Fun & Games

Some of you are probably sick of hearing me talk about DDR already, but no matter, you can always skip the next few sentences :)

Finally managed to get a AAA the other day. Barely made it too, since AAA scores are 990,000 and above. I was so happy, I wanted to hug everybody in the arcade... But I didn't, because that would be weird. 

Sadly, there have been no repeat AAA performances since that day last week. At most, I'll be scoring 970,000+ on a ESP 11 song and that's only a AA grade. 

Last week TKA Bugis finally got the new DDR2013 upgrade kit and they moved the machine from the back to the front where there is less noise interference from the other machines. The price went up from $1.50 per game to $2.50 per game. Although it's really expensive now, it's still my machine of choice since it's the only one in the whole of Singapore that has e-amusement (an online system which links up the Asian countries with Konami, the company that created and runs DDR). 

Having e-amusement means 

1) Being able to unlock and play new songs

2) Saving high scores under your username

3) Competing with other players' high scores

However, it's just too bad that the DDR machine at TKA Bugis happens to be an old and outdated black cabinet. I wish we could get the HD ones that they have in Japan......

And speaking of Japan, my ordered Tamagotchis finally arrived last week! This one on top is a version 5.

This is a version 3 Tamagotchi. I love the pastel colours on it, makes me feel all happy inside. 

I haven't opened the Tamagotchis from their packaging yet because I'm afraid I won't have much time to play with them.

  

I opened up and started playing with my mini Digimon though. 

Man, the memories... 

Early this morning I went to Macritchie Reservoir with Alicia (who is my cousin's daughter, so technically she has to call me "Aunt" even though she's almost my age LOL) for a morning jog. It had rained the night before and the air was fresh and cool as a result. 

A mysterious layer of mist hung over the water surface.

In the usual spot where men like to sit and throw bread into the water, a school of fish were silently waiting.

We ran into the rainforest...

Had breakfast at the Mushroom Cafe. My kaya toast came with cornflakes inside. It was kinda weird, but I got used to it. 

Last Week

I really admire people who lead busy lives and still manage to blog regularly. The last time I actually did blog daily was when I was stuck in homeroom every morning for at least one hour without anything to do! Ever since, blogging has always been an on and off thing. I'm sure many people out there can relate...... 

Anyway, since the last time I've updated, this is what I've been up to:

Went out to lo hei with the company peeps last week. 

We had it at Crystal Jade in Great World City. Food actually wasn't bad at all. It had been some years since I last ate there, and I thought the food quality might have fallen since more people started eating there. 

THEN let me tell you what this girl... MANDA, did.

She came to my hang out at my place last week and didn't say ONE WORD about it being her birthday! So we ended up watching a movie and that was it. Didn't even get her a cake or sing a song or anything! 

:(

Okay okay... I know it exposes the fact that I'm a really bad friend, can't even remember people's birthdays... but I really don't usually keep track of birthdays. I don't even wish people happy birthday on Facebook. 

But I gotta make it up to her somehow!

On Thursday, we had a really beautiful sunrise, coupled with fresh cool morning air.

Early that morning I had to head to Paya Lebar MRT, where I met this kitty who looks almost exactly like Koshka!!! When I saw her, my heart flipped. I couldn't believe my eyes; it even rolled on the floor in the same lazy manner as Koshka!

This bowl of mee siam looks good right? Things are not always what they seem though... It wasn't spicy enough and tasted too sweet. 

You might be wondering what I'm doing at Paya Lebar MRT early on Thursday morning, staring at kitties and eating mee siam instead of going to work. 

In fact, I was working, at this event in the Singpost building. 

The conference hall was held in a CHURCH of all places. Didn't see that coming, but I felt a lot more at ease afterwards. 

Early in the morning, not many people besides the reporters were there to listen to the live interviews. Basically the conference was for showcasing all the new upcoming IT stuff from around Asia. 

We were there to promote our iPhone app.

Free gift packs for those who downloaded the app on the spot!

On the first day of the two-day conference, the rooms were really crowded and the air-conditioning didn't seem to function at all. Not only that, but the Wifi and 3G connections were horrendous. We could hardly get anything to function. At least people were sympathetic because everyone was having right about the same connection problems. 

Spent the whole day doing demos and speaking till our throats were hoarse. 

Yep.

The next morning, Talia and I went near the Singpost area to walk about and to have breakfast. 

Still kinda sleepy from watching movies till late.

It's so sad to see Tanjong Katong show traces of change. All the places we used to see on a daily basis are starting to either disappear or look renovated.

Had porridge for $1.50 here! 

Then on Friday night, I met up with Manda again and her foreign exchange friend Andrew for dinner and arcade. Had a lot of fun! But the arcade was a little too crowded and we ended up spending a lot of time just waiting around for machines to be free. 

Sunday morning, went to breakfast at the good ol' Boon Lay Market where I used to spend a lot of time as a kid. Things look completely different now, but I still remember the uncle who used to sell us pork every morning. 

