This blog is

...dying, I tell you. It's dying.

I went paintballing today with my cell group. It was a whole day trip. The paintball place was in New South Wales, near the borders of Victoria-New South Wales, because apparently paintball is banned in Victoria (because of some firearms legislation).

Tired.

I wished we could have gotten some pictures of us in action - but there were only "before" and "after" pictures... We weren't really supposed to bring any valuables into the "battlefield".
So what have you been up to, Jerry?

Happy Birthday

Happy 19th Birthday, Jerry!

Don't think this is too late - it's still 20th September over there, isn't it? Hope you had a great one, and may God bless you abundantly! Take care over there. =)

Books...

...are one of my most favourite things. I love reading. I love books. Before I finish reading a book, I've already bought several others. That leaves me in a situation where I have several unread books left on the shelf while my compulsive behaviour keeps me buying books impulsively whenever I see a bookstore. Bookshops and I are like the opposite poles of a magnet. I just can't resist going into one.

Besides that, I have a penchant for collecting books - I'm extremely fussy when it comes to buying books. I check the book over carefully, making sure that there aren't any dents or ugly marks. Basically, as close to perfect as possible. (Yes, I know. Stop laughing.)

I would borrow books from libraries, but I'd prefer owning one myself. (I told you I'm fussy.) So even if I've read a book before which had been borrowed, I'd still go out and buy a copy for myself if I really like it. (That means I have currently a list of several books I'm still hunting for.)


I recently finished reading Kazuo Ishiguro's The Remains of the Day.

It won the 1989 Booker Prize. It's one of those novels where you have to read it in one sitting, otherwise you'd lose the flow of it (and forget what's happening). I love Ishiguro's prose. It's simple, and very English, which reminds me of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice (which I loved very much as well). The twist at the end left me feeling all melancholic, and wanting for more, but somehow the ending was befitting.

(Remains of the Day, incidentally, was lent to me by a friend. Does that mean I'll be buying my own copy soon? Maybe. =P)


I'm currently in the process of reading Marilynne Robinson's Gilead.

It won the 2005 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. It's ... ah, I'll quote from the backcover: "In 1956, towards the end of Reverend John Ames' life, he begsin a letter to his young son..."

It's basically a long letter written to his 7-year-old son. It's a bit spiritual and all (with all the Christian themes), but I think anyone can read it. It's beautiful and sad at the same time as the Reverend recalls his past, reflects on his life, and writing all that down to his son. I hope to finish it in the next few days.

(Btw, sorry for the crappy quality of the picture. And subsequent pictures. I need a better webcam. Gah.)


Today, after church, I went to Borders and after spending a happy hour or so browsing around, I finally bought (in spite of myself):

Agatha Christie's Dumb Witness, a Hercule Poirot mystery, and Edith Wharton's 1921 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, The Age of Innocence.

I've read almost all of Agatha Christie's books before, and I especially love the ones with Poirot. And yes, those were all practically borrowed. But it's been ages since I've read an Agatha Christie mystery.. and yes, it's part of my book-colleting fetish. (Bleh.)

I had been eyeing The Age of Innocence for awhile, and finally bought it. (I've been eyeing several other books for awhile now as well, and ... will... try to refrain myself.) And I realize that I've been choosing all these... books which have won prestigious awards and so on. Haha. I just feel like getting back into the classics and "real" stuff.

But just to show you that I'm not that serious and literary when it comes to my choice of books, (I say that it's just a phase I'm going through now), I shall show you that I am a proud and avid fan of the fantasy genre. In fact, I actually brought over with me from Brunei, Terry Goodkind's Stone of Tears, which is the second book in his Sword of Truth series.


Alas, I confess I have yet to make it past the third chapter. It is ridiculously thick, but then, most fantasy books are. (I will read it, soon!) And my heart is already set on buying Robin Hobb's Farseer Trilogy, which is apparently, very good. A friend recommended me her books last year. And I want to get Raymond E. Feist's Magician, (!) which has been highly recommended to me. I love, love, love fantasy. I remember buying almost all of David Eddings' Belgariad and Mallorean series in one go a few years ago at Kinokuniya in KL. (I know I'm nuts... I think I racked up a bill of RM$300++ that day, including some other random novels and a few of my sister's own selection of books.) And while I'm at that, you guys MUST read those series!!

On top of that, I still have Jane Austen's Emma, which I bought a few months ago. No, I haven't finished that. I have Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights, as well. No, I haven't read it either. It was kind of hard to get into. But I will attempt it again after I finish my other books. *coughs embarrassedly* I think I still have a few unread books back in Brunei.. (I knowwww.. I shouldn't have bought those two books today.)

But I promise I'll finish reading them all!

Someday.


Somebody stop me from buying anymore books!

Recuperation

After eight whirlwind weeks of lectures, tutorials, assignments, etc., finally I am liberated (sort of) for two weeks. Yes, it's the mid-semester break!!

