我們

monday, 20 august 2007

881
@ gv plaza with alvin, jack and sheena

despite all the hype, this movie was not on my must-watch list..this deduction came based on the trailer, i could not find myself interested in the theme..but after several good reviews (including one from my brother who told me "should watch"!), i upgraded the movie status to "try to watch"..then by chance, i won a pair of complimentary tickets from 77th Street for 881! now if you thought i upgraded the movie status again, you are wrong..it was more more a case of "let's not waste the tickets la"! :P

the show was enjoyable enough and i think creating the movie as a musical using getai songs was a really fasinating idea! but that said, certain parts just didn't connect while others were too "artistic" for my liking..i'd say all in all, it is quite a nice movie..but as i had previously thought, it is just not my kind of theme (yes, even though i watched it for free)...

tuesday, 21 august 2007

some things are meant to be..irrational..
just like how i love you..
irrational-lee...

*^^*

saturday, 25 august 2007

womad singapore
@ fort canning park with karen

i've heard so much about womad but i've never actually found myself interested enough to attend a single one to date..for those unfamiliar with womad, it is a festival of sorts, a celebration of world music. so what brought us to fort canning park you may ask? well, you can call me a cheapo but the main reason was that karen managed to obtain a pair of complimentary passes!

but our "virgin" experience at womad was a time we will probably not forget! in fact, it was quite addictive..we danced along and we sang along..not knowing a single word we sang or heard in the songs but just hearing the melody, tapping to the beats and feeling the energy made us one with the music..it was quite magical really. if you see me there next year, don't call me a cheapo, i'd probably have paid my way in! :)

the acts we caught:
1. OKI Dub Ainu Band (Japan)
2. Etran Finatawa (Niger)
3. David D'Or (Israel)
4. Clube do Balanco (Brazil)
5. Youssou N'Dour & the Super Etoile de Dakar (Senegal)

saturday, 01 september 2007

ratatouille
@ cathay cineleisure with karen

despite my love for animated movies, i wasn't really interested in watching this..afterall, a show about a rat who cooks??? sounds downright cheesy doesn't it? i can't even remember when i started feeling like catching this to be honest..probably when karen asked "you want to watch ratatouille?"! but thankfully for me, she did..because it is great! besides the animation, the storyline and the theme all blend nicely together..the pace of the story is just nice, without overcomplicating matters despite there being two main leads, remy (the rat) and linguini (the son of a great chef who cannot cook)..i also liked that the ending was subtle rather than those overdramatic big bang finishes most movies have these days..ok sure the rat (remy) still cooks (oh and he runs the kitchen at the end as well!) but hey it's a cartoon right?

as an added bonus, there is also a short cartoon called lifted before the main course (ratatouille)..it's about this alien who is training on how to abduct a boy..with hilarious consequences..damn funny!

---

it's been an eventful 2 weeks since i last updated my blog..in there, have been extreme downs and extreme ups..there were times i questioned myself with no concrete answers and more questions bouncing back at me..there were times i just wanted to give up..

in the end, i am glad i persisted..
in the end, i'm with you..
and i hope to be with you until the end...

secret

secret
@ shaw century

with jay chou's disastrous outing as a prince in "the curse of the golden flower" still fresh in my mind, i was initially skeptical about watching this jay chou directed film (he wrote and acted in it as well)..after watching it though, i must say that i quite like "secret"..certain parts of the show may seem rather mtv-like and downright naive but it never really stays boring for too long..part of it probably down to the fact that i am a sucker for sappy love stories! the plot twist added a really interesting dimension to the show and anthony wong's comic moments in the show were damn amusing la! nice! :)

in ten days..19 july - 29 july...

thursday, 19 july 2007
...jack's birthday celebration at the loof


saturday, 21 july 2007
...ndp rehearsal
...with karen

it is the first time that the ndp is being held at the marina bay and given the limited seating capacity, tickets were extremely rare..so it was with slight disbelief when justin told me that i was going for the rehearsal. to demonstrate the extent of my disbelief, i had dared not confirm with karen that we were going until that friday!

the day of the rehearsal arrived..from my house, i could see dark clouds forming..all throughout the journey to the venue, i willed it to rain so that it will clear up during the actual rehearsal..but it did not. i arrived earlier as i had to be inside to catch my company's ad which played only before the event..looking around at the growing crowd and the snaking queue, i dreaded how i was going to come out again to hand karen her entry tickets carrying the two complimentary ndp packs (2 bottles of water, 2 packets of drinks, a lot of pamphlets, a cd, a few toys and few packets of snack! it is the heavy la!) and my own bag..this made me anxious and the drizzle which seemed to get heavier by the minute did not make things any better..

