Edit: A whole bunch of photographs uploaded to my Flickr. Including those from Xmas and my 18th Birthday, which was an absolutely BLAST. I had so much helium (from the balloons xD) and drink that I lost my voice and damaged my throat. I may have caught a cold :((
--

As with alot of other people out there, I always believe that one year takes "ages" to go through. But when the end comes, I change my mind - it feels as if it was just yesterday when I was ushering myself into the new year of 2006. When I look at my new year's school diary upon returning to school, I skim through the pages - January to December. My diary is full of pages and pages that will soon be filled with plans, birthdays, events, doodles, notes and most importantly homework. It's funny how the things that we can see, days printed on paper in a book, a diary, can make us believe that everything will take "forever" to move through. When really, it happens so quick.

This year's been a huge achievement for me, overall. I've done things I would never have been able to pull through without completely changing myself and my beliefs. The change isn't bad. I mean, it was a very good change. It was a change I felt was necessary, in order to bring my life back to a stable state. I worked harder. I consistently pushed myself to achieve better everytime. Eventhough I didn't achieve the results I aimed for, I felt that if I kept trying I'll get there somehow. I had so many things to juggle at times - school work, sport training, gym, sport competitions, band rehearsals, performances, homework, extension classes, study - and still, manage to put aside ample time for leisure. Money and finances had always been a big issue for me. I tended to spend money without thinking of the ultimate long-term consequences, like the money I save will be the money I have for my future. I began to save money in the last term of the year, and it was a success. I saved so much money that I felt so good about myself. I realised that I didn't need to spend all that money quickly.

I'm proud of myself for my achievements this year.
#1. I learned to play the timpani, and I think I got pretty good at it too.
#2. I lost weight and got fit from consistent exercise every week.
#3. I learned to play soccer, and found out that I'm a good goalkeeper.
#4. I made new good friends.
#5. I learned the classical guitar repertoire.
#6. I saved half of my pocket money in Term 4.
#7. I got good ranks for Maths, Japanese and English.
#8. I nominated myself for Prefect 2007, eventhough I didn't get it.

There are many more, I'm sure. I won't list them all down. More than half of them I can't even remember.

So really, all in all, 2006's been one heck of journey. Many ups and downs, yet I managed to pull through it with a smile on my face. It's now time to move forward, into the new year - new opportunities, new people, new experiences and new ideas. The Year 2007 will bring lots of new challenges. Also, as it is my final year at school, hard and consistent work and study must be put in place. A balanced and healthy lifestyle is necessary for this to work, and this time, I've really got to concentrate.

All the best wishes for the year ahead of us. May we pick ourselves up when we fall, and trudge on like true soldiers. May we challenge ourselves with new and different experiences. May we introduce new ideas into our lives, allowing us to learn about them and maybe even adopt them for our own beliefs. May we grab onto new opportunities. May we seize the day!

Right, I really feel as if I'm writing a groundbreaking speech here.
I really ONLY wanted to say good luck ;)
Cheers!

Now that Christmas is over, I've got to think about what I'm going to do for this New Years. To stay home and bum around in peace, or to spend it elsewhere - possibly at a friend's place.

I was shopping today with mum and Shaz for something to wear on Friday, when I realised that (of course) it feels as if Christmas hasn't come yet, what with all the Christmas hampers still on sale, Christmas decorations continually glowing brightly, etc. I guess, I just miss it already.

The Christmas Eve party at our place was awesome. Mum and my uncle cooked up a very big feast for friends and family at our place. Met some new people, caught up with some friends and family. It was great. This year, I had wanted to open the presents the morning of Christmas Day. I wanted to go to bed first, then wake up later to open the presents. Unfortunately, desire overcame this idea and we all sat around the tree to open the many presents of all shapes and sizes when everyone had left - which was around 2am. I made one observation upon gathering all my presents from the floor, unwrapped, and bringing them to my bedroom - the older you get, the smaller the presents are. Or maybe it's just this year. Meh!

The next day, Christmas Day, Ri and I went with dad and Aunty Jen to celebrate at our cousin's place for lunch. It's this annual thing that we have every Christmas Day. It was great to catch up with the whole Loong family. By then, I already had my third serving of turkey. I still feel stuffed.

On the whole, I received three of the items on my Birthday/Christmas wishlist! A Tag Heuer Aquaracer watch, a pair of low-top Chucks and (no one actually gave this to me, I just downloaded them before Xmas time) Season 3 of Grey's and House. I'm still hoping to get a video camera and a new digital camera for my 18th Birthday.

