Is there any use in crying over spilled milk?

Wow...this by any standard is a day with some not so good news. At least for two things that are of relative importance in my life now - the answers have been..."Mmm...no good...more work needs to be done."

Results out today. It's an all time low. I'm too ashamed to mention it here. *giant red face*. Although, I expected it, that's why checking the results wasn't on my mind today until Hap(py) reminded me. Of course, the question was how badly will I do. Pass or fail...btw, it's a fail..and a very very very bad one. Less than half of 50....can you imagine that?! Anyway, is there any use in crying over spilled milk??

Another set of "results" came out today. The HDB application...sigh...another 4 digit no. And there's only 300 over flats available for this bi-monthly exercise.

Well, the good news is that my report is out....hee!

Didn't the Bible say to rejoice at all times. Therefore, I shall rejoice.

Of Steak & Vegetables

Last Saturday, the bf brought me out for a steak dinner. He said he wants to eat American steak. Okie, it was probably Australian beef, but prepared and served in an American restaurant. We went to Brewerkz. I had the NY Chargrilled steak with garlic-stout butter, while he had it with mushroom and wine sauce. I think I was abit sleepy towards the end of the dinner, because I had abit too much beer in everything, from the steak to the soup to the beverage. Tried their lightest beer. It's nice and easy to drink, very low on bitterness, and felt rather cooling. Otherwise, I hate beer. Beer = Bitter.

The brisk walk to the restaurant was romantic & wet. (Brisk walk & wet - 'cuz it was pouring like crazy). Also, I don't know if if I was hungry or what, but almost every eatery we walked by, I wanted to try the food. From Chinese to Indonesian to Mexican.

The Bf comes from a Buddhist family, and his parents are vegetarians. At one point, he was vegetarian too. So, prior to dating me, he doesn't really eat beef. He never said so, but I now half suspect he may have found beef abhorring.

I still remember the shocked faces of his long-time friends and neighbours when I mentioned he was eating beef in the US. It was quite funny. 'Cuz i was thinking, what's the big deal. But, they were like stunned.

Now, he's "persecuted" for eating beef. To be fair, I was "persecuted" for eating vegetarian too. One night, after I returned home from a vegetarian dinner with the bf's family, my family members, one by one, took turns to ask me how was vegetarian food. It was quite hilarious come to think of it.

Initially, whenever he said he's taking beef, or about to eat beef, it'll seem abit like a Fear Factor moment. I wonder if he'll break out into a fever, or have stomachache from eating it. I mean, if he doesn't like it, just don't eat it. It's his loss to miss out on the best type of meat in the world, but it's definitely not a requirement. But, well, nothing says "I love you" more than the willingness and actual effort to change one's habits and preferences. So, point noted.

Truth be told, I used to mock-lament about how the bf doesn't take beef, and maybe next time, I also won't get to eat beef. Most of my very close gal pals were stunned and gave me the disbelief look that my bf doesn't eat beef. But, one referred me to her husband who also used to not eat beef because of his family upbringing. Then, she reminded me of the Aussie trip we took a few years back. He was going for T-bone almost every meal. T-bone T-bone. Honestly, it's not that we want them to change for us, it's just that it's their loss if they can't appreciate beef. Haha..or so we'll like to think.

As for vegetarian food. Thank God, his family still take eggs. And so far, of the three vegetarian meals/ tastings I had, they were pretty good. Tasty, with variety.

He's here...The phantom of the opera is here

I remember I was a poor student when this Musical came to Singapore some more than one decade ago.

I remember back then I envied those classmates of mine who were able to go catch this musical.

Throughout the years, especially, now that I have some purchasing power, I told myself, if ever The POTO comes to Singapore again, I'll definitely go watch it.

And go watch it I did, not sparing $ and cents to fulfill "childhood dreams".

I sat in the Stall seats in the Foyer. They were not very far from the stage, skewed to the right side facing the stage. I was quite satisifed with the seating, as we had unblocked view, and were not far from the stage.

Although, throughout the musical, I was very curious about the Orchestra Pit. Was there even an orchestra, the place looked so small. I only knew there was a conductor. I mean, he could be conducting to recorded music?!