by the time the pre-rehearsal event started, karen had safely settled in her seat (a policeman stopped the traffic for her leh!) and the weather cleared up...most of the pre-show was only so-so, but we cheered up when we saw the dimsum dollies! somehow they seemed restricted in such an environment but it was good fun as always! the actual rehearsal started and it was interesting to see the various contingents flanking into the floating stage from different entry points..the part where the "MPs", "SM" and "PM" (all simulated and thus the " ") were supposed to make their entrance was quite amusing..replacements dressed in white (what else!) holding placards with the words "First MP", "Last MP", "SM" and "PM" strode up the stairs and waved while the audience cheered and waved back! the rest of the ndp went by as per normal with various schools and associations performing routines which symbolised the different aspects and characteristics of singapore..the main difference this year were the water activities which provided a new angle to the ndp as well as a serene and unique backdrop..

at the end of the parade, it felt like we were reborn singaporeans all over again..and then..we started looking for the place to throw our rubbish so that we can qualify for the lucky draw..just like what true singaporeans would do! :P

saturday, 28 july 2007

the simpsons movie
@ gv vivomax with karen

as the number of "must watch" movies start to decrease drastically, the simpsons movie opened at just the right time..even though i had long stopped following the cartoon series, there remains a certain kind of appeal to homer, marge, bart, lisa, maggie and their fellow springfielders. from before the actual start of the movie, right up to the end (and i mean the end, i.e. after the credits!), it is one laugh-out-loud moment after another..while the movie preaches little titbits of morality and has its fair share of sad moments (doh!), it does not dwell too long on those, making it pure joy to watch..it is highly cheesy and it is delightfully fun..after a week of stress, what better way to relax and detox!

---

after one week of late night page turning, i have completed harry potter and the deathly hallows..as a story, there were too much filler, too many loopholes and some parts of the plot seemed very clumsily put together..it seemed that rowling could not really decide to cater more to the children (for whom harry potter is first and foremost intended) or to her growing adult fan base..i kind of expected the ending but the way it happened was quite a letdown..oh well, this was supposed to provide the series a closure and to that end, it fulfills its purpose...

---

my life may seem exciting..
but something is still missing..
and it's burning a deep hole in me...

magic number 5

friday, 13 july 2007

the dim sum dollies: the history of singapore
@ esplanade with crystal and karen

karen and i have been to every single dim sum dollies since it first started in 2003 at the jubilee hall in raffles hotel..and this year was no different. despite certain "resistance", i persisted and made it to the esplanade! and boy was it worth it! from skits on the guitar playing, corner hiding sang nila utama to the cowardly japanese kamikaze pilots who "pre-ejected" to a certain "lee" (not karen!), the dollies (selena tan, emma yong and pam oei) with their chopstick sidekick (hossan leong) and lo mai guys served up an absolute-"lee" thrilling, humourous and satisfying "pieces of heart"!

and as if to let me know i made a right choice, it was announced that the play had sold out and there would be no further extension! now that..is some really priceless dim sum! ^^

the dim sum dollies in steaming!
(the very first and still the best!)

sunday, 15 july 2007

harry potter and the order of the phoenix
@ gv marina with karen

coincidentally, after our fifth dim sum dollies, karen and i went for our fifth harry potter! even below-average reviews from newspapers and friends did not stop us from wanting to catch this installment of this boy wizard. personally, i quite enjoyed the show..while others have said that it was too dark and serious, but that's the way the story is..the only disappointing part is how the portion in the ministry of magic was speeded up which made the end feel very abrupt.

now awaiting the release of the seventh (and supposedly last) harry potter book..two main characters will die in the book..somehow i do not think harry will be one of them. if i was to take a guess, i'd say snape and voldemort..i quite like snape though! hmmm..

---

just finished "tuesdays with morrie" by mitch albom and it's both inspiring and enlightening..the realisation of how shallow the world is and how we are so blinded by inconsequential material things that we forget and forsake what's really important to us..

here, i'd like to share a line from the book which i find really meaningful and i believe true..

Love each other or perish

transformers

friday, 06 july 2007

transformers
@ the cathay with alvin

i am sure i am not the only one who grew up loving these robots and awed in wonder at their ability to transform..so when the movie was first announced, naturally it became one of the must-watch movies! however, first impressions from trailers and newspapers meant that i approached this with equally as much skepticism as enthusiasm..especially after my not-so-great experience with the last cartoon recreation - the teenage mutant ninja turtles. but skeptics fear not, from the get-go, the movie grabs hold of you and never lets you go..the cgi is wonderfully done and the transforming is quite a sight to behold..the action scenes are well paced and nicely spread out..even during the non-action scenes, lots of hilarious moments are added in to keep the movie going..sure there are minor points like how bumblebee is not a sports car and megatron is not a plane and how the final fight scene gets a bit confusing and messy..even then, it does not spoil the movie as a whole..the only letdown for me is the lack of airtime for my favourite character - starscream..but if you grew up watching and loving the cartoon series as i did, this show is a surefire must-watch!

