Oh Mandy...
Yawns... weekend was full and tiring. As per usual, had to clean the house on weekends and considering that the house is relatively large, and I'm doing it alone, it's quite an effort. Plus there's the garden to tend, house plants to take care, aquariums to clean, and rabbits to baby. Gosh... I have the utmost respect for mothers the world over.
Was also busy with designing logos for a competition. Very tough considering that the logo is for the Board of Engineers and I had no idea what to depict. Took the entire weekend and a week of sketching before that to come out with two mediocre work. Sigh... hope I win maybe consolation.
Also took time to distribute flyers. It's really amazing how humbling it can be. People give weird looks to people who distribute flyers. Must be what garbagemen and all those other jobs the general population relatively look down upon, be like. Was uncomfortable for awhile but couldn't be bothered after. The only thing that bothers me a lot though is the dogs. Argh... hate having a dog bounding towards you and you rushing to get the flyer in and buck out. Dogs terrify me (though I still love the nice ones).
And oh, had weird but strangely pleasant dream last night :) First up, met Donald Duck. So cute but weird meeting a blabbing incoherent duck in sailor uniform. AND I met WESTLIFE! Hahaha... not like I'm a fan but well, t'was interesting :)!
Friday, June 25, 2004
Bunny Battle Royale
Wombat is now in USJ with me :) Decided that I have enough space in the backyard to cope with three bunnies. They did try to fight a bit but they've all somewhat settled in their own spaces. Don't know why but from being good bunny friends, the three of them now are aggresively territorial. Maybe it's the hormones...
So glad it's a Friday. Has been a very lethargic and tiring week. Don't quite know why though, probably a mental event. What with evicting tenants and deciding on a Masters. Can't wait to sleep in tomorrow. Hoorah!
Tenant making it difficult, pleaded for me to reconsider. I will not. People who open unopened biscuit tins and take your biscuit are downright rude and annoying. So OUT they go. Giving a reminder letter to them today, very the harsh but what to do.
Anyone free this weekend to lend me a hand distributing more flyers? Dinner treat on me! :) Let me know yeah!
Wombat is now in USJ with me :) Decided that I have enough space in the backyard to cope with three bunnies. They did try to fight a bit but they've all somewhat settled in their own spaces. Don't know why but from being good bunny friends, the three of them now are aggresively territorial. Maybe it's the hormones...
So glad it's a Friday. Has been a very lethargic and tiring week. Don't quite know why though, probably a mental event. What with evicting tenants and deciding on a Masters. Can't wait to sleep in tomorrow. Hoorah!
Tenant making it difficult, pleaded for me to reconsider. I will not. People who open unopened biscuit tins and take your biscuit are downright rude and annoying. So OUT they go. Giving a reminder letter to them today, very the harsh but what to do.
Anyone free this weekend to lend me a hand distributing more flyers? Dinner treat on me! :) Let me know yeah!
Tuesday, June 22, 2004
Getting seasick in choppy waters
It seems like change is the theme for this year! Getting a little nauseated with all the tumult but moving ever onwards.
First up, plan to do my Masters. Don't want to put it off anymore. Since I'm quite comfortable being in education, a Masters will definitely be useful. Planning to do a Masters in Online Education. Seems to be more relevant (and a little more fun) than an MBA.
Also evicted my ground floor tenant. A little scary in the sense that budget will be tighter but I don't plan to give up CreativeKids anytime soon. Instead hoping to double student numbers by year end. And AIMO! Where forth art thou? Back in USJ yet?
Anyways, tenant made a pretty emotional plea for continuing his tenancy. Apparently his wife is 7 months into term. Now, if I had known that, I wouldn't have wanted him renting in the first place. No place for a baby in my home. So notice has been given. Have to put my needs before sympathy. Plus I've had enough of pilfered food.
And oh, thanks Meng for the chang! Nyam... love them except for the Chinese one. Didn't quite fancy that but Rick liked it. Thanks!
Board games coming by end of month. Will let you guys know when the next board meeting is :)
It seems like change is the theme for this year! Getting a little nauseated with all the tumult but moving ever onwards.
First up, plan to do my Masters. Don't want to put it off anymore. Since I'm quite comfortable being in education, a Masters will definitely be useful. Planning to do a Masters in Online Education. Seems to be more relevant (and a little more fun) than an MBA.
