Entries
Monday, October 30, 2006: Random.
OK, I don't have a lot of time to blog, so here goes...I wonder why I'm so crazy over PhOTO when everyone else is obsessing over Princess Hours aka Goong. I guess it doesn't really have that kind of appeal like Dae Jang Geum (aka Da Chang Jin or Jewel in the Palace) does. I'm crazy over PhOTO so much that I think I could dedicate a whole sketchbook to it.
But then again, PhOTO is Gothic. Its storyline is repulsively captivating. I know that seems like an oxymoron, but that's how I find it. I want to tear myself away, but cannot. I mean, how can any man have the ability to steal a singer's voice, or such a weapon, or that kind of unearthly influence over a student of his?
If you don't know what PhOTO is, forget it. My CCA seniors should know (turns to CCA seniors) because you people sang her that song from the musical in July, remember? Think of it!
(turns back to general crowd of readers) Random statement: If you're a Solar Twin like me, it's best not to have a Rising Scorpion.
Signing off.
~Seraphine Chorister~ sang in The Butterfly Garden
[9:18 AM]
Saturday, October 28, 2006: Purely shoutouts.
Yes, this post is going to be made up of purely shoutouts... But the title's also a pun on the class name - 2Purity.Nobody will be named in this post, although they may be hinted at.
In no particular order...
You! Hey, what happened? I read on (2Puritian's) blog that you got into some kind of trouble... I mean, it's unfortunate that something like that should happen to you, who's good at heart.
And you! I don't really know what to say to you, prefect. Yes, ma'am, I'm not capitalising here, and I leave you to make what you want of it. Nonetheless, all the best to you.
Hey you! Whoa, four years of being classmates, you Prefect! Are we going to break a record, I wonder? Continue to spread your warmth in your signature bumbling way! Not that it's no good, but it makes you cute; that's what's cute about you. All the best!
Yo you! Again, I'm not sure what to say. Good luck in future endeavours!
And now we come to you. For all you've done, I've forgiven, but not forgotten, like David Logan in Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. You owe me what you extorted - emotional health, $10. But let's strike a deal and cut it down to $5. How does that sound?
You! All the best, lab partner!
You, who are the youngest! I believe that there's good in you. I voted you for Prefect Councillor back then, right? All the best to you.
And you! Let's compete with each other and work our way up! Our benchmark-bearers are then and tomorrow. You do understand me, right?
You! I wish I could have gotten to know you better. Good luck to you too!
Hey you! Yeah, cruelty to be kind! But this year's maths rep had it much easier than I, what with (2005 maths teacher's) system of keeping lists! Anyway, it helped. Thank you and all the best!
You! Haha, you expert manga artist! Mind if I ask you for a "Shitman" drawing to remind me of you? Agreed with you, it's cute! Kawaii desu! All the best in future endeavours!
And you! Yeah, you had it far easier than I did, you lucky girl! How's drumming coming along? Better than just OK, I hope! All the best!
You! Another four-year classmate! Don't go to such places again! And I am going to miss you too, even if the rest of 2Purity 2006 fades from memory! Continue to charm the world with your bubbly personality! All the best to you!
You! I can't think of anything unique to say to you; you're just about as bubbly as the one mentioned above. All the best!
I don't really have anything unique for you too, because you're also bubbly. Good luck to you!
Hey you! Four-year classmate, class treasurer! Thank you for your concern on the day of the history exam, and all the countless other times when you were nice to me - I can't thank you enough. All the best!
You! I wish to have gotten to know you better too. Good luck, though.
You! I don't know why you're so crabby around me, but one thing is for certain, I love your good side. But you really shouldn't have taken my costume and given it to (cruel to be kind 2Puritian) that day. Good luck, you crab.
Hello, you! Hey, you're really nice, and I hope to keep in touch with you. Mind sending me that photo of us? Or did you upload it already? Haha. All the best, you jumper!
And you! Someday I'm going to bring food to class (if we even get into the same class) and blatantly chomp on it under your very nose, you Prefect! Just kidding. All the best!
You! Too bad you can't join your bro in VJC. Will he still be there when you become old enough for JC1? And your running is so good that I'm envious. Good luck.
Hey you! I've told you so many times, you have a leaderlike aura; I wonder why you didn't get chosen as a pupil leader. Perhaps you could be a leader of the Dancers? Hope you do! All the best in future endeavours!
You! You're nice. Unlike someone. Sorry for being so forcing that day, but we had to churn out the presentation, right? Yes, had we known that they would be deferring theirs... Grr. I agree, it was unfair. Still, all the best!
And you! You're nice too. If we get into the same class again, please don't sit on my seat again! Haha. All the best to you.
You! Miss Down-to-Earth! All the best, and thanks a lot for helping me through that time!
You! It's OK if you want to stick with someone who won't spoil the image you want to portray, I'm not against that. But you're a nice person to be around. Keep in touch, yes? All the best.
Hello, you, birthday-sharer! Maybe we could exchange greetings on our special day next year? All the best!
And you! What happened, girl? Became complacent? I'm notching you, as much as everyone else is! Good luck to you!
Hey you! Thanks for the tidbits on the last day (2 days ago). I think I forgot to say it in school; this is to make up. Thank you! Wish I could've gotten to know you better, really. All the best!
You! Just like one of those above, I like you for your wacky lameness (when it shows)! Cry no more, OK? Try to be stronger. I think that's what my days as a Puritian have done for me. All the best to you!
Good day, you! Congrats on winning that character award. Continue to be a shining beacon for us all to emulate, and all the best!
Hi, you! Of all the table partners I've had, I think you were the best, along with (2Puritian mentioned at almost the top of the list)! Remember 同感? I love the pun! I'm sure you still do? Then again, you consider puns to be lame. Oh well... Still, all the best!
You! Congrats on getting into Dunman High! That campaign you started about getting people to vote for you to become a Prefect was way out of line, though - you can't possibly return to be one, or split yourself in two and let one half come back to do duties, can you? Good luck to you in all you do. (stomps feet, salutes)
Hello, you! You were a great monitress. Thanks for being one this year. All the best!
You! You were nice. Keep in touch OK? Good luck to you!
And you! I wish I hadn't hurt you then; it hurt my heart even more, although it was just a game! Aside from that, I don't really have a lot to say to you, except for wishing you all the best!
