I have never been so bloody sleep-deprived in my whole life. And that's considering the fact I've turned up at school without sleeping quite a few times in the past six months. BECAUSE, in the very least, I could go home after that and sleep.

Sunday night. Mugging for Essentials of Finance. Slept for one hour. Went to school to take the test, then stayed back for like another 4.5 hours preparing for Communication 101. Had to rush off to Orchard after that because, thanks to my sister running off to somewhere-in-Malaysia, I had to spend my 20% and $10 off Topshop vouchers by myself (Monday being the last day for the 20% discount).

Monday night. Mugging for Understanding Cross Cultural Diversity. Didn't manage any sleep. Stumbled into school at 8.30 a.m. DON'T ASK ABOUT THE PAPER. It's one of those where you walk out cursing and hoping everyone else screwed up too. I highly doubt 90% of the people in the lecture theatre managed to finish the thing on time.

Anyway, I didn't have time to curse much. Immediately rushed up to my group's assigned classroom, where T and PW were busy blowing balloons, H was reciting her script, and J was somewhere downstairs doing the banner.

Spent the next 4 - 4.5 hours decorating the room. I didn't help with the balloons because the pumps weren't working properly and blowing was much faster - and I am sadly incapable of blowing a balloon. So I busied myself cutting strips of crepe paper for this:

It doesn't look like much, but it took almost an hour to get both the front and back doors done.

After the doors were done, I set about gathering extra balloons, jumping onto chairs and fitting them in the ceiling boards. Lined both sides of the classroom. My neck hurt and it was damn dusty.

After the ads and the banner were put up, the insanely-heavy tables had to be moved. And just our luck, our classroom had the most number of tables I've ever seen in a tutorial room. :P

There were LOTS of problems with our expected guests, but with the help of J's contacts, we managed to get the 10 participants in the end.

As PW and T went to pick up one group of participants and J the other group, HJ and I were left surveying our room.

In a last-ditch attempt, I decided to decorate the OUTSIDE too...

Our event started off a little late and the introductory activity ran into serious over-time, but somewhere along the way we managed to get back on time. The group brainstorming was trying; nobody wanted to talk or contribute anything. Or at least, the group I was mentoring was like that. The other group seemed very enthusiastic. Nonetheless, the group finally came up with a nice product (pity no photos here), the pitches went off flawlessly...and we actually ended slightly ahead of time.

And thank goodness we ended earlier, because we had to pose for pictures for the school magazine or something. And then, just as everyone was preparing to leave, the Director walked in!!!

But we all got to the MLT in time. After some quick refreshments, we had to return to our room and clear up. We had endless balloons to burst, which was the fun part. :)

I finally managed to leave slightly past 7 p.m.

Tuesday night. While almost everyone was taking it easy, I couldn't even take a bloody nap because I had to study for my Personal Financial Planning test the next day. But since the test was at 1 p.m., I managed 3 hours of sleep.

Lugged my laptop to school and was almost late. My head felt like it weighed a ton and it was hard to concentrate, but I managed to finish the paper slightly before time. Handed it in, then walked to the BizIT library where I started up my laptop and read through as many of my spec dip classmates' scripts as possible.

One hour later I headed upstairs for the Peer Mentor briefing session, which lasted 1.5 hours. Left school at 4.30 p.m. and went to Vivo for a short while to clear my head (and meet my mother for dinner).

Wednesday night. Had to keep myself from the Temptation to take a Nap and continue reading those spec dip scripts. Decided to give myself a treat and sleep for around 8 hours.

Went back to Vivo on what was supposed to be a short trip to get some stuff from F21 (which turned out to be only one thing because I forgot what the others were) and Sam's necklace from Diva (on request). I had just left F21 and was on my way to Diva when I decided to enter PageOne.

Now, I've been under the impression the store only carries art and design books, so that was my first time venturing in. The first thing I saw was a sign pointing to the Humanities section.

!!!

Thus I ended up stuck at PageOne for waaaaaaaaaaaaaay too long. The best part? Other than the cool travel journal and nice young-adult section and a good amount of Agatha Christie books (no And Then There Were None, though)?

THEY HAVE AN ANCIENT/MEDIEVAL HISTORY SECTION.

Guess where I spent most of my time at.

I can't believe there was a nice pile of ancient/medieval history books just 3 min away from my house all this time, and I didn't know!!! :P

But I didn't get anything, because it is one of my greatest joys to splurge on books after the exams. Actually, just splurging on anything after the exams gives me great joy. Heck, the end of the exams gives me enough joy...

Anyway. And on my way out I stumbled upon the latest Erast Fandorin book, so I was in a pretty darn good mood as I FINALLY headed to Diva.

Got Sam's necklace, and realised - Sam, please ignore this and move to the next paragraph! - the white fleur-de-lys necklace was on sale for $2.50. So I got it.

