Before Pumpfest 2010, I had achieved the last place on 66% of the competitions as open woman climber. I am happy to report that after Pumpfest 2010, this percentage has dropped to a whopping 50%. That is, in 2 out of 4 comps I got last, and in 2 out of 4 I didn't!! How cool is that?!!
The routes were amazing, set by world championship standard route-setter and as such they were so pretty and hard and challenging I wanted to take them home and try them on and on and on and on.
The finals yesterday gave awesome spectacle and I think it is safe to say that the horrible buttitis I got from sitting for so long was worth the spectacle. The standard is high, the problems are hard, time to get back to the drawing board.
Monday, May 31
Sunday, May 30
What your friends can teach you
A while ago I started befriending a person with a VERY bubbly personality. I enjoyed the fun and the hysterics that come with such a friendship and I must say I did not mind the fact that that particular person needed to be the very center of attention. EVERY time. Nor that she talked a lot, because let's face it, this blog is my most verbal manifestation. However, at one point I grew tired of the situation, because, as with most friendships with persons with such type of personality and traits, it gets to the point where one is mostly giving without actually receiving anything in return. They, the stars (or the blackholes as I sometimes think of them) get used so much to receiving that they don't really give anything back. Like care, companionship, etc. So now i am at the stage whereby I kick myself for even thinking that this would be feasible on the long run, and i am brooding and thinking a lot.
As I was brooding this morning about these blackholes (it was 5 am as I am still living somewhat on US time), it hit me. Marian has been telling me how another friend of ours is actually giving something back - she's volunteering with some special needs kids. Talk about actually giving back. While i did do my share of volunteering and true, my weekends have not been mine ever since i started writing the thesis, I still felt ashamed about this. Here am I, brooding and whining about people not giving back to ME, when there are people that are giving back to PERFECT STRANGERS without actually expecting anything in return. The utter shame jolted me awake (shame has such powers, doesn't it?) and I couldn't go back to sleep for an hour or so because of it. The conclusion that i reached was that I am inspired and as such will try to volunteer for something once i submit.
On a side note, as the shame was pouring over me (so to speak) I asked Marian who was fast asleep: "Guess what I am thinking about?" (he CAN answer questions while he's asleep, just that it takes a while to get the answer) About thirty seconds pass and he says:
"Um, I don't know... Climbing? Food?"
Pfft ...
As I was brooding this morning about these blackholes (it was 5 am as I am still living somewhat on US time), it hit me. Marian has been telling me how another friend of ours is actually giving something back - she's volunteering with some special needs kids. Talk about actually giving back. While i did do my share of volunteering and true, my weekends have not been mine ever since i started writing the thesis, I still felt ashamed about this. Here am I, brooding and whining about people not giving back to ME, when there are people that are giving back to PERFECT STRANGERS without actually expecting anything in return. The utter shame jolted me awake (shame has such powers, doesn't it?) and I couldn't go back to sleep for an hour or so because of it. The conclusion that i reached was that I am inspired and as such will try to volunteer for something once i submit.
On a side note, as the shame was pouring over me (so to speak) I asked Marian who was fast asleep: "Guess what I am thinking about?" (he CAN answer questions while he's asleep, just that it takes a while to get the answer) About thirty seconds pass and he says:
"Um, I don't know... Climbing? Food?"
Pfft ...
Wednesday, May 26
Backk!!
Well, ten days of silence on the blog is enough to put anyone to shame. So here am I, blogging the instant i get internet access. I swear, the US might be one of the most advanced countries in the world, but in terms of Internet access and speed, I would trade it for Romania any day.
Conference-wise, I must say I attended less of the conference and more of the shopping malls around it. :) I liked Atlanta. The thing that shocked me most was the stampede in the Apple store. I was there to buy an iPad for my prof. But so where a thousand other people. I mean, why would people pay so much money for that useless device?!! Why oh why?! A genius at the Apple store in Atlanta looked at me as if I was some kind of freak when I told him I want to buy an iPad. "Pfft, you must order it online. It will come in 5-7 days and then you must come within 24 hours to collect it or else it will be gone." What the fuck!? In the end I managed to get him an iPad from the Georgia Tech campus Apple Store. The store was so remote that apparently they didn't have any demand for the ipads. Eat this motherfuckers!
Atlanta, home of the south, Margaret Mitchell (she of the "Gone with the winds" fame), the Coca-Cola company and CNN. I enjoyed running in the dry air (dry by Singapore standards). I didn't visit much because I spent my free day shopping, replenishing my shoes collection nom nom nom. And buying five thousand sweets and chips varieties for Sandra and doris. I swear I will get arrested one day.
The conference site:
Sorority house. WTF? I thought they existed only in movies!
Random flowery sighting:
The college football team is everywhere, even on the sidewalks.
It has been a while since I saw so many churches on one street. It is so different form singapore, where, although there ARE churches, they are not so obvious.
Yellow car!
And an artsy photo. The only one of the batch i think.
