Archive for June, 2009

Itchy ear

June 26th, 2009 by admin

I woke up feeling surreal today.

I dozed off before I could start reaching out to my tweezer, and took the longest nap I have had.

I extended the nap till this morning, and… the weather is no longer mellowed but a picture of offensive glare.

I remember the dreams I had.

One of how MJ’s death is proven to be a wrongful report (the dream was prompted after an SMS came in my sleep and I read it before dozing off again). Another one is of my primary school crush, who looked different in the dream, all grown and mature, was trying to mount me.

All I did in the dream was to stroke his head (the one with a brain) like a mother would, and looked on to him with such detachment.

It was strange, don’t ask me why, but I was conscious he has a small, soft tool even though I didn’t touch (in the dream), but it was just the visual perspective of it.

I woke up with an itchy right ear.

I woke up overwhelmed, confused and felt as if I am not catching up with much stuff going on. 2 icons passed away. Condolences to their family and friends.

Sometimes people ask, why do these concern us?

Don’t know. Maybe it brings along our memories (Heal the world reminds me of the good ol’ days). Maybe it kills off some. Maybe no more freak shows to watch for some others, or that no more constant reminders for those who wanna go under the knife (okay, there is always Dawnkey).

And the blog posts drafted last night left untouched. More to come: Minibean, Tioman, Moscow, Phuket, London, Rome, and even the long due Toshiba event which I failed to blog.

Did I sleep for half a day, or did I sleep for an entire week?

Posted in Making Sense of Life | 2 Comments »

Chijmes with the chummies

June 25th, 2009 by admin

With the recent discovery of the wonders of collaging my pictures, I found a new found passion to picture editing which I used to find too much of a chore. Whee!

Which had me spending most of the past 2 days experimenting with different albums and now I have many things to post up (stop procrastinating, biatch!)

wanyi1

Had a fabulous Saturday noon out with the girlies last week, to witness Potato’s first step into late twenties. Giggles.

We gobbled down the steaks (we were pretty ferocious). And all the sides, especially the carrots, were polished up with the help from reluctant Bananana.

The “official” dress code was unshaven/unplucken/unwaxen/uncoined armpits, but none of us could pluck (pun!) the courage to do so. Except B-onny.

From the pictures, you can find J-onny, W-onny, F-onny, T-onny, P-onny (Hahahaha!) and B-onny was too chicken (okay, did I just contradict myself?).

Finally get to meet fellow Piscean, fellow “moisturiser user” Ah-fur, and I remember there was this day when I actually called her up some couple of years back to ease my nerves… gee, that has been a while, lady.

I kinda miss pea room now.

To the lovely one who is already in Sydney, have a great time there, and indulge in loads and loads of unadulterated llllllluuurrrrvveeeeee!

Posted in Perk-me-ups | 6 Comments »

Something new.. (like that song you shared..)

June 25th, 2009 by admin

I was going to repay part of my photo debt, and then, loaded them yesterday, and they magically gone missing.

Been craning my neck and staring at excel sheets for good half of the day, rubbing in deep heat intermittently. Please remind me not to rub my eyes when my vision get hazy.

I wonder if it will work if I rub it on my chest. Who knows what deep heat can do? Giggles.

I have been contemplating to change my blog layout, cos I am seriously bored of it like this. I want something sweeter, something that reflects simplicity.

If anyone willing to help me out for free, I will send you my worn panties. The pair with holes from.. uhm, nevermind.

And why my Chinese characters are not showing up ah?

Dad stood in the corridor today chatting to me as I got ready for work. Something gotta be done.

I am craving for some chocolates to go with my eat-in sandwich. Quiznos kicks Subway’s ass. Colleague who bought it for me made the recommendation and the cheese steak sandwich is good.

Weather is good again today! A bit of blue in the sky, and who knows, I might succumb to a jog (pass the deep heat, please!).

I look like I wear my PJs to work today wearing something that looks like a big, over-sized tee. The fabulous weather today just makes it so wearable. Awesomely comfortable to be wrapped round by something soft.

