having no summer vacation/holiday time is really the least of my worries. Hoho.

I can only say - as the Japanese often say - "gambarimasu!"　Loosely translated, it's "I will work hard. 我会加油！" So...頑張ります！

Cousin

Just met Vincent earlier tonight - had dinner at Shinjuku and walked around till Harajuku. Interesting that I met up with him here, in Tokyo, after 14 years or more.

Wantons

Saw wanton skins on offer at the supermarket the other day - 50% off - and the obasan (auntie) in me couldn't resist buying it, so I ended up making 1) fried wanton skins last night for supper (unhealthy but yums =P) and 2) wantons today.

Maybe I'm biased towards the food I make (as usual) but it was yummy! =)

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Not sure if I've posted this but my return flight is changed and settled. 30 July Saturday is confirmed but on the waiting list for 31 July Sunday. Hope I get the date I want. Since I only have 1 week before school starts again in NUS, was hoping to even just make a short/day/1-2days trip out of Tokyo before returning.

Laptop and Soccer

Been watching most of the WC matches on my laptop but then 2 nights ago, came home, turned on my laptop and guess what...?!

Yup my laptop's spoilt.... again.

Wow. Incredulous really. After the huge trouble the last time, I was thinking that it should at least be able to hold out till I get back to Singapore right!? Ugh.

This time seems to be a different issue though, cuz even though I can turn the laptop/harddrive on, the screen is a perpetual black. Thinking maybe my graphics card burned out or something.

Doubt I'll be getting a Fujitsu ever again. Suddenly all this trouble (what with breaking down and the expensive/difficulty of getting repairs) is making me think I'll get a Macbook next. Seems alot more reliable. Hrmph.

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In other news, went out to dinner with my friend's Japanese class classmates last night, then looked for a place/bar to watch the Japan vs Holland match and every place was just about full! And then we saw a few people carrying signs for a bar and since the minimum was 1 drink and 500yen (7~8SGD), the 6 of us trooped there in haste since the match already started a few minutes earlier. And only once comfortable enconched on the sofa, did we start noticing the full sign that says "let's watch and support Japan team, with gays". So we had ended up in a gay bar haha. Was no big deal though, since there weren't actually anything going on then, and there wasn't even table charge. We just got to watch soccer in a comfortable place yup (not crowded). Funny where life takes you sometimes =P

Midterms, The Little Itchy Bit & League

Just finished 2 midterms this week - one on Tuesday and another on Friday! Yay! Not too sure how I did but the important thing is that it's over! =D


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To the little small bit of itchy-twitchy on my hand:

- are you a real itchy part or a psychological mischief?!


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And I really should go sleep NOW. Tomorrow will have to be up by 6.20am to go to Surugadai University for my first Japan League Match with the Ducks! So excited!! =)

Norwegians, Yokohama & Curry Party =)

Today was a busy but fulfilling day - spent alternatively with both internationals and Japanese.

Sissel - my norwegian friend from floorball - came back to Tokyo last Friday, and 5 more of her Norwegian teammates tagged along for a holiday! They all turned up for the recent Monday's practice, and it was seriously the best that I've ever had in floorball memory. Each may not have seemed individually dazzling, but just having their presence and inclusion in the line up, made a huge difference across the board amongst our own players!

Today, woke up a tad late but made it to Yokohama's Minato Mirai to spend time with them + Yui. Had Krispy Kreme, then made it to Chinatown (Chukagai) for a lunch buffet, which turned out to be just so-so. Have to say the best I've had is still the one near dorm/school. Really really glad to have spent the time with this group of very friendly Norwegians though! Would love to visit them in Norway one day! Hopefully =)

Here are some pictures of them!:

(Ivonne, Rebecca, Yui, Bea (spelling?), Sissel)

(At lunch, L-R: Ivonne, Lotte (sp?), Rebecca, Bea (sp?), Ello/Elizabeth, Yui!)

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Time for Curry - Curry Party!

Since I still had that few packets of curry gravy that Nobu so kindly brought/bought from KL on his last business trip, I decided to whip up some curry and invite Japanese friends over to try what curries in Singapore might taste like. Japanese curry is really quite different - thick, chockful of curry-powder taste, mildly spicy and sweet.

What began with just 3 of us Singaporeans (Isabel, Rachel & me) + 4 Japanese, somehow grew to 16 people in total! Some joined in the morning, others just in the last hour of meeting, and even some just in the dorm. Included 3 Thais, 1 HKer too. So the menu was:

- normal (red) chicken curry with potatoes, carrots, tomatoes, onions

- beef + chicken rendang

- lemak (coconut milk) chicken curry with potatoes and carrots.

- rice

- baguettes

- simple zucchini salad

- plus roomie Rach added a chicken curry of her own as well.

Seemed like a pretty good success on the whole I think! Ate, talked, had icecream/desserts/cheesecake (thanks to Hiro!) and ended up playing Murderer game (that Isabel and I taught some of them the last time at the recent Paddy camp). Decided to move on to the more complex game of Polar Bears, and it was pretty fun! Things rounded up at 10.30pm~ish since some had to catch last train, plus Manager-san started to make an appearance/hint for us to finish up.

Such fun! Really wanted to take some photos but completely forgot amidst the rush to cook 3 curries at one go, and serve and try to be a good hostess and teach/play the games!

Really glad that everybody seemed to have enjoyed it though! First ever time for me to 1) organise a large party 2) cook most of the food 3) cooked for THIS many people 4) cook curry. =P

Happy dappy! =)