Whoops, hasn't it been a really long time since I updated? Well, school has pretty much resumed its usual pace as last year. Maybe a little quicker and tighter. Still selling Fun-O-Rama coupons (I have 14 left after selling some coupons with other 2SA1 people at Toa Payoh Methodist Church on 22 Jan). Rehearsals for the upcoming experimental showing of our SYF play has been going on rather smoothly. There was one after the Chinese New Year celebrations today, and it was pretty good. I definitely feel that the piece has been slightly polished. Of course, the J1s could learn some more stuff in the performance aspect, but they're learning fast too. Kudos to them. :)

OY! BUY FUN-O-RAMA COUPONS! :)

Is it really Friday the 13th? For a day when bad things are supposed to happen, it was quite a shock. For the first time in weeks of heavy rain and cloudy skies, we saw SUNLIGHT!!! And it wasn't just sunlight filtering through the clouds, it was a CLEAR SKY!!! And though the weather started to look a little threatening at 5 plus, it didn't rain the whole day. What a spirit lifter.

The ACSian Theatre's first club meeting of the year was held at 2.30pm today in LT1. Besides the J2s whom we all knew too well from "A Christmas Carol", occupying the majority in the centre block were the brand new J1 prospective members. Mrs Creffield first gave a brief introduction of the club, after which she handed the floor to Suraj and Nat to give the rest of the speech. Though it was unfortunate that the committee couldn't get the Apple notebook to connect properly and display the slideshow, we instead went on straight to the voice auditions for the upcoming productions for the J1s.

This particular audition script required groups of 3 females and 1 male, and owing to the lack of guys, some of the committee guys had to step in to fill the man's role in some groups, and so I did. They were visibly nervous about the audition, but they did fine in the end.

The moment the last group began their audition in the studio, I gathered everybody (J1s and J2s) to the "Hall lobby" to split them into new audition groups for the movement cum dance auditions coming up next. Once that was done, we started warm-ups, which was more of conditioning rather than dancing warm-ups. Halfway in the warm-ups, the learning groups were split into the "more experienced" group (J2s and J1s with dance background) and the "The only dance I've done in my life is the Orientation mass dance" group (i.e. the other J1s). (Okay, it wasn't that bad.) While the former group went into the studio to learn the dance from Raj, I joined the latter group since I was still conducting warm-ups for them.

The learning process was similar to last year's start-of-year audition: the two groups alternate between each other in learning the dance routine. When we were finished learning, I auditioned first with Yi Jun, Nat, Ankita, Angela and another J1 gal (whom I suppose was an experienced dancer). After that, Yi Jun, Angela and I stayed in the studio to help out in the coming auditions should Raj needed us. We stayed all the way till eight plus or nine plus.

Took this off Judith's Livejournal.

Go to your music player of choice and put it all on shuffle. For every next question, press next. Use the song title as the answer to the question.

01. What do you think of me, Windows Media Player?
Eternal Flame [Juliens]

02. Will I have a happy life?
Where Is The Love? [Black Eyed Peas]

03. What do my friends really think of me?
光芒 (Ray of Light) [FIR]

04. Do people secretly lust after me?
逃亡 (Escape) [Stefanie Sun]

05. How can I make myself happy?
壁虎漫步 (Lizard Strolling} [Wilber Pan]

06. What should I do with my life?
Temple of Muktinath [Prabodhi] (An instrumental piece)

07. Why must life be so full of pain?
Sing Our Wishes [NDP 05 song] (???)

08. Will I ever have children?
Don't Hang Up [Britney Spears]

09. Will I die happy?
Holding Out For A Hero [Fantasia Barrino]

10. Can you give me some advice?
Lose Control [Missy Elliot feat. Ciara]

This quiz is totally random. Hmm, let me try the quiz again, but limiting it to the Chinese songs in my library.

01. What do you think of me, Windows Media Player?
眼神 (The Look In The Eye) [Stefanie Sun]
What about the look in my eye?

02. Will I have a happy life?
分裂 (Split) [Jay Chou]
Oh no, will I be a bachelor all my life?

03. What do my friends really think of me?
马亚金字塔 (Mayan Pyramids) [Ocean Ou]
Hmm...something dead inside me?

04. Do people secretly lust after me?
懦夫 (Weakling) [Jay Chou]
Er...I suppose not

05. How can I make myself happy?
枫 (Maple) [Jay Chou]
Play with maple leaves? I don't mind...Wait, this probably means I need a holiday.

06. What should I do with my life?
随堂测验 (Spring Test) [Stefanie Sun]
Hmm...challenge myself?

07. Why must life be so full of pain?
世界末日 (End of the World [Jay Chou]
Oh no, the end of the world is coming?!

08. Will I ever have children?
天空 (Sky) [Stefanie Sun]
Hahaha, infinite number of children!!!

09. Will I die happy?
浪漫手机 (Romantic Cellphone) [Jay Chou]
That means yes!

10. Can you give me some advice?
我不爱 (I Won't Love) [Stefanie Sun]
What an advice; if you can't find a girlfriend, forget about succeeding.

