Tue, 27 Jan 2004
just another manic monday
Wow, it's been a week since my last blog. As promised, here are
some pictures of Jonathan Brandis from The Neverending Story II and a early shot
of Jeremy Sumpter. See if you can tell them apart.
I tried looking for my old collection of Jonathan Brandis memorabilia, but only managed to find my old SeaQuest DSV guidebook. Probably the only thing I didn't throw away. Sigh. I bet you nobody in Singapore had as big a collection of his photos as I had. I used to stake out Holland V and Kinokuniya at Liang Court to look for magazines with him in them each month. His passing makes me feel like part of my adolescence is gone too.
Had a pretty standard Chinese New Year with all the visiting and ang paos.
Played a lot of bridge and tai ti with my cousins. Also managed to find
the time to watch my Summer Scent (Korean Drama) VCD. Song Seung Hun has
perfected the art of playing the lovelorn guy, even though they gave him a
totally metrosexual makeover for this series. Also been working on a new
layout which will debut when we move to our new domain... oh, and I got my
Sony Ericsson T610.
::| posted by sam @ 9.57pm |
Tue, 20 Jan 2004
i'm on your side and i still care
Today I came home in a good mood, after having an interesting lab with white
mice and then meeting up with Direcow and the guys. I wanted to blog about
my day, but that shall wait till another day.
I was searching google to find pictures of Jonathan Brandis, as I wanted to do a photo comparison of how much he and Jeremy Sumpter look alike. I did find those, but I also discovered the saddest news I've ever discovered through the internet.
On Wednesday, November 12 2003. Jonathan Brandis hung himself and was discovered by friends. There was no suicide note. He was 27 years old. He was an only child and is survived by his parents Greg and Mary. The news is on CNN and E! Online News.
Jonathan Gregory Brandis
April 13 1976 - November 12 2003
He is best remembered for his role as Lucas Wolenczak on the TV series SeaQuest DSV (known in later seasons as SeaQuest 2032). He also played Bastian in The Neverending Story II. More about him from IMDB. My secondary school friends can testify to how big a fan I was of him. However, after Sec 4 when SeaQuest 2032 was losing it's edge, I didn't continue watching it. Subsequently , like many other fans, I didn't follow Jonathan's later progress. The media forgot him and so did we. His suicide was not even reported in the papers here. Or maybe it was such a small byline that I missed it. It hurts to have to find out this way. It hurts to have found out so late and it hurts that no one knows why he did what he did. I hope his parents find comfort and peace and that he is in God's hands. My next few blogs will probably be about him.
Forever is an awfully long time.
::| posted by sam @ 12.02am |
Mon, 19 Jan 2004
For the last 2 Sundays, I've been attending my cell group leader's
training, which was essentially a workshop on sex and sexuality. At the
end of it all, we signed the following agreement:
"I know that God intended sex to be a beautiful bonding union between a husband and wife.
Even now, I may be the answer to someone's prayers for a wonderful spouse. Someone may be praying for me to stay pure, just for our marraige.
I want to have a clear conscience. I don't want to give away my heart or my body to someone I don't end up marrying. I don't want regrets or heartbreak or embarrassment. I want to save my heart and my body for that one special person. I want my husband or wife to respect my values and integrity.
I want to avoid sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy.
I know that God's Word commands me to refuse sexual activity until the Lord brings me the husband or wife who is best for me, and we are joined in marriage.
I want my children to know I waited, and that they can too. I want to be able to tell the truth about how we met and how we dated.
If I have had sexual experience, I repent and ask God's forgiveness. I know He will forgive me and has given me a fresh clean slate. I am now pure in the Lord's eyes. I will treat myself as a new person and will expect others to do so also. God has a good plan for my life and I will not let the memory of the past condemn me to a hopeless future.
This I pledge today, that I will wait until marriage to have sex, knowing that God will bless my decision to be faithful to Him!"
I signed this NOT to please my youth director/cell leader/parents or to make them trust me more. They would trust me even if I've never signed it. I signed it out of love and respect for God, my future husband and myself and because I want only the best for my future husband's life, my future children's and my own. I want to live by God's rules. If any of you reading this want to make the same commitment, you can copy it and sign it privately, or even put it on your blog or Friendster bulletin board. Ultimately, it's between you and God.
