Duchess of Laziness

In essence, Teh Tarik is just another type of milk tea. Of course I had my suspicions, but I was hoping against hope and better judgement that this is not true. Humans are sometimes stupid like that.

So last night I couldn't sleep until around 6. I was woken up at around 10.30.

No matter, I'm used to lack of sleep. I'm more frustrated of the fact that I chose to drink Teh Tarik. First the Medium-sized Sour Sally, now this. My brothers influence my decisions too much.

My neighbour is renovating their house so the stupid renovating noise keeps permeating from the walls.

And I'm finally back home in Indonesia. Maybe the time is not right, or maybe it's how things naturally go, but I don't feel particularly excited when I came back this time. I'm not saying I'm not happy, but the excitement is just not there.

I couldn't sleep well the first night I came home. I felt the weather was pretty hot and my air-con didn't seem to work properly. The bedcover felt slightly scratchy and the pillows were too high and thick. It's strange because I never used to have such problems when I came back.

My brothers are still in the midst of their exams, so I felt kind of psychologically restricted. It feels as if the fun can't start until they're officially done.

In other news though, my brother is finally able to drive. He picked up youngest(brother) at school yesterday and he drove us to Grandma's today. I'm not saying he's very good at it yet, but it's a start. He seemed pretty used to it already, even though mum is constantly giving him 'helpful tips'. Hahaha.

I also find my youngest(brother, henceforth shall be referred to as 'youngest') even more adorable than he used to be. He's so much more considerate now; and he does things which makes me squeeee~ For example, just now while he was eating chips, he actually offered me some and he offered mum and brother some too. He used to be greedy and stingy about food he likes. He's finally growing up~ Ahhh~ He also doesn't mind when I ask him to carry stuff/shopping items, even though they're not his.

I'm beginning to love him as much as I love Fabian~

As for my birthday, it was a day like any other, with the exception of me receiving much more Facebook notification than usual, on account of people wishing me happy birthday. I do admit it is lonelier than last year, not to mention less special.

Nevertheless, I do feel grateful I've managed to live 20 entire years in this world without much tragedy. So I thank God for that. I hope I have many many more wonderful years to come.

The sky is pretty dark, and the weather is humid. My brother just washed his car. Hahaha, I still hope it rains though.

So the final assessments are finally over, now we only have assessments for ISCG left.

I'm feeling kind of sad. This means our awesome class will finally separate to our respective majors.

*sigh

I really like being in C class. It was full of awesome supportive people. We have our share of problems, but it was quite small and contained. Over the course of two+ years, I'm sort of proud to say I've gotten to know every one of our class members better (*cough excluding the 3 China girls). I remembered the first semester we were together, I hung out mostly with Arki, Claudia, Mr Goh and Jess.

Later, of course, I got to interact more with Sam, Kelvin, Russell... Then later, with SJ, Tawfik, Hafiz, Andri and Su Hai. Then through the AVP with the rest of the class.

I really really enjoyed being in a class with you guys! Even though after NAFA we'll go on our own ways, let's not forget each other and try not to drift apart, OK?!

I'm getting sentimental. Hahaha~

This semester too, was full of good things. Animation was the only module where we have an individual project. Learning how to bone(pun not intended*cough) our characters and making them move, also the biped supersecret project we got to do for the second term. I know I was saying how biped sucks and is confusing, but towards the end I thought it was pretty fine. I guess humans really can get used to anything (and that kind of scares me).

AVP was awesome. We did a short film which is a CSI parody. Filming was super fun, if also tiring. SJ did the scripts, I was named producer, Russell was the director, Tawfik was the cameraman and Andri and Hafiz was actors. Of course that's not all, all of them contributed to the post-production too. I had to stay at school until 11.30 PM just to wait for the film to compress (but it was fun staying back that late with the other MM students, hahaha). Our Quicktime file was 7+GB. It was really really fun.

Design for Internets with Matthew again was also good. For some reason, I feel that he's in much better mood than last semester. Maybe it's just me? Or maybe he's finally gotten used to our school. In anycase, I found out how cute he actually can be. This semester is HTML/CSS. I don't really have much to say about it except I'm in one group with Russell again. He did the designs and the flash banner and I do mainly the coding.

