HORROR

I just realized that. I have deleted. ALL. My Picasa web albums. By accident.

This means that. ALL. The photos previously uploaded. On this blog.

Are gone.

Shit Happens

an expensive misadventure.

Lost

The moment I stepped into the arcade, I had a bad feeling come over me. I remember clearly the first thing I said was, “can someone tell me what are we doing here?” It was almost as though I knew exactly that I was going to lose my bag. Not just my wallet, or my hand phone, or any of my belongings, but my ENTIRE bag. In short, I knew it was going to happen. In fact, I became so wary that I was telling myself that I would not even stop to play any games.

I say this not retrospectively, because I remember doing three things out of character because of that “bad feeling” that I had.

1. I consciously held my bag extra close to my body.

2. I took out my hand phone and put it in my pocket for no specific reason at all. I hardly ever do this unless I’m waiting for a call.

3. I zipped up my bag - My bag usually isn’t zipped up because I find it so troublesome to keep unzipping and zipping to get things.

Well, to cut the long story short, I did end up having to join the others in a game of hoop shooting. Ironically just before the game started as Diana was putting her bag next to her, I told her “careful ah, watch your bag.” As I put my bag together with the others, and realized that mine was going to be at the top, I AGAIN had that same feeling of hello-idiot-someone-is-going-to-take-your-bag. But being the idiot that I am, I naturally ignored that thought. Then as expected, someone had to subtly walk there, snigger at how engrossed we were in playing some lame ball game, and conveniently take the bag away.

I remember after the game when I realized that my bag was missing, there was this sense of, “see, I TOLD YOU SO.” Strangely, I wasn’t too panicky or anxious. I had 2 main things in my bag – my wallet, and my Bible. We looked around to no avail, and Mingjie suggested asking the arcade staff to check for any CCTV records. Eventually the culprit was indeed caught on CCTV. It was almost embarrassing watching the footage, seeing how stupidly engrossed we were in playing the game, and how the thief just took the bag and walked away. Nothing much we could do I guess.

At the end of the day, I was presented with 2 choices – one, to be really angsty and curse and swear at such bad luck; two, to be soooo thankful because it could have been so much worse! As i thought about it, i realized i had so many things to be thankful for!

1. I had actually taken my hand phone out of my bag and been spared the trouble of getting a new number, contacts and all that annoying troublesome stuff of recontacting people.

2. I hadn’t brought my camera with me. I usually (if not all the time) bring my camera along with me for outings like that. Just earlier this morning I decided not to bring it because I felt sian of taking photos all the time.

3. I had returned the credit card my mom had passed me earlier to pay for something.

4. My IC wasn’t in my wallet. I bring my driver’s license around with my in place of my IC. And I just found out from the brother that replacing a driver’s license is way cheaper than replacing and IC. ($25 VS $100) Just as well, the photo on my license is ugly. =p

5. I didn’t even bring my umbrella with me! Eh my umbrella is the high-tec kind haha. Save some money lo. =p

The only two thing that I’m quite sore about are that the wallet was a gift from sj, and my Bible. Even though it’s the $6 paperback one I got from the Doulos, it’s really convenient and is a good size to carry around. I doubt I’d be able to get another one like that again, at least not until the Ship comes around again. :( well, perhaps my Bible being in the bag might do some good to the culprit – tomorrow being Easter, may it shed some light on the love of Christ (and some lessons on NOT taking what doesn't belong to you).

All I all, I really appreciated all the help my friends offered. The moment I said I was going to need some money to get to Newton MRT to meet my mum, Mingjie whipped out $30 and offered it to me. Of course, I didn’t need $30 to get to 4 MRT stops away, but it was a very kind gesture. Alvin even offered to send me there. :) The other who were there were also very eager to help. Kaiqian had gone to inspect the nearby toilets, and Mingjie and Celeste were with me to wait for the arcade staff to check the CCTV. Mingjie even went so much as to approach some patrolling police officers in uniform to report the incident and see what they could do. (for the record, they wern't much of help -.-) Shawn Alvin Yukit and Diana were acting as mini-police and patrolling the place. After I had left they continued to search other toilets. :) thanks guys.

In all honesty, it really sucks to lose your things, what more due to your own stupidity and carelessness DESPITE being warned by your sixth sense so many times. An expensive lesson to learn, but at the same time a precious moment of being overwhelmed with thankfulness for friends, and for God who so wonderfully minimized the damage done.

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you."

jinxed

about 10 days ago, i was shitted on by a pigeon.

today, i fell into a drain.

go me.