I'MGOINGTOTHEMASTERSCUPI'MGOINGTOTHEMASTERSCUPI'MGOINGTOTHEMASTERSCUP!
And because of that, I couldn't care less if I wouldn't be able to go for any other holiday this year. Yes, I don't mind even if this means sacrificing my annual Japan trip. Shurou finds it strange that I should only be going to Shanghai for four days, cos apparently I seem like the type who would spend weeks at some exotic place. But omg, to me nothing beats this. For the first time I don't feel envious when I hear about other people's holiday plans cos in my perhaps rather insane mind, Shanghai's the best place to be in this november. And yes, it's because Rafa's going to be there. XD
So right now, checking the TMC website everyday is a must for me. I mean, I want to know who I'll be watching, right? And for the first time since I started watching tennis, I don't follow Rafa's matches all the time. I mean, he's already confirmed for Shanghai (since July, in fact!), and because of Fed's loss to Andy M at Madrid (HAHAHAHAHA), he's also already clinched the year-end no. 1 ranking. So he's in a pretty safe position right now. That's why I have switched my worries over to the fact that I don't want to travel all the way to Shanghai just to see a, say, Blake vs Ferrer match. Currently, Rafa, Fed, Novak and Andy M have been confirmed, and that is definitely sufficient incentive for me to go. Still, I want to see some other people. Oh, and Kolya has been confirmed too, but actually I'm not too keen on watching him. A-rod was confirmed last night after he beat Gilles. :( Not that I don't want to see A-rod, but I'm afraid it might wreck Gilles's chances of qualifying. Still, I'm glad that Ferrer's safely out of the way, having lost at round two in Paris. That leaves Blake >:( and Tsonga. And Nalby.
And would anyone believe that if Rafa had to play round one against Gilles or JM I would actually wish him to lose? Gosh, that's like a first for me. I mean, Rafa's safe on his throne now, and safely confirmed for Shanghai, so he can afford to lose a little. Whereas I do want to see JM and Gilles in Shanghai, and a round one loss is definitely not going to help that to happen. Anyway Rafa's safely in the quarters against Kolya, and I know either result will do nothing to change the line-up in Shanghai, so it's back to support-Rafa time. :D Next quarter's between Fed and Blake, and this time I want Fed to win (more firsts!), cos I DO NOT WANT JAMES BLAKE TO GO TO SHANGHAI. >:(
Third quarter: A-rod vs Tsonga. A-rod has to win, cos I don't want Tsonga in Shanghai either. Final quarter, Andy vs Nalby. Similarly, Andy for the win. I wouldn't mind Nalby in Shanghai, but if it's to be at the expense of JM or Gilles...no way. By the way I'm starting to really like Gilles, his smile is soooo cute. :)
7) JM - 369
8) Gilles - 356
9) Ferrer - OUT
10) Blake - 335
Actually it's a pretty safe situation. Blake will stay put at 335 points if he loses to Fed, which I think he most probably will, cos (I hate to say this) Fed's getting good again. If the two Andys keep their heads, they can win too. Phew. It's extremely tiring to go bothering about so many matches when usually I only seriously bother about Rafa's. I usually only bother about other matches if I happen to hate someone a lot (like how I used to hate Novak so much!), or if they are strong players who might potentially meet Rafa. But hey, if I'm going for the season-ending championships (omg, that gave me such a thrill), then I don't want to bring my binoculars for nothing. ;)
Rafa and Fed both lost at Indian Wells, with identical scorelines. 6-3 6-2. Ouch. That hurts. Like, what's the matter with them? Are they on strike or something? Rafa's loss, though more painful to me, is more justifiable than Fed's one though. After all, Rafa lost to (GRRRRRRRRRRR) the Djerk, who's no. 3 in the world, as opposed to Fed's losing to Mardy Fish, the no. 98 in the world. Still, I'd rather Rafa lose to Mardy Fish than to Djokovic, anyday, ANYTIME! Actually, I'd rather Rafa lose to anyone but Djokovic. Nothing hurts more than Rafa losing a match, but losing a match to the Djerk is an indescribable pain.
