Two more days of marking, then…

it’s breakfast at Changi once again. It’s time we restarted up for the NTU Bike Rally on 1st June 2008. This ride is about 70km, so a good enough beginning. It’s really hot though, so will not be as easy as the start of the year. Better check my Camelpak’s in order.

More?

Xylo says, “more?” Unlike the other two boys, he never stops asking for a bite to eat. Although he likes to come by and look pathetic (which can be very effective, growl), he will not touch junk food, or cheese. That’s Tiger’s domain.

Note the Mighty Minds map on my table. With street directory down, I am back to using paper maps against Google Maps and guess what? It’s faster!

Tiger helps introduce Ticked Tabbies

Tiger makes it to the introductory page of the Flickr pool Ticked Tabbies as an example of a ticked tabby with a Siamese-like colouration. As I look at the other cats featured there, the thing that strikes me is what are their personalities like? Are they suckers for KFC too?

Pool admin Jane S admits Tiger’s a favourite with her so I must find and take more of him. Have not been doing that for awhile. I also need to video one of the boy’s sparring match for the behaviour class next year. Perhaps I’ll stay at home a day and stalk them. Without falling asleep that is.

Crab photo from Qatar makes thesis defense

Our man in Qatar, besides responding to ICCS mail, has been to a market to take photos of crabs for Joelle. One even made it to her thesis defense. Just the few of us enjoyed the connections behind that photo.

And here it is on the trusty iBook I lent Joelle because her 5-year old powerbook is hanging on by just a single hinge now. She realises even the “old” iBooks are faster than her treasured, battered, mac. Her next buy is going to feel like magic.

95 drive-bys outside University Hall

The absence of the SBS bus No. 95 is a bother on most days. After exam invigilation, its tiring. Students pour out of exam halls and the buses are few and far between. By the time it reaches University Hall, the buses are so full they just drive by.

I had reached department by 7.30pm after script verification, dumped everything and grabbed my new load of scripts and high-tailed it out of there. I was actually eager to get back to recapture my momentum of the morning’s marking. After 20 mins, I was drenched in perspiration from the humidity of the still air and left with the ominous feeling that the situation was not going to improve. So I SMSed Ladybug for SBS’ IRIS data. The reply said “7 mins more.” And 7 minutes later, I watched yet another student-filled 95 breeze by.

At 8pm, some admin staff emerged from University Hall. They’ve probably seen it all before and immediately started calling for cabs. But most cabs in the vicinity were already booked. Labour Day eve compounded the usual problem. So everyone waited, although I am sure most felt the next 95 would be a drive-by too.

So I gave in and called for rescue – Ladybug came before the bus in a borrowed car. We grabbed three others from the bus stop – one lady in particular had been waiting far longer than me, for more than an hour. She looked pretty far gone, and I found out she had been spring cleaning all day today. She’s from my department.

I felt guilty about the rest we had abandoned but wished on them an empty 95.

I went home and cooked. Will resume marking tomorrow.