reverie of sorts

South, south and away

2008-08-07T21:29:00.004+08:00

Just wanted to add some happy thoughts to the blog and realized that I haven’t included stuff on my Batam trip in July.

Just a short weekend getaway but good enough to feel relaxed. All the foodsss, massagesss and sunsss in a rustic setting, along with great company ;) added up to a memorable weekend.

Growing Up

2008-07-18T12:12:00.001+08:00

I got the primary school gang out last night. Been quite a few months since everyone met together…

And it was quite the usual getting updates- new wedding, misplaced rings (yes 2), new jobs, new houses…

What wasn’t new was the feeling I got seeing everyone together. It’s almost like I made it happen to relive moments from our days of childhood. I really miss that. Sure, we talk different, dress different and look just slightly different now but there was still this strong connection in the bunch. Nine were ok for yesterday but only seven showed. And that was still ok cos we still knew what was going on with those who didn’t show… briefly at least.

For a while during our chat, I felt like I kinda spaced out and was looking at the bunch from another dimension. Like I was dead and looking on at how everyone grew up and was getting on with their lives… It feels good to be able to have everyone together even though we left BRPS when we were only 12.

If Wesley Gibson from Wanted asked me the same question he did at the end of the movie, “What the fuck have you done lately?”, I would have something to say.

I relived my primary school days. Momentarily.

Happy Pill

2008-06-13T20:13:00.002+08:00

What is your happy pill?

Went to Rosy's wedding over the weekend and witnessed how happy she was. Ok Rosy I know you probably drained yourself from all the planning. But seriously, she's the most chill-out bride I've seen. One night before the wedding and I still don't get any programme for the dinner.

Admiration.

But that also shows how much she trusts God. It's amazing hearing and seeing how she uses her own special day to try to share the word. Her rainbow story is still amazing. Still captivating.

What's also sweet is how the both of them share a history. And now a future. I know she's going to be in great hands of ZQ and God so it's more like a progression in the journey for her.

Still love her lots and know our love for every single one in the foursome will stay. Just that it's probably gonna be harder trying to get her out to meet Chiang and I. Oh well, we'll try :) By the way, it was just pure fun hosting the dinner with Chiang, and the best part was seeing Chiang's reaction when I told her how serious we were about having her host the dinner. Meant a lot for both of us to host our Rosy's dinner...

So what's your happy pill?

My mood

2008-06-11T10:20:00.000+08:00

I feel restless.

Why?

Finally Genting

2008-05-29T09:53:00.010+08:00

Been a long long time since the last time I went out on a trip with my parents. Had to almost FORCE them to go to Genting over the Vesak holiday… and of course my gal went too!

What better way to wait for check-in than sip on a cuppa… or a few cuppas since it took about an hour before it was our turn.
We were on the 24th floor! My birth date too!

Senior citizens get it too! They got 50% just for their age! Genting has R-E-S-P-E-C-T for the senior folks! Our first buffet dinner there with an international spread… Mmmm…
The women of my life…

Teh?

The fake shroomies…

Didn’t see any shroomies growing here except for the fake ones and packed ones.My best shot of the trip. Nice chicky chick…What kinda farms have no farm animals. Huge doggies here that supposedly guard against the theft of kois at the mushroom farm we went to.
Fishies at the entrance of a casino. In the wise words a someone, it’s to thrash your luck just before you enter the casino! The science of fengshui…
Hamming it up a notch!
I love these doors! Something poetic about them…

And my must-have pic of the carousel. Nearly took the ride again…

My mum ate lots of stuff she won’t eat back here! Ice cream la, KFC la, and buttered corn!
Ah Yat dim sum! Our yam cha on the second day… Yums…

Sharpshooter Yeo at his best!

More trips to come!

Prison break

2008-05-16T09:11:00.000+08:00

Those who know which accounts I work on will know which I prefer. And for some policy sake, I shan’t name the accounts. I often have the opportunity to enter highly secure premises for work. And I tell everyone who asks about my experience there that it’s always humbling to hear stories about regrets and promises.

I’m heading for my short holiday tomorrow with my parents and my gal. I think in a twisted sort of way, living in a prison is almost like a holiday. These folks are thrown into a completely different environment; so do travelers who experience new city/rural lifestyles when they get off the plane. And very often, a lot of these folks learn new things about themselves which they fail to realize when they were living in their comfort zones previously; similarly, travelers develop some sort of independence and culturally absorb as much as they can. More importantly, these people, who are like you and me, learn to treasure what they’ve been missing out on – discipline, routine, opportunities, freedom, family love; just like them, a lot of travelers start to miss home or how cushy they lead their lives back at home.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m totally looking forward to this short trip. It’s just that every time I speak with one these folks who share their stories of regret and how they have made the commitment to change, it warms my heart. These are real people with real tears and laughter each time they speak about their lives. I just hope they make the best of their holiday and go home after that inspired to do much more for themselves and people who care about them.

Me, Tech and Renee

2008-04-27T15:13:00.002+08:00

I had a day this week when no one texted me. Even after I sent out some SMSes, there was no reply. Ok, so maybe people aren’t glued to their phones that much.

That night, I was on the phone with my gal and somehow, I wondered out loud about not receiving a reply from someone. And I think I said something like, “Strange, I didn’t get any messages today.” Even after I said that, I still didn’t think there was anything amiss. Then she said, “Why don’t you try switching off your phone, then on it again?”

Hm. So I did. Once it was switched back on, a steady stream of 16 messages flowed right through. And it was just soooo ridiculous thinking about it since I didn’t assume anything was technically malfunctioning.

Yea, I know it’s the long-standing feud between tech and me again but this made me realise three things.

1. Technology is fallible. No one should depend entirely on it, especially for communications.
2. We can live without technology. I survived. To add to that, I even managed to meet with Qiyou for lunch even though I received his message only at night. Miraculously, the failure of SMS didn’t stop that lunch from happening. Life goes on.
3. My gal is there for a reason. Just like my coffee ribs encounter, she points out salient things which I am completely oblivious to, even though they are staring right back at me. In the words of Rosy after I told her about this incident, “You can’t live without Renee.” Of course Chiang had to substantiate that with how she plans my holidays.

I’m quite sure I didn’t need the SMS failure to know all the above :)

Nostalgiaed new beginnings

2008-04-11T17:27:00.001+08:00

Yesterday was a good day. Besides having to face the usual annoyants in office :)

But yes, it was almost like a day of good beginnings blessed with a tinge of nostalgia, which I’m a huge sucker for.

It started with the night before. I met Eleanor again after maybe five months! We’ve had such a long history that it almost feels wrong not to meet up earlier. I’m happy for her. It sure looks like things are going great for her. Well at least she made a wise decision about her job. :)

Then yesterday, I met Hen Tan for lunch. Our history dates back to when we were 10. I don’t think the A380 flies faster than time. Ha ok corny. Seems like things are picking up for him. I’m definitely impressed by his choice. Values over money, over superficiality, over norms. He’s good person la. Pity we grew apart, but I’m still thankful that we’re still meeting up from time to time…

Then I got a new start. I’m gonna teach at Monster Under The Bed. Thanks Gab! Hopefully, this will be one of my baby steps towards owning a children’s creative education centre in the future. More about it after I start :)

Remembering you

2008-04-05T01:07:00.008+08:00

Been more than a month since I wrote about Kinabalu.

Tonight we went to Dreamer's Cafe aka Ai Qin Hai. Well, we enjoyed Acid Bar a couple of weeks back and thought maybe going for something chinese would be a nice change. So yes, Dreamer's Cafe is your non-alcohol waterhole with unplugged singers who take dedications.

I thought it would be a soothing, relaxy Friday hangout. It was, don't get me wrong. But the moment the pair, especially the guy started singing (we arrived just at the start of the second set), I was reminded of Ishi. Not that I didn't expect that coming but I didn't think it would still hit that strongly.

I think it was the second song. He did David Tao's Beach. I nearly walked out to get some air. It was all too familiar. Uncomfortably familiar.

I thought about Ishi. How he admired David Tao, how he would sing his songs, how he would strum the guitar, how he would like an audience to appreciate his voice, how he was trying to make it big.

Two months later and it would be a year. I wonder how you're doing, Ishi Lau Gek How...

I didn't walk out to get fresh air. I tried distracting myself by sipping my drink and snacking on the chips. Maybe it's just the overall effect of chinese ballads. They make you feel. More. Doesn't help that it was an unplugged set.

I still miss you dude. We still do. Rosy mentioned that she'll probably cut a online tribute for you during the next Superband period. I think that takes a lot.

Hope you're doing well...

We made it!

2008-03-04T15:14:00.019+08:00

It was all worth it. We made it to the peak of Mount Kinabalu.

On Feb 23, the eight of us set off to Sabah. Early in the wee hours, we cabbed to Senai Airport in JB to catch our flight out. Proving too much of a trip right from the start, I kinda realised that Kelvin and Grace got together. Wow. And I always give myself credit for being sensitive about such stuff.

Anyway, the trip was just awesome from the get go. Over the six days, we stayed at a different place each night, starting from Step In. This was more of a backpackers' place which we stumbled at upon arrival in town. Here's all of us at the balcony.

The first day was a chill out day... until we started to get physical with frisbee! That was such a sight. Qiyou somehow had his disc with him and we started our game at a green patch called Merdeka Padang. Sure, it was state land but tourists can't read signs right :) That was real good fun. Prema and I even had a TAF Club walk-off! The next morning was a breeze. The couple were somewhere out there, Prema and Audrey went out early too, so the final four (Jeremy+Qiyou+Mel+Me) went out to check out the Sunday market and had our fill of their dim sum :)

Then it was off to the National Park, aka the base camp of where we would start off our amazing journey. Sunday night was spent at Grace One, a log-ish kinda of lodging with a nice fire place. Of course, Jeremy, Qiyou and I couldn't start a fire. It was still good. All of us except Kelvin played charades before our sleep and it was a blast. Qiyou's "thrill" brought the house down. That was such a moment. Oh ya, the three of us guys couldn't resist taking pictures by the fireplace - throw in Mel's direction and shirtless us and we kinda got some pornish pictures. Shall put up the gals' pic instead. Haa...

The next morning was the start of it all. We needed to reach the mid section of the mountain. Our aim was Laban Rata, where we would sleep for bits before out ascend to the peak the next morning. All of us were just ready to go. Of course, the rain had to share our joy along the way. And after what seemed like six hours of eternity, we saw it. Laban Rata!

Our night there was the start of our nightmare. Six of us were in a zinc hut and the couple was in another. It was such a squatter! But I loved how cosy it was! Haa... that was when people started feeling unwell from the climb. As Jeremy calls it, the Panadol parade started. The colds and aches came in from then. But it was still worth it. Even though Qiyou, Mel and I had to go pack dinner for the rest, the view at night was simply just awesome.
Yeap, that was where we were, above the clouds. We didn't get to enjoy much of that though. Just after less than six hours of sleep, we got up at 130am to prepare to ascend all the way! Pity Audrey and Kelvin couldn't make it all the way. It was treacherous, ropes, rocks and all. The thin air didn't help one bit. But the six of us pushed on and it was no turning back. After maybe four hours of "We're almost there!", we saw it.

