3 point turn (K turn) = no sweat.

3 point turn (K turn) = no sweat.
Disclaimer: This is going to be an egoistic blog. Yours trully’s ego knows no bounds.

I like Driving. I love that Adrenaline rush that comes when you step on the accelerator, the knowledge that you are in control (yes, everyone knows how i”m a closet control freak), The cruising down the road passing by a cyclist or someone walking the dog thinking ” oh come on, don’t hog the road”, then zooming pass them. I love how the car obeys your slightest turning of the steering wheel, I like turning around corners then straightening out the steering wheel again, I like the transition from park to reverse to drive and the whole cycle all over again, I like the looking at the rear and side mirrors while I reverse. I even like the abrupt jerks of the cars when I slam the breaks ( it only happened once when I (very) stupidly accelerated in reverse. ) I like the slowing down to a stop at the STOP sign , cruising up, turning the steering wheel while peeping to see if there is on coming traffic.

Most of all, I love having DAVE seated on my right , giving me instructions and knowing that in case of any emergency his hand is on the emergency break. Actually I love just spending time alone with DAVE. period.

Yesterday’s driving lesson was fun, exhilarating and fun. DAVE brought me out for a drive at past midnight. Because it had just stopped raining, the roads were empty and hence highly ideal for a beginner. DAVE drove me to ACME’s car park. the idea was to drive around practicing the breaking into turns and accelerating out of turns, and driving on the right ( I have a tendency to drift to the left). I think I did the drill to receive reasonable applause. It was then that I subconsciously found that I’ve turned out of the parking lot on a one way street leading up to the main blvd – there was no choice but to progress on to the main road.

I enjoyed driving on the real road tremendously. I like being able to press the accelerator, going up to 25 miles (though being highly safety conscious it hovered at 20 miles). Barring an odd cyclist or 2, the roads and streets were empty. We practiced on stopping at a stop sign, the turning right and left and finally DAVE decreed that I was all ready to learn the K turn (some one similar to a 3 point turn but down on a one way street).

I executed each K turns in perfection and drove myself down the blvd to park at STRETCH. Executed a double K turn and voila I completed the journey with no accident, and no injuries *claps*. In joy, DAVE and I had a congratulatory hug.

I can’t wait to drive again. *edit* and for another HUG from DAVE. His hugs are nice. I’ll miss him.

Kayaking

I’m growing so lazy with my blogging duties. I just seem to have so much to do, Though I’m not sure with what.

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I went Kayaking last tuesday with Ateena. It was great fun. I love kayaking. The feeling of being near the water, the knowledge that I’m exercising and having fun at the same time, and the bonding kayaking on a double kayak creates.

We had lots of fun, kayaking up and down the BAY. Ateena has never Kayak before, and so I took it upon myself to teach her a few tricks. Unfortunately, I neglected to teach her how to get up on your kayak in the event that the kayak capsize. That turned out to be the MOST important lesson that I should have taught her.

Our Kayak Capsized on our way back – though I’m still unsure on it could have happed with yours truly on board, I suspect that it was a combination of us kayaking on the same side just as the wave hit us. We had to Kayak in the middle of the busy bay where the speed boats, boats and jet ski zoom pass. Imagine Ateena’s growing horror when She realised that 1) I could not flip the kayak, 2) she was in the water, 3) Since I could not flip the kayak , and she was in the water clinging for dear life on to the kayak, and the shore is too far from us and the stupid boaters refuses to top to help us; telling us to swim instead.

Thank God! I went to OBS! I eventually managed to flip the kayak – we would have still been drifting on the kayak if we attempted to swim. i think I would have swam across the bay, but it would have been near impossible to swim with a paddle and a kayaking each hand. Silly boaters!

