The da Vinci Code

What an interesting read! Finally, a book that I can finish within 2 days, that spans over 100 chapters (short ones, albeit, but nonetheless lots of pages still), and still give a careful and analytical read. Undoubtedly, this is one of the best thrillers that I have read - well-researched and told with both mystery, humor, irony and tragedy incorporated in it. Dan Brown deftly tells the results of decades of research in a succint, fast-paced and yet detailed story. Undoubtedly, this book bears testimony to why it is a best-seller: a conspiracy theory told as a thriller.

A Fun Night Out

Well, well, well... it seems that me, the non-party animal, the non-night-owl, the lover of the bright daylight and detester of the dark night scene, just enjoyed a night out with TUNA, a cell group of Fraser Lands Church.

Sam's Big Day is coming soon, just in one week, and so the entire group prepared a surprise party for him and Katrina. And because I usually come with Sam, I guess they didn't let me into it either. Haha...

But we all went out, after teasing the two of them, of course. We had dinner at this Japanese restaurant in Richmond, and then played Lazer Tag. Hahahaha... I'm not so bad at it after all! I managed to rack up 36,000 points, and in the end, my team (Reds) turned out to be the champs of the night! But still, I was ranked 8th of the 10 of us who played. Not bad, considering I had not played this for such a long time. Oh, and thank goodness we didn't play PAINTBALL instead!

After that, we all went for bubble tea, where the other guys had a major conversation about marriage, love, and commitment up till 1.30am. Gee, and I slept on my chair halfway through. Didn't catch much of it, though. Still, it wasn't that bad. I learned from Sam about one thing - love can be at first (or 2nd) sight, but when it's there, you know it straight away. To quote "I Knew I Loved You" by "Savage Garden", 'I guess it's intuition| Some things you just don't question| ". Oh, and as Sam prepares for his marriage, I have to prepare his wedding gift. It'll be a quantum leap, I believe. One day your single, the next day you're attached, and the third day, you're married. It was just less than one year for him. I'm surprised, mostly because of the speed of it. Then again, THAT BIG GUY UP THERE [=)]works through mysterious ways, so I believe that Katrina's the one HE brought to Sam.

To Sam: Clint told you, "It's gonna be a lifelong commitment." But I'm sure you'll be able to make it a fulfilling and gratifying lifelong commitment. Both you and Katrina are able to do it, and I have confidence in the two of you.

Front Row

Today, I had a chance, finally, to sit in the front row of the Burrard Beaver. What a sight! For one, I get to see myself approaching the N. Van shore, rather than leaving Waterfront Station. N. Van's skyline is much like downtown Vancouver's, just that her backdrop is made up of mountains, and not the sky. What a sight.

By the way, I get the front row seat this time because my bike broke, with the pedal coming off. To think it could just happen like that.

Seabus

Today, I took the Seabus to Longdale Quay from Waterfront Station. With my bike in hand, I crossed the Burrard inlet to North Vancouver. On reflection, I'm proud to know that Canada has such an advanced and environmentally friendly transport system. These things can only make me very proud to be Canadian.

By the way, the name of the Seabus that I'm on now is the Burrard Beaver Victoria. Really cool name!

It has clicked!

Yes, it has finally clicked.

Success comes to those who do not put personal success as their top priority. Personal success comes to those who put the success of the greater good as their top priority.

Right, so stop being selfish, and get down to chasing your true passions, and let your inner voice shine through the world.

And now my own heartbreaker

So I received my results, and it's 3As, 1B, and an A2 for GP. To think I was expected to actually get an A for Chemistry, and not B... when I called Mrs. Tham, she said she expected that I would get an A, not B. And Miss Heng sent me an e-mail, telling me not to be too sad about my A2 in GP. Both teachers expressed confidence in my capabilities, something I won't forget at all - one for a weak subject, and one for a strong subject.

It's okay, things are fine, except that I recognize the realities in front of me:

• Likely, I'll be saying "bye bye" to MIT and Caltech. It's time to go to UBC now. Still, I'll take a hopeful stab in the dark - hopefully the application to either one of them will turn out positive.
  
• Science One application won't look as good anymore, but hopefully I'll be able to write an impressive essay. 3As and 1 B... Gee.
  
• Once I go back to studying, it'll be no more working for me - just purely studies and athletics. I won't try to handle all 3 at one go. Just go for the best in whatever I focus on.

Congrats to the rest of my classmates who made it through with 4As. Especially to Xiuzhen and Changfang - Xiuzhen, congrats for getting a B3 in your GP! (Hope my help helped. Er. What a statement.) And Changfang, congrats for getting the perfect score! =) May all things go well for both of you in future! (Same to the rest of the class too... haha!)