Conference-wise, I must say I attended less of the conference and more of the shopping malls around it. :) I liked Atlanta. The thing that shocked me most was the stampede in the Apple store. I was there to buy an iPad for my prof. But so where a thousand other people. I mean, why would people pay so much money for that useless device?!! Why oh why?! A genius at the Apple store in Atlanta looked at me as if I was some kind of freak when I told him I want to buy an iPad. "Pfft, you must order it online. It will come in 5-7 days and then you must come within 24 hours to collect it or else it will be gone." What the fuck!? In the end I managed to get him an iPad from the Georgia Tech campus Apple Store. The store was so remote that apparently they didn't have any demand for the ipads. Eat this motherfuckers!
Atlanta, home of the south, Margaret Mitchell (she of the "Gone with the winds" fame), the Coca-Cola company and CNN. I enjoyed running in the dry air (dry by Singapore standards). I didn't visit much because I spent my free day shopping, replenishing my shoes collection nom nom nom. And buying five thousand sweets and chips varieties for Sandra and doris. I swear I will get arrested one day.
The conference site:
Sorority house. WTF? I thought they existed only in movies!
Random flowery sighting:
The college football team is everywhere, even on the sidewalks.
It has been a while since I saw so many churches on one street. It is so different form singapore, where, although there ARE churches, they are not so obvious.
Yellow car!
And an artsy photo. The only one of the batch i think.
Sunday, May 16
From Changi, with love
I reached home yesterday morning at around 7 am, only 8 hours after I left it to go to the states. No, I am not supersonic, just plain stupid (see the previous post). After a quick dash outside to pee* I slept like a log until 2 pm. Went for a palak paneer lunch (most nom) and then crashed back until 7 pm or so, with some respites in which i read one crime novel and answered a couple of text messages. It's been a while since I spent so much time indoors and lying down. A much needed holiday, I guess ... I did sort of go for a run, but it turned out a 1-2km jog because my ipod died on me.
Am now back in Changi, at the Coffee Bean at terminal 3. The girl that is minding the place recognized me from yesterday but am not sure what she made of me - new ang moh terrorist around? (all my bags are black and i am wearing the same clothes - but i showered!). I see a familiar crowd of people here from yesterday. Never knew that Changi is favored by students to study and hang out. The armchairs at Coffee bean are also favored by many to sleep. I should know, they are the most comfortable chairs at T3. Last night I tried to sleep on the benches but couldn't, mostly because I was not properly geared (i.e. didn't have a sheet to cover myself), but also because the airport jingle managed to seep through my ear plugs and. just. kill. me.
I am taking a break from thesis writing and doing some people watching. How do some of these people pick their partners is beyond my understanding. Eurasians are so beautiful. I want one. Hell, I want to be one. Tall and delicate, not short and pudgy ... How can people board a plane in singlet + shorts + slippers?!! Whoever put up this airport music should be shot. I want one of those four-wheeled bags. Some unknown stranger asked me to charge is iphone/ipad. Does he know i can download his pictures? Singaporeans are getting fat. Volvo XC60 is damn sexy, but I still want a bicycle.
Hopefully I will be on the plane in six hours or so. If there's no post tomorrow, it means I have finally succeeded and the land of the free and the home of the brave is one hop closer.
* No, i did not go outside to pee al fresco, thank you very much. A friend is staying in our bedroom and she had locked her door. I did not want to disturb her, but because i had been holding it for long, i dropped my bags and dashed for the pool** - a great sight for 6:58 am, I should say.
** to use the toilet at the pool, not pee in the pool, of course.
Am now back in Changi, at the Coffee Bean at terminal 3. The girl that is minding the place recognized me from yesterday but am not sure what she made of me - new ang moh terrorist around? (all my bags are black and i am wearing the same clothes - but i showered!). I see a familiar crowd of people here from yesterday. Never knew that Changi is favored by students to study and hang out. The armchairs at Coffee bean are also favored by many to sleep. I should know, they are the most comfortable chairs at T3. Last night I tried to sleep on the benches but couldn't, mostly because I was not properly geared (i.e. didn't have a sheet to cover myself), but also because the airport jingle managed to seep through my ear plugs and. just. kill. me.
I am taking a break from thesis writing and doing some people watching. How do some of these people pick their partners is beyond my understanding. Eurasians are so beautiful. I want one. Hell, I want to be one. Tall and delicate, not short and pudgy ... How can people board a plane in singlet + shorts + slippers?!! Whoever put up this airport music should be shot. I want one of those four-wheeled bags. Some unknown stranger asked me to charge is iphone/ipad. Does he know i can download his pictures? Singaporeans are getting fat. Volvo XC60 is damn sexy, but I still want a bicycle.
Hopefully I will be on the plane in six hours or so. If there's no post tomorrow, it means I have finally succeeded and the land of the free and the home of the brave is one hop closer.
* No, i did not go outside to pee al fresco, thank you very much. A friend is staying in our bedroom and she had locked her door. I did not want to disturb her, but because i had been holding it for long, i dropped my bags and dashed for the pool** - a great sight for 6:58 am, I should say.
