My presentation's over!!! Whee... Yuppers, and here's the wonderful memories of the group members I worked with over the last few months. =)

Brand Management Group: (L-R) Jonathan, Erica, Nadia, Lydia and me - Celebration at Dolce Vita after our presentation. Yummy gelatos... and I still want that chocolate peanut butter disaster thingy. Peanut butter and chocolate is simply marvellous!!!

General Management group: (L-R) Me, Belinda, Jane, Calvin, Susan, Yvette and Candice. Can't wait for the celebration next week!!!

One presentation down!!! 1 more to go and 2 more tests and I'm done with this semester!!! Whee... Yuppers... This last lap is so much more bearable than NUS. Well, think of it, in NUS, the last lap means a caffeine overdose to stay awake to finish up all the work. Uh huh... 50 over page reports for NUS projects as compared to 20 page reports for those here. Oh, and the ppl here really know how to enjoy life! After the project, there's usually a celebration dinner. Go out, chill, have fun and all... Back in NUS? It just marks the start of the exam period which you mug for and don't have time to celebrate. Talking about celebration, where's my PROMO celebration dinner?!?!?

I can't remember if I posted photos from my trip to San Antonio. I don't think so, but nonetheless, here they are...

First up... The Alamo: Originally named Misión San Antonio de Valero, the Alamo served as home to missionaries and their Indian converts for nearly seventy years. Construction began on the present site in 1724. In 1793, Spanish officials secularized San Antonio's five missions and distributed their lands to the remaining Indian residents. These men and women continued to farm the fields, once the mission's but now their own, and participated in the growing community of San Antonio.

San Antonio and the Alamo played a critical role in the Texas Revolution. In December 1835, Ben Milam led Texian and Tejano volunteers against Mexican troops quartered in the city. After five days of house-to-house fighting, they forced General Marín Perfecto de Cós and his soldiers to surrender. The victorious volunteers then occupied the Alamo — already fortified prior to the battle by Cós' men — and strengthened its defenses.

On February 23, 1836, the arrival of General Antonio López de Santa Anna's army outside San Antonio nearly caught them by surprise. Undaunted, the Texians and Tejanos prepared to defend the Alamo together. The defenders held out for 13 days against Santa Anna's army. William B. Travis, the commander of the Alamo sent forth couriers carrying pleas for help to communities in Texas. On the eighth day of the siege, a band of 32 volunteers from Gonzales arrived, bringing the number of defenders to nearly two hundred. Legend holds that with the possibility of additional help fading, Colonel Travis drew a line on the ground and asked any man willing to stay and fight to step over — all except one did. As the defenders saw it, the Alamo was the key to the defense of Texas, and they were ready to give their lives rather than surrender their position to General Santa Anna. Among the Alamo's garrison were Jim Bowie, renowned knife fighter, and David Crockett, famed frontiersman and former congressman from Tennessee.

The final assault came before daybreak on the morning of March 6, 1836, as columns of Mexican soldiers emerged from the predawn darkness and headed for the Alamo's walls. Cannon and small arms fire from inside the Alamo beat back several attacks. Regrouping, the Mexicans scaled the walls and rushed into the compound. Once inside, they turned a captured cannon on the Long Barrack and church, blasting open the barricaded doors. The desperate struggle continued until the defenders were overwhelmed. By sunrise, the battle had ended and Santa Anna entered the Alamo compound to survey the scene of his victory. People worldwide continue to remember the Alamo as a heroic struggle against overwhelming odds — a place where men made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom. For this reason the Alamo remains hallowed ground and the Shrine of Texas Liberty.