Canada's Heartbreaker

Canada 0-2 Russia

We lost, yes, we lost. A shocker for the Canadian men's Ice Hockey team, an upset made by the Russian Federation. Poor defence and unspirited attack by our team; I witnessed it all on TV. After a score-less first two periods, the Russians had a lucky goal 1:30 minutes into the 3rd period, and that boosted their morale. We could have had one equalizer, which showed up very evidently on the goalie camera, but the referee blowed the whistle because the puck went out of his sight. No goal. 3 power-plays for Canada, but none with a goal.

Aptly put, it is a heartbreaker. We, the Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Champions, who returned as defending champions, return home empty handed.

Never mind. 2010 will be our year. Canada's Ice Hockey team will return home with double golds for mens and women's Ice Hockey.

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On another note, our men's Curling team will face the Finns in the gold medal final. I hope Brad Gushue will thrash the Finns the way his team did to the Americans.

Proudly Canadian

Proudly Canadian. Yes, Proudly Canadian.

"When one athlete stands atop the podium, the whole nation stands higher."

"As Canadians, we're generally unassuming. We don't brag a lot, even though we have tons to brag about."

These lines from ads didn't come from the government as propaganda. These lines came from Canadian companies and corporations - Canadians themselves. It wasn't socially-engineered to be patriotic to our nation - we have it in our national anthem, and we have it in our blood.

When I heard (on TV) the national anthem being played after the Women's Ice Hockey team beat Sweden at the gold medal playoff at Torino, I was filled with emotion, surging through my entire body. I could identify with the pride that the Women's team had for their country, plus all the Canadians supporting the team at the finals. It was so spontaneous. The anthem started playing, and suddenly, every Canadian in the seats stood up and sang the anthem with tons of pride.

We know our anthem, even though we don't sing it every morning as students. We sing it with pride, even though we're not told to. We never get tired of it - because we have so much to be proud of.

I'm Proudly Canadian.

Wearing the Maple Leaf

After watching Canadians ski, skate and shoot to victory at the Winter Olympics, I've been thinking - what would it be like to wear the Maple Leaf for Canada during one of the games? I wonder how many of Canada's Olympians would be doing that during the 2008 Beijing Olympics? I certainly would love to wear the Maple Leaf in an international competition.

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O Canada!
Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command.

With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!

From far and wide,
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

Go Team Canada!

Yay! Canada beats Italy and Russia 16-0 and 12-0 respectively in the Women's Ice Hockey event of the 2006 Winter Olympics! Olympic size victory for an Olympic-quality team. WAY TO GO!

A long day at work.

Here's my schedule today:

• 8.30 am: Uncle Ken drops me off at E. Hastings Dairy Queen.
• 9.30 am: Liza drops by E. Hastings to bring me to N. Vancouver Dairy Queen.
• 10.00 am: Set up shop at N. Vancouver Dairy Queen.
• 10.15 am: First order for lunch.
• 10.45 am: Karen calls, asking for day off (the cramps). Liza pleads for her not to skip work today.
  
• 11.00 am: Liza calls Helen, finds out Helen cannot make it for work. In a flurry, Liza calles somebody to come cover Helen for the evening. We find Mike.
  
• 12.00 pm: Karen arrives and saves the day - backlog of orders cleared.
• 1.30 pm: Lunch. Orders keep coming throughout my lunch; I finish it in 1/2 hours, not my usual 1/2 minute.
  
• 3.50 pm: Mike arrives.
  
• 4.00 pm: Karen leaves, Tunisha arrives.
• 4.30 pm: Liza grants me a 1/2 hour break, to rest to prepare for the next 4 hours of work.
  
• 6.00 pm: Dinner.
• 7.00 pm: Orders start piling...
• 8.00 pm: Start packing in DQ Sandwiches that Tunisha makes.
• 8.30 pm: Leave for home.

What a day. I'm glad, though, that I managed to save Liza some trouble to call somebody else down to help out. I'm also glad that she didn't make me book out during my breaks... guess we were all too busy to bother about such stuff in the end.

Myth

Theme song from "Myth". I just love it.

Random Musings

Sometimes, after visiting UBC, I wish I were a student all over again. Somehow, I've rediscovered the drive to succeed academically, something I had at the beginning of Sec 3. I really hope something can keep my drive going.

"The 8th Habit" is a really cool read. But I'm gonna take my time to read the book carefully.

AirPort Express!

Holy smokes! I'm working wirelessly in Uncle Poh Bin's place! YAY for AirPort express! Such a snap to install. Wow man... Apple rocks!