Essay Writing Competition

Waaaaaaaay back in February, eight of us in class answered Ms Leong's call to take part in the Royal Commonwealth Essay Writing Competition. Three of us got through to send in our entries, me being one of them.

Sports not entirely being my forte, I was extremely elated when I got this chance to compete in a competition on writing skills. Commonwealth level somemore leh... imagine the ko-kurikulum marks... muahaha.

For the past month, I've been checking the website for the results, to no avail, despite them stating that the results will be posted in July. (Which I intepreted as '1st of July' not '31st'... wouldn't you?)

Since sending in the essay, half the time I was so sure that I could win something, and the other half I kept wondering how the heck did I manage to write such a rubbish essay. But no doubt, wouldn't it be so great if I could actually win something, for the first time in my life, on my work alone, and not a team effort? (Not to mention the prize money, which is in pounds... *ka-ching* and the glory... *rolls eyes*) I mean, didn't I spend an entire weekend working on the essay? Friday was gone planning the essay, Saturday was spent writing it (Never before have I spent so long in front of the computer screen), and Sunday rechecking it again and again.

Today, I checked the website again, more out of habit than anything else.

I swear I nearly went into cardiac arrest when I saw the title '2007 results'. Fingers shaking so badly and heart thumping with excitement, I checked the winners list.

Nothing...

Turned to the Runner-ups list. Nothing...

Opened the individual country lists. Nothing...

Soo Li Ying from Form Five got a 'Commended' though, Congrats. ;-D

But she was the only CGL there.

I immediately relayed the news to Jolene and Jonie, the other two who took part. As I was sms-ing, I could feel my excitement dying down, only to be replaced by a deep sense of sadness and disappointment.

Sure, I realise that this is an 'antarabangsa' thing, and I'll be competing against the very best. Writers that far out-... well... -writes me. But all the same, I can't help but feel this gut-wrenching disappointment inside.

But of course, wise words that I've heard from various sources through the years immediately fill my head.

Win some, lose some... somebody's got to be in 1st place, somebody's got to be in last... try, try again...

And Jonie's really cute metaphore message that she just sent to me:

'We are like a pinch of sand from a long stretch of the beach. Other pinches may be better than us. Maybe we are from Batu Ferringhi and others are from Port Dickson... can menapis petroleum whereas Batu Ferringhi is just for picnics.'

You know, I can totally see the logic in that... lol.

There's still next year, and the next. And many, many more competitions to come. So, Jo, and Jo... (Geez... I keep forgetting you two have the same first syllable...) and the other thousand over people out there who didn't make the cut... we did out best. Time to wave the white flag and retreat. Time to go home and reload our gun ammunation and sharpen our swords.

We'll be back. *ka-shink!* (Arnold Swarze-however-you-spell-it style)

Oh, and to the winners, congratulations.

Anyone wanna read my essay? :-)

'It's not if you win or lose... it's how you play the game'

The Cute Doggy

Tricia! I finally uploaded the video!

This video that I took during the SPCA camp ought to be sent in to America's (or should I say, Malaysia's) funniest animal videos.

Note: Holly was not harmed in the making of this video.. Irritated maybe, but certainly not harmed. (Heck, who wouldn't be irritated with being disturbed while trying to sleep? I admire Holly's persistance though...)

My Daemon

Psyched Out

I have been avoiding the computer for quite a while now due to the fact that rumours were circulating that the PMR trials were very soon. But now, it's been cleared up to be after the holidays, so, naturally... I have shoved my thick KH book aside and made my way here!

There is a new TV show I'm hooked on:
Not that there will ever be a show that can overtake my loyalty to CSI NY, but this comes mighty close.

Psych is a show that's a mix between House, CSI and well... Madam Zora. Two episodes into the show, and I'm hopelessly addicted. This series revolves around Shawn Spencer, who comes from a family of detectives, but thanks to his over-playful attitude, had never had the aptitude to become one himself. Shawn has a totally cool gift of observation, and he uses his talent to pretend he is a psychic. Though sceptical at times (some more than others), the Santa Barbara Police Department hires Shawn and his reluctant best friend, Gus as a psychic consultant to solve crimes.

Psych completely contradicts the CSI mentality. CSI solves crimes by placing evidence before everything else, while Shawn goes around based on hunches. (Gil Grissom would cringe...) However, the crimes are just as interesting and the quotes are hilarious. Shawn is like a young version of Dr. Gregory House.

It's only been two episodes so far but watch one, and if you don't wish you had Shawn's observation skills by the end of it, you aren't normal. It airs on Wednesday nights on Star World at 9 (replacing Heroes). Catch it for mind-boggling cases, and a really good laugh.

And you gotta admit, a show whose name doesn't have any vowels in it is really cool! Psych... (It's fun to type!) Psych.. psych... psych.... *chortles*


At a big-deal spelling competition...

Man: Is everything ok up there?

Shawn: It's fine....Uh, Banana.

Contestant 118: Can you repeat that?

Shawn: Yes....Banana.

[mutterings of audience]

Gus: [whispering] Banana, Shawn? It's the third round!

Shawn: [whispering] You could have helped me!