Having said that, I am less forgiving with the vice versa. Cough.

Posted in Senseless Quickies | No Comments »

After the rain

June 24th, 2009 by admin

I woke up to a beautiful day today.

No blinding sunshine, but a mellowed sky of grey.

I walked into the openness, enveloped by the dampness of it all, with little tickles from the fine, fine rain.

With my jacket, it was a cool, cool day.

My hair was teased by the breeze, and around me was glossed by a sheen of rain.

“It’s a beautiful day,” was my first words to start the day over a long email typed on the train, and the very same words uttered to my colleagues as I stood looking into the tame skies, with my hair ruffled and played in the openness.

“It reminds me of the London I know,” I later wrote in the email, remembering of the days when it was my home, and the land of cotton buds(one day I shall write about it, ahem). This recent trip had me witnessed the most beautiful London ever with the sun in the cold, budding colourful flowers, yet there was part of me that missed the cold, needle-like rain that made my old DKNY waterproof jacket a necessity in my late teens.

That explains my perpetual bad hair days back then, heh.

Okay, having said that, I had no wish for any rain when I was there, but I thought a dab of grey and rain would make good ol’ charming London a little more.. familiar. But I reckon half an hour of it and I would scream “ENOUGH!” cos that was exactly what I got from Moscow.

(I am in so much photo-debt. Clearing them bit by bit before Hanoi, hopefully!)

I walked in the drizzle and stopped when I reached my meeting place today, glazing into the greyness.

Was speaking to Dr Woo the other day, and he had egged me on for yet another pilgrimage visit (I coo-ed over his lomantik trip to Lake District) to kick start my uh, investments over there. Speaking of which, I seem to have an affinity with doctors from there (ahem, ahem, another story for another day). I might get free lasiks if my investments go well. Giggles.

But I need to be sure I ain’t gonna be entangled in one of their pissed ups.  Once, they left their drunken comrades at some hospital’s A & E when they were drunk (but more sober themselves). -Shudders at thought-

I am seriously tempted to clear my leftover leave (by September) and go on exploring other places using there as a base. Of course, besides the fact that some of my favourite friends are there (ahem, gotta say that for free accomodation/dinner/treats to swanky “IT” places/high ROI for investment), the ease of travelling due to familiarity, I want to go back and watch more musicals. I have a long list I have yet to fulfilled.

And a trip to Old Trafford, baybeh! No, I ain’t gonna succumb to shopping anymore (darn, a SMS yesterday, “Selfridges having sale! Bags and shoes up to 70% off, you should be here!“) and just gonna stick to going to new places out of the city since I pretty much covered wherever I needed to cover during my stay there.

UCL slipped me by.

I like going to cold, cold places (okay, fine, I know it is summer now..). But then, that’s me, looking for a sense of belonging and familiarity, and yet searching for some sense of surprise in new places never ventured on.

To learn, to see, to feel, to breathe.

To just set off, and let spontaneity to bring me anywhere I head next.

Sometimes I don’t know, I just, you know, pack my bags and go :)

I wanna skip… skip.. and skip..

Posted in Perk-me-ups | No Comments »

Feisty Charmaine

June 24th, 2009 by admin

In a totally random note, I read in the news how the Singapore Dream Team(you youngsters out there who had never been thru MY era, you would barely understood the national pride.. fine, I know I not Singaporean, but…) are going to have a charity kick off to raise fund for Charmaine.

THE plight of a four year old moved him so much that he decided to do something about it.

Click to see larger image
TOGETHER AGAIN: Former national football stars (from left) Aide Iskandar, Abbas Saad and Fandi Ahmad. PICTURE: EZREEN TAIB

And what better way to help raise funds than to get his former Malaysia Cup kakis back together for a charity match?

With a couple of phone calls, former Singapore international Rafi Ali rounded up former Singapore greats, including the Republic’s favourite footballing son Fandi Ahmad, the ‘dazzler’ V Sundramoorthy, hearthrob Abbas Saad and the ‘man with six lungs’, Malek Awab, for a game against the media and celebrities this Sunday at the Tampines Stadium.

