space for rant.

2011.

2011-12-30T23:51:00.000+08:00

as 2011 comes to a close, I'm grateful for many things that has shaken me or made me a better person. my top 10 list goes something like this:

1. got me some brotherly love

manage to make my way down to brisbane to visit two of the most missed people of my social life - mer and russ. cue 7 days of crazy cold weather, MSG maximus meals, seagulls and hugs. plus it was a break i severely needed, who better to hang out with.

2. welcomed a spanking new baby

baby jeremy came into my life september 2011 - screaming, red and hungry, very much like any wong in the family. i can't wait to see him grow up into a something beautiful and perfect. your aunty loves you very much.

3. watched a little baby turn into a toddler

this is little baby zachary. not a baby anymore. he's developed personality - strong preferences, tempers, longings and a special laugh. he's learnt what colours he likes, what tastes he prefers, who to suck up to for gummi bears. most of all, he's learnt how to be a protector and a brother. zach, your aunty loves you very much too.

4. headed to kayel x 2 + 1

kayel was a special event because there's where i got to learn more about ken's other half. also, i've never seen ken happier - he loves her and that is crystal clear.

5. had a roller-coasting birthday

had a blast and vomit inducing birthday at universal studios with the beau - it was the best day spent out with him - screaming, sweating, paying ridiculous amounts on dinosaur cups.

6. having a blast in the office.

it's like it was meant to be - yes work is hard, hours long but everything is swell when the people surrounding you are the best. every day my stomach hurts from laughing. there was a point where i questioned - but i'm glad i didn't leave the glory behind. and speaking about the office...

7. having a best friend around 12/5

this year, ken starting working near me - like 2 seconds away from me. initially, i was scared - what if we don't work out or what if i find him offensive? but then, the universe has a special way of proving you wrong. 8 months down the road, we are still best friends - laughing, loving and lackeying.

8. made a difference - or at least tried to.

i voted (twice!) for the first time in 24 years. i had the 'power' to choose and i believe i chose well. it's nice to hear opinions, listening to banter and try to reason. another 4 years!

9. watched wicked.

watched one of my 7 bucket list musicals - courtesy of the beau. it was everything i imaged - dark, funny and spectacular. i cried at "defying gravity" and at "for good" - one more time then i cried at phantom. one down, 6 more to go!

10. loved and loving some more.

it's hard to find someone who gets you. it's even harder to find someone who gets you and sticks around. i get you too. 3.5yrs on and you still make me giggle like we're on our first date.

2011, thanks for a great time. we're left with one more day before 2012 comes and we find out if the mayans are correct. if that's the case, this might be my final top 10 round up list.

if not, i'm sure 2012's list will be even more awesome.

happy new year :)

from rock and roll to rocking chairs.

2011-06-26T23:56:00.000+08:00

wow, it's been almost 5 months since i updated.
lots of things have happened, yet a lot things have remained constant. and for the latter, i'm am grateful for.

having just returned from an invigorating staycation with the beau to celebrate our third (awesome) year anniversary, i feel quite contented with life.

it's been a smooth sailing relationship for the most part of it that has turned into a comfortable, easy companionship. many people have asked me how i have managed to keep this relationship afloat all these years, and i don't have a definite answer.

both of us have flaws, both of us have 'things'. and while most people have said to find someone that completes you and make you 100%, i strongly believe in finding that person that makes you 150%. the beau makes me better, and for that i'm grateful.

so with the first post in the long time, i'm dedicating this to the man that has made an immense change in my life and direction - it's been a rocking 3 years and things are going to get even better.

love.

k is for king.

2011-06-01T00:21:00.001+08:00

when i'm grey and old, i will look back at this post and think fondly of trip three to kayel.

Night 1

took a night coach to KL - best decision ever! no kids, no jam, no queues and reached KL in record time
checked in Alpha Genesis [which mixed up our rooms = separate floors and no smoking room for night 1]
roamed the streets for famous beef noodles, and found it!
bought cigs, snacks and drinks for night cap.
slept like a baby.