Hey, you! Wow, you wrote notes for the whole class? The one you wrote to me was really heartwarming! Thank you for it! Can we keep in touch? All the best in all you do!
And you! I don't know what to say to you... But you were a great IPW partner along with (2Puritian)! All the best!
Hello, you, stranger of my 2Puritian tenure. You don't have to declare explicitly on your blog that you hate me and (English teacher); we know. And we think we're nice. I thought that working together on the Animal Farm dramatisation would change some things, but it evidently didn't. Goodbye.
And last but certainly not the least, you! Hey, our DNA model absolutely rocked back then, although it was a bit unstable. But it wouldn't have been possible without the epoxy. And I thank you, too, for allowing me into your team as and when it was required. Just for that, though, I can't thank you enough. Here's wishing you all the very best and more in the years to come!
That was for the students. Now for the Puritian teachers...
Special mention to both our Chinese / Form Teachers over the past 2 years! 谢谢你们对我们这么关怀于爱护！我永远不会忘记你们对我们付出的一切！
English Teacher of 2Purity 2006! Sorry I defected to the side of those in 2Purity who hated you. You're really quite nice. The lesson-borrowing incident was a bit messy, though... I won't forget you, though.
Math Teacher of 1Purity 2005! I won't do that again. Next year, I'm going to try to be just like (your most stellar 3Z-ian this year) - stellar! Wish me luck! And thanks for helping the Choir open the practice venue! You rock!
Math Teacher of 2Purity 2006, 1st semester! Will you even be here to see this? I think the reason why my Math grade is so high this year is because of you and your teaching in the 1st semester. But I'll never have the talent possessed by (that alumna of yours). All the best to you! You rocked too!
Math Teacher of 2Purity 2006, 2nd semester! You're also great. That particular Probability lesson rocked! Please make more of your lessons as interesting as that!
Science Teachers over the past two years! Thank you both for grounding me in Science! I know what sciences I'm going to take. The decision wasn't made based on who was teaching mostly what kind of content, it was based on my interest. Please don't take any offence against me for my choice.
Geography Teacher 2005, most of the semester! You were great! How're you doing now? Hope you're doing fine! All the best!
Geography Teacher 2005, last part of the semester! Thank you. I'm not sure how else to put it, but thank you.
Geography Teacher 2006! You were great too, and much better than the teacher mentioned in the above shoutout! Class was never boring with you around! Thank you!
History Teacher 2005! You were a great teacher. How're you doing in Xinmin Sec? Hope to be able to see you again. Maybe I should drop by. Hmm... No, please return if you can! Still missing you here! All the best in all you do!
History Teacher 2006! You were also great, and I thank you for it. 2006 was the year in which I finally understood how to answer some of the questions, and I think I might owe part of that success to you. Thank you!
Literature Teacher 2005, 1st semester! Sometimes I still wonder why we had to change teachers back then when you were already quite a good one! How're you doing now? You're now in the public sector, if I'm not wrong. How're you doing? Hope you're fine.
Literature Teacher 2006, 1st semester! What can I say? Thank you for guiding us through Animal Farm. How're you faring in the public sector?
Literature Teacher, 2nd semesters of 2005 and 2006! You had the greatest hand in bringing us up where Literature was concerned. Unfortunately it still seems that I haven't grasped the answering technique like I have for History. In spite of that, I still think you're great. And can I have a cotton plant like 2I's, pretty please? Haha, just kidding. Rock on!
D&T Teacher 1! Sir, I don't have a lot to say, sir! But I wish you all the best, sir!
D&T Teacher 2! It's sad that you'll have to leave, after all those times when we talked together. I won't really be remembering you as a D&T teacher, but more as one who cared for me as much as the Chinese / Form teachers. And do you know why I gave you a stone / paperweight? Well, it's because... I think I'll explain to you in an email, not here.
Home Econs Teacher 1! How're you faring now? I hope you're doing fine. All the best in all you do!
Home Econs Teacher 2! You seem to be the strictest, but I know this is for our good. Yeah, my group deserved what we got. Thank you for giving us that chance.
Home Econs Teacher 3! It was nice knowing you and having you as our teacher. And thanks for the offer of the crabmeat-spread sushi, but I didn't accept, and I don't think I would if I had the chance to go back in time. Enjoy the remaining duration of your stay here at Cedar, OK?
Home Econs Teacher 4! I'm afraid I don't have a lot to say to you, except for two words from the bottom of my heart: thank you!
Art Teacher (main)! Your sense of humour rocks! Others may see it as being lame, but I don't. Your statement that "you point the cutter to yourself, not careful ah, Kamikaze!" was one that really cracked me up, although I know you were trying to drive home a point. It worked. It really did.
Art Teacher (relief)! I wonder where you are now, and how you're doing. All the best! You were a good teacher while you were around.
And that concludes the shoutouts to the teachers.
Allow me to break my no-names rule here, please...
Birthday Shoutout: Jaslyn! Happy Birthday, PCPS PSLE Top Girl of 2004! All the best!
Signing off here.
~Seraphine Chorister~ sang in The Butterfly Garden
[12:12 PM]
Friday, October 27, 2006: Hier - un jour aux miracles
The title means "Yesterday - a day of miracles".But why was it such a wonderful day?
Before that, let me introduce my favourite songs at the moment...
In no particular order...
1. Salut de la veille des O (Choral Excellence / Festival!)
2. When You Believe from The Prince of Egypt (especially the Hebrew part)
3. Bring Me to Life by Evanescence
Only songs 2 and 3, however, will feature in today's entry.
Remember I said that I was down with something the past few days? It's subsiding. But, better yet, my voice was better in the doctor's waiting room yesterday morning. The doc prescribed me some medication, and soon it'll be time for my next dose. It's helping. Soon, my voice will be restored to normal and...
I will sing to the Lord, for He has triumphed gloriously.
Sorry, people, I can't quote the Bible (if that's where this line came from) - I haven't studied it before.
After the visit to the doctor, I returned to school only to find that I'd packed my rag in for nothing - the wiping part was already done. Anyway, I played games with my 2I friends until 12.50 (with a break somewhere in the middle because my class had only arranged tables and not put in chairs, so I helped out here).
12.50 was when the results would finally be in our hands. When our dearest Chinese / form teacher gave out the report books, tension was mounting within me. Would the nightmare come true? It would be my very worst, one that would never go away when I woke up.
Thankfully, it didn't.