Walked to the Bukit Batok East Community Club in the rain at 10.45am to attend the Bukit Batok East Edusave Merit Bursary & Scholarship Presentation Ceremony. Registration was quick for the counter which I had to report to (unlike the first two counters, which were mainly for the primary school students). The ceremony began at 11.30am with the arrival of the Guest-of-Honour, Mdm Halimah Yacob. There were a total of 710 recipients, and photographs were taken for every group of 25, so it was quite some time until my turn. After the ceremony was over and I ordered a group photo at the counter outside, I headed home.

And it basically rained the rest of the day.

Earlier this morning, the terrorist mock attack, codenamed Northstar V, was conducted at 4 MRT stations and Toa Payoh Bus Interchange. I was watching the news about the public's response to the event. I was shocked to hear some people complain about the inconveniences of the event and some suggesting earlier and more obvious warnings before the event so that the public would be better prepared for it. They failed to realise that none of these will happen in the event of a real attack (touch wood). If a real terrorist attacks, would you rather make sure the people around you are safe or complain about the "inconveniences" the terrorist has brought? If a real terrorist attacks, would you know about it beforehand? In fact, I even think that a future mock attack should be held without any initial warnings to truly reflect what may truly happen.

So, all in all, kudos to the SCDF.

Went back to college at noon today for Drama Committee meeting, followed by cage cleaning and sorting of costumes. From the schedule the madams have told us, it seems like the 2006 Drama Year is going to flash by faster than I can name all the productions we're doing this year. Look out for the first play coming in early February.

ACSperience 2006 - Orientation Campfire

Tonight was crunch time. The dance and drama people waited under the shelter of the walkway beside the basketball court, the venue for the campfire later. The OGLs hastened around under the threatening sky setting the scene for the campfire. The stage had already been set up. Just as Raj walked down the walkway to meet us, it started to rain.

Since we couldn't mark the stage now, both groups headed back to the Black Studio to rehearse with our costumes. The drama people reached the studio first and changed into our costumes. With the dancers coming into the studio after bringing their stuff from their dance studio, they became the audience for our rehearsal. After that, we switched sides and the dancers strutted their stuff (their dance was the Open House dance).

Once both groups went another round each, it was time to do hair and makeup. As far as drama was concerned, there was little makeup (just foundation and lipstick). Raj styled the hair for all the guys (drama and dance) with wax, glitter glue and hair spray. This was also one of the rare times when I sport styled hair, and I must admit, Raj really knows his stuff.

After a prayer in the studio, we headed out to the basketball court at 7.30pm. We waited in the shadow of the choir's studio at the Sports Complex while waiting for the J1s to settle down. Mrs Chan then gave a short speech, and the campfire was lighted. Just as they had settled down to begin the first game and the drama group have got together once again for a prayer, it started to rain again. All of us had to move to the Sunken Gallery. The J1s then marched up to the Badminton Hall while the drama group took shelter in the dancer's studio.

There was a huge mess with the MRC, but in the end we managed to get our act together, albeit on the slightly wet rubber floor with wet dance shoes and the risk of slipping and falling. In the debrief in the dance studio later, Raj commented that it was a good performance on drama's part, because we danced firmly even though the music didn't sound too good.

After clearing up over in the Black Studio (I kept my hair), I headed over to the Badminton Hall to soak in the spirits. Over there, I saw a number of J2s watching the proceedings (including Elizabeth, Yen Nee, Tania, Beiqin and some of the dancers who have changed out) and other ex-ACSians were also there watching. A slideshow of the happenings over the 4 days of orientation then followed, and I was hit with a feeling of nostalgia. How I wished I was the one sitting in the crowd, reminiscing about the orientation we had.

After the slideshow, it was the moment the OGLs and the J2s at the back of the hall were waiting for: a performance of the mass dances that we did last year, i.e. Blame It On The Boogie and Superstar. While I managed to remember most of the former song, I forgot parts of the second verse of Superstar, and I was a bit more clumsy in it.

When we finished both our dances, it was time for the new J1s to show off their mass dances. The first dance was a couple dance (I don't know the name of the song), and the second was Black And White, a solo dance which I personally liked better. After the dance and some announcements about worried parents, the usual party continued with more dancing. A couple of dancers and I mixed into the crowd to dance and get high. All the while I tried to learn their mass dance. All the while I remembered about the time last year at the basketball court. By the end of the night, I still don't know the couple dance, but I've got some hold on the Black And White dance. I headed home finally at 11.30pm, when most of the J1s have left and it seemed that the OGLs were getting ready to debrief.