Day 1

woke up incredibly early for genting!
same route - uncle steven's cab and then cable car.
genting was 24˚C!
lady luck was smiling in the morning, was up 250rm
had international buffet for 18rm
lost everything after lunch - 0rm - damn the slots. beau won 300rm at the pontoon table so it all evens out!
went back for a snoozer
headed to jalan alor for amazing dinner - zhi char of lala, veggies, butter squid, roast pork ee mee and fried tang hoon.
pounded jagerbombs at zouk KL where they played the best of 2010 - lady gaga and all!
left zouk TOGETHER and buzzed. headed to Batika at bukit bintang for a night cap. 18rm for frangelico with CONDENSED milk. fuckyeah!
went to bed at 3am, while kenneth ventured for tomyam fried rice supper.

Day 2

woke up late (i.e 11am)
headed to the famous Madam Kwans where we devoured the best beef rendang ever.
walked around KLCC - bought uniqlo, mac makeup and topshop stuff.
headed back to the hotel for a nap (hell yes!)
woke up just in time for honda showroom hawker centre to open shop!
whacked ampang yong tau foo, orh luak, wantan mee.
headed to Batika again for another round of drinks and cigars.
went to bed super full, was lulled to bed by stirring tummy.

Day 3

kenneth goes home today :(
head to chinatown for awesome crayfish ee mee and yeh kuang mee tai mak.
walked like 124329840km to get to the place though, but totally worth it!
went back to the hotel to get kenneth's stuff where we planked
sent kenneth off, while having our traditional kripsy kreme doughnuts and coffee.
while kenneth sat the lonely bus ride home, beau and me went wild in FOS and Pavilion's Forever 21. Total damage was 300rm for shitloads!
had dinner at honda showroom hawker centre - super awesome yong tau foo again.
walked back to the hotel to digest, spent the rest of the night rolling around in bed and watching Anacondas - the curse of the blood orchid.

Day 4

it's time to go home.
woke up early to eat at our favourite char siew stall. never disappoints!
headed to times square to catch our bus home.

kayel with the boys, a combination that never fails :)

nine one one.

2011-02-07T01:05:00.000+08:00

you know who you are.
you have a problem. and i promised myself that i wouldn't interfere until it starting affecting me.

it has. and i hate it. and i know you don't think it is a problem. i know you think it's fun and exciting.

i wish i could understand why you have this problem. i wish someone else could see that this problem exist and help me with it. i have lost respect for you on a level i never thought i could.

you see me look at you. you acknowledge my disapproval, but apparently i don't mean enough for you to do a goddamn thing about it.

What hurts is that, now, we are taking a hit. when you needed me, i was there. and now, when all i ask is that you think of me above that nasty problem, you can't. don't think i don't know why you rather not be near me, it's because then you can run off, collapse in that vaccum and indulge without me judging you.

worse of all, it's a demon i cannot fight on your behalf. and i cannot make you see it. it worries me so much, i don't want to see you fall down the path of what so many have.

my hope, my only true hope, is that i don't get that call, i don't get that information, that the problem has defeated you.

you have a problem. there, i said it.

ten in twentyten.

2010-12-31T03:30:00.000+08:00

so the year is almost over. it's the time of the year where i sit back and ponder on what this year has given me.

the ten things i want to remember from 2010.

1. Found the baking bug.

2. travelling twice! once to glorious KL where i spent four days eating and "vicing" with my two boys and to phuket where i had lomantic rendovous with the beau.

3. watched my nephew grow into an incredible human being.

4. watch two of my best friends crumble, fall and build themselves up again. i am so proud of both of you to be able to walk again.

5. left a warm fuzzy place and left for a brighter, harsher and more promising place of work. i still miss you guys everyday.

6. left a terrible interim job that bruised my thought that 'as long as you're adaptable you'll be fine anywhere' theory. some places don't deserve your adaptability.

7. watched cockpit perform at one of Singapore's largest indie stage - Baybeats 2010. and again at some smaller gigs but each time getting better and better. i'm proud to be a hen.

8. said goodbye to one of my best friends and sent him to brisbane. i miss you everyday :(

9. finally, after 3 years of throwing it out as a suggestion, we went as captain planet for halloween!

10. still having the best, most awesome relationship i have ever been in.

one the best years i had in a long time. onward to 2011!

it's nice.

2010-11-18T23:49:00.001+08:00

it's nice to know i am part of a much bigger, greater thing and contribute to it being big and great.

congratulations to winning agency of the year, yet again, at the IAS hall of fame.

prongsap phuket.