I was so filled with joy that I sang the Hebrew line from When You Believe that means "I will sing to the Lord, for He has triumphed gloriously", and then did a running jump.
Wake me up inside,
wake me up inside;
call my name and save me from the dark!
Thank you, o Lord, for calling my name.
Bid my blood to run
before I come undone;
save me from the nothing I've become!
Now, it is my turn to save myself from becoming almost nothing, and rise above.
Then, I headed down to the MOELC with my three former French classmates (the eventual level champ still was my classmate this year). Thanks, Dad, for the lift! And for granting them permission too!
We couldn't play pétanque as I'd wanted because of the rain. It's fun; I know because I played it in Sec 1 as a post-exam activity (at the Language Centre). It's usually played on fields. Every team has their own silvery metal balls (marked with lines to differentiate them). The aim is to throw them as near as possible to this small ball that is placed on the field, called a couchonnet. The team whose representative throw closest to the couchonnet wins the round. It goes on for as many rounds as you want to set.
When Theresa and I joined our French class, we were told that our teacher was tied up (figuratively), so the teacher, whom our rightful teacher had diverted us to, let us watch a film called Joyeux Nöel, or Merry Christmas. The film was long. Also, the weather was cool, calm, soothing...
I succumbed, falling into a half-sleep for most of the first part of the film, and waking up just in time to witness the miracle to which the film was dedicated. All the soldiers were fraternising with each other in revelry and festivities on Christmas Eve, and working together to bury their dead on Christmas Day itself - a wonder of wonders.
It was based on a real story; that was Christmas of 1914. Yes, smack in the midst of World War I.
I didn't pray for what I'm going to touch on next; it was more of a surprise.
He actually said it. I feel the same way too. But when will our eyes meet again so that they can dance to the melody?
Will the plan come to fruition? I hope it does, and for the first time in x months, we will meet again.
Random shoutout: Elizabeth aka Cousin Lizzie! You haven't tagged me yet, you playful puppy! How was the PSLE? Tell us your results when you get them, OK?
Medication time... See you around!
~Seraphine Chorister~ sang in The Butterfly Garden
[8:35 AM]
Wednesday, October 25, 2006: "That was ingenious!"
*ahem* That was a self-quote. I think I'll start to begin posts with self-quotes whenever I can to remind myself of an especially memorable event that happened during the day. I'm not explaining this one; it's only for those who were there at that time to understand.I asked to be let out of Choir practice early today because my throat's still sore. Pardon me if I'm silent tomorrow; I don't wish to hurt it further, unless I can't convey my ideas through any other means.
Because Mr. Sagittarius was at the PC, I turned to the other keyboard in the house. *nods* Yes, people, we have a piano.
I played Für Elise, but for some reason I can't get the original version to sound right in terms of rhythm. So I switched to my transposed version, which is in D minor, and was able to play in time. (Pieces written in A minor can, with a fair amount of ease, be transposed to D minor, and the same goes for pieces in D minor.) Then I attempted to transpose it to C sharp minor a.k.a. D flat minor (the two are the same, but there are different key signatures, one with sharps and one with flats, and so the key signature is read off accordingly), but the tune somehow jarred. The transposition is fine, as a subsequent check (that I did) showed, but it still jars. Beethoven must have played this piece in every single key before deciding that A minor was the best, I think.
C sharp minor is the ideal key for Fly Me to the Moon, and nothing else. (Admittedly, I haven't been exposed to many musical pieces.) In fact, the C sharp minor version is a choral version. It's just as nice when played on the piano, or even nicer with my accompaniment to the melody. The end result is very simple (given the fact that my maximum grade is only around ABRSM Grade 2; I didn't take ABRSM exams), but somehow, I find it magical. I cannot write a score for it; it's more of an aural-kinaesthetic feeling. The ritards. and the accompaniment can be varied according to mood, but my version is fixed. And it beats - hands down - all the MIDI versions of Fly Me to the Moon that you can find on the Internet. I know, it was originally a jazz piece, but the choral version is far, far better. This is just my opinion, though.
If anyone wants to listen to me playing my version of the piece, just say the word, and make sure we're near a piano. And I will only play for people whom I trust.
(switch languages) Et j'ai bu du miel, et c'était bon !!
(switch languages) Linkless tag replies:
junipher: Hey are you from PCPS 6A 2004? Do you blog too? For some strange reason, most 6A-ians never leave their links! Please do so if you happen to visit again!
avery: I must be blind; I didn't! Sorry.
Signing off. (Notice the spelling accuracy?) And, simultaneously, I'm trying to summon the Melody of my Soul.
~Seraphine Chorister~ sang in The Butterfly Garden
[6:51 PM]
Monday, October 23, 2006: Happy Birthday Ophanimon!!
And may you have many more happy ones to come; may all your wishes come true. If any involve me, just tell me and I'll do my best to fulfil them. Oh, and do enjoy the treat you tasked me to make.I'm down with something involving a fever, and a sore upper palate and throat. I can't find the remedy that I want to have. I'm sure that it can help, but I can't try. I hope it doesn't last until Wednesday though. I'd hate for it to interfere with anything.
To all my Hindu friends, a belated Happy Deepavali; to all my Muslim friends, an early Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri!
P.S. Emulation is more than just once. And Mr. Sagittarius, you really are getting out of hand; I won't be surprised if you ruin Ophanimon's big day today.
~Seraphine Chorister~ sang in The Butterfly Garden
[9:32 AM]
Thursday, October 19, 2006: Rien ne marche. (Nothing works.)
Or perhaps it's my perception.
Class was noisy and rowdy as usual today. Sometimes, I wish my soul was capable of astral projection. Then I could step out of the class and none would notice that I was gone, and then I could be with whomever I wanted, for a few minutes. I need to be with those whom I can really call my friends.
I need an escape, from the noise, from it all. All but Choir, of course.
Shoutout: to the one whose message contained the misspelt words "je t'aim"! Even though I'm not ready, frankly, so do I.
I only realised it today at recess.
~Seraphine Chorister~ sang in The Butterfly Garden
[7:41 PM]
Wednesday, October 18, 2006: Love.
Haha... You might say that I'm doing the Sec 3 essay, but in a less academically-styled form. Yes, "Love." was their wildcard (or rather, single-word / single-line) question.I'll be separating the "love" part of the entry from the rest of it with asterisks.