We caught the sunrise. I don't think I expected to see something like that in my lifetime. Or at such a height. I was pretty damn proud of myself. Pretty damn proud of my group. Pretty damn proud that we made it together. The view was simply breathtaking. I tried to take as many mental pictures as I could. I never thought I would be able to do something like that. Didn't such things only happen on TV? We wanted to soak in the moment for as long as we could but out guide started to say we were late. That was the start of another torturous time. Our descend was painful but I shall remember the good times. We stuck by one another, going as fast as our slowest person. I think we each lost 10kg coming down.

We made it down to the base only after sunset. 8pm to be exact. Our knees were gone by then. If any part of us wasn't damp by then, it was our flaming desire to get to a rest place in town. And there we were, our fourth lodging of the trip.

From then on, it was all about being nice to ourselves. We had supper that very night, and kinda celebrated Audrey's birthday in advance since she and Prema had to leave us the very next morning. It was chill and relax from then on... snorkeling, sumptuous seafood dinner (FREAKING NINE DISHES FOR FOUR!), massage... And Jeremy got himself a rookie in Qiyou. Somehow, Qiyou was very interested in media reporting and tagged along with Jeremy on his assignments to interviewee the election candidates.

We made it back. This trip was super amazing for many things... for the great friends, for the unimaginable feats, for the laughter.

But we all know that we wouldn't try to climb this again. :)

Himbos need not apply

2008-02-18T18:13:00.000+08:00

Another himbo moment.

If I haven’t mentioned, I got a portable DVD player as my anniversary gift. I use it every day to watch F.R.I.E.N.D.S to and from work. Almost two months later, the screen was a complete black when I turned it on one fine morning in the bus. On the screen were only the letters AV on the top left – not what I’ve been used to seeing. In short, the player couldn’t play. This was five days ago.

Last night, I finally checked on the player again. I looked around for its buttons and tried every one but nothing happened. Then I saw this switch from AV in to AV out. I pushed it from “IN” to “OUT”. Viola! There it was – the familiar blue screen staring right back at me. I went to bed oozing with endorphins from laughing at myself.

In another not so himbo moment, I watched P.S. I Love You over the weekend. Another sucker for romantic comedy moment. I took down this quote from Gerry who died (it’s not a spoiler). He said, “It’s an honour to grow old with someone who doesn’t drive you to commit murder.” Nice. Apart from that, I feel exactly the same way about death. Like when my granddad passed on two years ago, it was the transition period that killed me. The change was the trigger for pain, but it was getting used to the pain and experiencing the full-blown effects of it that kill. Same with me dealing with Ishi.

Overall the show was a sob experience right from the start. I’m glad I didn’t watch Ah Long over this. But I do feel bad for ending my gal’s weekend on such a sobby note. Not quite smart ah… :)

Why I Must Be In The Amazing Race Asia

2008-02-01T18:35:00.000+08:00

So I was at Bangkok in the third week of January, partly to celebrate Renee’s birthday right.

On the second day of our stay, we headed to Siam Square, smacked at the centre of the city. And as the professional PR guy that I am, I spotted a media event for a brand of potato chips. Huge set-up, huge standees, huge… Wait a minute, I looked at the standees again and there she was staring right back at me. Paula. Paula of team Paula-Natasha in The Amazing Race Asia. Paula of team Paula-Natasha I’ve been rooting for in The Amazing Race. Paula of team Paula-Natasha I’ve been rooting for in The Amazing Race which I was just watching the night before!

I wasn’t too sure if that was her so I went to ask one of the media and he said YES!
“That’s Paula and Shin”
“Is Paula coming?”
“Yes Paula and Shin are coming”
“When’s Paula coming?”
“About an hour”

So there, I made my poor girl wait with me just to catch a glimpse of Paula. Apparently she is huge in Thailand. Even before the race. And as with all press events, this chips event was delayed. I waited nearly two hours?

Yes, in short, I saw Paula in the flesh. But Thailand totally ruined my image of her. Thai style – big no no. Shall post pics up when I get them.

Anyway, that’s not the reason why it’s a sign that I must be in the race. Fast forward to two weeks later, I’m at a brainstorm session at an events company. And guess who walked in! No not Paula. Her teammate walked right in. And I just went “I just met your teammate in Bangkok two weeks ago!”

So yes, that’s the sign that I must be in the race!

For the ignorant, here’s who Paula and Nat are :)

Right-brained

2008-01-25T18:09:00.000+08:00

Found more of my works from school :) The joys of creating...

To promote apparel…

Done with Chiang to promote SCI…

Against animal abuse…

For a contest about publicizing the smallest camera…

Glorified past

2008-01-10T10:47:00.000+08:00

I was told by my CS junior that my previous assignments and FYP have been floated around by my ex-lecturers as examples of how my juniors can complete theirs. Made my head swell a little. Of course, there were also some projects that would not have aced without my super team mates.

Here’s a fun integrated marketing comms project that I did with Yunshuang, Keng and Ariana. It was to launch a new apparel label in town. Below are the teasers for print and TV… Shall go dig up more of my ads from school!

The greys and whites of it

2008-01-09T09:49:00.000+08:00

It’s funny/amazing how the brain works. I’m sure I’ve written/talked about this before but most recently, more examples surfaced in my life to prove the diverse impact the brain causes in terms of personality.

Anyone who knows me should know/guess that I’m a complete right brainer. Logic rarely does it for me. Systems and rigid formulas can probably fry my brain. I’m quite confident most of my schoolmates in CS are also perfect examples of right brainers, with varying extents of purity.
So it really screamed at me when I showed Kelvin pictures of new paintings I did for Rosy and Chiang (which I need to upload soon). Just for background, Chiang’s painting was the backview of her, with luscious hair as the main subject. So when I showed Kelvin, him being the engineering guy kinda guy, his first line was, “Why is the hair pink?” Yes, the hair in the painting is in pinks and reds. What seemed like a given to me, stood out to him. I didn’t think there was a logical explanation for the hair to be pink; I just felt it looked good.

I think every brain is extremely unique despite having the same hardware, just different amounts of it J

Then there is this other example that shows how the brain automatically builds a defence mechanism. You know how you can just tell when people are extremely insecure? And to offset the insecurity, they try to be funny, put other people down, or in some cases build a wall for themselves. This kinda of personality is extremely painful to watch because you know deep down they’re just struggling to come to terms with themselves, with situations, with their past. And I think the brain plays a huge part in building a system of personality to defend and protect its owner. It’s like how overeating, or excessive plastic surgery is not just about an eating disorder and extreme vanity respectively, but how the brain focuses on other areas so that its owner does not have to face up to the real issues he/she is facing.

That’s about all the grey and white perspectives I have for now.

Shedding Ink

2008-01-02T17:30:00.000+08:00

I joined a script writing competition (think it’s called ShedInk) out of support for my bro. Wrote a script based on five “clues” (actually I just fitted these into the story I had in mind la) in under what I think was four hours. The story is really based on a similar situation, just that I dramatized the characters and topics discussed.

Now I’m thinking whether it was a wrong move to join this…… What if I beat all other contestants? :)

Anyway, I’ve always written stuff. In fact, I started writing stories and scripts even before I started freelancing for mags. That was eons ago. Scary. It was always during late nights and when I was listening to some sappy songs that the mood just comes and words just flow…

Life’s a stage. Here’s my script (Link) and if you read it, just keep thinking that it was under written under stressful conditions near midnight. :) By the way, it's entitled Count On Me, Singapore. Enjoy.

2007 plus 1

2008-01-01T00:49:00.000+08:00

Happy New Year!

With bated breath. That's how I'm embracing 2008.

I don't know what to expect or how to make things happen. Things usually just fall into place for me. I just said a few days ago to Renee (who's really Monica Gellar) that everything has a place in her world - she packs EVERYthing back to where it was taken. I guess in a way, it's the same for me? Everything has a place. It's just a matter of who puts what when.

In retrospect, 2007 was a shocker. I was taken out from my comfort zone more than I had wished for. I want each year to be a new experience that brings new sights and emotions, good and happy sights and emotions. Yes, LaLaLand exists. I'm gonna make sure LaLaLand surfaces in my life in 2008 again. In a good realistic way.

Happy New Year Gorgeous.

Green patriotic thoughts

2007-12-18T09:58:00.001+08:00

I served the nation for two weeks. I’ve never wanted to be called back to camp so much.

These two weeks have been one of the best periods in the past 1.5 years. I led a happy and healthy lifestyle.

I saw stars on a clear breezy night. I brushed through nature, albeit drenched and with deep panting. I ran against the night winds. I slept. And slept. And slept. Plus I didn’t have to battle with eating late. I chatted with pals about life. Nobody had any problems for me to solve. I had freedom. Almost.

Of course there were the dreadful parts where I was out in the field, dirty and sleepy. But choosing my routine life over that was still tough.

Sze: I was happy for once on a Sunday night!
Me: So it’s definitely camp over work for you. Like me!
*One week later while chionging sua*
Me: So is it work or now for you?
Sze: If it’s now, I choose work. You?
Me: Now, it’s still a close fight.

*During our rest*
Norman: So now comes the question I ask everyone. What’s the highlight of your day at work?
Me: Thinking about coming back to camp.
Norman: Guffaw guffaw. That has to be the saddest one I’ve heard so far.

Moral of the story: If you chao geng and not go through national service, you won’t be able to entertain random people with random questions.

Acrylic painting

2007-11-22T09:01:00.000+08:00

My first acrylic painting on canvass – Beauty Within

You should have been 26

2007-11-20T08:45:00.000+08:00

Happy Birthday Mr. Lau.

The Triumph

2007-11-18T00:51:00.000+08:00

I'm a sucker for movies about inspirational teachers who manage to turn a class of rejects from hell into a class of success.

I watched The Triumph that was aired on the Hallmark Channel recently. Matthew Perry was the lead and of course, the white guy goes into a public school in Harlem and gets his ass whooped by the class of blacks, hispanics and asians, the class doomed for failure in life. And of course, the teacher, Don Clark, manages to sing their tune (quite literally) and convert them into youths who believe in themselves and their dreams, that the class is a family and they should dare to take risks and dream big.

This formula is tried and tested. And when it's based on a true story, it makes it all the more encouraging and heartwarming. Years ago, I fell in love with Dangerous Minds (and Michelle Pfeiffer), a similar movie about an ex-marine who makes an impact in the lives of many students who have been given up hope on, and have given up on themselves.

I think i might actually be good at teaching. It's something that I believe in doing - inspiring and making an impact in the lives of others. Sounds too idealistic? Maybe eventually, I'll get my Masters and start teaching at college level to combine both moolah and ideals. Who knows.

Yes, don't we all need some inspiration at various points of our lives? I want to be that person that leaves an impression and causes positive impacts.

