In Time

I've said it once on Twitter and again on Facebook. The premise is amazing. What if you wore your riches on your wrist? What if your riches were, simply put, the hours, minutes, seconds, of your life?

In Time explores all this and more. The execution wasn't masterful enough, despite the very good big idea. It flirted with political and economical issues but never really got into the meat of it. Certainly not Avatar or Inception, but as an action-movie, it was entertaining enough. I got a little tired of the chase sequences... there's only so much running I can take, despite the the fact that Amanda Seyfried and Justin Timberlake looked good running.

It was great to see other familiar faces on screen as well. Olivia Wilde, Matt Bomer, Alex Pettyfer all had fleeting but impactful roles.

I can't imagine living in a society like that. Where people have to die just so others can be immortal. Where you live from day-to-day and bank your hopes on what you can achieve in one day. Imagine the adrenaline flooding your system, heightening your senses for fight or flight all the time, just to stay alive!

One sobering thought though - we all have that clock ticking on our forearms. Just that our reality is a bit more exciting - we can't see the numbers.

Food and Friends

Just putting down some thoughts on the blog always seems to make me feel happier. Even if I don't ever read them again, even if they don't make sense. Even if I read them again and they don't make sense!

Got to know two new friends yesterday and the four of us walked to Selegie to have pasta, before walking to somewhere around Orchard Central and having Coffee Bean at Starbucks. It was both interesting and inspiring to finally meet them when I've known them for so long. It was more than I expected and was impressed by the both of them.

Wonderful breakfast today with Rex at Chong Pang Market. Parking was a nightmare, no thanks to it being a public holiday. Had the awesome chee cheong fun with char siew and shrimp fillings. I can't wait to go back there... super cheap food, but deeply satisfying. It's always different to have something that's not typically western. It satisfies... as strange as this sounds, my "cultural hunger".

It was a short but fulfilling Deepavali holiday.

It's nice to have a job and be comfortable. Things are constantly changing, sometimes quietly so. It's nice to be engaged and challenged and not become bored... or jaded. In life, in love, in friendships, in experiences.

A Regime

It's hard getting back on the horse. The 18th of October just passed. That marks my third month in my first job. I haven't got any one to compare with really so I'm not really sure where my performance lies.

But this is not about that. A different lifestyle, transitioning from student to working adult, takes some getting used to. I stopped going to the gym altogether and have gotten a little pudgy. I've spent time socialising, having rich dinners, wonderful talks, chilling out, hour after hour just sitting around.

I've started on a slightly healthier routine. I'll eat at home more often. I'll be more active whenever I can. I think it's the small things. As I was telling another friend, some people look like the jobs they do. It's what you do daily that contributes most to who you are, how you look.

Another friend made the effort to look better and get into tighter clothes. Firming up, slimming down - it's lots of hard work, resisting temptation, eating differently. But it works! And seeing him take charge of his appearance and body was very inspiring.

And so I've been making some effort. Eating lesser of the unhealthy stuff. Pounding the pavement - the new route is awesome and exciting. Up from 3km to 5.2. Getting back to the basics - chin-ups, sit-ups and dips. I feel tired but it allows me to sleep easy at night.

Especially a night like tonight. Will Young's making me emo.

Breakfast at Dempsey

Come On

He's like a magician. I can't pinpoint his charm. But it's magic. I bought his first album and then followed the rest of his singles with interest. He brought it all back with the latest album, Echoes. (Also thanks to shifu of course!)

There's something about his voice. It's mystical and breezy and slightly hollow. He uses it well and never tries too hard. Always emotional, often pleading. Sometimes hopeful. Comforting. There's a style in his music that he keeps to, such that he doesn't work excessively to vary the sound on each album. They are slightly different, held together as one with his voice.

With Echoes, it's a little less happy than the previous ones. If you really get into it, it's a lot heart-wrenching. Sometimes it feels good not to dwell in the sadness of the lyrics. Sonically, it's gorgeous. Still with plenty of piano, but a lot more hard hitting. Contrasted with his wispy voice... it's just perfect. Perfect for every occasion: for a sunny Cafe del Mar, emo rainy nights, ridiculous 80s dancing, hour-long foreplay...

Taking the time to find a new smile on my face. Wondering how, I'm back here now again...