Drawing was also a group project. Mainly digital painting. This one is the one module I felt really, er... rushed about. I had to sleep for two hours only to finish this. We were rushing to print, actually; but it was still good since due to this fact, I managed to finish everything early. The group members for this module was Andri, Russell and me.

Yes, I have a lot of group projects with Russell this semester, including the ISCG. It's probably because we're together now, but to be honest, that wasn't the only reason why I have a lot of group projects with him.

For AVP, I decided to change groups because I want to try and see how the other groups do things too. Also, Jess' group tend to rush at the end which I don't quite like, and their storyline tends to be heavy and/or western-ish.

For DFI, actually, I was quite prepared to group with someone else, but he suggested we be group members again and, well, I thought it would be nice to spend more time with him. Besides, Russell is very reliable so of course I said OK.

As for Drawing, Andri actually asked me to join in their group so I said yes. Not that I didn't know Russell's in it. It is also because I thought our style were the most similar in the class. I mean, in Raymond's class, only me and Russell did digital painting and Andri's devArt account clearly shows he knows how to digi-paint as well.

I realize that these sound like excuses. Be that as it may, people are free to believe what they wish to; and maybe I, too, am in denial. Maybe it was purely and simply because I want to spend more time with him that I chose to be in the same group he's in. The point is, it all works out pretty problem-free in the end, and I'm thankful.

And I'm digressing again.

Anyways, I wanted to say: thank you so much! For the support during class time, for the amusement and friendly gossip and chatter, for the laughs and the lunches and dinners. For the nights spent together at the Labs. Thank you to MM3C for helping our group with our AVP, even though you're not our group members. Thank you to my group members, who's been enthusiastic and timely with the work they're supposed to do.

Thanks to the teachers who are awesomely cute~ it motivates me to actually come to class and pay attention. Our teachers are, I feel, really awesome. Even though sometimes, the modules can be quite exasperating. Seriously, this term there's not a single teacher whom I think is not cute. Teehee~

Also, of course, to my house-mates. Those nights we spent doing our respective works together while listening to the Korean Wave and/or horrifyingly lame Indonesian Songs. It keeps me from feeling sleepy, so thanks. Also, thanks for the daily gossips and going-ons which keep me updated~

Lastly, and definitely not least, thank you to Russell. Not only for the awesomely awesome job you've done for the groups, but you know, for everything else too~ I... don't really want to make this post too mushy so...

Really, though, thank you for everything. You are still awesome! In fact, you've probably become even more awesome(awesomer?)!

Guys, let's all do our best for our ISCG! Let's continue helping each other out during our last three - six months in NAFA!

Despite facing several setbacks during our AVP shoots, it has finally ended. Well, it ended on Wednesday, but I was lazy (as usual) so...

Anyways, Clau's group was also done and Liam's group was too. I spent the weekend dividing my time into two and 'helping' each group with their shoot. Though I use the word help very loosely here, since all I did was hang out at the back and watch them film.

It was a very fun experience. Really. I got to sleepover at Clau's group location (which was pretty much a mansion with 7 bedrooms and personal bathroom in each room). It was completely furnitureless though and we had to make do with two single-size mattress; but it was really really fun either ways. Hahaha.

I guess I can cross 'sleepover' off the 'Things to do before I'm 20' list.

Right now though, I'm in worry mode. I haven't done much of my work since I was busy, erhmm, helping the other groups on their shoots.

We need to finalize (sort of) our story and concept for our ISCG project. Right now, we've decided to do something which is related to miscommunication and lack of tolerance.

We want to show how lack of tolerance and miscommunication can have very heavy consequences such as, well, war. At least, I think that's what we're trying to convey. (right?)

So far, the story is about two countries who are different from one another. One day at a conference of sorts between the two countries, a misunderstanding occurs and the countries go to war with each other.

We want the ending to be positive so obviously, something happens which leads to the rulers realizing what a stupid idea the war is and apologizes to each other in the finale.

Personally, I want people who watches this animation to realize that sometimes we have to apologize first even though it's just a misunderstanding and we're not necessarily in the wrong. It's alright to put away our pride once in a while for the greater good.

I want people to understand that saying sorry doesn't necessarily mean you're wrong. It just means you're a big enough person to concede to the other one's wish and that you're trying to understand that person's point of view.