2010-10-16T17:19:00.000+08:00

day one

- arrived at phuket international airport at 10am

- did a fast check out and managed to get a cab for a steal at 500baht

- drove for an hour through city roads, suburb streets and mountain ways till we reached the picturesque Old Phuket Hotel

- checked in and it started to rain.

- rained in so we order room service - phad thai, soup noodles and shrimp toast

- napped and caught up on sleep.

- ventured out to the enclave that was outside the hotel for dinner. Settled on Andaman Seafood Restaurant because woman was very nice.

- had garlic mussels, green curry, bbq sotong and veg

- during dinner, some kid set off fireworks at the beach, it was awesome!

- bought supplies of chips, drinks and munchies back to the hotel.

- had an early early night.

day two

- woke up early for buffet breakfast! had awesome scrambled eggs and toast.

- packed up and swim suited up for karon beach. beach was awesome and windy. the beau got beers and we just chilled.

- headed back to the hotel for a short snooze.

- tested out the jacuzzi in the balcony. lazed in there for a good 3 hours.

- headed out to Jungceylon for dinner: samurai burger from macdonaldns

- ta-pao Zaap from KFC (tomyam drumlets) back to hotel

- bought shit loads of water and goodies from Carrefour

- had an early night in anticipation for Phi Phi!

day three

- woke up at 6am for our tour out to Phi Phi Island

- got into a minivan and sat through an hour long journey to Phuket Pier.

- got onto a boat for an hour and a half ride to Phi Phi Lay, smaller of the two Phi Phi islands.

- saw undoubtedly, the most beautiful island ever

- got off the boat and snorkeled and played with fishies. Freaked out because fishes swarmed around me and nibbled. personal space please!

- got off a Phi Phi Don for lunch

- explored Phi Phi Don's many enclaves and streets.

- settled down at the cutest bakery and had cinnamon bun, chocolate eclairs, coffee and the best mango smoothie ever.

- headed back for a very choppy boat ride back to main land.

- got back to the hotel, showered and went out for kick ass steak at Buffalo Steakhouse - steak, pork steak, meatballs, shrimp salad, french onion soup, garlic bread.

- headed back to the hotel and had an early night because we were knackered.

day four

- woke up considerably late but still in time for breakfast

- spent the whole morning in the jacuzzi - ah bliss!

- checked out at 3pm and headed to Jungceylon for last minute shopping.

- had phad thai, shrimp fried rice and tom yam goong for lunch.

- had couple time out - I got a manicure and he went to an internet cafe for one hour of me time.

- went to the hotel then airport for our flight home.

- flight got delayed! touched down at singapore at 2am.

Phuket was seriously awesome.

just a note.

2010-09-26T23:34:00.000+08:00

nobody, breaks my heart.

OH-EH-SIS

2010-09-16T00:25:00.000+08:00

so i started at a new place three days ago.
and it took all of three days to realise that i made the biggest mistake of my entire career.

i now, am sitting in a terrible position - not sure if i should rough it out or struggle to find something new. i'm not sure if this is a sick joke that someone is playing on me.

i am just waiting for opportunity.
an opportunity to feel the same way i felt a while back.

at least at sambadolphin, i was warm and had people i look forward to seeing every single day. and if you are to work in such a high stressed environment, you need to be with people you truly like and love.

i loved you guys, and i am kicking myself for letting you go.

it's too late now, i'm opening an old wound.

farewell.

2010-09-10T01:11:00.000+08:00

it was poignantly beautiful today.
it was my last day at my company. it's been one month since i handed in my resignation.

i thought leaving would be easy, but i was oh so wrong. i realised it was the last time i would walk down that red carpeted corridor, the last time i would scan my card at the reader and take off my shoes, dump my bag at the left hand side of the table and turn on the laptop.

the last time i would get that cup of aik tong coffee and have breakfast while i read the straits times and wait for my emails to load.

the last time i would look over to my left and glare at my manager for playing kenny g, the last time i would look across the room to pass a look of approval for the crazy youtube video my designers sent to me.

this was suppose to be easy. but it was the hardest thing i ever had to do at my whole time at my company.

in the middle of the david gates and boyz II men songs, while everyone was singing and giving me hugs of good wishes, i secretly, held back tears that would have easily given away that my stoic stance.

i am going to miss you guys, just like a first love.

to you.

2010-09-02T00:31:00.000+08:00

My atoms and chemicals could've been made anywhere in the universe, but they were made here, near you. Near yours.

you made me, alive again.

thank you.

three.

