1) Sat: Met up with Ah Meng in orchard where we chatted randomly and walked aimlessly haha. We also watched "The Orphanage" which turned out to be in Spanish (many who watched didn't know either) and was pretty mediocre. The scary movie wasn't that scary and the whole cinema was like some class watching movie in school, making rowdy noises as they expressed aloud on lame the horror show was. I don't understand the ending. I really don't. haha.
2) Watched Transamerica: Quite a controversial film especially considering it deals with topics of TRANSEXUALITY, HOMOSEXUALITY and even the PORN industry. With that comes certain degree of R-Rated-ness (yes, it does show the sperm shooter), it requires a level of maturity from the watcher to appreciate the sense of the movie. Not a movie with a fantastic storyline since it is more of a American road trip, just that it involves a transexual. Story aside, Felicity Huffman did put up an excellent performance as Bree, or previously known as Stanley. The voice, make-up and behaviour was certainly very convincing. Thankfully she won a Golden Globe for it. Next up for me: Brokeback Mountain.
3) Revamped J*LOVE Music: After much consideration (and with motivation from seeing happyface XY's webby), i've decided to relaunch my music webby and restart my own music chart ranking! I did my own charts when i was in secondary one and two and stopped to focus on my studies for the next crucial four years. Now that i have time, i want to do something i like and this is definitely it. Well, i've said enough of it in the beginning so just go to my website to show me support ok!
4) Sun: Xing Ming and a whole lot of Sian-ness aka Bitch Fit acting up on me again.
5) Watched Crash: This Oscar Winning Film (who stole the limelight from Brokeback) also deals with the very touchy topic of RACISM. The movie does a fantastic job in showing how a group of people are interconnected together because of racism. A very intriguing film supported by a wonderful cast, including Sandra Bullock, Don Cheadle, Matt Dillon and Thandie Newton. One of the most memorable scene was the one in which Thandie's character was trapped in an overturned car, only to be rescued by the corrupt racist police officer ( played by Dillon) who sexually molested her in front of her husband. Her struggle to make the right decision (saving herself and being "touched" again by her molestor) left a lasting impression on me. This movie, although serious, can still be understood and sends a very important message we should all learn - to look beyond skin colour, race, and religion and see people for who they are. So let's discard all forms of discrimination!
Loba Loba (extreme L) looking all uncle-ish, Tony (middle) ever so thick skin
Having spent almost eight months with them, my two closest office friends are finally really leaving for good. It's a bittersweet feeling for me. As i've said, they're considered close office buddies to me and it's always not a nice thing when close buddies leave. But then, i know they're freed the chains of the poodle organisation and i feel happy for them. Each of them matters to me because of different reasons. (I'll also try not to be too sentimental cause i'll feel shy if they ask me about the entry haha..)
I'm like some some girl that doesn't want her mum to leave for work and wants her to stay at home to accompany her. That's how i feel a bit for Ton. Workwise, he's helped me many a times, especially when i somehow manage to push my work to him by saying "But i don't know how to do!". Otherwise, i have no qualms about his sleeping and amazingly huge appetite ( i comment a bit but that's it, it's his choice and i don't wanna sound like a naggy granny forcing you not to do this or that). But to me, he's a confidant i can turn to when i don't feel that good at work. I do miss the days when i was very very very much free-er (when i just entered) and i could afford long strolls to collect mail and chat with him along the way. Nowadays, when i say i miss doing documentation work, i also mean that i wish i could work with him since it was less pressurizing and more enjoyable.
Without him in the office for me to disturb, or even throw my tantrum on, i think i'll feel pretty miserable which i don't want to think about come tomorrow. True enough, he IS and still IS the only one i can confide in. I'm not shy to say it here but when i was feeling sad and broke down (because of an incident that happened not so long ago), he was honestly the ONLY one i wanted to talk to who i felt 1) won't judge me, 2) understood me 3) could console me. Now that he's gone, i'm thinking what will happen to me since my emo-fying days are increasing in frequency and i bet will increase even more by the day. I feel bad for something ignoring him and not want to be bogged down by his "issues" because i'm already so bogged down by work. I feel like i didn't even do my simplest role as a friend to LISTEN. But i think he looked past that fact and probably didn't take that into account because he understands my situation. So i just wanna say thank you Tony for being such a good office collegue and most of all, an understanding friend who has been by my side all this time. i don't wanna sound too needy but i know i'll really feel quite KER XI that you're not around anymore. But i sincerely wish you all the best!