But I also fear ruining some kiddo's life because he or she hates me and decides that my lessons are not worth the time, that education is a chore.

Maybe it's time to listen to Don Clark and take the much needed risk. Wish the kids of the world luck.

Perwinkle's Adventures 2

2007-11-09T22:59:00.000+08:00

Periwinkle rubbed her eyes before opening them as wide as she could.

In front of her was a carousel of ponies, bunnies, giraffes, fluffy cloud cars which all had little children on them.

From where she stood, Periwinkle could hear happy giggles and the tune of her favourite song Edelweiss. The little children wore bright coloured tops like Periwinkle and had the largest smiles on their faces.

As the song came to an end, the carousel slowed to a halt. At this instant, all the ponies, bunnies, giraffes and fluffy cloud cars started to detach themselves from the carousel and flew into the distant sky with all the little chilren still riding on them. What a sight!

Perwinkle couldn't believe her eyes! She decided to try it herself but there was no pony, bunny, giraffe or fluffy cloud car for her to ride on. Nonetheless, she took one big step onto the carousel. To her amazement, a giant purple butterfly with yellow polka dots flew and stopped right in front of Periwinkle!

This made Periwinkle squeal in delight! As she got onto the giant butterfly, Edelweiss started to play again. Periwinkle moved up and down as the giant butterfly took her high and low, just like a real carousel! And when the giant butterfly flapped its wings, glittering gold dust fell to the ground, shimmering in the beams of sunlight.

Periwinkle could not see where she was but she enjoyed the ride tremendously! No wonder the little children couldn't stop giggling earlier. Perwinkle couldn't contain her excitement and broke out in peals of laughter throughout the ride!

Soon, Edelweiss started to fade away. At this point, the giant butterfly started to flap its wings even harder.

Before Periwinkle knew it, she was flying away with the giant butterfly away from the carousel.

"Where are you taking me to, giant butterfly?" asked Periwinkle.

Brink of existence

2007-10-29T12:15:00.000+08:00

Here’s another series of images I call Brink of Existence. I took these photos at Chinatown when I was 22 for a visual comms class.

I think the mood and composition say quite a bit about how some people are less noticed in society, in our day-to-day lives. I played with the colours a bit to create this series…

Don’t let your existence fade away…

Periwinkle’s Adventures

2007-10-24T18:12:00.000+08:00

Periwinkle went to the playground in her cheery yellow sun dress.

She went “WHEEEEE” on the swing.

She saw two girls throw their hands up as they went down the long purple polka dot slide.

Daringly, Periwinkle walked to the top of the slide, sat down, and crossed her hands in front of her chest, all prepared to slide down.

“WHHEEEEEE!” screamed Periwinkle as she shut her eyes tight and went onto the slide.

It was the longest slide she had ever been on. When she finally stopped, she opened her eyes and found herself to be at a completely different place.

It was not the playground that she was at one minute ago.

Quote of the day?

2007-10-18T09:07:00.000+08:00

“You hate your job, don’t you?”

That line from Renee kinda made me think about it more. Context – Renee shares about her job all the time. Apart from that fact that she talks more than I do, she somehow feels for her company, her brand. When she watched the news of the 380 landing, she felt quite proud. She shares about the shit that happens, the good that happens.

I rarely discuss my work.

So that prompted her to say that to me last night. I don’t hate my job, that I know.

Maybe, it’s just the feeling that I could do more. With my work, with my life. Or rather, work and live doing what I truly would feel gratification from.

Symphony of zombies

2007-10-08T16:27:00.000+08:00

I think nearly eight years ago, I had to take the train from Raffles Place on a weekday morning. That was the first time I experienced the Symphony of Zombies.

As I walked towards the train station around 8.30am, there was a surge of morning human traffic flowing against my direction. Every single working adult had the same aim - to get out of the station and into their work places. Their shoes clattered, their heels clonked. No one exchanged words. It was a symphony of eerie morning rush. The sights and sounds in North Korea's mysterious subway probably bear some resemblance, just minus the clutter of commercial messages at our train station.

Today, I was there again at about the same time. Same surge, same direction. No one spoke, yet the symphony was clearly beyond audible. It was almost like a well-rehearsed mass display, without the fireworks since it was underground. Some of them had earphones plugged to them. Maybe there was a conductor instructing about their correct positions and timings. I looked at those faces and I thought about the stories behind them. Only a few folks were running; the rest walked briskly. Maybe they weren't looking forward to heading to their destinations. I looked at those faces and I thought about what they did before their weekends ended. Maybe they had some exciting adventures? I thought about what was driving them, maybe someone was badly ill, maybe someone had years of education to complete, maybe they were getting their promotions in a few months.

I shot a short video of the mass display. Everyone was just so in sync - coming out from the gates and walking towards the same escalators. All the escalators moved only in one direction. There were a few lost sheep who walked against the crowd. They had to walk down the stairs since there was no escalator planned for them. Just like me. I walked against the flow. Maybe I was one of the performers too. Just that I was lost. Or maybe I hated the conductor and wanted to screw up his show.

Or maybe I was just too early for my appointment and had too much fun watching these poor souls rushing to work on a Monday morning while I was on leave.

One more time

2007-10-03T10:11:00.000+08:00

I had a dream. It was very surreal. It looked like an alumni dinner. Ishi was there.

He was there to sing from an album called Confessions. Not too sure if it was his album. He first appeared on the stage and I was shocked at his entrance. He had the same hairstyle as the one he had during the later stages of SuperBand. Slightly wavy. I think he was wearing a white top with some red prints.

I don’t think he sang. He searched for the rest of the foursome in the sea of audience and caught the eyes of Joey, Rosy and me. He walked down to us, and gave each of us a hug. I could really feel the hug. It was really tight. Really tight. No words were exchanged. I hugged him back.

I woke up, with my eyes still closed, and realized it was a dream. Tears flowed uncontrollably. I tried to go back to sleep, to continue the dream. I couldn’t. I sobbed in my bed. I didn’t know if I felt happy or sad to see him again. It was a surreal meeting but it felt real. It was most likely around 6am.

If I had known that the last time that Chiang and I met him at Esplanade was our last time, I would have given him the same tight hug even though he said he was sweaty and smelly from teaching dance.

I would.

October 1st

2007-10-01T09:50:00.001+08:00

Happy Children’s Day! In celebration of this day that will never belong to us again, I bought a Disney edition of Scrabble and had my first game of it with my dad last night.

I only had one letter left. He had two. Ha.

Happy Children’s Day :)

Walking through the rain

2007-09-27T09:04:00.001+08:00

I walked through the rain to my office building this morning. Still loving it.

There's something playful, serene and romantic all at the same time...

What's new?

2007-09-22T11:32:00.000+08:00

Well, what can be new. I lost my phone again.

Someone probably took it during my dinner at Oriental. Yeap the hotel. I'm ok I guess. It's a gadget. It's tech. I'm destined not to have a loving relationship with tech. Seriously.

Anyway, this sparked off a discussion. I left a phone in a cab before. Left my money clip in a cinema before. Renee, Rosy and Joey took my cards for an entire day before I realised I left them at Burger King at Changi Airport. By then I was in Hong Kong. Two weeks ago I left my phone in a cab but that was returned. Two weeks later, the phone decided that enough was enough and it left me for good.

I'm not going to explain the situations that left me hanging without my belongings. Some were due to exhaustion, some were just being too naive. Oh, I just explained some situations.

The discussion that followed soon after my recent loss included possible explanations of how I could have lost my phone again. Of course I was careless at times. But I think I really trust the entire world. Ok maybe not the entire world. Maybe I think everyone's nice. No one intends to be bad or evil. Maybe I'm just being naive.

The other direction of the discussion went along the line of maybe I'm too full of myself. But I choose to see it as I don't expect anything bad to happen to me. The world is sunny, fresh and inspirational and everyone should be nice to me. Am I full of myself? Maybe. But i thought about it. I'm not full of myself. I've had this theory since I was in my teens. People who don't know me think I'm unapproachable and possibly a snob. Seriously. I'm seriously not bothered by these unjustified claims. I really only care a lot about how people whom I love think about me. That's all that really matters in the sphere of opinions isn't it?

Ok that's probably a digression from a lost phone.

Anyway, there is too much pain and too many more crucial concerns in this world to be affected by the insignificant losses in our daily lives.

Cheers to life. I hope you don't lose your phone.

Saturday late night movie

2007-09-17T10:17:00.000+08:00

It has been a while since a movie affected this much. I was already in a cab on the way home but I was still welling up a little. Granted, I’m usually very involved in a good story be it told through beautiful text or visuals. But this movie kept me feeling moved, disturbed and impressed even after it ended.

I caught the Home Song Stories last Saturday. The cast emoted so convincingly that they drew me into their characters’ lives. Joan Chen was incredible with her role, layering it with multi-dimensions that I couldn’t help feeling sorry for the dilemmas her character faced and the decisions that were made. Somehow, cheongsams with cigarettes always seem to be able to add depth to a character. Qi Yu Wu made his role credible; I would not have been able to tell just from his authentic Hong-Kong accented Cantonese that this China born and bred lad works in Singapore. The only thing that gave him away was probably his delivery in English.

Acting aside, the story was fantastic. Not too sure if this was based on a true story since the credits somehow gave the impression that it was. I don’t think any child should be put through such pain in life, so early in life. The narrator was right – it was a story about himself but also about his mother. The direction brought the story alive, threading tears, fears and shock together with the right tempo.

There was one particular scene that disturbed me. Renee said she expected it the way it turned out. I saw it coming, not the exact way, but was too disturbed by its abruptness and high in-your-face-shock value. The scene remained for at lease five seconds. I know. I tried to not see it but when I looked again it was still there. Plus it brought back what happened a few months ago and I don’t think I’m prepared to witness anything like that, real or reel.

I loved the last scene. When the narrator was typing, Joan Chen walked over. It’s slightly cliché but it worked there. Again, it made me empathise with the struggle that the narrator went through. Moving.

I’m a sucker for such movies. I told Renee, for every Home Song Stories I make her watch with me, she can make me watch five Minority Reports. I know you won’t be that mean.

It was simply a superb production with local talent in front of and behind the scenes. Kudos.

My Gua-Ma Said

2007-08-29T08:51:00.001+08:00

I was from Sumatra, Indonesia. I didn’t know your Gua-Gong before we got married. In turbulent times. It was a union arranged by our parents.

The Japanese were invading our country at that time. Unwed girls were hurriedly matchmade to men who wanted to start a family. There was even this girl who hid under the bed when the Japanese came. It was that bad. Lucky for her, she did not get raped.

Your Gua-Gong was very smart. He began to work without much education. When he was a kid in China, he dropped out of school after maybe a couple of years. But he learnt things very fast and was very successful in business after he came over to Indonesia. He spoke the local language and traded local products. Rubber, bananas, durians… We did not have to worry about money and he was highly respected in the community.

Your Gua-Gong was also a very kind man. Children had to travel long distances to attend school. To let them have an easier time, he hired a teacher to teach at where the children lived. During my time, it was not easy to get an education. I probably started to attend primary school only when I was 10 or 11.

