Happy 2007

There's something weird about this world, I tell ya.

By the time I've finished typing this, it'd probably be the new year of 2007. People around me are calling "Hey let's go for the countdown!" or similar stuff, but I don't want to. I don't believe in this stuff. What I'd like is to usher in the new year quietly. Let it slowly take over you, envelope you in its embrace. You'll be more aware of it this way. More aware that this is a new year, with new challenges, new experiences, new sights, new sounds. A Whole New World, to quote that song.

For myself, I don't have much of a New Year's resolution. Sure we all have those staple ones e.g world peace, unconditional love, blahblah etc. But what really are New Year's resolutions? Can we honestly tell ourselves that we've followed everything that we wrote down in December of 2005? The majority of us would probably have wrote that down just for New Year's sake. But by February, that piece of paper or Word document would probably have been forgotten, lost in that 80GB hard drive of yours or simply thrown away into a wastebasket. What I truly believe in is to have a constant set of beliefs, beliefs that are positive and can influence you in your daily life. It is not what we write now that defines us, but how we carry out our daily lives in the coming year. It is that constant striving force that will determine whether we make or break 2007.

I'm typing this in the safety and comfort of my home, having a little quiet time to myself. Ever since I went for that totally insane millenium countdown at Orchard back in December 1999, 2359h, I promised myself I'd not go for such stuff again. Only if I were in New York's Times Square.

Many people around me are so enamoured by the incoming new year. Sure, 2007 brings fresh new ideas and brand new experiences. But whatever the case, there is always that excess baggage we carry over from 2006. And that's an inevitable fact. Let me see whether I can list some: --

• Iraq will still be in civil war, thousands will die and another thousand US soldiers will die policing a country that is not theirs
• America's automakers will still be losing millions (and that Camaro SS will never come)
• We will be one year closer to losing all the ice in the world due to global warming
• Polar bear numbers will continue to decline due to that
  
• Thousands of children in Africa will still die from AIDS
• The rebuilding of the damaged homes in Indonesia from the tsunami of 2005 will still doggedly carry on
• Hurricane Katrina victims will still be looking for places to live
• North Korea will still threaten Asia with its nuclear bomb
• Bastard terrorists the world over will still continue to hold All-U-Can-Bomb fests
• Malaysia will continue to nitpick Singapore. Over what, no one can tell.
• I still won't have a girlfriend

Oh well. Looks like 2007 isn't that bad after all :). Happy New Year everybody.

wonderful wednesday

Why do I spending so much time and effort on someone who doesn't appreciate it, when someone whom I feel special with gets only half that time? She once meant more to me than anyone else, still means more to me than anyone else, yet I'm doing this to her? She deserves much more than this.

Gerald Ford is dead, long live Gerald Ford. The 38th President of the US passed away at the grand old age of 93. My hat off to him. He was one of the most influential US presidents. I think he'll be sorely missed. Also, singer-songwriter and "Godfather of Soul" James Brown passed away, from heart failure. I love his songs. "Get Up Offa' That Thing' was one of his greatest hits, apparently. Just read that up. God bless both these wonderful people.

Went to Amy's today, passed her her present. Was raining the whole time so it was slightly wet when I got there. Ate lunch together, as usual (I cooked!) and helped her prepare her dinner. In a way. Hope it was edible, Ames :). Fafa was jumping all over me like I was a long lost friend. Everytime I tried to put her down she'd have none of it and would jump back on my lap. We had a lot of fun but there're too many to list. And I don't like to publicize those too. Private. Shh.

Accompanied Joanne at Wisma to buy her pants later in the day. Met up with Joycelyn later. It was so funny that I couldn't stop grinning to myself throughout. The whole time I was desperately trying to keep my laughter in check. For the life of me I don't know what was so hilarious, but as I think back now I think I know what it is. Shan't say what it is but damn, is it funny. She had her dance class at 1815? (I think) then I just went off home myself. Can't meet her tomorrow cos her mommy wouldn't say yes. Another time, no problem.

I think the umbrella should become a fashion accessory for people nowadays. I mean, it's raining the whole time, everyone's getting wet and it doesn't look like a reprieve's coming soon. People should start carrying brollies the way Paris Hilton carries dogs or Hong Kong celebrities carry marriages (sometimes they don't). Speaking of accessorizing. That day on the train, I had the luck of seeing 3 baby-toting mothers right in front of me. One Indian, one Malay and one Chinese. But that wasn't all. I counted nearly 5 more babies in strollers in the same car I was in. I thought the Government was pushing for more babies but this was insane! It was like it was fashionable to have babies! Maybe I should tell my future wife that.

Greetings

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!

Couldn't have asked for a better way to spend my Christmas Eve. Went ice-skating (or attempted to) with Audrey, YM and Gilbert. Gotta thank Gilbert for helping me up so many times after I'd dropped to the wet rink after losing balance. God knows how many times I slipped and fell from just losing balance or having sore legs. Michelle Kwan, I have no idea how you do it. You're still hot, though. Dropped at Raffles interchange and left those two ()birds to their own business.

