I started a joke

They got married on April Fool's Day, haha.

The mother wanted to go to the botanical garden in the afternoon and we all got ready to leave at 1500hrs. We were about to leave when we got a call that cancer-auntie had fits.

When we arrived, the ambulance had just taken her away. Her hubby and two of my aunties had gone with her also, leaving her son (my cousin) at home. So we accompanied him for a while until we heard further news. The uncle said the auntie was still in the emergency ward and things were still uncertain. He told us to wait a while.

We got restless waiting at the Hougang house and so, the mother, cousin. Lexie and I decided to go to Vivocity to cheer the cousin up. He was behaving slightly indifferent to his 'chaotic' surrounding but I guess that's just his defence mechanism.

We hung around Vivocity and waited for further notice. At around 1845hrs, we left for the General Hospital. My other relatives were all at the foodcourt...gathering before seeing the auntie. The hospital has this idiotic rule of allowing only 2 people to visit a patient at a time so it makes it hard for all of us to go in.

I know why the rule is created...but I cant help being..urgh..about it because it is inconvenient.

At around 2000hrs we all left foodcourt and lingered at the lobby. Remember the 2-ppl rule? Well, 2 people were given green stickers and one can only enter the wards if you have a sticker on you. I went roaming for a sticker, hoping that somebody will paste it on a wall after visiting a friend. I resorted to asking an old lady who was on her way out of the hospital for her sticker.

So I went up to see the auntie. I really wish things didnt have to come to this - seeing her so worse for wear.

Because the 2-ppl rule of the hospital is flawed (you just pass the stickers around), all of us ended up being able to visit the auntie at the same time. We massaged her, gave her words of encouragement...some cried in a corner..etc. The mother and other aunties wept while I ... choked so many times on my tears. The cancer ward was depressing. Across the hall way, a lady was moaning for her mother in another ward. God knows if her mother is still alive or not. You know, when one is dying, one has weird desires or visions.

I looked at the auntie and I actually forgot how to read Al-Fatihah, a prayer verse Muslims read at least 10 times a day. I was stuck at the opening line as I stood there looking at her. I panicked...and had to walk away to clear my mind. Words came back thankfully. If I couldnt remember the verse at all, I should panic cause I could be the one who was dying. In a less glorious manner some more.

The auntie just turned 49 last week. She, the figure in front of me, was a shadow of her past vitality. All bald, skin and bones. Uncommunicative.

I saw her holding on to her hubby'ss hand, bringing his hand to her cheek. That is love, my friends. Sticking through thick and thin, through health and sickness, through good and bad, till death do you apart.

We all left around 2130hrs when the guards 'chased' us away. We were reluctant of course. Tomorrow, I am suppose to accompany the cousin at the hospital because the uncle is working afternoon shift. I actually had taken the day off tomorrow to catch up on sleep and a bit of work at my own leisure pace. On hindsight, it's like I kind of know, haha.

All right. Ibrahimovic had just scored for Barcelona, against Real Madrid and that's how things are supposed to be. Funny how watching a football match can soothe the sad soul in me. I guess I've developed the skill of finding peace among the chaos around me.

Haha, that's kind of hardcore, yeah?

P/S: Friends and frienemies, I'll ask of one thing from you - please pray for my auntie, Rosnah Binte Misban. Whatever faiths or beliefs, I'll appreciate it. I can not ask for more.

###

Do they know it's Christmas?

They're singin' "Deck the Halls"
But its not like Christmas at all
I remember when you were here
And all the fun we had last year

(Christmas) Oh, the snow's coming down
(Christmas) Now I'm watching it fall
(Christmas) All the people around
(Christmas) Baby please come home

(Christmas) Now the church bells in town
(Christmas) Oh, they're singing our song
(Christmas) Oh, what a happy sound
(Christmas) Baby please come home

...last Christmas, I was in India.
I even had a 'white' Xmas. Sweet.

...

Caught the dark and twisty A Christmas Carol and though I have seen the likes many before, I must say, this one really sticks to the original genius that of Dickens. It is difficult to understand due to the accent and dialogue but a good movie will not neglect you and that's what this animation does- it pulls you along.

Now, let me get reacquainted with Charles Dickens ("Dharles Chickens" when I was growing up) and absorb the litarary goodness.

Pity the world doesnt think much about spending time reading.


###

Fixing a hole

I wish I was more open with the parents sometimes. I wish we had all been tighter especially when I was growing up. I wish I shared with them my growing pains and I wish I cried into their arms for every failure I had, for every broken friendship, for every guy who broke my heart, instead of taking the pain..you know..somewhere else.

I wish I told the father, so that he could beat the living daylights out of those jerks who took the first hug, the first kiss, the first whatever. I know he could and he definitely would, the father.

And so I grow up believing that if I could not share anything with the family, then there's no one worthy of sharing things with. I am guarded cause in my bubble, I only have myself to comfort me. No one has ever gotten the 'whole' picture with me and there's always something up for censure. I

've ever let loose because I don't want to, because I know what backlashes are. I know whatever the consequences are and whatever your loved ones will say, no one can be with you all of the time except, well, yourself.

This is my wall.
But I know
Just like the one in Belin
The wall will one day come down
One day my 'democracy' will come.


P/S: I am almost 20 days late, but happy anniversary Berlin crumbs.


###

Joget kesyukuran

''Labaikallahuma labaik..''

