Wow, there goes another year, passed just like that! Time really does pass quickly. I guess it’s time to think about this year’s resolution. So much to think about… random things already crossing my mind.

Alright then, here goes something:

1. To KEEP my new year’s resolution.

Because you know how it goes, nobody ever keep them. I’m no different. So this year, I’m making this my top priority (and that ensures the rest gets done)!

2. To update my Mental Murmurs regularly.

I’ve always wanted to start a blog… and keep at it!! Have someplace to write all my thoughts, experiences, journeys, lessons, memories… recorded down in something solid (well, not really because this is the net…), the good times and the bad… just something for me to remind myself what I have gone through…

I said this many many many many times, but the blogs were all created in free sites such as livejournal, xanga and the like… and I find myself stopping after [insert a very smallish number here] months? -_- Oh well… When I’m bothered, I’ll take all the entries and compile some backtrack entries.

So anyway, here I am, my first steps to a memorable blog; my first own domain =] Wish me luck!!

3. To find happiness

During my high school years (only a few years ago), I’ve always been down for no particular reason. Well, none when I look back now. I don’t know why though, I had everything I need. Sure, I don’t get a lot of things I want, but the essentials were there: good health, good academic standing, great family, awesome friends and teachers, great living conditions (no chores, nothing)… there were nothing I had to worry about (what more could I ask for really?) Yet I was still very down.

Lately, I get these down moments far less frequently, which I am grateful for. I still don’t know why… could possibly be hormonal for all I know…

So this year forward, I want to follow Dalai Lama’s wise words (in “The Art of Happiness): something in the lines of making life’s purpose to find happiness (the book is in a box someplace, have to dig it out to find the actual quote… I found it!!! “…the very purpose of our life is happiness. the very motion of our life is toward happiness.” Dalai Lama). This is also another reason I’m here making this blog: to remind myself how lucky I am to be here with what I’ve got and of all the things in my life there is to be grateful for.

4. Not to waste spend money/time on useless things

I am shameful to say, but I have wasted SO.MUCH.TIME on nothing productive when I could have been sleeping more, helping out more, doing my assessments… >< I somehow managed an okay average for uni, but I’m sure it could have been better, even by a bit. But still, I’m glad I went alright.

And the other thing. I waste a lot a lot a lot of money =( though I have been selling some stuff on ebay… for quite cheap I must say but doesn’t matter because I have no need for those items). Well, my boyfriend Andrew says I don’t compared to many other people of the same age, but keep in mind I don’t have a permanent part time like everyone else around me. So yes, no more spending on useless things I have no need for, regardless of having a job or not!!

5. To look after my health!!

Three main things for this resolution: A fine balance of food, 3 days a week gym sessions and a minimum of eight six hours of sleep.

With food, I guess I’m pretty lucky because my dad takes care of my 3 meals every weekday, and they are pretty nice tasting and healthy with a good combination of the major food groups (though we don’t eat red meat in our family for religious purposes, hence my lack of iron-ness)… but looking at a body builder’s menu (I want to be cut…), I don’t think I can achieve that. Especially when my dad goes through so much effort of making the food for us… Maybe later when I move out and have to worry about what I eat everyday that I’ll start looking after what I eat. But for now, I’ll just stick to what I’m having.

Gym: I don’t have a problem with commitment to the gym, unlike many people I’ve talked to. So why have I stopped gymming for the past 2 months? People who asked me and have not the time to explain what happened will think I’ve been making up excuses for my lack of adherence to the program. But that’s not it.

Roughly 2 months ago, after I finished my exams, I went to the gym for a good workout only to find that the gym was to be closed for the day in 15 minutes. Fred, the gym owner, was really kind and let me work out for free during the 15 minutes. Andrew trained me really hard during that short period of time. Afterwards, I walked out into the sun and literally collapsed, feeling really light-headed and lethargic. Andrew caught me and surrounding people came to see what happened to me. Andrew, with help from a lovely lady named Barbara (I deeply thank her for her kindness), took me to his car and I stayed put there for a while before I was ready to go home. Apparently, my blood pressure was really low due to the time-of-the-month-thing and dehydration… Now whenever I think of the gym, I feel really insecured. Heck, I even feel insecured by doing everyday activities now. So one of this year’s resolution is to overcome this fear and head back to the gym and build some strength and muscles.

Sleep. Ahhh, that’s a hard one. I will aim for minimum of 6 hours of sleep because during the semester, I rarely get 6 hours of sleep and when things get busy, it gets worse. Like most people rushing their assignments/reports/studying for an exam, I pull all-nighters and look like a zombie the next few days… It’s really BAD! ><; I know this and I do it anyway… So so so baddd!!! 6 hours isn’t anything outside of reasonable. Oh, and sleep before 12 (if possible again…)!

6. To become a better person

I guess I can’t say “I haven’t kept any new year’s resolution” because I like to believe that I’m becoming a better person every year… And this last point (which is definitely NOT least) has always been on my new year’s resolution.

