Dear Self,

Wasn’t it just 2 weeks ago that you lamented how sadistic the entertainment scene was becoming? In that post, you commented on the manner which the hosts lampooned local celebrities and condemned their action (posted on july 3, 2008).

But you just did that yourself didn’t you? – In the previous post lies a thinly veiled attack on your instructor; poor guy.

And why melisa? Just because you didn’t understand him?? That’s no excuse.  
If you fail to understand someone, that’s your fault. No one else’s. Don’t place the blame on another for your inadequacies.

You overlook his patience and painstaken efforts to explain the technicalities every step of the way. You forget his willingness to risk his life sitting in that hefty chunk of metal that you’re learning to move. You think that just because you’re paying a lot of money, it means that he ought to be nice and do things your way. You forget that the fella has to sit through many sessions a day, going through the same old motions and meeting arrogant people like you who think they know best; but having to remain polite for they are customers.

Sometimes, i wonder why it takes you so long to realise your mistakes…today it took almost 8 hours.
I wonder why you can’t be more forgiving, i wonder when you’d become a better person. I wonder when you’d grow up!

Granted that you were pissed after the lesson, you took it out on the wrong person my dear.
The person at fault today is you. The guy was just doing his job. Would you be able to face him if you knew he read the previous post? You’re no better than those hosts from the show.

Alas child! You’ve a very long way to go.

–melo

Matthew 7:4-5 (NIV)
“How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

I had a really eventful driving lesson today that left me quite pissed. I had trouble understanding the instructor, therefore leaving me confused and frustrated half the time. Here’s what happened

#1
Him: Light (pause)  turn.
Me: Turn at the traffic light?
Him: Yah
Me: Which direction?
Him: Light.

#2
Him: Demister switches off after fif-tee minutes. You must remember to switch it on yourself. If the tester do it for you, you fail.
Me: Ok
**moments later**
Him: Why you don’t switch the demister on?? You see your rear screen getting misty
Me: Oh, i didn’t realise..it’s looks quite clear to me though. But you said 50 minutes right? It’s not 50mins yet.
Him: Who say fif-teee?? I said fif-tee….One Five 

#3
Me: Since its’ raining, i can go slower right? And since the road has a lot of bends, can i go at 40(km/hr)?
Him: Yah, raining means the road is slippery mah. Go at 30
**Melisa slows down to 30km/hr**
Him: Don’t go at 30, the road is clear, go at 40 should be fine
**Accelerates to 40**
Him: Actually i think you go at 30 is better…roads are wet.

On hindsight, it’s hilarious!! But it was my first time driving in the rain and i was a little jittery. With miscommunication, it made me even more nervous. At the end of the lesson he said my mistakes were:
1) Signaling late
2) Steering not confident and not skilled
3) Dependence on instructor to manage stuff like the demister

I wonder if i could have avoided those mistakes if i had understood him better. Like if i had registered that light = right, i would have signaled earlier and then i would be more confident of my next move. Half the time, i didn’t understand him and those contradicting instructions left me fumbling and hesistant. Like at a junction, i didn’t know where he wanted me to go, so i’d slow down and ask…or i’d ask way in advance and he’d tell me, “i tell you nearer the place”

Ah well, what to do?? What’s done is done :)
Better luck next time!!

I aim to master this before school begins. I’m not talking about the vocals, just the guitar :)

1) I celebrated my birthday (super belated i know, it’s been more than a month!) over the weekend!! But I don’t mind!! Who minds receiving presents, cutting cakes, singing the birthday song again and again?? Haha!!  Definitely not me!!  

2) I drove myself home today!! How cool is that mannn!! I would like to believe that i’m getting better behind the wheels. Now that i’ve driven at 70km/hr…i think driving faster is more fun. But i don’t think that i would be like those super unfriendly fellas who speed, i’d be a really courteous and safe driver! :)

3) A visit to the optician this week reveals that the specs would be a permanent fixture on my face. No longer would i wear it to look smart, this time, melisa loh REALLY needs it.

4) Bukit Batok Library is in need of new books… weekly visits since the holidays started have depleted the supply of ‘books-melisa-hasn’t-read’. Either that or I would have to begin reading chinese books

5) Dentist says my teeth are fine and to see him again in 6 months time.

6) I found a very interesting site: http://www.threechordguitar.com/ 
The fella is quite funny..he likes to ramble on and on and on before the videos :) 
The lessons are also manageable, the chords and finger pickings are really easy to pick up. There’re a few songs there, guess which is my favourite???

7) My holidays are numbered…less than a month left. Ah well, it was good while it lasted. Hehe!!

8) I’ve decided that i really like my room…from the lightings, to the furniture to my door :)  

9) Now i can understand my neighbours! When they speak slowly and clearly that is…Eavesdropping was never that exciting and meaningful! Yes, my malay is getting better

10) I’m beginning to get a tummy…Haha!!