Thursday night. Then I went home with my McDonald's dinner, and continued with reading and rating spec dip scripts. Started my second script review (the first one I thankfully finished last week). Couldn't finish because I had to look through my Advertising Management notes in order to do the past exam paper, which we would be going through in school the next day.

Finished the paper at 7.10 a.m. Set my alarm for 8 a.m.

............................................................and awoke at 11.40 a.m.

I was seriously peeved with myself. And my mother thought I skipped the session on purpose. Like I would do something as stupid as stay up till 7 a.m. to do a test paper, then skip the review session. :P

Anyway, it completely screwed my Friday plans (the thing was supposed to end at 11.30 a.m. and I was going to drop by Orchard to look at books).

I ended up at Orchard almost 3 hours later than planned, after having a late lunch and finishing half of my 2nd spec dip script review.

Went to stare at ancient history books at Borders and Kinokuniya and was supremely dissatisfied. Zara was boring and I didn't feel like buying my earrings and bag from Topshop.

So I went to Far East Plaza to look at shoes.

As everyone should know, I dislike going to FEP, except to get bubble tea. But it's not a bad place to go when you're bored. And they have nice shoes.

Anyway, I was halfway there when it started raining heavily. So I took shelter at the nearby Mango until the rain mostly subsided.

The trip was a waste of time because every single pair I wanted didn't have my size left. :P

Add that to missing school, and I was in a pretty bad mood. So I took 143 to Vivo to cheer myself up with some retail therapy. Got some cheapo turtleneck from U2, and a cosy teal top (with pockets - I like the pockets) from Topshop (and no, I didn't use the card - am saving it!).

Had dinner at Secret Recipe, then went home and immediately resumed work on my laptop. Finished the rest of the script review and was going to submit it when I found another unread script in my inbox. Read it and rated it, then sent all 4 files to my lecturer just before midnight.

AND I WAS DONE.

P.S. Pictures added for previous post.

Jessica wrote home at 2:46 am

Aujourd'hui, j'ai dix-neuf ans.

I still remember learning to say that in French. It was the day before my 18th birthday so I thought, heck, might as well say I'm eighteen.

French class seems so five years ago.

ANYWAY, 18th January 2007 started off badly:

12.10 a.m. Jessica sits staring listlessly into her bowl of chicken soup.

1.00 a.m. Jessica decides everyone forgot her birthday.

6.00 a.m. So everyone really forgot her birthday.

I had to drag myself out of bed at 9 a.m., but I managed it before 9.30 a.m.

My mother and I went to Tiong Bahru Plaza to have McDonald's for breakfast. I don't recall the last time I was in a McDonald's outlet having breakfast. I think it was during the orientation programme in 2005, the flag day...

Er yes. I had my hotcakes and then we took the bus to Orchard. Spent the next 4 or 5 hours wandering around Wheelock Place, Wisma Atria and Ngee Ann City. Had Korean food for lunch at Food Republic. Didn't buy anything (I'm broke remember?).

Wanted to get home before 4.30 p.m. but the plan was spectacularly ruined en route to Raffles Hotel. Basically I have to get off at Raffles Hotel and take 131 from the same bus stop. Just as my bus was going to continue to the stop before the hotel, we saw 131 coming from the road perpendicular to ours.

AND THE LIGHTS TURNED RED.

We agonisingly watched as 131 stopped at the next stop, then headed towards Raffles Hotel. Finally the green lights came back on, and as luck would have it, no one got off at that stop. So we were going to catch up with 131 at Raffles Hotel!

Then we reached the next junction AND THE LIGHTS TURNED RED.

To add salt to the wound, when we finally alighted it started raining. And raining. And raining.

It was raining so much that the road along our house was flooded.

I wanted to flop on the sofa and sleep.

Instead, I played around with my laptop until it was time to leave for Vivo.

Dinner was at Brotzeit (is that how it's spelled? I forgot), this bar/restaurant serving mostly German sausages.

I had grilled dory fish. :P

We also had some salad full of sausages, and my father ordered this giant glass of beer which I shared.

We wanted to wait for my sister to come over from work before having dessert, so we walked around after that.

I went into F21 and my father bought me a green hoody. :)

BUT my sis didn't seem to be turning up so dessert was called off.

My mother was suggesting just cutting the cake and not waiting for my sis any longer, when she appeared - with pressies! I got a laptop case that fits my laptop perfectly (thank goodness...I was planning on buying one but they all seem so freaking expensive) and a F21 voucher!

Then it was cake cutting time. The lighter stopped working with two candles to go. I took pics from overhead and the heat was amazing.

My mother probably feels very relieved that next year it'll only be two candles. :P

I said I wanted twenty. I like many candles. For my 10th birthday I insisted on ten candles.

Oh goodness that was 9 years ago.