Mexican market:


And, finally, Riverwalk. Apparently, Singapore's Clarke Quay was supposed to be mirrored after San Antonio's Riverwalk. But, after seeing San Antonio's Riverwalk, you realise that Clarke Quay is a far cry from the beautiful landscaping at Riverwalk. No way can Clarke Quay ever been compared with Riverwalk. For one, at the Riverwalk, it seems like you're at Venice, with the water so close to you (there are no barriers, you can just step down into the water), the water way is much smaller and the river doesn't smell or emite any heat. Oh, and the restaurants also play a great role making use of the river landscape with live music and wonderful food and tables and chairs next to the river (no barriers again), what more can you ask for?

It is SUPPOSED to be SPRING, but the weather's been cranky. It seems like the temperature just moved from winter to summer dropping spring temperature from it's range. Gee... Can you believe it that this week temperatures are above 90F?!?!? GOSH!!!! I want my spring. Real spring, I don't need Texan summer, Singapore is summerish enough. In fact, it's worst here, cos there aren't many clouds, so the sun REALLY SCORCHES, and it's so dry (hot plus dry... Not good feeling especially for cracked skin)!!! And it doesn't help that my apartment's airconditioning isn't working. HOT HOT HOT!!! It's like a sauna at home. So, I've been seeking cover in school as much as I can. Hopefully the aircon guy comes soon to repair it. There is only how much fans can do. boohoo... =(

I've been into a crazy cooking fiesta especially over the last few days. And, here are some of my experimentations...
(From L-R, 1st row: Breakfast pancakes - plain, mushroom with cheese, 2 cheeses, strawberry, banana and chocolate glaze for the pancakes; Char Kway Teow minus the cockles; Mushroom Ravioli (HL's Recipe); Cookies - chocolate chip (I tried like 5 recipes) and sugar cookies; Mexican fish (look at the decor!!! I tried my hand at decorating my food; Lemon Herb Salad with Grilled Chicken; Meatloaf with mashed potatoes)

Oh, and that's not all... Still went into a crazy baking fiesta with 2 different brownies, 3 different quiches, Chicken Lasagne, Hot Cross Buns (which were a failure cos I had no yeast and baking soda wasn't a good substitute, throwed it away in the end), Banana Raisin Bread (which turned out into banana cake, but it wasn't too bad). Yum yum...

Oh, and did I mention that they were all from scratch? Hehe.. =) I think I'm crazy about the oven, that's why my craze over baking. No oven back in Singapore la.. Think I should go get one when I get back home. I realize that baking is such a wonderful thing!!! Haha... Kudos to the wonderful ppl who have become guinea pigs to my cooking experiments - Jan, CK, Laura, Jane, Andre, etc etc.. Thank you guys for having to bear with eating my food. Hehe... =) *hugs*

I didn't go for Easter sunrise service @ East Coast Park like I would normally go for back in Singapore and it felt a little weird. Haha... I miss standing by the beach, worshipping with just guitars, meditating on God's word, watching the sun glisten in the far horizon as it kisses the waters up and rise far up into the sky and just ponder and wonder at the awesomeness of God's glory. Sunrise is just so beautiful. Pity that it heats up so soon immediately and the whole place becomes hot. I've yet to see sunrise in Austin, and I really hope I get a chance to see it before I go. Ahh... Oh, and how could I forget the fantabulous breakfast @ ECP? haha... I want to eat meehoon kueh and curry puffs and samosa, you char kway & butterfly & ham chin bang and carrot cake and yam cake and the list goes on... Ok, enough of that.

Thank you Father for sending your Son to die on the cross for my sins. =)

How deep the Father's Love for Us

How deep the Father's love for us
How vast beyond all measure
That He would give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen One
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the Man upon a cross
My guilt upon His shoulders
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no powr's, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

