i need new strings!

question.
how many random things do you have in your room?


one, (this is 3 years old)


two,


three,


four,


five.

i have 5 random things in my room. *cough*

i need new strings for my guitar!


it looks worned out.




my fretboard. :(


rusty knobs.

i know. awful. i've owned this baby for 3 1/2 years but the strings have only been changed once. i still dont dare to remove the strings for fear of damaging the fretboard(permanently), unfortunately. i'm sorry my baby! help.

okay i need more than new strings. i need guitar polish, a cloth and a peg winder. i need money.

and maybe a new guitar.

the walk home

2 non-progressive days of school.

i got downgraded from

this chicken chop,

to...


this knick-knack-paddy-whack.

18 weeks and 3 days more. you do the math.

6.30pm. bad timing. students raided the bus stop. it felt like a night market. pasar malam. when the bus came, people swarmed in like attacking bees. buzz. buzz. sting. crowds. brrr. have i mentioned my fear of crowds?

i decided to walk home.


one, two, buckle my shoe.


what's ahead.


you know i had nothing to do.


almost reaching the halfway mark. legs alive? check.

soon...

the sky turned a deeper shade of blue.

i took about 50 minutes to get home. sure, my legs were really tired. yes, i saw 4 of my buses pass by me. and ok, the 2nd, 3rd and 4th toes on my right foot cramped together for 5 seconds when i got home.

still, i thought that the walk was good .

thanks to the rain in the afternoon, the air was thin, cool and crisp. the headache that i had earlier slowly went away as i walked. mmm. refreshing. great exercise.

of course, i came home and food laid all around. so um...
but that's another story, really.

i cant stop munching on koko krunch. darn it.

still smiling?

so school begins in 1 day's time. ok tomorrow.

funny. i didnt think that i would feel any post-holiday blues because i have been going to school at least twice every week, since the beginning of the holidays. but strange enough, i'm feeling something.

i dont think it's the blues though.

i'm nervous. yea, that's it. nervous shit. this whole S.I.P. thing's dead serious and i'm starting to feel the pressure slowly sipping through my veins.

you have to complete this. you have to be able to do this. you have to produce something by this deadline. you dont and you fail. you're gonna screw up.

last night, i told my mom that i thought i was watching too much american tv. too much, leaving me the impression that life is just that simple after high school. after college. you move on. pursue your dreams. be an artist. be a dancer. be a singer. a fashion designer. work at a deli. sell coffee. be a banker. be a wedding planner. be the boss of a big company. doesnt matter. take things easy. you'll get by.

it doesnt quite work out that way here, does it? you cant just "get by", can you?

everything's a competition. you "get by" and you're behind. but what if i said that i would be contented with just "getting by"? now i'm the girl with no dreams? no ambitions? or just someone who's too scared to look forward to the journey that she's about to embark on, that she's willing to settle with just "getting by"?

well, i'll tell you what it is. i'll tell you the truth. i've always lived with the thought- ever since i could think- that i'll be contented with just "getting by". yes i have. but i have ambitions too. i just, dont see the need for luxury. and the damn competitions. unless it's a competition to see who burps loudest. so what do you make out of this?

i have no idea.

i need to listen to some imogen heap.

it's nearly 2 am. you think alot at times like this. or maybe i just do. i also think about what to eat even though i've brushed my teeth and it's 2am. and what breakfast i should have tomorrow. i'm thinking pancakes. and pancakes make me smile. and hungry.

shoot. i'm hungry.

I Will Follow You Into The Dark

to the Virginia Tech tragedy victims and their families.

"Love of mine some day you will die
But I'll be close behind
I'll follow you into the dark

No blinding light or tunnels to gates of white
Just our hands clasped so tight
Waiting for the hint of a spark

If heaven and hell decide
That they both are satisfied
Illuminate the no's on their vacancy signs

If there's no one beside you
When your soul embarks
Then I'll follow you into the dark

In Catholic school as vicious as Roman rule
I got my knuckles bruised by a lady in black
And I held my tongue as she told me
"Son fear is the heart of love"
So I never went back

If heaven and hell decide
That they both are satisfied
Illuminate the no's on their vacancy signs

If there's no one beside you
When your soul embarks
Then I'll follow you into the dark

You and me have seen everything to see
From Bangkok to Calgary
And the soles of your shoes are all worn down
The time for sleep is now
It's nothing to cry about
Cause we'll hold each other soon
The blackest of rooms

If heaven and hell decide
That they both are satisfied
Illuminate the no's on their vacancy signs

If there's no one beside you
When your soul embarks
Then I'll follow you into the dark
Then I'll follow you into the dark"

- I Will Follow You Into The Dark (Death Cab For Cutie)

this song is really getting to me right now. heartfelt.

with deepest sympathy.

rest in peace.

smile on. even if your life sucks. i mean, really. REALLY. really.

*pulls hair*

*pops veins*

*stares into space in utter discomfort*

*stress mode: on*

i'm not ranting. i'm not ranting!

i'm smiling. see? smiling.


really!

smile on. even if your life sucks. i mean, really.

i want to rant.

i want to rant about everything i've just heard at the S.I.P.(Student Internship ProgramStudent In Prison) talk today. i really want to.

i want to whine.

about everything that's been going on. about the non-progressive work that we've been producing. heck. i'll whine about school if i could. and i really want to.

but i think it's time i shut up and start getting jiggy with it.

life aint perfect, and it'll never be, so i should just face the facts and get on with it. and so should all of you!


so smile, bitches! :)

i met my brother in school today. someone thought the way we greeted each other was funny. *cough*

on a side note, i'm finally done with Prison Break 2. awesome show. now i'll just have to wait for season 3. START FILMING, WENTWORTH. you know you want to.

speaking of which, i'll be officially doing time in prisonschool*cough* starting next week. how great. i cant wait to get my thumbprints scanned every morning. really! *grins like the dog*. *only, the dog meant it*

shit, what did i say about life not being perfect or something..but we should be getting..on..getting jiggy... baloney macaroni... what...?