Just came back from the staple diet of candlelight service at church and makan after that on every Christmas Eve. Saw some people I expected to see, some I didn't expect to and some I didn't want to. Let's just say they've not been very good to me or my family.

Sigh. Not that I'm lamenting this or what, but I was supposed to go for Joanne's Christmas dinner party at her place. In the end stuff happened and I didn't. Well, was kind of looking forward to it actually. I mean, not the fact that I'd get to go to her place, but I've never gone to a Christmas party before. Maybe another time, Kai Yi. Cheer up.

OK no emo from me today. It's the season of giving and perpetual hope. Let's spread the joy, people. MERRY CHRISTMAS ONCE AGAIN!

Rain, rain, go away

It's raining so damn badly these few days that I think Singapore's water problem has been solved for the next few millenia. My shoes are soaking wet and I'm resorting to wearing sandals. Gah damn

Did my first volunteer work at SPCA yesterday with Yiming. Cool enough, just that the rabbits' toilet training leaves a lot to be desired. The cats were great though, and I think I've grown quite fond of them. They're all so damned cute, as the rabbits are, in spite of their otherworldly toilet habits. Let's just say that the rabbits' cages were hell compared to the cats'. The newspapers that lined the cages of the rabbits' cages were, erm, soaked. And it wasn't because of the rain either. The cats were all jumpy and fidgety when we were cleaning their cages. In contrast the rabbits were almost all just sitting there and staring at me when I tried to remove them. Only one of them gave me a look like could only be described as utter shock and awe (something like O.O). Two girls were there and they chatted up Yiming and I. Really, they were quite good looking. It was only after we left that I realised I hadn't gotten either of their numbers. Hope I can see them again though (sorry YM, no dice :)).

Going to skate ice this Sunday with Audrey and YM. Hope I don't fall down too many times.

rain, rain, go away

He was just standing there, in the rain, soaking wet.

I was just walking by, on my way home. I whistled to him, and he came bounding, a flash of brown. A beautiful golden retriever. He looked so lost. I tried to shoo him away, but he always came bounding back whenever I whistled. And he just wouldn't go away. He trotted by my side, in the pouring rain, he loving eyes looking up at me, lost, pleading. I couldn't just do nothing. The speech by Deirdre Moss of the SPCA just touched something in me. 1000 strays taken in monthly into their shelters really struck a chord in me. I couldn't just do nothing: I took him home.

I gave him some food and water, and played with him. Just 45 minutes after I let the lost canine in, the maid of the owner of the dog - searching for him - chanced upon him at my gate. Thank goodness we didn't let him in otherwise she'd still be searching in vain.

I guess something good happened to me today. Barely 5 minutes before I found the dog, I was yelling at myself through the rain - literally yelling - at how bad this day had turned out to be. Why I had still so many things to do at home, etc. And this encounter happens to me. The most amazing thing was, I walked out of my house intending to do a good deed today. However, no chances called out to me during the time I was out. Until I came home. All through this encounter, I felt like a hand was behind it all. God, maybe? All that I know that this was a blessing bestowed upon me. I feel absolutely overawed by this.

Happy days are here again

Sorry for the long absence. Must have been sleeping and watching too much Craig Ferguson.

I'm numero Uno on the Blacklist now! Razor got pwned big time and Gilbert's still playing catchup with my rank -thumbs nose. BMW M3 is my favourite car now. So happy.

Went out with Audrey after organ lesson on Friday. Ate dinner at TP then headed off to Bishan cos we couldn't find an MP3 player that suited her fancy. Saw a couple of my old classmates at J8 but I didn't bother saying hi. Not the kind of people I'd mix with anyway.

Yesterday night was my sis's birthday party. Invited Gilbert over so I wouldn't get bored. Was plenty hectic preparing for the party man. So many things to do. I had to cart 25kg worth of ice from the 7-Eleven down the road all the way back to my house. Thank goodness my arms didn't come off. Got drunk playing this ridiculous game, whereby you pick a card out of a circle of them - without breaking the circle - and then depending on what the card is, you have to do something. Climax of the game was down to 2 cards and a final 4th king. Now, if you got the fourth king, you had to drink the entire cup of wine down, which was sitting in the centre of the circle of cards. It came down to me and my sis's friend beside me. Deliberated for about a min, then I picked. I got a Jack of Spades -big grin, while my sis's friend got the king. She had to down the cup. But it didn't matter. I was so inebriated by then I couldn't stand properly. Sis's friend wanted to bring me out to St James but I went fuggit, I ain't going anywhere. Gilbert had to bring my to my room so I wouldn't collapse on the way up. Thanks man. Owe you one. No hangover, thankfully, but ached.

Listening to The Island OST now. A really good piece of music, I must say. Wanted to buy the album from Borders that day but it cost friggin 25 bucks. Pirated ftw

sleepless in singapore

I guess I misunderstood myself all along. Let's just let it be. I won't look up to you the way I did before. It's not that I don't like you, I do. But we all have to back down sometime.

Slept during Mark Wan's lesson and all through my bus ride back home from Goethe where I was paying my fees. Tired as hell and felt somewhat burdened.