©1995 Kingsway's Thankyou Music
Words and Music by Stuart Townend

I woke up early today in hope of getting some work done. But, in the end, I ended up squirming in the bathroom and in bed. Why? Cause apparently I got a major attack of cramps. Was trying to figure out why. I think I've been exercising enough this month, sure, not as much as last month, but the amount of walking I did during my Chicago trip and weekend getaways should have more than covered for it. I've been eating enough fruits and vegetables. Hmmm... Maybe a whee bit too many cookies (I've been in a cookie craze since I came here what...) So, I couldn't come down to any conclusion. But it was terrible. Painful and uncomfortable. Even the shrimp position that I get myself into when I get menstral cramps didn't help, neither did lifting my legs. Gee... Pain pain pain... And I still have so much work to do. Oh, and did I say I felt almost faint? Gee... Ah well, but now that it's over, it's back to work again. Boohoo... *sobs*

11th March 2006

St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations: It’s an Irish festival held in (check out details), so what a better way to start the day then to have an Irish styled breakfast. We headed off to Fado’s Irish Pub for breakfast at about 8am, and were pleasantly surprised that the pub was filled with people drinking… Get this… Beer! Beer at 8am in the morning? Beer for breakfast? Yes, and they have beer with breakfast. But then again, why should I be surprised, that was what my ex boss used to do too (he’s Irish). Pity was that we couldn’t stay in the pub for breakfast, cos the age limit is 21, so only I am legally allowed to stay. So, we decided to just tabao breakfast and head off the river to eat. Breakfast was typical English style – eggs, bread, sausages, bacon, baked beans… Oh, and they had this special Irish meat thingy (which looks like thick pieces of salami in black and brown) which tasted really good. I loved it, especially the slightly charred bottom part of it, which made it nice and crisp. Not exactly cheap (we each paid $4.50) for 1 breakfast set, but well, since it’s St. Patrick’s Day, so to keep with the celebrations, might as well go Irish.

We were done with breakfast pretty early, and were just sitting around waiting for the dyeing of the Chicago river to green to take place. Being there early, we managed to get a good spot, and yes, we also saw some pre-dyeing entertainment, put forth mainly by the bagpipe players. Yes, and we got more green beads and flags. Uh huh.. Green is the colour for St. Patrick’s day, and since we didn’t wear anything green, the beads came in handy, to spice up our outfit with a tinge of green. And, as you will see in the series of photos… The dyeing of the river, is literally a boat pouring dye into the river, causing it to turn neon green. Look at the before and after photos of the river. After which, we proceeded to watch the St. Patrick’s day parade (just a walking parade of people and groups saluting the St. Patrick’s day celebrations). A really long parade (we left at the 1 ½ hour mark. Too sian la… a lot of repeated stuff) filled with marching bands, Irish dance groups, bagpipe players, senators garnering support from the people (voting’s going to take place soon, I think), certain school showcases and some other random companies. But, that was mainly the gist, so after seeing the 1000th marching band and the 2000th bagpipe players (ok, I’m exaggerating), I got really bored. It wasn’t like everything was new… It was just similar stuff done in the same fashion, just by a different group of people.

Lunch was at Dunkin Donuts (yippee, got my Boston Kreme donut. I just love the chocolate glaze with the custard in it. It’s so yummy. I always ordered it whenever I see a Dunkin Donut in M’sia. Although, I must say that Krispy Kreme’s original glaze, especially the ones hot out of the glaze, has edged the Bostom Kreme donut to 2nd place of my favourite sweet donuts.), and after which we headed off to Millenium Park. Photo galore…

(L-R) 1st Row: Dunkin Donuts, Buckingham Fountain, Millenium Park sign; 2nd Row: Jay Pritzker Pavillion & McCormick Outdoor Ice Skating Rink; 3rd Row: Crown Fountain, Wrigley Square and Millenium Monument & BP Bridge; 4th Row: Cloud Gate on the AT&T Plaza. For more information about Millenium Park, please visit their website.

