SYDNEY, Australia -- Cathy Freeman carried the hopes of a nation and the dreams of a downtrodden people as she raced around the track. When she was done, she carried a flag -- half Australian, half aboriginal -- in a joyous victory lap. Freeman, the first Aborigine to win an individual Olympic gold medal, captured the women's 400-meter gold medal in 49.11 seconds. Freeman opened these games by kindling the cauldron atop Olympic Stadium. And she provided the emotional peak of the games Monday for Australians, who filled the stadium -- the attendance was 112,524 -- with waves of pulsating noise as she ran. Freeman has not lost at 400 meters in three years. She now has an Olympic title to go with her two world championships. She's a national hero to Australians, and much more than that to her fellow Aborigines, Australia's original inhabitants. By carrying the red, yellow and black aboriginal flag around the track, Freeman fulfilled a wish of Aborigines from inner-city Sydney to the forbidding bush of central Australia.

Just recently I read in Berita Harian, she said that she's here (in Athens) as a spectator and she won't know how it feels like to watch someone else win the 400m title.

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The fall of a Queen

What a shock. Last on the uneven bars apparatus. Twice gold medal olympic winner. Mistakes happen. Things happen. The impossible happen. This is sad... especially when its her last year. But nonetheless, she will always be remembered... and that's what important.



In other events... I wonder how they do all these?! Oh God! Flexibility, strength, agility and it seems like everything else!

flaming notes by HyperHikari 7:46 PM

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A bit too late...

As everyone knows, Li Jia Wei lose to Kyung Ah Kim (my unknown twin) from South Korea 4-1. (Unknown twin bcos as I've mentioned, we're born on the same dae, different year.) An attacker vs a defense-r (?!) It can be frustrating. I know 'cos I get frustrated if I were to vs someone who keeps defending with armies and walls and stuffs... (note:aom - game)

But I am not mad neither am I dissappointed (well a bit) at her. Why? 'Cos she tried her best. I can see the stress and pressure showing on her face. And you'll never know what those things can do to you. (Read: Ronald Susilo) I felt sad... my heart goes out to her, especially after seeing her cry. (Though her facial expression can be rather emotionless...) But she cried. =( Hey, 4th placing is good enough! 4 out of 32 players! Furthermore, she beat world's no. 2 and former olympic champion. Now that's something to be proud of! (You too Susilo!)

Who knows, maybe in 4 yrs time you'll be no. 1! ;)


Jia Wei (L) and Kyung Ah Kim (R)


Winner of Silver, Gold and Bronze:

flaming notes by HyperHikari 7:36 PM

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Sunday, August 22, 2004

And it all flooded back...

I was looking through the photographs that I took on my trip to Melbourne. Choosing what I wanted to be printed, staring at those memories trapped still. Memories flooded. Emotions came. Until the last few photos, still remembering fresh in my mind, I knew that it was going to end. A sudden surge of sadness overwhelms. Like a movie, it re-enacts in my mind. What happened, what we did, yadda yadda yadda... I wish at times that I was back. Back in time when all the great and fun things happen. Wished I had taken a photo of Safeway and Big W. I missed going to Safeway!!! ( A supermarket). And doing the same, I spend a lot when I go to any supermarket here... Haha. Buying food, buying junks.

Should have taken a photo of the shop. It's called something like Deep Harbour? Or something. Well my favourite is Salmon Burger of course. It's fresh yep. And its on offer (and will be for quite some time)... only $4.90 for that big burger with chips! (And look at those VEGETABLES!!! I actually ate ALL of them!) It indeed is filling.


*Drools!*

Not really into Calamari... but it really is fresh!

Sadness fills my heart. Emptiness came when I left for home...

flaming notes by HyperHikari 10:59 PM

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And he gets gold!

Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia is the Olympic Champion for Badminton Men's single. He beat South Korean Shon in straight sets. 15-8, 15-7. W00H00!!! Singapore just showed the match this morning. 8:30 to 9:30 am. Mum woke me up for it (eventhough my alarm had gone off earlier on). But anyhows, it was a great match with Taufik trailing 6-0 in the first set and manages to catch up and beating his opponent 15-8.