---

i am becoming so horribly absentminded, i am getting worried..did i really order mango sago? -_-"

ocean's 13

thursday, 14 june 2007

ocean's thirteen
@ gv marina with chris and susu

ocean's 13 suffers a little from attempting to accomplish too much in a limited amount of time..while the plot is straightforward (revenge), the sheer number of people involved and the sophistication of the plan and execution meant that audiences must keep up or catch up..to add to the complexity, new complications arise throughout and new options get thrown into the mix. the movie also moves in a consistently quick pace meaning you don't really get much of a chance to dwell on previous scenes. despite that, ocean's 13's exquisite sets and cast makes all its shortcomings secondary..i especially loved the comic moments involving brad pitt and matt damon..it's the way they appear so nonchalant even during an awkward or funny moment..damn cool! or could it be that i am easily amused? oh and it's amusing how the opening sequence of the show bears an uncanny resemblance to another brad pitt movie "mr and mrs smith" too! haha..overall, ocean's 13 achieves its purpose as a fun show so do not expect an intellectual or foolproof plot..like su told me when i remarked about how rusty (or russell as she calls brad's character..rusty is the correct name by the way!) managed to walk right into an empty slot machine in the midst of such a crowded casino, "it is a movie"..and so that is the way to watch ocean's 13..

---

i slipped and fell this morning (my ass hurts man! already not so much flesh liaoz leh!)..seem to be doing that quite a lot these days (not the hurting of my ass part i am talking about la! doh!)..

---

when you're gone
the pieces of my heart are missing you
when you're gone
the face i came to know is missing too
when you're gone
the words i need to hear to always get me through the day
and make it okay
i miss you...
- avril lavigne

is it so silly to feel this way?

taking a breath to keep breathing...

friday, 1 june 2007

pirates of the caribbean: at world's end
@ eng wah suntec with chris

it was a last minute decision to catch this and it seemed like we weren't meant to watch it..all the cinemas we checked were mostly fully booked (and i refused to sit anywhere nearer than 6 rows to the screen!)..our last resort was the cinema at suntec city and we had almost the whole cinema to choose our seats from! crazy..

for all its hype, the show was a big letdown..too long, too complicated and too boring..sure it had its lighter moments but those few seconds cannot save this two and half hours of blockbuster from being a blocked-busted..i still want to take johnny depp home though! :P

sorry elise, i pang seh-ed you..but i saved you money hor! :D

saturday, 2 june 2007

shrek 3
@ gv marina with karen

after a bad night with pirates, it was lucky that shrek 3 was much much better..given that it has not much of a storyline (it is a cartoon afterall!) and lots of funny moments were recycled (from previous shrek movies), its cute factor alone was enough to make this a really enjoyable show! nice! :)

sunday-tuesday, 3-5 june 2007
..two day conference in kuala lumpur

..wanted to do so much more
..too little time
..at least it was fun and..

..i finally satisfied my urge for dunkin' donuts! damn shuang..
even brought some back for elise and su! :)

---

"not like me"

who is that in the mirror i see?
it feels like i am not like me
a reflection i refuse to acknowledge
a smile that locks me up, like a cage
my tears, they just will not flow
my heart, it just will not glow
a fire, that has been long smothered
my laughter, it is a cold blooded traitor
happy, worriless and carefree
innocent and content, seemingly
cracks deepen beneath the surface
faith that cannot be easily replaced
time will heal, all in good time
how long more before i run out of time?
how long more before i lose sight?
how long more can i sustain this fight?
it feels so right to feel so wronged
in the meantime, the clock ticks on...

addy (07 june 2007)

a midsummer night's dream

that midsummer day

priceless
@ cineleisure with marie

i have always wanted to watch a french comedy for the longest time..but for various reasons, it had always been left as that - a "want". funny then when marie asked me to catch "priceless"..and even more funny that like me, this was her first despite having a liking for french shows too! audrey tautou was at her sensual best while gad elmaleh (the male lead) compliments her charmingly as the love struck jean..the script was both smart and sweet and the cast played out their parts so well that at times, i'd forgotten the show was in french! but after all the brilliant build up, the ending was kind of a letdown..that aside, this has been a quite lovely introduction to french fare! :)

that midsummer night

a midsummer night's dream
@ fort canning park with huiling and yili

The play features three interlocking plots, connected by a celebration of the wedding of Duke Theseus of Athens and the Amazonian queen Hippolyta.

In the opening scene, Hermia refuses to comply with her father Egeus's wish for her to marry his chosen man, Demetrius. In response, Egeus quotes before Theseus an ancient Athenian law whereby a daughter must marry the suitor chosen by her father, or else face death or lifelong chastity worshipping Diana as a nun. The word in this sense is an anachronism. Hermia and her lover Lysander therefore decide to elope by escaping through the forest at night. Hermia informs her best friend Helena, but Helena has recently been rejected by Demetrius and decides to win back his favor by revealing the plan to him. Demetrius, followed doggedly by Helena, chases Hermia, who, in turn, chases Lysander, from whom she becomes separated.