All in all , I had fun, lots of fun in fact. I had so much fun WE are going kayaking again tomorrow!

and to end with a photo me looking very “guy-ish”

I love

i love Long Beach Island. I love the beaches , the long bike rides, the people, the waves. I love the free flow of ice-cream, the never-ending line of pots in Riviera’s kitchen that Are always waiting for me to polish them off. I’m in love with the shopping, my FAT bank account (HA. Though I’m going to see that my bank account starts dieting), I’m in love with being just 3 mins from the beach. I like how I could think “Hmmm, maybe I should go to the beach and be there in the next 10 mins, I like the liquor store with all the cheap, very cheap spirits – OMG! 750ml Vodka at USD 6.99. I like how I could bike anywhere I want with my bicycle. I like how, I could go kayaking within minutes. I like how the people on the island nod at me or wish me a Good morning or a good day or simply ask how I am when I was out on my morning runs. I like running into the surf hoping to beat it, and laughing when I end up on my butt because the waves were too strong. I like bobbing up and down on the waves with my boogie board. I like catching the really strong waves as they come crashing down on me,and riding it back to shore. I like the adredaline rush when I’, on the wave. I like being Tan.

Bike Trip: Pride DOES comes before a Fall

I’m unsure if I’ve blogged this before. But on my 5th time riding a bike back in MAY. I set off on a bike trip to ACME 9 the local supermarket) It was 60 streets away (120 in total) and I was so exhausted by that experience that I crashed every 10 streets back to STRETCH.

Today, I went on a bike Trip. The only difference was that I did 200 streets in total (100 there and 100 back) and didn’t even break a sweat. The bike ride was smooth – no crashes- and I was super confident. My ego swell so much that I decided to start show boating and practice cycling with 1 hand. Needless to say, the next thing I knew I was sprawling on the road. I suffered only 2 littlest scrapes, and the only bruising I had was on my EGO.

Oh well, The old saying is correct. Pride DOES comes before a Fall.

Learning to Drive

The day started slow and I was feeling down due to a conversation I had (but we shall not go into that). I went off on IVO’s bike (it was a cruiser kind, very unlike the usual mountain bike that I cycle.) I was half paranoid about falling off the bike, or crashing spectacularly (gillian never does things halfway) into the road – The paranoia increased when I realized to my horror that 1) the bike has no hand brakes, 2) I can’t stop the bike by placing my feet on the ground because yours truly has short legs.
I went on the road, down to the big jetty, happily taking in the sights of the various houses. I felt an immense sense of calm, I wished that my family were here to see and experience all this – then maybe they could understand why I like this place so much. I was pleasantly surprised that I neither crashed nor felt tired. I was also delighted to realised that I’ve mustered the art of cycle (albeit quite wobbly) while standing and cycling (though I suck at that) with one hand. Learning how to cycle was one tangible thing I took form my expereince here.

I decided to stop by Hartland to find DAVE, and “steal” some ice cream. We talked for a while and DAVE decides that He has some time available and could start on my driving lessons. Yes! you read it right! DAVE offered to teach me how to drive. We stopped at the go-kart track first. DAVE says that it was part of the training program, But in all truthfulness, He just remembered about this place and decided that it would be fun for us to go there. It was fun, for the longest time, my only experience with driving was limited to the arcade game of “fast and furious”. Where My “super” car never dies despite the battering it takes. It was great to be able to step on the accelerator and feel the car thrusting forward. I loved to take the turns at full speed, the speed demon in me is rearing its head. Unfortunately, a turn too fast and too much sent me spiraling to the out of the circuit,needing to signal to the man In charge to come and rescue me. DAVE also helped edge me on by bumming into me a couple of times too. Ever competitive, I refused to allow him to overtake me ( that would be too much for my ego to bear) and eventually pulled away from him.

