Exposed!

It is raining again. It rained the whole of yesterday and as I look out the window, it is raining yet again. I don't really mind the rain normally, but I'm supposed to play tennis tonight and it's quite difficult to play on wet ground - you tend to slip and slide on the parts of the ground where there's moss.

Too late to apologize...

I've decided that if I don't use it, I might just lose it and that I better practise what I preached. I mean, I tell my students to read, speak, write, listen and even watch as much good English as they possibly can but I haven't written anything frivolous for ages. Most of my writing these days are short functional pieces which do not really have soul - more substance than style and I really believe that writing should be a lot about style.

And so here I am, with a title sampled from some RnB song ringing incessantly in my ears. I wonder actually who in the hell still visits this dusty old site but who knows. As everybody knows, I write for an audience which is why plenty of my previous entries were rather sensationalistic and screaming for attention. Since I'm fast approaching the big three O, I've grown to be more reticent. Well, not really. I've grown quite a temper and especially towards the likes of incompetent service staff.

But my current pet peeve must be glaring headlights. Somedays, I feel I should carry a sledgehammer in my car and at traffic stops, take it out and smash the rear car's headlights to kingdom come, and if the driver comes out, his head as well. Or maybe his head into his headlights in one fell swoop. Why in bleeding hell must they be so damn inconsiderate? I mean, the frustrating thing is that I can't do a damn thing about it, except perhaps, hang back, and tail him/her with my high beam all the way. At least, with oncoming cars, I can actually return the damn favour and blind the bastard, and I have, on many an occasion. I mean...I understand stock white lights which are rather glaring, but headlights which are on constant high beam and especially taxis with one light normal and one on high? What the hell is that? Ok, time to sleep.

Nothing Meaningful

Just read a friend's blog where he shared his experience of going to Geylang. I realize that I have arrived at an age and a certain social standing where I become quite embarrassed of the fact that I visit Geylang. Because, I did go to Geylang this last Saturday (no less) and I'm frankly embarrassed. After all, Ramadhan is supposed to be a month of worship, Quranic recitation, quiet contemplation and if all else fails, plenty of sleep. As such, Geylang is sort of a bustling, stark-raving contradiction in this context. But we've got to buy our 'raya' clothes, those little green envelopes and most importantly, deng-deng somewhere; so I guess, I must acquisce to the mass-Malay commercialised mania and join in. Besides, in my defence, I did perform the Tarawih prayers first, and then watched a movie (which is also incidentally very much un-Ramadhan like and the fact that I was salivating over Jessica Biel really compounds matters) before going to Geylang shortly after midnight. The crowd sorta thins out after midnight - I repeat, sorta.

Let me be honest. There are actually two main reasons why I'm not too hot about going to Geylang. Socially, I refuse to be part of the Mat parade, which inevitably I would be, bearing in mind my skin colour and the simple fact that I'm in Geylang. However, my saving grace would be perhaps my lack of hair which does not compute into the blonde/brown/red Mat variety. Practically, it's really too bloody crowded. Some years, I do get excited about going to Geylang, especially thinking about the exhaustive selection of food, or maybe because I'm desperate to buy something to wear for Hari Raya, but once I'm there, I suffer from rapid diminishing marginal returns. It's incredibly hot, people keep bumping into you, and especially now, I just might bump into students which I did, incidentally on the said Saturday.

Anyway, midnight on a weekday night means that I've got to turn in. Till the next inspiration. Make full use of the last remaining days of Ramadhan. As you may well know, we never know if we're gonna see the next one. No more Jessica Biel for me. Sigh. Her ass is incredible.

P.S. Do you think God gives more points cos I have to struggle so much to stay on the path of the righteous?

Cyber-Spying

Of late, I have been snooping about in my students' blogs and there have been some rather juicy finds. The thing about blogs is that once you find one, you'll get them all! Maniacal laughter and all that

I'm feeling rather relaxed at the moment with nothing much to do at work. I'm sorta bracing myself for tomorrow, when the exam papers will start streaming in. Ok, it's not so much streaming, as it is, an avalanche, or the buzzword these days, a tsunami but, I'm kind of ready for it - which is why, I'm adamant about doing absolutely nothing these few days. Of course, in any given work situation, you'd be an idiot to tell people that you have nothing to do - what with all the backstabbing and the arrowing and the incessant gossiping (of which, I'm normally a part of).

Looking at the workload of some, I'm amazed at how little I have on my plate. I hardly get arrowed to do anything. Not a CCA in charge, not a form teacher, no committee affiliations and no extra marking of which, for the last one especially, I'm eternally grateful cos I absolutely detest marking.

However, being the restless, ambitious, over-eager sod that I am, I initiate all sorts of nonsense in an attempt to boost my profile, bolster my portfolio, and sometimes, simply for my students. Yes, I do teach because I actually like the interaction and the fulfillment, but the money really helps. And so, my altruistic side arranged remedial lessons for some of my students on some of the days, thinking that the weaker students needed some extra help. The problem however, arose when I made it voluntary and too many of my students attended. Now, I kinda regret opening the classes up to just anybody.

Anyway, we're in the midst of Ramadan and the religious obligations are going quite well. Rather frequent Tarawih sessions, I complete the five obligatories almost everyday, immersing in the Quran - it's all good. In fact, I've even managed to stick to a three-times-a-week gym sessions in school after which, I'll immediately rush home to shower, perform my prayers and indulge in the bliss of sleep waking up just in time to break my fast.

Thus far, I've also discovered that it is morally perilous to be walking around town right before the breaking of the fast since it is a veritable boob parade. Singaporean girls these days really show off a lot of boob. On the rare occasions I was in town (meaning, Orchard area), it was oops, cleavage here, goodness, half a boob there, and nipple see through, look away, look away! I must emphasize that it really is not my fault. Most guys have vision which is hormonally-driven and thus, we're blameless. It is the fault of nature.

Flower Show Riots...

Let me advertise a lil somethin' somethin'