Meanwhile, Oberon, king of the fairies, and his queen, Titania, arrive in the same forest to attend Theseus and Hippolyta's wedding. Oberon and Titania are estranged because Titania refuses to give her Indian page-boy to Oberon for use as his "knight" or "henchman," since the child's mother was one of Titania's worshippers. Oberon seeks to punish Titania's disobedience and recruits the mischievous Puck (also called Hobgoblin and Robin Goodfellow) to help him apply a magical juice from a flower called "love-in-idleness," which makes the victim fall in love with the first living thing he sees when he awakens. Oberon applies the juice to Titania in order to distract her and force her to give up the page-boy.

Having seen Demetrius act cruelly toward Helena, Oberon orders Puck to spread some of the juice on the eyelids of the young Athenian man. Instead, Puck puts the juice on the eyes of Lysander, who then falls in love with Helena. When Oberon finds this out, he makes Puck apply the juice to Demetrius. Due to Puck's errors, Hermia's two lovers temporarily turn against her in favor of Helena. Helena, however, is convinced that her two suitors are mocking her, as neither loved her originally. The four pursue and quarrel with each other all night, losing themselves in the dark and in the maze of their romantic entanglements.

Meanwhile, a band of "rude mechanicals" (lower-class labourers) have arranged to perform a crude play about Pyramus and Thisbe for Theseus' wedding, and venture into the forest, near Titania's bower, for their rehearsal. Nick Bottom, a stage-struck weaver, is spotted by Puck, who transforms his head into that of an ass (donkey). Titania is awoken by Bottom's singing, and she immediately falls in love with him. She treats him as if he is a nobleman and lavishes attention upon him. While in this state of devotion, she encounters Oberon and casually gives him the Indian boy.

Having achieved his goals, Oberon releases Titania and orders Puck to remove the ass's head from Bottom. The magical enchantment is removed from Lysander but is allowed to remain on Demetrius, so that he may reciprocate Helena's love. The fairies then disappear, and Theseus and Hippolyta arrive on the scene, during an early morning hunt. They wake the lovers and, since Demetrius doesn't love Hermia anymore, Theseus over-rules Egeus's demands and arranges a group wedding. The lovers decide that the night's events must have been a dream. After they all exit, Bottom awakes, and he too decides that he must have experienced a dream "past the wit of man."

In Athens, Theseus, Hippolyta and the lovers watch the mechanicals perform "Pyramus and Thisbe." It is ridiculous and badly performed but gives everyone pleasure regardless, and after the mechanicals dance a Bergomask (rustic dance), everyone retires to bed. Finally, as night falls, Oberon and Titania bless the house, its occupants, and the future children of the newlyweds, and Puck delivers an epilogue to the audience asking for applause.
- synopsis of the play taken from wikipedia...

i agreed to watch this play knowing only that it was by shakespeare and that i had watched the movie version before..but i went along anyway not remembering the storyline, not knowing the time or the price! i found out later that it was a "night out" at the park sort of theme as well! interesting...

when we reached font canning park, the first thing that we noticed was the setup..there was no proper stage, a whole maze of planks and lots of pinic mats strewn all around the park..we were to find out later that the whole play was going to take place on those planks. despite our initial skeptism, we got ourselves a pretty good "front row" seat!



it was a truly unique experience having the actors and actresses stomping up and down the "stage" and playing out their roles right beside you..the concept is just so "wow!" despite it being shakespearean, local and modern themes were used at appropriate moments to liven up the play..like the instance where hermia and helena played "lom chiam pass" or where hermia used a handphone in her attempt to locate lysander! some parts were really quite amusing! towards the end, the actors and actresses pulled random members of the audience to join in the bergomask in a chain dance along sort of thingy and..i got asked to dance by emma yong! so cool! ok so i didn't exactly dance with her but i got to hold her hand (well, more of her glove!) for the slightest moment! anyway, it's still so cool la! :)

at the end of the play, i was still so starstruck that huiling kept laughing at me..oh well, this is one midsummer night that i will remember for quite some time! :))

spidey

spiderman 3
@ gv tampines with katherine

was supposed to watch the show with marie but she was ill (get well girl!)..spent my whole morning searching for someone to either go with or sell the tickets to..in the end, it was my meimei to the rescue! :)

back to the movie..this was one of the movies marie and i put down on our "must-watch" list..the first two installments had set the bar for the spiderman series and based on the trailer, spiderman 3 looked spot-on to maintain the high standards..however, like most hyped up shows, spiderman 3 disappoints..while the effects are still fantastic, the show does not seem to decide if it wants to focus on the drama or on the action..many characters are built up only to suffer anticlimaxes..even the final fight scene has an unfinished and abrupt feel about it..all these makes spiderman 3 a very long-winded and choppy 2 hours 20 minutes..