He had a big heart. The Malay children would always beg for money. Some of them wanted money to buy opium. Sometimes, your Gua-Gong would pity them and give them money. I don’t think they ever returned the money. Same with land. Your Gua-Gong owned some land and sometimes people would beg to have some land to bury their family members. He would also agree to it.

The place that we lived in was very simple but we had to leave it to escape to a safer place. Your Gua-Gong came over to Singapore first for work. My parents didn’t allow me to follow him. The ship that he traveled in was a small one. It was only later when he arranged for a bigger ship to transport local products to Singapore that I was allowed to go.

One year after I came here, I gave birth to your Dua-Yi. Your Dua-Yi studied in a Chinese school. Your Dua-Gu and Ji-Gu were very different. Dua-Gu didn’t play a lot. He was the one who could study. Your Ji-Gu mixed with the wrong company and played more than he studied. Soy-Gu started well but also mixed with the wrong company. I remember your mummy and your Ji-Yi studied from the night to the next morning. And those topics that they prepared for were not tested. Those that they did not prepare as much for appeared in their tests.

Eat. Help me eat. I can’t finish so much. I just went to the market this morning to have fish porridge. Eat. I’m also just getting better from diarrhoea last week. Yes, I’m taking mediation. Better now. Eat.

You cannot go and see your Gua-Gong today. It’s your birthday. Your mummy didn’t tell you? Aiyoh. You cannot go ok. No good.

I listened to my Gua-Ma talk on my birthday. That was last Friday. Two years ago on the same day, my Gua-Gong passed on. I just felt like I needed to go and see him before I started enjoying my birthday break.

In that short time that I was listening to my Gua-Ma share about her life, I was very touched. Somewhat feeling blessed to have such a chance to know more about her and her husband. She spoke entirely in Teochew. Not that my grasp of that language is very polished but at least my mum taught me well enough. I wished I had a recorder then. I’m sure there are details that have slipped my mind, and others that did not register any meaning to me in the first place.

So, at least that was what I think my Gua-Ma said.

NonChillNonMan-gen

2007-08-23T10:42:00.000+08:00

Women.

I think they have this secret production of hormones that are called (somewhere in an obscure medical dictionary) NonChillNonMan-gen.

Seriously, it is an innate quality that distinguishes the way both genders behave. Even the online dictionary agrees with me and emphasizes this:

Noun: Woman1. the female human being (distinguished from MAN).

Chill, and be a dude sometimes ladies. Not starting a gender war, but trust me, you'll suffer less during the time of the month and start producing ChillMan-gen.

Oh well, I'm a man. I chill. When's your turn?

Is It Worth It?

2007-08-21T08:43:00.000+08:00

I did it. A few weeks back, I told myself that I needed to do something creative for myself. I had a great time creating ads back in school and I needed to re-create those moments for myself now. It’s one of my interests and I’m not about to let it go.

I created a series of three expressions (I don’t know if they’re considered ads since they don’t sell anything) along the theme of “Is It Worth It?” There was this time I was at a games day thingy organized by youth groups in churches. At the end of the day, the organising guy closed it off by saying something like, there are so many things in life that we exhaust our energy to pursue. At the end of the day, we need to ask ourselves if these are really worth what we’ve put in to achieve. If they are, great. If they’re aren’t, then maybe it’s time to reconsider our priorities.

In the same vein, I wanted to express what I, we, friends have done or are doing. Hopefully, these can make you evaluate what you’re doing in life. Or at the very least, make you realize that you are doing something worth shouting, “Wait a minute”.

Did it work for you?

Ishi

2007-08-16T08:54:00.000+08:00

I’m back.

My life in the past months hasn’t exactly been eventful. I was beginning to get sucked into this drum of mundane, weary work life. And I thought, what’s the point of writing stuff that’s not exactly good/happy/interesting? But I guess there are times that are simply worthy to note, however devastating.

Ishi left. It has been almost two months. I don’t think the pain will ever cease, it’s just the extent of it that gets diluted over time. Not that I think it’s fair to the dude…

I met him two weeks before he left. I dreamt of him doing something similar more than two weeks before he left. He started opening up before I had the uncanny dream. The foursome started the breakfast series before he started to open up more. He gave some warning signals before the foursome decided to take some action.

We first met each other in 2002 in CS. According to him, we were peeing in the toilet next to the lecture theatre. We looked at each other and said
“Eh you look familiar”
“Eh, you also look familiar”
After that it was just Yos, bear hugs, project collaborations, foursome…

Rosy, him and I worked together for radio, loved one another lots, then got to know Chiang, worked on BAV together, loved one another more, got together as Foursome, and bonded for life.

During one FOC, he was the OGL, Yunshuang was his partner and I was the SA for their group. He had loads of fun in his first camp. We were at Sentosa during the camp and he applied lots of sunblock on his face. Being the fair guy that he already is, he said “见鬼啦！” a la Jacky Wu. And we just went crazy shouting “见鬼啦！” cracking ourselves up silly.

There was one semester we were neighbours in hall 5. At times, he’d just stand outside his room and smoke. Of course I nagged when I saw him doing that. Then there was probably one time that he decided that he wanted to talk about his problems in my room. We rarely spent time in his room since he had a non-existent stranger as a roomie who segregated the room.

We went to Desaru together. Another one of my failed attempts at getting the foursome out on a trip. We drank a little, threw some darts, enjoyed an exclusive beach, lazed at the pool and he had to borrow my shorts. That was funny.

Today was his 49th day thingy. There was a lot of chanting going on at the temple. Very not his style. The monks had mikes but the one on the head monk wasn’t too good. It didn’t capture the voice too well and it sounded like the head monk’s chant kept skipping. Not that it mattered to me since I don’t think most of us there understood much of the chant. But at one point when the voice kept skipping, I could almost imagine Ishi shouting “WTF! His audio sucks!” Yeah, I’m quite sure you would say that. When I looked at Ishi’s brother from the back, I kept seeing images of Ishi. The way he used his right hand to flip his fringe to the left looked very much like what Ishi would do. And they do look alike too. At least from the position I was at, three-quarters left from behind.

Or maybe we’re just trying to hold on to some piece of Ishi that we can find. That I can find.

When I was heading there this morning, my ipod shuffled Corrine May’s Fly Away.

You can fly so high
Keep your gaze upon the sky
I’ll be praying every step along the way
Even though it breaks my heart to know we’ll be so far apart
I love you too much to make you stay
Baby fly away

I don’t see how anyone can be so generous. I still wish you’re around. You missed Chiang’s birthday celebration, you’ll miss mine and Rosy’s. What’s our theme for gifts this year? You never bought the gifts. It should be your turn this year.

We tried, Ishi Lau. Not enough? You wrote on my gift wrapper last year “Haha been really happy knowing you for so long since year 1… and many more years to come” It hasn’t been long Ishi Lau, and I do want my many more years.

I love you Ishi Lau and I hope you’re happy. Happier.

In hairy and unhairy situations, always.

The Great Divide

2006-10-17T00:32:00.000+08:00

Was inspired again by Grey's Anatomy, this time the finale, to write another silly little something called The Great Divide:

I wish I may, I wish I might
Live a life filled with delights

Make a turn, make the cut
Save yourself the pain in the gut

What makes light, what makes darkness
Sometimes, the line is all but blurness

Flip a coin, throw the dart
Life's but just a tart

Step on out, a huge display of bravery
Never a move that is too tiny

Check your heart, throw caution to the wind
Is that what you want deep within

I wish I may, I wish I might
Live a life, just that.

~ Yeo, A,

Once bitten. Twice shy.

2006-10-08T11:51:00.000+08:00

Wow my last post was more than a month ago... Been intending to jot this here for the longest time.

Forgiveness

It takes a big heart
To dwell on anger and hatred
Brings no peace, brings no comfort
Coming to terms with reality
Learning that people err unintentionally
It takes a big heart

Letting go, moving forward
Stop raking up the leaves
That's the job of the wind
Stop raking up the past
The leaves fell for a reason
It takes a big heart

Find contentment and let go
Let peace into your heart
Let fear go for a start
Free your mind and free others
Don't hide it all in, let it get out
It takes a big heart

- Yeo, A.

Heh, wrote this after watching an episode of Grey's Anatomy. It was kinda was in-sync with the Yellow Ribbon Project I was working on. Listening to the stories of ex-offenders is truly one of the most humbling things you can do. Taking in their experiences, absorbing lessons that they learnt, relishing the joys of goodness again together with them.

There was this inmate who composed and sang a song called "Second chance". I swear if no one was around me, a tear or two would have fallen. You can feel this essence, this voice, this yearning that comes from the heart. And he still has maybe a couple more years to serve...

We can only hope that any second chance given to anyone who does wrong, criminally or not, will be cherished.

On a happier note, I went for breakfast again with my parents just now! It's just simple goodness to walk through the market and hawker centre leisurely. Love it. It's the same thing overseas. I enjoy eating and walking along the streets more than in malls. It's just more colourful.

Anyway, tonight I'n hosting yet another wedding dinner. Will I be jinxed or something? Like how people can't be bridesmaid or best man for more than three times? Haa... And I don't even know the couple tonight. Hopefully no wrong name calling later... Ha.

Erm. Second chance?

Aaron Favourite Moments 4

2006-09-04T03:18:00.000+08:00

Shit happened this week but none of that should be recorded here in Aaron's Favourite Moments... :>

It's always a good thing to know you have friends who're always there for you. When this week's shit came by, I had really good words coming from people I adore - Tambourine, Yipeee and Gab. So that was really nice.

Met up with Jenny finally. Still feel really special whenever she introduces me as her best friend. Although we both agreed that work hasn't been the most helpful to our friendship, it just feels good to just pick up from whenever we last met. Knowing each other for ten years, that's easy. Being there for each other that long, it's a different thing altogether.

Today, my family headed to RSAF's open house. My brother sent an email to us about it during the week and I said why not go for it together. Only that I didn't think we would go that early. :> But the good thing was, I had the chance to have breakfast with my parents at the market before meeting up with my brother, sis-in-law and nephew. I enjoy the feeling of heading out to have breakfast with them (not the waking up early part though) just because it's almost like a luxury. I think I used to do that more when I was younger. Now, the market doesn't exactly look the same as before, nor does the surroundings. But it still feels good to be eating together when the sun's just out long enough to make you feel warm and fuzzy.

Life's good that way.

Dreams are made of these...

2006-08-30T23:40:00.000+08:00

I had to come online just to jot this and remind myself and anyone who reads this.

You can't just give up on your dreams, your passion and your love.

Just finished watching Project Runway and Chloe won. An Asian winner in an American reality show. Definitely a first and truly deserving.

Don't give up. You just cant afford to lose your dream and passion to other fluff that can never take that same place in your heart.

Nice-ness

2006-08-28T03:26:00.000+08:00

What's wrong with being nice?