** to use the toilet at the pool, not pee in the pool, of course.
Saturday, May 15
Early
My grandmother raised me for most of my toddler life, waay until I reached 6 years old. She used to travel with me to and from my mother's town and hers by train - it was free for me, and she paid less I think. The distance between the two towns is about 300 km, and the train ride used to take about 4 hours (now it takes 6). As any true provincial I guess, we would be at the train station hours (about two hours) before the train arrived. It was not because we didn't have tickets or anything, it was just because I don't know, what if something happens? What if the bus breaks down? Or the train breaks down? Or anything. I guess it was also because the train stopped in that station only for about 5 minutes before it went on its merry way, so maybe they needed 2 hours in advance to prepare.
In later years, when I was about 10 - 11 and my grandmother still had to accompany me (by now she had a pensioner's discount and I had to pay half ticket), this thing would annoy the hell out of me and I would grumble and complain and make fun and what not, but still go. I still remember the skinny figure of my grandfather who would rush us along (2.5 - 3 hours before the scheduled arrival time) "Come on, let's get going, take that bag, come on!!" And then we would reach the station 2.5 hours before and plunk our bags down on the platform - especially when we went when school began in autumn, my grandparents were LOADED with goodies for my mum: preserves, cakes, the occasional dead chicken, cooked food! And my grandfather would glance satisfied at us and then he would start pacing the platform up and down, with his hands behind his back, talking to the other people that were there - waiting for the same train of course. Conversation would range from the subject of wether the train would be on time/late/packed/empty. How many kids did they have in the capital? Yes, it was a struggle to get food to them, but what are you going to do?
Years have passed and now I am there very early everytime I have to travel. This practice of being exhaustively early is driving Marian nuts, but I have never failed to be early. Except when I lost the plane in 2008. From that day onwards, Marian checks my flights everytime because I no longer trust myself to get the dates right. And there you have it, today he didn't check them because he also had to leave for Melbourne.
And here I am, thinking that my flight leaves at 7:10 am on the 15th of May. And I was here at 11:59 pm on the 14th of May. Happy like a dog playing with a rotting corpse, thinking that oh great, I won't sleep tonight and then I will sleep just right on the plane. Am sitting comfortably in coffee bean when suddenly inspiration strikes and I check my ticket. I am officially 28 (TWENTY FUCKING EIGHT) hours early for my flight. My plane leaves at 7:10 am on the 16th of May. I have decided to stay here at least until tomorrow morning if not the whole day tomorrow.Anybody around Changi area can come and have lunch with me, yay! Fuck it!! I am going home, the airport music is killing me. Pfft ...
In later years, when I was about 10 - 11 and my grandmother still had to accompany me (by now she had a pensioner's discount and I had to pay half ticket), this thing would annoy the hell out of me and I would grumble and complain and make fun and what not, but still go. I still remember the skinny figure of my grandfather who would rush us along (2.5 - 3 hours before the scheduled arrival time) "Come on, let's get going, take that bag, come on!!" And then we would reach the station 2.5 hours before and plunk our bags down on the platform - especially when we went when school began in autumn, my grandparents were LOADED with goodies for my mum: preserves, cakes, the occasional dead chicken, cooked food! And my grandfather would glance satisfied at us and then he would start pacing the platform up and down, with his hands behind his back, talking to the other people that were there - waiting for the same train of course. Conversation would range from the subject of wether the train would be on time/late/packed/empty. How many kids did they have in the capital? Yes, it was a struggle to get food to them, but what are you going to do?
Years have passed and now I am there very early everytime I have to travel. This practice of being exhaustively early is driving Marian nuts, but I have never failed to be early. Except when I lost the plane in 2008. From that day onwards, Marian checks my flights everytime because I no longer trust myself to get the dates right. And there you have it, today he didn't check them because he also had to leave for Melbourne.
And here I am, thinking that my flight leaves at 7:10 am on the 15th of May. And I was here at 11:59 pm on the 14th of May. Happy like a dog playing with a rotting corpse, thinking that oh great, I won't sleep tonight and then I will sleep just right on the plane. Am sitting comfortably in coffee bean when suddenly inspiration strikes and I check my ticket. I am officially 28 (TWENTY FUCKING EIGHT) hours early for my flight. My plane leaves at 7:10 am on the 16th of May. I have decided to stay here at least until tomorrow morning if not the whole day tomorrow.
Thursday, May 13
Moving out
4 years in one spot can accumulate a LOT of clutter, especially if u are a little hoarder like me. I guess the only part about the new office being smaller is the fact that a lot of stuff got thrown out, finally. I actually managed to keep just a box of papers, as opposed to the predicted three boxes. I am actually proud of myself :)
The computer plus the displays are still here because tomorrow is my last day in this office and contrary to common belief that I slackalot (fueled also by the fact that my monitors are facing the entrance - and my back is facing the door hahaha-- and I do not know how I do it but everytime somebody comes in I am browsing the web :D), I actually plan to work tomorrow.
And, totally unrelated, today we went to a talk by a famous professor whose research is well-appreciated the world over. The talk was extremely BOOORING and unfocused. I have yet to attend a talk by a famous guy who actually lives up to his research - and no, I am not talking about Steve Jobs or Steve Ballmer. (are all famous men called Steve? Stephen Hawking?) Wait, no! G.W. Bush - whew, I can always count on Bush to bring me back to normality.