The Deathly Hallows

i'm in a little bit of a dilema.

of whether i should pre-order the latest Harry Potter book, or not get it at all.

first off, just to make sure you're all clear, i am a huge fan of H.P. books. yes, i AM one of those people. twiddle dee, twiddle dum. alakazam me if you want, but yes, I AM a fan.

okay, here's the thing. if i pre-order the book, i get a 10% discount, and a 1 in 450,000 chance of winning a trip to London for four *cough*. if i dont pre-order it, i'd have to pay full value. so it's either i pre-order it right now, or not get it at all.

the thing is, even after the discount, the book still costs a bomb. $47.15.

i was given the 2nd and 3rd book by a family friend from UK before i even knew what Harry Potter was about. the 4th book was borrowed, and the 5th book was free because we had some special american express thing. only the 6th book, as i recall, was purchased. pre-ordered too, if i'm not wrong. and it was around the same price.

so here comes the 7th. ohboy.

mom reckoned that it was too expensive. i would agree with her on that but, but, it's the 7th book! the last book! how can i read every other book, and not the final and last one? i could borrow it, but..there's always that sense of satisfaction in owning something that you really want, no? ah. contemplation.

then my bro said something. "just pre-order it. if you want it, just get it. if it gives you a sense of satisfaction, you should just get it. that's what life is all about. if you're always doing things the other way, then life would be unsatisfying, right?"

my brother. his philosophy of life. if you want it, just do it. nike.

dad told me to pre-order it too.

hmm. i'm really seeing an answer to my questions already. BUT MOMMA'S RIGHT. it is EXPENSIVE. and i'll finish the book in 4 days. but..it is the FINAL book. i...i've got to OWN it. of course, i could always just wait a couple of years when the value of the book drops to $8- $15 bucks. BUT the whole idea is to find out what happens ASAP. no?

alright, alright. so you see, i AM that fan. the books. you're allowed to laugh at me. strange. you wouldnt see me contemplating(or even considering) at all if this was a top(outfit) or a meal. maybe a concert of my favourite band though...(but that's another story).

and i kind of have been saving up for this....

hmm.

the wheels on the bus go round and round.

hey.

return me my sketchbook, moodboard and illustration board, already!

COME ON.

guilt-tripping

the night feels different.

i have no more james patterson books to read. no more murders, kidnapping, midnight creep-outs. i feel so empty inside.

ah. must be the post-patterson-blues.

i am not out of books to read though. i did borrow 3 books from the regional library on wednesday.


this,


this,


and this.

a 100 bucks if you can guess where i plan to go to in the near future.
100 monopoly bucks.

Jack & Jill came to The Hill

everyone had returned to their respective bedrooms. my family was asleep. i was in the only room in the house with the light on. my bedroom. i sat on my bed. it was quiet. really quiet. silent. it was 3am. and i was reading Jack & Jill.

then my door creaked.

FUDGE! not when i was at the point of finding out who the Sojourner Truth School killer was! or Jack & Jill's real identities! NOT THEN!

that sudden creak totally scared the xena out of me. for 5 seconds, i wondered if the Truth School killer had actually sneaked into my house and was attempting to enter my room. then i laughed at myself for being such a wuss, knowing that it was only a story.

...then i wondered if it was Jack & Jill instead.

thud, thud. back to the story, you fool. thud, thud. too quiet.

the door creaked for the 2nd time.

i walked to my radio and turned the damn thing on.

"hey hey, you you, i dont like your girlfriend..."

*breathes*

Move aside, K-FED!

marcphee-ver is over!



"vanilla-ice" wannabe leaves the mcphee-ver for the new and improved (not-so-bald) Britters!



i smell bad rap and legal lawsuits coming up!

picture credit: anna in the footsteps of her idol
photo credit: Trent

The Dance Floor

they did it. they finally got someone to really destroy a perfectly healthy song. congratulations!

i know that all the songs used werent done by the original singers because of copyright issues but SURELY they can find someone who can pronounce the words BETTER?

"big black horse... and the cherry twree..."

NOOOOOOO! not the song of one of my favourite singers!
i mean, COME ON. the cherry twree???

thanks, mediacorp. woohoo!
get it? woohoo(big black horse..*woohoo* and the cherry tree..*woohoo*)? i should definitely do stand-up one day.


i.am.so.sorry.

Move aside, Martha Stewart

how a person manages to stuff tons of clothes into a cupboard is questionable and the one person to ask for answers would be ME.

you see, this takes a little bit of skills but as long as you get the gist of it,it's not all that difficult.

step 1: i dont suggest you fold your tees perfectly because they crumple in the end anyway but if it makes you feel good looking at it in the beginning, by all means, make the perfect fold.

step 2: split the section into 2 columns so that you can put more tees in it.

step 3: put the less worn(or will never be worn) tees at the base. then stack those that are worn slightly more often on top of it. stack as many as possible. remember, put the ones that you will wear most often right on top.

by now, you will realise that the cupboard is getting a bit full.

step 4: dig. you heard me. press hard on the stacked up tees. dig for space like you've never dug before. grab the remaining tees one by one and slot it into the remaining space.

step 5: there're still a few more tees on the bed? no problem. grab the tees in pairs.

step 6: dump the tees into the space between the door and the 2 columns of tees in a fast and quick motion. remember to keep your hand on those tees.

step 7: remove your hand quickly and shut the cupboard door immediately. if the door pops out a little, slam it shut. whistle and walk away.

simple as that. it only takes 7 steps.

of course, this only works if your tees are old and huge and half of it once belonged to your brother while the other half are worn for sleeping. it also only works if your cupboard is a small cube the size of a tiny locker. i cant guarantee the same outcome otherwise.

on next month's issue, we'll deal with how to turn on the tv with your big toe...