Sounds of Resident Evil 2

1. Slipknot - Vermilion
2. The Used - Just A Little
3. The Cure - Us Or Them
4. A Perfect Circle - The Outsider (Resident Renholder Mix)
5. Lacuna Coil - Swamped
6. Killswitch Engage - The End Of Heartache
7. Rammstein - Mein Teil
8. Devildriver - Digging Up The Corpses
9. Cradle Of Filth - Nymphetamine
10. CKY - Escape From Hellview
11. Deftones - The Chauffeur
12. HIM - Join Me In Death
13. Demon Hunter - My Heartstrings Come Undone
14. Thrice - Under A Killing Moon
15. 36 Crazyfists - Bloodwork
16. Cold - End Of The World (acoustic)
17. Rob Zombie - Girl On Fire (Renholder's Apocalypse Mix)
18. Massive Attack - Future Proof

Favourites are in bold with Lacuna Coil being first in line!!! I think Lacuna Coil rocks! (That's not exactly the cd cover.)

flaming notes by HyperHikari 9:59 AM

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Saturday, August 21, 2004

Russian Cool Sports Jacket

Someone get me one please!!! I've searched online if possible ANYWHERE that I could get this sports jacket. Ain't it cool? I love the design. I think the Russians have the nicest sports jacket, even with the lack of colour (only 2). They do have the awesome looking design though. As it can be seen here. Haiz I know (I think) that these kinda jackets, representing their country, is strictly not for sale. How I wish it isn't so! So if any of you have seen it somewhere, anywhere or know where I can get it. Do tell me! Thx.

I've been posting and posting and posting some long ones too. Maybe because I've not been blogging so long and time limit only to Olympics and school. Most of the dae I spent it here, surfing the net, updating blogs, watched South Park and trying to create some nice pictures aimlessly. I did catch some Olympic events too. I'm supposed to study for my 2 quizzes you know. 2 tough ones. Fragrance Chem and Adv. Intrumental Analysis (AIA). One is filled with theory and understanding of previous module, while the latter is though contain theories but still there's some mathematical issues involved. AIA is confusing, that I'd have to sae. Especially the later chapters, which I am totally lost by now. =( Fragrance Chem? Need to memorize memorize. I should start now right? Knowing that I won't have time to study as my nights will be filled with Olympics. I SHOULD but I'm NOT. A stupid move. But I'll try, we'll see how it goes. There's still are the things that I need to move back into my bedroom and get it neatly arranged and swept and kept. I think I'd better do that now.

flaming notes by HyperHikari 7:48 PM

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Control. Breathe in, breathe out

We watched a video on communication breakdown for EIC class last tuesdae. One of the clips showed a teacher, writing a student's name on the chalk board and then spit on it. And of course, as you expected it, the student stood up, getting ready to start an argument with the teacher, when the teacher explained his doing. "Why are you mad at me when I only spit on some chalk on the board? It is only chalk." That is true isn't it? That we'll get overly defensive and protective of what's important to us, of what we value most. Eventhough it may be nothing to others, it means everything, a lot - to us.

On fridae, we had a lesson. And the way attendance goes, is that a list is passed around and we have to sign it, proving that we came. The list was given out at the end of the lesson, with people all around getting ready to go off. So it wasn't in an orderly manner. By the time I got it (I was sitting waiting PATIENTLY for the list), I saw 2 crosses on the boxes in accordance to my name. For both that dae (20th August) and for next week's lesson. A cross means you didn't sign, hence you didn't attent the lesson. But hello? It was that dae's lesson and it already got crossed? My friend said that the lecturer would cross the empty boxes.

But I do not think that the lecturer is crazy or dumb enough to cross out todae's AND next week's boxes?! I knew I was being sabotaged (er maybe too strong a word). I saw the idiotS. I knew they want to see me frustrated and angry. So I remain calm and laughed along with my friends, totally oblivious to what happened. I noticed them looking at my direction. They, knowing that I value my attendance record, did this just to spite me. Though it was only crossed boxes, but as what I've mentioned in the paragraph before, it is a defensive reaction. It meant nothing to them, while I, trying to keep my record clean, meant a whole lot more than it will ever to them. Knowing and seeing them skipping class as frequently as rain drops in Singapore recently.