For one, I believe that nice-ness goes a looooooooooooooooonnnnnnnnggggggggg way. Really. Yet somehow, un-nice people just don't see the whole point of the nice-ness thingy.

What's nice-ness? A simple smile is nice-ness. An offer to help is nice-ness. Damn it, even the willingness to want to help with a smile is nice-ness.

Let me show nice-ness. When I was at Thai Express @ City Link to have dinner, Rahman the manager offered to take care of my cake - bring the box in, place the cake on a plate, gather a couple of colleagues to sing the birthday song - and was really helpful and friendly throughout my meal. That's nice-ness.

But there's this whole bunch of un-nice people who make nice-ness really precious. I left my money clip at Cathay Cineleisure cinema 9. Went back to look for it but the guy cleaning up said he didn't see anything because the area I was seated hasn't been cleaned. Alarms. Where did the empty cup that I left behind go to then? When he said that, I kinda knew my money clip was gone. And his supervisor who came in slightly later didn't help by saying "You can't accuse him of taking it" when all we asked was did anyone else clear that area if it wasn't that guy. Goosh. Nice-ness people.

Is this about getting what we want in life? Un-nice people climb over the species of nice and get ahead in life? I can see people nodding already. Seriously, I don't think un-nice people get the whole being nice idea. Seriously. We should all be nice and want to be nice. Shouting or being hostile doesn't get you anywhere. It doesn't speed up anything and you just look bad.

I have this thing for spotting nice-ness. Usually I can tell quite easily if you're genuinely nice. Haa in fact I think everyone can. So seriously, start being nice. It's just sick to see pretend-nice. Oh wait, isn't that what I do for a living? ... ... ...

For every one Rahman, there're probably five Cathay Cinema cleaners. So please, help turn that ratio around. I still believe in nice-ness and that it will still get you ahead in life.

It will! It will? It will.

The thankfully good stuff

2006-08-21T01:39:00.000+08:00

I'm thankful.

Really sleepy now but thought I need to do this or else I'll forget bits by next week...

Ok, I passed! Thank you very much. Bloody IPPT? I passed. 10 pull-ups, 36 sit-ups, 9.8s of shuttle run, 245cm of standing broad jump, an eternity of 12min 12s of 2.4km run and a whole load of perspiration later, I passed. So, thank you very much.

Saturday's dinner with my family and my sister-in-law's parents was good, Sorry gal you had to witness cruel people gulping down the fins... heh... but it was good! So I'm thankful for the spread.

The same night I got invited to my ex-student's birthday get together. Seeing the crowd of young people was breathing fresh air. Haven't been around that many young people for a long time. So, thanks. And for my gift too!

Then, today was a whole day of being thankful too.

I ate food that you rarely want to eat. Thank you.

I sang some crazy songs and had fun doing that! Thanks.

I got my first car! I'm thankful I have a wild and ambitious imagination.

I watched The Break Up!!! It's really not because JA's the star or showed her tush in the show but it's a really good and real show! All the bad reviews anyone saw - all LIES. I'm thankful I got to catch the show the first weekend it was out. Please go catch it. Seriously.

I got a good surprise. My gift was a iPod nano! Wow. Never saw that coming. Even for a non-tech guy like me, that was a good one. It just looks too good to resist. Even if I don't learn how to operate it, I'll just look good carrying it around. Heh...

I'm thankful I have someone whom I'm thankful to have.

When I got home, I got a durian cake waiting for me. From my brother. Totally thankful.

Top that with my sister-in-law's old phone, which really looks brand new to me, I became the most gadgety I could ever be in my entire life in just one night!

So yes. Thank you very much.

Mind your body

2006-08-14T01:15:00.000+08:00

This was a really healthy week... well, quite.

On National Day, I did something really revolutionary. At 6pm when the NDP started, and every telly was turned on for viewing those poor uniformed souls marching on the field, I went for a run.

Seriously. I went for a run. If you don't already know me, I hate running. I can't run. And it's really the last form of exercise I want to do voluntarily. But I kinda had to. Damn, I gotta book for the bloody IPPT in less than a week.

Between the end of my O Levels and the beginning of my JC years, I spent a couple of months transforming my appearance. That was the time I regularly ran around the neighbourhood and the hills. Haven't done that in a while. On Wednesday when I ran, I didn't make a decision which route to take. Somehow, I ended up running to and around my primary school..

Weird huh. How things turn out when you don't try to take control. Felt slightly healthier after breaking out in perspiration... Did I mention that I've got a bloody IPPT to pass this weekend? Seriously, can't they figure out that guys who don't sign on have lives to lead after NS?

Anyway. Then sometime during the week I got a call from True Yoga inviting me for a trial session. Why not, since my gal took it previously in school before. And it's bloody free. So on Saturday, I had my first Yoga session. And I must say Yoga isn't really meant for guys. It's all good and Zen and Ohhhmmmmmmm and all but I just don't think guys dig that as much as gals. And that coming from a not too typical guy.

So the sales guy who invited me for the session tried to sell me the membership but I was totally not into it. Sorry dude. It's good for relaxation once in a while but if you need to fork out a lump sum to get someone to tell you to go Ohhhhmmmmmmm, it's really not worth the sacrifice.

I'm pretty determined to stay healthy. Or try to. I even ate sandwiches during lunch this week. But after all the run and yoga and healthy diet, the week ended with a sumptuous seafood spread to celebrate my mum's birthday on the 15th.

Won't mind giving up my health for hers anytime.

Know my priorities

2006-08-07T00:52:00.000+08:00

I caught two movies over the weekend - Helen The Baby Fox and Click.

Sorry gal, fell asleep for parts of the Helen. The other movie, Click, was somewhat unexpected. *Warning: spoiler ahead, read at own risk.

For an American film to have a line that went "Family comes first" was just not the norm. In their society that prides individualism over collectivism, family never ever precedes self. Well, for most of the time.

And the story was very true. Guy gets lost in work and misses out on the important moments with loved ones.

And then I got sad. Partly due to the fact that the storyline was really touching at some points, and partly because that could happen to me too and I soooooo don't want that. I'm tired.

Hmmm, here're some of the things I should start doing on a regular basis to keep myself sane:
1) Read something inspirational. Think I'll get Anderson Cooper's book soon.
2) Maybe try picking the keyboard again. It's sitting there after all.
3) Paint. Or create something beautiful. That's always very therapeutic.
4) Actually as I'm typing away, I think I'm gonna be a survivor. That's what I've been for the most of my life. I think I'm pretty strong in that sense. Yeah... I really do think that way.

I mean, after all, I would know what to do when all else fails. :> Nah, drinking is just a bad leisure. :>

Aaron's Favourite Moments 3

2006-07-30T01:50:00.000+08:00

On my first day off work, I had the luxury of working out in the day. That was followed by some lazy chill time by the pool. After a while of dipping in the pool, I decided to get up onto the deck chair for come colouring in the sun.

It was really nice to just have time to laze around like that. All this time on the chair, my eyes were closed from the blazing sun. Strangely, I could feel from under my eyelids that the blaze was not as strong after a while - this was the time I saw something so beautiful....

I opened my eyes and saw the sun being blocked my some clouds (not that). And around the sun was... a whole circle of rainbow! You know how rainbows are usually vertically halved? The one I was blessed to see was one full circumference. The sight was just so awesome I kept staring into the sun.

That was the time I thought, ok maybe technology was meant to help capture special moments like this. But as usual, because of my long-standing feud with technology, I didn't own any that was capable of capturing that moment for me.

Later that night though, my super-techy bro was in full control at my convocation. With his SLR, long lens and tripod, he was all ready to help me capture some of the finest moments.

I think nostalgia kills me the most. I hate being ruined by nostalgia time and again. That night was beautiful with everyone coming together for a ceremonial presentation of our degree certificates.

It just affirmed the fact that I'm done with school. No more rushing to lectures, working late through the nights in hall, having friends to complete really enjoyable projects, eating anytime... no more CS.

Walking away from NTU that night was kinda bad. Time's just passing too fast now. It's true - beautiful years are from school, from university life.

But I graduated. That's a beautiful moment too.

The simple life

2006-07-24T00:25:00.000+08:00

Such is the simplicity in life.

I am so proud that I was part of Blangah Rise Primary School, I just had to take a picture outside the school. It's not where it used to be now but I still remember every good (and bad) thing that happened in my six years there. Simple good innocence.

And you know how every profit making company is spending huge sums on A&P? Well, today I experienced something really down-to-earth and even warm to a certain extent. I was at a durian buffet organised by some fruit sellers at Redhill Market.

Yeap, if you spot the guy in green, that's me in the crowd of either very old or very young. My mum's friend got her the tickets and my brother and I went along. Durians, YUM! But the point really, is how simple marketing can be. Or life for that matter. Fruit sellers wanted to thank customers, get together for something fun + the community that is happy to pay a mere $5 for a buffet of durians, watermelons, starfruits, pineapples, grapes... I think it actually made a lot of old folks happy.

Are we just always pushing for something more than what we need? And everything else just fades away to obscurity?

Question

2006-07-22T02:23:00.000+08:00

What's your satisfaction?

Bodily knowledge

2006-07-15T03:09:00.000+08:00

This was a scary week.

Besides learning the truth about crazy work hours, I kinda got a shock from realising at least two other things this week.

When this colleague of mine (let's call her GPFG - Gamer Pencil Flower Gal) went on about putting on weight after joining the company, I kinda brushed it aside as a gal thing. She also had this body fat measurement scale thingy in the office that I bravely stepped on. It showed 67.kg with 16% body fats for me. What audacity! For the record, I've been 65kg for the longest time. Crap. It's probably a weird machine.

So anyway, I had the chance to shop a little last weekend and for crying out loud, a pair of 28" board shots was hugging and riding up my waist! ALARMS!!! And we're not even talking about jeans or some well-cut pants! I started to think what GPFG said is true after all - join the company and get fat! Reality was creeping in on me slowly man. Damn. That night I looked at this Redang photo on my table of me in trunks and I went, "Jia lat. This is gonna be gone soon man."

Crap.

Ok apart from that anatomical revelation, today I had another you-mean-I-didn't-know-that-all-this-time moment about another anatomical truth. Well, at least the truth performs the functions of cleaning a specific part of the anatomy.

Seriously, you would think that girls already have a lot of extra stuff with conditioners, toners, creams, scrubs... No. Today, I found out that there has always been a special cleansing liquid made for the ladies' parts. Yes. SERIOUSLY? And I was duly informed (again by someone from work) that this is called The Feminine Wash. I mean, seriously. If you're a guy, please tell me you haven't heard about such an inconceivable product. Why don't we have The Masculine Wash? Apparently, normal soap bites but The Feminine Wash is so delicate that it doesn't. What the... I mean bite lah! We had prickly heat powder going down our undies during NS and that sure bit like anything.

Seriously, biting doesn't mean that anything will fall off you know.

And I thought I knew enough about women's stuff.

Or my weight.

Darren Lim

2006-07-08T12:24:00.000+08:00

It's really sweet.