Eat Fresh

my fair ladies and gentlemen,

behold...



my very first subway meal.

oven roasted chicken sub. YUM-MY. i thought it was a tad bit expensive(you guys probably wouldnt but i did) but the meal was worth it. i mean, parmesan bread with lettuce, capsicum, cucumber, onions, some random sauce(which i have no idea because i couldnt quite catch what the guy was saying so i just said, "ok") and chilli sauce- toasted and served. with of course, my kind of drink. iced milo.

BURRRRP.

yea, go ahead. i know you want to. i know you want to laugh. at me.
but i'm cool with that. why?

because i finally had Subway, y'all.

Books and how to die young.

murders. kidnapping. hostages. bombings. terrorists attacks. mutilations.

these are what i have been dealing with for the past few days. the events that have kept me busy. dont worry, i havent been involved with them, and NO, they're not tv shows that i have been watching.

but yes, i have been reading them.

you see, when my dad returned from china on saturday night, he passed me this book that his friend had given him after he had finished reading it. i opened the book and i was hooked. but it was already 2 am and i was too sleepy to continue(even though i very much wanted to). so sunday morning came, and out came the book. i read it through 7th Heaven, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Veronica Mars and i-Robot. it wouldnt leave my sight, and i pretty much didnt allow it to.

this is the book:



it was such a great book that i could imagine hollywood making a movie out of it. i dont know, like starring Harrison Ford or something. the thing is, i finished the book in 2 days because it was so thrilling, that i got all hyped up and excited, only to realise that i had nothing to read anymore.

so on monday(*raises eyebrow*), i borrowed another James Patterson book from the school library.



bam! another good book! i completed it on tuesday.

shit. that wasnt going to work. i needed more. so this morning, i went to school(foolishly again because the lab was still closed) and borrowed two more James Patterson books.


halfway through this...


...and yet to begin this.

i'm hooked, i'm hooked!

ok, onto other matters. i was watching the news just now about the latest controversial ad about the anti-smoking campaign(the one with the lady and the "oral cancer") and how the graphics were too gruesome for viewing and stuff. shocking and disturbing, i agree. but isnt that the whole main purpose?

so anyway, they did this whole campaign thing in the CBD area where they had a "doctor", "patient" and "nurse" there to kind of, show people the effects of smoking. some of the people who walked by were pretty disturbed and asked if the "patient" was real. anyhow, when one of the guys was asked if he would quit smoking after seeing all that, he said, "i still wont quit smoking. it is my freedom."

i wanted to laugh straight at his face. i wish i could just walk straight up to him and laugh at his face. "hi, if you continue smoking, you'll smoke away your freedom, you fire-breathing pork chop. *points index finger at him* ha-ha."

doesnt anyone get the fact that smoking kills?

The Arena

"Singapore's education system breeds elitism."

that was the topic of the debate between Raffles Institution and United World College on The Arena that i just caught on Channel 5. R.I. being the propostion, and UWC being the opposition.

i thought both schools did a pretty good job in trying to prove their points. many times, i agreed with both teams when they made their stands. or at least, i understood what they were trying to say. but then again, i'm not a worthy judge so who am i to comment anyway? but really, do I personally feel that Singapore's education system breeds elitism?

perhaps.

it is true that the government is now coming up with ideas and ways to help students cultivate their talents and skills in sports and the arts, other than just the academics, like how it used to be. yes, some students who do not excel in their studies may possess creative brain juices in their heads and i think the government recognises that. nice.

we're all equal right now, whether you're an ITE, poly or a JC student, because you're being taught to excel in what you're good at- so says the government. i agree with that wholeheartedly. but then there's that point where the proposition stated that the better schools get special scholarships for their students, whereas the students of not-so-elite institutes*cough* dont get as many opportunities. and that is just one of the many points that they stated. and the many points that we can see right now. so...does that mean that elitism is silently breeding from within?

oh well.*shrugs* but you know, regardless of how much effort the government puts in to promote equalisation among people with different educational statuses, we're still being defined based on our academic levels at the end of the day. yes, times are different, and many people have broadened their minds and changed their mindsets. hence i wouldnt say that EVERYONE defines us that way, but the sad truth is, part of the (singapore)society still does. a stubborn mindset is hard to be changed.

society has a strange way of looking at you, doesnt it?

alright, my entry doesnt mean much because HONESTLY, i am not exactly the brightest person to be making comments(or assumptions). but this is just my opinion. agree or disagree, it's your call. just think about it, it's a good question to think about on a tuesday night, no? :)

ok. time to watch some cartoons now.

Twenty Three

i shall blog before my internet goes down on me for the 1902734th time today.

tonight, or last night rather(since it's already 3.30am), i attended this:




my ticket.

and let me just say this. it was awesome.

and i was sitting right in front. *beams*

HAH!( ok i know the picture isnt clear at all)

ok, so i knew she could sing. but i didnt know she could talk as well. talk. and talk. and talk. but it's her talking that kept us entertained. who knew Tristan Prettyman had such humor within her? oh wait. we ARE talking about the girl who wrote the song, "Lindsay Goes To Rehab". alright, i take that back.