It was off to driving lesson #1 proper, It felt fantastic (like an out of the world experience seating in the driver’s seat, adjusting it and the mirrors. It was even more cool when I set the car on reverse and slowly eased out of the parking lot. I learn how to make turns (brake while turning in and accelerate while getting out), reverse, brake. We practiced at an empty car park lot of a middle school. I even managed to go on the main road ( I crossed it when I drove (oh it sounds so cool writing that) over to the school next door. With DAVE by my side, ever ready to pull the hand break or adjust my steering wheel. There was no worry at all. Though I must admit that the adrenaline rush of driving the car for a first time was tremendous. Though I must confess that while turning into the car park, I almost hit a curb ( DAVE had a scare) if not for DAVE’s quick reaction to grab my steering wheel.

I ended my lessons by parking the Car into Lot 96. I’m happy to announce that my parking was excellent. It was within the white box on the first try. I can’t wait for my next driving lessons.

Extension

Dear All,

I’ve decided to extend my stay in the states till 10 August 2007. I’m just not ready to leave yet, plus I’ve been working really hard so far (average day I start at 830am end at 11.30pm having only 2-3 hours break in between) and feel that I do deserve a few more days of rest. Hence, this decision to extent and enjoy my summer vacation.

I Know my parents and Lil sis are crushed by my decision, but hey! think of it as you swooped “1 year of Gillian away in Sweden (NOC) for “Gillian away in States for 10 days”. SEE! you have a great bargain! Nevertheless, please know that I MISS YOU AND LOVE YOU K!

Hugs and Kisses.

Gillian

Goodbyes

Goodbyes are messy, tiresome and emotional draining; it is even more so when the Goodbyes are forever. The day started off with a goodbye fanfare for Yuzhu. You start hearing the obligatory “I’ll Miss you! Let’s keep in touch! Blah blah blah” There was some gifts exchange going on, lots of hugs, and even a mini party thrown in her honour. I sat there in the kitchen watching the scene unfold with surprising detachment; I did felt that I was and outsider watching into the scene. It was simply surreal. The finality of her departure with the goodbye bashes, gifts and hugs reminded me of the finality of My own departure in a weeks time. I knew that I’d be the next one. I’ve never been a great fan of good byes (especially those which are forever), I try to avoid there at all cost so as to escape turning into an emotional wreck.

Tonight at Riviera YuZhu left with lots of tears shedding, I tried my hardest to avoid the hooha by opting to stay as far away from the action. I busied myself with my designated tasks even though Zina said I could leave it till tomorrow. So while everyone was giving hugs and kisses and baning their farewells, Yours truly decides to take her own sweet time and start filling up the salad dressing from their gallon jars. But inside, I knew my defences were crumbling and I started tearing (A little). It wasn’t as if I’m going to miss YuZhu, because if you think about it I’ll definitely see her in school. But I suspect it was the finality of the situation which struck, that and the knowledge that my time here is nearing to a close. Plus, the knowledge that this would probably be the last time I set foot on LBI and I’d never be able to see some of the people I’ve met here. And it is those people whose daily presence in my life would some what be disrupted for eternity. I do not mean to be so melodramatic, but honestly, when do you actually think I’ll see all of there again? If you guessed “œprobably never!”, you have struck gold. I’m tired, and overly emotional now. *I wish I could add an often used phrase, “œand also my mascara is running”. But everyone knows that I’m such a slob when it comes to make up, that it is almost impossible for me have mascara on.* I just wish for this moment that school would not start so early, that I could spend a little more time here, that the good byes would not be for eternity. I’m seated at the beach now, hearing the waves crushing onto the shore and the soft sand under my feet. As I laid on my back I look up into the pitch dark sky and see tones of stars in the sky. This serenity, the feeling of being close to nature and away from civilization from your cares and worries is great and something I know I’ll miss.

Floods

This is ridiculous. I wake up way too early on my off day and wake up just in time when I’m due to work.

It was a day of 2 extremes yesterday. I hit the beach in the afternoon and in the evening (from 5pm) it rained so hard flooding the streets. The flood, at its deepest, was at least till the calf level. I was quite excited at the possibility of a flood forming. In fact, I went around the whole restaurant checking out the flood levels from the windows with the customers and Christina (this other waitress there). It was so fun. We laughed A lot when we realized that a Trash can topped over and the trash in it were spotted floating into the restaurant parking lot. Zina showed me a photo from 2005 which captured a girl in a rowing boat rowing down the flooded streets. I was silently wishing that something similar will happen too. We sent Alexander (or Shashu as I call him) back home to check on his camera and room, it was hilarious seeing him with rolled trousers till knees level, bare footed, ambling down the flooded streets.