2010-08-26T00:38:00.000+08:00

i can't believe it's been three years since you passed away.
i remember the year, only because i jotted it down in this blog.

it's been three years since i lost you completely. and honestly these three years have been so tough.

there were many nights of crying, wishing you were here.
there were many nights of laughing, washing you away.
there were days of pure agony, knowing touch is a never ever.
there were days of pure comfort, knowing you and i are in a better place.

i've learnt to live without you comfortably, but it doesn't mean i don't think about you time to time. things around me trigger these inner thoughts of you, floating around in my mind like a persistent idea.

you come in the weirdest of times - in the middle of a meeting, or when i am trying on a dress in the fitting room. you just invade my space, knowing full well i am not ready to think of you. it is annoying sometimes you know, when i'm trying to focus on the task at hand, and there you are, just running in. it's very like you to do that actually, you always appear and disappear as and when you please.

but you always leave a sweet aftertaste... just a hint of sorrow but a little bliss as well. that's the way you wanted me to remember you. at the end of the day, i always smile when i think of you, no matter how painful the memory of you is.

i've been having better days - i'm with someone i love now - it is something you always hoped i would find, regardless if you were in the equation or not. i think you will like him, you and him share the same brand of odd humour.

i really hope, despite of all the years to come, despite of all the life memories that will occur, despite the people i'm with and meet - you will always, always be drifting in and out of my mind.

rest well, gab. i really do miss you, and i know you do too.

taken off and out.

2010-08-21T15:48:00.000+08:00

i am super proud of you, the beau.
no matter how silly, unbelievable or stupid your endevours are - know i that i'm super behind you.

cockpit ftw!

bye bye baby bye bye.

2010-08-12T00:00:00.000+08:00

i handed in my resignation letter two days ago.
amidst all the chaos of securing a new job, trying to find the right words to say, getting my resume in place -

i forgot why i wanted to leave in the first place.

today, i was rudely reminded. and a tiny glimmer of hope shined in my heart when i looked at you. i just have had enough - and i know you could see it in my heart.

in September, I'll will be starting at the spanking new place which wants me bad enough to pay me more, bend over backwards and accommodate my wants and demands.

i think change was something i needed.

space out

2010-07-28T00:04:00.000+08:00

life has been easy so far.
i just realised that's why i don't blog much now.
oh well, no news is good news :)

waving flag.

2010-06-27T21:17:00.000+08:00

found a fantastic mural designs done by ESPN in line with the World Cup 2010.
these are satirically fun and well executed - loved england's!

see the rest here.

dcfc.

2010-06-14T00:38:00.001+08:00

No blinding light or tunnels to gates of white
Just our hands clasped so tight
Waiting for the hint of a spark.

i have decided that my next tattoo embodies the above quote from dcfc's follow you into the dark.

because i realised, i have nothing left of you.

i get you.

2010-05-05T01:54:00.000+08:00

it's the season.
as the weather heats up - so does the fury and tempers of the people i know.

maybe it's because we've experienced the nearest (hence largest) full moon since 2006 - you know how there are theories that suggest a relation between a full moon and mental well being.

or maybe, the heat is killing all our capabilities to make rational decisions.

or it could very well be the constant shining of the sun on our backs that is causing us to squint and not see where we are going.

many, too many of the people i love are drowning in this maddening of times. there is just too many people running around doing crazy things they firstly, never had the guts to do and secondly, never felt they should do.

what's wrong guys?

i blame the weather, honestly.

bang in the bush.

2010-04-26T01:59:00.000+08:00

finally, after about 4 months of separation and not hearing your voice, i saw and heard you for the first time.

it might not be much, but it's good enough. i wish i could give you a giant hug to say how much we miss you these past few months.

love love love! :)

like tears from a star.