Tristan's singing was pitch-perfect. and she did it oh-so-simply. the girl can sing live, y'all! and not only could she sing, she played the guitar so flawlessly as well. it looked like it didnt require much effort at all. HOW DO PEOPLE DO THAT?

basically, Tristan's the female version of Jason Mraz. i see a similarity in the style of music. but she definitely gets credit for creating her own personal style as well. and she did mention this. "Jason says, 'hi,' you guys. " well, HI! :)

and for the record, she kept doing Borat impersonations in between songs because apparently, that girl loves the man from Kazhakstan.

speaking of "myspace", we caught this act before Tristan's show.

i thought the singer was pretty good. she kinda reminded me of corrine may. anyway, check them out at their myspace to find out more.

so basically, Tristan did about 10 songs and 2 encores. Simple As It Should Be(which i went "yay!") and Toxic. YES. Britney's "Toxic". apparently, she did her own cover of it. it was quite interesting. nothing like stevie ann's version.

and not forgetting one more thing. she sang the "Lindsay Goes To Rehab" song! here's the lyrics to it(not the full one though):

"lindsay
you gotta check yourself, check yourself,
before you wreck yourself

lindsay
you gotta drink the coke, drink the coke,
but dont you snort the coke

why so,
why so low?
why so low?
lohan

lindsay
you got a water bottle
that aint no water bottle
that'd be a vodka bottle

lindsay
wilmer's not good for you
harry morton too
jared leto wont do

why so,
why so low?
why so low?
lohan"

*cough* have i mentioned how awesome i thought she was already? heh.

anyway, poor girl lost her luggagedidnt receive her luggage after a long, hard, 26 hout flight from california, and she ended up having to go shopping in singapore. WHICH PROBABLY MEANS, that somewhere out there, on some plane(or island), lies(floats) Tristan's bag full of clothes and...her beautiful guitar!

i dont care about the clothes. just give me the damn guitar!
someone put it up on ebay!

fine. i was just kidding. save your eggs for breakfast. pft.

phew?

my exam results came out yesterday.

yes, i made it to year 3. FINALLY.

now... if only there was a way to actually score.

stupid gpa.

chirp chirp.

remember this?


well,

TAAA-DAAAA.





so pretty.

Prison Break

technology's rapidly advancing. rapidly. i wish we could slow down the pace a little, but unfortunately, there is always someone tech-savvy out there coming up with new ways to improve something. thus... my project.

i also happen to think that it's really comforting to know that the previous four batches have been working on it for 2 years and we're the last group to finish it up, for good. which basically means, compiling everything together. which also basically means, we're done for.

ok. so when you have to spend an entire 7 hours a day in the same lab, staring at the same computer screen, 5 days a week, you'll barely want to touch your computer when you return home. trust me, that's what i've been doing.

what's worse? we're being watched all over, openly and secretly. all that's missing in the picture is a burly guard carrying a baton.

6 months. i might end up with a soft cervical collar on my neck, a shaved head like britney, and glasses with 700 degrees on each lens. wait, let's also include paranoia. and it hasnt even officially begun yet.

what i'm hoping is that we will, at the very least, get A CLUE of what to do by the end of this month. an idea of where to start.
rrriiight.

i must really commend myself right now. what a brave thing i'm doing here, actually using my computer at this time.

oh yeah, there's just one more thing i have to mention. papayas. that's right. one of my favourite fruits has been giving me sharp acute pains in my stomach on 2 alternative nights. i wonder if it's just THAT particular papaya(which my mom had and she was fine), or if it's really the stress. i dont know which it is, but i should probably stay away from papayas for a while. this pain is driving me crazy.

bail me out, somebody!

just a lil' bit of hope

3.40 pm.
i was surfing the internet and was alone at home. the phone rang.

me: hello?
mom: hello.
me: yup?
mom: hey, make sure that the stove isnt on. and the oven, all that, make sure that the gas isnt on. better be careful...
me: wow, you left home at 1.30, and you call me only 2 hours later to make sure that the gas isnt on? so actually, if the gas was on, i would've died 2 hours ago.
mom: i forgot. heh.

4.50 pm.
i was in my room, still surfing the internet. the door opened. i heard my mom walk in.with a high-pitched, soprano-liked voice, she "sang".

mom(in a melody): swee hoon... sweeee hooooon... we're baaaack. sweeeee hoooon... sweee hooon.. we're baaack. sweeee...
me: are you high on drugs?

lol. i know. sorry. i just thought my mom was really cute so i had to blog about it.

also, i received my belated, belated birthday gift from jean yesterday.


this is what it says at the side:

"Pimples are part of the cycle of life and there's only one way to stop the cruel mocking that accompanies them. Take a swig from this pill bottle and spit a mouth full of these candy pills at the person making fun of your pimples. You will finally have the last laugh.

Warning: If the person you spit the pills at is bigger than you, run away quickly and don't look back."

are you kidding me, girl? i love it. :)

in the meantime, i'm still trying to believe, with the littlest hope in my heart, that the SIP thing tomorrow would just be a one-day thing and that we wont have to return to school until a month later, at the very least.

let me console convince myself, will you?

Grace Kelly

ok, i cant post videos from youtube onto my blog anymore because i've got a different username and it's too long and i cant change it and blah blah blah. so i can only put up a link.

check this out.
and he's good live too!