All the while, throughout the night, in the rain, the campfire have been kept burning by a number of OGLs who have been sitting around the fire making sure it doesn't go out. The campfire is a symbol of the AC spirit: Always burning, never ceasing.

The Merchant Of Venice

After a short costume run of the campfire dance after school, most of us headed to The Substation to watch the ACSian Theatre alumni's performance of Shakespeare's "The Merchant Of Venice". Overall, the show rocked (literally), though I was a little surprised when the show took 3 hours long; I have been used to one-hour-something productions, since the ones I've been in since Camelot were all of this nature. Ooh, and I love the make-up.

Rehearsal for campfire dance tonight. There was a big hoo-ha about the costumes. Major chaos.

Official School Day 1. New seating location for morning assembly in the Hall. New faces in the college, both students and teachers (and a new Vice-Principal). New time-table.

Same old life.

Drama committee meeting in the morning. After that, those who weren't involved in MOV went up to the Cage to help Lindis clean the Cage. Rehearsal for the Orientation campfire dance performance started at 1pm and ended at 4 plus.

Took this off Yan Ting's blog:

Current mood :: Uncertain about the coming year. However hopeful I try to be, I always get that nagging feeling that something really bad is gonna happen.
Current music :: Nothing right now.
Current taste :: Not eating now.
Current hair :: Short sides, long fringe. I didn't like my look initially, but I was surprised how fast my hair grew back.
Current clothes :: Keming Primary School "Faith" house T-shirt and knee-length trousers
Current annoyance :: Thinking about the homework.
Current smell :: Smell of my room. It doesn't smell.
Current thing I ought to be doing :: Homework.
Current desktop picture :: Habbo Hotel's "Winter Wonderland" wallpaper.
Current favorite band :: Can I name 2? Simple Plan and Green Day.
Current book :: Not reading. :P
Current cd in stereo :: No CD.
Current crush :: :P Can't say.
Current favorite celeb :: Hmm...can't decide.
Current hate :: Staying at home. Wish I can go out with some friends and celebrate.

DO I

Smoke? :: Never in my entire life.
Have a dream that keeps coming back? :: It doesn't happen that often nowadays.
Read the newspaper? :: Yep. I always read the Today newspaper while having breakfast on school days.
Have any gay or lesbian friends? :: Don't know.
Believe in miracles? :: Perhaps.
Believe it's possible to remain faithful forever? :: Yes.
Consider yourself tolerant of others? :: Pretty much yes.
Consider love a mistake? :: When it's given to the wrong person.
Like the taste of alcohol? :: Never tasted.
Have a favorite candy? :: Seldom eat candies.
Believe in astrology? :: Occasionally.
Believe in magic? :: Not really.
Have any pets? :: No.
Go to or plan to go to college? :: Er...JC considered college?
Have any piercings? :: No.
Have an obsession? :: Habbo Hotel.
Have a secret crush? :: Aren't crushes meant to be a secret?
Do they know yet? :: What do you think?
Care about looks? :: Not all the time.

LOVE LIFE

Ever been in love? :: No.
Do you believe in love at first sight? :: Maybe; need to experience it to believe it.
Do you believe in "the one?" :: Maybe; need to find one to believe it.

JUICY STUFF

Have you ever played a game that required removal of clothing? :: Don't think so.
Have you ever been intoxicated? :: No.
Height :: 170-something cm? Definitely not exceeding 175 cm.

LAST THING YOU

Bought :: Oyako Don on New Year's Eve.
Ate :: Dinner today. Rice, vege, fish, radish soup.
Drank :: Plain water.
Read :: The dictionary, to confirm the meaning of 'college'.
Watched on tv :: Channel 8 evening news.

EITHER/ OR

club or houseparty :: House party.
cats or dogs :: Cats.
single or taken :: Single.
pen or pencil :: Pen.
gloves or mittens :: Mittens.
food or candy :: Food.
cassette or cd :: CD.
coke or pepsi :: Coke.
this or that :: This.

WHO DO YOU WANT TO

Kill :: Nobody.

LAST PERSON YOU

Talked to :: My parents.
Hugged :: The cast of Morning at Memory's Border.
Instant messaged :: Yu Wei.

WHERE DO YOU

Eat :: Usually at home.
Wish you were :: Lying on the cold sand at Sentosa looking at the night's sky.

HAVE YOU EVER

Dated one of your best friends? :: Never been in love.
Loved somebody so much it makes you cry? :: Never been in love.
Broken the law? :: Never.
Run away from home? :: Never. (Unless I'm late for an appointment. Then I run away from the house.)
Broken a bone? :: Yes; my skull bone.
Played Truth Or Dare? :: Yes.
Kissed someone you didn't know? :: Never.
Been in a fight? :: Argument, yes.
Come close to dying? :: Yes.

