Gretchen: My mom had to get a restraining order against my stepdad. He has emotional problems. Donnie: Oh, I have those too! What kind of emotional problems does your dad have? Gretchen: He stabbed my mom four times in the chest. Donnie: Oh.
Like Listening to Your Own Voice
I had never really liked him. I did not have any obvious or compelling reason not to like him, and why I disliked him had been a question that had bugged me for some time. I had come up with some answers, some more reasonable than others, but today I think I found an answer... Continue Reading →
The Friend Bell Curve
A friend of mine wrote: So the issue comes up again. After a few months, the people in [Currie Hall] have all drifted into cliques. Typical of [S]ingaporeans. But I have to disagree with him. I think he's being a little too harsh on Singaporeans. People all over the world drift into cliques; it's simply... Continue Reading →
Giving a Presentation
Never attempt to give a presentation you didn't prepare for when you've got too little sleep. Half the time I was up there presenting I felt as if I was stuck in a bad dream; and to think that I was expecting to present pretty well for this. Sure, it wasn't a disaster, but it... Continue Reading →
Top Student
"So, you prepared for your [Statistics] test tomorrow?" he asked me. "Well, sort of," I replied. "Going to be the top student?" That was a most unexpected question. This semester has been, in the words of another friend, my sabbatical. "Nah," I said, "I know who my competition is." I forgot what he said next,... Continue Reading →
Road Trip: Swan Valley
The study break (is it "break from" or "break for" study?) is nearly over. Today's Friday, though it feels like it ought to be Wednesday. Just before the break, I had two mid-semesters tests. I told myself that if I did reasonably well for both of them, I'd take it as a second-chance God (or... Continue Reading →
Taking the Raft
In many teachings of Buddhism, Buddhism itself has been compared to a raft used to cross a river. After it has served its purpose (i.e. used to cross the river), it should be discarded or let go. I had always thought myself to be agnostic, rejecting God insofar as He cannot be proven. But I... Continue Reading →
Bad Puns
Warming: Using these puns may get you seriously injured. ("In Jured? Where's Jured?") Lying in bed at night, I swore to tell the truth one day. In two years, I have ear wax. "You very mean, ah!" "Yes, you very minah..." (It's Melayu) "Have you ever met a politician who stands?" "Huh?" "I mean, they... Continue Reading →
Do You Really Love Her?
You said "fur", When what you really wanted was anything soft; You said "ten", When what you really wanted was any number; and You said "A", When what you really wanted was any letter in the alphabet. And now you're telling me that you want her. How do I know you're do not simply craving... Continue Reading →
Mid-Semester Exams
And the mid-semester exams are here! And what am I supposed to feel? ========== I haven't prepared as much as I should have for this mid-semester. Although I must say that after last semester's end-of-semester exams, I've more or less gotten the hang of what needs to be done when it comes to academia. Still,... Continue Reading →
Donn, fragments 