Also evicted my ground floor tenant. A little scary in the sense that budget will be tighter but I don't plan to give up CreativeKids anytime soon. Instead hoping to double student numbers by year end. And AIMO! Where forth art thou? Back in USJ yet?
Anyways, tenant made a pretty emotional plea for continuing his tenancy. Apparently his wife is 7 months into term. Now, if I had known that, I wouldn't have wanted him renting in the first place. No place for a baby in my home. So notice has been given. Have to put my needs before sympathy. Plus I've had enough of pilfered food.
And oh, thanks Meng for the chang! Nyam... love them except for the Chinese one. Didn't quite fancy that but Rick liked it. Thanks!
Board games coming by end of month. Will let you guys know when the next board meeting is :)
Friday, June 18, 2004
It's a Friday! Oh joy!
Weeks seem to be zooming by very quickly lately. Possibly because days are much fuller. Unlike my previous job, where work comes in unpredictable bits, teaching in a college is somewhat more predictable, although very time consuming. There are always lesson plans to prepare, students to entertain, classes to go to, and papers to mark, and on top of that, being the Head of Department also means working with the part-timers and a lot of forms to fill and sign. And then at nights, there's CreativeKids :) Now, there's a real challenge!
Have a new student who the parent proudly mentioned as having completed one of those kiddy franchise language programs. Don't know how to break it to the mom though but her son is the slowest in the class. He can write well enough but seems to be unable to think on his own. Says a lot about franchise programs. Tsk tsk...
The boy is also a troublemaker. You could see everyone's eyes suddenly got bigger when I raised my voice, stood to full stature and sent someone to a corner. Muahahahahaha...
It's such a challenge though... you need to be both educating and entertaining. Very rewarding learning experience. Reinforces my decision that having kids is something you have to think twice over, and then twice over again. I think I'll just get a dog.
Am also considering taking up an MBA. Anyone keen? Hoping to get a buddy to get in the program with me :)
Weeks seem to be zooming by very quickly lately. Possibly because days are much fuller. Unlike my previous job, where work comes in unpredictable bits, teaching in a college is somewhat more predictable, although very time consuming. There are always lesson plans to prepare, students to entertain, classes to go to, and papers to mark, and on top of that, being the Head of Department also means working with the part-timers and a lot of forms to fill and sign. And then at nights, there's CreativeKids :) Now, there's a real challenge!
Have a new student who the parent proudly mentioned as having completed one of those kiddy franchise language programs. Don't know how to break it to the mom though but her son is the slowest in the class. He can write well enough but seems to be unable to think on his own. Says a lot about franchise programs. Tsk tsk...
The boy is also a troublemaker. You could see everyone's eyes suddenly got bigger when I raised my voice, stood to full stature and sent someone to a corner. Muahahahahaha...
It's such a challenge though... you need to be both educating and entertaining. Very rewarding learning experience. Reinforces my decision that having kids is something you have to think twice over, and then twice over again. I think I'll just get a dog.
Am also considering taking up an MBA. Anyone keen? Hoping to get a buddy to get in the program with me :)
Sunday, June 13, 2004
My room
Was cleaning up the house as usual on Sunday (managing a house is tough) so after 2 hours of sweeping, mopping and wiping (did I say tough?), and rubbing off pencil marks from my tables, decided to do my room (2 hours just for the ground floor). Remembered I had a wallpaper mural that I hadn't opened so well, decided to put it up and here's the result :)
Ah... bliss... now I can put on my Deep Space Nine Trekkie outfit, hit my Voyager comm badge, and play pretend. Some boys never grow up...
~
And oh, anyone seen these wizards?
Was cleaning up the house as usual on Sunday (managing a house is tough) so after 2 hours of sweeping, mopping and wiping (did I say tough?), and rubbing off pencil marks from my tables, decided to do my room (2 hours just for the ground floor). Remembered I had a wallpaper mural that I hadn't opened so well, decided to put it up and here's the result :)
Ah... bliss... now I can put on my Deep Space Nine Trekkie outfit, hit my Voyager comm badge, and play pretend. Some boys never grow up...
~
And oh, anyone seen these wizards?
