Silver Lining, by Rilo Kiley.

I ended my sophomore college year hopeful of finding a summer job to earn some bucks for allowance relief. Which was the reason why I did not enrol in any summer courses. It would have done me good, making use of these months slogging through probably my more hateful required courses: BGYB10 and BGYB11 (Cell & Molecular Bio; it can be remotely linked to Conservation Bio in ways I rather not elaborate on, but what's the point?) for the Fall and Winter semester, shortened into just a Summer semester.

Good news came a day earlier, and I nearly chose not to pick the phone up. I got offered and greedily accepted the position of Customer Experience Representative at Canada's largest bookstore. I had attended two rounds of interview, after a walk-in enquiry of whether Indigo Bookstores was hiring. Coincidentally, the person I approached was the Sales Manager and though he didn't give an assuring look while browsing my resume, he scheduled me for the group interview that very same day. The second interview was yesterday, one to one with the new Store Manager. Training is on Thursday; there is a 90-days probation period, pay is above the minimum wage, and there is a vest to wear at work. Most importantly, it is downstairs from where I live, not even a minute walk.

After spending the whole season hunting for one meant for it, I can gladly say that I am looking forward to my first day at a proper job.

We have set up our new residence at 33 Orchard View Boulevard, and are more or less settling in confortably. The basic essentials have been purchased, less a few others. Curtains and a dining table actually rank lower than a telly and microwave, the latter two contested by my brother as being essential. My sister quips, "Baking equipments."

It was definitely a nightmarish move on August 2nd; possibly the horror of a direct-to-DVD flick entitled "The Movers From Hell". Our initial movers appeared close to three hours after the scheduled time. We had them collect our loveseats first, and by the time they made it to Forest Manor Road, we were left with a time constrain and a bout of rage and disbelief. It was only right that we ordered them to just take the load to Orchard View and refuse to fork out the basal rate for such sloppy services. Besides, we planned to continue using them the next day. What ensued was a blur, but it went something like he refusing, I yelling, he yelling, more yelling, and I slamming the phone. A big mistake, as the image of the loveseats seared across my mind. I cowardly, or perhaps wisely, called him back and brushed it off as my flat phone battery. When I met face to face with the scruffy, lying, hooligan, there was the repetitive argument, where he even threatened to throw our loveseats on the road. I had to pay up in order for them to budge, and if not for the few short cents off from an hour's labour, I wouldn't have lost $15 more than I should have. He cheated me of my change. I was so drained to contend, an energy drink could have done me good then, that I let it go. He and his ragged minions did their half-assed job and I closed the door on them.

Scratch the 2nd, the move only occurred successfully (may I add, very peacefully and efficiently) a full 24-hours later. We spent the night at the new place, since we had earlier brought over our quilts. The next morning, my brother made some phone calls to Chinese movers, fumbled over his Mandarin, and within a few hours, a truck was parked at the loading bay of Forest Manor ready to rumble.

Since then, we have made many trips to furniture centres, hardware stores, home living shops, supermarts. Boxes have been unpacked, some hidden away from sight with the great space of storage areas we now possess. We have decided to forgo a house phone, rather invest into our cellphones. Our internet should be ready tomorrow, but all these while we have been tapping into this free, unknown source that has been providing us with speeds even my laptop of the older generation cannot handle (we reckon it comes from the office building across). Everyone is pleased, satisfied and appreciative.

We have found a house we now call home.

I have never been to a National Day Parade in my time in Singapore, not even the preview-trip for Primary 5-ers seeing how I started my Singaporean education late into 1999. My only options were watching it on the telly while physicially present back home, or through the laptop while away. The only reason I'm watching this year's is the daring venue: the parade on a giant floating platform among landmarks like the Esplanade and the city skyline, fireworks over the water, and the wind breeze at Marina Bay. Plus, there's always Kit Chan (speaking of, her Forbidden City musical may go on a world tour, and if successfully lands in Toronto, me and my sis are interested). I dislike the shameless advertorial plugs, overly sentimental propaganda, and screechy redundant emcees.

More to come on my house moving. I should turn my attention to the wonderful innovation of live webcast flash player now.

The big move is to occur in a couple of hours. The movers will be picking up our two loveseats at 4pm, before making their way here. By nightfall, it should be furniture arranging, boxes unpacking, and joyous celebrating at our new address.

From Thursday evening onwards, we will be internet-less since none of us bothered getting it fixed. We may try stealing signals or going to a cafe nearby. So, a final post from 80 Forest Manor Road. After two and a half years here since my life-in-Toronto whirlwind, it's time for a change with both siblings.

See you at 33 Orchard View Boulevard!