On to the next one who matters alot to me as well... and that is my favourite Uncle, Mr Loba Loba! And My favourite geek (not an insult - that's the way i like you) and my favourite work buddy! In terms of my work, he has rendered me the most assistance and i really feel very insecure and worried now that he's gone. Everytime the bastard stabs me with an arrow, i know i can heal with his depth of knowledge to help save me. Maybe i've become to reliant on him but that also shows how capable i think he is. Sometimes i wonder if i could even accomplish the task if he wasn't there to guide me but he was and he was major help. More than that, he was an interesting friend. I always thought i can never find a friend in someone who 1) games alot 2) loves anime / manga 3) is a tech geek. But i did. I'm intrigued everytime he educates me about some computer stuff which i know nuts about and i pretend to understand and say "COOL!". And although i don't get manga and comic, i also pleasantly patronise him by laughing and smiling when he shows me comic strips.
All those showed he was willing to share with me his interests. Just as much as he was willing to share my interest with him. On retrospect, it's was a very warm gesture on his part to play English music when i'm sitting beside him when he is a Animemusic fanatic since he knows i'm an English music addict. And we could talk random stuff about his "forum spam", "forum friends" and anime/gadget experience. Being his seat buddy, i'm very happy to say at least i sat with him and not anyone else. Loba, thanks for all the help you've provided me all this time, i'm really very grateful for it. There are times i swear i can break down by the stress but you were there to ease the stress i felt. I will surely miss the days when you ramble about IT stuff and i'll automatically take the "Digital Life" section for you whenever i read the papers.
My Aunt and her chubby son came to visit on Sunday night and well, the kittens were the centre of attention again! haha... The kittens have really grown since early feb when my bro first picked them up from the streets. But they're still cute as ever! Sometimes i see them doing really stupid but simply adorable stuff, i'll just grab them and "molest" them cause they're SO SO SO irresistably cute!!! But my cousin is also cute la, i think he weighs heavier than me la haha.
Because of my crazy father who kept asking him to eat when he knows my cousin is abit plump, my cousin ate THREE bowls of my mum's laksa! Crazy... I ate one bowl and i cannot take it liao. But then again, i've always had some kind of eating disorder. Or at least i believe so la. Who can eat a meal halfway and get sick of it and feels like vomitting. Other than pregnant women, i doubt any healthy (not that pregnant women are unhealthy) people would have such a reaction. Stupid doctor X only gave me pills cause he didn't know who to refer me to. Simply the Greatest Doctors we have there.
Well, besides that, i had quite the monday blues yesterday la. Managed to spend the day by talking on the forums, which i must admit is pretty addictive and exciting since i only talk in music forums and to talk about music is what i love most. I started one thread called the "English Songs to Recommend" and thankfully there were some who replied, after which was a pleasant time talking about music music and more music. Fantastic! If, and only if, i can meet new and interesting like-minded friends through it like mr Loba Loba then that would be heaven sent. But i'm an unlucky soul so i better delete that wishful thought from my very simple-minded brain.
Then i became a bit cranky as the day dragged on. As i was "forum-ing", i was also chatting randomly with Giddy. I think i really became a bit loose up there cause i was saying things like "I wanna hit somebody!" and using "Oh please" excessively. Pretty funny when i think about it. That's what dreariness and boredom can do to someone. Imagine i was drunk, would i say things i least expected? haha... Don't even think about it ok!
Lighter things aside, office will soon be well, lighter with the departure of Mr Loba Loba and Tony! Boo hoo hooo!!! Office will certainly be so so so much quieter and less funny without my favourite Uncle and the meaty one. Guess i'll talk more about it tomorrow or the days after since tml is their final day and we have an ORD dinner planned tml night! Well, it's super good cause they're paying and i'm pretty broke now. haha. No la, it's honestly the last chance to catch up as a "colleague" and i do feel a bit worried without the two of them --- work-wise and office spirit - wise. So i look and i don't look forward to tml. haha. But whatever comes cannot be controlled so i guess i'll just learn to work without them. Shall be more personal when i blog about the dinner. True emotions all out! haha... jk(i a bit pai seh one hehe)
Hmmm... then what else... Met up with volunteer boss to discuss random stuff, had a medical review which gives me another headache trying to figure out the best move to erm herm... and of course, the fact that i only reached home today at 1015pm, straight from work. Work..., why does it never end?
