Saturday, July 29, 2006: Evening updates
My phone prepaid card's run so low that I can't message anyone. Oh, this is so seriously bad, bad, bad, bad...
Yes!! Just went to my French class page to check. No homework, unlike as promised! (does a happy dance) AND three days off - two before AND after National Day, and the 24th of August is a day off too due to the Sec 4 and JC oral!! But I wish it was the Tuesday before it that was our day off instead, for reasons best known to myself.
Chinese writing class was so *_* annoying because the question was so hard to write about!! Grr... No inspiration at all!! Nothing at all!! I produced nothing but a stupid single-sheeter (a double-page essay)!! (You didn't think I'd give a single-page one, did you?)
Main question: "People are easily influenced by their environments / tempted into doing the wrong things. Do you agree?" But then, being a free-form essay, we could write anything so long as it had some relation to the topic. Mine was totally out of point!! *screams at the pitch of high high E for five seconds*
My Chor1ster guy friend just asked if we can be friends. Definitely we can, I'm not against that. I remember that, in primary school (even in P4, when I was in one of the best primary schools here in Singapore), students still feared the "diseases" spread by girls to boys, or boys to girls. I could've laughed at them. It was so silly and childish. I was never against opposite-gender friends. In fact, when I had just joined the 'elite' school in 2002, I made a Friendship Day card depicting myself and my then-guy friend, Aaron Wong (who was from a supposedly inferior primary school from which I transferred to this 'elite' school), on it. In the middle was a pop-up featuring lyrics of a song that had been taught to the students of my former primary school:
Amigos para siempre
means you'll always be my friend,
Amigos para siempre
means a love that never ends;
Friends for life,
not just a summer or a spring,
Amigos para siempre.
Back then, we had many singing opportunities - community singing was held almost every day. J'aimais chanter, j'aime chanter et j'aimerai chanter et rien ne le changera pas. (I mean to say, I loved singing, I love singing, I shall love singing and nothing shall change that.) That's that.
I hated it when we had to recite endless Chinese poems at the new school. It was a great culture shock, and a big ordeal, so much so that when it was proposed that we recite this poem with this stanza containing the words "On (this date) we so respect, our school was born", I changed the words on my script to "On (this date) we so hate and dread, our school was born".
But a good thing came out of the transfer - had I not gone there, I might not have met two really good friends. All the rest of the people were bad eggs in their own way, but not these friends. And for your information, both were Prefects. One was the Head Prefect in my graduating year, but is currently not a Prefect. I wish she was one, she really deserves an eternal Head Prefect spot.
Speaking of Head Prefects... Li-Shan, one of the Chor1sters, is Head Prefect of her school (I don't know if she's stepped down or not, but my school's Head Prefect hasn't). Yes, I still miss all the Chor1sters!! Choir One rocks on and is absolutely pwnsome!! Choir One, amid the fun, is seriously the Number One!!
Update on 19 Jan 2006: Click HERE for the comment that Denyse left in response to my first tag. With the loading on of the new skin, the link to the comment vanished. This is one comment that I'll forever treasure.
~Seraphine Chorister~ sang in The Butterfly Garden
[6:19 PM]
But they're not really rants... just words. With a message.
My guy friend, who's a Chor1ster **, messaged me on my phone saying "je'taim" (he meant to say "je t'aime", meaning "I love you"). Erm, but I'm seriously not ready!! Not for this anyway. Everything I did for the past nine days was purely... not because I liked him. I do feel like that [je t'aime] towards guys sometimes, but I keep that in check too, in addition to dipolarity.
** refer to my very first post after the test post, or the 'miscarried predecessor' to this blog.
Just tagged Denyse. She's 'it'!! Run for it, blogblog!! (tries to make this blog run, but it refuses to budge) Oh well, never mind. But do you get the pun? No? OK, I'll explain.
In the West, they have this version of the game we call 'catching' that they call 'tag'. Among the group, there's this 'tagger' who 'tags' someone, declares it by saying, "Tagged! You're it!" and runs off, because he or she is no longer the 'tagger'. Aim of the game? Get away from the 'tagger'. In the blogosphere, however... (well you all know what 'tagging a blog' is, don't you?) So, there's the pun.
Which reminds me - puns are the easiest to make of all jokes.
Take this one, which only works in print:
There are only 10 types of people in the world: those who can read binary, and those who can't.