They thought I didn't know, they thought I was a fool. Oh my dear fools, don't ever think so highly of yourselves when we are all at the same level in this game.

[So I just erased the crosses and sign my name on 20th August, regretfully, with pencil. Big mistake. If they dare to erased that... then I have absolutely nothing to sae. Just hope next week, he'll be giving out the list as normal.]

Though I bet they could hear me muttering and complaining abut my boxes being crossed out. I was shocked, least to say. I was muttering away and asking, what the?! But I kept my composure, keeping myself calm. Showing that it didn't affect me. It didn't affect me that much. I was suprised too. I realised that I am more controlled now, not succumbing to them and shout and get angry towards them as much these days.

A friend asked me, why I dislike them so. You see my friend, they play dirty. They play stealthly. They don't do these stupid things to you like they do to me. And you, not being me, sometimes just don't get it as to why I can get so workup over little matter that they've done. Because what they do doesn't matter much to you as it is to me. My principles are different from yours and so are my beliefs.

I will try to control myself now and just smile and 'lose out' to them NICELY. Just recently one of them commented on something... which I knew wasn't the real reason. That person just got angry because that person had to do something while the rest didn't. Or maybe not. But who is that person to comment when even the lecturer said nothing and in fact, said the total opposite? Saying that it was a good idea to do as so. - That person wasn't there to hear this. Of course I just smile and say yeah perhaps, maybe you're right, to the idiot.

I remember arguing with them, raising my voice to deaf ears. No more. Not unless if it is necessary. And when it is necessary. I don't care even if I have to use force as defense.

Once, twice or even ten times, I may forget and forgive. But especially more AND on purpose? That is beyong forgetting and forgiving. I shan't allow myself to be a fool. I'm not an angry person. Only to them I am. Only to those who provoke me more than you can ever think of.

-Sigh- I guess I am writing this blog in a fit of anger. Hopefully, you won't see me as this angry human being who gladly get violent so easily. This is just a moment of anger. Hey, at least I'm letting it out here instead of in reality, right? =)

flaming notes by HyperHikari 6:57 PM

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A dream dashed, hope is what we are all left with

Jia Wei was leading 2-0 when Kim catches up. Soon it is 3-1. But again, it became 3-2. It was so frustrating to watch SIN dropping back to 3-3. But alas, Athena is favouring Kim. Kim won the last set, 4-3.

It was an exhilirating, heart-thumping match. With both sides attacking and defending. I was expecting such as I'd watch the match between this Korean player against our other player, Xueling. It was a rather fast paced game. Kim kept attacking, her strength is there. Here, in this game we see it again. For Jia Wei's match against Wang Nan, it wasn't so fast but grueling enough.

I was there with my fingers near my lips. Holding my shouts. Holding my frustration. Keeping myself cool, eventhough my heart was beating fast.

Damnit, the medal was in our grasp, yet it was pry open by the Korean force.

It was THAT close!

Here, this dae, the ranked 40th player beat the 8th seeded.

Jia wei kept her cool. While Kim, kept breathing out loudly, practically shouting in high decibels. Why didn't the umpire ask her to SHUT UP?! Though, I can see that the umpire was a tad frustrated and irritated by her constant 'noise' or shouts of encouragement or something.

Now, all we can do is to hope for the best in the Bronze medal match. Jia Wei (SIN) facing off with Kyung Ah (KOR). [Hey! The Korean player is born on 25th May... HehEE).

flaming notes by HyperHikari 6:51 PM

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I am Alice and I remember everything

Resident Evil : Apocalypse officially opens on the 10th of September in US. It will only be shown here on the 30th. That's like 3 times later. ARGH. Full trailer is out. Looks like there's more action, more gun shooting and more gore assuming that's the reason for the R rating it got there. I HOPE Singapore will put it as NC-16 or M18 at least, PLEASE! RE1 the movie open as NC-16 here, just nice when I was 16 yrs old. I know it'll get gory and violent anyways. This time round, its said that it follows more into the game, following suit the existance of Jill Valentine, a character brought to life from the game. And some common place you'll get playing this game or this type; Police Station, Church, School and Lab, will be featured in this movie.

