Secret Black Book Medical student working as a part time coffee barista Statistics Unique Visitors: Total Unique Visitors: Outgoing: Total Outgoing: 0 0 0 4322

Articles from Secret Black Book

Forkroads 2007-07-06 17:27:00 I went out with Ambivalence yesterday, and as all conversations went, we suddenly delved onto the topic of medicine, life, play and other stuff. I will not bore you with the contents of our conversation and also because i would prefer to keep it private, but it did set me off thinking quite a bit after we parted ways.Honestly, every day i understand myself more, but at the same time, i get more confused.Sometimes i wonder whether i am afraid, or lazy or whether deep down inside i want to be something else, or maybe i dream too much.Anyway, i had my first badminton coaching session yesterday. He is a good coach, has 10 years experience and has been competing and training with world-renowned players including Susilo and Lin Dan. I discovered everything down to my way of holding the racquet and volleying the shuttle back are wrong. It was back to basics. It emphasized to me how immensely important it is to learn something the right way from the very beginning. It makes learning a sport ha ...

The first sign of things to come 2007-07-06 16:56:00 I glanced at my watch, it was 2.55pm. I was still waiting for the train, nowhere near my destination. I quickly sent Ambivalence a text.I will be late! Sorry!10 minutes later, i was on a tram in the city heading to the University. Ambivalence did not reply my text, a sense of foreboding filled me. I whipped out my handphone and gave him a call. The call failed. Before i could react, my phone rang. It was Ambivalence."You there yet?" he asked."Erm, no. You?""I am still at home."I looked at my watch. 3.10pm."We are both late for the appointment?" I started laughing."Ok, bye!""You running there now?""Yes yes yes! Bye!"I strolled into the cafe 15 minutes late for our appointment with the prospective Spanish tutor. I saw a sheepish-looking Ambivalence sitting opposite a relatively young lady. She looked stern.I introduced myself and shook her hand. I noted she did not stand up but remain seated when she shook my hand. I filed that observation somewhere in my head. Observation, not judgement ...

Intellectual swearings are worse than being fucked 2007-07-02 11:25:00 Last night i went to work as usual, except i'm not too sure whether it's my last time on the job as a carer. I have told the Doctor to leave me out of the July roster because i honestly have no idea what my schedule will be like. This afternoon, S, the assistant manager of Starbucks (i think it's high time i put a name to her personality. Calling her S is just not going to work anymore, it is too cold, too assuming. Scarlett she shall be) gave me a call. I was anticipating this call. Getting this call meant that i definitely got the barista job even though Warren did call me on Thursday to tell me already. But i am paranoid, and i know Life can still be a bitch, which means the offer can still crumble as long as i don't get secondary confirmation.Scarlett told me to look out for a parcel that has been sent to me. In it are a couple of forms, and i am not sure what else would Starbucks want to send me, though Tiara suggested that they could be mailing out their trademark t-shirts wh ...

Chugging on 2007-06-28 21:21:00 Life has been nice recently. My 2 interviews with Starbucks have gone well, the manager, let's call him Warren, gave me a call yesterday to ask me whether i was still interested in the job. Of course i was pumped up, and i got hired. He will be calling me on Monday to discuss my shifts after he has called both my references - Geek and the Deputy Rector. I was going to drop by my former college today to say hallo to the Deputy Rector and to introduce him to Kel and Dax, as well as to inform him of the impending call, but he is away on leave for a couple of weeks, so i ain't too sure how Warren is going to deal with that. I must say that Geek has a major part to play in this, for which i am very grateful. Without her connection as Supervisor in Starbucks, i doubt my resume would have be given a second glance. Also, i believe she added in subtle words for me to her manager and the barista that interviewed me, so i think it all adds up.Also, the Doctor has placed an ad for relief carers. ...

Just a nice day to stay indoors 2007-06-27 06:08:00 I went to work last night, had to put Kel and Dax outside because Tiara was at work too. It was not long after i arrived at the Doctor's house did the rain started pouring. I have never seen the heavens weep so much, at least not in this part of Aussie yet. I was very worried. When i left the dogs, Kelly was really indignant, and was crying her head off. I left in her wake of howls. I wondered whether she continued her ruckus, and if she did, for how long did she keep it up? The neighbours ain't going to be too thrilled about that. Also it was raining so hard that i would have preferred if the dogs were indoors; i wasn't too sure how well the kennels would be keeping on. Obviously, i was just over-fretting about the whole thing, but you should have hear how the rain pounded the house.The Doctor came into the living room where i was deep in my thoughts and commented about the heavy rain and how nice it was. I understood that feeling - the feeling of being warm, cosy and protected whi ...