I find that the only time I ever root for Fed to win is when he plays against the Djerk. Usually I want him to lose. But at last year's USO final, I was all "FED! FED! FED!". At this year's AO semi, I gave the Djerk the voodoo doll treatment when he played against Fed, something which I usually reserve for Rafa opponents only. You really gotta feel sorry for Fed sometimes. It's terrible losing to the world no. 98 when you're the world no. 1. To others it's not so bad for the world no. 2 to lose to the world no. 3, but to me it's such a big deal! I fume, let loose a stream of insults directed at the Djerk on the only forum which I can do so without people throwing similar insults back at me: VB. GAH. What I wouldn't give for him to do something so outrageous on court that he gets a life-time ban. Oh bliss. Maybe flash? Wouldn't put that past him.
Everytime he loses, he comes up with a whole bunch of excuses, whining about sprained ankles, strained shoulders, pulled stomach muscles, the flu, and his most brilliant excuse to date: breathing difficulties. Uh...riiiiiiight. When he wins, it's a totally different story. He runs down his opponents, saying in the case of Fed or Rafa that their time is over and so on. He wants the Roger's Masters to be renamed Novak's Masters. Whenever Rafa loses, he doesn't bring up every one of his ailments. He's had injuries in his knees, shoulders, and most recently, the ankle. Yet he said after his loss to David Ferrer at last year's USO: "I don't want to use injuries as an excuse. Today he played better than me, and that's why he won." This is what I call being gracious in defeat!
Now the other players don't like the Djerk either. Fed usually praises his opponents whenever he loses. He says they're really good. EXCEPT when he loses to the Djerk. He says the Djerk is NOT the most talented young player around, it's Andy Murray, despite the fact that he had just lost to the said Murray. Like what my dad says, "It's because Djokovic really deserves it!"
Rafa and Fed fans often unite against the Djerk now. One website calls out, "Fedal fans unite!" Even the girls at VB root for Fed when he plays against the Djerk. They go "vamos rogi!" despite the fact that we only call out "vamos!" to Rafa and the other spanish armada players.
Maybe I should call for a mass voodoo doll-ing.
I simply HAD to post this. It's what you could call a prayer, written by Maggy of VB, and I have to say I totally love it.
Presenting the Rafa prayer:
O Rafael, Rafael...
Mighty Mallorcan,
Most Glorious King of Clay,
Gladiator of the Grass,
Lord of the Locker Room,
Gracious Signer of Autographs and Setter of Fashion
Trends,
Drop-Shotter Extraordinaire,
Attila the Honey,
Cutie Pie of Cutie Pies,
Possessor of EPIC Biceps and VERY NICE TEETH,
We humbly salute thee and pray most passionately for
thy success, that thou might DOMINATE the World of
Tennis
Even as Thou already DOMINATE OUR HEARTS.
In the name of Obsession,
AMEN
C'mon let's all say it together! :D
People who are Intuitive Investigators have multiple talents and can do anything they set their mind to. They're able to detect numerical patterns easily and are able to grasp the true complexity of the world, both in its details and in a more abstract form. You've got a sharp logical mind and are adept at using words to get even a difficult point across. The combination of all these things makes them truly brilliant.
V day! :)
To celebrate it, VB (vamos brigade) called for us to say why we love Rafa, in not more than ten words, not including "I love Rafa because...".
Go see the homepage. I insist. See if you can find my sentence there. ;) And we have a very very nice banner on the homepage too. Coincidentally, it's the one I voted for, so you can see why I like our homepage so much. :) Please don't laugh at my sentence. Actually I had a much nicer one, but it was eleven words long and thus rejected. :( So I had to go with my second choice, the ten word one which is currently on the homepage. :) One of the VBers said both my one-liners were perfect, so that's good. :) Sorry, I can't stop smiling. :) :) :)
Yup and happy v day everyone! :)
P.S.: Zhihua, let's do our meaningful nods. ;)
CNY is over. Sniff. :( I want the long holiday back again. :(
I regret to say that I haven't been productive at all. Other than reading a few pages of the enzymes notes, finishing the chem project and attempting a few questions of the chem tutorial, I have been sadly ignoring my work.
Last weekend, it was off to KL for two days to attend Brandon's wedding. Because my wardrobe is sadly scarce, I re-used my prom dress. At least the wedding wasn't during my exam period. I had to go to KL the week before Sec 2 EOYs to attend Justin's wedding. It's extremely ironical that I got my highest gpa ever in Sec 2. Anyway I warned my cousins that if they wanted to get married, they had better do it during some holiday. Monica and Beatrice disallowed anyone to get married for two years after Justin, cos they both had PSLE in those years.