And, since we didn’t catch a view of the city yesterday, we decided to do it today at the Sears Tower. We were hoping to catch a sunset view, but after going through a lot of queuing, we got up to the skydeck, only to be disappointed at the fog in the sky. Not that it was a lot, but things weren’t as clear. The sky was still bright, but gradually became darker, and by about 7pm, it was totally dark. The night sky looked much better, with the bright lights illuminating the city streets, and in the farthest of the city, you see the slight twinkling of the lights and realize how busy a city like this might be.
Great scene, but, not so great camera. Yes, my camera does terrible night photos, cos of some shuttle speed crap. Apparently, without flash, the shuttle speed is so slow that unless your hand is extremely steady, you won’t be able to catch a good, steady photo. And, with glass and the night sky to add to the difficulty, it didn’t do a good job, even when I tried switching it to manual. Or, maybe, I’m just a bad photographer. Rudi, help!!!

10th March 2006

Off to Chicago…

So, here’s how we got to Chicago:

1) A super long bus ride from Austin’s Dobie Mall to Houston’s Greyhound Terminal which took close to 4 hours (with no break in between). Sit until backside really pain.

2) Taking the public Metro from a bus stop a couple of streets away from the bus terminal to the airport, which took about an hour. So, by the time we got to IAH, it was close to 11plus.

3) Continental Airlines didn’t allow us to check in so many hours before our flight, so we had to stay outside the immigration area and spend the night there. And, they wouldn’t give us a night pass to allow us into the immigration area. Dang… And, there were no restaurants and eateries outside the immigration area!!! Was hoping to grab some solid food before catching some sleep, but no… No solid food, so just had to live on the supply of snacks that we brought (which was quite a lot la…) No wonder I love Changi Airport so much… And, sleeping in the airport, having to look after your luggage and all is no joke. Sure, it is one experience of a lifetime. I mean, how many times do you get to spend an all nighter in an international airport? But, nonetheless, it meant that I had to hold my luggage to sleep. And, sleep on a chair, add to that fact that I have been sleeping on a chair position since my 4 hour bus ride from Austin to Houston, and have been sitting down during the 1 hour ride from Houston to IAH. That makes it about 5 over hours sitting. Gosh… And, another 5 hours of having to sit in that position and sleep again. Gee… But, nonetheless, I managed to get about 2 hours of solid sleep after doing a little of my readings beforehand.

4) After a super long while of being in half drowsy state, and trying to shift to the right position and praying that time would pass faster, 5 am finally came, and we checked in immediately (the CO counter opens at 5am), and quickly got into the immigration area, where we found food. Yes, Wendy’s was open but after seeing Popeye’s, Popeye’s was the immediate choice. Got nice biscuit with LOTS of honey (and mine still got strawberry jam), who wouldn’t like it? Oh… And, I had to buy the mashed potatoes, cos I had been having a major craving for it. Don’t ask me why, it really tasted good the last time I ate it. I even have plans to eat it again (together with 3 chicken strips and a biscuit) during my 3 hour break at IAH when I return to Austin. Gosh… I think I plan too far ahead for food. But, darn… it’s high in calories… Gee… Let’s hope the caloric thing will be a good enough reason to stop me from eating.

5) Caught our plane at 7.40am. But, it was delayed, cos there were too many planes trying to take off at the same time (hmmm... Whatever happened to the plane scheduling? How can 9 planes want to take off at the same time in an International airport?) Ah well… I shan’t complain, it was not until about 8.20am that we finally managed to take off. And, yes, I was in that sitting position AGAIN, trying to catch more sleep. Uh huh… It was rather good timing, (I had wanted to crash immediately when I was up in the air, cos I love takeoffs, and I wanted to stay awake and enjoy the takeoff, which I did, although I was probably too drowsy to enjoy it that much.) by the time I woke up from my 1st nap, it was time for drinks (yummy orange juice. Was thinking of hot chocolate, but I think it’s too much to ask from them) and snack (cold muffin… Couldn’t they even warm it up? But, it wasn’t too bad. Although I highly suspect that it went into my mouth because I had no where else to keep it). And then, back to my 2nd nap, awaking just in time to hear the pilot say that we’re reaching O’Hare soon. So, yupyup… prepped myself for the landing (which I love too… Bumpy landings, smooth landings… I just love them… Haha…) and there I was, in Chicago.