---

got myself a new pair of levi's 512 jeans! really nice! i don't know why but suddenly i am in this shopaholic mode and it is not just cds which are on my shopping list! there is still the oakley shades which i am eyeing, one belt for work, one for casual and i really have been in need of a new wallet for the longest time! of course there are the other cute stuff which fall under my "nice to look at, nice to have but mostly unnecessary" category! :P but then shopping is known to be therapeutic..well, until we take a look at the amounts we have spent!

on the road to...?

wild hogs
@ gv marina with kenneth

i recommended this show to kenneth despite knowing almost nothing about it..but it was a gut feel come good..it is a really funny show la! lots of laugh-out-loud moments..just nice to close off what has been a very hectic week! :)

---

i should really get started on those dvds ginny lent me or she'll soon be hanging pig heads on my door! then again, her being "atas" (high class), i'd probably expect mei zhen xiang bak kua instead! not such a bad thought is it? bak kua on a lazy weekend watching dvds! :P

---

it feels like we are slowly nearing our destination but..i keep thinking of making a u-turn at the next junction...

turtle power

teenage mutant ninja turtles
@ gv tampines mall with karen

have been wanting to catch this for the longest time..not because i expected it to be a spectacular show but rather to revisit our childhood heroes! i mean, we all once wished we were sidekicks of leonardo, donatello, raphael and michelangelo rite? while the storyline was everything we'd expect it to be, the characters have all been given updated looks (and voices)..for one, karen and i both did not remember april o'neil as a lara croft! it was kind of weird to see our green friends after so long but it was nice, even if it was just to relive the memories :)

---

jess commented how amazing it was that i have been caught in so many crossroads over the past year - whether in love or in work..you know that feeling of getting caught at consecutive traffic lights? well, that is how it feels like..every time that life seems back to normal, something else happens and i get stopped dead in my tracks again..it is tough because i cannot seem to build up any momentum or gain any inspiration. if there is one thing that i have learnt throughout this time, it is that things will always have a way of working out in the end..somehow. so while life could be better, it could also be worse..instead, i should be thankful that i constantly have the company and encouragement of friends..people whose ears must be a little tone-deaf (specific to my voice) from all my whinings!

the lights are turning green soon..and i must be ready to go..

---

you are not "the foe" la silly marie!

feeling free

06 april 2007, good friday

freedom writers
@ gv tampines mall with marie

i was telling marie when we were still deciding on which show to watch, anything after that horrendously torturous (yeah it is double negative!) mr bean movie will be good! and it was! "freedom writers" is very much like that famous michelle pfeiffer movie "dangerous minds"..erin gruwell’s passion to become a teacher is soon challenged by a group of black, latino, and asian gangbangers who hate her even more than each other. when erin begins to listen to them in a way no adult has ever done, she begins to understand that for these kids, getting through the day alive is enough they are not delinquents but teenagers fighting a war of the streets that began long before they were born. erin gives them something they never had from a teacher before - respect. in highlighting the various vulnerabilities in life, freedom writers' most important lesson is that even in our darkest hours, there is always an outlet of hope..predictable but inspiring nonetheless..

i still want to watch my teenage mutant ninja turtles!

---

07 april 2007, saturday

went for a 4.5 hours marathon kbox session with karen..she is probably my best ktv companion man..it's only with her that i get to try out all the ulu songs (from the newest hits all the way to the oldies) and not feel embarassed in doing so..not to mention that she is also my best duet partner! :) and if you were thinking 4.5 hours is such a long time, trust me, it always ends too soon!

a very random post

mr. bean's holiday
@ gv tampines mall with chris, kenneth and ryan

*note: the sole purpose of this entry is to remind myself never ever EVER again to watch such a crappy show..and if i do, to remind myself never ever EVER to bring my brain along!

argh! chow turtle!
(voiceover: now..in theatres islandwide!)

which reminds me..i still want to watch the teenage mutant ninja turtles!
(voiceover: now..in theatres islandwide!)
addy: !!!
voiceover: i am a voiceover!
addy: oh? urm..thank you..i kind of figured that out..
voiceover: you are welcome!
addy: yes ok..but you really can stop it now..you have done your job and your voice is creeping me out!
voiceover: it is my duty as a voiceover! and i can't help my voice being like this..should i change my tone? is it too deep? do i speak too fast?
addy: it's not that..voiceovers do not just come in in the middle of blog entries..
voiceover: they don't?
addy: no..they do not..so you should stop!
voiceover: why are you talking to me then?
addy: i am not talking to you
voiceover: you just responded to me..
addy: no i didn't!
voiceover: there..again!
addy: argh! chow turtle!
voiceover: now..in theatres islandwide!
addy: -_-!!!