My toes ache 2007-06-25 20:15:00 My toes ache. That's standing proof to me that i have walked way too much over the past few days. Kelly chewed through the double leader i bought for her and Dax. I was annoyed. I bought a head collar to replace the double leader because i hereby had enough of running the risk of jerking my arm out of my socket each time i walk her. It has been a pleasure to take her out on walks since. I never wanted to use the head collar because Kel is very intelligent, and training her to walk to heel is an easy thing. Unfortunately, Daxter is a very $%#&^@& dog, and he's excruciatingly dumb. He's doing all the wrong things which Kelly is picking up instantly.For example, that stupid dog yelps and barks his head off whenever he sees another dog, and Kelly learns, and this creates a very embarrassing commotion for me, and a very terrifying one for the other owner especially when theirs is a small dog. And Daxter is so thick-skulled that no matter how i yell, he would still chase the birds alo ...

Pseudo-problems 2007-06-22 23:18:00 How can there be solutions if there are no problems?If there are no problems, why the look behind our eyes, the tightness behind our smiles, the expressions we try to hide?Why the sleepless nights, the mysterious headaches, and the unconscious drooping of our lips?If there are no problems, how did i end up with a handful of useless solutions?If there are no problems, why is there the constant sporadic upheaval in my life?If there are no questions, then there are no answers to seek. If there are no answers to seek, then why are we always in a talk?Why the uneasiness when we meet the other, the instinct to bolt when the other enters the same room, the need to cross to the opposite side?Why, after so many bloodshed, time-consuming attempts, are we still at Square one?So if we have no problems, then why aren't our lives filled with peace, laughter and joy?Do pseudo-problems exist? Are there entities that exist in the form of problems, when in actual fact, they are nothing?Or is the proble ...

A very different facial 2007-06-21 19:34:00 I went for my first Ella Bache facial yesterday. It was very very different from Leonard Drake, and basically any other facial i have done in Singapore. First things first, when i entered the lounge, it had the same refreshing aromatherapy and the same soothing music in the background. That make things a little more familiar and a little less tense. I was then led into the room where they did the facial. It was larger, and the bed was more comfortable. I think they were using an electric blanket.The skin analysis was done pretty quick with UV light. She pointed out to me all the problem spots. Please pardon my very elementary image, i was never one good with art, let alone art when i had to battle a really stubborn mouse.She explained to me that the yellow region along the jaw line would indicate stress factors if i developed pimples in that area. The blue region around the chin would be due to hormonal factors and the green area due to my diet. Fortunately, i did not have pimples in a ...

Breakouts 2007-06-20 06:01:00 I have been having breakouts. This time it really is sever enough to make me quite alarmed. Usually i would not care less about zits that pop up on my face, because appearance is secondary compared to personality. Unfortunately, the number of pimples is scaring the hell out of me. I hardly get any pimples during my pubertal years, or even later on when i was sparring on the mats with fellow judokas and getting all sweaty. But last semester they keep coming out. I understand because of my low emotional state last semester. But this semester?? I haven't fallen ill at all so that means my immune system is quite robust because my mental health has been pretty stable.I remember the beautician in Leonard Drake back in Singapore telling me that i have very sensitive skin and that my pores are clogged and i won't be able to remove them just by washing my face religiously with the best products. I need to go for facials where someone can help me unclog them. They advise regular facials, somet ...