6) Took a train from the airport to Downtown before changing to a bus, and we managed to get to the hotel, and do a speed check in using the self service kiosk. So interesting, right? Haha… I was so intrigued by it. Yes, I’m suah ku… Cos, usually, I’ll check in at the reception. And after depositing our bags in the hotel room, we were off to our first destination. – Archictecture and Commerce Walking Tour.

7) Walking the Magnificent Mile: Saw the Tribune Tower, where Chicago Tribune is published. I was so intrigued by The American Girl Place and just marveled at the extravagance of some parents. And, the products that this place sells (its target market is girls (duh!) ages 7 up till about 10 or 11) is just amazing. They have books on hair styling, manicure and pedicures, tips in hosting your own party (?!?! A 10 year old hosting her own party? Complete with drinks, music, décor, them etc etc. Gosh... I’m amused.), pajama parties, facials etc etc. And, oh… They even have a CONCEIGRE that allows them to book tickets to the theatre show (Yes, place has a theatre at the basement, together with ushers dressed in a Tux. Tickets are @ $28 per seat!!!! Can you believe it? For a kids show?!?! I’d rather pay $26 to watch the Chicago Symphony Orchestra!!!!), café reservations (the café is on the 2nd floor, and it basically caters to pvt girl parties. And, it is not cheap to have one. Prices range about $15 - $18, for very minimal food. At most, 4 course, and the food doesn’t sound exciting to me, and portions don’t even sound at all filling) and get this… PERSONAL SHOPPING!!! Personal shopping for kids? Are you KIDDING me? Why would a kid who has time on her hands (well, if she doesn’t, then, I think they have been deprived of the joys of childhood, and that poor kid will never ever know what true retail therapy ever is.) ever need a personal shopper? So, maybe the personal shopper helps them coordinate style. But, shouldn’t you give the little girl some space to develop her own style of dressing? Does that have to be professionally influenced too? Ok… Enough about the Conceirge. Just, 1 more thing… The dolls that they sell. It’s more expensive than Barbie. Retailing at $87 (without clothes) and $100 with clothes ($13 for a set of dolls clothes? Gee… I’d rather spend it on a Mango top!), the only variation in the dolls are change in skin colour, hair colour, hair style and eye colour. Everything else, IS the same. Even the basic $100 clothing for the doll. It’s all the same, or at least, similar. And of course, they sell other styles of doll clothing at the store. But, wait… Before you think they only sell dolls clothing, they sell girls’ clothing, in the same DESIGN as the dolls clothing!!! So, what? They girls are supposed to dress the doll in the exact same thing that they are wearing? And go around being super happy about dressing like a … doll? Ok… This just doesn’t make sense to me. Oh, and they have a dolls’ salon, in which, some “professional” can tie braids, ribbons, style the dolls hair, etc for a fee. Think about it, I get a good enough hair cut for US$10 in Singapore, and hair styling? Hmmm… maybe add on about US$10, and I get a super well qualified guy to do it for me. What more do I have to say? Lavishness? Or maybe its pampering? I don’t know. I don’t have my own kid, I won’t know how much I’ll spend on them next time. But, for now, I rest my case.

8) And, The Disney stall… How could we not resist the taking tones of photos? Princess… All Stars (refer below to the photo collage)… Petrina, this one’s for you. Love ya babe! Uh huh… Of course, not forgetting the Hershey’s store, with tones of Hershey’s products, and a fondue for 2 which I have been thinking about ever since. Oh… And, their hot chocolate and chocolate chip cookie looks good too!!! I gotta try to get HL to bring me here again before I leave here. And, I wanna buy the Kit Kat too!!! For the record, I love chocolate with wafers. Give me a solid bar of chocolate and and chocolate cover wafers or biscuits, I’ll choose the latter any time. (CK, know you understand my craving for that HCF fudge thingy?). I don’t know why, not that I don’t like a solid bar of chocolate, but chocolate with stuff inside and which compliments it (like biscuits, wafers, sometimes even nuts and peanut butter) just tastes nicer and further enhances the taste of the chocolate. Yeah… I’m weird… But, I do have my “just-chocolate-alone” days. That, I will save for another story.