A very warm Eid-ul-Adha greeting to all and well, hope this festival of sacrifice sees us well. I couldnt do the festive prayer this morning cause I still havent done with the stupid period and all. I also woke up late...comatosed on my laptop last night after a long day at work.

The festival didnt see my family doing much this time round. We didnt visit Queen E today...maybe tomorrow. The mother, the brother and wife, Lexie and me headed to my auntie (the stricken one)'s place and we spent the afternoon at her place. I had my cousins and aunties/uncles coming over as well, a reunion of sort. Though the cancer-auntie, hubby and son havent done the Haj but I feel they have been doing a hell lot of sacrifice ('korban').

I am useless. What have I been sacrificing anyway? So today...I sacrificed my last $10 (yes, it's a tight month) and gave it to my cousin (cancer-auntie's son). I only have $5 to last till Tuesday but I think today, it's the least I could do. I also did a bit of cleaning up around the auntie's house and helped the cousin registered for his Sec 1 school posting. I stopped short of offering to take care of my auntie on Sunday. I..I..I really dont think I can do it. I dont want to sit beside her and cry..and cry..and cry.

She, bald and ultra weak, can no longer move on her own. She has lost the use of her right hand and legs, can barely string sentences together, cries when she cant get her message across, slowly losing her memory...all the things one experiences when life has become almost terminal. It was heartbreaking and escaped to the kitchen...washing all the dirty dishes, scrubbing the stove, going downstairs to buy drinks..etc. Yes, I am a denying escapist in that way. If you ignore it, it will soon go away, right?

How I wish I'm right.

P/S: But all this doesn't mean I am not thankful, lord. I'm thankful for each day you gave the auntie, the family, the friends and me. I'm thankful for the good food and the good health you have bestowed on the rest of us. I'm thankful that you allow all of us to bond together in this of need.

###

Dancing in the dark

Come on. 10 more mins and we are down by one. It's common sense to know that if centre is crowded and tight, you attack from the sides. Even I know that. Huwaaaaargh.

Keep holding on

SingTel Mio screwed me up big time this morning. For some reason, I couldnt watch the Barcelona vs. Inter match on Channel 61 this morning. The screen kept asking me to go buy the channel in order to view it. But..HELLO! I subscribe to FootballFrenzy, right? So...what is the problem?

 

So I called their 24hr support office and was kept on hold for almost 2 hours..that's the length of the freaking game. Because of that, I couldnt even concentrate on the Debrecen/Liverpool match. During the first 45 minutes (at the matches started at 0345hrs mind you), I even had my handphone and the home phone stuck on my ears. Bloody idiot. It better not happen tonight. No on the channel which will telecast Man U/Besiktas game (Channel 63).

 

Ugh.

 

And the public talk is tonight. I am a bit nervous. But otherwise, I am fine. It's just an hour. It will all be over soon.

 

Ommm.

 

 

###

Down

So it's 0-0 for Rubin Kazan and Dynamo Kiev,with the former having more possession. Am waiting for the following 3 matches due in about 15 minutes' time:

1) Barca vs. Inter
2) Debrecen vs. Liverpool
3) Fiorentina vs. Lyon

The match between Barca and Inter will be epic in a way because it's a clash of the titans. I like Barca and Inter and I think it will be a great match.

Yet, I think I will be distracted by the 2nd match...as I fervently pray that Liverpool will lose this match and get the hell out of the Champions' League. Benitez and his men can go eat dust. Stubborn manager and his poor players. Liverpool are also banking for Lyon to beat Fiorentina. You see, Lyon has already qualified and if Lyon wins this match, Liverpool might have a glimmer of hope to get to the knockout phase SHOULD they win over Debrecen and have a final game against Fiorentina (and win them).

Should Fiorentina win this, it's all over for Reds even if they win against Debrecen.

Any prospect of Liverpool crash and burn is always exciting to me.

Okay.
Starting.

I'm a Fiorentina's supporter tonight.
And probably Debrecen's too.


###

We are golden

My eyes are going to fail me soon. Each day they get more and more blurry. Think it's time to change the speckies. Argh. I just want to see how long more before I go blind. Er..okay, I take that back. Ampun Tuhan. I dont want to go blind. Acah ajer.

 

Am having Nescafe Frappe and hot tea at the same time because my KFC breakfast of twister wrap and tea comes with a free Frappe (some card promotion thing). Must drink tea before it turns cold...must drink coffee before all the ice cubes melt and the coffee becomes..bleurgh yeech...lukewarm. Am really having a weird-out time thinking which one to sip next. And no, I am not letting one of them go to waste. It's $4.90!

 

Listen to you, Ed!

It's less than $5!

 

*shut up, Voice!"

 

As you read earlier, my usual breakfast is the $1.40 porridge/youtiao from Old Chang Kee. I was too embarrassed to get them today because it's always the same person serving me. Today, I told myself not to be a cheapo and go for something else. Serves me right. The Fraape/tea will soon give me a stomachache and my "expensive" breakfast will all be literally flushed away.

 

Ed, tomorrow is the public lecture.

You should be panicking.

 

*shut up, Voice"

 

Sorry, am having a schizophreniac morning as you can see/read. It's the Frappe/tea talking.

 

I just found out that the yam paste dessert (orh nee), in some eateries, has lard in it. I am devastated. Why must they put lard in all these food? Why cant you stick to a healthier, "universal" choice? Not that I'll eat it outside but I just hate the thought that next time, if I feel like eating it, I have to make sure that there's no lard in it. It's freaking yam paste! What if a vegetarian/Muslim/Jew wants to eat it? *grumbles*grumbles*

 

I wanted to pen something...but I forgot what it was.