From ST yesterday, 07 July, I read that a fresh grad like myself is pledging $4000 a year to start a scholarship named after his parents. That's roughly equivalent to two months of his salary (at least for now based on his entry level position at HSBC). The money goes to a deserving accountancy undergrad who has completed at least a year of the course.

Wow... No doubt this guy's from a well-to-do family but taking $4000 to further a stranger's dream/ ease the financial burden of a stranger is just amazing for a 24-year-old who just stepped into the working class. And to name the scholarship after his parents, that's just sweet.

If you know Darren Lim, tell him how inspiring he has been, and will be to those who benefit from his funds.

Set me thinking again (I'm capable of that) why money is such a driver for so many people. Its power is really huge but in return for more moolah, the opportunity cost is ten-folds.

Boils down to greed? Think I'm greedy then. I'm a pretty determined guy if I set myself on an achievement. But very often, and sometimes willingly, I allow things that should weigh more whizz pass me.

It's the yoyo between practicality and goodness. Jun'an said I would will myself to complete a task and do it well even if I didn't feel motivated to do it. Maybe it's true. But I know for sure that if it's a process/journey/task I like, the results are usually awesome.

Sometimes we just need to take a step back and evaluate if the fulfillment we're getting is for ourselves or others. In the words of Lightning McQueen, "It's kinda nice to take it slow every once in a while".

Maybe Darren Lim saw the joy and sweetness in providing rewards rather than killing himself to earn them. Totally respect that dude.

Direct off print

2006-07-03T00:23:00.000+08:00

From regular daily posts, my entries here seem like they're drying up. That pretty much sums up my energy level these days...

Anyway, just thought I should jot down a couple of things I saw from the papers.

Somewhere in the middle of the week, I came across this small blurp of news in one of the chinese tabloids. It was about a girl who died in an accident. Just before she passed on, her dad texted her to ask her whereabouts.

In her final reply to her dad, she told him not to worry about her and that... she loved her family.

I took a moment after reading that. Instead of telling you the cliche of treasure your blah blah blah... think I'll share a quote from Lightning McQueen - "It's kinda nice to take it slow every once in a while."

On a lighter note, take a look at this photo from The Sunday Times. PM Lee is at the opening ceremony of the Singapore Youth Festival.

As much as the photographer, Bryan Van Der Beek, caught a special moment between the PM and the cadet, I think it was a bad choice to publish it. If you have the print version, it might be clearer. It just doesn't work for me.

Oh well.

Aaron's Favourite Spot 1

2006-06-27T00:26:00.000+08:00

I have a favourite spot.

I just spent maybe half an hour on the swing in my room. Yes the swing that previously sat Elmo.

If you have no clue when Elmo plunked himself on a swing that appeared from nowhere, check back on my Xtreme Makeover: Room Edition entries.

When I was youngER,

(Just a sidetrack but this old white-haired lady ridiculously shouted "Uncle Uncle" from her window when I was walking below her flat. Apparently she was calling out to someone to pick up her bamboo poles that fell to the ground. I choose to believe she was calling out to this other person who also came by to help her. Not denial. At all.)

So anyway, when I was youngER, my favourite item at the playground was the swing. Merry-go-rounds were pretty fun too. Pity new playgrounds don't include that now.

I guess the swing still retains its place in me. Sat there watching nearly half of Grey's Anatomy, lit a tealight near the TV, and sipped to a glass of white wine.

Love that.

I'm lovin it

2006-06-25T22:36:00.000+08:00

You know how you always hear, "Be careful of what you do/say/eat, it might come back and haunt you", well... it is true.

Let's just say that technology and I have a love-hate relationship, only that love is seldom present.

Why-technology-hates-aaron #1

I stayed up for maybe 12 hours for a powerpoint presentation for class four years ago. When I was done, I lost more than half the slides when I tried to save the damn thing. After scolding the entire universe and waking my then-roomie, I managed to miraculously retrieve the slides. All good? WA HA HA HA. Got to class, prepared to present and realised some slides didn't include certain info/graphics...

Why-technology-hates-aaron #2

When my group was editing a video, the machine kept hanging on us or going extremely slowly. Reason? Computers hate Aaron. Seriously. Solution? My group mate asked me to flash at her. I sacrificed and flashed. Not at my group mate. The computer. It worked.

Why-technology-hates-aaron #3

Ok how about a more recent and obvious incident. Even my laptop hates me so much, it disfigured its face hoping to get a breather out of my sight.

So you ask, can there be anything worse than all these and more that have already happened?

Yes, I'm working with technology. Every Single Day.

Good luck Aaron.

Aaron's Favourite Moments 2

2006-06-22T00:00:00.000+08:00

There are just some moments that make you go wow...

On the way to work, at the second level of bus 97, something made me tilt my head. The clouds were white, fluffy, and massive.At the centre of the clouds, there were a couple of holes. Through these holes, blazing sun beams shot across to the other ends of their spectrum.

The view was... wow. And I appreciated it more since heading to work at 8am isn't exactly what I smile about. A simple joy.

Watching TV at the table with my parents earlier, I saw my dad do something sweet. My mum was nodding off and her head was precariously on the brink of knocking against the wall behind her. My dad, the hero to her rescue, swiftly moved his hand and placed his palm between my mum's head and the wall. He held it there for as long as her head was nodding backwards. Sweet.

Took a mental picture of these moments.

Turning the page

2006-06-18T23:03:00.000+08:00

This is going to sound cliche but tomorrow is really a turn of the page to a new chapter in my life.

The chapter that shouts. "YOU WILL NEVER!"

Yeah, that's right.

I will never have to think about heading to the pool or the beach for a lazy weekday afternoon.
I will never get to chance upon Oprah reruns at 1pm.
I will never be able to buy cheapo movie tickets.
I will never get to skip breakfast.
I will never be so free to think up a list of I-will-nevers...

But then again, I'm also expecting a lot from my first job. So for all the I-will-nevers, I'll also get all the I-wills..

I will never have to think about heading to the pool or the beach for a lazy weekday afternoon.
I will never get to chance upon Oprah reruns at 1pm.
I will never be able to buy cheapo movie tickets.
I will never get to skip breakfast.
I will never be so free to think up a list of I-will-nevers...

Haa... Oh well, all will be great! I have to make it great! Pray for me all!

Baywatch

2006-06-17T04:08:00.000+08:00

This needs to be up for constant motivation for you and I, and for everyone who's working their butts off.

Redang was truly a holiday. There was one ugly fish (see bottom left photo) that probably felt sorry it looked that way after hearing my scream underwater, one hilarious fall from the swing and 20 hours of bumpy ride that smashed dozens of insects on the windscreen.

But for all that, there was love, tranquility, nature, beauty and rest.

ps: For more photos, ask me. You'll be tempted to take a real holiday.

Happy choice

2006-06-07T13:59:00.000+08:00

hap·py (hăp'ē) adj., -pi·er, -pi·est.

1. Characterized by good luck; fortunate.
2. Enjoying, showing, or marked by pleasure, satisfaction, or joy.
3. Being especially well-adapted; felicitous: a happy turn of phrase.
4. Cheerful; willing: happy to help.

Think about it. If you don't possess any of the first three definitions, there will always be people around you who can perform definition four to chip in for your dosage of happiness however small it may be.

I love Dangerous Minds for tonnes of reasons. And you may know how I always love to use the quote from Michelle Pfeiffer's character, Louanne Johnson. She said the most powerful word in the English language is Choose.

Someone points a gun at your head. You can keep quiet and and hope the gun moves away, or you can scream for help and hope the gun moves away. It may not be a choice that you like but it is still a choice.

So if you can't choose to have definitions 1 - 3, you still have the last choice. :>

Xtreme Makeover: Room Edition - The Big Reveal

2006-06-06T05:04:00.000+08:00

Just to prove that I can have a designer career as my back-up option, I'm posting pictures of my 98% completed room.

The Big Reveal

Highlights:

1. Display case

2. F.R.I.E.N.D.S Shrine

3. Childhood Shrine

4. Swing "on" tree that Elmo's sitting on

5. Warm light that completes the mood

For the record, I owe it to my brother who spent Sunday afternoon drilling holes for my mirror, swing and lamp. And of course, I was the one who connected the wires for the lamp. Haa who am I kidding. I would have to type in the dark now if not for him. My always willing dad had to drive me with the new furniture (I assembled the TV bench myself can) and my sweetest mum kept trying to clean up the place even though I kept saying that I would do it once every thing was in place.

On the first night that my room was more or less done (I just need to place the mat and cushions and arrange the small items nicely), I sat on my bed for maybe 15 minutes before I slept...

Thinking, wow I really like what I did.

Yangtze - The Old, The Cheesy and The Crazy

2006-06-06T03:53:00.000+08:00

Do you know Yangtze Cineplex?

For the uninitiated, next to Outram MRT lies this building that has an ancient cinema in it. Apparently, only old men pay to watch the R21 movies there. Ever since my crazy friend, ZGZ (ZGZ refuses any chance of identification in this scandalous affair) heard about ZGZ's teacher-couple friends who were crazy enough to watch a movie there, we've been joking about watching a cheesy flick there.

Today we did it. It was pretty nerve-wrecking just finding our way through the array of massaging parlours there. When we got to the obscure box office, there were probably three shows to choose from - Temptress, Wildly Available and Lie With Me (shown at main stream cinemas too). From the screen shots, we were kinda scared looking at those from Temptress; a scantily clad lady who's dressed for SM. So we timidly settled for Wildly Available. Tickets were just at $6.50 each (is it the same elsewhere?) and the lady behind the counter even asked for our ICs! Bet no one our age appears there.

For the record, the movie was bad. Other than boobies, the movie was rather sexually tamed. Not that the movie was bad because there were no explicit sex scenes but the audio was bad, the shots were bad, the camera shook every now and then, the story line was one-dimensional, the cuts were sudden, the lighting was awful, the music was horribly cheesy and maybe because the film was old (ZGZ researched and the film was made in 1999!), the focus looked bad and the costume and make-up definitely did not look current. Z-grade. In that screening, there were maybe eight old men + two crazy people in their early 20s. I googled it and to my horror found one of the actresses to be Jane Kaczmarek, of Malcolm In The Middle fame!!!! No wonder I thought she looked familiar! (note to ZGZ: She's the wife in the movie!) Actually Jennifer Sommerfield (another credited actress) sounds vaguely familiar too.

The good thing is, it was quite an experience! That was one different side I saw of our little perfect country. And I told ZGZ that the entire building made a good feature story. I should have done that for my broadcast journalism class two years back. Smuggling the cameras, finding out the reason that keeps the old men returning for more of such movies, questioning the business trends for the massage parlours there... and more importantly, finding out about the cinema's glorious history during its heydays. I'm pretty sure the place has seen better times.

So for those of you who want to experience something different in Singapore, this is a must-try!

I need to stop taking crazy ZGZ seriously.

*IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: This social experience was intended as a reality check on the current status of Yangtze. Seriously.