2010-04-15T23:52:00.000+08:00

If blood will flow when flesh and steel are one
Drying in the colour of the evening sun
Tomorrow's rain will wash the stains away
But something in our minds will always stay
Perhaps this final act was meant
To clinch a lifetime's argument
That nothing comes from violence and nothing ever could
For all those born beneath an angry star
Lest we forget how fragile we are

- fragile ; sting

things come and things go.

and everything, not just life, is just so fragile.

i wish i knew what to say to you both. i could rattle on about the usuals. but if you noticed, now all i say is 'i'll here for you.'

because honestly, that's the only thing i know is for certain. i can't promise it will get better, i can't give any advice because things are just so complicated.

but i know for certain, i am here - for you both.

i don't care about how weird things are going to get.

i don't care about who is more important.

all i do care about is that both of you get healed. and i'll try very hard to help you heal.

i love you both - and i wish you both well.

kasino kayelé

2010-04-15T01:40:00.002+08:00

so kuala lumpur proved to be an awesome consoliday (read: console, holiday) in place of bangkok.

the situation in bangkok is pretty fucked up. a day before we were due to leave, a state of emergency was announced. while we partied, got drunk and gambled in KL, 20 people lost their lives fighting against or for something they believe in.

i hope the thais remember that lives - not just hardship - is at stake.

ok, moving on to our trip to KL - it was made up of PURE WIN.

I'm going to list down the myriad activities we did, because i never, never want to forget what happened:

Day 1

arrived at Berjaya Times Square
had a coffee and KRISPY KREMES
arrived at Radius International Hotel and checked in (free upgrade!)
ventured out to bukit bintang for some bak ku teh
walked down to pavilion where i screamed when i saw forever 21
shopped, had some starbucks and headed to nandos for dinner
went back to the hotel, changed and headed to zouk KL
partied like it was 1999 (literally) and drank (4 jugs = 140rm!)
watched as the beau puked at the zouk KL sign
sent the beau back, leaving kenneth to fend on his own
tucked the beau into bed with a warm towel on his head.

Day 2

woke up bright and early to have breakfast: fishball mee, roast chicken and pork and ampang yong tao foo
headed to pudraraya to get a cab to Genting! Kenneth bailed due to hangover.
cabbie drove at 180kmh on a winding mountain road - nearly died
sat a cable car (south east asia's longest and fastest) through the clouds into genting!
managed to smoke everywhere and anywhere (bought famous amos cookies while puffing away)
experienced 21˚C weather!
won 100rm then squandered it away again at the casino.
headed back to the hotel for a short snooze
headed out for dinner at jalan barat - hokkien mee, wanton soup, char kway teow, yong tao fu
decided KL was too awesome and extended one more day!
had an early night

Day 3

woke up reasonably late - had breakfast at the same fishball, yong tao fu place, this time with char siew!
hitched a ride to genting again, with a very very nice uncle steven (whom i opened a can of worms with)
had the world's most uncomfortable cable car ride with a family
gambled at the casino - lady luck had an off day today :(
had lunch at KFC genting next to the log ride and indoor roller coaster
headed back to KL, fell fast asleep in the cab
rested in the hotel room, then headed out for our last hurrah along Jalan Alor
had an excellent dinner - roast pork ee mee, buttered sotong, chicken wings (with crack no less), dong fen, fried rice and xiao bai chye.
witnessed a fight!
headed back to the hotel
had the best 3minute instant porridge and beer. And honey bacon bak kwa
goodnight KL, for the last time.

Day 4

last day, woke up early to check out
had great maggi goreng, roti canai and beehoon goreng
headed out to sungei wang to do last minute shopping
bought my vinnci shoes
headed to Times Square for check in for the coach back
bought 72 krispy kremes among 3 of us
headed back to humid singapore - tired but very fulfilled.

i hearts kayel, most of all i hearts my two boys. :)

all about rock and roll.

2010-03-30T23:55:00.001+08:00

yes, the beau's band is finally into baybeats.
after months of practising, after sessions of listening.
after weeks of writing lyrics and melodies - it has all paid off.

the beau will be standing in front of thousands, doing what he absolutely is born to do - rock out with his cock out.

and, i'm the proudest, most beeming with pride girlfriend ever.

to the beau: you deserve this, and you earned it. now go show singaporeans how the bass is played. [PDA alert - please highlight if you aren't allergic]I love you so much and think you have immense talent that should be shared. i am proud of everything that you've done, keep on doing what you're good at. you know i'm always 150% behind you. [end of PDA]

cockpit for the WIN!

all i wanna do.