Thinks hard.

..

..

..

 

Oh I remember. I just wanted to say that US dollar is plummeting and wow, it's a good time to travel there or to buy the currency. I mean, who are we kidding, it will go up eventually but we dont know when right? Maybe I will go get ("get" hahahha") me some Benjamins next week, you know..just to start in this currency exchange trivial pursuit. I guess, that will be my savings from now on. All my savings will be converted to US dollars and I will keep them under my pilow. I cant put it in my POSB account, right? So under the pillow, they shall be.

 

And one more thing, the price of gold is bloody soaring. I have stopped dabbling in gold and in China markets because I realised I dont have money to do it anymore. It's funny that I used to do all these investment/insurance nonsense when I was younger and poorer. Now that I am older, I realise...fuck it. I  need my money for my daily survival. What can I say...I am not a planner. I live for today. That, my friend, is something I really need to look at. I dont want to be old and penniless. :(

 

Back to gold, I think I should start investing in again. Diamonds, pearls, etc, are nice to have but ultimately they have no stock value. It's the gaudy old gold which eventually can make you a fortune. Think I need to get myself to UOB (or is it OUB? Argh!) and open an account with them. This bank is the only one in Singapore which deals with gold investment...the buying and selling of cold, hard gold bars. Maybe I should rope the mother in this investment...knowing her obsession with gold.

 

Okay that's it. I will start dabbling in gold next year.

Maybe in two years' time, you guys can join me and roll around on my mountain of gold.

 

 

P/S: I am a new GLEE geek.. Gleek!

 

 

###

Taking chances

I was just done with one task (yes, just one!) 10 minutes ago and I had been working on it since 1000hrs in the morning. A lot documentation stuff for my new university programme.

 

On Wednesday, I will be conducting a talk open to the public. My mind is in a whirl I cant remember what am I going talk about. Something about media (well what else) and globalisation and stuff. You guys are free to come down to my school at 1900hrs okay? It will be great to see familiar faces though...compared to seeing the scrutinising public eyes. I hope I dont suck so bad.

 

Quite pissed for being chosen actually because I felt that I am not so worthy to give a speech. I mean...come on, who am I? I have give and take about 10 years of working experience only (and that includes all the weird odd jobs here and there) and man...what if the audience has like..30 years of job experience. I will probably just stating the obvious.

 

Plus, I have to tone down the way I speak cause in my  classes, it's always about political stuff. I am restraining myself from touching politics this Wednesday so as to protect my ass. I wanted to talk about films cause that's what I am really into but it's too niche for the public, said the sales+marketing peeps. I wanted to talk about the evolution of literary and liberal arts(modern/postmodern) and again, the peeps said no.

 

"Make it as general as possible," they said.

 

If it's so general....why wouldnt you know it?

 

Oh well.

I am so tired and it is only Monday.

 

So what if it's a short week and a long weekend for me (took leave on Monday)? It's the thought of getting through the 4-day week that is taxing. I have 2 more books to write, 3 more lessons to prepare, 3 more classes to teach, 1 freaking book review for the academic journal (why? why? I dont read academic book for leisure, okay!!) 1 public talk and endless admin/documentation work regarding the new uni programe to be completed.

 

I should just go "korban" (sacrifice) with the kambings this Hari Raya Haji.

At least they seem to have a more purposeful life.

 

 

P/S: I love me some Hari Raya Haji (Eid-ul-Adha) celebration. It's less indulgent than Hari Raya Puasa (Eid-ul-Fitri), more meaningful and there's no fasting :)

 

 

###

Room at the top

ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Taylor Swift

 

Ed: Oh yeah baby! Told you she's 2009 hot.


POP/ROCK -- Favorite Male Artist
Michael Jackson

Ed: Granted. Americans have hearts. I still rock TI, though.

 

POP/ROCK -- Favorite Female Artist
Taylor Swift

Ed: I love America!!

 

POP/ROCK -- Favorite Band, Duo or Group
The Black Eyed Peas

Ed: Must be the Boom Boom Pow effect.

POP/ROCK -- Favorite Album
"Number Ones" -- Michael Jackson

Ed: Pity votes.

COUNTRY -- Favorite Male Artist
Keith Urban

Ed: Because Nicole Kidman wore a bizarre Balenciaga gown.

 

COUNTRY -- Favorite Female Artist
Taylor Swift

Ed: Taylor cant fight Reba and Carrie vocally but hey, she's a darling and this is 'FAVOURITE' Female artist.

 

COUNTRY -- Favorite Band, Duo or Group
Rascal Flatts

Ed: Doggone it.

COUNTRY -- Favorite Album
"Fearless" -- Taylor Swift

Ed: This girl is on fire! Eat that Kanye!

RAP/HIP-HOP -- Favorite Male Artist
Jay-Z

Ed: Oh come on! I can rap better than him.

RAP/HIP-HOP - Favorite Album
"Blueprint 3" -- Jay-Z

Ed: Is the committee afraid of getting shot or something? Come on..

SOUL/R&B - Favorite Male Artist

Michael Jackson

Ed: Like Jamie Foxx and Maxwell have a chance.

SOUL/R&B -- Favorite Female Artist
Beyoncé

Ed: Queen B rules this one.

SOUL/R&B -- Favorite Band, Duo or Group
The Black Eyed Peas

Ed: It's Fergie.