It's only tuesday and i feel this way. I really just wanna go out to walk walk and escape from work. haha. So weekends quick!
Albums: 4 - Northern Star (1999), Reason (2003), Beautiful Intentions (2005), This Time (2007)
10 Songs I Like: 1) This Time 2) Never Be The Same Again*** 3) Melt*** 4) On The Horizon 5) Next Best Superstar*** 6) Reason*** 7) When You're Gone*** 8) Carolyna 9) If That Were Me 10) First Day Of My Life
The Spice with the best vocals certainly is one of the best female singers out there today. Sadly, she is severely underappreciated by her native British peers due to the British Press unfair stigma towards the Spice Girls. (So let's give this amazing artiste a little more support alright!)However, and very fortunately, our Sporty Spice has persevered to make own style of music and grown into an artist of her own. Melanie C has beyond doubt one of the strongest vocals in the pop industry, comparable to Christina and even Beyonce. This is evident through her songs like "Here It Comes Again" and "The Moment You Believe" where she exudes much emotion and angst. As a pop singer, she also experiments with different genres of music to entertain us pop addicts. She started out street-style with "Goin' Down", went all HipHop with Lisa'Left Eye' Lopes in her biggest hit to date "Never Be The Same Again", then decided to try trance/dance with dancehall favourite "I Turn To You" before returning back to the authentic British flavour with "On The Horizon" and "Better Alone" and "The Moment You Believe". The sign of a pure pop chameleon.
That's why Melanie C, no doubt one of my Favourite Female Singer, is one of JLOE's Favourite Artiste.
Because i'm so lazy, i'm just going to post photos haha...
Shall update more when Gracie passes me the rest of the photo collection!
L: Me in Taiwan! R:Our Old Tour Guide teaching us Geog
At the Martyr's Shrine
Yehliu: Beautiful scenery! Yehliu or wild willows are natural rock formation created by years of erosion.
L: Posing At Taroko, R: The girls fooling around!
Taroko: A gorge formed by rushing river waters that cut straight through the marble and granite to create a narrow ravine with waterfall in the mountains, surrounded by subtropical forests.
Mei Non Hakka Village
Camwhoring instead of seeing the Hakka stuff haha
No doubt, the four of us at Taipei 101!!!
If you don't know, T101 is the tallest building in the world right now. But it's more a commerical office building, with only five storeys of shops selling mainly super ex stuff like Gucci/Louis Vitton stuff. Nothing to shop... boring. haha.
L: 101 is so tall u can't see the top if u're just below! R: Sweet Mother-Daughter Pair
First of all, i've been staying late for the past three days due to work.
Secondly, i've been listening to pretty slow music all week long. This week happens to be "Slow Music" week since i purposely chose slow moody songs to sync into my ipod.
Thirdly, i'm like waiting and waiting for saturday to come so i can leave for taiwan!
I've finally done my first round of preliminary packing and there's actually nothing much to bring there. As long as i brought along all the essentials, i should be safe. haha.
Oh, today i finally got a tuition request from the tutor agency i signed up with. Although it's not confirmed whether they want me, i do really want to get it. My brain cells are screaming for some form of exercise since i've neglected them more than one year ago. Plus, it certainly gives me something to do on a routine basis other than sitting around and doing nothing but blog, listen music an read magazines which totally makes me feeling a piece of rotten meat - useless.
Then again, i'm also very worried that because my brain cells are no longer in the hyperactive mugger mode it used to be when i was in college, i won't be "clever" enough to teach. Well, i certainly pray hard i can handle it haha. When it comes then i worry ba! haha
Just a few hours ago, i met up impromptu with Yang Sis to go Hougang Mall to eat and buy her stuff for her new Haha Hermit pet crabs. Feels really good to meet someone finally after feeling so dreary for the past few days. haha. Plus earlier on in the evening i had a small tiff with my mother over irritating business. All i can say Parents are always Parents. Like it or not, they're still my Parents. Shall not elaborate further since i've stated before i do not like to spill my personal family issues here.