I dunno, is that too far-fetched of a goal?

Haa... being human sure is complicated. Who made thing this way anyways. Geez...

Hmm... I guess if I were to align this project with the 7 needs of society thing, I can somehow link it to self-esteem (people need to feel they're in the right) and love (I was actually thinking that the ruler who decided to apologize shows that he/she loves their country more than themselves which, I think, is pretty selflessly awesome).

It's been two weeks since I last updated. There has been nothing really interesting in my life so far. Don't worry, I haven't abandoned this journal. I just don't have anything interesting to say.

At the risk of being found out (though I don't think that's possible): My housemate and roomate is planning my other housemate's birthday prank/surprise thing.

I don't know. I don't like those kinds of stuff. I live my life by the 'treat others as you want to be treated' rule. I don't want to spend my birthday getting pranked so I don't want to prank people on their birthdays. Unfortunately, it is inevitable if you have friends. I don't know which idiot started the tradition. Seriously, I don't see the fun in it.

On my housemates' previous birthdays, I never really joined in the 'fun'. At most I just observed the preparations and on the day itself I usually just carry the cake. I've never joined the occasion with much fervour.

Lately I've been wondering whether I've been regressing instead of progressing. I used to be indifferent about so many so many things. I just didn't care about other's feelings that much. I can just go for weeks without feeling worried. Sure I had my emo days, but they were less frequent.

Now, I seem to care too much. If I do this, will x feel left out? If I say this will y feel hurt? It gets kind of... restrictive.

Maybe it just means I'm growing up; that I understand I can't be as selfish as I had been then; that it's time for me to be responsible for my actions. Hopefully.

Here's to my last 1.5 month of being a selfish, irrational teenager.

Also: when it's my turn to get pranked (its imminence can already be felt even now), should I, for once, be displeased and express my displeasure? Or should I not be a spoilsport and take it with a grin?

I don't like pretending to be okay with something when I'm clearly not. Why should I grin and bear it for their sake when I'm not even enjoying it? It is supposed to be my birthday; which, logically, should be enjoyable for me.

What do people do during dates? I never gave it much thought and sort of imagined they just saunter around malls and stuff. That's because I used to go to malls less often; so more or less what I find on the stores changes every time I go. Now that I've gone window-shopping more often, I realize there's only so much of items in the malls you can see.

Also, I didn't take into account the fact that couples go on dates almost every week. So what do they usually do? Do they go to watch movies every week? Or do they have specific rituals? For example: lunch then movies then walk around then part? Or what?

Personally, I don't feel right going window-shopping as a form of a date. It's sort of a lose-lose situation. I don't feel right making the guy wait as I sift through clothes and try them on. They also (I imagine) won't like to be left alone to wait as we choose our stuff. In the end, both parties don't really enjoy themselves. That is, unless the guy is like my brother.

Though, like all things, I suppose what matters is the dose. I guess window-shopping can be a good dating experience once in a while. I just think it can be such a bother. I prefer to go window-shopping alone because then I can take my own sweet time to choose whether or not to buy an item. Also, I won't feel like an idiot if I pace in front of the store and be generally indecisive.

Another thing I frequently see in media is going to museums/fairs/festivals as a dating activity. I generally dislike crowds so... Museums can only be so interesting. Fairs and festivals will definitely draw in a crowd. Besides, if you're talking about fairs and festivals, it's good to go together with your group of friends. The more the merrier, after all.

Seriously... What do couples do during dates? Maybe I should start asking people, or alternatively search Wikipedia.

Sometimes I really want to troll this person, just for the lulz. However, I realize that this is real life as opposed to the internetz where you can get away with many many irresponsible and faggot-y behaviour. So I keep it all in my head and mind. Plus, making enemies is just not beneficial, no matter how worthless/useless that other person is you think they are.

I dunno, maybe it's just the paranoia/coward in me, who refuses to take the risk. Just In Case.