Known as the ‘Dream Team’ in the 1990s, the Malaysia Cup veterans made history by being the last Singapore team to win the Malaysia Cup in 1994.

And now, 14 years later, they are reuniting for a very different cause – to raise money for 4-year-old cancer patient Charmaine Lim, who was featured in The New Paper on 13 Jun.

According to her NUH medical report, she has only a 20 per cent chance of surviving. Her mother, Ms Cynthia Lim, 29, hopes to send her for a special treatment in the US which might double her chances of surviving, to 40 or 50 per cent.

But this treatment, which costs at least US$350,000 (slightly over $500,000), is too expensive for Ms Lim, a divorcee who quit her project management job to look after her daughter.

I had the Dream Team CD somewhere! I have a massive collection of their old newspaper clippings which I amassed till I was 12.

I used to have a huge crush on Fandi Ahmad! And a certain Lee Man Hon(Okay, I am embarrassed by my choice of men giggles).

And and and! This match is going to be featuring Fandi Ahmad, Rafi Ali, Malek Awab, Abbas Saad, Jang Jung, V Sundramoorthy, David Lee, Nazri Nasir, Syed Faruk, Samawira Basri, TRamoo, Aide Iskandar, Shari Rahim, super-sub Steven Tan, and own-goal king ladies’ killer Lim Tong Hai.

Jang Jung too?!

The ticket is priced at $10 ONLY!

When: Sunday, 28 Jun. Kick-off at 5pm

Where: Tampines Stadium

But not forgetting the important reason why they are doing this.

Little Charmaine needs the momey to increase her chance of survival. And those who have children, you will understand how you will do ANYTHING to fight for a chance for your beloved. Not forgetting Charmaine’s mum is doing it all alone. Her husband walked out on her when she was 7 months pregnant with her 2nd child for a good friend of hers.

I think I am just onto emotional overload these days. I read the reference letter from brave little Charmaine’s pediatrician and had to keep the tears in check.

Knowing how some of you guys had helped me through the 9 months when Minibean spawned within me, rent-free, I might add(tsk, that freeloader!),  I know how it just takes a little, to make a big difference.

For those who had shown me the same love, emotionally support, and monetary help back then, despite that I might be just a mere stranger… I believe, that is the very hope and love that keep all of us alive, and should always be passed on.

There is always someone out there who goes through more than we do, more than we can ever imagine.

This space had shown me a lot of big hearts around.

Be it be a prayer.

Be it be a sum of donation.

Be it be other forms of fundraising..

Be it be watching the match and meet the legendary veterans..

.. It always means a lot to keep someone’s hope, and love alive.

Linger the kiss on your child tonight, hug your child tight. I wish Minibean is around so I can tell her how much Mummy loves her. I thank God for her, and will pray for well-being.

Cynthia, Charmaine and Jase, and the prayer is for you guys too. Hang in there, and fight on strong, don’t give up.

Be well.

Posted in Making Sense of Life | 4 Comments »

Yes 93.3fm – I LOVE 93.3FM MORNING SHOW!

June 23rd, 2009 by admin

As I busied myself and finally found some space to breathe after a disastrous presentation, I found myself reminiscing the good ol’ days when I was a pure 93.3fm junkie when I was a mere child.

Listening to Dasmond‘s smurfie goodnight song at 2am, and trying to record it, or trying to remember the lyrics and singalong to it with friends… I remember the first time I met him in person, I wanted to tell him how I always remember how he used to talk about him being Piscean(don’t ask me why I remember that of all things), and how the song (cutie voice and all) was playing in my mind.

I remember the brief conversation we had post-recording, and he gave a heartfelt, genuine point of view, before adding, “I know this is none of my business.. but if you can..” I felt the sincerity, I did. My nose that time got sour sour but shy shy to say. Hahaha.

I stayed up till almost 6am yesterday, and switched from my usual green-table companion channel (Class 95) to a dose of nostalgia.