I tried to be like Grace Kelly
But all her looks were too sad
So I tried a little Freddie
Ive gone identity mad!

i dont think it's as Queen as people have said it is. ok, maybe a little bit. but it doesnt matter.
adore!

it was a typical friday afternoon...

i entered the train at city hall and stood at the area connecting the cabins together. this friendly looking elderly man came in and walked straight to the 2-seater area.

old man: excuse me. *points to sign above that says, "Please offer this seat to someone who needs it more than you do"* let me sit.

one lady stood up and gave him her seat. he gestured for the other lady to move as well. she stood up, and he put his bags and stuffs on the other seat. it was the first time i've actually seen an elderly person do that so i was quite amused. how cute.

bugis. this lady and her little grandson boarded. the adorable little boy ran around the cabin(stepped on my toes while at it) and talked to his grandma about umbrellas or something. the old man smiled at him as the boy noticed the umbrella on his hand. the grandmother smiled and told the boy to call him "ah pek".

but what began as a polite gesture turned sour. you see, for some apparent reason, the old man got offended when that lady had called him an "ah pek". and then this scene began.

*in hokkien*
old man: what "ah pek"? what "ah pek"?
lady(grandma): *confused* huh? no i was telling him that he should call you "ah pek"..
old man: what "ah pek"? so rude! how can you anyhow call me that? huh? HUH? in taiwan, little boys call old men "ye ye", or "ah gong".. why must you call me "ah pek"? HUH?

of course, by then, that had attracted the attention of the entire cabin.

lady: what? was i wrong to ask him to call you an "ah pek"? was i wrong to be polite?
old man: "ah pek"?! you cant call me ah pek! why dont call me "ah gong"? in taiwan, blab blab blab blab yak yak yak yak(of course that wasnt what he said but that was what it sounded like to me after 5 minutes of his ranting)...
lady: crazy! *brings her grandson to stand at the other exit* *speaking to the rest of the people in the cabin* was i wrong to call him an "ah pek"? i was being polite, wasnt i? why cant i call him "ah pek"?
old man(shouting at her): blab blab blab blab "ah pek", yak yak yak yak "ah gong", blah blah blah blah blaaaaah

by then, people from the other cabins were all looking in, wondering what the whole ruckus was. after another 3 minutes, the old man was still at it while the lady couldnt wait to get off the train.

this refined looking caucasian guy stood up and walked to the old man.

caucasian: here. take a dollar and shut up.
old man(in english): what? you go away! i dont want your dollar. go! not your problem, why you come? huh? you think i dont know english ah? go away ah. she call me "ah pek"(here we go again) blah blah blah... what your problem?

the guy walked back to his seat, absolutely annoyed, while the old man continued his ranting out loud, this time, at the caucasian too. the thing was, he continued the "ah pek" complain even after the lady got off the train with her grandson.

random student: shut up.
old man: *looks out* what? who called me to shut up ah? who? you got problem ah? you rude ah! what shut up?
random man 1: the whole train wants you to shut up.
old man: what whole train? not happy ah? call the captain come lah! call lah!
random man 2: ok, hey, boy boy? boy boy? keep quiet, ok?
old man: you keep quiet ah! (and yet another 10 minutes of constant ranting)

the indian tourist(with 2 huge luggages) sitting opposite him tried avoiding eye contact.

5 minutes later...
old man(to tourist): you know what i argue about just now? that woman ah, call me "ah pek". you know in taiwan, jdgaklifgoqaivunak fjasdfkbaiuefhgla adjhfalsdkhjfsaM...
old man: and then, that one*looks at the caucasian*, want to give me money. for what? i dont want your money. those europeans ah, fair skin, huh, all that high education..for what? think i dont know how to speak english ah? i can speak english a bit you know!

by then, the caucasian guy could not be bothered anymore. the old clown finally got off at tampines. hah. "CUTE". i take that back. some people on the train were annoyed, some were amused, and some were so annoyed that they were amused.

me? i spent the entire time with my head lowered, cap pulled down to cover most of my face, while i, you know, laughed my ass off. what a torture, to have to laugh alone. oh yes, i also happened to be soaked like a peking duck.

just like i said, it was a typical friday afternoon...

FREEEEEE as a doughnut

i am freeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

ah. the sweet smell of freedom.

yes, i took my final paper today and i am, your royal highnesses, officially... on holiday! *runs around like a whacked job* okay, i should probably start packing right now for my backpacking trip across Europe! that's right. paris! roma! italia! madrid! Qui sono venuto! and i should start looking up newspaper ads for job vacancies. and of course, i'm going to learn driving. yesssss. this is all working just fine. all too good. too good...

...to be true.

IF ONLY there was a way for me to squeeze all that into my 4-day holiday. that's right. SIP unofficially begins on the 5th of march a.ka. next monday a.k.a. the first day of the week that makes us all depressed.

time flies by real quickly. 4 days? i think that's pretty much equivalent to 2. maybe if i go to bed right now, tomorrow will be sunday. hmm. there're things that i've planned to do in my "upcoming-now-defunct-holiday" since 1 month ago, but i guess they're not really possible now. and my good friend's leaving for china(for 2 months!) this saturday. what's more, i should probably start studying for my supp paper for Itech(at the very least).

mmmm. dont you just love the sweet smell of freedom?

maybe, JUST maybe, i should stay at home, and try and figure out what kind of mutant i really am? i'm sure i have superpowers. come on. i know i got it. i just have to figure out what is it.

and i have 4 days for that. :)

a series of unfortunate events: event #413213

something has happened. again.

there's no escaping it, is there? something always has to happen during the chinese new year period. it's not even day 15 yet.

drama. there's too much of it. they dont necessarily happen to me, but they happen to people around me, which indirectly affects me as well. i'm watching someone play a joke on these people. it feels like it.

i'm 18 and i'm a singaporean. my life is supposed to be simple and boring. it is. but not to the people around me, it seems.

there is a way of not getting involved. i cant be anyway. i wouldnt be able to do much at all. but it's definitely going to affect us in a way. i see more and more worry lines popping out as the hour passes. as much as she tries not to think about it. multiply that with 6.

maybe everyone should just lock themselves in at home for a month. an entire month without stepping out of the house. would that prevent catastrophies?

a lesson to be learnt. too late, perhaps.
no more drama. please.