Living with someone makes you more aware of your own habits 2007-06-20 04:59:00 Tiara's final exam ended today. I went for my Starbucks interview. Donkey and Lippy accompanied me for the interview to lend me some moral support. It was incredibly sweet of them. I bought my second Moleskine book, having filled up all the pages in the one Eastie bought for my 21st birthday last year (she's going to be so proud to hear that since she dreaded the thought of me leaving it aside). Tiara and i then watched Bridge to Terabithia. All in all, it was a good day. Then i came home. And i saw Kelly on top of her kennel. And my mood plunged.Did i mention how high the kennel i bought for her is? Did i also mention that i placed the kennel in my balcony which is located on the top floor of our Townhouse, on the 3rd level? Did i mention that if Kelly decided to leap off the roof of the kennel onto the walls out of puppy curiosity, she will jump to her death? Did i also mention that every day when i come back home, i have this fearful image of seeing a black carcass on the ground ...

Brit Humour 2007-06-19 17:58:00 Courtesy of an email sent by Sapphire. Hilarious. These Brits are really creative. Even if i don't feel like sticking to the rules, i would in the end, because it is a good attempt at having a laugh at a serious issue. ...

Sleep 2007-06-18 20:42:00 I haven't been sleeping well the past few weeks. Ironically, i craved sleep during my exams, but now that the holidays are here, i cannot sleep in, no matter how hard i try. Somehow my body clock just wakes me up. Also, i suspect my job as a carer has made me cultivate a very unhealthy pattern - to habitually wake up in the middle of the night to check on the old lady, because she has become so frail that she no longer hits the buzzer to alert us she needs assistance to use the commode. Hence, i wake up intermittently now at nights. Interrupted sleep sucks.I slept at 3.30 this morning because Bert and Cassie came around to hang out. Cassie is heading back to England in 2 days' time. Her one year stint as an exchange student has been completed. It is highly doubtful we meet again, unless we specifically arrange trips to head over to the other's homeland. We will keep in touch i reckon. Bert is going back to Sydney for her one month study break. Actually i hope she will be all right, ...

One dead, gunman at large 2007-06-17 19:11:00 This morning, i cycled back from work. Sapphire was also up at that early hour, and she was indiscriminately flipping through the TV channels when she chanced upon the news. A gunman had shot 3 people in a cafe at close range, 8.15am. He has not yet been found.Whoa!8.15am. I was on the roads cycling home.They are still searching for him. Sapphire emphasized that i should stay put at home today. I don't think that's a good idea though. My place is located very near the city, and am surrounded by all the major train stations, all the major train interchanges. And the location of the shooting? I think there's a tram that cruises through there back to my place. Ho ho ho. He could easily come to my area.Also, the air traffic has been pretty heavy around my area this morning. I would not be too surprised if they were police choppers. In fact, one is hovering around now as i am typing this.Anyhow, i am not staying put at home but neither am i going to take a gamble on my chances. Shall giv ...

I lack the mettle for this 2007-06-16 19:01:00 I got back from work 2 hours ago. It was very hectic this morning, and i actually stayed longer than my shift period. I am re-considering this job.Liz is becoming incontinent (both urine and fecal). It's creating quite a host of challenges for her carers, particularly the night carers. I work the night shifts. Last week, i had to take a cab down to work because i mis-read my shifts. I thought i was working the overnight shift, but turned out that i had a double shift, both the evening and the overnight ones. I was an hour late. It was a mistake on my part, and i apologized for it. The day carer was very polite about the whole thing. She understood it was an honest oversight on my part and knew that i was usually very conscientious. She mentioned that i should check on Liz in the morning when she is awake, and to check if the bed is wet. I did not think much about it.When morning came, i asked Liz if she wanted to use the commode because she hasn't been on the commode since the evenin ...

Fog 2007-06-15 23:35:00 It has been incredibly foggy due to the cold. Last night was atrocious. I could barely make out objects a few metres in front of me. I could barely discern the outline of the lady walking in front of me; the fog threatened to swallow her whole any minute. I could not make out the outline of cars, only the fuzzy images of their headlights which were feeble attempts to penetrate the thick fog. It was quite eerie. I realized then, how dangerous it was to drive in such poor visibility, and it would be foolish on my part if i decide to ride my bike to work tonight if the fog continues. The photo on the right was taken in the city when Sapphire and i were taking a quick rest and sharing a danish pastry between us. It was so cold, it ain't funny.I was walking home from the train station with Sapphire. We had used the whole day to dish out a sheaf of resumes that i had printed out in the morning, to the various Starbucks, Gloria Jeans Coffees, and Hudsons Coffee outlets. I am applying for par ...