In Continuum.

It began at 6.45 in the morning, waking up bright and early for the day to begin. The night before was thoughtful, and that isn't something you want to have while being in bed at three, knowing that you have to wake up in less than four hours. But I made up a music video in my head to the tune of Aqualung's Strange and Beautiful. It involves the story of a scientist and his love relationship with a robot he created. As a challenge, I attempted to insert in random objects like a cup of milkshake and batteries. I am satisfied with the end result, but also frustrated that I spent so much time thinking of an imaginary music video instead of trying to fall asleep. Then again, the attempt to fall asleep would have kept me awake anyway - so, great success! So, this morning was a tiresome one, but the ride down the expressway on the Wheels of Love - or 151e - cheered me up immensely. Of course, meeting Shariff, the chawanmushi man, anywhere is always an enjoyable experience. The speedy ride to school was delightful, not to mention the fact that I was the very first person in the classroom, and that has been the case for some time. I am beginning to develop a strange attitude that resembles Mickey Rourke's outlook on life - at times, I cannot seem to care. There was a quiz I did not study for, and it was happening in about forty-five minutes. Instead, I read online reviews of Watchmen and psyched myself up for the movie next week - NEXT WEEK! 

I managed to secure a good topic for the ceremonial speech in class today, and I hope this strategic move will help me gain a few points with Bob. It also feels good to know that the topic - mother - has been reserved exclusively for me, and me only, simply because I asked about it. Aside from that, I had quite a bit of fun hanging out with Nurul after school to practice our impromptu speech while waiting for her class to start at 11.30. Oh, by the way, I think I did OK for the quiz that I did not study in. I honestly think that I did very well for it, though I'd have to wait till the results are dished out. I am not sitting very well with the fact that every question carries two marks, but I suppose we just have to roll with the punches. I felt rather confident with my answers, and such a confidence stands at a stark contrast to the level of confidence I had yesterday for that paper. It wasn't exactly a disaster, though there were casualties on the fields definitely. I just had a lot of fun spending time with some friends at school, just hanging out and then telling them about how I feel on things. Everything from traveling to marriage, from Mecca to female bathrooms. It was enjoyable, even for small conversations like that. At that time, though, I didn't know that the day only served to get better. 

Oh, before that, I read in the newspaper that the little child actors from Slumdog Millionaire are being hailed as heroes in their home country of India. They were hired from the slums in real life, and grew up there with their parents in horrid conditions. It just makes me feel so happy to learn that, because of the film, they have managed to move out from their slum and into an actual house in India. It's interesting to observe how their own lives have been changed, much like Jamal's life in the story line of the film. You know, from a "slumdog" to a millionaire after joining a television show. They aren't really millionaires right now, but at least they made it somewhere, and anywhere is better than where they came from definitely. I was really delighted when I saw all the "versions" of the characters appearing on the red carpet at the Academy Awards, all three versions of the same character through different time periods, coming to this grand event on the other side of the world. I thought about the shock and wonder that must have went through their heads, and the life that they must be living right now. It's probably not anything close to be extravagant, but it is a better life, and that's the whole point. They are in a better place now, and we aren't even talking about death. I am just happy for them, really, from the bottom of my heart. 

I took a long train ride from one side of the island to the other, from Dover to Pasir Ris to be exact. It was strange just how many people were traveling in the same direction on the train this morning, and I had to stand on my own two feet most of the time throughout the journey. That didn't stop me from whipping out my Macbook to watch the latest episode of Lost though, because John Locke apparently comes back to life - somehow. I was lucky enough to get a seat when the trains were nearing the Tanjong Pagar area, and I sat down to watch the episode from my Macbook, which was also how the time passed like the wind, or the scenery outside the windows. The significant other and I purposely set up this day to celebrate our survival of the week. You know, I had my life-draining week with the exams and the assignments, and she had her own exams to deal with on Monday and Friday. So, in celebration of our survival, we decided to meet up and just chill out, have some fun. I decided to go over to her place, since I miss her like a badly calibrated machine gun that is completely off the target. Also, I think her mother likes me, or at least I think she likes me. Showing up and talking to her a bit every once in a while earns me important face points, something which I'd very much like to gather over the next couple of months. 

