I bought an Energizer rechargeable battery pack in December last year. When I was back in KL over the summer, I tried using it, but there must have been an over-power surge causing it to spoil and kind of give off a foul smell. When I returned to Toronto, I called Energizer to report the problem, without telling them about the incident. I sent it to their HQ, and today I got a package from them.. I FREAKING GOT A REPLACEMENT RECHARGEABLE BATTERY PACK! One that is of a newer, cooler, nicely packaged model. It seems like I tricked them into compensating me, but they had the warranty with it. So I was merely improving this manufacturer-consumer relationship.

Yay! I'm on a lucky streak.. I feel so energized!

1) MY LAPTOP IS MIRACULOUSLY WORKING NOW! I decided to try my luck just now, and after sliding the ON button, there were lights. I was so shocked I screamed out 'Oh My God', waking my brother up. But there was nothing else, until after a while the screen lighted up and the laptop started running like usual! So the case of my accidental drowned laptop is, hopefully, over.

2) Though this wouldn't count as good news, it isn't too bad either. At least the issue about my Co-op work terms is solved. I'm only starting my first work term in the summer of 2008, and will be trying to find a summer job or volunteer in 2007.

Ah, I feel SO good. My luck is changing, and I'm ready to tackle all my reports and assignments ASAP. Miracles do come happen! Hooray!

1) I knocked over my cup of water, spilling 1/4 of it over my laptop when it was on. After a while, it automatically shut down. Now, I cannot operate it. This is not happening. RM800 was spent to fix it earlier, and now another problem. I'm hoping that after a few days when the water has all evaporated, it will miraculously work again. I was checking the Sony invoice to give them a call, the last time the laptop was sent to Sony after it crashed was on 23 September 2005, just a year and two days before this tragedy happened. Also, I'll be going to Sony this Friday 29 September 2006, when exactly a year ago, this was when we went to Sony. This has got to be a joke. Anyway, I'm now on my brother's laptop doing some work, and with all the lab reports and assignments due soon, I would be hogging his (which I don't want to) or will be stuck at a computer room in school. If the laptop is cheap to fix at Sony Toronto, yay! Otherwise, my family would have to spend money buying a new one, or either sending this spoilt one back to KL to fix since it's so much cost-saving there.

2) Just when I was about to add 2 more courses to my Winter semester so as to get the 10 credits required to start my first work term, I'm informed that I only need 8.5 credits of the required A and B-level courses. Not good news for me, as I'm not enrolled in BGYB10 (ongoing this semester) and BGYB11 (next semester). Which means no matter what, I would still start my first work term in the summer of 2008.

Argh, I must be down on my luck. I was so depressed/irritated/frustrated yesterday after these two incidents back-to-back. It felt like yesterday was the worst day since coming to Toronto. Blah, I won't be blogging much now.. Please let there be a miracle.

I managed to download the whole greatest hits album by Stefanie Sun, entitled My Story, Your Song. It has a total of 60 songs. Ah, the many familiar tunes that I grew up with for the past 6 years..


Ha, I'm waiting to get my hands (more like laptop with internet connection) on the new Penny Dai album coming out tomorrow.

Anyway, I've been learning the Korean alphabets these few days from the web. Slowly getting the hang of it. It's kind of easy, easier than the Chinese characters at least. But even though I can now read a little, I still wouldn't know the meaning of them.

It's only the second week of school, but it already feels like forever. I've to put in more effort for all my courses. I've the drive to do so when I'm in school, but at home I become so lethargic.

I had the Conservation Biology Co-op Orientation of Thursday. It was more like a meeting with 5 people; 3 supervisors, and 2 participants (me and Hanit). So we are indeed the only 2 people in the program. Pioneers, as we are prestigiously termed.

And from that meeting, I realised I wouldn't be able to start my first work term next summer as I'm only taking 3 courses next semester, which will give me only 8 out of the 10 credits required. So I have two options: either promptly add 2 courses to meet the requirement, or wait till the summer of my third year to start the first out of two work terms. I'm leaning more to the first option, since then I would be able to try to get a third work term, or volunteer in the summer of my fourth year as I'm staying back for my fifth year). Messy eh?