Official Poster:


Looks cool already.

Winning Poster in a poster creating competition held by Sony:

flaming notes by HyperHikari 3:40 PM

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This blog is under renovation. Trying to hide that search banner on top. Codes going a bit haywire. So... bear with it. At the moment: Banner and stuff added and created by me with inspiration and pictures taken from the Official Site. LayOut edited by Menot, who is an avid layout-editor nowdays. Heh. Thx for the great help. And we two are still and will be continuing to try and make this layout look much better.

flaming notes by HyperHikari 2:23 PM

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Hey I'm back after few days missing in action. Btw, my PPChem quiz was on thursdae and not on tuesdae as I had thought it would be. So had more time to study WHICH was *gladly* put off by me in place of the Olympics. I basically just read through, try to understand and memorized bits of pieces here and there. The quiz was simple and if I had studied HARDER and MORE, it would have been a breeze for me. But alas, my mistakes and my 'worldy' desires cost me the good grade. Hopefully, I wouldn't do too bad or even fail.

Yesterdae was day 7 of the Olympics. Many things happen during the few missing daes. Here goes:

Go Hoogie Go!

Pieter Van Den Hoogenband won the 100m freestyle with Schoeman coming in second. It seemed like Schoeman was going to win as he was leading all the way till about the 40m. This is where Hoogenband manages to catch up and were side by side. WHERE WAS IAN THORPE?! He was placed at the 8th lane, he was there... just wasn't near enough in the action. The touch, the commentator (and even I) thought it was Schoeman but it was indeed HOOGENBAND! So Thorpe took bronze.


Men's singles Badminton
A dissappointed nation and especially me came when Ronald Susilo lose to Boonsak Ponsana from Thailand. Ronald didn't look like he was in a good form, in fact he look rather tired and listless, as if he wasn't there to play. Lose his confidence perhaps?


Sweet revenge (for me) when Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia BEAT Boonsak Ponsana in the semi-finals in straight sets. Experience vs youth. And of course, experience won! The fast and backhand play of Ponsana did not affect Taufik at all. I hope for Taufik to win the gold medal in todae's gold medal match. He will be facing a Korean player.


Mia Audina, a former Indonesian player won silver for women's badminton singles, while China won gold. Hey! I'm chubby, she's chubby. She got silver, why can't I have stamina like hers?! Who says I can't?! Got inspired by that heh.


Queen Khorkina, where fort art thou?
Ahhhh Queen of Uneven Bars... the ancient gods of Greece is not by your side. Or in this case, the judges. Why, you were THAT close to winning gold, a first medal for you in All-Round and the first ever NON-teen to have won! You were great, the crowd loves you. But Carly Patterson got it in the end. Sometimes I wonder what happen to the judges? Have had they a bad lunch? Fallen sick? Or were just too mesmerize but the US? Nonetheless, we all know who the QUEEN is! AND we all know who is going to win gold in the UNEVEN BARS finals!


Other events
I watched Women's Gymnastics Trampoline yesterdae. Wow, the experts, the champs are dropping like flies! 3 of them DIDN'T get through the finals! Gosh! Need I say more? A Georgian player caught my eye. She is 32 years old and she's still as good! Wow. Nothing ever detered her aye? Well, this is her last big international event and plans to start a family. Awww. Hope she'll be an inspiration to some that AGE DOESN'T MATTER. It's sheer determination and well maybe tonnes of hours of practice add in will do good too. HeHee. Well, Germany takes gold in this event.

I TRIED to stay up to watch the other events but felt asleep. Even with my alarm ringing off at 2 am, I woke up, shut it off and go back to sleep. I did woke up in the middle of the night a few times. Opening my eyes to watch bits of events. I saw some women running, a man jumping and groups of men getting ready for the 10 000m run. I so much wanted to watch the Athletics event. LUCKILY, there's a repeat todae at 2pm. WHICH clashes with the Gold Medal Badminton match (I think).

Table tennis Quarter-finals
1st match: SIN vs PRK.

