Ok.. All that I've been doing for the past week and most especially the weekend was being cooped up in my room, and working on my lab report. The only other thing I remember doing was emerging from my little room in search for food. But it feels great to have that done for now. Well, another report's due Friday week, but lets not think about that for now. Plus, there is yet another Chemistry test this Friday. Everything about this trimester has been great, except that I detest having to spend so much time on Chemistry. I'm sure I'll be moaning and groaning, and absolutely regretting my lack of focus on Physiology. Who said university is a breeze?

Sometimes, the luxuries of life is just being able to sit in front of your tv and watch ur favourite programme! Dancing with the Stars NZ was awesome just now! Makes me want to dance. I really want to take up dance classes, but never seem to get around to it. I really should attempt it next trimester. But yeah.. I felt kind of bad for snuffing my flatmates the whole weekend, but it's good to finally be able to watch tv and hang out without feeling the need to get back to work! We even had a spontaneous charades session last night to satisfy our sudden urge to act in silence.

Speaking of luxuries.. Guess who's going for an ALL BLACKS test against France in June?!!

The famous ALL BLACK haka!

Line out against England last year. 

Mua!!!! And my flatmates.. and Micheal's family who'll be down in Wgtn! I am soo excited! Micheal's dad is involved in some rugby association, and he was able to get the tickets even before they were sold at Ticketek! Not very cheap, but definitely is one of those once-in-a-lifetime things that you've gotta do. It'll be a crime if i don't go for it, especially being in NZ! It'll be an interesting match, since the World Cup (France) is just round the corner! And of course, Dan Carter.... *whispers.. Jockey..

And here are some pics of the Hurricanes vs Bulls match that we went for earlier this year!

The players looked way smaller than on TV!  

Don't ask me what I was doing, but I was dressed in the right colour and supporting the right team!! Go Hurricanes!

Queuing for the tickets outside the Cake Tin (ie Westpac Stadium)

 

 Some random guy

Currently feeling: sore

I am a kind word uttered and repeated
By the voice of Nature;
I am a star fallen from the
Blue tent upon the green carpet.
I am the daughter of the elements
With whom Winter conceived;
To whom Spring gave birth; I was
Reared in the lap of Summer and I
Slept in the bed of Autumn.

At dawn I unite with the breeze
To announce the coming of light;
At eventide I join the birds
In bidding the light farewell.

The plains are decorated with
My beautiful colors, and the air
Is scented with my fragrance.

As I embrace Slumber the eyes of
Night watch over me, and as I
Awaken I stare at the sun, which is
The only eye of the day.

I drink dew for wine, and hearken to
The voices of the birds, and dance
To the rhythmic swaying of the grass.

I am the lover's gift; I am the wedding wreath;
I am the memory of a moment of happiness;
I am the last gift of the living to the dead;
I am a part of joy and a part of sorrow.

But I look up high to see only the light,
And never look down to see my shadow.
This is wisdom which man must learn.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I was pleasantly surprised by a special someone again!!! It's a potted plant, Cyclamen. They're sooo beautiful! I absolutely love them!! The flower petals are different from your regular flowers, they fold in such a unique way. I was telling Jas that they look like wantan skin So, this marks the 3 years of our relationship (as of tomorrow), most of which were spent apart. It's been a long ride filled with joy, thrill, suspense, anticipation, laughters and tears. I love you babi...

So now, I have two babies to give TLC to. Impatiens has been blossoming so well! It never fails to cheer my day up with its vibrant-coloured flowers! In fact, I procrastinate a little too much trying to capture shots of it! Dan has rubbed off some of his love for taking pictures of flowers onto me. He does it way better though

 

If you're on facebook, you would see my status: Janice is down with a fever at the most inconvenient time.

It got quite hot that I had to take a cold shower, and hang a wet towel over my neck, or wipe my face with it to bring down the temperature. Good ol' practices to when i was a child. I remember it used to get my mum sooo worried, every time I fall sick, which is rather often. I used to have the worse attendance in kindergarten, and I think Tracy only remembers that about me during my childhood days. I've had panadol for 2 days now, but it doesnt seem to be working. I can hear my mum ringing these advices.. "Drink more water". Which is what my friends happen to be telling me as well. And being the pessimist me, I think of the worse, I better be careful cos I hear of stories where ppl become retarded because of the endogenous pyrogens! ie they fry your brain. Or maybe it's meningitis. Shouldnt be though.. I hope. Ok, i think i better stop going on and on about the worse that could happen to me because I know my Lord will rescue me. He is My Healer in all aspect.