Nothing much happened in the morning and early afternoon, save for the fact that the Level Heads mentioned today that there would only be SS/Geography available for those who were opting for Triple Science. I may not be picking it, but I feel that it's unfair; what about those who want SS/History or SS/Literature? I have a sneaky suspicion that they're trying to create the closest possible thing to a Pure Sciences stream and are trying to impose it on all who will be opting for Triple Science. Indignation in the highest!
Choir practice resumed today... I found it weird, though, to see most of the seniors leaving. My mind raced back to that scene... Elizabeth telling Steffi something...
It had had something to do with that. I won't elaborate further. (All the best, Sec 3s!)
The conductor wanted us to do sectionals after starting off, shortly after warm-ups, with the newer Chinese piece. The First Sopranos were leaderless; Liz wasn't around because of the reason that is hinted at in the above paragraph, and the twins weren't either because they had signed up for the Dreams+Teams camp. So... there went our Sop 1 SL and our Senior RP (Junior, had Xuemin stayed). And guess who was their leader? Yun Min decided to take over. Initially, however, the Sec 1s were mooting for me! But I refused; I hadn't been sure that I could get the sixteenth-notes right. Teaching the wrong thing would be... well... wrong, embarassing... whatever. Later on, however, when the sectional was in progress, I saw that their faith in me wasn't really all that blind.
Thanks a lot, Sec 1s! In that moment, a ray of warm hope touched my heart. Thank you all for it, really. I treasure every bit of friendship that I get, because of my "frostbite". Thank you, Sharanya, Jia Xuan, Charis and all of you!! I'm really blessed to have such juniors as you. Hope we can bring the choir to greater heights together!
***
... and the nights were the heat of yearning.
They truly were. When I returned for Choir today, though, that fiery feeling was slowly reduced to a small flame. I felt none of the desire for it that I had felt these past few nights. Agreed with Nicole Tan, it does get draining after a while. I still love it, though.
Oxytocin. That's what brings two people closer. They love each other, even though it's not because of burning passion. The examples of this abound, but people cannot feel the love sometimes; the romantic form of love has most probably been over-emphasised. What I felt in the practice venues today was not a blazing fire in my heart, but warm, gentle Oxytocin-Love.
***
So we finished the piece (albeit jerkily) and returned to the main practice venue where the conductor ended with a final run-through of the Chinese piece, followed by one round each of our Aboriginal piece and You Raise Me Up. A nice conclusion, don't you think?
In short, today was special.
Once more, thank you, Sec 1s! Thank you all for your vote of confidence, for your faith and hope in me.
~Seraphine Chorister~ sang in The Butterfly Garden
[8:36 PM]
Tuesday, October 17, 2006: Disillusioned.
EYEs 2006 HATE.Studying didn't really get me anywhere because I was too stressed up during the actual exams themselves.
EYE grades:
English - A1. (duh...)
Higher Chinese - B4, an improvement over last year's C6 that landed me a bout of copying to do.
History - C5. I studied. The omission of my causal was bad enough, and I had to get ten more marks deducted for inadequate support. *groans*
Geography - B3. Another mark and I could've hit A2, but I'm happy. Especially with question 11.
Math - B4. It'll pull me down.
Science - B3. It didn't move a bit.
Literature in English - Borderline-pass C6. What can I say? I wasn't strong in it from the start.
I don't know what the overalls will be like. I'm hoping for the best.
The "best", being that... But all who've read my last few posts will know what I really hope for.
If I don't get it... Tirer sur moi, laisser-moi mourir. (Shoutout: Denyse! This is the worse form of the "tirer sur moi" phrase... message me for the meaning of the whole phrase if you want it OK?)
4B wasn't exactly my most fervent hope. But it would've helped me to spear all my career choices at once. That's right, people, I have my eyes set on a few directions. Three main ones to be exact. They're where my flame of love burns strong.
I think I might want to take a chance and go for a 5-option. If not, then it'll be the one with Pure Geography and the other SS/Humanity that'll help me with one career choice (CC1) of mine. The 5-options will shut the door on that particular career choice, but will prepare me better for two others (CC2 & 4), unless SS/(Humanity that'll aid me on my road to CC1) is available as part of a 5-option. One of the Geography teachers declared that impossible in the Multi-Purpose Hall. I don't care, I'm going to hope for it anyway.
But if I don't get the "best" that I'm hoping for, then CC3 is as good as dead.
I want to keep CC3 alive.
CC3 is my most fervent hope.
Please... please... please... Give me that reassurance and you will see a change in me.
It's not reassurance that I'm a good person; Mrs Han gave me that today. My heart... So it isn't cold at all, but I've been getting chill winds all the time, but there is an exception, and that's when I'm with the CC3-ers.
Please reassure me that I will be able to be with them, one more year, please.
O salutaris hostia... You did save me from my palpitations then, so please... Spare me this fate, or I Thee pray my soul to take. If I am not put back with them next year, please call it time's-up for me, because that's when my spirit will die.
And I shall then be just mechanically doing things, just like a zombie.
Take me away from them without taking my soul away is the worst possible thing that can happen to me, because it won't ensure that my grades won't slip any further. Retention won't work either.
At that point, I shall have died already, and that's why.
~Seraphine Chorister~ sang in The Butterfly Garden
[7:55 PM]
Sunday, October 15, 2006: *frustrated yell*
The Sec 4 seniors who blog have changed their tagboards, except Cherissa, and even then, hers is pretty much dead. Besides, those Sec 4s whose tagboards have changed all have turned 16, and Cherissa hasn't officially done so.*sigh* One less channel of communication.
It makes me feel shut out.
Why is it happening to me?
Everything is transient; you have one thing one moment and the next, it's gone, just like that.
Will I be the only thing that stands, walks, breathes, runs, after the passing of millenia?
If I ever got the chance to be immortal in exchange for my emotions, friendships and relationships, I would rather not take it. I would never take it.
And yet, it seems that those on the other ends don't treasure me.
I might as well just end it all.
Don't ask me how. It's definitely not through dying, that would be silly.
My heart is frosted over, all over again.
Why am I always a vacuum? Can not I give off light, just once?
Frankly, I used to be able to, but then I became a black hole.
I hate being a black hole. I don't want to be a black hole. I want to sing, and heal with my singing.
I can't wait for the Choral Revival.
~Seraphine Chorister~ sang in The Butterfly Garden
[2:49 PM]
Tiara'll be exiting Cedar at the end of the year, and she tried to make people vote for her as a Prefect Councillor. I leave you to make what you want of this.