1 down, 2 to go.

this lunar new year has officially bored me.
and coming from me, that's bad. tsk.

76 relatives (excluding distant ones), and my chinese new year was about as exciting as peeling the skin off 100 potatoes on a lazy summer's day. tsk, tsk.

YES, i had my 1st paper today. i wouldnt dare say much about it, just in case i jinx it, but i think it should be passable. at least, i hope. i think. my worst nightmare has yet to arrive. that's right. doomsday on wednesday.

2 whole hours of pure torture. it'll slice my head open, take out my brains, and then mutilate my body until it becomes unrecognisable. i am not talking about "Heroes." it's just that little darn thing called Wireless.

i just hope i'll be able to survive to tell the tale. or you know, blog about it.

i caught this.

i'll rate it 2/5.
Power Rangers would have gotten 2.5.

it was that bad of a movie. and you know coming from me, that IS a bad thing. i expected better. way better. i mean, for starters, movies based on comic book heroes are usually good, really good, or at the very least, acceptable. and this is, afterall, a Nicolas Cage movie.

only, it was nowhere near what i had expected. what a waste of money.
tsk, tsk, tsk.

now this,

should be much better.

yes.

i cant wait for Ugly Betty. i'm hoping it's gonna be good, judging on the number of awards it has won over time. plus America Ferrera stars in it.
i loved her here...

so i'm pretty sure i'll like her in Ugly Betty too. yay.

but i know.
exams first. every other sane thing, second.

Time to Pig out

Gong Xi Fa Cai!

it's finally here. some kind of zest is still missing this year.
it's okay. maybe we'll find it soon.



SNORT.

it is here.

yes. finally. after all that waiting. it has been so long.

too long.


finally.

burp.

the good, the bad and the evil

i have never celebrated valentine's day, so typically, it was just another day to me. a busy wednesday. here's a recount of what happened.

the good:

got yummer-licious rochers and a disc(thanks marc), some random rose(thanks ahli), a straw heart(um, student union) and chocolates and a lollipop(my telepathic one). even though i wasnt much of a valentine's day person, i gave out some chocolates(and "diet pills") as well. hey, no one should miss out on good chocolates. c'mon. it's chocolates (and special "diet pills"). i appreciated all the gifts. thanks, peeps, and my telepathic one. and yes! i finally handed in my moodboard and fashion illustrations! i must be dreaming.

the bad:

i was bloody sick(still am). so i couldnt feast on those yummer-licious chocolates(what a catastrophe), and i definitely couldnt smell the roses with that blocked nose(that's if, roses have smells. they do.. right? i dont know, i'm not much of a flower person.). blah. plus, i had to worry about some stupid project(which i finally handed up today). and i havent started on my revision for the exams. hoohaaa.

the evil:

i learnt yesterday that my SIP unofficially begins on the 5th of March. wait, sorry? 5 days after my last paper? oh, so, that means no holidays? that whole 2 month break(where i was going to look for a job, learn driving and actually breathe) that i was really looking forward to's...not gonna happen? really? wow thanks! that news totally made my day.

at this point, i should probably start mutating.

alright. chinese new year in 2 more days. finally.

cough. sneeze.

falling sick right before chinese new year is like growing a pimple right before prom.

only, i dont do proms so i cant afford to fall sick before chinese new year. except, i did.

what a bummer.

i HAVE TO BINGE on new year goodies when cny officially comes. i planned to.
i guess it's time i used my mutant powers to make myself well by friday.

onto the Grammy's.
James Blunt's performance was painful. seriously.
what? i'm not ready to make nice.
that's all i have to say, really.

chirp.

look what we found on the air-con compressor outside my parents' room window?



i cant wait chinese new year.

thoughts exploded into pieces.

dear mr.


will you please break me out of this prison?
bus 8, 69 or 23 should do the trick.

please?


yeah, that's right. think about it, hard.




come on, there's no need to discuss it with Lincoln.






tsk. break me out, this instant!

V for Victory

ROOAAARRR.

REPRESENT!

COOK ISLANDS

i love you but...





HELL YEAH!

REPRESENT!

the big screen

New on the BIG SCREEN this January,

Warner Bros. brings you...


"Singapore VS Thailand"



"2 thumbs up!" - Jackson, I'llLaughAtYou Times


"Brilliant actors!"- ImBull Magazine

"One of the funniest comedies i've watched all January!" - youreajoke.com



NOW SHOWING
At a Cinema Near You.

p.s.: i'm going to Tristan Prettyman's gig! it's as simple as it should be!

to-mah-to, to-may-to. po-tay-to, po-tah-to. mourn-ing, moan-ing. what's the difference anyway?

so we went to my brother's university to help clear out his dorm yesterday. as my brother was parking the car, mom spotted this girl with a hamster and talked about how people brought stuffs to keep them company in the dorm.

and then this conversation began.

bro: once i even heard a girl moaning.
dad: huh? mourning?
bro: moaning.
dad: mourning? why? someone passed away?
bro: no, not mourning. moaning.

*pauses*

dad: oh.

*awkward silence in the car*

me: -bursts out laughing-
me: i gotta tell my friends about this!
mom shoots me an embarrased smile.

ah. the good ol' birds and the bees.