Thursday, June 10, 2004
Earth to erm, Earth
Am in a jolly good mood this morning :) Never underestimate the power of good nasi lemak! After years of crackers and soymilk for breakfast, having nasi lemak is so great! Wished I could do it daily, although my body probably wouldn't appreciate me for it!
Life has been tumultous but not all in a bad way. Lots to think about, lots of changes but keeping pace and staying focused. A parent dropped a note the other day saying how much her kids (she sent 2 of her sons for Creative Writing) loved the class and she wanted to thank me for inculcating a joy for learning in them. Never felt so pleased in such a long time :)
Work has been at a pretty upbeat pace. Semester slowly kicking in and assignments and exams are slowly looming. Am already building a reputation as a no nonsense, stern lecturer and already students are complaining. Although being the head of department as well, there really have no one to complain to but me! Muahahahahaha... lazy students are gonna die. No tolerance for late submissions and late classes. Muahahahahahahaha....
Hope everyone is doing good. When is Chun and Saw coming back anyways? Need kaki for 'board' meeting. :)
Am in a jolly good mood this morning :) Never underestimate the power of good nasi lemak! After years of crackers and soymilk for breakfast, having nasi lemak is so great! Wished I could do it daily, although my body probably wouldn't appreciate me for it!
Life has been tumultous but not all in a bad way. Lots to think about, lots of changes but keeping pace and staying focused. A parent dropped a note the other day saying how much her kids (she sent 2 of her sons for Creative Writing) loved the class and she wanted to thank me for inculcating a joy for learning in them. Never felt so pleased in such a long time :)
Work has been at a pretty upbeat pace. Semester slowly kicking in and assignments and exams are slowly looming. Am already building a reputation as a no nonsense, stern lecturer and already students are complaining. Although being the head of department as well, there really have no one to complain to but me! Muahahahahaha... lazy students are gonna die. No tolerance for late submissions and late classes. Muahahahahahahaha....
Hope everyone is doing good. When is Chun and Saw coming back anyways? Need kaki for 'board' meeting. :)
Wednesday, June 02, 2004
Watch the upswing!
Am in a better mood of late. Guess I have resolved some things in my life and there are some new events and people that's putting things in perspective. Good to be moving on.
So thrilled with the prospect of The Prisoner of Azkaban! Got my tickets already for Saturday night. Just can't wait :) Also looking forward to a family outing to Sunway Lagoon this Sunday. Gonna be fun fun fun! Although am breaking my bank just a wee bit, especially since I'm also planning a Genting escapade in July. Must always never forget to pamper oneself... wonder why my colleagues think I'm thrifty though. For someone with zero savings, thriftiness isn't in my vocabulary (well, it is, but you know what I mean).
Celebraring student number 12! Although not all have confirmed since some are still using their free trial classes, I'm just happy to have the warm response. Classes are quite fun and kids getting boisterous, probably because a guy with rabbits in his backyard can't be all that evil now, can he? :) Hope to be able to convert them all to paying students soon but in the meantime, finally reaping some profits from the ones who have finished the free May classes! Made just enough to pay off my Astro subscription and installation. Yay!
Hope all of you guys are well. Chun and Saw seems to be having a ball! Let's all meet for another 'board' meeting when everyone's back :)
Am in a better mood of late. Guess I have resolved some things in my life and there are some new events and people that's putting things in perspective. Good to be moving on.
So thrilled with the prospect of The Prisoner of Azkaban! Got my tickets already for Saturday night. Just can't wait :) Also looking forward to a family outing to Sunway Lagoon this Sunday. Gonna be fun fun fun! Although am breaking my bank just a wee bit, especially since I'm also planning a Genting escapade in July. Must always never forget to pamper oneself... wonder why my colleagues think I'm thrifty though. For someone with zero savings, thriftiness isn't in my vocabulary (well, it is, but you know what I mean).
Celebraring student number 12! Although not all have confirmed since some are still using their free trial classes, I'm just happy to have the warm response. Classes are quite fun and kids getting boisterous, probably because a guy with rabbits in his backyard can't be all that evil now, can he? :) Hope to be able to convert them all to paying students soon but in the meantime, finally reaping some profits from the ones who have finished the free May classes! Made just enough to pay off my Astro subscription and installation. Yay!
Hope all of you guys are well. Chun and Saw seems to be having a ball! Let's all meet for another 'board' meeting when everyone's back :)