The haze has returned, and last night the PSI was 116 before I slept. It's just as bad right now. Oh, for the web of links and lines!! Please, stop, I implore! If you were affected, would you not be sad too?
J'ai besoin du miel (I need honey)! It's true.
Is there only one Think of Me MIDI file online? It's not as nice as the choral version. Likewise for the Fly Me to the Moon MIDIs. Choir - mystical, musical, magical, soothing, healing.
Such is choral music. Such is classical music (save for Beethoven's Symphony no. 5, for instance).
I can't wait for the upcoming practice.
Choral revival; Cedar Choristers reunite!
Choir restarts; Cedar Choir, take flight!
Rise and soar, far above all;
Amaze, entrance, enthrall!
My P5 camp cheer is brought to mind by this.
Excellence, excellence,
Something for which we must strive.
Excellence, excellence,
EXCELLENCE for group 5!
I think I won't modify the cheer and publish it here. That's another brain-baby of mine. All my brain-babies are (C) ~Seraphine Chorister~ 2006. Sorry, people!
I didn't expect my compo class teacher to print my essay out and distribute it to the class. That was yesterday. My brain-baby, delivered? Nice. It would be better, though, if the essay I submitted to my Chinese / Form teacher comes out in the upcoming publication.
Need help, need honey, need Choir.
Some say love,
it is a river
that drowns the tender reed,
some say love,
it is a razor
that leaves your soul to bleed;
some say love,
it is a hunger,
an endless, aching need...
I say love,
it is a flower,
and you, its only seed.
Personally though, I'd agree with the third definition. The flower definition is a bit hard to grasp.
Choir - the CCA that's closer to heaven.
You may disagree, but that's my opinion. To each their own.
I can't sing. I need honey, remember? I hate not being able to sing.
I call upon the Melody of my Soul...
~Seraphine Chorister~ sang in The Butterfly Garden
[10:13 AM]
Saturday, October 14, 2006: Mes vœux... (My wishes...)
They are for Mr. Sagittarius to quit irritating me, and for myself to be able to change. My Sign is Mutable, is it not? So, I hope to be able to harness this mutability and change for the better.
On another note...
I just took these quizzes.
Find your Celestial Choir
OK... wow. But this result would suit someone better. It's ORANGE!!
edit at 15/10, 9.50am: If you can't see the full wording of the result, just right-click the image, go to "Properties", select and copy the image URL, then paste it into your browser's URL field and hit Enter... it should come out. I resized the result image because it was pushing the sidebar down.
What is your inner-power (It will be scary how accurate the answers are!)
You are honest. You are worthy of Respect. These are your inner powers. You teach people. to be kind and to never judge or label people by appereace, but by heart. You show people how to be honest and how to love themselves. You can show people what the right choices are in life, but it is up to them to make them.
Take this quiz!
Quizilla
Join
Make A Quiz More Quizzes Grab Code
Yeah, the accuracy is scary.
What Element Power Does Your Soul Behold? (anime pics!!)
Your soul beholds earth. You are steady and happy. You love to be outside and watch the nature around you, you love to play with the animals around and you just cant get enough of it!^^Eyes: green Hair: Brown Attitude: You are happy and content, you couldn't ask for anything more, well except for the stop of distroying forests Animal: deer Mythical creature: pixy
Take this quiz!
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Make A Quiz More Quizzes Grab Code
Oh, wow. Haha. Nice.
What element resides within your soul?(anime pics)
Air- the element of air breathes within your soul. You love the wind rushing through your hair and caressing your skin.
Take this quiz!
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Make A Quiz More Quizzes Grab Code
Breathe, breath, breezy. That's Gemini, all right. Mmm.
you are air, normally you feel better when your down if you go out on a breezy day and sit and relax. sometimes that is the best of times to do that. normally you're hyper and would acquire a great friendship with a element holder of fire. more than anybody would, you wish you can fly.
Take this http://www.quizilla.com/redirect.php?statsid=20&url=http://www.quizilla.com/makeaquiz.php">Make A Quiz More Quizzes Grab Code
What's with the broken link? And yes, tsubasa o kudasai!!!
And I'm trying to create my skin image, but I doubt that I'll succeed anytime soon... Anyone knows of a site that could help me?
Think of me,
think of me fondly,
when we've said goodbye.
Remember me
every so often,
promise me you'll try.
On that day, that not so distant day,
when you are far away and free -
If you ever find a moment,
spare a thought for me...
Will I be a beholder to a Gothic tragedy?
~Seraphine Chorister~ sang in The Butterfly Garden
[7:41 PM]
P.S. Don't be scared of any alerts. OK?
Singing off.
~Seraphine Chorister~ sang in The Butterfly Garden
[10:06 AM]
Thursday, October 12, 2006: Is it all in order?
Let me see.One spick-and-span room: check.
Learnt new things: check.
One beautiful choir file that sits waiting to be opened again at our usual practice venue: check.
Being able to play Für Elise and all those pieces that I set my mind to: no check. I've forgotten some of them too. :(
Being infallible: no check. Nobody can be infallible, right? But here I mean being able to prevent mistakes that are within my control from happening.
Nobody is infallible, and so I'm also not infallible. I shall not make myself feel inferior.
I think, over there, I shall just shut up next year. And I'll try not to break this oath. Only through clues, to the weaker students. Otherwise, nothing.
And sleep. I need sleep. I'll just go, right now, to my comfy, comfy, comfy, comfy bed, and go to sleep.
(switch languages) 我需要好好睡一觉。
(switch languages) Je dois bien dormir bien.
(switch languages) And maybe I should just sleep in and not use my phone's alarm. It's irritating, and I think it's going to get me into trouble soon, if it hasn't already.
*yawn* Good morning, people. I'm going to sleep.
~Seraphine Chorister~ sang in The Butterfly Garden
[6:12 AM]
Wednesday, October 11, 2006: Hoping.
Does something seem to be missing?The link to the 'miscarried' predecessor to this blog is gone. I've deleted the predecessor, and am now waiting for Blogger to delete that account, or to release a method that will allow us to delete our own accounts.
The reopening of school will make me feel like a black hole again, but choir... I look forward to it. It'll be so nice, just to reunite against a common hurdle: next year's SYF Central Judging of Choirs for Secondary and Pre-U levels.