Gus: [whispering] This is a debt Shawn. We're walking.

[They start to pack up the tripod]

Contestant 118: Definition please.

Shawn: [whispering] What?...[into microphone] A yellow fruit. Also, a kind of pudding. A delicious pudding.

[Gus & Shawn try to rush out the door]

Contestant 118: Sentence please.

[Shawn gestures to the contestant, then returns to chair]

Shawn: Anna Banana, would like to hear, Venus by Bananarama...Banana.

[laughter in audience]

Contestant 118: B-A-N-A-N-A, banana.

[next contestant steps up]

Shawn: ........ Onion.

[Gus peers over Shawn's shoulder and spots a pink paper on the table]

Gus: WHAT? You're using his GROCERY LIST!!!????

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

Gus: You named your fake detective agency Psych? Why didn't you just call it 'hey we're fooling you and the police department; hope we don't make a mistake and somebody dies because of it.

Shawn: First of all, Gus, that name is entirely too long; it would never fit on the window. And secondly the best way you convince people you're not lying to them is to tell them you are!

For more hilarious quotes, check out the link on the side>>>>>>>>>>

Vivid Crimson signing off!
James Roday aka Shawn Spencer

It's a doggy-dog day

10 hours in the Youth Park open theatre taking care of 7 dogs has left me completely exhausted, as well as has given me a permanant dog scent. I'm telling ya... after a long bath, I still smell dogs...

What a day! It was absolutely tiring, but absolutely fun at the same time.

Sadly, I didn't get to see much of the activities of this one-day camp. The only things I saw were Aunty Rosy's dog demonstration and the PAA (Penang Dog Agility somethin' or other...) dog show. I didn't even get to see the other booths! For 90% of the time, I was confined at the back field, taking care of the dogs. I never had a pet dog in my life, and today, I have spent more time with dogs than I ever did for the past 15 years of my life. Needless to say, I got to know them all pretty well.

Jessica and I car-pooled there and we were the first to arrive. Within the next few minutes, we were joined by Huey Tien (another volunteer same age as us) and her dog, Bridget. We played our part in the food chain by being the mosquitoes' early breakfast feast. Tricia came soon after that and we had to set up the tables and hang the signs, banners and all that what nots. (Climbing again... as if Ms Koay's curtain torture yesterday wasn't enough...)

Tricia and I paired up on the Std Six Registration while Jess took Std Four. Not much to say here, just the usual 'banyak udang, banyak garam, banyak orang, banyak ragam' kinda thing with the parents and their kids. Quite a scare though, it rained for quite awhile. But thank goodness it was sunny for the rest of the day.

Then, onwards to the canine station. The dogs from the SPCA hadn't arrived yet, so we just played with Bridget, and fed the mosquitoes even more. Later, we got to watch Aunty Rosy and her dog tricks, but had to leave halfway. The dogs had arrived.

Throughout the day, Tricia, Jess, Huey Tien, Eunice (Carmen's sister) and me were baby-sitting the dogs as group after group of kids came to see, pet, and feed them. It was fun at first, but by the 4th group, the dogs and us were kind of tired out... Jess got to go to the reptile station, where she got to hold a boa 15 times... which was, in her words, 'The happiest moment of my life!' Which I rolled my eyes at... but then, I don't have her affinity for reptiles, so I can't talk... :-P

It was super fun in some ways. We got to go into the enclosements and control the dogs... and get licked all over. And we introduced them to the kids as if we had known them all our lives when it was just a few hours... :-P We also had to keep them hydrated (not easy, I tell you, seeing they're always playing around and upsetting their water bowls...) . But the least glamorous of all, is of course scooping up their poop with a cangkul and dustpan. Hahaha... but hey, that's an all rounded package if you have a pet to be responsible for, right?

At the end of the day, when we were all smelly and fur invested, we had to pack the dogs off back to the SPCA and take down the enclosements. After cleaning up everything we were supposed to, it was homeward bound... to my Tree painting... and here I am. I'm going to bed directly after this... yes... I'm aware that would be around 9pm. And I don't care. Why, oh why, is there school tomorrow...

So, before I sign off, let me introduce you to the seven fellows that made today such a great joy.


-Bridget- (Huey Tien's dog)

The friendly fellow who bounces up to greet you, but barks alot at the other dogs.






















-Limou and Ivory- Two of the more active ones that loves to pick a fight with the others.






-Mocha-
Another hyper one. Loves sticks and grass... But hey, what else did he have to play with anyway...





















-Skylar-
Jessica's baby. Quiet fellow. But she wasn't feeling well for awhile. Kept coughing. The coolest thing about her is that one eye's brown while the other's blue.

And my FAVORITE!!!














Meet Holly. The baby of the lot. So sweet and cuddly. And Tricia and I were absolute beasts to it, making it wake up when it wanted to sleep... and videotaping it! (I'll find a way to post it here. It's hilarious!) Well, Tricia more than me... Hehe...

Not to mention, it reminds me alot about Danny's dog on CSI NY... *grins* You know me...



















And check out how photogenic Tricia and Holly are together!




























Getting seriously sleepy now. Til next year, at SPCA children's educational camp 2008!
WUFF!