Anyway I squealed a lot over my nephew Keith (gosh. I'm an AUNT.), although I think he's too big to be carried anymore. Awww. :( Our family needs more little kids. *evil laughter* :D
The rest of the days of CNY had me hooked on tai ti, and I forced my dad to play it with me, with much grumbling on his part.
New year's eve was also spent in Malaysia. Me, Songjie, Monica and Beatrice decided to play the organ at my grandma's house, and because the only song that we all knew how to play was POTO, that's what we played. :D We switched it from piano mode to strings and organ, so that it'd sound more real, and Beatrice took the right-hand part and I took the left-hand part, while the others sang. YAY POTO. :)))
Songjie: You know, there's one part, I can't remember what it is, but it was very sad, it happens after Christine takes Raoul to the rooftop, and he says, "why have you brought me here?"
Yinfei: Is it that part about his eyes?
Songjie: OHYESYESYES! "Yet in his eyes, all the sadness of the world." That part was sooooo sad!
Yinfei: YEAH! Then it goes "Those pleading eyes, that both threaten and adore."
Monica and Beatrice: -.-" never even heard of that part.
Songjie: You know, you're supposed to like Raoul, but the phantom's just more man that him.
Yinfei: *grins in agreement*
:D So that was my CNY.
Ok, so I haven't blogged for a long time. Unfortunately, my life is darn boring, so unless you want to hear my wails about lecture notes and tutorials and how freaky Margaret Teng is, you'll have to settle for what I'm about to post now, which is about, well, you know what.
Another joke from the brilliant TA! :)
A MATHEMATICIAN SPEAKS
REPORTER: We are glad to have with us a Mathematician who can give us a unique perspective. Can you compare the 2007 French Open semifinalists? Federer and Davydenko, Nadal and Djokovic.
MATHEMATICIAN: It's 3 + 1!
REPORTER: 3 + 1? What do you mean?
MATHEMATICIAN: And you call yourself a reporter?
Language-wise, it's three non-French speakers and Federer.
Marital status-wise, it's three bachelors and Davydenko.
US legal drinking age-wise, it's three legals and Djokovic.
Astrology-wise, it's three Geminis and a Leo - Federer.
Hair color-wise, it's three black-haired fellows and blondish Davydenko.
Residence-wise, it's three who still live in their home country and Djokovic in Monaco.
REPORTER: Well, those things don't matter in clay-court tennis.
MATHEMATICIAN: Why didn't you get straight to the point?
REPORTER: Clay court tennis-wise?
MATHEMATICIAN: Clay court tennis-wise, it's three top-ten players who can play on clay and Nadal, the king of clay.
Ok, so it's not much of a joke, but that's how they classified it over at the VB forum, and who am I to argue with TA? Just love the ending. :)
Sorry, no post on RJ! I mean, what is there to say? Other than that I love 09S03D! :)
As some might already know, the Australian Open has arrived! X) Yayy. Unfortunately, as Australia's in pretty much the same time zone as Singapore, it means that I can't get to watch the morning and afternoon matches. Often, I only get to watch the night ones, i.e. when I'm back from school. Or repeats, which only show little snippets of the match.
Things which have made Yinfei not happy at all:
- TOMMY ROBREDO IS OUT. NOOOOOOOOO. At the hands of Mardy Fish. ANOTHER second round loss. Honestly. It amazes me how he can still keep his ranking in the top ten. Here's where I admit that I like him PURELY for his looks. XD I admit he really sucks as a player.
- Andy Murray, out. :( Stupid Tsonga. Grrr. And in the first round too!
- Carlos, out in the first round. Can't remember who he lost to, but I know it wasn't anyone great. GRRR.
- Sharapova managed to get into the third round a couple of minutes ago. >:(
- Match between Richie and Feli going on right now. WHYYYYY does the stupid draw have to make them play each other? I don't want either of them to be out just yet!
Things which have cheered Yinfei up:
- Rafa's through to the third round, just trashed Florent Serra 6-0 6-2 6-2 this morning. WELL DONE RAFA! :D
- Justine's through to the third too, 6-1 7-5 over someone whose name looks too troublesome to type out.
I am still attempting to get hold of the complete draw. Stupid AO site shows small sections at a time only.
So, VAMOS RAFA, ALLEZ JUSTINE, KEEP IT UP! XD
Ah, last thing: Go to www.i-dressup.com! It's really fun! XD