In conclusion:

Okie, after much deliberation..here are my modules next sem:

• GE3223: Environmental Change in the Tropics
• GE3231: Natural Hazards
• GE4203: Urban Space: Critical Perspectives
• SE3214: Marketing Southeast Asian’s Heritage

I’ve done my MPE, there’s no turning back now… :)

Dear Self,

Who would have thought that two nice ladies who popped by today would have such an impact on your day?? Those two nice ladies came knocking on your door with a very noble intention of “leaving you with a thought and to share something encouraging”

I think they are really brave, not many have the courage to go knocking on people’s doors and strike up conversations with perfect strangers. But you’re a friendly perfect stranger who just woke up…so maybe you were less challenging?? :)

But I digress…

The thought went something like “Do you value God’s education as much as your own earthly education?”  for they knew that you were a student.

Great question… So melisa loh, do you??
I leave you with the verses they left you.

“Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long. Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever with me. I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes. I have more understanding than the elders,  for I obey your precepts.” Psalm 119:97-100

(C: melo

It’s been quite a while since i’ve sought the approval of another and hence, it was a shocker when i found myself doing just that today.

I attempted (i did like close to 50 turns) the “cross-hand” technique of turning today. Left turns, right turns, sharp turns, wide turns…etc, i did them all today. And after each successful turn, i found myself waiting to hear the instructor say, “Well done!”, “Good!” or “Good job!”. And flash me a smile with all that yellow teeth.

When those words were uttered, i found my heart smiling, and i’d be really confident during the next turn. But when he failed to do so, i’d begin to panic. I’d ask “Erm..Sir, was that okie?”

What a loser i know…but it came so naturally that i didn’t even notice it till post dinner!!

And to think that i actually thought i was past the age when the opinions or the approvals of others no longer mattered to me. Perhaps this whole driving thing is completely new and therefore i’m looking for some assurance?? But then again…that wasn’t really what was going on in my head this morning..I was seeking approval and assurance.
 
Dont’ get me wrong, i’m not condemning the need for assurance, but when it borders on approval, then it’s a cause of concern. Because the only approval that i’m suppose to be after is God’s.

Watch yourself! :)

But before that…I’ve changed my mind, decided that the green was a little painful on the eyes (at least for me).

Anyway, i just watched my 2nd episode of The Showdown toady and i’ve decided that it would be my last. The link is here if you don’t know what i’m talking about: http://theshowdown.mediacorptv.sg/

Here’s why:

The first time i watched it, the deejays were super harsh on patricia mok; saying that she’s ugly and that her mouth is too big and all. That’s just mean! A person can’t help the way the person looks (except for plastic surgery of course). But this is a game show lah, it has nothing to do with her physical appearance. Moreover, beauty is in the eye of the beholder…and for that matter, i think she looks pleasant enough.

Then today’s episode featured the Underdogs - the erm…”rejects” of showbiz or in nicer terms, the ”famous for the wrong reasons” individuals. They made a mistake and the game master lashed out “WHERE ON EARTH DID YOU GET THESE GUYS?”. The tone and the implications of that statement is just uncalled for. The other team didn’t do any better but the game master didn’t say anything to that degree. Basically, today’s episode just featured those individuals making a mockery and a fool out of themselves.  

So people, why the need for such things?? Why must we put down others just for entertainment sake?? Is that even entertainment to begin with?? How funny is it laughing at the downfall of others?? Or to watch others being made a fool of…

This is entire different from Mr Bean type of comedy, the latter is a character or a persona being taken on. The first is a mockery made out of that person.

That’s just plain mean. Or am i just being sensitive?

I’ve decided to join the bandwagon of going green, LITERALLY :)

The first driving lesson today was spent with a newbie instructor. How did i know? His instructor was supervising him. Haha!!

Honestly, i was a little peeved initially. I mean, HELLO? I’m paying $59.92 for each session!! Shouldn’t i be getting someone more experienced??  But after a while, i begin to realise something quite cool!

Besides the fact that it was almost the blind leading the blind, it was a freshie leading another freshie…how exciting yes??

Plus, it’s not that bad…all the stuff/instructions should be fresh in his head. And he was making an effort to make the lesson entertaining, from cracking lame jokes to narrating his driving experience in hope of ‘inspiring(?)’ me. And perhaps, at the same time, butter his instructor :)

So, after lesson #1, melisa loh has learnt:

a) Freshie leading freshie ain’t that bad after all
b) Driving = risking melisa loh’s life…i entered the lane with on-coming traffic and made my heart skip many many beats
c) I dislike being horn-ed at. Someone did it today in the circuit  ’Be nice people! i’m new!! And the fact that you’re still in the circuit says a lot about you as well!!’
d) Driving at a speed of 20km/hr is strangely comforting…altho it must be frustrating for the fellas behind. But then again, i’m in front! So just ‘guai-guai’ stay behind and wait patiently.

In conclusion, melisa loh should attend more lessons. I think practise would do me much good.