P.S. And no, not everyone forgot my birthday. A big THANKS goes out to (in order of SMS time): YQ, Ana, Sam, Rachel, Yin Yin, Cheryl, Ching Lam. Oh and not forgetting PW, HJ and T for the necklace. :)

Jessica wrote home at 10:44 pm

Aujourd'hui, j'ai dix-huit ans.

This is my last post being 18.

Well of course I wasn't born at the stroke of midnight, but you get the point.

19. Hmm. THAT IS DAMN OLD.

:P

Anyway, backtracking to Monday. Spec dip ended slightly early so I had more time to spend at Vivo.

Walked into GAP and picked out my mother's shirt. Wasn't sure what size to buy so I asked the salesgirl.

Salesgirl: You look very familiar.

Jessica: *cough* Yeah, I've been coming here the past week.

Salesgirl: No...you're from St. Hilda's right?

Jessica: *jaw drops* Yeah! How did you know?

Salesgirl: You were in 6/9 or 6/11 right?

Jessica: 6/9.

Salesgirl: I was from 6/10.

Anyway when she mentioned St. Hilda's, I immediately assumed SHSS. I mean, I was the Nobody of Nobodies in primary school.

Oh and I finally remembered who she was (with some help from her name tag). Super smart girl from EM1. Which is really strange 'cos we were never in the same class (me being too stupid and she being too smart). Although I know a lot of her ex-classmates 'cos they were on the badminton team.

ANYWAY, after that I went home and managed to stuff my mother's gifts somewhere.

On Tuesday morning I presented her with her $63 worth of presents.

I'm sick of eating economically everyday. But it was worth it.

Coincidentally, spec dip was cancelled, so I met her after school at Vivo. We walked around (she had to change the GAP shirt because it was too small...and she decided the colour looked too bold on her) and had dinner at Sakae Sushi. Then, being so very broke, I only managed to treat her to McDonald's ice cream. :p

Went home to do spec dip work. Basically I slept at 4 a.m. on Monday morning, 2.30 a.m. on Tuesday morning, and 2.30 a.m. on Wednesday morning again - without taking any naps.

So by the time I turned up for school this morning, I was so bloody tired it felt like I hadn't slept at all. My eyes hurt so much and I had to sneak a quick nap whenever I got the chance.

Class ended at 2 p.m. (we learnt about intestacy laws, which was probably the most interesting topic in the module. It also happened to be the LAST topic.) but I had to wait around till 3 p.m. (fell asleep in the library) for the rest of my MPP group to appear so we could continue preparing for Communication 101.

Spent a lot of time in our assigned room discussing about decorations, etc. Didn't manage to leave school til 5 p.m.

Was so tired I fell asleep on the sofa after dinner. Unfortunately chose a quite inopportune moment to wake up. Shall not talk about it.

In other news, I think I won't raise the topic again until August. Have one hell of a semester ahead anyway. Although if someone wants to bring it up...well, let's just say if they know what's good for them, they wouldn't. Mwahahaha. :P

In other news.

I think I'm starting to really hate you.

You have been continuously annoying me on the subconscious plane and I think I finally really hate you.

Now I shall spend the rest of the year waking up remembering how much I hate you, and it will probably get me through the year a much happier person.

Thank you. And I still hate you.

Jessica wrote home at 11:04 pm

I'm in the library with my laptop now!

Actually I brought it specifically to play games during my two-hour break (decided to treat myself)...but just as I was gonna sleep this morning (almost 4 a.m. - don't ask), I found out that we had received our final spec dip assignment for the semester.

BLAH. Now I have to read the script.

Anyway I didn't bring my headphones ('cos they look quite stupid, although they're really good) so it isn't as much fun playing games now.

Being a good girl as usual.

The good mood I was in during the last half of last week has gone, sadly. Back to sulking in school now.

Jessica wrote home at 2:17 pm

So I woke up 1 hour late today (fell asleep in the midst of setting my alarm) and screwed up my itinerary a bit. Ended up doing everything in reverse order before returning to Orchard (thus wasting bus fare).

Went to Kinokuniya, couldn't find the book so headed for Borders. There were only two copies left and both were different versions with different covers. Apparently one was on sale so I bought that one.

Now I only need to drop by Vivo on Monday after spec dip to pick up that GAP shirt.

Since I fell asleep (with the laptop on) last night, I missed my Stipulated Game Time. Too bad. Maybe I can squeeze in some time later, if I don't fall asleep again. :P

Better leave before more of my energy drains off.

P.S. And the Ch 5 trailer for the SYTYCD finale? It reveals the winner.

Jessica wrote home at 12:58 pm

My birthday came early. Really.

Eh wait. So here I am sitting in front of the TV as usual, and the news features tonight's Roving DV finalist...and of all things, it's about a TV studio management course some school took at SP!

