House In The East

It's nice to have a conversation that's about boundless energy, boundless passion, boundless youth and boundless potential. It's exciting to have to plan and get to and get through a new phase. It's fun to dream about endless possibilities. It makes a gloomy day like this not so gloomy.

I think about what I want to achieve and what I want to do. What I believe in and what's my philosophy. I think it's easy for people to label each other as hypocrites when in reality all we're trying to do is find out what we stand for.

And at the end of the day it's all about a bit of magic. An experience unexpected, incredible, mystical and happily unbelievable.

Show Me How You Wanderlust

Meiji's Birthday!

Rounding Up

This was the meal that we had to round up Kim Vy's two-week stay at our place. My mom whipped up a fantastic dinner, some stuff that I've never seen before. And some kinda stew, when she's more used to making soup. She's very camera-shy and specifically told me not to upload photos of her, even when she's in the background!

We had a fantastic, memorable meal, of French wine and French cheese. There was a bit of drama when the cork-screw got stuck and broke halfway and we had to get another one to get the cork out.

2 weeks and he had a whirlwind tour of Singapore. And I had a taste of France.

Awesome

You're so awesome because you see me as more than I am. And because of that I don't look at myself the same way. And because of that I work hard to be that guy. And that's why I will be a better person. That's why I am a better man than yesterday, every day.

Older and Wiser

The one thing that's fantastic about getting older, is becoming wiser.

I was with an old friend yesterday. He looked as young as I last saw him. I, on the other hand, have aged visibly. Thankfully I still don't look my age but if it accelerates I might actually look 30 by the time I become 30!

He directed me in a play (that was meant for public eyes) and made me jump through hoops there were challenging and unexpected. I did lots of things that were out of my comfort zone and looking back, it changed my life.

It was strange too, looking back and knowing that I was a rather different person back then. We like to believe that we make the best decisions at that moment but there really isn't any other way to find a better solution until you've made mistakes, or gone through a tough time. I would have done so many things differently. I would've been more confident of myself. I would love myself more. Hahaha... shit this sounds like a confession. I would learn how to take opinions in my stride. I would have tried harder.

And all that... I can't differentiate if I'm talking about my acting in the play or my life in general. They're all so blurry and kind of meshed together... my work and my life!

I've always told myself I will stop acting. This is the last time. That's the last time. But I've done a short clip for Nessie/Jacq/Mel's FYP. I got the opportunity to cameo as an undercover cop being a student beating someone up for Lyon/Pamy/Wenxu/Danielle's FYP. On Friday I will act in Christine/Zhenwei/MingXiu/YiLing's FYP for their campaign.

After 8 semesters in CS I think I can compile a showreel of my (crappy) acting. I quite like the idea! That I've done fun stuff and it's something to look back and have a good laugh about.

Kinda like life. Just go in there, get your hands dirty. You might be bad at it. But it could be fun.

Being A Teen Again

I've been pissing my parents off, telling them that I will not a get a (proper) job until 2012.

Of course I'm not completely sure if that's what I will do. But I'm considering it.

My parents tell me that I shouldn't waste time. Get a head-start. The economy's good. It might not be the same six months later. If I find a job, I might get a small bit of bonus by the year's end. The beginning is always important, they say, and getting a good start might possibly be everything.

But I don't want to jump straight into working life. I've got the rest of my life to work! I want to figure out I want to do. I want the chance to try stuff, maybe make some mistakes along the way. I know where this rebelliousness comes from. Possibly from my parents making all the decisions for me growing up. Which is great because I'm somewhat sheltered. And quite happy. And it's quite selfish but all this time, especially the past 4 years, I've been rebelling just because I never really did before.

And learning, like I never learned before.

I'm sure they're not holding it against me but they like to bring up examples. Examples of accountants who had gotten jobs 6 months before they graduated. Of times when I should've secured a scholarship and learned something more useful and maybe more valuable. It's only natural for them to worry about money I guess. I guess people don't talk about such things but it's always on their minds.

I don't regret it though.

With more time comes more experience and more wisdom. I just want the chance to find out what the future holds, on my own.

Interns and Josh

Hold It Against Me

The seventh era has begun.

I liked it the moment I heard it. She's not gone in a totally different direction, but she's pushing pop perfection to another level. It is signature Spears, those vocals, those spoken bits, that attitude... It is a whole 3:50 of wonderful.

The way the bass thumps to a pace that is described as the "closest aural representation of literal fucking that exists" is totally mind-blowing. The way it plays hide-and-seek throughout the song - mind-blowing. The way it sounds so dirty when it drops - mind-fucking-blowing.

The lyrics are more school yard chant than epic poetry but one line saved the entire track from total lack of imagination in this department.

"If I said I want your body now, would you hold it against me?"

It has rendered other songs unnecessary for the next week at least.

I haven't read a bad review of this song. It's possible that no one dares to give it a bad review.

It's Britney Spears.

Results Announced

O-Level results were announced today! "Bobby" did decently, scoring A1, A2, B3 for E Maths, A Maths and English respectively. I told him I was happy and proud of him. He wasn't really satisfied as his L1R5 was 15 but he didn't get anything less than a B3 for the rest of his subjects. Okay, fine, he got B3 for the rest of his subjects! But I think it's great and I'm sure he'll do better in the future. It's all uphill! I'm really glad that I got the chance to teach him, that it was always great fun and his antics were always entertaining. He's a great kid.

YH got A2 for his E Maths. A bit disappointing because he's definitely A1 material but there's still this year, when he'll be taking Os with another 2 of my students.

My last O Level student was about 4 years ago, and she got C6 for A Maths. Considering she always got F9 all along it was quite achievement.

However, I'm glad I finally have some grades to brag about / show off my brilliance.

I need to not enjoy teaching so much. I fear I may get stuck with it for the rest of my life.

Love and Other Drugs

I like how humour is found in vulnerability and truth. I like how there's nakedness in the display of emotions.

I like how sex is affirmation.

I like how they were flawed, not in the usual ways. I like that it was uncertain and there was tension and that it was sweet but not cliched. I like clever conversation. I like that the film focuses on the explosiveness of human drama, conflicting needs and immense passion.

I like the small tremors and insecurities. I like the hot bodies and the horrible brother. I like the sorry doctor and the bitter receptionist.

I like this movie very much.

I like the title. A title that suggests that Love is possibly the greatest drug of all.

And She Told Me

My Grandma said, in Hokkien, that when looking for a mate, "Doesn't have to be rich, or good-looking. Just find someone who is honest, has a good heart and true to you."

I will remember this! Happy Birthday Ah Ma!