The sights and smells of this place has been altered somewhat, but all I have to do is close my eyes and the memories will come rushing back. It's sad to know that you can never return to the past sometimes. I wish I could come back to the old Boon Lay with its unpopulated streets, cheap food and wide sweeping carparks with tall raintrees over them. 

All gone now.

On Sunday afternoon, after the Bible gathering at the Hanes' house, Papa drove me to MacRitchie where my siblings and I participated in the bimonthly MR25 5k time trial. I totally wasn't in the mood to run, let alone race, but I was really curious to see what times I would run now that I haven't actually trained or run regularly for months. 

Turns out that my times didn't depreciate that badly at all!

I ran the 5k course in 22:52:55, about 3mins slower than my fastest time. 

Next week, I'll begin running on the track again now that I've found some people to train with. I hope that will help to get me motivated again to train regularly. 

Thing is, I can't run just to stay fit or look good. That to me is hardly motivation at all. I need to race, need to feel like I have to improve my times- that's the only way that I'm gonna jolt my lazy butt into action.

..........................................................

So much is going on in my head these days concerning church, God and my spiritual life that I don't even know where to begin. I think I need to just quiet down and BE STILL. 

Life & Running

Life's picked up again right after the new year started. I've been going out a bit more, doing random stuff.

I did some geocaching at night. 

Some reading and rolling in bed during the day.

Finally met up with Lizzie after her return from the UK.

We ate at Sun With Moon, this Japanese restaurant in Wheelock Place. I've been eating here almost every week because I have $50 worth of coupons to spend there, haha! 

I usually end up ordering the same thing- ramen ramen ramen. Their tonkatsu (pork) ramen is really good, but so is their Hokkaido ramen. Apparently the Hokkaido ramen's stock is heavier than the tonkatsu stock, but I don't know much about that; I haven't actually made an effort to compare the two different stocks. 

Lizzie's hotpot looked good too. 

Last Saturday I walked from Orchard to Dhoby Ghaut with Rachel. 

Wandered to Orchard Central, where I got the impression that it is the new Heeren. I think pretty much all the cool shops from Heeren have moved out and into Orchard Central's upper floors. 

Some shop spaces are still empty.

Others are already operating.

Many sell quirky stuff that's only useful for one thing: gifts for other people. 

I came across a canal with fish in it! *Puts my fishing cap on....* There were so many, and they looked big too! 

Hidden away in Istana Park is this place called Art Palate Cafe. It's really cool! There's a breezy eating area near the front entrance where you can have tea and some food.

The entire little building seems to be made of glass and wood. The place feels airy and carefree. Surprisingly, there's no greenhouse effect even with the hot Singaporean sun shining through the roof. 

On the upper floor, there are people painting and relaxing.

View from the second floor down. 

Singapore's been enjoying some really nice weather actually, despite it being the rainy season.

On Sunday, I treated my family to dinner. Guess it's a tradition of some sort for the kid to treat her parents to dinner out of her first pay cheque. Though it's not my first actual proper pay cheque, it somehow feels appropriate because this is like my first legit job in Singapore. 

Wasabi octopus appetizer.

I took them to Nirai Kanai Okinawan Diner in Tanglin Shopping Center because the restaurant is closing down on January 15th (that's in three days!) It's really a shame because the food here is really good and the chefs and all the staff are straight from Okinawa, Japan. They're closing down because the chefs are moving back to Okinawa. 

I wanted to let my parents eat here at least once before the place closes. There will still be another branch left in Liang Court but I don't think the chefs there are from Okinawa.

Needless to say, the night ended well. It feels great to finally be on the treating end of the dinner. I think my dad enjoys not having to foot the bill for once, haha! 

That's my past week in a nutshell. 

On a different note, I still haven't been running regularly. In fact, I haven't run at all this week. I rollerbladed, but it's not as effective as running. As a result, I can feel all this tension building up inside of me. It needs to be released through a good hour's run, but I just can't seem to get up early enough these days! I think it's because I've been sleeping around 01:00. I need about 7 hours of sleep to tide me over. Anything less and my ears will refuse to hear the alarm clock in the morning. 

I feel so pissed at myself for that. 

It's already been 12 days into 2012 and still can't do one straight week of running? Where did all my discipline go? I feel like I shouldn't even call myself a runner anymore. I cannot believe that I used to run twice a day and gym every single evening (plus swimming twice a week). Looking back at all that, it seems so impossible. 

And I know I'm not getting any younger. I see my friends who are in their thirties getting tired easily- and I think to myself: Am I gonna be like that in just a few short years? 

NO! I REFUSE! 

Before I let my brain and body turn to mush, I must absolutely make the most of every single year I've got! I must use up every ounce of energy that comes with being young, single and in my twenties! 

I MUST RUN MY HEART OUT EVERYDAY UNTIL THE DAY I DIE!

Dear God, every good gift comes from You. I thank you for healthy legs and lungs. Thank you for reminding me that in not using a gift, I am thwarting the desire of the gifter. Help me to utilise all my gifts and blessings to my full potential, so as to give You all the glory! In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.