A bit weird to see the DMS on TV, not to mention Mr Loh, Mr Rajan and Miss Low. Hahaha.

ANYWAY. I was going to post this yesterday, but I was busy discussing, then editing and printing our stupid PRMP report till 7 a.m. (I had to leave the house at 7.20 a.m. for MPP, so I gave it a miss).

I was still in high spirits from Wednesday, and coincidentally the week's UCCD lecture topic was very relevant to what I had just discussed the day before. So I actually paid attention. :P

The UCCD Lecturer said the palmistry guy near the elevators told her it was not a good idea to hold a lecture next week, so she decided to combine this and next week's lecture, and cancel next week's.

After that I made my way to the tutorial room (forgot what floor it was on, as usual).

Turns out my UCCD Tutor, being the great tutor he is, had also decided to cancel next week's tutorial!

*drumroll*

THAT MEANS I DON'T HAVE TO GO TO SCHOOL ON MY BIRTHDAY!!!

I don't even need to self-declare a holiday. Haha.

And to top it off, during the tutorial I also

1) Found out our final UCCD test doesn't look so intimidating after all,

2) Got a distinction for our group report, which means I've already passed the module, and

3) Was released early as usual.

So I took my lovely little 166 to HarbourFront and went to look up prospective presents.

Then I went home in the same good mood...and promptly was asked to go online for one last round of PRMP discussions.

BLAH.

Anyway now it's done and I don't have anything left except 3 tests and 3 exams. This doesn't include the media journal, which happens to be due next Thursday (think I'll turn it in on Wednesday) but I've already completed it. :P

I think I shall give myself a short little break playing Monkey Island or Carmen Sandiego. I forgot to say that I finished Monkey Island before the holidays ended. It felt very short but I'm sure I spent lots of hours on it. I got through it with some help (particularly on Blood Island) but the puzzles were mostly based on logic. EVERYONE SHOULD PLAY IT! :P

But now I'm just gonna continue watching Supernatural as usual. I love the dialogue. It's so lame it's hilarious.

Tomorrow's itinerary looks very promising.

Jessica wrote home at 10:03 pm

Yes, it's my farewell assembly! ...in another year. :P

By now I can't even remember when I received the invitation letter. Late November I think.

ANYWAY, EOF was very pointless today. I think I came to school mostly to collect our stuff from the DMS. Because I had to skip PFP after that, since I had to be at the event by 2.50 p.m. and PFP isn't supposed to end till 3 p.m. (although it usually ends much earlier, but bringing a change of clothes would've been very troublesome)

Plus I got to nap for 1.5 hours at home. :P

It was my mother's idea to leave super super early and take a bus, but I convinced her to take a taxi.

We were the first people to arrive!!! Sheesh. And I didn't even know which category I was under. I seriously thought it was only honour roll, but the people at the reception counter said they remembered seeing my name somewhere else.

So basically I just sat about in the convention centre flipping through the booklet.

My father rushed down from the airport and I later got a earful for calling him to come down so early. :P I entrusted my sister's camera to him, because my mother is just really bad at all this stuff. Although I did finally leave my phone with her to take pics.

Which meant I was phone-less and bored in my seat.

The graduating people were all seated at the back of the centre. The event started with a video showcasing all the different SB courses. Basically they showed DBA, DBF, etc. and everyone was watching in silence.

Then they got to DMC and you should've heard all the Year 3 DMC students cheering!

Another funny moment was later on when the DMC speaker thanked "the DMS gang" - Ms Nga, Ms Kwa, Mr Loh.

And the Year 3's immediately interrupted with loud choruses of "EDMOND!!!!!!!!!!!!"

I'm starting to see why people always say DMC students are noisy. Not in a bad way though.

Oh yeah and there was a band performing. The first song they played was Hotel California, which happens to be my father's favourite. Haha.

Most of the event involved the graduating students, stuff I will not talk about here since I'll be hearing roughly the same next year. Tune in next year! :P

The awards presentation didn't begin till the end of the whole thing. Basically it was broken into two parts. The graduate guest speaker presented the awards in the first part. I was in the last category (yippee!) so I was still lining up along the staircase when the first part ended and there was a short interval for an Indian dance (in which our IDEA tutor performed).

Then they brought back the table and invited the Director onstage.

I was standing behind someone who apparently achieved a bit too much. Was so crazily nervous that I forgot to smile when it was my turn next:

After the event I got another earful from my father because I left the stage too fast upon receiving my stuff, and therefore the best picture he could get was this:

Hahahahaha.

Oh yeah and I know a lecturer must've been sitting with the Year 3's because everytime a DMC student went up there, you could suddenly hear cheers. Such nice support. Considering very few seniors actually know me.

Note: No one actually came this fancily attired. And the black tights were a bad idea. But I guess DMC students are expected to do crazy things.

Then it was time to leave.

Ending off with the stuff I got: