Random thoughts from the SBR (in rough chronological order)

Not supposed to blog, but gotta jot these down!

***

7.30am "Gosh. So many people! Crazy Singaporeans"

"The starting line is packed. Hey people, gun's started. Time to RUN! Not take a morning stroll down Shenton Way!"

"Oh gosh.. look at Lara go. She's so fast!"

"And R's off too. Just M and I now"

(Turning into ECP ramp) "Damn.. shoelace is undone.. gotta take a break. Oh no! I'm going to lose M"

"Man... its hard working dodging these walkers. Better speed up when I see a break"

"Gotta put the practice of pounding up and down the Ridge to good use!" (cue accelerating up ramp to ECP)

(smug) "Phew.. that was hard. Back to shuffling. The sun's in my face now. Thank goodness I brought a cap and applied sunblock"

"I wonder where M is.. never mind! Now I've lost her I can shuffle along at me own pace (whee!)"

"Ugh... 10km stanchart run? I can't do it man!"

"Ok.. up Sheares Bridge now.. accelerate!! Wow.. I'm overtaking them army boys! Yay!"

(Top of Bridge) "Cannot.... take... it... gotta stop. Feel like peeing. Never mind.. make it look like I'm appreciating the fine scenery of Esplanade and Shenton Way"

(Two lamposts later): "Ok... back to running. What's wrong with the shuffle? Why am I running to Phil Collins and Joshua Kadison??!?!?"

"Wow.. that girl doesn't look it.. but can she run. I gotta try to catch up"

(3km mark) "ALREADY? Hey.. I feel better at this 3km mark than the 2.5km mark at the PAssion Run. Chee Cheong Fun breakfast power!"

"Maybe I can take the stairs down from Bridge and take a shortcut"

(Down Rochor Exit to Suntec) "How about stopping? Ok.. you can stop when you reach the tenth lampost from here"

(On reaching ten lampost): "Hahaha.. fooled you! No stopping! If that girl isn't stopping you can't either! Don't be a wuss! And how why the slow songs still! Where is the Chemical Brothers?"

"No shortcuts! All blocked by NS boys! Damn!"

"Hmm.. maybe I can distract myself from the pain by counting the number of spokes on the Singapore Flyer" *start counting, loses count at 15 and start again. Abandon attempt after two tries*

"Ooo 250m to go! Time to start accelerating again! Why are people still walking?!?!?"

"I can't walk to the finish line!" *starts sprinting and walker-dodging and ends completely shattered"

"YAY" *Runs mental victory lap around the National Stadium*

*Gasp*"Wateeeer".

Won't be blogging or anything for the coming weeks.

Am trying to put an end to this beast. I am tired. It is tired. The inevitable can no longer be delayed.

Will twitter.

Saving ourselves via youtube -

I don't think my readership is high up, but here is a message (from R).

*******************

We're asking for your help in a unique online experiment that we hope will raise awareness of environmental damage in a new and effective way.



In an opinion article that will appear in the September issue of The Scientist magazine, we propose that posting videos on YouTube could be one of the most effective ways of showcasing just how much environmental damage is being caused worldwide. To test this idea, we and The Scientist magazine are proposing a crowd sourcing experiment. We're calling on scientists around the globe to post one or more short video clips on a specially created YouTube channel that documents the effects of environmental damage in their local area. For instance, if there is species and habitat loss, regional effects of climate change, or environmentally-unfriendly activities that people continue to commit despite repeated warnings, post a video of this on the channel. If you have posted this type of video elsewhere on YouTube please link their video to this channel, so that this creates a centralized source of evidence for the global impact of environmental damage. If you don't have videos, but have pictures on Flickr, then post the relevant links in the discussion pages.

As you are all too aware, the public at large is still unaware of the extent of the planet's environmental problems, and government policy makers are still refusing to commit to measures that would help create real change. With your help, we hope that a network of local videos and images will combine to create a compelling snapshot of environmental effects worldwide. So please do take part in this crowdsourcing experiment, and help us pass the message on through emails, blogs, and word-of-mouth -- the more videos posted, the more the public can learn about the problems at hand, and the more that governments will find it difficult to ignore the need to act any longer.

I think I'm losing interest in this running thing. Last week wasn't so good. I only ran up and down the ridge 1.5 times (~3km) before being overcome by a great urge to sleep. Two days later, I was up on the ridge determined to run 2x up and down to make up for being mentally slack the previous time. But I only managed 1x.

I don't know. I wasn't exhausted when I stopped. I just felt mentally incapable of coping with the prospect of the undulating slopes along Kent Ridge Road.

I'll try again tonight.

Failed attempt at 'girliness'
Originally uploaded by 我爱九层糕

I'm not a very 'girly' girl. I don't wear dangly earrings, oh wait. I don't really bother with ear rings/studs at all even though I've got my them pierced 10 years ago. I 'm not into accessories even though I'm beginning to understand why some girls wear necklaces, beads and assorted shiny stuff around their necks and arms.