Volunteered for U Serve 2006 yesterday. It was a naturalization project where we planted a variety of flowers/plants/weeds at Rouge Park. I did three and a half trays of giant sunflowers, bergamots, pearly everlastings and another plant of a weird name. The more I did it, the more I came to appreciate it. But there were a bunch of girls being all so bimbo-istic. My brother took a picture, but since he took the camera for his training camp outside of Toronto, this means I wouldn't be able to post it till later on and that I have the room to myself! (:

EDIT: Our naturalization effort. It's the middle brown patch. Looks small, but of significance. Every little action counts right?

The first week of school sucks. Simple as that. I have labelled a few courses as 'Most Disliked': GGRA30 and BGYB52. Other courses I'm taking this semester are BGYB30, BGYB50 and EESA01. Plus a COPD03 for Co-op Work Prep. And surprisingly, this semester I have a wide range of ethnic profs: German, Russian and two British.

My first Co-op Work Prep course wason Thursday, and the TA told me and Hanit that we are the only two in Conservation Bio Co-op. Please, no! How pathetic can this be? I hope she made a big mistake. They better not close down the program because of low admission, and then leave us stranded in the middle of nowhere..

Me, my brother and Nora went for dimsum just now. Yum. Ate alot. Then got some grocery, well many can-food. Tomorrow will be out at K-Town with Marina. And Fall TV is starting. Amazing Race starts and Canadian Idol (GO EVA!) ends tomorrow. In fact, Survivor: Cooks Island started on Thursday. Controversial season, separated into tribes of ethnicity. The Asians won the first challenge! Asian pride! (:

Blah, I have to finish my BGYB52 lab report, but I'm going to pamper myself with some relaxation by playing a PC game..

Had a good time today. Brings back nice memories of being all enthusiastic about student events. Definitely lost some passion there. But it's coming back, slowly. Imagine running around school and Scarborough Town Center with a group of multi-cultured freshies (ranging from China to Japan). Nuts and fun, I say. We came in last for the scavenger hunt as we spent our time shopping at STC. Ha..

And guess what? Just when I thought that there aren't any Singaporeans in UTSC, out pops FOUR. Two are twin brothers who just came over for their first year and are the same age as me, one whom studied at River Valley High and then went on to RJC. The third guy spent 6 years in the Lion City, while the fourth girl studied at Singapore Chinese Girls' School. They aren't really Singaporeans as they don't hold the pink IC, more like Singaporean-ized. Still.

Gah, school starts tomorrow. This year won't be as bad. At least in the Fall semester I have Fridays off! But I've got to work extra hard to keep my GPA steady or improve it. Tomorrow will just be a 2-hour lecture, since tutorials most likely won't start so soon..

I thought it would be nice to post a cutesy picture we siblings took in KL.. We all coordinated well and wore black on that fateful day!

I'm feeling at home since it's been nearly a week since I returned from my other home in KL. Some random stuffs have changed, like how the gas station down at the intersection where I can view from my window have been torn down (we only realized in the second day of arrival), and how new shops are coming into Fairview Mall. Nevertheless, it feels close-to-great to be back in T.O.

Just had a Western burger-grill with my housemates. It was fun; had laughs and wine till we were tipsy, or not. Well tomorrow will be an early/long day. Me and my brother signed up to volunteer at UTSC's International Students' Center Orientation for new students. We are going to be OGLs in an Amazing Race. I really missed doing such student activities, ever since AMKSS..

For these few days, I've been unpacking, playing a PC game, watching Project Runway and a Korean drama, Goong, which is hilarious I'm surprised by how much I like it, even the soundtrack too. Also, been listening to some new albums and eagerly waiting for the new slew of Fall season feel-good TV to premiere starting next week.

Blah, becoming very lazy to blog. I've so many things to type, so many pictures to post, yet so little motivation to do them. But it may be a good thing, seeing how school is starting on Monday! NO NO NO!
Well, I'm slightly excited about it, afterall it's my second year..

I'm back and it's time to unpack!

Cold temperatures greeted our arrival. I just feel like cuddling under the sheets all day. But there are things to be done. I better start now..

Leaving tomorrow! Packing craze begins..
Toronto, I'm coming back!