9) Finally, wrapping up our day with the famous Chicago Deep Dish Pan Pizza. I dunno if I have mentioned this in my blog before, but, after eating Pizza 3 days straight in the role when I first came to Austin, I had sworn off Pizza. But, hearing so much of the Pizza here, I HAD to try it. And, it was well worth the wait (long queue) and try. For me, I don’t like the Pizza Hut or Canadian Pizza kinda crust, cos it’s very breadish. I’m more for the traditional Italian pizza style, where the crust is so thin and crisp and when you lift your pizza up, the ingredients look like they are going to slip off. Now, that’s real pizza. But surprisingly, the Deep Pan Pizza, gave me a bit of both the American and Italian pizza, this combination coupled with the abundance of ingredients was enough for me to come back for 2nds next time (but, I was far too full to eat any more). The crust is VERY crispy (think Italian pizza crust), and yet, the breadish portion (which is classically American), is light and fluffy, and in the right proportion such that it absorbs they tomato sauce from the topping (oh.. and the sauce from the topping is very fresh) which just seeps out when you bite on it. Really very good. Wish I could tabao it back to Singapore. But, it’s of course impossible. So, maybe at most I might tabao it back to Austin. Hmmm… We’ll see... But yes, if you come to Chicago, head over to Pizzeria Duo or Uno to eat their Deep Dish Pan Pizza. A must… We ordered the Specialty Pizza – Numero Uno. And, it was really good. I liked it a lot. =)

Okok.. I’m off to bed. Tmr’s St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, so I’ve got an early day.

The following posts are a series of backdated posts from before spring break, my Chicago trip, Enchanted Rock and McKinney Falls. Yuppers... So, just bear with me, k? Since I had them all typed out already, it's going to come on this blog. hee.. =)

9^th March 2006

I finally tried Einstein’s Bros’ Bagels. Haha… I’ve been meaning to try a bagel, but never got to doing it until today. And, it was HUGE! The cream cheese one (or was it sour cream?) was really good, but yes, fattening, so only took a couple of bites of it. So, my verdict? Bagels aren’t really that fantastic, I’d rather spend the calories on Krispy Kreme doughnuts than on Bagels. Uh huh…

Also, was up exceptionally early to do a few things:

1) Pack for my Chicago trip (as in officially pack, yesterday I was just dumping stuff I wanted to wear in my bag, not exactly packing).

2) Catch hold of mummy and daddy before I leave for Chicago, cos I don’t know when will be the next time I would be able to get online to msg them or talk to them. Oooo… And, on that note, I managed to see Aunty Fiona, Aunty Elaine, Uncle Tony, Uncle Raymond and some of the other BSCG ppl. Haha… And, gosh, they were eating polar curry puff and durian puff!!! My favourite!!! Ok, at least one of my favourites, cos I love durian. And, polar’s curry puffs are not too bad, only drawback is that they have become more and more expensive and they’re getting more diminutive. And, finally, managed to talk to Aunty Fiona, whom I last spoke to only during CNY when I dropped her a call.

3) Preparation for my General Management presentation. Not a major presentation, so I was far too lazy to really dress up, but I did make use of my new pair of shoes. And, it is quite comfortable. Hmmm… Maybe I haven’t walked long enough in it for the blisters to form, so it still feels comfy. Ahh… Who ask me, so silly, never bring my other pair of closed toe heels? Ok, I should stop there.

Nonetheless, spring break is here, and it starts today!!! Yippeee!!!!