In other news, Sam Chia's got herself a
blog. Check it out. Direcow, Kakita, Petey and I are going to get our own
domain! Yay! We still have to think of a name for it though. Any
suggestions?
::| posted by sam @ 10.08pm |
Thu, 15 Jan 2004
i hope you had the time of your life
Yesterday I was supposed to meet Yenni after my lecture to get Char's
Immunology book from her, but I clean forgot about it and went off for lunch
with Dawn! Oops!! I don't think she reads my blog but I'm sooo sooo
sorry Yenni! I feel terrible. My memory is failing me.
Anyway that evening I went to watch the Peter
Pan premier with Direcow and it was amazing. It even got Direcow
raving on his blog. Before the
movie started, we were outside Kinokuniya when these 2 girls approached us and
asked, "You all got anything to do after this?" and waved a pair of
premier tickets at us. Too bad we already had tickets. Outside the
cinema there were a handful of kids in Peter Pan outfits. I think they
scared Direcow. The movie itself was beautiful and delightful. It delivered
everything you could expect plus a little extra magic. Direcow was laughing in delight during the movie
=) Love the colours of
the movie, the dialogue and the fact that they stayed true to the book.
The actors are wonderful, including Jeremy Sumpter. (I'm not just saying
that cos he's so pretty). I'd highly highly recommend it to anybody. You simply can't find
anything lacking or bad or negative about the movie. It was unpretentious
and did not try to make itself into a blockbuster like other movies these
days. You leave feeling so
uplifted. I'm most eagerly anticipating the DVD. Oh we got nice
Peter Pan goodies at the premier too. I realised why the held the premier
at Bugis. Because Lido was having the premier of Magic Kitchen at the same
time. Jerry Yen was there. ~mutter mutter.
::| posted by sam @ 10.28pm |
Mon, 12 Jan 2004
wasting my time
I had a whole free day today cos I didn't have any lab. Totally wasted
it. Woke up late again. Seems like I always need about 9 hours of
sleep nowadays. Not good. Then proceeded to download a new episode
of Friends AND Smallville. Started reading Neuromancer. Trying to
get started on work, but going real slow. Watched more TV. Was also
reading my First magazine. I like it cos it's got lots of good pictures
and previews of both current and upcoming movies. This month's cover is
Tom Cruise in the Last Samurai and even got a nice big poster =) Got lots
of Peter Pan stuff too.
Looks like Myztika
and her friends are having their own LOTR layout marathon. Of course she
took Legolas. (so pretty). Speaking of which, the ROTK
summary from Dys' blog
is good. Feel like doing a Smallville layout when
I have the time.
::| posted by sam @ 9.26pm |
Sun, 11 Jan 2004
can't think of a heading
From Myztika's blog. Not very surprised by the results.
Your element is Earth. I hate to say it but you are
down to earth. Stubborn and loyal. You tend to
want to nurture others and you are the one
person friends always come to for
answers.
Without people like you others would be flying
over the edge because, whether you know it or
not you keep a steady beat to your life and
will end up where you want to in the end. There
is a sureness about you that is hard to match
that draws people to you. No matter what
happens the Earth keeps turning.
What's your element
brought to you by Quizilla
Went to the National Library book sale yesterday and found Peter Pan, I am
Legend (Richard Matheson), Collected Short Stories of Jeffrey Archer and a book
of murders and mysteries based on Shakespeare's plays. All for $2 a piece.
Unfortunately the Peter Pan book is missing a 8 pages in the front
=( At the sale Direcow was like a kid in a candy store. Almost
lost him when he got distracted and followed a cart bringing out new
books. Also managed to get my Peter Pan premier tickets =) So
looking forward to it.
::| posted by sam @ 11.11pm |
Thu, 08 Jan 2004
where does the time go
Feel like I've wasted most of the day. Woke up late and didn't do an
ounce of school work, except printing some notes. Took a nap in the
afternoon too. Think I'm still experiencing the drowsiness from my
medicine. Been trying to recover from this runny nose and cough. I don't
handle being sick very well. Just don't feel like doing anything.
Discovered this blog by Mark Nam from among the top 300 blogs from rice bowl journals, a community of asian bloggers from around the world. Like most things about this blog. I also read madpony.com and a little bit of cyn. Note that I do not know these people nor do they know me.
I'm so happy I don't have a full day tomorrow as I originally thought.