The singing is very good. Not that I really know what is very good. But, the cast sang really well, especially Christine and the Phantom of course. The set was just amazing! I mean they changed from scene to scene - two of my faves was the Phantom Lair, and the stairway for Masquerade. Of course, perhaps expecting too much from the Chandelier scene, it wasn't as exciting as I thought it would be. Oh, another thing that was funny was how the Phantom seem to pop up from everywhere...even the ceiling.

Regarding the freak-factor. Actually, it is a little freaky. The Phantom is abit psychotic you see. There were also a few deaths (depicted by people hung on a noose).

The overall experience was good. There was a reactive and appreciative audience. We laughed, we gasped. We clapped. Though, at the end, I was wondering if there could have been an encore after the third curtain call (which the cast skipped to). But I guess it's a little different from concerts. I would have liked to hear Phantom Theme, or the Angel of the Night, or Think of me...which are ringing in my head now.

Most who came were casually dressed-up. During the interval, the bf and I had a $10 tea-break comprising of a very small chicken burger, and coke. The chicken burger was catered by The Oriental. It's very tasty, though very expensive. And the coke...$4. Exhorbitant -- but I was too hungry to save money. I even went home wif a couple of cool souvenirs courtesy of the bf. A very good date I had.

Alcoholic Annonymous

The bf was in US recently, and one of the places I heard he was gonna visit was Tennessee. You know how it is...everywhere we go, we wander what the place's tu2 can3 is. I thought for awhile....Tennessee is famous for quite a number of locations and people, e.g. Nashville (country music), Memphis (the blues or is it rock and roll), Elvis, and Justin Timberlake (he's song What goes ard/ comes ard..my current fave pop hit).

But, I couldn't think of an item or thing that was from Tennessee....until I vaguely recall that I think Tennessee is famous for whiskey. And then, guess what?! Upon, the bf's return, he gave me a bottle of JD.

Now, I think most guys would get ladies something refined...like wine, or maybe women-drinks like choya, benedictine dom or yomeishu. But, see lah....that's the impression I give people -- whiskey gal. Not very good impression hor???

CLARIFICATION: Actually, I only drink whiskey when it's mixed with coke. A bourbon coke I think is still quite ladylike....hahaha. In case there are more people out there who really think I'm an alcoholic.

Hmm...I just realised he also went to Kentucky...which produces my favourite Bourbon Whiskey...Jim Beam. Should have requested for that. Wahahaha...but I think the JD looks classier.

PS: Heard JD can be mixed with green tea and it's pretty nice...Thanks gal pals!

What I did one Sunday morning

I did something I've not done before. i.e. appear at Changi Airport at about 4 am. I don't quite count myself as a morning person, but it was actually a pretty good feeling to take a walk and breathe the crisp & fresh morning air. The peace and quiet of an early Sunday morning is....serene.

Within the terminal it's a slightly different story. There were people around...surprisingly they don't look like zombies...even though I'm sure they've either not slept the night before or had slept very little to be at the airport this early in the morning.

The kind of exhilaration walking into the Terminal with a cup of cappuccino in my hand, brings me back to the times when I first graduated. My actual first dream job was to work at CAAS. I'm fascinated by airport operations. I'm quite fascinated by planes...I remember attending the Aerospace Trade show during JC-time, I remember how my dad used to bring us to the airport or near the airport when we were younger, I remember that my dad's ambition was to be a pilot (except he's colour-blind...so he went on to be a commando instead!! Go Dad!), I remember contemplating trying for applications as one of those airport control tower people...heard it's very tough but pays really well, I remember dating a pilot for awhile....I mean a YFC pilot...who eventually did become a Silkair pilot though.

Okay, enough about planes. I bid the bf bon voyage & farewell.....

Then headed home. And guess what I did??

I did housework. Yes -- laundry, change sheets, mop floor, clear out trash.....So, for two hours before Church, that's what I did. Now, one wonders what drove me to do housework in the wee hours.

Tonight's plans

Dear bf planned out something special for our first Valentine's Day. I didn't want to spoil my own surprise and didn't ask for the exact location of where we're headed off for dinner. He revealed that we'll be parking at Parliament House.

And from there, my conjecture for tonight's plans are....

Dinner Venue: Funan IT Mall.
Restaurant: MacDonalds.
Expected Gift: Finishing Well -- recommended reading from Pastor.

Yup....I do think I have excellent deductive skills. And, yes, I think he's soooooo romantic. Hee...