Solomon's Mind

The Return of the King

King Solomon's back, baby.

Why the staggering amount of time between the last post and my new one? Cos I got bored with it, that's why. And after wading through Google account's insanely complicated method of recovering passwords, I got my blog back. Yippee.

Oh God.

Okay, I'm a writer. What do writers do? They write. So if I'm gonna be a writer, I darn well better start writing. Okay, here goes...

Well it feels like one of those WWE recaps from TheWrestlingFan.com when they look at wrestling events from a few years back and things as they are now. What's changed? A hell of a lot.

I seem to recall that my last post occurred at a time when I was still a hopeful member of IRON on CyberNations, an online game. All these months later, I've been a member of IRON's government, fought a lot of wars, made a lot of friends, and lost a lot of friends when I decided to stop playing the game. It's a fading memory now, but yeah. It happened. Things have changed.

I'm a valued and reasonably well-liked member of A05 now. It took the better part of two years, but hey, I got there in the end. Once hated enemies have miraculously turned into good friends. Mild acquaintances have become closer than brothers. And as for one particular guy whom I thought was my friend...well...it looks like the tide has shifted, cos for once I'm with the majority on this one. I'll say nothing more.

Exams! I seem to have scored charitably high marks for my mid-years, CCE, with a B in GP and a failing grade in Math. And my dad still busted my balls over it, cos he doesn't know squat about the TPJC system, but in retrospect, yeah, I still suck. I need to frantically buck up because as I sit here and write, the As are like less than 40 days away, God help me.

Prelims, hmm, let's see...GP's alright, Math was an utter abortion, despite all the free tuition I received from Uncle Guan. I am so ashamed of myself, jokes aside. I need to get an A or something in the real exams to make it up, even if this means no more Xbox 360. Lit is half good and half bad, Econs is looking up, History started out bad and ended being pretty okay.

Of course, this is all speculation and it may very well be the case that next week you'll hear the faint cry of desperation echoing over the rooftops of Pasir Ris.

What else? Oh yeah, I made a film for Cheryl's video class, based on a movie which is showing on cable but I still haven't seen it yet. It was pretty cool, even if none of the hot girls seemed interested in checking me out and Cheryl still hasn't fulfilled my wish to meet up with Danielle The Sexy Momma tm.

I've joined and quit TornCity, yet another online game, the ramifications of which were I lost a friend and gained another, so not too bad on the whole. Who knows people are willing to act like utter assholes just to gain a slight advantage in an online game. It's unreal.

I've completed my collection of Sandman and Preacher comics, the whole lot will be heirlooms passed down to my children someday, you may count on that.

My guinea pigs died like long ago, and I was sad, but I've got a new hamster now and his name is Mr. Hyde. He's a grumpy little dude who bites me when I try to pick him up, but what the hell, I remember the time I saw him at Whitesands and brought him home for 10 dollars. He was so small back then. Sniff. They grow up so fast.

I've read a few good books and hung out in a few cool forums, like Giantitp.com, and made some way towards preparing for the exams that will determine my future life on this planet.

No pressure.

Ah well, the only person who can decide whether I'm a rich successful writer who gets condemned by the government but still manages to make out with the hottest of the Singapore single scene because he's so darn cool or whether I'm a struggling salaryman trying like hell to keep my head above water while my unappreciative future wife screams at me, my kids are doing drugs and my dad berates me for making less money than him...

Is me.

Crunch time, King.

Can you go all the way?

Here and now, it's all up to you.

Feedback! Now!

Lol. Love you all, especially, you, you and you. You know who you are.

Finn Solomon 11:57 PM

5 Hours And Counting

As I type this it's almost going to be 9 o' clock. In about 5 hours or so, I'm going to take one last Literature exam, and I'll be free. For two whole months. FREE.

George Michael/Hady Mirza: FREEDOM! FREEDOM! My freeee-eedom...you gotta do what you saaaay...

Let's go over them. Xue will know this part, because I practically SMSed her every single day for every single exam. I hope my phone bill's okay.

Let's see...Econs was alright lah. I could draw graphs for a few questions although I didn't know how to complete one or two.

Lit poem was one of the freakiest things I ever encountered. I'm going to go back in time and murder Seamus Heaney. Everyone had different interpretations man. I thought the couple liked each other but couldn't say it (which reminds me of something). Oh well, whatever, nevermind. (With apologies to Kurt Cobain)

Great Ex, I'm just relieved I don't have to read about Pip and Magwitch and Estella and Ms Bloody Havisham for at least a year.