---

a commercial break..

the music on this blog is brought to you by the little devil dj spinning on the left-hand side..specially employed from esnips..now back to your regular programme!

---

here is a sneak peek of a typical conversation with marie..be warned! as she would say, "it is the lame!"

this came from a conversation about her msn nickname "marie - i have the hots for mature british guys."..to which a certain mr. bean was added to her list..how did we end up talking about red bean soup? your guess is as good as mine!

marie: i like the red bean soup!
marie: considering my mom makes it!
addy: cool!
addy: am i allowed to try?
addy: or is it only available to family members?
marie: no la
marie: u can eat one la
marie: i ask my mom make more la
marie: but i need to req one
addy: wah sei!
addy: even at home it's so administrative!
addy: need to make a written request..
addy: wow!
marie: cos my mom works ma.
marie: so she onli cook in the weekends.
marie: hahaha
marie: eh!
marie: i got say written req meh
addy: it's the way you say it mah..
addy: or is it through email?
marie: no la
marie: verbal!
addy: ooorh..
addy: no need black and white and cc: your dad ar?
marie: of cos.
marie: he eat only wat!

i know i know..we are the lame! to think that joan was initially scared that marie and i would not get along too well because she was too chatty..what can i say right?

i have a high tolerance level! hahaha..

---

i like this..

---

do i make you happy?

with a wink..
or a grin..
or with what i say?

i don't mind if the whole world laughs with me..
for me..
or at me..

i feel blessed..
knowing i am able to bring a smile to others with lesser effort than most...

but all i really want..
is to make one person happy..
just one..
i'd be happy..

---

i like this also..

pop! goes my heart

music and lyrics
@ gv tampines mall with chris, elise and marie

this is so everything i want out of a romantic comedy..gorgeous music, lovely storyline and a happy ending! it's so sweet it's diabetic! :)

"way back into love"
by hugh grant and haley bennett



i've been living with a shadow overhead
i've been sleeping with a cloud above my bed
i've been lonely for so long
trapped in the past i just can't seem to move on

i've been hiding all my hopes and dreams away
just in case i ever need them again someday
i've been setting aside time
to clear a little space in the corners of my mind

all i wanna do is find a way back into love
i can't make it through without a way back into love

i've been watching but the stars refuse to shine
i've been searching but i just don't see the signs
i know that it's out there
there's got to be something for my soul somewhere

i've been looking for someone to shed some light
not somebody just to get me through the night
i could use some direction
and i'm open to your suggestions

all i wanna do is find a way back into love
i can't make it through without a way back into love
and if i open my heart again
i guess i'm hoping you'll be there for me in the end

there are moments when i don't know if it's real
or if anybody feels the way i feel
i need inspiration
not just another negotiation

all i wanna do is find a way back into love
i can't make it through without a way back into love
and if i open my heart to you
i'm hoping you'll show me what to do
and if you help me to start again
you know that i’ll be there for you in the end

while i absolutely love this song..it makes me think too much and i can feel the tears forming in my eyes while i listen to it on repeat. and then, i wish that that feeling would just leave me alone..all i wanna do is find a way back into love...is that really so hard to do?

---

another card magic video from shiqin...

passing like a dream

dreamgirls
@gv.plazasingapura
with.chrisandkenneth
feeling.dreamy

when joan first told me she had wanted to walk out of the theatre 30 minutes into the show, i was quite incredulous..i mean, how bad can a musical be right? but when i watched it, i understood what she meant..the show was really way too draggy..at certain parts, you can literally hear the whole theatre in silence (half of them asleep maybe!)..not to say the acting or singing or the songs were bad..in fact, the cast including the four main leads - jamie foxx, beyonce, eddie murphy and jennifer hudson - put in a highly credible performance..i am especially surprised by eddie murphy's earnestness in his role as jimmy early..probably because most of us only associate him with comedy roles (i.e. norbit)..also, while the songs are generally pleasant enough, most of it is very r&b..for people who cannot appreciate the genre, this may be one very strenuous experience at over 2 hours long..overall, i would not say that the show was bad but i still prefer musicals in their more "traditional" environment..

---

another week has just passed by like that..only monday i was wondering how am i going to get through the week..and now it is sunday and then monday again! work is taking up most of my time these days..when i get home, i do not feel like doing anything at all but sit in front of my computer and slack..i know it sounds lifeless but lifeless probably describes my energy levels after a day at work nowadays. don't misunderstand, i do not hate my work nor is it rocket science..it is just tedious or probably i am just not used to it yet..and ginny (my manager) says that "the worse is yet to come"! -gulps-

---

haven't been attending church regularly since the new year (the english one i am referring to!)..i feel really guilty but i just cannot seem to drag myself off the bed in the mornings! argh! bad bad bad! how does gabriel and karen do it! or could it be that i am losing my faith?

making friends out of nothing at all

norbit
@gv.tampinesmall
with.joanandmarie
feeling.sweetened

yes it is lame..yes there are a lot of chinese and black men jokes..yes it is eddie murphy..but it is sweet! :) i am just a sucker for the loser comes good sort of story..and that part where norbit confesses his love for kate in the church..it really warmed my heart..now that's love..