Xueling, SIN, put in a good fight. She was down 2-0 but manages to make it 3-2. But alas the Korean player got her 4th set and that puts her in the semi-finals. But damn, that Korean player sure is noisy!!! (No offence to the Koreans). If I were in the position, I would have most probably throw and slam my racquet(?) in her face. Kept shouting in high tones ARGHHH.

2nd match: SIN vs CHN

Wang Nan, Wang Nan... maybe you were distracted, maybe your confidence were just too much. But what happened? Your face is filled with puzzled and quizzical look throughout the match. Jia Wei took you by suprise by winning 2 sets to 0. But you managed to come back and bring it back to 2-1. However, it seems like fate is not by your side as the Singaporean won 4-1 to get through the finals. The Greek Gods favours us Singaporeans this time round. ;)


Jia Wei (L) and Zhang Xueling (R).

Todae, 4pm is the semi-final match between Jia Wei and the Korean player (that was noisy). I SO WISH THAT SOMEONE WILL THROW SOMETHING AT HER just to make her shut up for a while. WELL... SINGAPOREANS, you know what to do! CHEER AND SUPPORT JIA WEI ALL THE WAY!!!

Our Singaporean players are well composed and not making too much noise. I'm proud that they at least got through to the Quaters. Thank you for all the effor Ronald and Xueling. =))

--- Olympics have been making me losing sleep. I stayed up on the dae of my quiz to watch the 2 table tennis match and Gymnastics (where Khorkina only manages a silver). Not that I'm complaining (much heh), well this is a 4-years-once event! I'm not going to miss it for anything. =)

flaming notes by HyperHikari 2:21 PM

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Monday, August 16, 2004

Error:

It was mentioned that Singapore will meet Malaysia but instead it is Germany that he will meet for the next round. And he won Lin Dan with 15-12, 15-10.

flaming notes by HyperHikari 10:37 PM

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I forgot to mention. Thailand is the first south east asian country to win a gold medal. It was won through women's weightlifting.

flaming notes by HyperHikari 11:17 AM

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I have school in 3 hours, so another quick update.

USA's dream team featuring NBA's top players loses to Puerto Rico in a shocking match. It seems that they are now the Nightmare Team. I believe, it is their first lose ever since the 70's.

Choong Hann of Malaysia beat Poland in straight set to meet Singapore's Ronald Susilo. Now hopefully Susilo won't be over confident with his victory 10 hours ago. Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia qualified as well. I believe he will be the next big contender for the gold medal after China. So it'll be another challenge for Susilo if he manages to get to the Finals. Double's Men from Malaysia qualifies after winning straight set, again, against the host country, Greece.

It seems that Iraq has much chances of winning a medal in soccer as they go through to the quarter finals. Costa Rico loses 2-0 to them.

Pharmaceuticals and Pharmaceuticals Chemistry's quiz tomorrow. And I have not even started! Ough and there's tonnes to memorise. I'm not sure if I can manage it as they'll be more games later on. Gymnastics and Swimming finals early in the morning. Sigh. I don't want it to be like Saturdae where I didn't sleep but only for an hour. Though it was a simple quiz, my brain froze as I guess it was too tired to function properly due to lack of sleep. =(

BUT!!! I did NOT regret it as the opening ceremony was AWESOME and if I had ONLY caught the encore telecast, I would have missed one of the major highlights of the show. More of this after tomorrow's quiz.

flaming notes by HyperHikari 10:36 AM

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Actually, I would like to post more but been busy and tight schedule. Thinking and planning the new layout as well. A little update, with comments on the opening ceremony coming up later.

But at the moment, suprise win for South Africa in 400m men's relay. They beat the likes of Ian Thorpe and Michael Phelps each presenting their country. USA came in third while Australia came in 6th, shocking results.

Ronald Susilo from Singapore beats world no.1 from China, Du Lin (?), to go through to second round of Men's single Badminton. It was a heart thumping, exhilirating and exciting match with both men outwitting each other. But alas, Susilo won straight set 15-12, 15-11. He might meet Malaysia for the second round if Malaysia got through. This victory gives hope in gaining a medal for Singapore.

However, both female badminton representative from Singapore failed to qualify. Li Li losing to world's no.1 from China, and the other to the Netherlands.