All because? I heard Emil Chau’s Gu Zhen Nan Mian, and I suddenly remember an old friend who loved to sing Rang Wo Huan Xi Rang Wo You (NB! Don’t know why cannot read Chinese characters. -sulks-) to me, though his favourite was Bai Du Ren De Ge.

And just a coincidence that it is almost 7 years since he was gone.

I switched on the late night 93.3fm while spending my entire night rushing some work, and gee, what a walk down memory lane.

The familiar songs that made my hair stand and made me warm and fuzzy (I succumbed to switching on the aircon in the hall after spending hours baking in my own sweat).

It triggered the reminder of a once young dream of wanting to be 93.3fm DJ, and how I could read out and share others’ stories on air at night.

I think I must be getting old, the newer songs don’t appeal me that much anymore, though I heard this song twice, that managed to capture my attention.

It makes me feel like I am galloping on a vast grassland with my armpits in the air skipping in one of those country fields.. with yellow flowers (not that I like yellow flowers, but… that’s the mental image), and I smell hope and positivity. The kind that touches you, and makes you play an imaginary piano to the melody and smile resolutely to yourself with moist eyes.

See. I am young. I am emopop-sy.

And gee, what a song to listen to, on the day I finally am liberated (though the 2 hours sleep was barely enough, and I am too tired and I don’t think I can…. Okay. I just had a bimbo moment.

I digress. I just had a bimbo moment. You know how your mind disengaged from its gear for a while and you do something really stupid?

I thought I was typing in MSN and I thought I was going to tell Potato I am too tired and I don’t think I can blog even though I want to. Then I realise, DUH, I AM BLOGGING NOW WHAT!), and it makes me feel doubly liberating (oh, that was a long sentence bracket in between). I was totally unaware that I am actually blogging, which shows how autopilot I am.

Then I wanna blog about the songs that jolted my memory and emotions then I realise the blog obnoxiously ignores Chinese character I insert. Bah!

I heard Faye Wong’s Hong Dou twice last night, though the 2nd time was a male-version sang by someone else.

I have been into the theme song to The Ultimatum, and I will always wait for 9pm just to hear the song, catch a glimpse of Zoe Tay and Li Nanxing (okay, and the very woody Elvin), before the storyline will bore me enough to switch channel.

Liu Li Yang’s Ji Mo Guang Nian is awesome.

I feel like getting in touch the cheenah part of me, and I haven’t learnt my lesson well about how I have to be careful of what I wish for.

A colleague asked me if I would like to help her with translation. A part of me actually felt excited about that. The previous time I translated Chinese presentation to English, and this time, is the other way round. I feel it a great shame to let something I enjoyed and excelled in to slip away just like that.

And yeah, I love late night 93.3fm.

But ahem, of course nothing beats the chirpy morning show that has a magical way of turning a badly started morning round.

Posted in The Dreamer Within | 2 Comments »

Knackered

June 23rd, 2009 by admin

Finally it is over and it didn’t go well at all.

I couldn’t even enjoy the Lei Garden lunch.

I am just glad the chicken essence lasted me this far and the only thing I really, really wanna do is to go home and doze off.

I can barely keep my eyes open.

ZzZzzzZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzz.

Posted in Senseless Quickies | No Comments »

I should be…

June 22nd, 2009 by admin

…. working on the slides and not procrastinating, and of course I shouldn’t be blogging..

evil. evil. evil.

live. live. live.

Today, I realise, to live is to reverse evil.

I shouldn’t be playing some typing game/word game on facebook.

The more I shouldn’t be here. Okay. Byebye.

Posted in Senseless Quickies | 4 Comments »

Happy birthday, Potatocarrotpottypooeyoneyee

June 21st, 2009 by admin

Whatever it is cannot say anything too emo because this lady had howled 2 years ago after I wished her happy birthday here.

Happy birthday Potatomusmaximuscarrotpottypooeyoneyee!!!

I am sorry for the jersey but I did tried it on with 2 mini-balls, and next time I will try with 2 real-sized ones.