Monday, May 10
Durian fiesta
Would love to blog about how we are moving. And about how I am literally sitting on boxes while I am writing this. Or about how I do not know how the movers will lift a box full of very thick books. Their problem i guess...
We sent Crystel off on saturday. A bit sad and a bit weird at the same time as all her boyfriend's family was there. Like all 7 of them.
Before that, Dodo, San, Crystel + bf and I went to eat durians on Friday night. Only us girls dug in the creamy goodness, and sadly, with very obvious effects. In total, the four of us ate 6 (SIX) durians, with Crystel and I eating the last 3 (THREE). With an average of 800 calories per fruit, it would be around 1800 for Crystel and I (that is, assuming that San and dodo had an equal share of the first three, which we know by now is not true). I don't really care about this - with durian being right up there with the cheese in not making me feel even the least bit guilty when my fingers are screaming murder while they pull my big ass up the wall. As far as I am concerned, durians and cheese are calorie free and my fingers can just suck it. But I know that Crystel cares so I will make sure to send her an email . Like now [chuckles evilly]
[this was the first batch of durians. after that, when crystel and i decided we want more! more! more! san and doris when to get it, yay!]
Sadly, a more obvious consequence of the pigging out on friday is the gigantic zit I now have on my forehead. And considering that tonight we are going for DURIAN FRIED RICE, i think the only direction in which this zit can go is upwards.
[the chubby frankfurter you see in the first picture is doris' finger]
Wednesday, May 5
When stupidity hurts
As discussed on Friday, I went running barefoot on the track.
Everything would be quite ok with this statement, if not for some minor details. First of all, I went running barefoot at 4 pm.
Second of all, Friday was a very hot day in Singapore. The sun was blazing on the track from 8 am.
What, my dear readers do you think is the result of these two statements?
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
I shall spare you the excitement of figuring it out: after running only one lap I had developed a tingly painful feeling on the soles of my feet and stopped. Thank god I stopped and i didn't have any weird ambition to finish the 2km I had initially planned.
By the time I got to Climb Asia to climb with Doris, the tingly painful feeling developed into 5 cm in diameter blisters on both my soles. The blisters were 1 cm deep. And painful. VERY PAINFUL to climb on them. Because you see, something i learned maybe in my second year of climbing is, that climbing is a lot about the feet. My eyes would slightly bulge a bit whenever I squeezed my climbing shoes on - not only are they 1 size smaller but my feet were also swollen - and my upper lip would sweat a bit whenever I had to really (and I mean really) step. I also learned very quickly how to land on my heels and do routes that were very hard at the start such that I would not fall from high.
In the end, Friday night found me naked in the bathtub, armed with a pocket knife (not good) and afterwards a needle (works much better) to break the blisters. A lot of liquid oozed out, but I will spare you that picture.
Everything would be quite ok with this statement, if not for some minor details. First of all, I went running barefoot at 4 pm.
Second of all, Friday was a very hot day in Singapore. The sun was blazing on the track from 8 am.
What, my dear readers do you think is the result of these two statements?
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
I shall spare you the excitement of figuring it out: after running only one lap I had developed a tingly painful feeling on the soles of my feet and stopped. Thank god I stopped and i didn't have any weird ambition to finish the 2km I had initially planned.
By the time I got to Climb Asia to climb with Doris, the tingly painful feeling developed into 5 cm in diameter blisters on both my soles. The blisters were 1 cm deep. And painful. VERY PAINFUL to climb on them. Because you see, something i learned maybe in my second year of climbing is, that climbing is a lot about the feet. My eyes would slightly bulge a bit whenever I squeezed my climbing shoes on - not only are they 1 size smaller but my feet were also swollen - and my upper lip would sweat a bit whenever I had to really (and I mean really) step. I also learned very quickly how to land on my heels and do routes that were very hard at the start such that I would not fall from high.
In the end, Friday night found me naked in the bathtub, armed with a pocket knife (not good) and afterwards a needle (works much better) to break the blisters. A lot of liquid oozed out, but I will spare you that picture.
Friday, April 30
Friday afternoon
So sad when you want your day to be relaxed as Manu Chao's La vacaloca and it ends up being Chemical Brothers' Galvanize. I so yearn to slack and have so much work to do. Sadly the only slacked thing about today is that a) I am wearing fisherman's pants and b) I will be doing a barefoot run later.
But! Slowly and surely getting psyched about the following:
1. Going to the US for a conference in may - I am not psyched about this but! I will be meeting my father in Miami woo hoo!
2. Going to Romania in june june june! Other than the cheese and the bread and seeing my family and all that, I WILL BE CLIMBING LIMESTONE for one whole week!!! How cool is that?
3. Writing my Oscar speech - i.e. the acknowledgement section for the thesis. Sadly, from what i could see, it got major editing from the sheriff so i won't post it here yet.
But! Slowly and surely getting psyched about the following:
1. Going to the US for a conference in may - I am not psyched about this but! I will be meeting my father in Miami woo hoo!
2. Going to Romania in june june june! Other than the cheese and the bread and seeing my family and all that, I WILL BE CLIMBING LIMESTONE for one whole week!!! How cool is that?
3. Writing my Oscar speech - i.e. the acknowledgement section for the thesis. Sadly, from what i could see, it got major editing from the sheriff so i won't post it here yet.