Fog you.

i'd like to sincerely thank the town council for sending people to do fogging at the rubbish chute areas around here because it really killed all the little cockroaches breeding at those areas. i walked in a land of dead cockroaches on my way to school a few weeks back. literally. everywhere around me laid big and baby cockroaches. most dead, some struggling to move.

in fact, i had to watch where i was stepping so that i wouldnt get cockroach juice on the soles of my shoes(ironically, i JUST(literally) received an email that has something to do with a cockroach just as i was typing. QUEER!). i was quite amused by the situation, really. i'm pretty sure hundreds of cockroach souls were flying around me.

so anyway, it's cool that their fogging. but the fogging's led to an overpower of MOSQUITOES! those damn 6-legged stingers have bitten me all over. UMPTEEN TIMES in 1 week.

i have a mission.

to kill those little buggers.

if my brain has feet, it'd be running in circles.

give me strength, give me strength,

give me strength!

give me the strength and power i need to make the right decisions. give me the strength to carry on and perservere. give me the strength.

i want the strength!

on second thought, forget all of the above. just give me the brains.

and it's official. i'm pretty sure my teacher hates me. sorry, what? oh hate's too strong of a word? yeah, maybe you're right. well then, i'm pretty sure my teacher detests me.*jumps for joy* awwww.

it doesnt matter.
because i am a mutant.
and i have superpowers.

i feel the love.

politics. conspiracies. schemes. lies.

you would think that at their age these would all take too much effort. guess not. looks like there still is that little bit of strength there to create all of the above.

people, people, people.
tsk, tsk.

didnt mommy teach you to grow up and be good people?
you know you cant hide that tail of yours in your pants forever, now can you? oh wait now. i think mommy did.

you know, someone removed the target board. now your arrow's stuck on the tree trunk and you cant pull it out. i'm sorry but it's becoming to look like a joke. a real joke. and the joke's on you, my friend. i am only human to laugh. hahaha.

these would make good stand-up-comedy materials.

Disclaimer: *this entry doesnt have to make any sense to you at all.

i am so happy i could eat a horse.

the program didnt work. it didnt display even though everything else seemed okay. 15%. 15 marks out of the final 100. gone down the amazon river. and i threw it down.
that's advanced mobcomp for me.

also, i realised today that a laptop is quite essential for me for my SIP and major project. that means extra expense of $1000++. that also means no driving lessons.

20 minutes ago, my mp3 died on me. completely died. no letter of warning, no last minute notice, no goodbye, nothing. not even a "hi, i'm about to die on you in 2 seconds." zilch. i couldnt even resuscitate it. you would think that looking for the warranty card and calling up the shop would be a good idea. got the warranty card alright. the shop? it's gone. it doesnt exist on the phase of this earth anymore.
that's my brandless mp3 for you.

i'm actually not flaring up right now. surprise. now usually, i would. but right now, i dont even feel the need to. only because,

honestly,

PEOPLE,

members of the public,

your majesty,

could the day get any worse?

i would be completely pissed off with myself. i could drink to get high but i dont drink. besides, i think i'll only wake up with a throbbing headache the next morning because i cant drink. i could yell at myself or walk away from myself. unfortunately, that would either classify me as mentally disturbed, or dead.

today is a great day. [insert profanity here]

Invictus

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole.
I thank whatever gods may be,
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance,
I have not winced or cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance,
My head is bloody but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears,
Looms but the horror of the shade.
And yet the menace of the years,
Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments is the scroll.
I am the master of my fate,
I am the captain of my soul.

-William Ernest Henley

unstable grounds

reality. i am this afraid of it. and by this, i meant,

thiiiiisss.

that much.

i dont live in a world with unexplainable fantasies, but i avoid reality just the same. maybe in a different way. i dont think about what's ahead of me, even though everyday that passes by means it's one step closer to what's about to happen.

i hate the thought of that. i hate it. if i keep thinking about what's ahead of me in my future, i'll be 80 in a few days time.

i was never always like that. i wasnt one to embrace and welcome my future with open arms but i sure wasnt one to escape from it. THEN. now? i try to run away from it like a chick from an eagle. scurrying, with my tiny two feet, trying my hardest to outrun the soaring eagle. the big eagle. with spreaded wings.

momma?

i know the problem. i see the problem. it's not teenage hormones. it's not the fear of heading out. it's just knowing that what lies ahead is the result of a choice that i made. one that wasnt so wise.

THAT's what i'm running from. that. i live everyday now with one concept. tomorrow's problems, shall be dealt with tomorrow. how unhealthy. how unsteady. but i cant deal with it. because my hair falls out everytime i start thinking about it at night. it's not an illness. i just yank my hair out, that's all.

i try to look ahead, for something bright, something happy, something to look forward to in the far future to keep me encouraged. c'mon. it's only months.

reality check.
to get there, i'll have to go through all those things that i'm trying to avoid now(or technically, wish i could magically skip). "live everyday like there's no tomorrow." wish i could. unfortunately, i think that only applies to someone who's 60 and retired.

which is why i shall erase my mind off sh*t right now by tuning in to Scrubs on tv. wow. how brave and appropriate.

yeah, run. run away when there're problems ahead of you. be a coward. that's what you parents taught you, isnt it? loser.

look no further.
the eagle has landed caught it's chick.

okay inner voice, shut up.

slipped away

i didnt get around to kiss you,
goodbye on the hand.
i wish that i could see you again,
i know that i cant.

i hope you can hear me
cos i remember it clearly.

the day you slipped away
was the day i found it wont be the same.

i miss you.

doesnt feel like it, but come tomorrow, it'll be exactly a year since my grandad passed away.

always, and forever. :)

mmm what d'ya say?