Maths was hilarious. Didn't pay attention in class for the whole year, studied like mad with Jeffrey's help in the last week. When the exam rolled around I could answer about half the questions. There was this one where they asked you to find the value of 'a' and I had naturally no clue what a was. So I wrote 'the value of 'a' lies somewhere between negative infinity and infinity.'

I hope KKK doesn't kill me.

History was fiendish, but I found enough time, unlike poor Lionel. I hope I didn't misinterpret the hell out of my source-based, everyone said something different. The essays were alright, but I think I repeated my points a little in question 4 and 5. Well of course, they involved my pal Gorbachev. I had no choice.

One more, one more and I am done. I will set into motion my plans and return next year a new man. No one will recognise me. That I guarantee. I'm really going to do it this year. If I don't do it now, I never will.

(I just thought I'd mention I'm going to name my other son Kennedy. Really. Rafael, Kennedy, and my daughter will be Gabrielle. No negotiations. That's what their names are gonna be.)

Finn Solomon 8:53 AM

No Food = Good

Well Ramadan has rolled around again and I couldn't be happier. Every year that goes by I find myself looking forward to the simple pleasures of fasting. Now I'm not particularly holy, but there's something to be said for going for twelve hours eating and drinking absolutely nothing, and feeling just fine. It shows me, it can be done, y'know? The trick is to persuade myself to do it all-year-round. Hmmm.

My writing has been sporadic because I have little time, but I know that's just an excuse. I love it, I need it, but sometimes it's so hard to start it. I live for the times when I can sit down at the com or my pad and turn out four pages of nearly-unconcious words. Sochenda asks me how I do it, and to tell her the truth, I don't know. Of course, reading all those books helped somewhat.

It's an interesting thing, but I believe the technique of immersion is real. Fr'example, I hang around the Scousers and read more Terry Pratchett and my writing - my writing, not my speech - suddenly becomes more British. It's great. For now I'm starting on a couple of Dean Koontzes. The man's not bad, his horror is of the more personal variety than Mr. King, although both use the supernatural. But his overflow of adjectives can be a little weird at times, although it was much cleaned up in the second book I read, Odd Thomas, than The Face. Good enough to try more, that's for sure.

My chess sucks, Bala can whip me, I haven't played Paul but I know he can whip me, and I'm too scared to play Jian in case he'll whip me. I simply cannot keep concentration for the duration of the game, which has always been one of my weakest points. I gotta work on that, it could be a set-up for a much bigger problem in the future.

I'm feeling happy again, in very large part due to the fact that I have been misreading certain signals from my classmates. They're not hostile after all, and I really should never overreact again. Looking back I can't believe how dumb I was. It's a teenage thing. But I can certainly understand how some high school massacres can occur. The seeds are planted everyday in the pit of loneliness. Smile at people you meet, even the geek who picks his nose. It'll make their day and it won't cost you anything. Who knows, he might not decide to send the bullets flying after all. (Sorry Ragui)

That's about all there is, I'm gonna list the reasons why I feel happy again so I don't forget. Silly me, but I sometimes need to do this.

1. Exams are okay
2. A05
3. Mafalda and Irm and the rest of SXI. God, I knew I loved it, but you don't realise how much it means to me. Going into a political forum and watching narrow-minded idiots bash my religion with chilling callousness really taught me how to appreciate my little haven. If I ever see Martin, I'll kiss his feet and thank him for making our home for us.
4. Rafa's starting to win again (Crouch!)
5. This diet-plan's the best in the world
6. Mom offered to split the cost of a new Xbox 360 with me if I get promoted okay
7. Xue and Charm and Maridol and Jeffrey for being there

Might not seem a lot to you, but they do to me. Now when I feel emo again, I'll come back here and read this entry. Promise.

Finn Solomon 7:46 AM

Hair Trouble and Assassinated Presidents

Man I don't know what's up with my hair. I want it long but it's not getting there. Instead it's more of...big. And puffy. Eurgh. I may scrap the Twohill project after all.

On a more pleasant note, I have more or less made peace with my emo dark half. Maridol and I are friends again (yay!) and I have decided to cease my daily fantasies of slicing off body parts of certain people with a lightsaber. It wasn't all that fun being consistently emo.

Poor Grissom's still in mourning over losing Catherine and his four babies. (Caramel, Gunther, Paul and Hybrid) I think he might die of depression. Emo guinea-pig and his emo master, lol. He looks almost as sad as I felt.