Wednesday, April 28
Small expectations
A couple of months ago I vowed, even on this blog, to run every day at least 10 km. That soon became impossible because I had to climb 3/7 days, and do tutorials 1/7 days, and then i was shacked and dead-ish. So I soon lowered the limit to 5 km/day. Except one day in the weekends, which I designed to be my "free" day. Oh how i imagined I would put my feet up and read and relax on that free day - this of course didn't happen because we started climbing on Sunday (my free day) as well.
A month or so after setting the lowish 5km limit, things started to rapidly deteriorate. I would run 4, 4.6, hell even 3km routes, without feeling much guilt because 5-4.6 = 0.4 so it wasn't such a big deal. I suppose this lead to a decrease in form, both physical and mental. Pretty soon after this, even full fledged 5 km started to feel like I was running at least 2 marathons. Uphill!
So here was I former long distance runner extraordinaire, being bored/apprehensive/cautious, about five measly km runs. To say nothing that I really did not phantom that I could ever run 10 km again. It is amazing how fast we forget how good we were at something. Last week, when I had to run longer distances on more than one occasion (Tuesday, Thursday, Friday) I actually felt that I would not be able to do it and! started making excuses even before the run started.
I guess I am my worst enemy when it comes to selling myself short or telling myself that I can't do something. This pops up in climbing as well, where my negative talk is the most effective talk ever. I am scared that it has started to pop up in other areas as well, especially now since the last part of the thesis left to be written is the contributions section.
So for this week I am planning longer runs to boost the confidence. However, I am still pondering possible solutions for selling myself short/talking myself down lifewise: loud music, ice-cream, chips! anyone?
A month or so after setting the lowish 5km limit, things started to rapidly deteriorate. I would run 4, 4.6, hell even 3km routes, without feeling much guilt because 5-4.6 = 0.4 so it wasn't such a big deal. I suppose this lead to a decrease in form, both physical and mental. Pretty soon after this, even full fledged 5 km started to feel like I was running at least 2 marathons. Uphill!
So here was I former long distance runner extraordinaire, being bored/apprehensive/cautious, about five measly km runs. To say nothing that I really did not phantom that I could ever run 10 km again. It is amazing how fast we forget how good we were at something. Last week, when I had to run longer distances on more than one occasion (Tuesday, Thursday, Friday) I actually felt that I would not be able to do it and! started making excuses even before the run started.
I guess I am my worst enemy when it comes to selling myself short or telling myself that I can't do something. This pops up in climbing as well, where my negative talk is the most effective talk ever. I am scared that it has started to pop up in other areas as well, especially now since the last part of the thesis left to be written is the contributions section.
So for this week I am planning longer runs to boost the confidence. However, I am still pondering possible solutions for selling myself short/talking myself down lifewise: loud music, ice-cream, chips! anyone?
Monday, April 26
Benediction
So a junior staff in the UK Foreign Office is a little bit tired and stressed after all those meetings and stuff. I can relate to that, since all this writing I have been doing in the past few weeks have left me dry as a raisin. Right now all I want to write is "Fuck it, I'm done!" in the conclusions chapter.
But this, this is truly hilarious:
THE government apologised to the Pope last night after an official paper suggested he should be asked to open an abortion clinic, bless a gay marriage and launch a Benedict-branded condom range on his state visit in September.
The document, drawn up by the Foreign Office as part of a briefing pack and sent to officials across Whitehall, also suggested Benedict XVI could demonstrate a hard line on child abuse by “sacking dodgy bishops” and launching a helpline for abused children.
The government’s papal visit team also recommended that he sing a song with the Queen for charity and apologise for the Spanish Armada. [...]
One suggsted that Pope Benedict should be persuaded to spend a night in a council flat in Bradford and “do forward rolls with children to promote healthy living.
Read it all here.
Saturday, April 24
Breakfast in Harvard
I have a lot to post about the past two days (it's all about zits and thunderstorms) but for now I feel so shacked that i can only post this:
Friday, April 23
Will run for shoes
On Tuesday I ran all the way to Raffles City. To buy face cream. Basically, with the current lack of shopping buddies I haven't been out and about town in a veeery long time. So tuesday evening i grabbed the opportunity to shuffle my ass into town and do some girly shopping, all by myself.
All nice and dandy, except that before reaching the face cream shop I had to walk through a shoe shop. And that is where all hell started. Because not only did I go through the shop, but I actually stopped to look at some shoes.
Picture this: I am wearing black tights (and not only wearing, but overflowing them), a black tight singlet, I am sweaty (very! sweaty since the route is about 10-11 km), I stink to kingdom come but! I am trying on a series of pumps and shoes and sandals and what not. And for each of the try I must take off my running shoes, my socks, etc.
It only proceeded from bad to worse because at one point I found not one, but two pairs of shoes that I liked. It is at times like these that the presence of another human being (and I mean any other human being) that is willing to comment honestly is more than welcome. Actually, it is required. So here am I , in the middle of a glitzy shoe shop, one shoe on one leg and my running shoe in the other, picking up the phone to call Marian to beg him to come downtown. I came to my senses by the time he agreed and decided to return on Thursday, this time on a more organized manner.