Other team Singapore players : Both Nicolette Teo and Mark Chay didn't qualify in today's rounds (different events), while Joscelin Yeo too failed yesterdae. Women's table tennis players got through. Singapore is not doing so well in sailing either and fell back in shooting.

Gymnastics qualifying rounds: US men dominates while Russians fell to 4th place with Italy behind the US. Russian ladies tops its table but not without dissappointment. Many mistakes happened such as falling, improper landing and landing outside the line.

Ian Thorpe and Michael Phelps each won gold for their respective event. Tomorrow will be a match that SHOULD NOT be missed. Thorpe goes head to head with Phelps. Who will win? Who will fall? Stay tune to find out. (For the qualifying match, Thorpe won Phelps).

Meanwhile in other sports. Japan gained 3 GOLD medals in Judo. It seems that that sport belong to the Japanese. Hungary got her gold in women's fencing while France settled for both silver and bronze. Portugal beat Morocco 2-1 with the same points, Ghana beat Paraguay. Turkey won their first gold in women's weightlifting breaking the world record with 210kg (this event is being presented in the Olympic's for the first time). China won her first gold in shooting.

flaming notes by HyperHikari 3:44 AM

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Thursday, August 12, 2004

Should I or should I not change my layout? Kinda like the simplicity, colour, neatness and picture used here. Hmmm... *ponders*

The Apprentice is showing now on CH5. One of my fave show back in Melb. Caught it till the last few episodes. Today's episode is the episode that I missed because it was the dae that I return home. Girls are winning and a girl COULD have won it but it didn't turn out that way. ONLY because they shuffle and mix the teams up, AFTER the guys lose 4 rows STRAIGHT! OOPS. Hopefully, I didn't spoil the show for you. =X

I wrote about the Da Vinci's Code as my journal. I was afraid it might had turn out like a book review, but phew, it was acceptable by my EIC lecturer. Da Vinci's Code... Angels and Demons... Should I get the other 2 books?

flaming notes by HyperHikari 10:17 PM

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Went to IKEA, AGAIN, bought stuffs, AGAIN. With my mum but still... I have to pay for the stuffs 'cos its for my room. That was the deal. lol. At least she paid for the taxi ride. =D It seems like my 'bling-bling' is gonna be bong-bong with a capital O that looks like $0.

Hey OLYMPICS BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sacrifice PQM quiz? The opening ceremony is at about 2 am sat morning!!!!. Argh... And I have that quiz at 9 am. -_-" Still thinking...

My room's new paint is ready! But still adding some finishing touches, new stuffs and MOVING BACK the stuffs into my room. *gasp*

Weird things happen todae. Stupid things I do again. A fool... a fool I am it seems.

flaming notes by HyperHikari 10:12 PM

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Friday, August 06, 2004

You are Yellow Cheetah, whose appearance is lean and slender. (so untrue~ haha waiting for THAT dae to come.)
You are also a woman of masculine firmness, and you don't like to loose.
You have strong will power, and live life actively.
You are good at making fast decisions, and unlike your graceful appearance, you go at your work hammer and tongs.
Even in a meeting where conclusion is far from reach, your affirmative articulation can liven up the atmosphere.
Your weakness is that you tend to lack womanly obscurity, and tend not be able to leave suggestive room for things.
Therefore, you may not be a terribly good housewife.
Nevertheless, you are an idealistic woman, so you will put in great effort to make your dreams come true.
You are unable to see things from different sides. (not rly...)
You tend to say things that come up in your mind straight forwardly. (somewhat...)
This may make other people sometimes think you are impudent.
This is due to your rather short-tempered and proud personality.
You are able to overcome difficulties with great energy and will not have negative thoughts.
This type of person is born under good fortune. (I hope so!)
People around you tend to compliment you more than the effort you have put in. (I'm still waiting for the compliments...)
Once married, you will try to take good care of your husband. (o_O)
You wish to take in charge of everything at home, and may put your nose in other people's business.

Those with no comments are which I think are true. Interested? Check out this website! http://noracom.net/eng/fortune/color_cheki1.php

flaming notes by HyperHikari 10:02 PM

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