Choir... my first love, my lifelong longing, my everlasting romance.
My love for it is not a "Spanish fiesta", but the behind-the-scenes work of a choral festival. And in itself, that is a kind of festivity, in spite of all the hard work.
Speaking of hard work, that's something that Pei Chun doesn't have in its motto, but Kheng Cheng does. (They're my first and second primary schools respectively.)
I still remember why I don't like Pei Chun as much as I like Kheng Cheng.
I can remember that day in January. One of Pei Chun's board members had died in the holidays, and I was a new transfer student, but was made to stand in the sun like the rest and bow to the board member's hearse. I was unable to do it. Firstly, my tolerance level was not that high, and secondly and MORE importantly, I had not known. Nobody had known that I didn't know, or that I was a transfer student.
Besides, have you heard of anyone bowing to a complete stranger?
That was a bitter start.
From then on, my heart was frosted over, although there were some who tried to keep me warm.
I am thankful for the abundance of sunshine in Cedar; it helped to thaw my frozen heart. I might even say that it's melting into a glue that will bond me to Cedar forever.
In 2008, I will become an alumna. Whether I become an Alumna or not will be determined by certain factors. But they seriously need a Choir wing. I'd love to help found it. The current Alumni doesn't seem to have such a wing as yet.
And I hope. (amateurish language switch to Jap) Watashi no kibou... (switch languages to English) ...make it come true.
Random shoutout: Denyse!
I'm sorry. I really am. I had no idea it'd turn out like that. I just want to apologise. If you don't know what I'm talking about, then please message me. Thanks.
Singing off on this note.
P.S. This post was finished at 6am on 12-10-2006.
~Seraphine Chorister~ sang in The Butterfly Garden
[10:47 AM]
Tuesday, October 10, 2006: Believers and Mages
Lately, I've been taking a kind of rude insult from a socially blind Mr. Sagittarius. I'm not calling him socially blind just based on a spontaneous bad event, but also because I've known him to be like that. He's a fan of it-ism (I'm not naming it here).And it's because I don't believe.
What does he take me for anyway? A rudderless ship?
I don't believe.
He didn't take this for an answer.
Admittedly though, I do subscribe to a kind of thinking that everything is magical. There's a charm in certain things that makes you attracted to them, while others seem to have this strong repulsive power.
But that's subjective. The magic in question here is making things happen.
I'm a Mage, not a Believer. Not yet. However, the liturgical songs seem to be winning me over a bit. (These are those songs that praise God or Christ or the Virgin Mary, such as Ave Verum Corpus, as well as Verbum Supernum Prodiens and its shorter derivatives, O Salutaris Hostia and Salut de la Veille des O [sung at Choral Fest X '06!!]).
Mages toil, and work with their hands. That's what I've been doing lately for (hopefully) A1 grades in the EYEs.
Where Mages are concerned, the power is within them.
Some other people are convinced that the higher powers they believe in will help them along the way, and here I'll call them Believers. I cannot possibly despise all Believers in general because most of them are nice people, for one.
Where Believers are concerned, the power is their Higher Power, which will guide and protect them.
Another reason why I cannot possibly despise all the Believers is that some of them are Mages too. They're the Believing Mages. And very often, it is the Believing Mages who accomplish the most, with Mages ranking second and pure Believers last.
They sweat and toil, and also have guidance from a Higher Power.
Hey, I never said these two work at cross-purposes.
HOWEVER, IT IS THE FORCING BELIEVERS AND TAUNTING BELIEVERS WHO ARE EVIL.
I'm not abusing caps here. I hate Mr. Sagittarius because he's a Forcing/Taunting Believer.
What does he do?
Once, Ophanimon signed me up for a prayer session without telling me, and I was fuming on hearing that. I don't believe in it-ism.
Mr. Sagittarius then asked me why. "Are you a 'it-ist' or a Christian?" Deliberate grammar mistake here because 'it-ism' begins with a consonant if I were to use the actual word.
"You are a 'it-ist'," he declares triumphantly, even after I re-iterate my stand that I DON'T BELIEVE.
I can tell you that in it-ism's way of teaching you to be good, the emphasis seems to be on the consequences of your actions. But in the version of one of their books that I read, it's all in relation to jobs that existed long ago, if not related to animals. I'm not bad-mouthing it. It's true. And the consequences are seriously horrid.
Here're some of them:
Example 1:
Ever wondered why you now... ?
This is because, in your past life, you [did something that is not acceptable].
Example 2:
Woe be to those who [do something that is not acceptable],
for they shall be... [tied to spoked wheels in whichever level of Hell it is and be whipped, be reincarnated as a lower form in their next life, etc.]
I don't stink because my soul mishonestly sold incense a few thousand years ago. That's IRRATIONAL THINKING. I stink because of the presence of APOCRINE SWEAT GLANDS. Get that straight, Mr. Sagittarius.
Anyway, you can see from there, that's a job that most don't do anymore, except for those peddlers outside the temples.
I think you can guess what 'it-ism' is already and be 80% correct, if not 100% correct, on the first guess.
And, as you can see, I HATE irrationality.
Mages, Believers and Believing Mages co-exist harmoniously in this world, and I think I should already be part of this community. But Mr. Sagittarius won't be for some time yet; maybe I should open his eyes and let him see the grief and pain. Then again, he doesn't feel connected by that helpless heartstring I feel that's being tugged whenever it's evident that he's gotten himself into a mess and I can do nothing but watch.
For the record, Mr. Sagittarius isn't my boyfriend. He's younger than me by four years.
Regardless, though, of whether you're a Believer or a Mage or a Believing Mage, you only have one life to live. Don't think that you have next lives' time to bumble along and make messes of this life, but rather, live it the best you can.
I'm gonna transform myself, but it won't be evident in the posts here. Back to Mage mode for me. I'm not going on hiatus, I'm (figuratively) going to set myself ablaze.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
And rise again, with renewed youth, from the ashes, a new self ready to take it all on.
~Seraphine Chorister~ sang in The Butterfly Garden
[4:36 AM]
Monday, October 09, 2006: Officially... end of hiatus!
Yes, it's the end of the hiatus. And also... Happy Birthday, Karen!!All of my tags will be deleted, except for a few I find meaningful. Birthday shoutouts will also stay on the tagboard (until I lose them due to an overwhelming number of tags). Now, let's look at MY tags and see what happened during this hiatus...
