My friend in Sweden took this photograph. Isn't it beautiful? I've never seen blue flowers (except for the purplish morning glories)..these are magnificent. Thanks Martin!

Da Vinci Code

I watched the movie yesterday (I read the book beginning of last year.) and I think it was good. Seriously, I don't see how people can condemn it so much. Maybe its because I am not a Christian, so I am not offended by what the book claims. Of course it is surprising, but I took it with a grain of salt - it could be true, it could be false.

We hear a lot of things these days - religion claims this, science claims something else. Yet, we still believe in our religion, right? So I honestly think people should not let it get to them.

I like how Langdon says "...every faith in the world is based on fabrication. That is the defintion of faith - acceptance of that which we imagine to be true, that which we cannot prove. Every religion describes God through metaphor, allegory, and exaggeration, from the early Egyptians through modern Sunday school. Metaphors are a way to help our minds process the unprocessible. The problems arise when we begin to believe literally in our own metaphors."

I think this is true to a certain extent. I have been told a lot of things about my religion - Hinduism. I know it's possible that when you re-think things you were taught as a child - with a scientific mind, you do realise that a lot of things don't really add up logically, sometimes. Yet I still choose to believe in it - because God is God, no matter how you look at it. I use my religion as a way to be a better person.

I have argued with a classmate in college about this before - he's a Brahmin and he is a pure vegetarian and follows all the religious stuff and all - while I am religious on the inside. I don't really follow many things as required but I like to believe that it doesn't matter whether I am a vegetarian, how many times I pray and all that. I like to believe that as long as I am a good person, intending no harm to others, not hurting people's feelings intentionally, not stealing or taking things which do not belong to me, being a God-fearing, law-abiding citizen, making other people happy, respecting my parents and caring about my family - I am a good person.

That should be all that matters right? The difference with religion is just how we perceive God. Right? Just my opinion...

Slightly Embarassing...

You Are 20% Girly

Um... you're a guy, right? If not, you're the most boyish girl in the world. And for you, that's probably the ultimate compliment.

How Girly Are You?

Cloud Watching Again

As you can see, I have been taking pictures of the cloud formations visible from my balcony.

I finally watched V for Vendetta yesterday. You know, I am actually one of those irritating people who gets excited over movies, waiting for them to be released - but when the time comes for me to watch the movie, I will bail out. I just won't watch it. Not because I don't want to, but you know how my mind works. Between an assignment deadline and a movie trip - my assignment wins. Between studying and a movie trip - studying wins. It's always like that. Gets so frustrating sometimes. I mean, there's only so much "sacrificing" you can do. More than that, and you start to feel miserable - having to watch copies on the network - alone, with your dinner in front of you. LOL. Yes, life can be so uneventful sometimes.

I have a presentation this Friday, I am not really prepared yet. Plan to get a huge chunk of it done today. Apart from that, I have an article and a workbook due for my lab tomorrow. My lab partner has fallen off the face of the earth. I am worried. I mean, he's not answering my calls, he's not replying my e-mails, he's not online on Yahoo! Messenger and when he's online, he doesn't answer my messages, he's not in the labs either. So yeah, it's due tomorrow, I have completed 2/3 of it. His section is not complete yet (I guess, makes sense why he's avoiding me). I can't finish my workbook or article if he doesn't hand it to me. Just look at the type of people I have to work with sometimes. Makes sense why I cannot stand a large portion of the male species.

A year ago, I'd be sitting and crying - these type of things mean a lot to me. My article and workbook are actually complete, without his part of the code. I need that part urgently. I'm quite numb about it now. There's not much I can do. Worst case scenario is just to show up during my lab session, tell the tutor and demonstrate whatever I have. It's sad when people are so unreliable and just not bothered. I would never do that to someone. Never.

Oh, I also watched Derailed. It was quite a good movie. I liked how the ending went. See Derailed is a psychological thriller. Quite interesting. You should watch it - I don't want to spoil the ending for you.

Hmm, Smallville Season 5 has ended. It's not as interesting as it used to be. Things just keep happening. Lana is getting on my nerves, Clark needs to stop pretending to own a halo, and Lex just needs to go into the ground for awhile. Lionel Luthor is so fake. Martha Kent is just too nice to be true. Lois is interesting..so is Chloe - I like her dressing sense.

Oh, Grey's Anatomy's first part of "17 Seconds" is really gripping. But, I can see that the creators are kind of adding a lot of suspense to build up for Season 3 perhaps. It is a bit scary. I won't tell you what happened either, I'll be nice and keep mum. Hehehe.

Anyway, time for me to get to working on my assignments, etc. I'm sooo tired but refusing to be negative. You guys have a great week ahead!

Clarity at its best!

Life is not one goal - it is a constant achieving of successive goals.

Somebody told me that today and it struck a bullseye. I always thought just studying was my sole goal in life. I realise now that I'd like different things in my life too. Lately everything looks too clear. It's like overnight - I know exactly what I want. Maybe I've gained some form of clarity. I'm not sure. I still have my usual problems, but I don't feel bogged down by them anymore. Maybe this is what it means to mature - grow older, wiser, and of course, what I always want - to be a better person.

PHEW

My code worked - officially. I am soo relieved. I spent days in that lab. PHEW.