Anyway, just a short update here today. Just in case i don't blog tomorrow or on Sat before i leave, well, hope you guys have fun without me (i think you always do so no problem with that haha).
P.S: no pictures = boring blog i know... but i'll take many many in taiwan!
Friends who know me know i don't like to eat very much. Not that i don't want to eat, i just don't like to eat. Maybe i get my nourishment in the form of songs with food names in them haha. These are five random songs with food names in their titles, some are soul-delicious while some are plain disgusting. The menu is here, you take your pick!
1) Chocolate - Kylie Minogue
This happens to be one of my favourite songs at the moment. The soft whispery voice of kylie in this song just reminds me of hot chocolate, simply heavenly! Certainly true to it's lyrics of "If it was liquid it would drown me"! haha... Just as chocolate is sweet (excluding bitter choc of course), this song is nice song to listen to when you feel like snuggling in bed either alone or with you partner.
2) Fast Food Song - Fast Food Rockers
By right, i should like this song the most since i'm such a big fan of fast food. But too bad this song is cheesy as hell that it turns out to be a chef's nightmare. Obviously targeted at innocent undiscerning kids who can't differentiate between good and bad songs, this song has a tune similar to most kiddy anthems. The lyrics can't be anymore worse. "Macdonald's Macdonalds, Kentucky Fried Chicken and the Pizza Hut"... Lame and REALLY BAD. Pls don't try this at home.
3) Peaches & Cream - 112
I like this RnB song which tastes just as well as the combination of Peaches and Cream... Hmmm... The slow groove of the track can very possibly turn on a few unconscious moves in your body. haha...
4) Pumpkin Soup - Kate Nash
Who's ever tasted Pumpkin Soup in Singapore? I doubt anyone has. haha. The closest i ever got was fried pumpkin puff which actually tastes very nice. The song about the soup of the Halloween fruit is a bit like spending Halloween in Singapore and fyi, Singaporeans (typical ones) don't celebrate it. It exudes the unique Kate Nash sound, quirky and dialogue-ish with thick british accent. Weird but there's something nice about it considering the fact i haven't exactly explored deep enough into the song.
5) Lollipop - Mika
Just like any other Mika song, this song is cheerful and well, queer. haha. The falsetto he uses extensively in this song can be quite the turnoff although i must say this song can really enliven the mood on a happy day. Well, lollipops are nice but too much of it is certainly not good, unless you like going to the dentist. Similarly, a few plays of the song should be sufficient, too much of it might just make you puke.
Hello back again and for the last week before i leave for Taiwan! Actually there was a screwup by the tour agency which also made us unable to go for the trip but fortunately Gracie's mum was quick enough to book another tour with Famosa Tours so we can really go! Thank you!
And it's cheaper! haha... Plus, we can get back the deposit we paid the previous agency which was quite a lot. So whew... haha. Now i have to create my shopping list before i leave and again THINK OF HOW TO SYNC MY IPOD! I sat down infront of my laptop for the first half of the day and i had no clue how to since i have so many songs i want to include into my ipod!!! Always give me the headaches but i love my darling ipod too much haha!
Speaking of ipods, yesterday, KKGJ met yesterday for the main purpose of buying mp3 players! Gracie and Kenny G needed to get themselves a musical companion as well. So jealous, although i have my ipod (and i love it very much), i still wanted to get another one. One with bigger space. Like 80 GB. That's only justifiable for someone with my erm... musical prowess. haha... BUT... since i have no money, and my baby 2 GB ipod is still working fine (maybe i should do something to it hmmm....), i can't get a new baby for myself.
Of course, we went to the IT Fair that was ongoing at Suntec City and it was super super super crowded. It was so difficult to move through the crowd and the noise was making me quite dizzy. My legs were also giving up on me because of all the walking in the morning (going to SSDC, then to PHS funfair, then to get Kenny G's cake, then to his house, then to Suntec - OMG!). So as fast as they bought their players, we left to get a rest at Macdonald's.