Here's wishing.
Cheers.
PS. The New Year is approaching so quickly. Man, time to start reflecting on this year -- big time.

Finally, the day has come. Christmas has arrived, and I felt inclined to blog about it. Eventhough it is only the Eve, I felt - one should blog on such a day.

Mum's cooking up a big feast, with the help of my uncle to cater approximately 30 people tonight, in our rather small 38th floor apartment. They have been cooking since yesterday, and I admire their work and strength to continue with it for one night.

I wonder, is there some kind of Christmas spirit that overcomes us during the weeks that follow up to this one very special day?

Christmas parties are organised early, not only to make sure friends and family can make it on that day, and not only to rid the idea of getting extra gifts (because big dinners make it up just fine) - but to celebrate Christmas just the way they imagined it with loved ones and close friends. Many more write lists of presents to buy, and even set out to physically buy them - you know, just before the season really hits town, causing major difficulty in parking lots and stress in getting around in a sea of moving, shuffling bodies in shopping centres. Christmas wishlists are written FAR beforehand. Children hope that they've been good, and begin to wonder, "What will Santa bring me this Christmas time?" As for those who don't believe in Santa, they still wonder about what they want for Christmas. Some will hint it to mum and dad. Some will just straight out say it.

Oh, definately. There's got to be some kind of mysterious force or power that overcomes us. A Christmas spirit. Or rather, the Christmas spirit. The whole feeling of wanting to write a Christmas wishlist; the act of buying gifts for others (friends, family and even strangers); the act of wrapping the gifts; the organising of a party, and the process of cooking up the perfect Christmas dinner (turkey turket, ham, cranberry sauce, gravy); the moment you wake up in the morning knowing that "It's Christmas", you rush to the bedrooms of every member in your household wishing them a Merry Christmas with a smile on your face; the unwrapping of gifts, the feeling you get when you gather the first sighting of what is beneath the wrapping; the hugging; the kissing; the mistletoe; the over-played Christmas carols played everywhere you go, whether it be the little grocery shop down the road or your usual hairdressers; the Christmas tree, bright colours and bright lights; the smiles, so warm and so happy and joyous and...

Oh, goddamn it - there is definately a Christmas spirit around us, within us. Every single one of us. We may scorn against the horrid Christmas carol versions being played in our local supermarket, and the over-done decorations of every building (offices, homes, shopping centres, etc) - but deep down, I have learnt, that Christmas is all about this. The love and the dislike of this festive season. We may claim that we're over Christmas, but again, deep down there is a spark ready to transform into a larger thing - a flame.

And that is the spirit of Christmas.

--

Anyway, enough of this. I actually need to get ready for tonight, and fix up the internet. The connection's been really dodgy especially this festive season, and I'm getting tired of it.


Cheers!

To my Christmas wish-list.

"Do I look like I give a damn?"

I finally went to watch the latest Bond movie, Casino Royale. I'd been dying to catch the new Bond in action, and man was it worth the wait. It was excellent. I loved how there were so many scenes that involved hand combat. And the opening scene, (won't say too much if you haven't seen it) was mind-blowing enough to get everyone into the mood. I might be late in this, but I advise anyone who hasn't seen it yet to do so before they stop showing it at cinemas.

And the new Bond?

Who ever said that a Blonde Bond wouldn't make the cut? Daniel Craig owned it. And I'm not just saying this because, why, the man is beautiful - but because he honestly did a great job. He's got the Bond touch, I believe. He's cheeky, yet keeps his cool for most of the time.

Sorry Pierce, I've out grown you.
(Or rather, you've outgrown me!)

Cheers.

Hi. Using this as a quick outlet before heading to bed.

< ramble >

The internet was being a bad-ass, so I parked myself on the couch and watched some movies. First, The Bodyguard was on. Ok, real lovey-dovey rahrahrah, but you gotta love Kevin Costner when he was younger, ok? And then, right after that was Shall We Dance, with the oh-so-beautiful Richard Gere. He makes white hair hot.


< /ramble >

Cheers.
PS. My finger is fine. I still have trouble gripping things and it's swollen BAD, but I'm slowing starting to feel confident in doing things the way it used to be. However, there's one big problem...

I've lost the ability to type properly (after a week of typing without the middle finger, I've absolutely lost it). DAMNIT!

In the course of two days after I had slammed the car door shut on my dear middle finger (was about to spell finger with a ph), the bruise has enlargened - the blood just won't stop.