WHAT IS

The most embarrassing CD in your collection? :: Er...Britney Spears?
What's your bedroom like? :: Study table and computer on one side, bed on the other. The floor separates the two areas. Walls are pale yellow, curtains have flowery patterns.
Your favorite thing for breakfast? :: Vegetarian bee hoon from the Kopitiam across the road.
Your favorite restaurant? :: Seldom eat at restaurants.
What do you eat when you raid the fridge late at night? :: I usually don't raid the fridge. If I'm hungry, I head for instant noodles.
What is your secret guaranteed weeping movie? :: Not movie, but musical: Camelot. (The final scene with Leon and Shu An is a definite tearjerker!)
What is your biggest fear? :: Spiders.
What feature are you most insecure about? :: Belly.
Do you ever have to beg? :: Playfully.
Are you a pyromaniac? :: I don't play with fire.
Do you know anyone famous? :: Hong Jun Yang is my senior from long ago. He won't know who I am though.
Describe your bed :: The bedsheet has dolphin designs on it. Pillow, pink blanket (not my fault), a few soft toys (yes, I have soft toys).
Spontaneous or plain? :: Plain.
Do you know how to play poker? :: Not really.
What do you carry with you at all times? :: Wallet, keys and handphone.
How do you drive? :: Don't drive.
What do you miss most about being little? :: Hmm...nothing actually.
Are you happy with your given name? :: As time passes by, yes.
How much money would it take to get you to absolutely give up the Internet for one year? :: S$1 million.
What color is your bedroom? :: Pale yellow.
Do you like yourself and believe in yourself? :: Most of the time.
Do you think you're cute? :: No.
Do poor, homeless, or starving people sometimes annoy you? :: No.
Do you consider yourself to be a nice person? :: Yes.
Do you spend more time with your girlfriend, boyfriend, or your friends? :: Never been in love, so it's my friends.
You ever been caught "doing something?" :: What is 'something'?

The Year Ahead

My exterior doesn't show much emotion towards the coming of 2006, but deep down in me, a voice is saying, "Wow, it's 2006!" Here's an overview of what's coming up this year, in sections:

ACSian Theatre
The following are the projects which ACSian Theatre will be doing this year (information taken from ACJC website):

1. The Merchant of Venice (4 Jan - 6 Jan, 8pm, The Substation, tickets at $15)
2. Hate.Love.War.Peace (20 Jan - 21 Jan) (I honestly have no idea what this is. This has never come up in our committee meetings.)
3. Night of Laughter (22-23 Feb, ACJC) (An in-house production as usual, tickets won't cost a lot, so must come and support)
4. South Africa Tour (March school holidays) (I really wish I can go, but I seriously don't want to have someone pay for my trip. Should try to chalk up as much money as I can.)
5. The Tempest (6 Apr - 8 Apr)
6. Singapore Youth Festival: (Central Judging: 16 May - 18 May; Drama Show: 21 Jul) (Details about our SYF production will be kept to a minimum, so don't ask so much. :))
7. Little Women (23 Nov - 25 Nov) (A J1 production)

The J2s will step down after SYF. That's a lot of opportunities for 2006.

2SA1, class of 2006
All of us promoted! Well, academically, there's quite a lot of stuff to cover. Our teachers will all be the same (including GP's Miss Dorothea Lim, who SMS-ed me after Christmas to let me know that she will be taking our class this year). Being the dinosaur-batch of F. Maths is a certain pressure on us too; we are expected to do well. :)

For more class stuff, I'm intending to treat the class to chalet in June with NTUC vouchers I got from my relative. But I still gotta ask the class if they're even interested in chalet. After chalet, it'll be study all the way till A Levels, Senior's Night and perhaps a few more hanging-outs after that. And 2SA1 will officially graduate, until we meet again in March 2007 for the release of the A Level results.

ACJC
Major event of ACJC for 2006: Fun-O-Rama XVIII! Held on 18 February, it promises to be a whole day of fun and thrill! You seriously need to come! And how to play the games and eat the food if you do not have coupons? Coupons are sold at $10 each and every coupon bought gets you a free set of Long John Silver's coupons too.

Otherwise, it's the usual stuff. I wonder if I'll be getting something on Founder's Day.

Past friends
More outings with NHSS 4o1o4 and Exco11! Hopefully. Best if Exco11 can celebrate New Year's Eve again. It was a great experience just being together and watching the beautiful fireworks. I'm also hoping to get as many people from Keming Primary School 6AA (class of 2000) as possible together for a reunion.

Hmm...New Year Resolutions? I'm not a 'resolutions' kind of guy. I just live life as it brings me. Hopefully 2006 is a great year.