September 13: One weird thing I did today: Rolling crumbled croquette into sushi (Home Econs).
--> OH THAT! That was the day we were doing Japanese cuisine. We were all tasked to do sushi, with some of us doing croquettes and the others doing the okonomiyaki (hope I got the spelling right!). In the end there was so much sushi rice that my partner and I had left over, as well as some crumbled croquette, so... I rolled it into sushi (with seaweed outside of course)!
September 15: Mrs Foo rocks. Or so I think, after what I witnessed today.
--> Well, there was a Literature dramatisation of Animal Farm (and speaking of dramatisations, to think that I spoke of... forget it, I'm blushing) that was to be included in the CA2 this year, and a group of eight happened not to have done it, so they had '0's staring back at them in the Literature section of the progress report, and so they complained about it to our form teacher. Mrs Foo came in to hear what the situation was about and to give them an extra chance, but she also scolded the members. Nonetheless, I could feel that she cared for them.
September 20: Vous, pourquoi est-ce que c'est vous qui est entré dans notre salle de classe hier? On ne povait pas vous dire de vous en aller. On peut voir que vous êtes un loupe. +
September 25: Vous êtes entré dans notre classe aujourd'hui, M. Loupe. Et je vous hais.
--> Oh, I'd much rather not talk about this here, thank you very much.
September 20: Today... tea brewing was the highlight! But I didn't quite get the procedure of washing down pat. But I learnt in the end. The tea was nice, and so was the 茶叶蛋. And the test went well, really.
--> We went to Tea Chapter for our Learning Journey that day. It's a nice, cosy place, at Neil Road, near Chinatown. (Chinatown in Singapore, OK, not anywhere else in the world.) I learnt a few things about tea: Green tea is NOT oxidised or 'fermented' at all. Beat that! And there are six types of Chinese tea, which, in Chinese, are known as 绿茶, 黄茶, 青茶, 黑茶, 白茶 and 红茶. (NOTE: Though 红茶 translates directly to "red tea", it's actually the English "Black Tea", which in turn translates directly into Chinese as 黑茶. Confusing eh?) The brewing is very elaborate. It's so elaborate that I still can't remember it. Chek Seen, I need another refresher!!
By the way, I don't care for the Japanese version, it's an adaptation of the Chinese one.
And speaking of Japanese and Chinese, the National Geographic magazine once mentioned that the Jap word for 'ant' is made up of the words for 'bug' and 'loyalty'. EXCUSE ME. WITHOUT CHINESE, THE JAPS WOULDN'T HAVE THEIR KANJI ANYWAY.
I didn't abuse caps here. I'm really indignant about it.
And I don't remember what the test was.
September 21: The oral... uh, only the dirt added at the end was my saving grace. I totally forgot my vocab. Brr. Got to brush up.
--> It was the day of the French oral. The dialogue was about "You don't want to go to school. Your parent will try to coax you into going." At first I was just "sassing" as Mildred Taylor put it in her book Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry: "Ain't gonna 'pologize to no nigger! [Lillian Jean Simms] sassed." Really, they were just flimsy excuses like "There're lots of projects at school and they're so difficult!" at first, but then, just in the nick of time, I said, hesitatingly, that the Math teacher was sick in the mind, and the examiner seemed satisfied with that, ending the dialogue with something like, "All right, I'll go and talk to your teacher. But right now, you have to promise me that you'll go to school, OK?"
Really, I consider that 'dirt'. But if not for it, I don't think I'd have been able to get out of it with the examiner showing so much care. Monsieur Gilbert rocks!
September 21: I'm starting to love and live! And all of you, thank you so much for the reciprocative luck messages! It's really heartwarming.
--> Erm, that's between them and me.
September 22: English paper: HARD.
--> Self-explanatory, right?
September 28: Yesterday, Kaho Mizuki showed me her bell. Really, she did. It has given me new hope and courage.
--> I found both main language papers hard this year, and was upset by it. I told Elizabeth about it, and then about a conversation I had heard between two Sec 4 seniors (one of whom was Karen). During this conversation, I had heard the senior who WASN'T Karen say that a failure in English equated to a transfer to the Normal (Academic) stream, and therefore, a transfer out. Liz disproved it. Just a small part of the information: "You'd only be transferred to Express."
Like the bell of Kaho Mizuki or Layla Mckenzie in Cardcaptor Sakura, a second chance, in case I did fail.
September 28: Today... French exam! Facile, sauf... (Easy, but...)
--> Again, self-explanatory.
September 30: Biennale Shoutout: Miho-san! You were a great guide! Arigato gozaimasu!
--> I went with Ophanimon, then-Seraphimon and Mr. Sagittarius to the Biennale tour that started at the new SMU campus (with its Hanging Gardens!) and this Japanese woman (was she an immigrant? Because she said she's been living here with her parents...) was our guide. She was really good in her English pronunciation. It shocked me when I found out that she's a Japanese (Ophanimon had asked me to guess what her nationality was, and my guess had been that she's a Japanese, because of the accent), but I think she was even more shocked than I when, after she revealed that she's Shintoist, I managed to name the kami or Shinto deities of the Sun, the Moon and Storms.
Once more, arigato gozaimasu, Miho-san!
September 30: Turned in a single-sheeter today at writing class. But I'm happy with it. The last double-page essay I turned in at that class has 700+ words in it. DON"T ARGUE. I used school (Cedar) foolscap.
--> Yes, I was satisfied with it. And now that I've recounted the words in that double-page essay submitted the lesson before, I think there're 600+, not 700+. Sorry for the error.
October 1: I am going to be in trouble come July 2007. The then-Sec4s will be leaving and... (switch languages) je serai toute seule, sans d'amies vraies.
--> I am not translating the French section of that tag, you hear me? Or read my blog, for that matter?
October 1: You Jin was her children's "rants box". I'm sure all perents can learn from that, abolish the age-based hierachy and build another one in its place. Old things need improvements, eternally. Everything needs improvement.
--> OOPS. I meant "parents".
Yeah. I'm all for it. I'm going to be a rants box to my children next time.
But if I do marry, it doesn't mean being subservient to the hubby.
By the way, just these few days, someone contributed a very sexist article to the TODAY newspaper about his views on married couples. The emphasis is on "his". Really. He simply told the womenfolk to just accept the traditional, archaic role of good housewife and mother. Indignation in the highest. A married couple are PARTNERS, not MASTER AND SLAVE. The latter mentality has lingered in this world for time immemorial, which is time immemorial too long.