Mum suggested she take me to the hospital to get my finger x-rayed, incase of any fracture or anything of the otherwise. Eventhough it was pretty pointless in getting an xray for a possible fracture because there would be nothing that can be done in the end, mum wondered that I may have broken my finger. After all, I did slam the door shut on my finger. Wouldn't you think that would result in a broken bone or a fracture?

We checked in to the Emergency Ward, just to get pass any kind of long queue in the general section. Mum obviously knows her way around. It was my first time being inside an emergency ward, let alone a hospital to be diagnosed by a doctor. It was pretty spectacular, I have to admit. Call me a geek, but I couldn't stop thinking about Grey's Anatomy. So shoot me.

So I got in, shocked a few humble nurses (judging by the look on their faces, they seemed pretty shocked to me at the sight of my terrible bruise and upon hearing my very shuddering story), got my x-ray done (by a doctor who complimented me on my very perfect middle finger pose, shown in the picture above - right side) and was then sat down by the doctor to have holes drilled into my nail, just to relieve my finger of the strong pressure. In the end, I was fine. No fractures. No broken bones. My fingers were perfectly fine. It was now the matter of just waiting it out, just like one would when you get a bruise. I was given some supposedly stronger pain killers to ease the throbbing pain and something else to stop the swelling. Sigh. My carelessness really hurts me.

This'll probably take me a few weeks to recover. Thankfully it wasn't a fracture, otherwise it'd take 4-6 weeks, and that would have meant I wouldn't be able to type, eat, hold things properly and train up for the tennis season next term. Bruises only take 1-2 weeks to recover, right? :\

Life without my middle finger (of the right hand, might I add) is dull.
I'd hate to lose any of my fingers.

Trudging along like a soldier...
Cheers :]

EDIT: WHY DO THESE GODDAMN PAINKILLERS TAKE SO LONG TO KICK-IN??! >.<

My day was, as I imagined in the morning, to be a great day. I was going out mum, sister and maid to Midvalley for some X'mas shopping in the noon. Finally, I thought, a chance to get out of the house!

Little did I know that I was in for one very, very nasty surprise. Before I knew it, when I slammed my door shut at the valet parking service at Midvalley, I had actually pinned my right hand middle finger in the space between the car door, and the car. I slammed the car door shut on my finger, basically. Shut. Great emphasis on shut. The first thing I thought of was "WHY DOES MY ONE FINGER HURT SO BAD?". I hurried (ok, I panicked) to open the door, and that was when it began to hurt. Hurt big time. Geeeeeeez did it hurt.


I didn't break anything, thankfully. I didn't fracture anything either. I just ended up with one mega nasty bruise on my finger. The cup of ice I walked around Midvalley did wonders though. Thankfully, the door hit the part just before the first joint. Sighs. I hate this constant numbing sensation.

I am currently typing with nine fingers, to the opposed ten. My right index finger is going to be super fast by the time my middle heals. I can't be bothered to blog right now. I just wanted to, erm, just share this little experience with you.

I'm going to listen to music, stare at my downloads and wait for the damn painkiller to kick in.

I'm hungry :(
Literally, and for Grey's Anatomy.
Cheers.

I realised, as I pushed out the little chocolate in the shape of Winnie the Pooh's face from my Christmas Countdown (which I received from Ash for X'mas), that there were only twelve days to Christmas.

That's less than two weeks to go. Yesterday night, or technically speaking, this early early morning, I thought I'd write a X'mas wishlist. Well, I realised that I don't really have to because I've pretty much summed everything I want for X'mas (material wise) too, as a part of my Birthday wishlist.

So bah, the Christmas wishlist. Instead, I'll tell you about what I've been doing during the past 5 days.

For the very first time, I, Raelene Loong had my very own bowl of Assam Laksa. Yes. I know. I really should be shot for being THIS late. It was, I must admit, a very smelly bowl of wonderful tastes. It really reminded me of a typical bowl of Vietnamese beef noodles, which to my liking, I prefer over laksa. I'll tell you this: the reason to why I had been so slow in really proving my Malaysian roots through the form of delicacies.

When I was a child, much younger in my years and naive to the bone, I had this one maid, who did something of unspeakable value to me. Well, all right. It's not that serious. Oh, but it was! If you were in my position, you would think so. Ok whatever, the point is that she could have been SUED for what she had done. Right, it was lunch time (presumably), and there she was sitting with my other maid (who I still keep in touch with today) eating lunch. She was talking on the phone with God knows who - someone irrelevant, let us say. So, I needed something from her. I tugged on her shirt, calling for her impatiently. I may have been whining. I mean, give me a break! I was just a little kid!