I would run to Raffles, he would bring my clothes, I would change in proper attire and then! we would go shopping for shoes. Thursday all things went downhill, and as such I was so depressed (reason to come soon) that not only did I run fast, but I also bought not one, but TWO pairs of shoes (discounted, true, and required, true). Both of them were on sale and below 40 SGD so I do not feel that bad. But still ...
All nice and dandy, except that before reaching the face cream shop I had to walk through a shoe shop. And that is where all hell started. Because not only did I go through the shop, but I actually stopped to look at some shoes.
Picture this: I am wearing black tights (and not only wearing, but overflowing them), a black tight singlet, I am sweaty (very! sweaty since the route is about 10-11 km), I stink to kingdom come but! I am trying on a series of pumps and shoes and sandals and what not. And for each of the try I must take off my running shoes, my socks, etc.
It only proceeded from bad to worse because at one point I found not one, but two pairs of shoes that I liked. It is at times like these that the presence of another human being (and I mean any other human being) that is willing to comment honestly is more than welcome. Actually, it is required. So here am I , in the middle of a glitzy shoe shop, one shoe on one leg and my running shoe in the other, picking up the phone to call Marian to beg him to come downtown. I came to my senses by the time he agreed and decided to return on Thursday, this time on a more organized manner.
I would run to Raffles, he would bring my clothes, I would change in proper attire and then! we would go shopping for shoes. Thursday all things went downhill, and as such I was so depressed (reason to come soon) that not only did I run fast, but I also bought not one, but TWO pairs of shoes (discounted, true, and required, true). Both of them were on sale and below 40 SGD so I do not feel that bad. But still ...
Wednesday, April 21
Of handstands and trapezes
Rarely in one's life one actually has the time to stop for a while and notice the people around. It has to do with the fact that we become so caught up in our lives and our hobbies and our path, in one word, so caught up in ourselves, that we barely have time to raise our head from the pasture and glance at the bright blue sky. [literary, I like!] You cannot not notice Crystel because she's the one who would do handstands for warm-up outside the climbing gym. I guess even a flock of sheep would stop their grazing if one of them suddenly decided to do back-flips just for the fun of it.
Crystel is a 24-year old, second year math major (can i say that again?) MATH major (with a minor in physics). She is also a former gymnast and! has been with Cirque du Soleil for the last four-five years or so (she's the one on the right).
The ultimate coolness aside, what has really impressed me is the striking contrast: on one hand we have people like me, marian, and well, almost everybody i know around here, that lived at home or close to the family cluster through university, went to university at the proper time (18 or so), were supported by our parents and the state throughout. On the other hand we have people like her who at 18 went to do what they have always been dreaming of (cmon, even I dreamt of going away with a circus, imagine if I was actually flexible or good at gymnastics!), saved money, and now are supporting themselves through university. I mean how much ballz does it take to do that? At least a bucket, I would say.
The money and the ballz issues aside, it's no easy job to go to university at 24! Everybody is much younger and all of them have done nothing but study. It is much harder to remember stuff from physics (let's say) when you studied it like eight years ago.
Top this ultimate determination and courage with the cool videos. On saturday I can't say if we were drooling because of the food or because of what we were seeing. Find on youtube: cirque du soleil saltimbanco chinese poles and cirque du soleil saltimbanco bungee
Monday, April 19
A weekend of durians!
My weekend started on Friday with the shit-fuck-crap trip to Kuala Lumpur for my lab-mates "civil" wedding. A nice touching moment when they said "I do" and signed, after which everything spiraled, and sadly only downwards (great food though). First note to self: pink make-up, blonde hair, lilac dress: BRRRRR!
Second note to self: just invite ONLY people you like at your wedding. If you do not want somebody at your wedding, DO NOT invite them. Not because you have to, not because it's nice, certainly not for their benefit and enjoyment. Lest you have a couple of drinks and end up insulting them, or me, by saying "Claudia is a good influence ... sometimes." And downwards from there ... I really hated the moment especially since i was trying to be civil and not end it all with a "Shut up, bitch" towards the bride. Sad and pathetic, but at least I have learned that one should only invite friends to one's wedding. Go figure!
The trip was not all that bad because I had a durian!! Yay! Sadly, I shared it!
And then saturday, after an exhausting full work day with the boss, i had another! All by myself, without sharing it at all woo hooo!!! Top this with a great dinner (Chilli! Con carne!) by Crystel (more about her in the next post) and the weekend was finally starting. Sadly, I now realise i do not have a picture of the durian (too excited about Crystel's movies) but only a picture of the pot of Chilli! Con carne!!
Second note to self: just invite ONLY people you like at your wedding. If you do not want somebody at your wedding, DO NOT invite them. Not because you have to, not because it's nice, certainly not for their benefit and enjoyment. Lest you have a couple of drinks and end up insulting them, or me, by saying "Claudia is a good influence ... sometimes." And downwards from there ... I really hated the moment especially since i was trying to be civil and not end it all with a "Shut up, bitch" towards the bride. Sad and pathetic, but at least I have learned that one should only invite friends to one's wedding. Go figure!