SOUL/R&B -- Favorite Album
"Number Ones" -- Michael Jackson

Ed: ..but...but...but..all the single ladies all the single ladies?

 

SOUNDTRACKS -- Favorite Album
"Twilight Soundtrack"

Ed: Miley Cyrus and R-Patz? No fight.

 

ALTERNATIVE ROCK -- Favorite Artist
Green Day

Ed: Underserving, Billie-Joe...but good on you.

ADULT CONTEMPORARY -- Favorite Artist
Taylor Swift

 

Ed: Mraz will always be understated and Daughtry is forever middle-of-the-road.

 

 

###

No air

I am one of those who rather be bundled in fleece blankets than to have the aircon/fan be switched off. It's okay to be fan-less if there's enough ventilation but in a claustrophobic, window-less office, I say, keep the bloody aircon on. Regulate the temperature sensibly if you have to but do not switch it off. Why would you rather be hot and stuffy when you can be snuggly cosy under your scarves and jackets?

 

And please...your laptops and computers need the aircon. And also, think about others who are sitting very far away from the central aircon. You switch it off, they'll die.

 

Increase the temperature if you must...but do not switch it off.

 

Please.

 

 

 

###

Bust a move

It's the American Music Awards today and knowing how Yankee I am in terms of music...well, it's a big day. But, ah, the award show is in America, broadcast live on American TV and here I am working and today, I dont know if I'll see the light of day :(

 

Here are the nominees for the 2009 American Music Awards

.........................................................

POP or ROCK MUSIC

Favorite Male Artist
Eminem
Michael Jackson
T.I.

Ed's pick: I know MJ will win but urgh..it's out of pity for me. I'll vote for T.I. It's his freaking year, come on!

Favorite Female Artist
Beyonce
Lady Gaga
Taylor Swift

Ed's pick: I would like to see Taylor Swift because she is so sweet and under-rated b ut she makes beautiful country music. But, I think I'll go with Lady Gaga this time round. Sorry, B. Keep up the fantastical stuff, still.

 

Favorite Band, Duo or Group
Black Eyed Peas
Kings of Leon
Nickelback

Ed's pick: Why is Nickelback here? Where is Green Day? Pooi, Nickelback. I pick KOL!

 

Favorite Album
Lady Gaga / Fame
Michael Jackson / Number Ones
Taylor Swift / Fearless

Ed's pick: I must be true to myself. Hahaha...GO TAYLOR!

 

COUNTRY MUSIC

Favorite Male Artist
Jason Aldean
Darius Rucker
Keith Urban

Ed's pick: Havent heard the first two. Not a big fan of Keith Urban. Am a Kenny Chesney fan. SKIP!

 

Favorite Female Artist
Reba McEntire
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood

Ed's pick: TAYLOR!!

 

Favorite Band, Duo or Group
Rascal Flatts
Sugarland
Zac Brown Band

Ed's pick: Sugarland and Rascal Flatts here everytime. I'll pick Zac Brown Band for variety reason.

 

Favorite Album
Rascal Flatts/ Unstoppable
Taylor Swift / Fearless
Zac Brown Band / Foundation

Ed's pick: TAYLOR!!!

 

RAP/HIP-HOP MUSIC

Favorite Male Artist
Eminem
Jay-Z
T. I.

Ed's pick: TI! Come on...you can do whatever you like! Swagger like us!

 

Favorite Album
Eminem / Relapse
Jay-Z / Blueprint 3
T.I. / Paper Trail

Ed's pick: You guessed it... TI!

 

SOUL/RHYTHM & BLUES MUSIC

Favorite Male Artist
Jamie Foxx
Michael Jackson
Maxwell

Ed's pick: What the fuck is this? Fine, I'll give this to MJ. Just because he's dead. Otherwise it's Maxwell.

 

Favorite Female Artist
Beyonce
Keyshia Cole
Keri Hilson

Ed's pick: I am sorry Keri Hilson. It's really Beyonce's call, this one.

 

Favorite Band, Duo or Group
Black Eyed Peas
Day26
Mary Mary

Ed's pick: Mary Mary is still around? I'll pick BEP because I pity Fergie for marrying a womaniser (a yummy one).

 

Favorite Album
Beyonce / I Am. . .Sasha Fierce
Black Eyed Peas / The E.N.D.
Michael Jackson / Number Ones

Ed's pick: Has anyone not heard Single Ladies? Sasha Fierce!

 

SOUNDTRACKS

Favorite Album
Hannah Montana: The Movie
Hannah Montana 3
Twilight Soundtrack

Ed's pick: WTF? I want to cry. Don't make me choose. Oh? Ok Twillight.

 

ALTERNATIVE ROCK MUSIC

Favorite Artist
Green Day
Kings of Leon
Shinedown

Ed's pick: 21 Guns a bit lame...so is Know Your Enemy. Sorry, Billie-Joe. I'll pick KOL.

 

ADULT CONTEMPORARY MUSIC

Favorite Artist
Daughtry
Jason Mraz
Taylor Swift

Ed's pick: This is an emotional choice. Jason Mraz. And oh...how's Taylor Swift adult contemporary when she is 19 (?) singing about being 15?

...............................................................

I have a freaking terrible headache and on top of that, I am bleeding love (heh). It's so cold here and I have a stacking amount of work.

 

Time to peace out.

 

 

###

 

Over my head

I just spent most of the day watching GLEE and now...it's 0045hrs and I am having a major major headache.I havent done any house work and havent done any lesson planning and stuff. Worse of all my eyes are going cock-eyed and are strained.