The IMF coming to Singapore really cracks me up. We've got security all over the damn place, helicopters and snipers and armed guards oh my like the bleedin' Pope is in town or something, and he's brought the Dalai Lama and Castro with him. And to make things even funnier, I learned the IMF attracts a little rag-tag band of protestors who apparently follow them around, protesting in each country it goes to. Seriously, GOT NOTHING BETTER TO DO, ISSIT?

Haha, and they got OWNED by the government too. "Under Singapore law, any form of protest is illegal!" So now they've set aside a little room for them to go and protest. Hilarious. You can't make up this shit.

No English football this week, we've got the bloody internationals again. Boring man. I wanna see Rafa, not McClaren.

I've come to realise I suck at playing chess. I can't seem to concentrate for a whole game. That sucks.

Whoa, totally random post so far. I wanna end off with a public declaration of my gorwing fondness for JFK. KEHN-NAH-DEE!

"Womanising, macho stud who conquered the moon!"

JFK rocks man. I wanna be a Kennedy.

Before I forget...big thank you to Xue, Charmaine, and Lionel. For reasons I can't explain.

Kennedy out.

Finn Solomon 9:31 PM

There's gonna be a million people...

"That love Allen Iversen. There's gonna be a billion people that hate Allen Iversen. Concentrate on the ones who care about you, and keep steppin'."

Sage advice.

I fluctuate between angry/indifferent/cheerful nowadays. This is a very common disease, known as adolescence.

Well my class is not perfect, I figured that one out. But then again, what is?

It's so ridiculous on many levels. I have tons of friends in the J2. I have lots of friends in the J1s too. When I went to the SMUN, Pre-U Sem, I made lots of friends. I don't really think I am the problem.

So why can't I make some in my own class? Of course, there the good people. And there are the bad. And there are the indifferent, which is nearly as bad as the bad.

I don't say much, I am reserved, I like to keep to myself, I like to listen to Axl and Slash rockin' out on my iPod better than chatting with people. Is that a crime? That's how I was made, man. It might not be the most sociable behaviour but I've gone this far.

I had my tag up. 'I don't want to hate A05'. And it's true. I desperately don't. But it's hard sometimes, especially when I feel that the sentiment is mutual. One girl in particular. I never fucking did anything to her and the sneers, the snide looks, the rude interruptions when I'm talking? Oh please bitch, you're way out of your league.

I didn't go to the stupid sea-sports carnival, ok. Fine. I wasn't even bloody rowing anyway, I asked Jian if I could row and he said better not...so I stayed home. But it looks like it was akin to a sin, according to some.

I'm gonna do what AI says and divide up my list of people I know. Okay, first. People who really should be somewhere far from me. Then my reasons for living.

Targets

S34
Some A05
The racists on the Cybernations forum

That looks like it really. I'm not vengeful, I've mostly forgotten whom I've fought with.

Allies

Mum, dad, and annoying little sis
Assorted cousins and baby cousins
Assorted uncles and aunts
The members of the WHO
The IRON Alliance
Dun-Man-Gang- Tng, Nick, Luq, Belly, and et al
SXI- Mafalda, Irma, Ragui, Maridol, Andy, Nata, Mariana and Martin. You guys mean more to me than you'll ever know
El Psycho and the rest of the Drama Crew
And not forgetting- some of A05

Whoa. I am much-loved.

I have allies, friends, people who are good and strong and worthy of respect.

I'll concentrate on them, and keep steppin'.

Finn Solomon 6:48 PM

Remember Grobbelaar!

Yesterday was brilliant, a nice shiny spot in an age of dullness and dreary drudgery. (What's the noun of dreary? Drear? I don't think I know. If you do please tell me.)

My two lovely little guinea-pigs, Grissom and Catherine, finally had their babies. Four of the most adorable, squeaking little bundles of fur you'll ever see. There's a black one like Grissom, one with a white head and brown body, and two creamy brown ones. The epitome of cuteness. The sister insisted on naming one after Paul Twohill (UGH), and I acquiesced. One of the brown ones will be named Caramel, white-head is...well, White-Head, and the last one doesn't have a name. Suggest away.

Well later in school Choy pleaded with Nordin to let Ben play goalie for the team. Nordin agreed to show mercy (GASP SHOCK HORROR) but the Leadership Training Camp deprived us of his services again. Bala played on despite the camp, but big Jian didn't, so they still needed the keeper. And my name was on the list.

I was feeling bloody nervous, I tell you. I hadn't played keeper in an age. But walking out on the field was a great feeling. Paul sent a couple shots my way, which I somehow kept out. I started to think 'hey, we can do this'.