So yes, whatever I have become, I hope it was for the better.

…

Phew! That was a long post! =] I guess I’m really motivated to keep this blog up afterall!

Please comment, any comment is welcomed =] I’d love to hear about your resolutions for 2008, or resolutions you have completed this year and prove the sterotyped comment wrong =] I’m sure you guys are better than I am at this!
Thank you for reading.

Anyway, time for me to make some wontons~ Mm mmm! Yummy!

Wishing you all a happy new year’s eve!!
Signing off.

Hi everyone, I’m the webmistress of Mental Murmurs, an ordinary girl, a girl from next door, a science student, one in many but of one a kind nonetheless.

Thoughts, feelings, experiences and everyday life… these are precious to me (hopeless sentimental). Plus I love writing. With these in mind comes the birth of this site.

I really live for music. Rock. Alternative. Prog. Heavy/Metal. Goth. Indie. Grunge. I love an eclectic mix of rock music!

Some of my much-loved bands not in order include Something for Kate, Porcupine tree, Opeth, Death Cab for Cutie, Red hot chili peppers, Nirvana, System of a Down, Mudvayne, Rammstein, Radiohead, Muse, Foo fighters, Riverside… This list can go on forever…

Descriptions of me by other people which I (sorta) agree to…

1. To passerbys when they see my with my friends, I’m: weird/freaky/on something illegal.

2. To people I don’t know all that well, I’m usually: timid/shy/quiet, nice/friendly.

3. To people who knows me quite well, I’m one of these: down to earth and easy going, observant, a great listener and friend in general, high, stoned…

Alright, now before you all think I’m mental, let me just say that although the 4th description is most correct about me (high, high and high), I’m also very befriend-able. So don’t be afraid to comment; I won’t bite ^^

4. And to people I’m close and comfortable with, I’m all those above + mean (in a teaseful way), high on the verge of crazy, abnormal, random, fun.

So anyway, on with my daily (or not so daily, depending on my laziness) ramblings.

Until then, have an awesome day =]
Mental Murmurs

I’ve been selling on eBay for a while now because we’re moving and I’ve dug up a lot of old stuff I don’t find value to anymore… They are mainly CDs and DVDs, but there are tops and stuff also.

So, I’ve found many CDs and DVDs (my mum and) I want to get rid of for a small fraction of the price I paid (I seriously don’t expect that much), got on my boyfriend’s account feeling a little nervous because I have no idea how much postage would cost, if anyone would bid on it, if the CDs are too old and unpopular, the normal thoughts, etcetera.

Despite doubts, I went ahead and listed a DVD anyway. Since I was inexperienced, I listed it for $5, with $4 postage fee. First time round, didn’t sell, and I lost 50c for insertion fee and 10c for buyitnow fee. But it said I am entitled to relist for free. So I did.

Second time round, I sold it.

YAY! That’s GREAT!

Wait.

I checked paypal (electronic banking thing) and it charged me 61c for accepting the payment of $9. Ok…

Next thing, I went to post office, the lady at the post charged me $4 and $1 for the padded bag. Damn, I only charged the guy $4 *reluctantly digs $1 from own pocket*

Not good.

Then I logged onto eBay and checked invoices. Charged 26c for final fees (a percentage on what I sold it for excluding postage fees).

Skim skim skim…

Uh… what’s that? They charged me 50c for relisting and 10c for buyitnow…!!! O_O; Wasn’t I entitled to relist… for free? Apparently, yes… but we have to pay when we sell it. Ok!

So all up, I made $1.93 from that DVD.

Not good!
Not good at all!!! =(

So the next thing I asked myself is: Is it worth it to list other items and risk the insertion fee, or not?

I looked around my very messy room, stacks and stacks of packed boxes with my name on them, the remaining things I had to pack, the pile of stuff I don’t want to keep but don’t want to throw out… GOD, it’s like a flea market in here!

AND so! I logged onto eBay once again with my 2nd item, wording my listing very carefully with the EXACT description, starting the bid off with 99c (so the listing fee would be only 30c) for the DVD, $4 for postage and making the duration of the auction 7 days; not too long, not too short. Surely someone would buy this for more than $2…? Because if not, that means a lost, and I don’t just mean the DVD!

Day 1 to 5: No bids, No watchers, few views.

Don’t despair, I tell myself.

Day 6: Wow, one bid. $5. WHAT? Very happy by this stage, I l didn’t know how it got to this amount with only one bid… Nor did I care. I was just happy it’s selling!

Last day, ending price: $10.50.

I’m in heaven!!! =] =] =] This is so great! They paid via paypal and the it didn’t ask if I wanted to accept or decline, which meant one thing: I wasn’t charged for receiving payment! WOO! I’m on the moon…!

Until the button worded “Mark as sent” ruined my mood. Great, postage time.