2010-03-20T14:38:00.000+08:00

i literally, have nothing to write today.
i have had nothing to write for the past month.

i guess, i've started internalizing many things - in a way it's good. in a way it's bad.
i've been smoking a lot recently, i don't know why.
i've been having thoughts of getting wasted and drunk recently, i don't recall ever wanting to this bad.
i've been wanting to stop being so cash conscious recently, but its not an option.

all i can look forward to is bangkok - where the above three options are allowed to manifest and i don't have to feel bad about it.

because it's a holiday.
and it's with three out of five of my favourite boys.
which is like 60% which isn't bad at all.

and also, what's up with all the cheating husbands? next year, the women fight back please.

i have literally, nothing to say.

bye bye nice girl.

2010-02-20T02:45:00.002+08:00

"IT'S FOR ONLY FOURTY DAYS." - that's the mantra i am chanting this lent - i'm giving up carbs + sugar for lent. this means no rice, bread or potatoes. no dessert or sweet drinks (though i'll still bake!). this means cranky me.

spent the day watching an awesome CSI Miami marathon. I would kill to be Horatio's wing woman. And how difficult can a CSI's job be when you have basically all the the technology that avatar has.

oh, some woman died - swab her mouth put it in some bottle and shove the bottle into a machine and nah, there's your killer!

then, with my dripping nose and chesty cough, i went for some good ol' butter chicken with the gang at swis ling. damn good, even if i couldn't taste have of it.

headed down to barnyard to catch emily's gig - let's just say the guitarist was strumming my pain with his fingers and killing me softly with his song. em was pristine though... how she didn't manage Singapore Idol is beyond me.

(ps, andrew gracia in top 24, yooza!)

finally, got the dose of L4D2 with the gang - though the beau left me dying metres away from the damn helicopter. wah lau, in the real zombie attack, i'll use my last dying breath to trip him so he would die next to me.

i'm a romantic like that.

now, i'm home, clean and still woozy from being sick.
meh, so much activities and yet so little time.

it's good to be me, i guess.

gong hei.

2010-02-18T23:52:00.000+08:00

so chinese new year was pretty fantastic.
i got to see people that have more or less faded into the oblivion of my life.

tonight, i met up with some friends i haven't seen in a long time.
though some events startled me, it was a common comfort i find in knowing that after all the shit has settled - nothing has really changed.

we talked about mass comm - the goods and the bads, the dos and the don'ts. it made me realise what a blessing in disguise mass comm was to me. i met the best people there, experienced heartbreak, learned about the depths of the human mind and finally actually found who i really am.

yes, it's a two-faced shithole when we talked about it - tons of scandal and lies but then again, mass com defined my life in a way school couldn't.

i'm glad i was in mass comm... and i'm glad i stuck around with this bunch of people throughout.

:)

i thought of you.

2010-01-27T15:10:00.000+08:00

Oh love. Why is your body so still, why do your muscles sing no more, why does your chest not rise and fall.

Oh love. Why is your skin so cold, why do your eyes not trace my face, why do you not get up and accept my warm embrace.

Oh love. I have no regrets for our mistakes, no heart left to break, for you have taken it with you to the grave.

Oh love. Love that turned to death, death that turned to longing, longing that turned away from me, leaving me here to bear it alone.

Oh love. Oh love. Oh my love.

spare change.

2010-01-25T00:50:00.002+08:00

so i spent sunday at work - building, packing, taping and wiping.
it's all worth it.

it's one of those things which put my heart at ease that things might just be different this year.

i have a brand new workspace, something i'm proud to say i built and contributed to.
maybe, i didn't want to leave in the first place.

maybe i just needed change.

change starts from within doesn't it?

pandora.

2010-01-23T12:29:00.000+08:00

it was worth the wait and headache.
james cameron, please make the sequel fast.

and don't michael bay it, please.

chicken little.

2010-01-11T00:23:00.002+08:00

so it began, my once-a-month cookout with my new oven.
my dad has tasked me to cook for the family once a month since he is not the expert of ang-moh food.

enter the little 'dragon'.

so for the first session of karen's great cookout, i did a surprisingly simple roast chicken with roasted garlic mash potatoes and a herb mushroom sauce.

the chicken sitting in the oven. yummers.

recipe after the jump.