Turns out the Immunology practicals are pretty spread out. However, I'm
going to have to kill and dissect mice for Immunology and will have to inject
some mice with drugs for Human Pharmacology, both later in the
month. In all my years of doing Biology, this is my first actual
dissection. I've never actually had to deal with living specimens until
this year. Last semester was the Drosophilia maggots. This semester
is the first time I'm handling live mammals. Wonder how that will turn
out. Will blog about the experience after doing it. Oh yes, and I think
I fixed the problem with Blogger, so now I can read all your blogs again =)
::| posted by sam @ 11.55pm |
Wed, 07 Jan 2004
in days of yore
In case you all are wondering why I haven't been commenting on your blogs,
it's because I cannot access all blogs that use blogger or blogspot. When
I try to go to your pages, all I get is redirected to http://new.blogger.com
I don't understand why. I talked to Weiwen today and he has the same
problem. We're both Singnet Broadband users using wireless router.
Somebody please help!
Lessons have started this week. I don't have any good lecturers so far =( Have one who is nice but looks like Yoko Ono. Haha. Today I went with the other 24ths back to ACJC for the Orientation Campfire. It wasn't that fantastic but we had a few laughs. Mostly cos I discovered a guy that I can make short jokes at. Can you believe it? Jon Ee and I also discovered this guy who bears an uncanny resemblence to Bryan Tan (of SCone and Skritch fame). We dubbed him the "training bra". If there's anyone else I haven't insulted please drop me a comment.
In other news, Direcow has made his debut on Slackers.
::| posted by sam @ 12.01am |
Sun, 04 Jan 2004
johnny be good
Got to stay home and watch Back To The Future on Channel 5. What a
treat! That's one movie I'll never get tired of watching even though I've
seen it a million times. Really want to get the DVD. Marty McFly
rocks. I love idea that every thing that happens to you can affect the
course of your whole future. The TV show Sliders was kinda based on that
too. Which is why I loved it till it got crappy after the 3rd
season. Today we had combined cell group at Leonard's place. Was a
bit messy getting them all together at the same place at the same time, but
somehow it happened. Leonard's parents are so nice =)
Yesterday I went for Greg's party on a ferry. It was a 4 hour
ride. It was amazing how many people he Invited. Lots of people from
the past. Lots of complex relationships. It's like Friendster in
real life. I was imagining this nightmare scenario where we get marooned
on an island and have to play Survivor. Good thing the boat was big enough
for people to spread out. It was still fun, cos I just stuck with Direcow
and the guys, happy in my protected little bubble. Thanks Greg for the
most unique birthday party I've ever been to! The games were standard
table games. Can't believe Daniel got to walk home with all that money!
::| posted by sam @ 10.01pm |
Fri, 02 Jan 2004
i love rock and roll
Went to watch School of Rock with Direcow today. I loved it. The
kids were fantastic. Of course my favourite member of the band is the
drummer. Always has been, always will be ;-) After Direcow went home
I went and bought Career Guide 2004 (urgh) and went to the library to borrow The
Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle and a book of love poems by W.B. Yeats.
Don't know why I did. Maybe I'm hoping the literary side of me is still
alive after being smothered by waay to much Life Science.
After studying the Career Guide and looking up info on the internet, I have
come to the conclusion that these are my options after I graduate:
1) Laboratory Biologist at Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology
2) Scientific Officer at Health Science Authority
3) Research Assistant in some hospital lab
4) Teacher/ Post Graduate Diploma in Education (NIE)
5) Ministry work in church
6) Tuition teacher??
7) Social work??
8) Get married and become a tai tai (Direcow the sole
breadwinner?! - financial suicide)
Will have to pray and see where God wants me. In the end it may not even
be any of these, but we'll see. Today NUS sent me a hardcopy of my Sem 1
exam results. Together with that came a letter addressed to Graduates of
Sem 1 03/04. Baffling. Nobody else got it. I'll have to call
up the administration to check that they don't think I've already graduated (how
is that possible?!)
My family went out for dinner at some prata place opposite Beauty World in
Bukit TImah. As we were having dinner Dr Mark Taylor, my Human Infectious
Diseases professor, walked right by with his wife. Second time I've
run into him outside NUS. The first time was at Taka outside Armani
Exchange. Finally, Happy New Year to all. The January archives
has a new layout.
::| posted by sam @ 11.36pm |