In any case, two months until I'm not a teenager anymore. There are several things I actually want to do while I'm a teenager. For example:

- be severely illogical, emotional and irresponsible (even though I was the one at fault). I know I probably used to do this, but I don't think I was so bad in terms of acting it out. Mostly I just keep it inside.
- I've always wanted to confess my feelings to someone (you know, like in high school or middle school and stuff, just like in various entertainment media), but sadly life turns out differently and I sort of never got the chance/I'm too much of a wuss to do it. Ever.
- ask for an outrageously unneeded and expensive item. (for example: an iPod, a new state-of-the-art, top-of-the-line handphone model, diamond necklace[?], branded items[?])
- pick an unreasonable fight with one of my girl friends (I dunno, accuse them of being a bitch or something?)

Hmm, what other things does a typical female teenager do which I don't?

- abuse my boyfriend? (hahaha, just kidding, just kidding! I'd never do that! At least not intentionally)

Ohhhh, I know I know!

- actually consume alcohol.
- go to a club/bar?

These two ideas are not even remotely appealing to me though...

- have a fight with my parents over stupid teenager stuff like phone bills, excessive spending or, er, maybe coming home too late?

What else, what else... Clearly I need to read more teenage girly magazines because I have no idea what is it teenagers usually do. Oh, I just thought of one!

- wear make-up. (ugh, what is this shit idea I'm thinking up?)

Oh! Oh! Oh! I have one which I absolutely want to do. I have always wanted to do it, but never got a chance to. Which is totally pathetic, I know, but still:

- go karaoke with my friends. (seriously, I've never done this before. Ever. In my life. *cue pathetic music*

- have a sleepover at another friend's house. (well, actually technically, I have done this before; that is, if you count sleeping at Sophia hostel a sleepover; but other than that, I'm clean. I was actually imagining something more like 4's house or at least, someone's house and not just a room. But then again, I suppose losers can't be choosers and I should just cross this off the list)

Hmm, I absolutely can't think of anything else. I might update this list later when I think of more stuff.

Imagine being in a love dodecahedron. You'd have drama enough for a century. I'm trying to imagine how it can be possible.

Is it even possible?

How did this question come about, you ask? Well, sometimes a particular word will just pop up in my mind, and I think to myself, 'hmm, is that a real word? I wonder what it means...' Sometimes, I get the word slightly wrong, but through a few searches, I find out the right word. Sometimes I get the right word and search for its meaning and I think to myself, 'oh! So that's what the word means. Hmmmm... I wonder... What if...'

So, today's word is 'decahedron'. And after knowing its meaning I thought, 'isn't 'dodecahedron' something too?'

Yes, sometimes (quite a lot of sometimes, in fact) my time is wasted because of these silly inconsequential thoughts.

I want to karaoke with my brothers.

They should include the word 'failoser' in the dictionary, and then they can place my picture next to it. It will totally be fittingly epic and concise.

Also, do you floccinaucinihilipilificate? Sometimes I do that to people when I'm in a super cynical and bad mood.

On a completely different topic though, I'm going to be 20 in around two months. Is it appropriate to give subtle hints about what I want for my birthday?


...


Naaah, I don't endeavour to make things easy for my friends.

Good day.

It is out! I first know about this from on of my friends in Twitter. Of course me being me, I straight away downloaded it without reservation.

It took up around two to three hours but it was so so so so worth it to see Professor Layton and Luke again. XDXDXD

Let's see... I've only played up to the end of the prologue. The character designs and artwork is consistently awesome and the animation is still pretty to look at. Their British accent is still a bit fake, but I think it's an improvement from the previous installment.

Two things I noticed from the Prologue:

1) Layton's first name is Hershel. Hershel Layton. I don't know, I may be biased but I think it's one of the more awesome normal name I've heard for a game character. I mean, most names from games I play tend to be pretty standard fantasy-ish RPG names or cliched variations of otherwise normal names which is just lame and embarrassing on various levels (for example Fayt Leingod from SOTET, I mean come on, can you be anymore lamely foreshadow-y?)

Hershel, on the other hand, sounds normal, rare and unpretentious at the same time.

Or maybe I'm just being biased, as usual. <3~

2) The first time they meet Inspector Cheney (Chelney? I don't remember), he asked Layton who Luke was. Luke said he's Layton's apprentice. Layton though, said something like, 'actually he's-' but Luke interjected him saying, 'Professor Layton's apprentice!'

Will there actually be backstory for our main characters in this game? Hmmm, intriguing~ I'm looking forward to it.

So so adorable~ <3~ I can't wait for the third installment~ Older Luke(?) is really cute and hot at the same time~