The trip was not all that bad because I had a durian!! Yay! Sadly, I shared it!
And then saturday, after an exhausting full work day with the boss, i had another! All by myself, without sharing it at all woo hooo!!! Top this with a great dinner (Chilli! Con carne!) by Crystel (more about her in the next post) and the weekend was finally starting. Sadly, I now realise i do not have a picture of the durian (too excited about Crystel's movies) but only a picture of the pot of Chilli! Con carne!!
Wednesday, April 14
What we talk about when we talk about climbing...
... How much Doris looks like Night Fury aka Toothless. Or Toothless looks like doris... Haha, no harm intended, no harm done (i hope!) but it was a great laugh for a tired climbing night!
Monday, April 12
Fucking presumptuous, really
So. When you get married, as far as I understand, the thing to do is to gather all (or most) of your friends and relatives in one BIG celebration of the aforementioned legal certificate to fuck and breed humans. Or in more milder terms, you want all your friends (notice again the emphasis on friends) and relatives (i.e. same blood) around you such that they share your joy and your happiness at obtaining the said legal certificate to fuck and breed humans. An added advantage of weddings are the wedding gifts (in produce or money). So see, legal certificate + $$$$ = LOVE!
To some people, like myself and others, it might be a bit difficult to join you in your celebration, mostly because we are not close friends, and because it means I will have to give up my Friday night climbing session (btw SAN, climbing on SUNDAY right?!) in order to attend said legalization (to fuck and breed humans). Plus this with the fact that I am the only child from a divorced marriage so the said legalization means SHIT for me, and you will see how hard it is for me to actually move my ass to go to Kuala Lumpur. However, I am willing to make this sacrifice for the sake of the custom and so on and so forth.
But never in a million years would I have suspected that some people are so delusional to think that the ceremony and all the fuss and the obligatory socialization is done for the benefit of the community, and I quote, "we are doing this for you". I would have laughed at this if I did not have to give up climbing on Friday and haul my ass up to KL. It is you and only you that you are doing this for. So seriously, stop deluding yourself.
Later edit: The ROAR in this post really helped because I just run 5k in 24 minutes, something i thought i would never do again. Go ROAR!!
To some people, like myself and others, it might be a bit difficult to join you in your celebration, mostly because we are not close friends, and because it means I will have to give up my Friday night climbing session (btw SAN, climbing on SUNDAY right?!) in order to attend said legalization (to fuck and breed humans). Plus this with the fact that I am the only child from a divorced marriage so the said legalization means SHIT for me, and you will see how hard it is for me to actually move my ass to go to Kuala Lumpur. However, I am willing to make this sacrifice for the sake of the custom and so on and so forth.
But never in a million years would I have suspected that some people are so delusional to think that the ceremony and all the fuss and the obligatory socialization is done for the benefit of the community, and I quote, "we are doing this for you". I would have laughed at this if I did not have to give up climbing on Friday and haul my ass up to KL. It is you and only you that you are doing this for. So seriously, stop deluding yourself.
Later edit: The ROAR in this post really helped because I just run 5k in 24 minutes, something i thought i would never do again. Go ROAR!!
Friday, April 9
Avoidance
Last night I ran a 6 k route for the millionth time. I am so sick of the routes in NUS that to kill boredom I started to think about very unpleasant subjects. Like the fact I am very good at avoiding doing actions that I know will have very unpleasant results for me. For example, I do not want to check my bank account to make sure the ATM in Chiang Mai did not take more than it's fare share because I do not want to see the pitiful state in which my savings have arrived.
My main avoidance technique is to think about what i have to do, squirm violently, and put the thing at the back of my head, to be done later. Of course the thing will stay where I put it only for a limited amount of time.
After a while, it will get so loud that I will have to deal with it. I deal with it by jotting it down in my organizer, under the things to do maybe 2-3 days from now. When the day comes and I still do not do it, it will move it a few times until I put it on my stickies on the computer. I noticed that the stickies act as a land of no return for whatever task i put there. Basically, if tasks reach the stickies, they will not get completed. Many barriers I have raised in front of the ugly things and I am very good at raising more. Apparently, I have not yet milked the power of the blog, so here it goes.
Below are a few of the things I need to do but I haven't, together with their reasons for avoidance.
Google How to train for a faster marathon (under 4 hrs) - Because I know the answer will be "Train harder" and I do not want to train harder. Simple as that.
Buy plane ticket to US - Because I do not want to be penniless again (even though the school will reimburse me. I think. )
See the registration deadline for Pumpfest - Because then there will be no turning back, and I will have to join a bouldering competition after i said i will not join one again. Or did I? Hm ...
Weigh myself - Because I know what the answer will be. FATT.
Buy plane tickets by myself - Because one time, I missed the plane because of that.
Call somebody. Anybody. - Because I still am shy, and still I do not like talking on the phone.
My main avoidance technique is to think about what i have to do, squirm violently, and put the thing at the back of my head, to be done later. Of course the thing will stay where I put it only for a limited amount of time.