Guffaw, guffaw, guffaw!! Do you get it? If not, just post a comment with your email address or any other way I can reach you and I'll tell you where the pun is.
That's all I've to say, this morning.
P.S. I am not going to chase that guy friend. He might misinterpret and think that I'm ready to start, which I'm not.
~Seraphine Chorister~ sang in The Butterfly Garden
[9:40 AM]
Friday, July 28, 2006: Thank GOODNESS it's Friday!!
Regarding my earlier post on 27 July... "Chibichibi-neko" has returned "Xiaomao" her lesson, period. I'm so happy for "Xiaomao". Enmity forgiven, Chibi.
And now... presenting ~~~ a chronological narration of the day's events!!
Chinese came first - a refreshing change. Usually we don't get to have Mother Tongue lessons until after the first period. Our teacher read us this story - she's taken to that in the hopes that we'll pay attention. If you've noticed, many Chinese use English instead of Chinese to communicate with each other, unlike the other races. Look, please do not interpret this wrongly - it's just an observation! To be frank, even I myself am like that.
The story is as follows:
A and B (I forgot the names, sorry) are trekkers. One day, while climbing a mountain, A accidentally slips from the mountain road and dangles on its edge, but is saved by B. A carves the following words into a huge rock on the mountain: On (this date), A has saved my life.
A few days later, A and B argue over a small issue, but the argument becomes so heated that B slaps A in the face. A runs to the nearby beach and writes, in the sand: On (this date), A slapped me in the face.
When the trekkers return home, B admits to A that he has not understood what A means by carving the good and bad experiences into rock and sand respectively. A replies, "By carving in rock a testament to the fact that you saved me, I have ensured that this will stay recorded in history for eternity, and thus, I will remember. Likewise, my writing into sand that you hit me leaves a temporary record that is erased when the waves wash over the beach."
. : To live happily, one must remember the good and not pursue the bad.
What a meaningful story!
Then - Geography. Not much to say.
After which came - Music. *sigh* I wish to try out old chords, not do single-note melodies. But the school's programme is built to cover the basics in guitar music, and I personally know how to do chords. Boy, B minor is difficult. I was trying to play an accompaniment for "Think of Me" from Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical The Phantom of the Opera (while supposed to be playing single-note melodies for "Sur le Pont d'Avignon" and another piece), but I can never do the progressions in time. The chord sequence is two times of Dmaj, Amaj, Gmaj and Amaj, followed by 3 bars of Bminor, Eminor, then Dmaj, Bminor, 2x Eminor, 2x Amaj, and as much of Dmaj as you want at the end. Complicated, isn't it??
Next in sequence was - community singing. Oh goodness... beauty doesn't count here, it's strength in numbers. Choir singing is so aethereally (actually it should be ethereally, but I don't want to have you confused - there are two kinds of "ether", one being the classical element Aether and the other, a chemical) beautiful, while this was quantitative and not qualitative strength. Grr... Theresa's right, we the choristers should lead...
After recess came - Maths. Not much to say.
Then - Chinese again. I personally don't mind, but my next-table partner does. Not much to say, pretty much a normal lesson.
Assembly time meant having to listen to the Head Prefect Nominees' cmapaign speeches. Who'm I rooting for? The most obvious would be "PWN-er" **, but will I choose her? I don't know. For me, I'm torn between her and the Badminton Prefect. But most definitely not the 3Z-ian. She made a remark about "PWN-er" ** that I seriously take to heart - as if she was nothing more than a (I'd insert the word if I weren't afraid to give her away). She's far more than that, most definitely. The Badminton Prefect was impressive to me too. Don't give me uniformed groups, ever. Such shouting... *oh, my voice*
** name changed to protect... everything.
Then - CHOIR PRACTICE!! The best part of any day!! Finally, we had sectional practices again. I so love them!! It's not a sterile thing between you and the Director here, but a whole lot of fun and a really relaxed atmosphere that you get at sectionals. Teaching the Sec 1s to do the dance for the medley entitled "Big Girls Don't Cry" was fun, though my protégée didn't find it half so... But I remember being just as stiff and un-easy when I was learning. Now it's second nature to me, so much so that when the leaders announced that we wouldn't be dancing at the auditions for the song, I was one of those who uttered my disagreement. But it'll be better for the Sec 1s because they're not too familiar with the dance and will need loosening up. OK... I can live with it. Nanditha's auditioning with me. Now to look for an Alto to join us. Hmm...