 

Thanks to the period, I have a brewing headache.

Think I go to sleep now.

 

 

###

I got it from my mama

Remember Levi, the guy who boinked Sarah Palin's daughter? Apparently he has found himself another way to gain fame. See?

Why don't I find this sexy?

Somehow these pictures make me want to throw up a little.

...
...
...

And I know I am not gay.


###

Gone to the movies

Here…my Top 20 love flicks. 'Casablanca' is the latest addition because I finally got it after watching the film for the umpteenth time.

1.       Romeo and Juliet (Baz Luhrmann)

2.       Moulin Rouge (Baz Luhrmann)

3.       Casablanca  (Michael Curtiz)

4.       The Notebook (Nick Cassavetes)

5.       Love Actually (Richard Curtis)

6.       Cold Mountain (Anthony Minghella)

7.       My Fair Lady (George Cukor)

8.       Edward Scissorhands (Tim Burton)

9.       Titanic (James Cameron)

10.   Ever After (Andy Tennant)

11.   Pretty Woman (Garry Marshall)

12.   Brokeback Mountain (Ang Lee)

13.   Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (Ang Lee)

14.   Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (Michael Gondry)

15.   The Princess Bride (Rob Reiner)

16.   50 First Dates (Peter Segal)

17.   Kuch Kuch  Hota Hai (Karan Johar)

18.   Sepet (Yasmin Ahmad)

19.   Days of Being Wild (Wong Kar Wai)

20.   In The Mood For Love (Wong Kar Wai)

 

Sure there are many more which didn't make this list. Come on, it's hard to decide when almost EVERY film out there has romance in various degrees in it. Even Wall-E, Batman, Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter and even March of the Penguins have romance. So this list represents flicks I don't mind watching over and over and over again.

 

Come on. I don't even have my Brad Pitt anywhere on this list.

Cause I am impartial like that.

 

 

… 2 films by Luhrmann

… 2 films by Wong Kar Wai

… 2 films by Ang Lee

… 2 films starring Leonard diCaprio

… 2 films starring Maggie Cheung

… 2 films starring Nicole Kidman

… 2 films starring Drew Barrymore

… 2 films starring Kate Winslet

 

 

###

 

 

 

Stupid girl

I am looking at this particular application procedure for an NUS Grad programme and it requires me to ask my former university to send my transcript/certificate to NUS.

 

Why so complicated? It's not like I can take a bus to my old university. It will take ages just to get the transcript. Is this the God's conspiracy not to let me continue my academic pursuit?.I am feeling so stupid already.

 

Humph.

 

 

###

 

 

Apologise

Watch the following.



Cruel or damn fresh seafood?


###

Chop suey

I am feeling damn suey. No, wrong. Not feeling...but I am damn suey these past few days.

 

I feel so lousy, helpless...retarded

 

Today at work, I got an epiphany. I mean, I knew it all along but...today I received more "light". Don't trust your colleagues. Not all can be your friends because in truth, there's only a handful whom can be friends. The rest...fakes.

 

Some just befriend you because they know you are useful. Because you know your way around, because you know when and where are the best places to go and stuff. Because they know you have all the answers and are not selfish enough to tell. Urgh, I must learn how to "gatekeep" myself. I am not public property so I should stop behaving like one.

 

Tomorrow will be a new day.

 

Fuck man.

High school never ends.

 

 

###

 

 

Times of miracle

 

This is wrong...but it tastes so good.

 

One reason why I am rushing to work every morning (except on Thursday when I am on the afternoon shift) is that Old Chang Kee has this porridge which is so popular that usually by 0930hrs, it will all be sold out. The porridge is not exceptionally tasty and all; it's plain and sometimes, meatless. But at $1.40 a pop, PLUS 2 'you tiaos', it can keep me warm all the way till about 1500hrs.

 

Now, that's a good deal.

 

So, every morning I will try to greet the Old Chang Kee's staff at 0900hrs (or even earlier). They, in turn, will give me the special. Whoopee. That's the price for wanting to save money for the future.  Here's to the future.

 

To the future!

 

 

P/S: I am so tempted to buy 2 bowls of porridge next time so that I can have it for late lunch or tea as well. $2.80 for 2 bowls is still cheaper than any other 2 meals that I can think of. Variety? I dont really care for variety, okay.

 

P/P/S: 2012 was awesome. Indeed the idea was kind of stupid because if it's the end of the world, everyone will die. But come on, since when are disaster movies about logic anyway? It's all evolution/psychobabble to me.

 

 

###

Waltzing Matilda

I read the following off channelnewsasia.com and I must say, it's about time, Australia.

 

---------------------------------------------------

 

PM Rudd in emotional apology to 'Forgotten Australians'
Posted: 16 November 2009 0855 hrs

CANBERRA: Prime Minister Kevin Rudd made an emotional apology on Monday to half-a-million "Forgotten Australians" who faced sexual abuse, violence and forced labour in childcare homes over a period of decades.

Victims among the 1,000 people who packed Parliament House for the address burst into tears as Rudd detailed heart-rending cases of neglect in Australia's orphanages and institutions from 1930 to 1970.

"We come together today to offer our nation's apology. To say to you, the Forgotten Australians, and those who were sent to our shores as children without their consent, that we are sorry," he said.

"Sorry that as children you were taken from your families and placed in institutions where so often you were abused. Sorry for the physical suffering, the emotional starvation and the cold absence of love, of tenderness, of care.