Apart from that, I didn't have a very good meeting with my supervisor on Wednesday morning. Turns out there is a lot I don't know, but I am a bit ahead of schedule, so it's not too bad but then again I have a presentation for the mouse I'm developing, on Friday 19th May (wish me luck...I'm worried). I haven't started on that either. *Sigh* :) But I'm going to the mall today - window shopping + grocery shopping. I haven't cooked since Monday - been eating old food, cleaning out my shelf in the fridge.

You guys have a great weekend. (Remember how mine starts officially on Thursday? Hehehe.)

Take care!

I attended part of IH's Shave for a Cure yesterday. It's one of those events where people shave and the proceeds go to some foundation. This one was for Leukimia. There was a girl whom I know, she has hair longer than mine and she shaved it all off for AUD1400 worth of donations to Leukimia. How cool is that? I would never do something like that. I mean, jokes aside, I don't think I have the guts for things like that. From the looks on peoples' faces, I can safely say, some girls had the expression "Thank goodness that is not me." It's not that she looked bad or anything - she looks pretty cute I must say, but it's just such a "hair-raising" (pun not intended) experience to actually lose all your hair. I found it scary.

Hmm, apart from that, I finished my marketing assignment. See, to a certain extent I took marketing with that slight arrogance most people who study technical-scientific-stuff have when they look at an Arts-based book. They raise an eyebrow arrogantly and think "oh, just marketing". Yes, I did that slightly. I am proud to say I was wrong. It wasn't that easy actually. It is a lot of analysing and reading between the lines. You have to draw a lot of logical conclusions and so on and I can understand now that Business isn't easy - at all. I am glad I took the subject, sure gave me a better perspective.

You Have a Melancholic Temperament

Introspective and reflective, you think about everything and anything. You are a soft-hearted daydreamer. You long for your ideal life. You love silence and solitude. Everyday life is usually too chaotic for you. Given enough time alone, it's easy for you to find inner peace. You tend to be spiritual, having found your own meaning of life. Wise and patient, you can help people through difficult times. At your worst, you brood and sulk. Your negative thoughts can trap you. You are reserved and withdrawn. This makes it hard to connect to others. You tend to over think small things, making decisions difficult.

What Temperment Are You?

Tired

I did all my laundry yesterday - by hand. I get to save $2.40 to $4.80 each time I do my laundry by hand. Hehehe, $4.80 is a good meal at the university's cafe. So, of course I'd opt to do my laundry by hand! :) I also cleaned my bathroom. It's soo sparkly clean now...very comfy. I like clean bathrooms.

I'm actually done with my Marketing assignment but I have to proof-read, write a conclusion and finish up my referencing - really don't feel like doing it so I think I might to uni and sit in an empty spot at the library and work on it. Then finish it, come home, print it and keep it aside for submission tomorrow. Sounds like a good idea huh :)

I convinced my parents to let me conver my visa to a working visa so I can work part-time next semester. I'd really like to because then I can earn my own allowance.

Apart from that, nothing much is up. I've actually met some nice people this semester but most of them are leaving in June. It's a bit disappointing. But that's what happens anyway - you meet people, you grow into a better person, and then you move on, right?

Your Birthdate: April 7

You are an island. You don't need anyone else to make you happy. And though you see yourself as a loner, people are drawn to you. Deep and sensitive, you tend to impress others with your insights. You also tend to be psychic - so listen to that inner voice! Your strength: Your self sufficiency Your weakness: You despise authority Your power color: Maroon Your power symbol: Hammer Your power month: July

What Does Your Birth Date Mean?

The Brave Little Toaster

My housemate burnt toast. The problem with living in this place is that the fire alarms are very sensitive - a bit of smoke and the alarm goes off, since it's a false alarm, the person who sets it off has to pay AUD408. Yes, painful. So, my housemate unplugged the toaster and left it outside on the balcony to let the smoke escape first. I walked into the kitchen and I was actually feigning a cough to irritate P [this guy who lives upstairs but likes hanging around our floor. His perfume (no, I won't say cologne, because cologne shouldn't irritate me like that..) is really strong and it just irritates me], but then:

Housemate: Oh, I burnt toast, sorry.
Me: Oh, no I was just irritating P. Where's the toaster?
Housemate: Oh, it's sitting outside.
Me: Right, like a naughty little child who has been punished?
Housemate: Yeah, it needs some time alone.
Me: To reflect on it's behaviour? Mind if I take some pictures for my blog?
Housemate: Sure. You want to blog about it?
Me: Yeah, definitely. (She doesn't know that my blog needs some life!)

So, here are the pictures.





I just found it amusing :)

Wondering

I really should stop thinking too much. I should just accept things around me as they are and not ponder. When I ponder, I get irritated, dissatisfied, then I get a headache. It's Labour day in Australia today, so I don't have classes. I spent the day cleaning up, doing laundry and working on assignments. Nothing special. I had dinner at the dining hall. I almost never eat there because the food just doesn't taste nice. I don't know how to explain it but it's just so bland. Yeah, brings back old memories from last year too. Hehehe.

Anyways, I just don't have much to say. Feeling a bit tired - been working a lot. I have to pick up my flight tickets tomorrow, then I have class from 12-2, and at 2pm I'm meeting my lab partner to discuss code. Otherwise, I don't have much up.

You guys have a great week :)