Oh, and before I go, good luck to us, Nanditha... And Happy Birthday, Arthi, from your former S2 junior buddy.
~Seraphine Chorister~ sang in The Butterfly Garden
[6:14 PM]
Thursday, July 27, 2006: My Profile
My profile is here. If anyone tells you that it's somewhere else, they're wrong.
Je/ J' (I...)
...m'appelle (am called) : Penelope
--> ça veut dire (that means... [EXCLUDE "JE"]) : the Weaver
...suis née (was born) : 29 May 1992
--> alors (so) : I'm an Emerald Gemini (birthstone for May is Emerald). My dipolarity shows easily, but I do try to keep it in check.
...suis (am [but can also mean "I follow" if used in another context]) : Cedarian Chorister of 2Purity 2006
...étais (was) : PeiChunian Chorister of 4J '02, 5/6A '03/'04
...voudrais être (wish to be) : Choirgirl... eternally - must work my standard up as high as possible!! , Master of the French Language... as long as I live, good student... depends on certain factors, Bestselling Writer... circumstances have to be right.
...aime (love) : Singing above all! Then comes drama [as in starring in it], reading, and ranking third, making my own personalised study notes.
...hais (hate [this word is pronounced with a hard "h" unlike that in such words as "haut"]) : not being put where my talent can shine. I can act, you know, in addition to singing.
...vous dis (say to you) : ...that I live only to sing. Singing is my sustenence. I recited the lyrics of "Salut de la veille des O" while running my NAPFA 2.4km run. When I started reciting, I was out of breath. I finished fourth in class at 14:10 - girls' A standard. Woohoo!!
I also say to you that if I've linked you, it means that you rock.
And if I should behave badly, please don't hesitate to tell me (though not loudly of course!). I will listen and try to change.
Thank you all for taking the time to read. Have a nice day navigating.
~Seraphine Chorister~ sang in The Butterfly Garden
[7:00 PM]
Please pardon me. The title's in French, and means "Yesterday and Today".
Whenever I have a phrase in Chinese or French, I'll provide a translation, unless that phrase has the translation beside it already.
I shall discuss today first. Today was one of the WORST Thursdays I've ever had!!
1. Regarding teachers and tests.
Here's a little poem to parallel the situation...
~Cat Conundrum (but not so, really)~
Three cats were neighbours:
Chibichibi-neko, Xiaomao and Mr. Chat.*
The name of that last, though unbelievable,
is pronounced Mister SHAH.
Each was fed just once a day
with a silver pomfret fine
but Chibi called on Xiaomao one day
and asked in her manner refined:
"My dear Xiaomao, I'll need another fish
to tide me o'er tomorrow;
my owner's out, and the day'll be longish,
so, please, can I borrow?"
"Not a problem in the least," said our dear Xiaomao.
"Wait here whilst I get it now."
"Arigato!" smiled Chibi in glee
and waited ever so happily
which wasn't long, to say the least.
"Arigato! *purr, purr* " and with that and the fish, she did flee.
But soon Xiaomao's stomach began to growl
and on her neighbour Mr Chat she soon called.
"I'll return it to you tomorrow, that I promise," said she.
"What about your meal tomorrow?" demanded he.
"Well, how'll you cope?"
"Oh, I hope
that there'll be something edible in the bins..."
"Yes, right within."
"So we're agreed?"
They were indeed.
***
The next night, Xiaomao starved -
nothing was there to dredge.
It had all been taken by some other creature
living on the edge.
And Chibi?
In her home, she reposed smugly
polishing up the fish bones cleanly,
purring to herself, "What a genius is me!!"
* (Japanese for little little cat, Chinese pinyin for little cat and French for Mr. Cat respectively)
I like all the three 'cats' in my poem, but the system of exchange was completely wrong - in fact, it completely robs the teacher represented by "Xiaomao" of one period. Yes, the so-called "fish" are lesson periods. And "Xiaomao" happens to be a teacher whom I really like - she's my favourite teacher this year. All my other favourites rank at a close second.
One more thing... dear Chibichibi-neko, RETURN XIAOMAO HER FISH!!!