We needed a win to progress, so they attacked right from the off. Bala won a penalty and Choy stepped up...and sent the ball flying over the top right hand corner. My heart dropped. We could have used that goal...but there was no time to think. They counterattacked down a flank, and my first act as keeper was to cut out a dangerous cross by smacking it away.

Beginner's luck?

Anyway I was feeling fine and the second half began. I kept out another near-post shot, swatted away a long-range effort, and it all seemed to be going so well. Until Nordin blew the whistle and pointed to the spot.

I didn't know he'd given a penalty until Choy ran up to me.

"Pick a direction and dive there!"
"What the heck? A penalty?"
"Remember what I said!"

Visions of Jerzy in Istanbul dancing in my head, I slapped my gloves and stared down Daniel, the guy from the college team. It was a stroke of luck no one told me he was the star, or I would have been freaking out. As it was, I actually didn't feel terror at all, more of detached interest.

I did the Dudek dance thing and when Nordin wasn't looking, stepped forward a yard or two off the goal line. Daniel then began the run-up.

Choy told me to dive left or right, but I was watching him and I somehow KNEW he would go center. So I stood my ground and waited for what seemed like forever.

The ball flew over the crossbar.

YESSS! I jumped up and accepted the wild congratulations of the lads.

Attacking with what I like to think was renewed impetus, Haziq scored a beauty of a goal. We were one-nil up and cruisin'.

Maybe that was why I did what I did next. I get dumb when I'm relaxed. Choy cleared a dangerous chance and I yelled "I fucking love you man!"

Nordin immediately blew the whistle and pointed at me.

"You want to argue, is it? What card do you want?"

"Er, no sir. Yellow sir."

"Talk some more and you get a red. No vulgarities!"

Well I bet Peter Schmeichel never got a card for just swearing. Unfair, I tell you.

But we did hang on to win, and qualify for the semis. So no harm done I guess. But the best part was playing for a class team. I'd forgotten what it was like. And I was given a sweet reminder yesterday.

A05 all the way!

Finn Solomon 9:25 PM

Academic Achivement

I'm quite happy today, a rare occurrence. The reason for this is the pleasantly surprising nature of the results of my mid-year common tests.

Far be it from me to brag (well actually, I suppose I am a little bit arrogant sometimes. It's a character flaw, shared by me, Thierry Henry and Steven Gerrard), but I really do feel I deserved this.

Take my maths, for example, I got a 72%. Good God, was I surprised. I told Johann that this was the first time I had passed a maths test in the college, and I was telling the truth. Last year was a horrific nightmare of failure to grasp concepts and constant failures period. It was bad. Even the sympathetic Mr. Chow couldn't help much. I remember getting an E for my promos last year and just sinking into a pit of misery.

But this turnaround...it speaks of something new.

I scored a 61% for Economics, not bad at all. Also my history. I got 60%, a C! Which is a great mark for a subject as fiendish as history. And I got second in class too. Not bad, eh? Considering I've never taken O Level history or even actually studied for the test.

I'm being serious. I'm a procrastinator. I remember being thoroughly miserable near the tail-end of June this year, trying to study but then just giving up. I told Ms. Cheng that I spent three days to study history, when the truth was I only picked up the text half an hour before the exam began. The truth would have hurt me, I'm sure.

I'm no genius, but I did work really hard during classes for history, so maybe that helped despite my non-studying during the holidays. And history is a skill good journalists should be able to ace- the answering of a question is not unlike researching and writing an article after all.

Well, there's just the Lit left. I'm beginning to hate Lit. I've realised you can never score well in Lit- either you get the concept or you don't. It's a lottery, it's a gamble. Hopefully I would have gotten it during that CT, I distinctly remember the questions as being easy to answer. I really want my tests to be a success, I've gone so long without academic achievement I've nearly forgotten how it used to taste.

That's the point of this post. It's just so nice to be able to celebrate something which you thought you had lost.

A modest goal- just pass all the CTs. I set that goal before I took them. But a goal that was thoroughly impossible last year could be cleared with room to spare this year. That's remarkable, for me.

This is me, this is where I belong. The Arts stream. The writers, the thinkers, the creative masters. The results of the tests have just proven it once and for all, put my doubts to rest and helped calm my parents. Forget science- I'm going to ace my Arts, or die in the attempt.

Hope I can catch Talisa, by all the gods that girl is an absolute monster. Topping the class in Maths, Econs, History and soon-to-be Lit as well? A worthy rival. She's just lucky we didn't have a GP test- I'd bet my Liverpool shirt I can top her in at least that.

Finn Solomon 11:38 AM