Just as she was putting a touch of chilli onto a mouthful of whatever she was eating (rice, probably), she smeared a scoop of chilli (cili padi, we're talking about!) on my lips, sending me to the bathroom - wailing, obviously crying and in sheer panic. I remember crying alot. And I remember trying so hard to wash the chilli off, to wash the pain away. I recall picking up this red container which was at the sink to pour water onto my mouth with.

There. A childhood memory of mine, now shared with you. And here's another wacky one!
Shortly after that day, I remember very vividly that same whore maid steal my other maid's money, and mum's jewellery, and then walking out the back door. I was, to no one's surprise, very very glad she took off.

Today, I picked up my guitar and attempted to rock it out on my amplifier. I'm glad I can still play rock. I really thought I'd lost it, after months of classical pieces and jazz music. I may have lost speed on my power chords, but all is well. I've got weeks to practice. I remember the days when I used to wish being in a rock band. I still do, don't get me wrong. It's a pity the old AISM Crew never came together, officially to create one. Damnit.

I haven't unpacked my things out of my suitcase yet. I wonder if I even should. Although, I will be here for 6 weeks, and that is a rather long time for living out of a suitcase. Bah, I'm so lazy. It probably won't happen till I wear everything in there.


I've been having good nights lately. I get to bed by 12am, and wake up at 9am. It's incredible. It may be the time difference, the jet lag. I never used to get sleepy at 8pm over my dinner back in KL, and I never have the feeling of getting up at 8am because my mind's far too active. I'm not used to my queen-size bed. I have this strong urge to ask mum for a super-single, but I know deep down that I'll regret it. I'm weird.

Other things I've been doing, or done: I started my Japanese homework, mainly because it's easy to do and it doesn't require that part of the brain to think; I had a facial at Jurlique, which was one bitch-ass pain (I've never experienced so much pain on my face in my entire life!); watching my bittorrent downloads all day, checking the speed rates; re-reading people's blogs for no Goddamn reason; staring at my computer, basically at windows of absolute nothingness.

Tomorrow, however, I will be getting a haircut. Finally. One, I get to go out. Two, haircut, I like.

Off to bed.
Cheers.
PS. In addition to my wishlist,
The new Super Mario Bros. for NinDS :)

I'm about two months early before my 18th birthday to make a wish-list, but I was inspired by Nurie's meme entry on her X'mas wishlist. I'll do that one tomorrow. As there will be 12 days till X'mas.

Here goes.

#1 A new watch. A nice one, like a Tag Heuer Aquaracer. I'm good with Panerais too ;)
#2 A video camera.
#3 A new digital camera. Like Jude's swanky new Canon Ixus 65.
#4 A Playstation Portable. I know what you're thinking: I'm an absolute JUNKIE for gadgets.
#5 A pair of low-top Chucks. Come on. Everybody needs a pair.
#6 New set of headphones. My iPod ones are dying. Sennheiser's got a pretty swanky range. Like the Street Line MX 55. And the PXC 300.
#7 A new acoustic guitar. Like this sweet mama.
#8 Season 3 of House. And Grey's Anatomy.

Alot to ask for? Well. I really don't mind not getting the earphones. Or the Chucks. I can manage to get them myself.

I like lists. Do you?
Cheers!

Let's see, my Year 11 can be summarised quickly this way:

# of late nights 82739402
# of new good friends made 2
# of times felt alienated 92304
# of times failed to play Procession of the Nobles solo on the timpani 2493840342
# of times succeeded to play the solo 1
# of times Mr Gresham said my name 4
# of times Mr Nunan said my name 6 :)
# of times I cried till I couldn't breathe 4
# of friends lost and gained 1
# of certificates received 4
# of English essays written 9283
# of times Ms Knorr, my English teacher has written "Good" on my essays 5
# of kgs lost 4
# of crushes on teachers (heehee) 3
# of times shouted at Grace Theodore and India Morish 3

Of course, I could say alot more than numbers. I'd been through so much this year, many ups and downs, a few steep hills have been climbed and great things have been achieved. I have to say that it's been a great year. I've learned so much through experience, and I don't regret any of the things I've done to achieve them, whether they be incredibly foolish in act.