I started having silly conversation with regards to the floods with my customers too.

As I was strapping down the booster seat for this little girl at the table, I was talking to her mum about the flood (about the row boat incident). She mentioned that she saw something similar on her way to the restaurant; the exception was that it was a guy on his surf board. Laughing nonstop I asked, “œDid you take a photo of that?” She replied she didn’t. I went like, “Oh! I would have made such a cool photo!” We Laughed.

A couple came in and I asked if they would like to seat near the window our by the door. The man replied that they would like to seat at anywhere which was dry. I replied “œEverywhere in the restaurant is dry” and so proceeded to give him the table near the window. On seating them I told the couple “I’m giving you a good seat, this is a vantage position and you can give me the flood updates (ie: tell me if anything new floated into our carpark.” As I served them their dinners, the lady told me, “BTW, a trash can just float into the car park.” It was hilarious. Truly hilarious.

BTW..

I worked as a Kitchen Help Yesterday at The Italian Riviera. You know, A kitchen Help is the person who assist the chef in the Kitchen, who does the food preparation and some of the cooking. How was it? Well, Let’s just say that the restaurant is still standing.

Hitting the Beach .. after 2 weeks

I’m so happy to be back at the Beach. And this time It was much better because It was not Gillian, Sitting alone on her beach chair with her book, sunglasses and a bottle of water. Rather it was the whole gang of the staff at Hartland Golf (minus 2 who were pulling in shifts) out on the Beach. The whole Beach gear was brought out from Dave’s very messy (but then again who am I to Talk about mess?) and dark Basement.

My initial plan was to just stay till the BBQ, which basically consisted of grilled hot dogs and hamburgers (I had 3 nathan’s Dogs and they were really good!! Yummy!) , and then go back home to slack. With that plan, I didn’t even bother to bring along my bathing suits (Ha! Another sign that I’ve assimilated into the American Culture – In Singapore we say swimsuits or swimming costumes). But my best laid plans were thwarted.

Off I went to the Beach carrying a surf board under my arm and a fork with the Nathan’s hotdog of course in my other – feeling very contented, It was as if I’m now officially part of the gang. On hitting the Beach, the boys (Louis and Bob) dared me to go run into the ocean plunge in it and run back up before the lifeguard whistles at us to get out. (I need to explain this bit: There are designated swimming zones at the beaches where the Life Guards are stationed. You can only swim in those zones. Surfboards and Kayaks are to be used outside the zones.) I took up the dare, and went off running and throwing myself in the waves after the count to 3. I was horribly drenched and it was terrible since I didn’t have my bathing suit on, but it was so cool and so fun.

*NOTE: I went back to change since I figured I’ll probably be going into the water for a while more.*

I tried body boarding in the swimming zone. It was SO SO cool. The high light was catching a wave, lifted like 1m off the original ocean surface and slammed all the way down into the sand. *laughs* Okay! so the body slam part wasn’t really all that amazing but still, how many people can claim to have been body slammed by a wave? I did catch a wave that brought me all the way back to the sandy beach. It was like so So COOL! I had so much fun.

The next activity was Frisbee on the beach. My throwing and aim was all bad , poor Dave who was my partner was exasperated. But he was still kind and nice enough to play Frisbee with me for another 10 minutes until Justin came over to rescue him. HEE! We played a game called Ladder golf. I’ll attempt to draw it up and post a picture of it later along with the explanation.

The most important thing was that My team won it 3 times! YEah!! We rock!

Now I’m back from the beach, working on my shift at Hartland. I’m going to miss this Beach when I’m back in Singapore.