"Sorry for the tragedy, the absolute tragedy, of childhoods lost. Childhoods spent instead in austere and authoritarian places where names were replaced by numbers, spontaneous play by regimented routine, the joy of learning by the repetitive drudgery of menial work."

Hundreds of thousands of poor children, including some 7,000 child migrants from Britain, were ripped from their homes to live in poorly monitored state and church-run homes where many were abused, ignored or forced to do unpaid menial work.

The statement has already made waves in Britain where Prime Minister Gordon Brown is set to apologise to more than 130,000 disadvantaged children who were shipped to Australia and other former colonies.

The comments also echo Rudd's historic February 2008 apology to Australia's downtrodden Aboriginal population for their mistreatment since white settlement in 1788.

A 2004 Senate inquiry recommended the apology after unearthing hundreds of disturbing stories from children placed in care after their families broke down, their mothers were unmarried or they were considered uncontrollable.

The probe found widespread assault and emotional, physical and sexual abuse, as well as neglect, humiliation and the deprivation of food, education and medical care.

Many never knew their parents or siblings, or even their own names, which could change each time they moved accommodation. Sometimes they were referred to simply by a number.

"The truth is, this is an ugly story. The truth is, great evil has been done," Rudd said.

Many of the children were not told the truth about what happened to their parents, while their families were lied to as well, the inquiry found.

It said the legacy of these experiences had left many people emotionally scarred, with many resorting to drug and alcohol abuse and an "abnormally large" percentage committing suicide.

Some victims are still in prisons and mental health hospitals, while others suffer depression and feelings of worthlessness. Just days before the apology, one man who campaigned all his life for forgotten Australians killed himself.

"You have that insecurity and lack of self-esteem and all of that with you forever," Caroline Carroll, who chairs the Alliance for Forgotten Australians, told AFP ahead of the apology.

"That feeling of never being good enough doesn't go away."
- AFP/so

 ---------------------------------------------------

 

I am not a beacon of many causes, hopes and dreams. I know that there is a lot of "I-dont-care" vibe in me and I am highly conscious of that. Plus, I am neither a negotiator nor a bargainer. Throw me in a sea of people and I dont stand out. In fact, I dont want to stand out if standing out just mean by different for the sake of it. But...human rights issue is something quite dear to me. Protecting our rights to live and prosper is something I really feel strongly for. To be abused, humiliated and be enslaved, those are the worse things that can ever happened to a civilisation.

 

So excuse me if I dont really care about poor services in malls, sub-par food in a mid-level restaurant, people who cannot really speak your language, trains which come a minute too late and weather which is too hot or too cold. It's too tiring to be caught up in such hate-lists. What do I get in the end? Extra gift? Free dessert? A minute of fame? Credit card waiver? Imagine the bad karma the other party throws back at you. Wow.

 

Note to self...don't sweat the small stuff. We are all meant for much bigger things.

 

Anyone can rob me of my comfort and material goods.

They however cannot rob me of my freedom.

I is Braveheart!!!

 

Crappy afternoon indulgence here. Back to work.

 

 

 

P/S: Aussie, now, do ensure the process of rehabilitation can salvage the situation.

 

 

 

###

Friendship train

I wanted to bluetooth the pictures I took yesterday during Ismail's hen/cock party when the phone jammed. After rebooting, the pictures were then gone...just like Amelia Earheart (the movie which I watched just now. Not bad, by the way).

All the pictures are gone. The lousy players at the bowling session, the heartburn-inducing dinner, the unique ice-cream experience, the hilarious bonding session at Keppel Bay and beancurd supper at Geylang...all G.O.N.E.

All I've got is this clip below...and it's not even complete because Jo and Sean weren't in the picture yet. Still...I hope to get the pictures from Ismail soon.



Mail...hope you had a good time. I sure did. Tini...you can go ahead and marry Mail already. Heheh.


P/S: AMELIA was cool. A bit slow at some points but it did induce some tears. I really like to see people chasing dreams and actually achieving them. Even if it means not being able to get out of it alive. Rock on.

P/P/S: Sha, wish you were there. You too, Gracie.


###

You're not sorry

I so could relate to this song even though I am almost twice of '15'. 15...one of the sweetest times I've had.

Taylor Swift - Fifteen (New)
Uploaded by Henrietta-Aime-Fumer_Tv. - See the latest featured music videos.

You take a deep breath and you walk through the doors
It's the morning of your very first day
And you say hi to your friends you ain't seen in a while
Try and stay out of everybody's way

It's your freshman year and you're gonna be here
For the next four years in this town
Hoping one of those senior boys will wink at you and say
"You know, I haven't seen you around before"

'Cause when you're fifteen
And somebody tells you they love you
You're gonna believe them
And when you're fifteen
Feeling like there's nothing to figure out
Well, count to ten, take it in
This is life before you know who you're gonna be
Fifteen

You sit in class next to a redhead named Abigail
And soon enough you're best friends
Laughing at the other girls who think they're so cool
We'll be outta here as soon as we can

And then you're on your very first date and he's got a car
And you're feeling like flying
And you're momma's waiting up and you're thinking he's the one
And you're dancing 'round your room when the night ends
When the night ends

'Cause when you're fifteen
And somebody tells you they love you
You're gonna believe them
When you're fifteen and your first kiss
Makes your head spin 'round
But in your life you'll do things greater than
Dating the boy on the football team
But I didn't know it at fifteen

When all you wanted was to be wanted
Wish you could go back and tell yourself what you know now

Back then I swore I was gonna marry him someday
But I realized some bigger dreams of mine
And Abigail gave everything she had to a boy
Who changed his mind and we both cried

'Cause when you're fifteen
And somebody tells you they love you
You're gonna believe them
And when you're fifteen
Don't forget to look before you fall
I've found time can heal most anything
And you just might find who you're supposed to be
I didn't know who I was supposed to be at fifteen

Your very first day
Take a deep breath girl
Take a deep breath as you walk through the doors (Taylor Swift)


P/S: Things went awry when we were 16 ... just when I was about to leave high school. (kicks drama mode) Love was never the same again.