Strangely enough, the six weeks of holidays ahead seem rather long to me. Not only that - I'm missing the sense of routine that I have in Sydney - like, 7am wake up; 7.30am shower; 8.15am tutor group; 3.30pm band rehearsal or history extension or rest. And I miss my dormies, Ashleigh and Melissa. Ohh how I miss their snoring in the night, and their early sleeping habits, and their non-swearing policy (substituting shit with poo). I miss the Saturday morning chats with Mrs Banks, who would tell us stories from her childhood. I miss going to band rehearsals, as geeky as that may sound. I miss challenging myself with difficult timpani pieces, eventhough I hate having to screw up all the time. Guh, I miss school!

No worries, though. It should all pass by me in no time. After a haircut, a possible facial, some shopping and visiting friends - I should be set into the holiday mood. Besides that, I gotta get down into some study. My oh so Powell-ful mentor said I need to make a study plan. Sighs. Better get to it or I'll be in some poo.

Exciting things to say: I persuaded mum to buy me the Flickr Pro Account (I paid her back in cash, of course), after realising that I had reached my 200 photo limit, and that some of my photos were "hidden" by the system. It's swanky. 2GBs of uploads each month for a year, and unlimited number of sets. Also, I woke up at 9.30am this morning feeling up and at it. The time difference is kicking in. It's good. I need to sleep early, and wake up early.

A heap load of photos have been uploaded to my Flickr. Check it out :)

Cheers!
PS. Thinking of things to ask for my 18th b'day.
PPS. ... and not to forget X'mas!

Labels: home, life in sydney, school

I am now officially Term 4 Assessment task free! And boy does it feel great!
Despite the fact that I ran out of time writing my English essay on Coleridge's Kubla Khan, the unseen text called The Tent and my last minute saviour Big Fish poster as my related text. I don't think I've ever written so much for a single English assessment task before. I was right at the bit where I just sum everything up (the conclusion!) when Ms Knorr stressed the comman "PENS DOWN" before us. I was glad it was over...

Till second period. Modern History. A research task. Oh, good God. I had wished to be KILLED! My hands were still shaking, and my brain was feeling terribly exhausted from all the thinking. I mucked that task up for good. If I was lucky, I'd manage to squeeze in a C.

I've already started to pack for the end of term. I hate packing. Nevertheless, one must do it. Sighs. Only 4 days to go. I am dead tired from the term, and all I can think about is HOME. Nothing else (not even my overdue Biology class work) is on my mind. Just home.

To celebrate the end of the beginning of our *to-be* very streneous HSC careers, together with the company of my two favourite dormies Ashleigh and Melissa, we bunked up under Melissa very comfortable (I must say!) doona with our pillows behind our backs, and teddies (including Ash's dog Felton) snuggled up with us on my bed, and watched Love Actually throughout most of prep-time (Homework time). We were just not into work at the time.

Labels: school life

Well, last week was very very busy - and when I mean busy, I do mean BUSY. Being so induced by the music rehearsals I had almost every second day last week, I thought I was turning into a semi-quaver itself. I've never played so much music in my life. I even spent half an hour practicing the damn scales on my guitar. That was the longest practice I've ever had. My fingers and legs were sore after that. Nevertheless, I love it.

Last Friday, we started the day with the long awaited Physical Culture (PC). Everyone is hyped up for it, for no God damn reason. To me, PC is like a minion-like formation of students all under a spell. They don't want to be there, but they are obligated to by the scary Head of Houses and not to forget, my dear Year 12 mentor Mrs Powell, who throws detentions at you by just looking at you. As for me, I innocently said I'd do COSTUMES instead of dance, and hide in the library every lunch time. Unless I have something else better to do, like get help from a teacher. Or something stupid like that.

It was good. Seeing what all the houses come up with as an end result.


In the end, my Bronte House won. Didn't see why though. If I had the change to get into Youtube, I'd upload videos. So, watch this space anyway. I might remember to upload them.


Later in the day, we had our annual Family Evening, which is when all the school ensembles and musical groups perform pieces they've been working on since God knows when, and of course, Christmas carols. People gather around on the quad (which I hate for its very muddy surface!) with picnics, in families, singing together, merrily happily and the whole bunch.


The whole day. Playing music. It really drained me out of juice for Speech Night. I mean, don't get me wrong. I love music. But gosh am I tired of it.


:) Nevertheless, it was a good day. Good week. I managed to get NOTHING from studying for tomorrow's History and English assessment task, especially with Music Camp last Monday and Tuesday. Sighs. I tell myself it's JUST the HSC. JUST. 14% is nothing. 25%... nothing.

I'm so dead.

Cheerrrsssrsrsss!

Labels: school life, year 12 woes