I don't really have anything major planned for the holidays. Some of my coursemates are going for the Music Camp organised by the MSS (Music Students' Society), but a few of us decided not to go. Might do some shopping, depends on circumstances. But most importantly, I need to catch up on all my readings and start studying already... plus, have to put more effort in practicing piano as well.

I do plan to go for a few concerts during this mid-sem break... There's the Spring Early Music Festival organised by one of the professors from the Music Faculty, who is the Head of Early Music department or something. Hopefully I can drag a few people to come with me! But I doubt many people would be interested in early music... (?)

And oh, oh, oh - Piano Stories IV coming to Melbourne!! I am so going for this.
There was actually Piano Stories III back in April, but since I was relatively new to Melbourne, I didn't really know about it... I did go for A Night In Fantasia back in July though!!

My friend and I were just talking about how these two weeks will probably whiz by, just like the first 8 weeks of this semester. Somehow, I think so too... sigh. Time seems to be speeding up, especially near the end of the year, and when you need time most of all!

And Jerry: okay... yeah, I guess we all have lives. Haha. Just update when you can la.

I'll try to update once a week or something... just to keep this blog from being too dead. Although I think it probably already is.

Where In The World Is Jerry Wong Sia How?

I'm running out of things to blog about... Jerry, at least entertain us with stories from your side... like... you know, life in the States, etc. etc... Anyway, where are youuuuu????

Mid-semester break after this week! Not really sure what my plans are yet, but I intend to concentrate a bit of my time on piano and studies.

Steve Irwin's dead. General reception is shock and grief. The Age seems to have extensive coverage about it. I find it ironic that he died from an encounter with a stingray - which is normally quite harmless - while he survived all his crocodile stunts and other crazy escapades. I still find it hard to believe; for some reason, I always thought him almost... invincible or something. Condolences to his family...

Last week, my week started off with the news that Pluto was no longer a planet, and that our solar system officially has 8 planets. Not that it affects my life very much, but it's a bit sad; I mean, we grew up learning about the 9 planets in our solar system, and now Pluto is a, what, dwarf planet?

Apart from changes (like the Pluto debate - which has absolutely no consequence on our daily lives, whatsoever), Irwin's death makes you realize how fleeting life is. This article pretty much sums up why the news of his death is sending such shockwaves around the world. I never realize how famous he is around the world, and finding out that he's relatively 'obscure' here in Australia, when you compare his fame locally and abroad.

Wonder what news next Monday will bring me.

My week in bullet points

• Monday. Ah, yes. I had one of the worst Piano Classes... Believe me, sitting for 2 hours, listening to an invited guest/pianist talk about Messiaen and his music is not enjoyable. I may be doing music, but I absolutely can-not understand 20th century music, nor why some people like it. It doesn't sound like music to me from any angles. Try listening to some of Messiaen's music, and you'll probably understand why. I don't have anything against the great composer per se, it's just... argh. It's just 20th century music. Moving on!
  
  
• Tuesday. Let's see.. another routine day. Oh. MUOSS (Melbourne Uni Overseas Student Society) organised this event called Festival of Nations, and OCF Parkville set up our own booth, selling Tau Suan and peanut dessert soup, so I helped out during lunchtime. Pretty cool event - a lot of stalls, with all sorts of food. My day began at 9 a.m. with an Aural tutorial; two lectures; choir in the evening; celebrating a fellow coursemate's birthday at an Italian restaurant after; before going off for a concert at Hamer Hall, Arts Centre to listen to Paul Lewis perform a few of Beethoven's piano sonatas, including the Moonlight and Appassionata Sonatas (it sounded like a real recording; only better, 'cause it was live =P. That's how good he is.). And reaching home around 11 p.m... very exhausting and full-on day.
  
  
• Wednesday. My free day... helped out for a bit with Parkville's booth. And spent my afternoon practicing piano.
  
  
• Thursday. Had a test, which was reasonably ... okay. Worth 10%. Considering that I wasn't very prepared *cough*, I think I managed to pass it.
  
  
• Friday. My other free day. Piano lesson. Went to Esther's place in the afternoon to cook the hot and sour soup for Sister's Gathering later at night. The soup was a success! And feel very blessed to have gone for it... makes you realize, God works in ways you never expect Him to, even when you feel like there's nothing left... my expectations for the night were, admittedly, low, but that's where God proved me wrong by showing and giving me new insight.
  
  
• Saturday + Sunday. Bumming around.

So much for "bullet points", where you'd suppose I'll make myself simple and concise... There you go, I'm just an extremely long-winded person.

Here's looking ahead to another week.

Jerry Wong!!! I don't like pestering you to blog... so blog, before I feel compelled to nag you some more. =P

4 months to 2007

Time flies.

I can't believe it's already September.