Phew that was the end of a stressful mid week. Just had a killer French test on monday and a murderous oral on tuesday and a marketing presentation today, and just finished my part of a project that's due tmr. The French oral so so reminded me of Chinese oral all over again -- the nerves, the stuttering, the barely make-out-able picture for me talk about. ugh, do not have a good feeling about it.

Had a surprise party fer Elaine on sat nite and tho most of the netballers that irene was supposed to call didn't show up, i thought it went ok... the whole living room was FILLED with blue and silver balloons and it was SO pretty as you can see at the top. i never had a surprise party b4, so it was really exciting trying to coordinate who's gonna turn the lights on and who's gonna scream surprise and who's gonna carry the cake [the very reliable Jo, of course, none of us butterfingers]. it was quite funny cuz all thru the week Haoyi had to call me while elaine was in the toilet and i was forbidden to msg him or call him. so all week i was on my toes waiting for instructions from him thatcame very hurriedly and which sometimes ended with "okshe'scomingoutofthetoiletnowbye". heh. well, i'm glad that all went well, and it was so heartwarming when i msged the girls to come and they immediately responded with A LOT of enthusiasm. Well, we love that girl, what can i say?

Anyway, things have been picking up somewhat. i'm so glad that Len got the job at HP, and even tho it was only 2 months without pathetic army pay, it seemed far too long, and tho this isn't exactly dream job material, i'm so so glad he's starting out somewhere at least, and gaining some experience. Dear, i know you don't really like it, but just make the best out of it, i'm sure it'll pick up. Just wanna say that i'm so proud of you. And its so obvious that my mom is happy with him working there too, its only his second day and she's called him twice or three times already to see if he's ok and to take him to lunch.

uh.. this probably should've been at the top of my entry, but ITS ASH WEDNESDAY TODAY!!! [better late than never, right?] yes, it marks the start of Lent, which means Good Friday and Easter are coming. Since a lot of people ask me about this every year i thought i might as well explain it here. When we go to church we get a mark of the cross of ash across our foreheads to remind us of what God sacrificed for us. Its a call to repent and follow God's footsteps. Its a time to reconcile ourselves with God and turn away from sin as well as reflect on ourselves and what we've been doing.

Anyway, a very close friend of mine was telling me that he felt quite terrible about not being remembered by somebody. He felt that because of that that he doesn't make an impression and that
he's forgettable. i felt so bad... not only cuz i was remembered and he wasn't, but i couldn't find a way to tell him that all that he was saying wasn't true. i guess i could understand how he was feeling: everyone wants to feel like they've been remembered and that they mean something, and thats why sometimes people try so hard, sometimes too hard to make an impression. Everyone wants to leave some sort of a legacy behind, they want to be talked about at least a little, or at least remembered. i felt so bad trying to tell him that he does make an impression, that he's really worth a lot more than he thinks he is... so hey, if you're reading this, you're an amazing person, and beautiful inside out, and all you have to do is
be yourself, and everyone will love you. i certainly do.

I guess we can't leave an impression on everybody we meet, just those that mean something to us. Just be yourself. yike, this is long. till next time!