P/P/S: Oh, he went to marry at a young age and now has a couple of kids.


###

Domino dancing

Lauren said The Killers are coming. THE KILLERS ARE COMING!! Jan 24th
2010 at the Indoor Stadium...11 days after freaking Green Day!

Now, I just need Foo Fighters and Pet Shop Boys to come and my concert
collection of my favourite groups (those which are still un-disbanded
and alive at least) will be complete. Woohoo.

...

Okay.

2 days ago, the mother told me last year, my auntie told the mother
that she (auntie) wanted to matchmake me with her old neighbour. The
mother told me that he was a divorcee (not a widower, Lauren. Sorry
wrong info!) with no children. The auntie told the mother that he was
a good man with good background. The mother did not like the idea
because she was quite suspicious of the word "good". Good on you,
mother.

Anyway yeah...the mother didnt like the idea of her daughter getting
together with a divorced man. Because of her scepticism, the idea
naturally didnt come to me and well...phew!

That's a snippet of my life.

Till next time...it's back to work.

P/S: Lady Gaga's Bad Romance is still stuck in my head and I think
it's a fucking fabulous tune!

###

Bad romance

I am sooooooooooo in love with Lady Gage's latest single - Bad Romance. She's awesome!



I want your psycho
Your vertigo stick
Want you in my rear window
Baby your sick
I want your love
Love-love-love
I want your love
(Love-love-love I want your love)

You know that I want you
('Cause I'm a freak bitch baby!)
And you know that I need you
I want a bad, bad romance

I want your love and
I want your revenge
You and me could write a bad romance
(Oh-oh-oh-oh-oooh!)
I want your love and
All your lovers' revenge
You and me could write a bad romance

Oh-oh-oh-oh-oooh-oh-oh-oooh-oh-oh-oh-oh!
Caught in a bad romance
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oooh-oh-oh-oooh-oh-oh-oh-oh!
Caught in a bad romance

Rah-rah-ah-ah-ah-ah!
Roma-roma-mamaa!
Ga-ga-ooh-la-la!
Want your bad romance

Rah-rah-ah-ah-ah-ah!
Roma-roma-mamaa!
Ga-ga-ooh-la-la!
Want your bad romance

###

Around the world

I am still alive and home. Had a good rest in Hong Kong...lots of sleep and lots of mindless walking and (window) shopping. Ate nonsense stuff also. It's all good, generally.

 

Lao Lee, thank you for having me over and..you're welcome (cause I was the best companion you've ever had hahahaha).

 

More next time.

I need to unload my dirty clothes and junk from the bag.

 

Been there done that messed around
I'm having fun don't put me down
I'll never let you sweep me off my feet
I won't let you in again
The messages I've tried to send
My information's just not going in

Burning bridges shore to shore
I'll break away from something more
I'm not to not to love until it's cheap
Been there done that messed around
I'm having fun don't put me down
I'll never let you sweep me off my feet

This time baby I'll be bulletproof
This time baby I'll be bulletproof

I won't let you turn around
And tell me now I'm much too proud
To walk away from something when it's dead
Do do do your dirty words
Come out to play when you are heard
There's certain things that should be left unsaid

Tick tick tick tick on the watch
And life's too short for me to stop
Oh baby, your time is running out
I won't let you turn around
And tell me now I'm much too proud
All you do is fill me up with doubt

This time baby I'll be bulletproof
This time baby I'll be bulletproof
This time baby I'll be bulletproof
This time baby I'll be bulletproof (La Roux)

 

###

Waiting

It's 0900hrs and apparently, I am still waiting for the bloody boarding call. Am so tired and sleepy.

Oh the boarding call is heard.

Ok bye.

###

Paper plane

When was the last time I took the plane alone?

Was it in 2005 when I went to London to meet Grace and Ting?

Wow...4 years.

 

Anyway, here I am at T3 waiting for the gates to be opened. I was done with packing at about 0530hrs, after much procrastinating. Just grabbed and dumped in the bag so there is a very good chance that I'll be Miss Mismatched in Hong Kong later. But ah...whateverlah, huh.

 

All right. Boarding anytime now.

 

Watch this space.

 

 

 

###

Holiday

It's 0300hrs and I am still packing. Granted, I only started 20 mins ago. Yaaaaawn.

My flight is at 0940hrs and that means I should be there around 0745hrs. I will leave house around 0630hrs and take a train there I guess. I hope it doesnt get crowded just yet.

As much as I want to take break, the heart is not 100% in it. I have tons of work and yet, I need to clear my leave. I am in need of sleep...just good ol' quality snooze. Maybe I can do that. Lauren can go shop till she drops, I just want to ..zzz..

Okay.
Get on with the packing.
By 1400hrs, I will be here.
:)

Be good, people.



###

My place

Think I am dehydrated and burnt by the hot sun today.