Oh. And next time if anyone of you wanna dispose of the McDee’s trash from the evening before in its signature brown paper bag as you leave the house, maybe it is wiser that the gift wasn’t in a brown paper bag too.

The lunch was one of great revelation.

Only people who don’t need to waste moisturiser moisturise their boobs. And some of you may never understand that.

Any the way, she seemed really the happy, and she went on to be very the happening in the evening.

Happy birthday darling!!! I will leave the mushy stuff to others this time. With much love from Minibean and me (I honestly have no idea where she learns that act cute pose from).

Big girl already, be good huh.

***

The heat is sweltering over the weekend, and I blame my lack of productivity on that. Ahem.

My mind is all over the place these days that it is barely funny. I will be searching for my subway cookies on the table while working and eating at the same time, before I realised they had mysteriously went missing.

And I didn’t recall eating them AT ALL.

But the telltale signs of crumbs on the sides of the mouth, and when the tongue took a swipe at the back of the teeth.. oh well, I had eaten them without remembering the enjoyable process of tasting the sweets.

Then I would drafting the same emails TWICE, without realising I had sent the other one out.

I have a hard time remembering things. But everything will hit me hard in the chest when I remember how much more things I have to complete. Gasp! Gasp! Gasp!

Either I am getting old, or I have been bubble-wrapping myself up way too well. Of course, there are other ways of them haunting me, considering I have been dreaming about work/colleagues/co-worker/boss consistently for the past couple of weeks.

I need to get some groove and soul back. I can’t wait for June to be over. Actually, by next week, I should be able to breathe easier. Now, it is just the next few days…. -shudders at thought-

I have no idea how I dozed off while watching The Nanny half way yesterday and woke up only 14 hours later.

That should last me through the night tonight.

***

I squeezed too hard and my toilet cover finally caved in. Giggles.

***

Happy father’s day to the most amazing Papa. Thanks for everything and get well soon.

Sometimes before I sleep, I always pray you will lead a long, healthy life, so you can be there each step of the way Minibean growing up.. and the day she finds her happiness.

I want her growing up with memories of you, and how you have been nothing short of wonderful to her each step of the way thus far.

We love you, Papa.

From Minibean and me.

***

With powerpoints come procrastination.

And with procrastination came Cidade de Deus (City of God).

It was a movie which tantalised and shocked with its brutality, and opened up one’s eyes to someone else’s real world out there. It was based on a true story (with almost entire of its cast picked from the slums), and I remember how Clarence had urged us to watch it back in 2002 because it is such a fantabulous story.

Of drugs, slums, violence and survival.

I was drawn to it, though halfway through it got to me a little whenever I saw the kids involved.

However, you don’t see the children as children in this show, it just marred the distinction, though at times, when you try to remind yourselves they are just mere kids, the discomfort will set in and hit you like a brick to the chest.

The movie couldn’t be produced in the real City of God as it would be too dangerous to do so, and they set it in a neighbouring slum, which the director later commented that if he had known of the dangers involved earlier, he would have dropped filming from the beginning.

He trudged on and we saw a masterpiece.

Posted in Of various elements | 2 Comments »

Crossing

June 19th, 2009 by admin

I was at a crossroad today and I saw what my destiny would have been.

It was a choice I made  not to some 8 years ago, and gee, what a difference it could have been.

It doesn’t really matter what should have been, but man, how great it was to be young, to be free to make choices.

I stood in the sun which ceased to be scorching as a gust of wind pushed the clouds over it. A tree nearby was shedding confettis of leaves and it was pretty. It would have been my playground, and a witness of my growing up journey.

I saw the sign and took the unimpressive picture, and questioned my spontaneity.

8 years down, I have never regretted for the choice, despite there were times when the going gets tough, and left room for plenty of despair. After numerous long and winding road, I actually stood there and looked back at the briefest moment, feeling plenty of relief and gladness.

I hopped on a rare passing cab as the sky turned to a darker hue.

With a bursting bladder and getting absolutely car-sick after watching the rain pitter-pattering on the windows from the far west to town, I am finally back to where I am.

Posted in Senseless Quickies | 2 Comments »
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