Hoping it won’t cost an arm and a leg, I hopped into the post office and got served, this time by a different lady.

Lady: This will cost $1 to send.
Me: Huh?
Lady: $1 to send and $1 for the padded bag, that’s $2 thanks.

And I handed her $2 with a smile on my face.

Then I worked out why… Apparently, the other lady charged the DVD as a PARCEL, not LARGE LETTER.

Damn.  I got ripped first time ’round!!!

And with this newfound ‘knowledge’ (I should say?), I’ve continued to list my items, checking obsessively for watchers/bidders, posting these LETTERS like crazy (the local post office is very busy, and making sure I was served by the same lady…).

One problem.

I’m now a newbie for combining postage rates.

Mr AG gave me this diamond love heart necklace

Just came back from rocking for rights!

It was awesome!

Much better than what I expected and for a good cause too!

Highlight of the day is Something for Kate again! <3 They are my love!!!

They played Tom Petty’s “I won’t back down” and their latest single, “California”

I’m so happy and hyped!

But meh, so tired as well >_<;

Went to the Easter show with AG today!

Highlight of the day: Something for Kate’s performance (really, I only went for that!)

Set list (not in order):
Down the garden path
Transparanoia
Cigarettes and suitcases
You only hide
California
Monsters
Strategy
Deja vu
Before butterfly’s wings
Pinstripe
Oh Kamikaze
Big screen television
“Angry Easter song” (new one)

Bro asked me to cook lobsters with his character (an online game) and AG’s sleeping… Have nothing to do and I’m bored so here I am with weird thoughts.

1. Burwood’s Boost Juice bar isn’t that bad anymore~ Friendlier staffs (polite and fun) and they are actually mixing the right stuff!
2. I read somewhere that an increase in temperature (e.g. fever) will increase metabolism… something like 7% increase in metabolism with every degree…
   On the other hand, my science teacher told me to drink tons and tons of cold water (though not recommended) because the body needs to heat the water up and stuff…
   So which is more effective… heating yourself up or cooling it down?
3. Post-modernism list:
   Memento is a great movie! *_*
   Confessions of a dangerous mind bored me…
   Yet to watch Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind~
4. AG’s mum got me this “oceanus” gift set from the Body shop and it’s the bestest scent!
   If you have a chance, pop in and try the fragrances! =)
   If you likes, buy a bath bomb (around $5) and chill in the bath with it~ *hearts*
5. AG ordered a new mobile (cos he dropped weights on his mobile while training and it, to say the least, isn’t working) since 23rd December and it STILL hasn’t arrived yet… Grrr!!
6. ASHES: AUSSIE CLEAN SWEEPED ENGLAND!!!

Ooh, sleeping beauty woke up, I’m gonna phone him now~

People who came: AG, Hydrochloric acid, AH, KM, JL, AT, DL & DZ.
Had lunch and then watched “Deja vu” (it’s a bit confusing but cool at the same time)

1. Emo

Genre of softcore punk music that integrates unenthusiastic melodramatic 17 year olds who don’t smile, high pitched overwrought lyrics and inaudible guitar rifts with tight wool sweaters, tighter jeans, itchy scarfs (even in the summer), ripped chucks with favorite bands signature, black square rimmed glasses, and ebony greasy unwashed hair that is required to cover at least 3/5 ths of the face at an angle.

2. Emo

Punk music on estrogen.

3. emo

An entire subculture of people (usually angsty teens) with a fake personality. The concept of Emo is actually a vicious cycle that never ends, to the utter failing of humanity, and it goes something like this:

1. Girls say they like “sensitive guys” (lie)
2. Guy finds out, so he listens to faggy emo music and dresses like a dork so chicks will see that he is sensitive and not afraid to express himself (lie). He dyes his hair black, wraps himself in a stupid looking scarf, develops an eating disorder, and rants about how “nobody understands”.
3. Now an emo guy, he meets Emo chick and they start dating, talking about how their well-off suburban lifestyles are terrible and depressing (lie)
4. Emo guy is just too much of a pussy. His penis is too small, he’s too depressed to bathe, and has more mood swings than emo chick, and he doesn’t even have a menstrual cycle. Emo chick dumps him, saying “It’s not you, it’s me.” (lie) as she drives off with Wayne, the school jock and captain of the football team.
5. Emo guy goes home and cries, proceeds to write a weak song and strum a single string on his acoustic guitar. Another emo chick sees how he is so in touch with his feelings, and the cycle continues.

4. Emo

Like a Goth, only much less dark and much more Harry Potter.

5. emo

A group of white, mostly middle-class well-off kids who find imperfections in there life and create a ridiculous, depressing melodrama around each one. They often take anti-depressants, even though the majority don’t need them. They need to wake up and deal with life like everyone else instead of wallowing in their imaginary quagmire of torment.

-

For more go to urbandictionary.com (the BEST dictionary EVER!!!)

If you see AG, please do say hi to him…