Anyway, I just want to have a big shout out to CY2 aka Hazelicious. Happy birthday, babe!




Gladys, Valli, CY2 and I had a 'birthday' karaoke session. As expected, things got crazy and went a little out of hand. Such a bizarre birthday celebration cause our idea of a birthday song was 50c's In Da Club. Word!






Hope you like the little gift from me. Nothing much but I thought it was ..urm.. cute. Nevertheless, have a good one and many best wishes :)



Heheh.


P/S: Watched Love Happens on Monday (J.Aniston and A.Eckheart)and I thought it was subtle, underdog-gish and quite good. Yay!


###

Gone till November

Just came back from a little trip to the Asian Civilisation Musuem with the students (Tuesday's Activity Day). Oh man, it's scorching like...hell. Dammit.

 

Brought them around to Fullerton, take the underground escalator to One Fullerton and chill at Starbucks before coming back to school. Now...dammit, I need to prepare for class. In an hour's time!

 

On a brighter note, I bought my return ticket from HK to Singapore already. Now, I need to change some money and pack my money and I'll be good to go. To Hong Kong this Thursday.

 

 

P/S: The coughing is not getting better. In fact, I feel asthmatic.

 

 

###

Losing my religion

Okay. The installation is done. I have officially been Mio-ed.
I still have my Starhub...the box sets are all piling.
Damn you, Manchester United.

Right now, we have more remote controls than we have people in the house. On top of that, my TV has run out of "outlets". I need to take one cable out next time I want to poke my Wii wires. I think this sums up one thing. I need to get a TV in my room strictly for Wii. You know why...cause I am eyeing that bloody DJ Hero (@$199) and Rock Band Beatles.

Oh yes, sir. I am making up for lost time, redeeming all my childhood; a time when I was supposed to play and have insane fun. I was so serious and deprived as a child so now...ambik kau...take it. I am going to short circuit the whole house down.

Muahahahamuahaha*cough*muahahaha.

P/S: Okay. Better play Wii before the father comes home at night and snatches the TV and all the remotes away from me.

P/P/S: Fuck. Am still deprived. Damn you, father.

###

Vindaloo!

The bloody SingTel Mio guy called to say if it's okay he came to my place early. So, I hurried home. I already took half day but I thought of doing some errands first before coming home around 1600hrs. But he requested to come early and so we agreed for him to come at 1500hrs.

It's 1530hrs now and he hasnt appeared. I am getting pissed because (a) I could have come back later and (b) I am sleepy and I want to sleep. This is is so stupid. Maybe I shouldnt even subscribe to this Football Frenzy package. Everything is stupid. Football is stupid. Cable TV is fucking stupid. SingTel is stupid. Argh!!!!!!!

Go berambus and mampus, lah!!

P/S: Oh he's here. This entry didnt really happen. Hahaha.

###

We gotta get out of this place

Am planning the timetable for the new University programme which I am in-charged of...and my god, the first "fiscal" year ends on the 10th of January, 2011.

I'll be almost 31.

My God.
My God.
My God.

I need to get out of this place before I get stuck.

###

I just can't stop loving you

Yesterday (Saturday) was chaotic. The house was buzzing was the mother organised a baby shower (kenduri of some sort) for the sister-in-law and the guests started streaming in at about 1630hrs. From then till about 2200hrs, I was busy in the kitchen. I just plonked dead at 2300hrs, unshowered. I was trying to hang on (for dear life) because Man U were playing Blackburn at about 0130hrs. I only managed to wake up on the 70th minute. Didnt manage to see Liverpool got gutted by Fulham also. Damn.

Sunday was supposed to meet JLo, A-Go-Go and Abercrombie for brunch but that didnt really work out. I didnt want to wake up early at 0900hrs and they had to go off by 1300hrs. In the end, I met Meiling at 1600hrs and we watched Michael Jackson's This Is It. We had actually bought the tickets 2 weeks ago though I think we shouldnt have cause the theatre wasnt full anyway.



It was amazing. I had tears of joy watching the docu-film-concert after the initial 5 minutes of apprehension. MJ looked so tired malnourished but..oh well..I was soon sucked into the preparation of the mega concert. MJ's energy was so powerful even when he was beat. I could only imagine the power he had when he was much younger and at his peak. Gosh...I just hope this man will finally be able to rest in peace.

And damn, the males dancers were hot.
Sizzling.
Maybe I want to watch this again.
Or..hah, DVD.

Looking out
Across the night-time
The city winks a sleepless eye
Hear her voice
Shake my window
Sweet seducing sighs

Get me out
Into the night-time
Four walls won't hold me tonight
If this town
Is just an apple
Then let me take a bite

If they say
Why, why, tell 'em that is human nature
Why, why, does he do me that way
If they say
Why, why, tell 'em that is human nature
Why, why, does he do me that way

Reaching out
To touch a stranger
Electric eyes are ev'rywhere
See that girl
She knows I'm watching
She likes the way I stare

If they say
Why, why, tell 'em that is human nature
Why, why, does he do me that way
If they say
Why, why, tell 'em that is human nature
Why, why, does he do me that way
I like livin' this way
I like lovin' this way

Looking out
Across the morning
The city's heart begins to beat
Reaching out
I touch her shoulder
I'm dreaming of the street

If they say
Why, why, tell 'em that is human nature
Why, why, does he do me that way
If they say
Why, why, tell 'em that is human nature
Why, why, does he do me that way
I like livin' this way


I guess...me too.


P/S: Hong Kong in 3 days!


###