Follow-up: Laptop crack & NUS Bisad TVC

2006-06-03T03:15:00.000+08:00

Below is the next blockbuster.

This is a personality test. Which genre do you think the movie belongs to.

A) Arthouse film

B) Weepy sad story

C) Laugh your heart, lungs, stomach out-comedy

If you chose (A), you can appreciate the crack on my laptop as something stylistic and actually see the beauty of this mistake.

If you chose (B), you are a caring friend who shares the heat from what the crack could possibly burn in my pocket.

If you chose (C), damn. Stop laughing.

Anyway, there was something that brought a smile to me. In my "Picks & Puis" I commented on how inappropriate NUS Bisad's TVC was. In ths week's 8 Days, the following was printed in their Boos & Bravos column by Florence Fong & Dionne Kho on what's bad and good on television.

"BOO to the strangely out-of-place setting of the NUS Business School ad. Opening with the manicured lawns of white-picket-fenced suburbia, the ad portrays the unrestrained joy a Caucasian teenager shares with her mum at her acceptance into the institution. Are we supposed to think that it's a better school because white students think the world of it? If, on the other hand, NUS intended to trumpet its international appeal, surely there are less kitschy ways of getting the message across."

I'm glad I'm not alone on this.

Anyone broke their laptop screens too?

Xtreme Makeover: Room Edition Day 4

2006-06-03T03:01:00.000+08:00

Ok, today was a short work day because I had to get out and breathe some non-paint-filled air. Lovely catch up by the way.

My room had some touch ups. I decided to add some texture to the paintings and gave the tree trunk some bark and the birds some lighting. See any difference in the close ups?

The next thing was my book shelf, which will be converted into a storage desk. Had it repainted and designed on the sides. Shall put that up tomorrow. It's stylo mylo lines this time so that the room won't look too kidish (It's not a bad thing either :>)

Tomorrow is a huge pack up day. Hopefully I clear up my room by the evening. (Refuse to imagine the process)

Oh, and people who're wondering what my laptop screen looks like, I'm putting up the pic in the next post.

Xtreme Makeover: Room Edition Days 2 & 3

2006-06-02T00:11:00.000+08:00

Third day of my room's makeover.

The second wasn't a tremendously good one. For one, I had to remove my lights and it was such a chore trying to get it down. This is not a himbo statement, trust me. The screws were so tightly secured, I was telling myself out loud to keep turning. "Screw it" wasn't exactly what I could or would say at that point of time.

Ok after maybe an hour at least, the tubes and everything came down. But because I knew nuts about electrics, I just cut the wires since I couldn't get them off the boxy thingy.

Bad move. Seven hours later, I realised that cutting the wires also meant I cut off the electricity supply to the lights in my parents' room and one living room. My brother also managed to conjure nightmarish images in my mind of secondary school physics lessons, with the mere mention of "parallel circuit".

That was not the worst thing that happened yesterday. Still to do with the damn lamp, I had to stand on stuff to try to get it down right. One wrong step and I heard the slightest sound of a crack.

I'm now typing on my laptop whose screen is cracked inside. You know what a bullet shot looks like? Yeap, it looks like I shot my screen with the one wrong step. Actually, the flow of the liquid crystal stuff through the crack lines look kinda arty. Ok I know this piece of art is definitely gonna burn a big hole in my pockets.

And painting was still a pain. I really have newfound respect for ladies putting on make-up. It is a chore. My ceiling was so cake-ish that paint that was rolled over kept falling off.

Anyway, at least the rose white is on the walls now. The ceiling had to be touched up today. Man... And I finally got to paint the graphics I had in mind. It's all to do having a warm feel and a touch of childlikeness.

The walls are almost done. I need to do up the furniture with the same colors. This is seriously manual work.

And me? I've got paint all over.

Not exactly the best Kodak moment

Xtreme Makeover: Room Edition Day 1

2006-05-31T00:13:00.000+08:00

Finally got down to my room makeover.

I've got the general concept in my head and it WILL turn out good!

Day 1: Got all the paint and equipment. Colours for now - Cosy Orange & Rose White. Hopefully I don't change my mind.

Day One

Cost of paint and brushes: $50 odd

Hours taken to get the room prepared for paint: One

Time to paint half of all four walls: Six dreadful hours

There's a reason PAINting is spelt that way.

Symbols

2006-05-30T02:23:00.000+08:00

Four years ago, I had to pick up bulks of diving magazines from this office. I was the Bismag (Ewww) and those were part of the goodie bags.

Fast forward to today. I saw the papers with an ad for a trip to Redang. Why not check it out before I confirm bookings at another agency (By the way, I strongly recommend Konsortium over 5 Star).

Made my way to Lavender MRT station. The directionally-challenged me had to find the way to French Road (Wonder if it's because of nationality of people there, or stuff being done there).

Located the road and headed to the block 809. Took the lift and reached the fourth floor. And at some corner, walked through a door into this office.

Strangely familiar.

"Was this previously some magazine's office?" I thought out loud.

"Yeah, we used to sublet the place to them," said Alex the curly-haired Aussie.

Isn't it weird how some things out of nowhere transport us to a part of our life from the past?

It's not all about 'A's

2006-05-29T01:34:00.000+08:00

As much as I like to diss the education system (or at least before some changes were made) in Singapore, I think education is a given here.

I caught Oprah (my most beautiful black woman ever) earlier and the show discussed the failing education in US. It didn't matter if schools were from inner city or suburban areas, well-facilitated or dilapidating, youths are not valuing education as much as they should.

Time magazine termed US a "Dropout Nation" in one of their April issues. Thirty percent of their high school students leave without graduating. I'm sure there're tonnes of reasons but on Oprah, it seemed like many were dying to reach the age of 16 to voluntarily drop out.

And like time would have it, those who leave school often end up with regrets and struggles in life.

Here're my top five reasons why I survived my 16-year cycle of learning process:

5. Our system instills upon me the need to constantly fight to be in the main stream.

4. There've been really inspiring teachers along the way. You just know when you see a teacher who's genuinely interested in educating. Those are the people who provided me with opportunities beyond academics and extended friendships that're always vital in teacher-student relationships.

3. Blangah Rise Primary School. That was my safe haven. Loved every second there. My friends from that school are still some of my most treasured ones. The entire combination in my years there was just magical. There was simplicity, innocence, genuine emotions, and an awful awful lot of bittersweet memories.

2. My parents. This set are probably the best parents I can ask for. And I guess how I fared in school has a whole lot to do with them. From little things like my mum putting on my socks as I munched away on my breakfast (Eww I hated to eat in the mornings!), my dad driving me to the gates just in time (I did try to be early ok), to my mum making me write every single chinese character in the textbook (Cane always omnipresent) and my dad visiting my principal when I failed my common tests in junior college (Let's not remember that)... They held on to the reins when they needed to but every so often let them loose for me to learn to be on my own. I owe them big time.

1. And the number one reason I survived... Not everyone ends up as Zoe Tay or Gurmit Singh without a degree. Haa... Let's just hope that I can continue to host and act as a hobby.

So there, I guess US is now called a "Dropout Nation" because they don't have EM3 streams, teachers like Sim Chor Khiang, Tan Aik Ling and Rita Wong, BRPS, and Sunny & Audrey Yeo. But they do have tonnes of Zoes & Gurmits. Haaa...

In any case, I hope at least my nephew will receive a decent education and make the best of it. Here's to you, Asher.

When you're a child,

You don't learn how to be happy,

You just laugh.

When you're a child,

You don't learn about sadness,

You just cry.

And when you're a child,

You don't learn how to trust people,

You just do.

Picks & Puis

2006-05-27T00:08:00.000+08:00

As a media student, I can't help but be sensitive to what I watch on TV.

It was a pure coincidence. Two commercials that irked me, or maybe set me questioning their creative processes were selling local brands.

One was promoting TV Mobile. The TVC involved two very pugilistic guys in an action-packed chase sequence that ends inside a cab that has TV Mobile. The big idea was to showcase how anyone could be watching TV Mobile. Who's to say it's not so? They even added the tagline, "It's everywhere."

At first glance, the stunts probably stole the show. But if you think about it, why in the world would anyone be in such long runs, high jumps and dangerous flips just to reach a taxi with TV Mobile?

Isn't it supposed to be "everywhere" ?

I think either the tagline goes or the storyboard changes to better complement the entire concept. Imagine this: An astronaut walks on the moon, finds Gan Cheong Kin on a TV Mobile screen and sheds a sentimental tear. Or Nemo's dad bumping into a TV Mobile screen in the sea and watches Nemo's adventure in the city. Just some off my head thoughts.

The next TVC that irked me more was selling NUS Business School's image. Just caught this one tonight. And the irks have nothing at all to do with me graduating from NTU.

It showed a caucasian girl in a western home setting. She receives a letter from NUS Business School and shares her extreme joy with her mother after learning that she has been admitted to the course. They discuss the school and the mother says something along the line of "I hear the boys there are cute".

I'm sure there are cute guys there but there's not my complaint. I think it exploits viewers' perception of how western recognition and acceptance equate to prestige and excellence. If they think someone/thing of local breed is good, he/she/it has to be good. Is that really necessary? I admit that such a trend is prevalent but surely a top varsity like NUS does not need to perpetuate such misperceptions to get its point across? It is after all a local institution.

On the other hand, I saw a TVC that used its localism to very good effect. Ironically, it received flak for that.

"Where the bloody hell are you?" Sounds familiar? I felt that the tourism board from Australia did well to inject its unique (Singaporeans love this word, don't we) quality into the TVC that promoted Australia's history, nature and culture. Set me thinking, maybe if Singapore used some Singlish in our tourism TVCs, more people may realise how unique we really are.

Of course, it helped that a friendly bikini-clad lady said that line with a big smile in the Australian TVC. Imagine a boorish native saying that... kinda different effect?

And finally, just to maintain morals, it's not always right to see bikini babes on our black boxes. Case in point: Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Model Search that premiered on Channel 5 tonight. Well, the title says it all about the content.

In Pink's latest hit, Stupid Girls, current worrying trends are reflected. Young teenage girls obsessed with celebrity looks, disregarding sex as a popularity exchange, weight/health problems, acting dumb to look good... it goes on. And I think these are REAL problems. Watching just half hour of SISMS was enough proof. Attractive, slim young women fear THE CAKE; told that they have love handles, wrong hair, teeth, ass...

Think about what this does to an impressionable young girl watching the show. It does not tell where her physical appearance has flaws. It creates these flaws in her mind.

I've always believed that TV is really for entertainment. But there is always the line. The line that shouldn't be crossed.

Damn. Post-school syndrome starting up...

Coffee, Powder or Drink?

2006-05-26T01:08:00.000+08:00

Just to be sure we're clear, I'm no vegan, no vegetarian, no herbivore.

Tonight I made dinner again. The main highlight was Coffee Ribs.

Dinner Menu:

Baked Potatoes with Cheese

Coffee Ribs

Long Bean Omelette

Belacan Beans, Beancurd & Mushrooms

Now, you're asking. Where're the ribs? Good question. They turned out pretty bad. Not that they were burnt or anything. They looked burnt. Why? Well, the marinating part kinda took a bad turn.