I think accessories are probably a good idea, but I don't even know how to shop for them. I try to, but it appears they all look the same to me, only different. Also, they are so expensive! All these little rings, bangles, necklaces add up to alot of money! Actually the same can be said for most female fashion right? Same same only different. Same cut different frills or whatever. As the picture above will testify, the only accessories that are different enough for me to notice are obiang. Suffice to say, I may be a boffin, but when it comes down to 'tasteful' decorations, I have no effing clue. I avoid sales because I don't like to rummage through bargain bins and there's always too many people and everyone is jostling for space as if they are tribal people laying claims on a disputed water source.

I'm saying all these, but I'm making progress! A few months back mob told M and I about a private sale and having never been to one of these things before we went to check it out and saw for the first time sales counters with a veritable wall of female bodies grabbing lotions, make-up, moisturisers and what not. All branded, all ridiculously cheap. That was an eye-opener. Being noobs, we didn't even make it to the front line. I think we managed to grab random boxes of product only by reaching out for them between people, and found out that they were green or purple mascara and put them back again. Or whitening products, which we didn't need.

Today brings another new experience. I went shoe shopping (with R) and bought two- TWO! pairs of shoes! Well.. they are really boring, one black and one white because I don't even own footwear in these basic colours. However, I'm really pleased because the two pairs of shoes I bought were severely marked down. From 123 to 30 for one pair and 159 to 50 for the other. BARGAIN! Well.. I guess I'm more 'auntie' than 'girly' because I love a good deal. In fact I managed to bag the same shoes I had my eyes on last week when they were marked down 50%. In case you guys are all thinking that its a frivolous purchase, I can only say that I've been wanting a decent pair for a long time but never got around to it cos who knew that half decent shoes are so expensive these days! Thank goodness Applecow told me then that while them shoes were nice, it was still a little expensive so I dropped the idea of purchasing them (I don't even trust my own taste so I try to have people come out with me when I go shopping - I can be a hazard to myself if left shopping on my own. Usually pay through the nose for something very plain, or buy something completely ridiculous) I'm glad I headed back today.

So now I am beginning to see why women go mad during shoe sales. I was hoarding shoes, waited for what seemed like eternity for the sales guy get my shoes from the back room. I tried on shoes of all heights even though I knew that I wasn't going to buy them, and I kept looking around to see if I might have missed any potentials the first time round, like someone else's rejects. In another valient attempt, I rummaged through the sales section and found one dress? top? shirt-dress? in brown/olive. It's quite filmsy so I don't think it's a dress dress. Its knee length though, so it may well be a very long top? I don't know lah. I'll put together something somehow and hope it won't be a 'what was i thinking?!?!?' disaster. I'm completely drained now. I think I have more training to do, but I'm not going to be buying anything in Singapore for the time being. I shall hone my skills after the conference!

heh. Famous last words. These are dangerous times. I'm so glad the sale season will be over soon.

A gazillion years ago

Changi Beach FT
Originally uploaded by island_girl

I accidentally stumbled onto these photos while er.. googling my name on the net! Its on otterman's webphoto directory and I probably have a bunch of other field trip pics there but I forgot these existed!

OMG. This photo was taken ages ago and I remember that Zee and I were arrowed to follow boss and siva down to Changi Beach for a filming session. That's Boss talking to us about the catch. I can't remember the details anymore.

I looked so garang. Now am pasty, puffier and not so outdoorsy looking. Everyone's put on weight! Boss included. :P

Does anyone know where I can find an pan man shoes for a 3 year old boy in Singapore? Wei-en's birthday is coming soon and he has been rather enamoured with Thomas and Anpan-man of late. God knows where he picked this fetish up from, but he's developed a terrific search image for Thomas. It doesn't matter if he exists as a tiny little logo on a shirt or sock, he will spot it and shout 'Thomas train! Thomas train!" all the while pointing to said image. Its all quite cute and makes adults go 'awwwww'. The other day, he saw Thomas' face on an older boy's socks at the supermarket and stopped in his tracks (haha), shouting and pointing 'Thomas train!". The cute little Japanese boy looks about 3 or 4 and must have been quite flattered by the unexpected attention and his Thomas fashion collection for he lifted up his polo shirt to reveal a matching set of Thomas the Tank Engine vest and underpants!!! I think Wei-en probably hyperventilated at this point and made a grab at the boy's underpants(!). Tsk. Boys.

So now mom is asking me if I know where one can purchase legit Thomas underpants and vest in Singapore, not cheap rip-offs. I've bought a shirt off ebay for him as his birthday is coming soon. A pair of an-pan man sandals like what the little boy was wearing would be nice too. Maybe Tohru can help me if there are none in Singapore. I don't go out enough to know most fashionable things, let alone children's fashion.