Tests... There was a slew of four today. I know, I know! School regulations dictate that there can't be more than three in a week, but I've had four school tests this week (one was postponed due to Choral Excellence. Miss you, Choir 1!!). First, in the third period: Maths. Mensuration, quadratic graphs and Pythagoras' Theorem. Yeah... I finished, unlike some people who asked me about it later. Don't get me wrong, I'm not calling them stupid.
Next... English comprehension!! Gaah!! What's with Tibet?? Why's the theme for this one Treks in Tibet?? I was very disturbed by the passages! Oh my goodness... the part about that devotional phrase turing into "oh, mommy, take me home" was so funny that I would've been rolling on the floor laughing had there been enough room. By the way, I can't remember where this came from, the compre passage. It did cite its sources, but I can't remember this one. Sorry!! :(
Then... Chinese MCQ fill-in-the-blanks cum summary!! The fill-in-the-blanks part wasn't really that difficult, but the summary is my main concern!! I hope I got all the points... and since I'm going to go crazy if I harp on this, I'm going to move on.
Final test... French!! OK as usual. Predicted score: 13+ over 15. [Go class champ!! Haha, that was me, the last semester.]
2. The rest of the day.
Not much to say here...
And now, the neglected Yesterday... but there's not all that much but one incident to write about. It happened during choir practice.
I was pretending to have a tuning fork (doing a V sign turned my index and middle fingers into its prongs) with me - somehow I felt that we were out of pitch. Rachel and Suba tried to imitate. And guess what? Rachel's fingers really work like a tuning fork! The pitch was also really similar to 440-Hertz A (a.k.a. the A note above Middle C)!! I was stunned, shocked and who knows what else - petrified? Hahaha... But seriously, who types April Fool jokes at this time of year? It's July already, hello, Leo's in the sky astrologically, and Cancer, astronomically.
My fingers didn't work, and neither did Suba's.
Ok, that's all I have to blog about. See you all around soon.
~Seraphine Chorister~ sang in The Butterfly Garden
[5:35 PM]
Wednesday, July 26, 2006: Yes! It worked! Woohoo!!
Yes. I just logged out and back in successfully!! Whoot whoot whoot!! Ok, allow me to copy and paste my old post on my 'miscarried' blog - I logged out of it and the next thing I knew, I couldn't sign in.
Here goes:
[title] Yes, it may be a bit late now, but... still want to say... [end of title]
I've been to a few blogs by participants in the recent Choral Festival X, here in Singapore... And many of them say that they missed the Choral Fest!! Well, so did I! Wish I could've ranted about it before now, nobody's been talking about it at school and... *sob* I miss it! I really do!! I was a Chor1ster i.e. from Choir 1. It was fantastic... *side note to all Chor1sters* From Wikipedia, here's the meaning of our piece, "Salut de la Veille des O":
O salutaris hostia = O saving victim
Quae caeli pandis ostium = Open wide Heaven's gates to men below
Bella premunt hostilia = our foes press on from every side
Da robur = Thy strength bestow
Fer auxilium = thine aid supply
In case you're wondering why the words don't match up with Wikipedia's entry, I know a bit of Latin, because my dictionary has all the etymologies of words. "Hostia" means "victim", "caelum" means "Heaven" [meaning that "caeli" could be a derivative] , "hostilia" here means "enemies", "robur" means "strength", "fer" means "bring" and "auxilium", "help". Because of this knowledge of a few words, I split the first line of the English translation (according to Wikipedia) into "O saving Victim" and "open wide".
Yeah.I so miss Choir 1, Mrs Wilson and her alumni!! This little poem's dedicated to all of you who made it so excellent:
~On being a Chor1ster~
That was the time for which I long
My seniors too, the attachment was strong
Friendship and the Saving Victim
The songs we sang, about it and Him
Without an oar, I still can row
But not leave friends without letting tears flow
O Saving Victim, please give me strength
To last this time of trials so
Away from friends with whom we did bond
Far more permanent than dew on a lily frond
With Mrs Wilson and gang, we couldn’t go wrong
Where singing’s concerned, they made us more strong
Such is the time to which I yearn
(If it even is possible) to return
Give me wings that I may return
Let me hop on the "A" Train, that I may return...
[Chor1sters rock!! Rock on!!]
~Seraphine Chorister~ sang in The Butterfly Garden
[9:15 PM]
Hi. Just want to test my posting. The last time I posted on my own blog, I was locked out when I logged out.
~Seraphine Chorister~ sang in The Butterfly Garden
[9:12 PM]