So I followed the recipe religiously from Eat magazine. It read, one cup of coffee, one-third cup of shaoxing wine and this and that. So there, my dad drinks coffee every single day. My mum joins in the cuppa session sometimes. I definitely have loads of coffee powder available. Right? Right!

I had the ribs marinated yesterday to prepare for tonight's dinner. Poured one cup of coffee powder to the ribs along with the other ingredients. Took the pack of marinated ribs out today, started frying them and realised, Gee they're so black I can't tell if they're cooked. I don't recall at which point of time, Ms Brain Renee asked Mr Brawn Aaron if the excess marinate should be washed off. Then the punchline came.

"How come the powder didn't dissolve?" asked Ms Brain.

"But there's nothing to dissolve the powder." It still didn't hit Mr Brawn.

Oil sizzles.

It struck. Wait. No.

"Oh shit. Oh shit."

In the words, or rather, word of Meredith Grey, SERIOUSLY?

Now let me turn it to you. Would you have added one cup of coffee, the Drink, or one cup of coffee, the Powder?

Right.

Who beat up Eganaden?

2006-05-24T00:39:00.000+08:00

Kudos to the production team of Singapore Idol 2006 and the sporting spirit of fellow countrymen!

I managed to catch the repeat telecast of SI's first episode tonight. Laughed out loud.

No doubt, credit goes to a lot of editing and small segments that resulted in an overall entertaining episode. Only thing that bugged me was the different outfits the judges and hosts wore even though the cuts tried to make it look like everything happened in the same session of auditions.

The contestants were mostly game for the show. I think some knowingly hammed it up for the cameras and a few obviously went along with the producers' requests to perform what-seemed-normal-at-that-point-in-time acts. Ahh... Editing creates regrets. Haa...

On that same note, I have to say that a lot of people were very sporting! And had a lot of time to spare to be that sporting considering all the dreadful queue times. Actually, come to think of it, it was the editing that milked more laughter from me. The awful performances mainly drew cringes from me. But the sad part is really seeing genuine dream chasers breaking into tears after outright rejections.

I should know. Not that I cried at any rejection. Haa.. First there was top 100 in Star Search. Didn't make the final cut. Then there was DJ Hunt. Went through the first round. Didn't make the final cut. And then there was top 40 in Super Host. Didn't make the final cut. That's probably my last stab at a performing job. It's tough to get that close only to be slammed again. But hey, that's life.

So to all the corny people who dared to show up in front of the cameras for SI, *BIG APPLAUSE* for risking the chance to be part of cruel editing that made them the mickeys.

In the spirit of being corny, I came up with a lame riddle watching the show. Answer this if you have the brains. Q: Who beat up Eganaden?

Hey, I thought I was quite smart to come up with that ok.

And finally, the final touch of being corny, here's to all unfulfilled dreams.

What Dreams May Come...

Whose life is it anyway?

2006-05-23T00:21:00.000+08:00

I read on ST today about a 100, 000 people-march in Jakarta supporting an anti-porn Bill.

Firstly, this post is nothing against their religion. So ISD dearies, don't start associating me with any Act... especially the seditious kind.

In the article, it was reported that "it would also make organising erotic dancing punishable by up to 10 years in prison and public kissing on the mouth punishable by five years or a fine".

This set me thinking. If I lived in a country that banned me from kissing on the mouth in public, what else can't I be banned from doing?

I learnt about cultural norms in school. It was really engaging because what was perfectly acceptable in one country would be tremendously wrong in another. Something in my readings three or four years ago had a similar illustration - A law states that taking someone else's belongings without his/her permission is wrong and this act is punishable. But if that chunk of law were never written, it is still ok to punish the doer? Then, will it be almost unlikely that anyone can say it is wrong?

Can we say the moon is pink when no one has ever seen one like that?

Sometimes, we do get very influenced by our environment. Government, society, people, education, technology and what not. In fact, our mind is shaped by and, how coincidentally, mimics what it sees in the environment. It's a vicious cycle.

Almost losing any genes of individuality in the process.

I remember my formative years. My choices were always to ensure I was in the system. Whichever kind, as long as it belonged to the main stream. I expected my parents to expect me to choose this. I expected my friends to think that would be a good choice. I expected.. wait... who really was i expecting to expect any thing I decided on? Me?

I expected myself to expect me to prefer one choice over the other.

Ok this is getting too convoluted.

One big decision I remember making was choosing to go to CS over NUS's BisAd. Remember it to be an extremely difficult choice. Entering top schools previously was seemingly paving my way to better jobs. Naturally, BisAd was a convenient choice. Business = Show me the money. Plus BisAd had already admitted me, why bother going through turmoil to change what has been fixed? Only, it wasn't that fixed in my mind. I knew from what I've always enjoyed that CS seemed to be somewhere that I could actually enjoy education. And the result of making the switch back then is immensely rewarding.

Whose life was I leading? By making that switcharoo, mine.

Sign

2006-05-20T01:38:00.000+08:00

Today I signed it.

Been thinking, praying and basically, mulling over it for a week. Ok, maybe I didn't pray for a week.

My first real job as a PR practitioner. Scary. It's always the cross junctions in life that're scary, isn't it? On the roads too for me... it's a sign I shouldn't drive. Yet.

Anyway, I left the office feeling pretty excited about the deal and was heading to town. I'd taken buses from that bus stop a millions times now, maybe 377,481 times from there to town.

I ended up taking the wrong bus.

It's a sign. Damn.

The bus had its sign stating, from top to bottom, TEMASEK BOULEVARD, ORCHARD RD, SOMERSET ROAD!

I just checked SBS's webbie:

I blame the bus driver for not swapping the directions plate around before I boarded.

Or maybe it's a sign.

Watching too much LOST. On that sidenote, I'd rather the frat boys win the Amazing Race than the hippies. Same thing in life: Who deserves the prize? The consistent result-showing one or the occasional blunderer who achieves the amazing result at the right time?

Aaron's Favourite Moments 1

2006-05-17T01:55:00.000+08:00

What I took away from my Hong Kong trip...

What I took away from my lovely education in CS...

Never once did I regret choosing CS.

It led me to amazing people, good times and great trips.

I need to start recording more of Aaron's Favourite Times.

... to be continued

Reconstruction theory

2006-05-14T00:58:00.000+08:00

Today I saw what people want and what people need.

Heading to a flea market behind Cineleisure, I passed a group of wheelchair-bound folks selling flags for the Handicaps Welfare Association. One of them joked to another that they should position their wheelchairs in a ba-gua formation so that more commuters have to pass them to get across.

I like this spirit they have. At a charity event that I hosted, they were the same folks who played basketball on wheelchairs. I was even part of their team against the public in one match. I swear that even if I played running on my feet, I'd still lose out to those pros. One of them, if I remember correctly, was also a student in NTU. He was the star player among them and I vaguely remember seeing him around school. Looked out for him among those selling flags today but didn't spot him.

At the flea market, I spotted Dawn Yeo. (Or Yang or whichever surname the alleged plastic surgeried blogger is using now) She was peddling her goods (real goods, not... and real authentic, not... oh well, this is hard) with her mother. Or someone who looks like an older version of her. (Let's call this person OVOH) Wait, if what everyone said about her cosmetic surgery is true, then it's just spooky that OVOH looks somewhat alike! OR should we just say that science is really advanced.

Anyway, I don't exactly care if Dawn had surgery or not. After that, it just dawned (totally not intended) on me that there are people who wished for some sort of reconstruction just to be able to lead a normal (who's to say what's normal anyway) life. And there are always those who choose to undergo reconstruction to achieve some sort of socially glorified standards of beauty. Yet, there's this disturbingly warped similarity of yearning to be accepted.

Kinda weird.

Anyway, when I was leaving town, I bumped into the NTU star player at the entrance of a toilet. He was wheeling himself out. I gave way. He said thanks.

It wasn't a toilet for handicaps.

As much as society sets unwritten norms, it all boils down to how much we think we need to conform. Sometimes, it's a necessity; and other times just deemed necessary.

I have a bedroom that's fine. I'm thinking of reconstructing it before I start work. It's a need. I'm quite sure this is a need.

Table for three

2006-05-11T01:40:00.000+08:00

I always think grocery shopping is a kind of therapy.

Maybe that's because I usually tag along when my parents do it. It feels almost like an adult thing to do. Like wearing pants instead of jeans, taking the wheel and not the ride or being the nagger, not the naggee.

Anyway, I shopped for food today to cook my parents a meal. I actually enjoy that. Cooking. Again, it's kinda therapeutic. I think when I have the space and freedom to express my creations, be it literary, graphics, craft or food, it feels good.

I think I'm a pretty spontaneous guy. I enjoy spontaneity and it's just everywhere in my life. And sometimes, the results are just beyond expectations. I like knowing the good unknowns when they come.

Like today, I didn't plan for zucchini and asparagus. I spent probably 15 minutes walking around the vegetables section, thinking of which greens to pick. The auntie who does the weighing saw me make my rounds and probably assumed I was an amateur cook. Busted.

Dinner Menu:

Wanton Soup

Ntomatoes Yemistes

Zucchini & Asparagus

My parents loved the meal. Received rave reviews from them. Ok I added "rave" to make myself happy. :) But generally, they enjoyed the meal. My mum said it was healthy and my dad said that's the new way to cook rice.

I'm just glad they finished every grain, slice, drop, piece... Yum!

There's always a first time

2006-05-09T04:43:00.000+08:00

I used to dislike blogs.

But I guess age changes people's thoughts. Especially mine.

Just before pursuing my mass communications degree in NTU, I remember my aspiration to be a journalist. Weirdly, that thought gradually became weaker after I started school and freelancing as a writer. But now that I'm done with four years of school, I'm writing again. I want to be able to remember my experiences and thoughts. My first blog.

Kinda weird how things turn around.

Today I read a letter from PM Lee in ST's Forum. The title was "PM grateful for input on Gomez" but the short letter was really addressing his mistake for assuming a previous writer, Chan Chee Seng, in the same column to be an ex-MP. PM Lee wrote, "I am sorry about my mistake. I had assumed that Mr Chan was the former MP when I read the letter and should have checked."

I thought that was quite funny. Wonder if anyone got sacked for that.

The day after the GE, my family was having lunch at a Teochew restaurant. That was the first time I accidentally bumped into a politician. George Yeo arrived at the same restaurant. "Arrived" is really the appropriate word because when he stepped in, there were handshakes and big smiles exchanged with surprised diners. You should have seen their faces. Including mine. I was trying to act nonchalant. Anyway, he could have been having an ordinary family lunch, like I was, but I started to hear speculation that he was there for a celebratory feast after his win the night before. He could have very much been doing that. But I thought, these politicians are celebrities! Just that, they look very much less unglam than their peers in the entertainment field.

Who knows, the politicians might go for a mass makeover and produce an album together. I guess there's always a first time for everything.