Got to number 2 on the blacklist! I'm the proud owner of a brand-new Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren. That guy just couldn't stand up to my superior Porsche 911 Carrera S. Kicked him in the goolies, took his car AND got myself a "get out of jail free" ticket. Cool. Now have to figure out a strategy to beat Razor. He's a toughie and he has got my BMW E36 M3 GTR. Not that I'm looking forward to getting that car. I think the McLaren and Ford GT are far more exquisite and exotic vehicles than an M3. However bear in mind that I haven't seen that car in a long while, so if I tune it up some, it could be a real whacker.

Which is more than I can say for my former flagship vehicle, the Porsche Carrera GT. No doubt in real life the car is a stunning beauty (hey, Jay Leno owns one), but in the game, it's just a letdown. I have lost track of the number of spins performed while racing. Not just any spin, mind you. A 360 that'll make you lose time AND patience with the car. Decided enough was enough and sold it today for 145,000. Now my new Porsche 911 Carrera S takes the cake. So, in total I have 3 cars now: the Lamborghini Gallardo, Porsche 911 Carrera S and my new best friend, the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren. Just realised that all my cars are of European ancestry. Ha! It's not that I don't like Japanese cars, it's just that I don't think they're cut out for pure, adrenaline-pumping racing. The Brits and Germans still do it better.

McLaren FTW!

today is a great day

Paul Twohill was at the bus stop opposite Far East Plaza in front of a hotel (forgot the name). I was with Amy. He went like Yo man and I went like Yo man and people around us were like, whatever man. But he was cool. Exchanged a handshake and talked a bit, before he hailed a cab back for home. Still the same emo style and all, but it's all ok.

I didn't know how much I missed Amy until I met her today. Met her after her work to send her home. Actually I was already spying on her long before she was done (sorry Amy :)). Same as before: jokes abounded, nonsense flew every which way. She's just great to be around with. Couldn't afford Häagen-Dazs so I treated her to one of those $1 ice-cream-between-wafers roadside thingy. Only this time we ate it in plastic cups. Talked and laughed all the way to the bus stop. I hesitated to send her home because it'd be quite late, but in the end, I sent her home. We did exchange a hug, albeit briefly. To me, she's all worth it.

She's right, of course. Fate brought us together. This here is a friend whom I can relate so much to. Among others, I can say we have much in common. She's just a great, great person. It's just too bad that we didn't have more time to catch up. Oh never mind. There's always tomorrow :)

Thursday

Exotic Car Spotted: Chrysler Crossfire roadster

I'm intending to add this new part into every post. Now if I see any nice car, I'll type as above. Spotted the Chrysler at a HDB carpark. The first thing that drew me to it was the ribbed hood, similar to the Chrysler Sebring's. At first I thought I had got it wrong, that I had indeed seen the Sebring. But I looked closer and the car was actually shorter. Because I was on a bus, I couldn't see it clearly but I knew it from pictures. As a devoted reader of Car and Driver, I could spot it right away. A nice roadster indeed.

Just back from Vivo with Audrey, Elisha, YM, Isam, Syu and Wai Siong. Not supposed to be out gallivanting but what the heck. Elisha dared me (or was it the other way round) to go into the Ladies'. I dared but chickened out at the last second. And now I have to buy her a Nike bag which costs as much as one month's pocket money. Was actually intending to get her something else for Xmas but looks like I'll be saddled with a bag to buy too. I'm starting to find her somewhat rather fascinating indeed :).

Oh well. Comp batt's dying. Need to post before I lose all this hard-written work. Ciao all

last week of school

That's me on the Electone on the left, Samuel my 'cuz on the Silent
Violin on the right.




Showroom Performance!!!



Yup indeed it is. My deepest apologies to all who have been disappointed with my lack of postings recently. Too damned busy.

Performance was a blast. My sincerest thanks to all who came, hope I didn't disappoint. First day, Samuel went off key on the violin. I'm not about to criticize, because my cousin is a brilliant violinist. He had a hand in the backing music for the local movie "The Maid" and he performed at the recent opening of VivoCity too, just to name a few. Not bad a portfolio. I, on the other hand, have only a meagre 2 performances to boot. But hey, I'm being offered to perform at hotels and what-not. And there's cash to be had too.

Second day wasn't too bad, but it was my turn to bust up and Samuel's turn to shine. Played a solo starting piece to get people's attention. Midway through the song I realised I was going to blow it big time, because I'd forgotten the rest of the notes. So I did the only smart thing an organist like me would do: I put the volume pedal down slowly, and pretended it was a short introductory piece, when I was in fact supposed to play the whole piece. No applause, please. Elisha came at the start of my first piece. Couldn't mistake her for anyone else. Who else wears such a bright T-shirt that SCREAMS "I'M HERE!" =) Appreciate her for coming, even though she was sick and all.

I never knew my Aston Martin post could gather so much attention. Too bad Tulip didn't get taken in. She said that "no one would describe their girlfriend in such a way". Argh =)

Jo and I kind of pissed each other off a bit that night. Don't want to go into details, but I hope she doesn't mull over it too long. We've already apologized to each other, hope this thing will just blow over. Well, just hope for the best, is all.

Dinner's a'coming. See you fellas around