Interesting fact: the significant other lives right on top of a bomb shelter. In fact, her block has a bomb shelter sign right outside the lift lobby. The newer flats in Singapore supposedly have bomb shelters in their homes, but people use them as storerooms anyway. Her house had a bomb shelter too, until their "stuff" started to pile up, and they had to put everything inside the bomb shelter. So, everybody decided that it'd be wise to have the bomb shelter be located in the minimart downstairs, and I swear it is cleverer than it sounds. That is the place with a whole bunch of food, water, and everything you might need to survive an extra air raid or something like that. It actually sounds pretty brilliant, and I was quite surprised that my own condominium does not have such facilities. Though, to be honest, I was expecting there to be some kind of underground dungeon somewhere, all stacked up with food and water just waiting for people to hide inside for years on end. You know, like some great nuclear holocaust or something like that, and everybody would scramble into this underground dungeon, thing. I certainly did not expect it to be an everyday minimart, which is rather amusing to me. Who would have thought, that the minimart could potentially save lives? 

We hung out at her place and took silly photographs, and we made a little wedding card for a family friend of theirs with my Macbook. The result turned out great, and she topped it all off with a little string tied to the top. The Duo of Awesome struck yet again, and we created something out of nothing, within the span of a very short time, something that is mind-blowing and out of this world. OK, it was just a pretty wedding card, but I felt good doing something for the family, even if it really wasn't too much of an effort. First of all, it does give me a bit of brownie points with the mother for putting in some effort to please her. Also, having the words "Made on a Mac" on the back of the card also meant some kind of advertisement for the father - who is on the verge of getting one for himself, yet still deciding. He needs a little nudge out of the door, and it is all a part of my plan to make him come over to this side of the fence. It is better on this side of the fence uncle, the grass is greener over here. At least over here, our computers don't get sick, and everything just looks nicer and cooler. Oh, and don't forget the fact that it was your daughter who introduced it to you in the first place. You know what to do when the time comes, yeah?

We made a little trip down to E!Hub (yes, it has the exclamation mark), and had dinner at our favorite restaurant. At least customers trickled in this time, not like that other time when it was stashed out in the corner of things. I think the management of Fig & Olive really needs to consider where they decide to put their stores, because you don't put it in the corner of a mall right next to a two-dollar chicken rice store and a hair saloon. It's not good business! I thought the branch was going to shut down in a matter of days, but I was glad that it was still holding up when we got there. So, we got in and made our orders, and let's just say that it tasted rather normal as compared to all the other times that we have eaten there. It's usually at the branch at Vivo City, which is probably why everything tasted ten folds better. But I was hungry, and the garlic bread was choked with butter in every hole of every pore. The only waiter was this malay guy who tended to everything, and he was positively amused by our antics at the table. We waved our hands in complete synchronization when we asked for water and bill, and it's funny to see his reaction to our silliness. Oh, the things that we do with each other. 

On the way home, I rescued a snail from its imminent death. It was in the middle of the pavement, and she almost stepped right on it when we left her place. So I picked the little snail up by its shell and stuck it on a lamp post and away from all the ferocious ants. I stuck it a little too high, but it wouldn't come out no matter how hard I pulled. So I left it there, and I hope it doesn't have a hard time coming down afterwards. I saved an animal today, and I am happy, despite the fact that the strap on my River Island bag snapped as I was crossing the road. Apparently, according to my mother, the manufacturer sewed too many holes onto the leather, causing it to weaken and tear under the weight of the Macbook. I really love that bag, and I wish dearly that my mother would bring it back. Anyhow, the cab trip home was also particularly enjoyable, hearing how the driver is doing well financially amidst all the mess in our economy. He has a son who is the captain of a ship, a daughter working in a hospital, and a son who aspires to be the captain of a plane. He earns a decent amount from driving tour buses, and the cab driving is really just to relief his brother. It is refreshing to learn that someone, in this economical climate, is contented with what he has. I gave him a little more than the taxi fare and asked him to keep the change, because I was that happy, and I still am.

So, do you remember a genuinely happy day? I mean, when all these little trivial things add up to make the whole day so memorable? There are things that are better left unsaid of course, little moments that are better kept as whispers between two people. But she knows what they are, and I know what they are, and that is all that matters I suppose. For now, a little silliness with Photobooth before I retire to bed. Enjoy!