You Can Never Chase A Feeling

You can't chase a feeling.

Don't get me wrong. Yes, I believe that people can choose their emotions. Happy. Sad. Angry. Desperate. Peaceful. These are the general kind. More often than not I'm able to snap myself from one emotion to another, if I will myself to. Trying to feel inspired, empowered, motivated... sometimes it's just a state of mind.

But you can't chase a feeling. You won't be able to get back... the feeling you got the time you were cheated on, the kiss with that particular person, the time you did something nasty in school, the innocence of first love, the unexpected encounter at the club, the friendship that rested precariously on becoming something more, the time you felt helpless and alone or the time you listened to a certain album and traveled down a certain bus route for a certain period of time for a certain job. It would only ever be possible to get a shadow of that intensity, of that emotion, in nostalgia... after coming across a familiar object, an old song, a beautiful place.

You can only choose to do what you do and hope for the best. Hope that things will turn out right, that you'd be satisfied with the outcome. You can't chase a feeling. Not the feeling that a romcom gives you, not the feeling that a novel evokes in you, not the feeling of a lover you let down long ago.

It's unrealistic.

You can only be you, get on with your everyday life and watch it unfold.

You can never chase a feeling.

Trust what you feel, don't hide from what's real. Every word I say is true.

25

Turning 25 was great. I mean, the partying? The independence? Being where I wanna be? It was the best birthday ever. I celebrated, and it's not over! Someone commented that it's like Chinese New Year. I'll have you know it's bigger than Chinese New Year!

But there's really a kind of satisfaction, knowing that I'm where I want to be in many aspects of my life. I've got what I want, what I need. I'm surrounded by wonderful people. I like who I've become. I'm more confident, more comfortable with myself. I got a job. I'm not broke. I'm healthy. I work hard. I wish I had a bit more time, but I make the most of the time I've got. I still love music. I love dancing. It's nice to know that I didn't change dramatically, that I've grown up and my passions have grown up with me. They've refined and been redefined!

The weekend that just passed was really happening. One surprise birthday song, well-executed. To some, maybe it's just tradition. But now, I cherish the fact to be able to do it every year, even more so when it's just once! It's great to be surrounded by wonderful, good-looking people that I was so lucky to have the chance to know. Porcelain, by Moby. 2 nights of clubbing followed... the music, the lights. The music especially! The dancing! The alcohol! The rush! The high! Once! Twice! Three times! Then there was a cosy lunch with a colleague before a surprise end to my 25th, on the 3 Oct - Westlife in concert! The screams! The music! The dancing! My singing! Their singing!

So yes, it's nice to celebrate that I've found the things in life that made me happy.

We celebrate... just cos we can.

Westlife: Gravity Tour

The only Westlife CD that I ever bought was the "When You're Looking Like That" single. I was all for upbeat tunes, I was the kid who was anti-ballads. I was fond of Westlife but I was never a huge fan. They were formidable and were insanely popular. As I always say, you don't argue with popularity.

Back in Singapore for their fourth concert yesterday, it was the first time I've seen them live and I promise that I will watch them when they're back again. They were that good.

Of course I've to thank my sister for giving me the tickets and Singapore Sports Council for giving her the tickets. And Edric for being game and going with me.

You see, Westlife appeals to a certain kind of audience. They no longer have a huge teen fanbase. Their biggest hits were definitely in the past. They started the concert with really nostalgic tracks... They did World of Our Own, My Love and Seasons in the Sun. They weren't overly choreographed and looked delighted to be performing. In the past I'd have brushed them off as an act that you'd hear on the CD but never want to see them on stage. I take that back. They were like The Warblers, but better. Amazing stuff.

They did a medley of covers, Viva La Vida, Only Girl (In The World), The Time (Dirty Bit) (WHAT A CRAZY/CHEESY DANCE THEY DID FOR THIS) and ended it off with Bad Romance. Unexpected. My mind was blown.

They ended with What About Now, an awesome track, which was their own, but maybe Daughtry did a slightly better job of it, and then Uptown Girl, which I thought was a waste. No Swear It Again?

They looked as charmismatic as ever, and there's a certain magic about a band that can stick together since the release of their first single in 1999. They have my respect and I'll be a Fool Again if I don't attend their concert the next time they drop by Singapore.