After a short rest, we went to Changing Appetites for a simple dinner as a celebratory dinner for Kenny G's 20th birthday. We all ordered the burger set and the burger was huge! AND i almost finished it! haha.. Seems like my appetite is growing slowly! haha.
Thereafter, we walked around the different clothing shops to get inspiration for what type of shirts we can buy in Taiwan. For me, it's shirts shirts shirts and shorts haha... I'm not too much of a daring dresser, i suppose you know that. haha.
I was so tired most of the time la haha... So i was quite happy to go home to catch up on sleep.
And Today, i did nothing other than syncing my ipod, sleeping on my bed and typing this entry haha.. What a lazy sunday...
Albums: 9 (Excluding X'mas Album) – Mariah Carey (1990), Emotions (1991), Music Box (1993), Daydream (1995), Butterfly (1997), Rainbow (1999), Glitter (2001), Charmbracelet (2002), The Emancipation of Mimi (2005)
10 Songs I Like: 1) Vision Of Love 2) Fly Like A Bird*** 3) Don't Forget About Us*** (Song of the Year 2006) 4) Heartbreaker*** 5) Always Be My Baby 6) Hero 7) Never Too Far*** 8) We Belong Together*** 9) Emotion 10) Dreamlover
This recognition is without a doubt long overdue for this diva we all know very well as Mariah Carey, or more affectionately known as Mimi. Her narcissism ("Me" as her perfume, "Touch My Body" her new song?) and tabloid stories aside (not that many in recent years though), she is serious artiste, serious about making good music. And sure is she talented. With a singing capability of 8 octaves, it's no doubt this diva ever so frequently flaunts her singing prowess in her songs and public performances. But the most amazing thing about Mariah is her ability to bounce back after a tremendous setback, called the "Glitter" incident. Her career took a serious nosedive but after getting it together and deciding to stick to what she does best (which is of course ONLY singing), she wowed everyone with her "The Emancipation of Mimi" album - which produced the number hit "We Belong Togethe" - and clinched three Grammys for it in the following year. All along, Mariah has the ability to touch me with her vocals. Her classic ballads of "Hero", "Never Too Far" and "We Belong Together" never fail to emote me while her other happier songs bring out soul in its shiniest form. For that, i salute Mariah and bestow her as JLOE's Favourite Artiste.
I'm so broke right now! Or at least i'm going to be broke very soon... Why?
I'm going Taiwan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yups, the land of Jolin Tsai and Jay Chou and i shall be the next best superstar to step into their not-so-cheenaland. haha! After weeks of planning/talking about going overseas, Gracie, Fengie and I have finally booked a tour package to go Taiwan! Yippie! Too bad Kenny G can't muster the courage to ask his stern father...
We went to the NATAS fair on Sunday with Gracie's mother and after a tiresome three plus hour there, looking at the different packages, almost paying for one tour before changing our minds and then finally reconfirming our decision for the chosen tour and ultimately paying for the tour. (This sentence is so long it's tiresome isn't it?!)
I feel really glad that i'm able to finally fulfill my life-long dream (although i haven't really lived that long as well haha) of travelling! After the trip, i can safely say i've been to Malaysia, Indonesia, China and Taiwan! Ok not that glam after all since i bet almost everyone's been to Malaysia before and visiting Batam is not exactly what you call an "Indonesian discovery trip" since you stay in the resort and do not explore much outside it. haha.
But it certainly feels good to have the escape the mundane office work life and take a long 8-days breather travelling literally around Taiwan! With my friends!
The down side is the tour package is pretty expensive at $1263. That's like 3 times my monthy allowance from serving the nation. Plus, people around me (tsk tsk! Ter-weeds) have been telling me that their trips to other, more glam countries like Jipoon, are cheaper. Hrmph!!! haha... Joking, well, if it makes me happy, i'm willing to pay ANY amount! haha...
Life has become seriously monotonous at work (note the serious lack of photos and increase in emo entries this year) so this is a great chance to spice up my life!
serious music addict, loves free-spirited fun with friends, a fan of travelling.
chronicling my (almost) everyday life - so i don't forget each moment of my life, whether pleasant or not.