---

there are two sides to the story..one from my mum and the other from everyone else. my mum always tells me that i keep too much to myself and that i cannot make friends..and the ironic other side is almost everyone else thinks that i am easy-going, super sociable and in some cases, a casanova! like when i proclaim myself single, i tend to get this weird look and a shake of the head..from my friends, from my cousins, from my relatives..like why? and then comes the typical reply, "you know so many girls, don't be fussy la!" wah lao..oh by the way, my cousins have even gone to the extent of inventing girlfriends for me! can die..

the thing is, when i am in a good mood..i make friends easily..like i know this colleague sheena for just a few weeks and some people think that we already knew each other for ages and a few are even teasing us! goodness! or like the other day, i spent nearly half an hour talking to this bubble tea store auntie about the difficulties of setting up a business in singapore..ok, so she did most of the talking! or even last night when meeting joan and her friends, marie and fen! it probably helped that marie and fen were easy to get along with! but don't try to befriend me when i am in a lousy mood..the only thing you'll get out of me is probably a grunt and a sulk..i am just emotional like that..

so why does my mum think that i am a caveman? well, as most of my friends know, i can be pretty anti-authority and constant nagging and questioning will not get anything out of me..that's not to say i do not love my mum..i do, but i don't want question upon question upon question..it irritates me! to the extent that sometimes i simply switch off! i guess that's just the way parents are..

but it's not just a matter of making friends is it? it's about being a good friend and maintaining relationships..and even though i can't be there for all of them at all times, i certainly hope that i have been a good enough friend to my friends most of the time..not just a passerby...

late cny nights

16 feb, fri:

as previously reported..was at zouk for alex's my dreamd8 II competition..

reach home time: 0300H

17 feb, sat:
after reunion dinner at soup restaurant..

back at zouk with gabriel for mambo night (this is my first time by the way!) it was quite fun initially but then it got too crowded and the music just became irritating after a while..i am just more of a indie/rock music guy la..


reach home time: 0330H

18 feb, sun:
after mambo night..

caught a measly 30min snooze before i had to wake up to fetch chris and his family to the airport..trust me when i say that i had seriously thought of just sms-ing him to take a taxi! but how serious can i be when i have seriously no energy left to be really serious about thinking anything! serious la! anyway, i dragged my weary body out of bed and to his place in the end..for all my troubles, i received my first official angbao of cny 2007! it felt nice to have done something for a friend..but at that moment, all i really really felt was..damn tired..

reach home time: 0630H

20 feb, tue:
in the wee hours of morning..


just follow law
@gv.tampinesmall
with.jingxianandkenneth
feeling.highlyamused

i hate to say this but fann wong is really quite funny in this show! haha..wah lao..from molesting herself to scratching her privates to spreading her legs for the uncles to see! omg! some people detest jack neo's movies because they are lame and cut too close to reality for their comfort..but that's exactly the reason i quite like them. admittedly his storylines can be stale at times but kudos to him for always daring to project singapore as it really is..in our local dialects, in our local humour and our local dilemmas. and the best part is though he voices out the problems singaporeans face in our daily lives, he doesn't make it all doom and gloom either..which i suppose is part of the charm in watching a jack neo movie. anyway, if there is one very important thing jinxy and i learnt from the show, it is the real meaning of cc: and bcc: in emails..cc: means to "cover ca-chng" (cover backside!)..bcc: means "better cover ca-chng" so now you know why we always always always have to cc: and bcc: when sending out emails during work! haha..funny la!

reach home time: 0500H

---

after a long long weekend, tomorrow will come as a harsh reality check! the alarm clock will ring at the same time i have been getting home the past few days and it will be back to the grind of work..to those who are going back to work just like me, remember hor, send emails must cc: and bcc:! :P

it was all fun while it lasted! :)

enchanted by the "other" potter

another week has passed and work has progressed..from focusing on just a single project, more responsibilities are being passed onto me..i am not stressed out, just a little disoriented at times..but i get by..still! my manager, ginny and i had a slight disagreement on friday..she said sorry to me afterwards but i felt that it was my fault for overreacting..i am like that, just emotional about things. but we are alright now. she is like me, expressive and temperamental..it is nice to work under someone who shows her appreciation of your work upfront..though you'd be sure to know of her frustrations as well!

next week will be a special week for many; valentine's day and then chinese new year..but somehow it feels just like another week coming. valentine's day is just another 9-to-5 (8.30am - 7pm more like it!) working wednesday..and chinese new year? it used to be when i had this reason to bring all my friends under one roof and for my mum to show off her cooking..maybe not this year..i don't know..