October 3: Diarrhoea! That's the only thing that sullied the day. Thanks to the teachers' grace however, I could do the whole History paper with full time! My causal is so dead. But otherwise, I find that I did pretty fine. And Elizabeth's neighbours finally stopped the drilling! Yay for her and me.
--> Yes, the Sec 2s had History that day, and Liz's neighbours finally stopped drilling! The day before, they were drilling as part of renovation works (as she told me). I'll bet you she joined Sharon that day at the library because of the noise.
October 3: I'm going to enjoy my fantastic fifteenth year of existence. The Sec 3s should be experiencing their sixteenth. I want a digital cam for the culmination of my fifteenth year so as to snap shots of myself with the then-Sec4s. But should I take that or the DELF A2? But back to today, I took the exam in the Family Centre, and the AS2 was nearby... I drew the strength to continue from its presence. It's where the Choir practises, and Choir is my continual romance.
--> I took it there because of my diarrhoea, but I'm much better now, thank you very much. In fact, I was fully recovered the next day, and it hasn't happened again this year (whew!). Choir, my continual romance? Indeed. And I am going to enjoy my fifteenth year of existence, my fourteenth year of age, while it lasts, because by the time I gain my fifteenth year of age, my sixteenth year of existence shall be a void.
October 3: Finality's in the air, and I cannot help but cry inside as I cherish this time. It will be the last. It really will.
--> Yes, it is. Next year, it will be their big year, and I cannot, no longer. To quote a tag that followed this one: "And I bleed inside, where the truth is a blade; and my heart falls, when the truth cruelly rips away my wings of hope; and my heart is empty, where the truth is a flesh-eating parasite."
October 4: Denyse deserves it! She deserves the award all right. In fact she deserves the highest. I'm not saying it because I'm a fan or friend, I'm saying it because it's true. Denyse, laudo te!
--> But, in fact, she deserves "laudo te" everyday, because her character warrants it. Yes, that was a character award, and she doesn't just deserve a Merit award, she deserves the highest.
October 4: Oh, and so does Priscilla. Laudo te!
--> Yes, Priscilla Lee from 2Purity 2006 also got it, as she did last year...
October 4: ... I was lonely today so I typed a poem. ...
--> It was cold and embittering. In fact, here's the poem:
~Piece after Lit~
Finally free,
and as I walk out briskly,
chill wind ruffles my hair,
makes it messy.
Amid fellow green-taggers
at me, no warmth, no staring daggers
feeling trapped with no release…
Where're the bumblebees?
I know
but wish I didn't, though;
they're still in the gloom
of the exam room.
And pay no mind to how hard I mine;
sapphires I will never find.
Icicles form on the trees
on their branches and their leaves.
Snow-covered,
as any other,
the bus comes
and it hums,
while ploughing through snowy dunes,
mocking tunes.
I freeze,
cold-seized,
remaining unseen,
and none will care,
among that sea of green
over there.
[Wrote a piece of Literature myself...]
October 5: Maths. *sigh* P(A1) = 1/38. That is so bad. Hate geometry. But then we'll be taking double maths next year. ...
--> It's true.
October 6: Et seulement deux de plus... mais je voudrais trois de plus. Comme elles!! Oh non, non. Demain, elles passeront Phy et Math Add, et lundi, l'Histoire. Ohh non... Je ne veux plus les passer.
--> That, when translated into English, means, "And only two more... but I'd like three more. Like them!! Oh no, no. Tomorrow, they'll be taking Physics and Additional Math, and Monday, History. Ohh no... I don't want to take them anymore."
October 6: Just one more for all of us! Oh, no, wait. Sec 3 people who're not taking O-level History are done already. I want Combination 4B!! I know my career choices already. 3 in Arts / Aesthetics, 2 in Sciences. I want to be a Healer of sorts.
--> They finished that day, because today was the Sec 3s' History exam. And my ambitious resloution stands.
October 6: Earth Cardinal, I cannot bring myself to do something anymore while keeping a fluffy, happy mood at the same time. It's all lost. Quit trying to push stuff to Ophanimon, we're not in the past anymore. And therefore, because we're no longer in the past, therefore don't force the archaic roles on us. If even a worm will turn, so will a pair of twins. So QUIT IT.
--> Seraphimon changed his name to Earth Cardinal. And I'm talking about the Star Sign here, not the rank of church official. I'm not elaborating on the rest.
October 8: Yippee!! I got permission, and a display of faith in me too! Watch out world... I'm gonna storm the literary!
--> *shakes head* Nope, no elaboration here.
All other self-tags have been skipped over; all other tags have been replied back at their owners' blogs.
And now... presenting... a short version of my profile in the sidebar, a few new links, and a new scroller, all to be added shortly after this post!
Today was the Geography exam, and the last paper of the year. I wanted to walk back home with Elizabeth, but couldn't because, firstly, the Sec 3 History paper ended earlier by 15mins, but this kind of thing can't be helped. Secondly, Mrs Lee wanted to see me. Not that that's bad, though; Mrs Lee is really nice. It was sad (for me) to hear that she's going to be posted away as a school counsellor.
I sang part of "If We Hold On Together" while walking past the primary school opposite our block cluster. And while singing it, I felt as if the 'ghost' of the old campus was singing along with me. My first three years of schooling were spent there, before the old campus was torn down and the new one built in its place. I wonder if Mrs Esther Ong still teaches there? She was the one who taught me this song in Primary 3.5. No kidding, the class was called "Primary 3.5", and it was the best class. Maybe I should find out when their next event is, then pop down and say hi to Mrs Ong. After all, she's the teacher who's most familiar with me because she was the Math teacher in P1 and P2, and the English-cum-Music teacher in Primary 3. I wonder if she'd still call my handwriting "atrocious".
Though Yun Min once told me that my second primary school was the one that gave me my crucial three years, I still love my first primary school better than my second. Those were the days that were not marked by childishly sexist arguments as to which pupil would be first in the exams (girls supporting girls, boys rooting for boys). Heard or read that, Yun Min?
I'm glad to be in an all-girls' school. There's no gender bias, so you can clearly see the good and bad in people.
OK, time to add the new stuff. If any, I'll update again later. See you around ;)
Singing off.
~Seraphine Chorister~ sang in The Butterfly Garden
[1:11 PM]