After a while, it will get so loud that I will have to deal with it. I deal with it by jotting it down in my organizer, under the things to do maybe 2-3 days from now. When the day comes and I still do not do it, it will move it a few times until I put it on my stickies on the computer. I noticed that the stickies act as a land of no return for whatever task i put there. Basically, if tasks reach the stickies, they will not get completed. Many barriers I have raised in front of the ugly things and I am very good at raising more. Apparently, I have not yet milked the power of the blog, so here it goes.
Below are a few of the things I need to do but I haven't, together with their reasons for avoidance.
Google How to train for a faster marathon (under 4 hrs) - Because I know the answer will be "Train harder" and I do not want to train harder. Simple as that.
Buy plane ticket to US - Because I do not want to be penniless again (even though the school will reimburse me. I think. )
See the registration deadline for Pumpfest - Because then there will be no turning back, and I will have to join a bouldering competition after i said i will not join one again. Or did I? Hm ...
Weigh myself - Because I know what the answer will be. FATT.
Buy plane tickets by myself - Because one time, I missed the plane because of that.
Call somebody. Anybody. - Because I still am shy, and still I do not like talking on the phone.
Wednesday, April 7
Climbing in Chiang Mai!
[Photos here].The trip was lovely and I enjoyed every second of it. I did not do any hard climbs, part because i was there with my non-climbing friends, and part because I was scared shit to try hard routes. I think i would have needed at least a week of climbing for that.
It was endearing to see noobs face the rock walls for the first time in their lives. Oh, the angst and the scare and the "Oh my ggggod I am going to die!" were worth every second of shouting, of "Put your right leg up! Higher, higher! Niice!". And answer questions like "Who makes these big holes in the wall?" [talking about the jugs we kept holding]
One of them (a very big, tall guy), got a short-man's beta from me on a route that was too powerful for him. The frustration and the powerlessness got his body (and i really mean his body) to yell one big "FUCK YOU!" at me when I told him not to be defeated when he was sighing non-stop. And i do say his body, because obviously his mind would not take that risk. Not while on belay that is ...
I was proud as a first-time hen seeing her chicks pluck dirt for the first time, especially when one of them was so obviously talented on the rock. Not like yours truly, who four/five years ago really resembled the big awkward guy. Just goes to show that Neverquits actually works.
I still have to learn a lot, especially on listening to whines and complaints, which is something that I really suck at. And to be more patient when people say that they climb because I make them climb - it's a joke but not when we are talking about something so precious (at least to me). I should take a few seconds to realize that it's a joke and not say the first mean thing that comes to my mind. And to be able to put on my ballz suit from the first days at the rock wall, because sometimes (like now), you won't get more than a few days.
And also I have to learn to let young friendships die. If they are not meant to live, they are not meant to live and nothing I can do will ever bring them back alive. Furthermore, if somebody tells you that your significant other is an angel by comparison [with you] ... all they deserve from you is indeed a very big FUCK OFF.
Lo and behold, the pictures!
Day 1: We were so LOUD on the bus that some of the other people took out their mp3 players! Conversations ranged from digestive system, to boobs, and i think we touched on the subject of death as well. We climbed few routes, I got the big, loud "FUCK YOU!", had a nice lunch, left the girls to rest at the wooden houses, and came back for more! The last route of the day was a very long 6a (30m) that really had an amazing view. We were still loud on the way home, but not quite as loud.
Going towards "The Furnace":
Scared before the climb:
One of the few decent photos of me:
Short-man's beta is not easy!
After the incident (all of us are camera whores, so nothing like a camera pointed at you to make you smile and forget about the "FUCK YOU!"):
Dying going up to our last routes:
The view from the top:
A. doing the "beached whale":
Marian leading again:
Climbing with this is hardd!
Shacked:
Day 2: Shacked when waking up, silent but still talking on the bus. Climbed mostly at Crazy Horse Buttress, which is the main climbing site. Climbed between 7-9 routes, did a 6c (top rope, no ballz). Climbed with an australian that picked us up as partners (he was alone). Marian led a lot of routes and took care of the noobs while I was with the aussie. I ate like it was the end of the world for lunch. We were absolutely SILENT on the bus home. Not a fantastic day because we were in the sun in the morning and it sapped us of all we had.
My fierce impersonation is getting better day by day!
The sun drenched every last bit of energy from us:
Marian is the last one to keep his shirt on:
Totally shacked but still going at it:
Day 3: And then there were 3. We started as 6 in the first day, but by the last day only 3 of us were left. Climbed in a cave at the AirCon wall - so-called because if you sit in front of the cave, cool bursts of wind will come down to cool you (it was hot and very dry outside). The routes were overhanged, which led A. (then one that did a beached whale) to literally french kiss his biceps. And then we went to do a chimney climb, which to my shame i could not lead (no ballz) and I had to set up using a route on its right. Marian led two other routes (so proud, he's leading again!) and then we were done and that was it.
Inside the cave:
Descending into nothing:
Using one's face to climb:
Tuesday, April 6
Chiang Mai!
Oh boy oh boy oh boy I have never felt more guilty for skipping one day of work like i do today! So just a few words here! I think i am catching a cold (which is like HOW rare?), I have worn my running shoes only to walk around in them (shame), I think I gained weight (oops) or its just the swell from flying (yeah right), but other than that I had a great time finally touching rock for the first time this year. Pictures to come!
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