"14th of february"

all the times you showed your care
you kept your promise and you were there
by my side in times of need
to comfort me to pull me through to succeed
come 14th of february we'll celebrate our friendship
to remind ourselves of all the precious things we keep
within ourselves locked inside our hearts
our friends, our love ones, people we'll never leave out in the dark
but then again is that beside the point?
that only on valentine's day, our friendship we learn to enjoy
i'll send you a card a bouquet of roses
i'll send you my love with hugs and kisses
but it's not only 14th of february it's not only for a day
cuz friendship and love is more than one valentine's day

AD (9th february '98)

---

friday:

runningwithscissors
@orchardcineleisure
with.hongliandhuiling
feeling.alittlelost

the show is based on the personal memoirs of augusten burroughs. growing up in the 1970s, young augusten (joseph cross) was living a middle-class existence with an alcoholic father (alec baldwin) and a bipolar mother (annette bening), an unpublished poet with delusions of becoming famous. when his parents divorced, augusten’s mother sends him to live with her wildly unorthodox psychiatrist, dr. finch (brian cox) and his eccentric extended family. running with scissors chronicles augusten’s survival under the most extraordinary of circumstances.

the storyline and the humour are really deep and dark..certain themes of the show will also make one feel uneasy (not in a bad way). the acting was good though..you could really empathise with the characters and feel their frustration, confusion and anger. that's not to say that it is a depressing show. but after a hard week of work, it was not something i could really appreciate.

saturday:

misspotter
@orchardcineleisure
with.gracie
feeling.enchanted

beatrix potter has delighted generations of children with her books. but she kept her own private life locked carefully away. oscar-winning star renee zellweger is now bringing her secret story to the screen in "miss potter," the first film directed by chris noonan since his charming 1995 movie, babe. it is set in the high summer days of late victorian and edwardian england, during which beatrix develops her natural skills as artist and story-teller. when she finally publishes her debut book, the tale of peter rabbit, she becomes a writing celebrity. it also leads to courtship and her first love with publisher norman warne, played by ewan mcgregor. their relationship and his marriage proposal in july, 1905, was to change beatrix's life for ever.

it was a love which she could not announce - or even talk about. in high-society london, her parents had insisted she keep it from friends and neighbours. they considered her proposed wedding a mismatch. warne, they said, was from 'trade' and demanded that she carefully reconsider their life together. beatrix allowed herself to be persuaded to leave her fiancé and london. it was supposed to be a time for reflection and calm. but, instead, she faced tragedy and loneliness and returned, with a different outlook. she became a woman of strong views and independence. she also built up a farming dynasty in the lake district - a dynasty over which she took charge long after her writing career virtually ended in 1913. it established her as a woman ahead of her time. despite becoming the world's most successful children's writer and a wealthy landowner and prize-winning farmer, she never forgot her first love.

now this is more my type of show..feel-good and magical..really really nice..the only thing which made gracie and i a little upset was "why did ewan mcgregor have to die?" haha..but even then, it did not take the shine off this delightful story! :) truly enchanting..

bo lat

met up with joan for the first time since i've known her from when she was in secondary 2! that is like a meeting nearly 8 years in the making! haha.. which incidentally eclipsed the previous "effort" set by meilay when i met her last year! anyway, joan and i went to parkway kbox and spent three and a half hours flexing our vocal muscles! at the end, we were both quite shagged out and freaking cold (especially our dear heroine who acted like she did not need a jacket..bwahaha)! but quite a shiok workout i must say!

later that night...

borat
@goldenvillageplazasingapura
with.chrisandkenneth
feeling.empty

this show is superbly wuperly duperly fantasticly incredibly funny!...NOT!

---

hey kar i am always here for you whenever you need me..insignificant people don't have such privileges k! all you need is pick up the phone and work your fingers and i'll be there! cheer up! :)

3m - mini-movie marathon

nightatthemuseum
@goldenvillagemarina
with.chrisandkenneth
feeling.cute

though it is just another typical ben stiller movie, it fits into the holiday mood perfectly..lots of laugh-out-loud and feel good moments..features owen wilson and robin williams as well..nice! :)

deathnote2:thelastname
@goldenvillagemarina
with.chris,kenneth and alex
feeling.contented

i was curious how death note would end in the movie having known the actual ending for the manga..and i'm glad to say that while part 2 strays a little from the original storyline, the overall plot still holds together well..also despite having a different ending, the show still provides a satisfactory closure..

---

thanks for the tie jinxy..really lovely choice of colour babe! :)