back down for a bit

the past 2 weeks have been slightly tumultuous.

i know people usually don't like reading a detailed account of others' lives (since i'm not famous or anything) but i'll just jot (i love that word! jot! jotter book!) down bits of it so i can remember later on.

cons' visit 21-29 may
- haven't received that horrible fine yet... am beginning to suspect that flash from the speed camera was meant for somebody else.
- cons brought us to loads of lovely places, but it was such a shame i had to stay home most times to prepare for the review.
- this was also the week we ate out most often. out of my 4 mths in melbs, i think i gained the most weight in this 1 week.
- i was taught a new way of getting home from the city: i LOVE 100km/h freeways!
- watched star wars episode 3. so-so only.

graduate research weekend 27-29 may
- very jittery. i know cuz i had diarrhoea. and i get diarrhoea when i get nervous.
- had quite an alrite review, considering it's a first. my panel was large. there are usually 4 critics, but mine had 5. and 1 of them is the associate prof of the school of architecture. on hindsight, it's no wonder i had diarrhoea.
- believe that my first presentation is always jinxed, so i had a dry run with the housemate and cons the night before, so things went more smoothly the next day.
- it was a 9.30am review. the first in the morning. for a solid hour. on a sunday morning. what can be more horrible than that?
- saw my supervisor's presentation an hour after mine. kena bombed quite badly. but then again, it's not that she can't handly it, only she's bitten off more than she could chew for the time being.

sending lucifer to the workshop 30 may - 3 june
- at its 100,000km mileage, lucifer (my car lah) needed servicing. i noticed he had his moods. braking, veering off course a little, and a lack in power when going upslope.
- being a virgin at sending a car to any mechanic, i was afraid i'd get fleeced. but i was desperate as lucifer had one of his moods while going down MOUNT dandenong (note to self: it is of utmost importance that the brake can be applied to a moving vehicle going downslope. yeah.) so i couldn't put the servicing off.
- i have no idea what actually happened at the workshop, but 4 days later, i was charged $230. ok, i guess. i dunno still. think i have a blind faith in lucifer's renewed abilities after a stay at the workshop.

trip down south: wilson's promontory national park 31 may - 3 june
- 7 postgrads, 4 undergrad exchange-students present. 4 italians, 3 germans, 1 melburnian, 1 mexican, 1 spanish, 1 singaporean. united nations.
- spent $400 on groceries and $250 on alcohol on the way down. all meals were cooked at the lodge by participants. all alcohol was consumed within 3 nights.
- went for a 6-hour trek in the aussie bush. with 1 hour in between spent at a lovely cove by the sea. that makes a grand total of 7-hours of walking. oh my aching calves.
- on respective "other" days, walks lasted from 2-3 hours. mostly on undulating footpaths less than 1m-wide. and it rained. and was sunny. and humid. one after the other.
- hence i fell sick. and sprained my ankle. man, i am weak.
- i don't smoke, but my stamina is nowhere near the chainsmoking italians and spanish in the group. i think they were faster due to their longer legs. serious.

Your Birthdate: June 5

With a birthday on the 5th of the month you are inclined to work well with people and enjoy them. You are talented and versatile, very good at presenting ideas. You may have a tendency to get itchy feet at times and need change and travel. You tend to be very progressive, imaginative and adaptable. Your mind is quick, clever and analytical. A restlessness in your nature may make you a bit impatient and easily bored with routine. You may have a tendency to shirk responsibility

What Does Your Birth Date Mean?

in 1 hrs' time: happy birthday to me.