But what wish to say is that when your connection and communication with God deteriorate, so does every thing else. Why? Because the wrong things become our priority. For example, I went for a four hour lab today, even though I knew full well that I was not up for it, and it will only make it worse. But again, my lab report is due this Friday, how could I miss a precious lab session? Maybe I could get an exemption from it, or postpone the deadline. I dont know. And there are so many other things on my mind, the Birthday invites, which I absolutely must hand out for RSVP purposes! The discussion group I have to lead tomorrow because we're screening the movie "Saved (Mandy Moore)" . And the Prayer meeting on Thursday that I have yet to plan for. And I want to watch Dancing with the Stars tonight! The upcoming Physiology test. I can hear Dan berating me already. *innocent but guilty look* But yes, when the connection with God fails, all else follow suit, sometimes more severe than others.

I am guilty of condemning myself, but this verse ministers to me:

The Lord redeems his servants, no one will be condemned who takes refuge in him.  Ps 34:22

It feels liberating to be able to express my inmost thoughts here. But only thoughts which do not offend people, opinion which do not seem to target people are allowed. The rule still applies.

Mum, if you're reading this, dont worry. I will be fine. And definitely I've not gone to the stage like that HP staff who died of deep vein thrombosis due to overworking.  Just pray for me.

GOOD NEWS: My lecturer pulled me aside and asked if I wanted to work for him over the study break, probably only 4 hours a week, and it invovles fairly mundane work which is required for him to finish up his paper. I am excited! He said there are others he's intending to ask, so if i can't do it, I do not have to feel pressured. He emphasized that it was really mundane but if the paper gets published, I will have my name in it! I'm so excited. But it depends on if he gets the funding or not. I'm praying hard. Thank YOU! Thank YOU!

I am so in love with this hoodie!!!!

from RIP CURL

But it's so expensive.. and the shop in Wgtn only has one of the gray ones left, and it's size 14!!!

Fine! I'll just sleep and dream about it! *Pouts*

 

IT'S GONE!! *SOB! I've decided to get it.. the HOODIE i mean, and I went down to town after class to see if they could ring their other branches in Auckland to see if they still have size 8! But it's all gone! I am so crushed! The beautiful gray hoodie which i fell so madly in love with it gone. Well, they have it in white, but it will never compare with the gray. Just when i've decided that I would get it, cos some of my friends said they would get a Rip Curl voucher for me for my bday. *sighs

Ok, i'm not normally like this, but when i do fall in love with something.. it'l keep haunting me. But now that there is no glimmer of hope whatsoever.. F-I-N-E!  Whatever...

Ru Ting: haha.. does it actually look that nice on the drawing? It looks like some kid's drawing to me! haha.. Drew it on Paint! Trusty ol' Paint! 

If you describe that piece of devastating news as black, then I have another piece of super colourful news! 

My lecturer is going to be able to channel grants for me to help him to characterise some of his compounds to finish off he journal he's writing at the moment! Wheeeee! He's got about 25 hrs of work for me to help him finish the project over the holidays and possibly into next semester! It's not the pay which I am excited about, but it is the fact that I can be part of the finishing of literature, before it gets sent off to Organic Letters  or some other journal! And my name will be published with it. Ok, this might sound really ego-centric, but this is how it is when it comes to research and it's normal. It's about how many papers you will publish, of course, hopefully good papers. And I guess being just a freshie at this, it means a lot when it comes to application for future schships and all! Also on top of that, I feel so honored because he picked me! He was so kind in considering that I am an International Student and he realises that it is tougher for international students to apply for schships from Vic, or anywhere else for that matter! Only God can do this, I tell you! I didnt even go enquiring for work experience in a lab.. he approached me and asked me!!

I was bubbling with joy when I found that out, and I texted Leesh cos I know she could share my excitement! Mum's too far away and Dan and I are just not in the right mode at the moment. Plus, they're in a different time zone. Mum's words were.. "you are so blessed". Yes indeeed and thank YOU for it!!!

I think I have enough energy to fuel a plane right now! haha!