Imogen Heap - Hide & Seek (live at Studio 11, Indie 103.1FM)

walk into your room, shut the door behind you, turn off the lights and sit on the floor. now play this song.

i promise you goosebumps.
i've listened to Hide & Seek for about a million times today. another million more times to go.

Imogen Heap - Just For Now (live at Studio 11 103.1FM)

oh blimey. i love her stuff.
i'm hooked.

song meme

meme time. i said i would do it.

here goes.

five songs that remind you of being a small child:

* back for good=> take that
used to sing that alot with my brother and cousins. was a fan, for sure.
* eternal love=> pj & duncan
brother owned the cassette which was later passed on to me.
* black or white=> michael jackson
was a huge fan. well, when his nose still functioned.
* wannabe=> spice girls
hey, i'll act out the entire Spice World for you if you want.
* kiss from a rose=> seal
i still have a tape recording of me singing this when i was little. well, i tried.

five songs that remind you of your best friends:

* graduation(friends forever)=> vitamin c
as much as i would love to like this song, i still cant bring myself to do it after it was overplayed at BOTH graduation parties. still, every part of it reminds me of the times we shared.
* polka power=> weird al yankovic
jean and i used to sing this in class all the time. "i'm not sick but i'm not welllll..."
* semi-charmed life=> third-eye blind
we werent exactly listening in class.
* forca=> nelly furtado
world cup.
* nas school song
says it all, doesnt it? that doesnt mean i love it. :)

five songs guaranteed to make you cry:

generally, i dont cry over songs. maybe these 2.
* slipped away=> avril lavigne
* tomorrow=> avril lavigne
i played them both over and over again when my grandad passed away a year ago.

five songs guaranteed to make you smile:

* i dont feel like dancin'=> scissor sisters
i get off my ass and dance everytime this song comes on.
* boston=> augustana
i know, the tune's kinda sad but i adore this song.
* i'll be there for you=> rembrandts
i miss F.R.I.E.N.D.S.
* wouldnt it be nice=> the beach boys
wouldnt it?
* bohemian rhapsody=> queen
all hail the queen.

five songs that never should have been made:

* tokyo drift=> teriyaki boys
* crazy frog=> axel f
* that cockroach song played on tv all the time=> anyoneeveryone
* dont call me baby=> madison avenue
* unchained melody=> the righteous brothers
overplayed, oversung, techno and just, long.
sorry.

five of your favourite love songs:

* more than anyone=> gavin degraw
* you and me=> lifehouse
* all about lovin' you=> bon jovi
* simple as it should be=> tristan prettyman
* ride of your life=> john gregory


five songs you always sing along to:

* fix you=> coldplay
* hear you me=> jimmy eat world
* wake me up when september ends=> greenday
* addicted=> simple plan
* i'll be there for you=> rembrandts

five Current Most Played Songs:

* before i fall to pieces=> razorlight
* just friends=> gavin degraw
* mfeo=> jack's mannequin
* all good things(come to an end)=> nelly furtado
* toxic=> stevie ann

fivetentwelve random songs you think people should listen to:

* before i fall to pieces=> razorlight
* holiday from real=> jack's mannequin
* existentialism on prom night=> straylight run
* god only knows=> the beach boys
* wont back down=> mat kearney
* little=> something corporate
* silence is easy=> starsailor
* karma police=> radiohead
* boss of me=> they might be giants
* i'm movin' on=> rascal flatts
* mother mother=> tracy bonham
* pinball wizard=> the who

meme-d.

if you wanna do this, you're tagged.

my new year

ok, i said i would do a meme but i'm kinda lazy right now. maybe later.

i just took down all my christmas decorations. i just took down all my christmas decorations. my room feels naked.

guess christmas really is over. shoot.

"gong xi, gong xi". the sound of chinese drums, trumpets, cymbals, with the combination of old chinese singers and a little remix touch makes the perfect dish called chinese new year songs that will soon be played incessantly, everywhere. everywhere.

now it's not that i hate them(well, most of them). but i mean, i guess this would've been much nicer to sing-a-longlisten to. (disclaimer: my neighbour's playing chinese new year songs RIGHT NOW and my dad just told me my mom was the one who asked them to play it.)

dont get me wrong. i'm a festive lover. i love christmas. i love chinese new year. i love the feeling when my family does spring cleaning. i love it when my dad starts putting up new year decos and engages my help for it (even though it's not so much of a christmas wreath or a mistletoe). and when it comes down to decorating the pussy willow, you've stopped at my territory. you see, i havent really gotten any chances with a christmas tree, so the pussy willow's kinda my thang. heh.

maybe i'm just not in the mood yet. maybe i will be in a few weeks.

or maybe knowing the fact that my end-of-year exams are just 2 days after the chinese new year is what's overshadowing my festive spirit.

i still dont like school.

happy 2007?

1st january, 2007. i sat on the bed. my friends played cards on the ground. the room was filled with laughter. people were running around outside, taking pictures, playing with fireworks. ships in the far distance sent flares up into the sky to welcome the new year.

the news spread across the tv screen.
"More bombings in thailand after midnight."

if that was the bombers' idea of welcoming 2007, i think they got it all wrong.
when was the last time people actually welcomed the new year without fearing that something might happen at the countdown party? no, strike that. when was the last time people actually celebrated anything without fearing that something might happen? i can hardly remember anymore.

how soon before i start having qualms about living in one of the safest countries in the world? how soon before global warming really gets to us? how soon before i dread going to school? anytime soon.

there is no doubt about it. i am not ready for school.

happy new year?
mama mia. I HOPE.