Roast Chicken ala Karen

(serves 4 - 6)

For the chicken

One 2.5kg Chicken - gutted and cleaned
Fresh / Dried Thyme - 2 sprigs / 2 tablespoons
Fresh / Dried Rosemary leaves - 2 tablespoons
2 Lemons - sliced into halves
5 cloves of Garlic - skin removed
2 cups of Chicken Broth
Medley of veggies - carrots, celery, onions and tomatoes (use as much as you like) - chopped into pieces
Olive oil
Salt
Black Pepper

For the roasted garlic mash potatoes

5 - 6 good sized Russet or American Potatoes, washed, peeled and cut into quarters
1 - 2 cups of chicken broth
5 cloves of Garlic
2 - 3 tablespoons of butter
Salt
Black Pepper

For the herb & mushroom sauce

1 can of button mushrooms
Dried Thyme - 2 table spoons
Basil - 2 tablespoons
Leftover chicken juices from the roasted chicken
Rosemary - 2 tablespoons

Now, the hard part:

Prepare the marinade:

squeeze 2 lemons, crush the garlic and add in the thyme and rosemary into a bowl
Coat the chicken with the marinade thoroughly.
Take the halves of the lemon that you squeezed the juice from and put them into the cavity of the chicken (shove as many as you, i managed 2 halves)
If you used fresh thyme, put the sprigs into the cavity as well. if you used dried herbs, then dash another tablespoon of thyme and rosemary into the cavity
dash some salt and pepper and rub it onto the chicken (all over)
let the chicken sit, breast down in the marinade for about half an hour.

Prepare the pan for roasting:

into a roasting pan, lay all the veggies.
pour 2 cups of chicken broth into the pan. you don't need to cover the veggies

Roasting time:

Preheat the oven to 220ºC
Place chicken onto the bed of veggies. Gently tuck the wing tips under the chicken as well.
Pour remaining marinade onto the chicken
Pour a generous amount of olive oil and rub it onto the chicken. this will help brown the bird
Into the oven it goes! 220ºC for 20 minutes then 200ºC for 40 minutes.
To check if the chicken is done, just use a skewer and poke the thigh (thickest part of the bird). If the juices run clear and the skewer goes in with ease, it is done!

Garlic Roasted Mash Potatoes

Boil all the quarter potatoes in a pot of water until they are very soft (i.e a fork through it will crumble it.)
Drain the potatoes and place them into a bowl
With a masher or fork, gently mash them while they are still hot.
Add in 2 tablespoons of butter and mash
Add in the chicken broth, a little at a time until you get the consistency that you like.
Go over to your roasted chicken and find the bits of garlic that were roasting in it as well. if you didn't roast the garlic, simple toast some crushed garlic in the oven until you can smell the aroma (or pop them into the microwave for about 20 secs on high)
chop the garlic up into small pieces and mash them into the potatoes
Salt and pepper to taste.

Herb & Mushroom sauce

Reserve some of the preservative juice that was in the canned mushroom.
Now, extract the juices from the chicken that was roasting. pour them into a bowl
Add in the mushrooms
Add in 2 tablespoons of preservatives (If the liquid is too little, stir in some chicken broth)
Add in all the spices.
Blend them all together (roughly).

And there you have it, simply done in less that 2 hours.
(sorry, i was too excited and didn't even take a photo! but the food was delish, trust my nephew.)

burn & spurn.

2010-01-09T03:35:00.000+08:00

my heart goes out to all the catholics in malaysia who are now facing uncertainty in these turbulent times. it's not your fault, nor is it theirs.

it's so hard to love, when there's so much to hate.

my prayers are with you. and for those who choose to spurn and burn - my prayers are with you too.

try to picture the girl

2010-01-06T01:10:00.000+08:00

in the words of one mr. jason mraz, my new year will consist of the following guidelines:

live high

live mighty

live righteously.

it's that simple.

on another note, i sent in my very first "fail" to failblog. i hope it gets published - then it's time to hit FML.

note to self: i need to set actual goals for myself.

note to self after glancing at tv: polo boys is only good when they walk and not talk.

rock the casbah.

2009-12-31T02:09:00.000+08:00

10 (and then some) reasons why christmas was excellent this year:

kenneth bought me a skillet - which can be used to pan fry fish and as a weapon in the zombie apocalypse.
charlene bought me fruitloops - which is an awesome cereal as well as an awesome step in the right direction.
the beau got me many many wonderful things - all of which is for preparation of my trip to perth + spent x'mas with me and my family
merylnn came home for x'mas - the best present she has ever given me :)
russ invited us over for the most fantastic feast at his place - a 24 pound turkey was the star attraction + he gave me his traditional x'mas hug (which i look forward to every x'mas)
played left4dead2 5 times in a week.
ashton's family were the most hospitable (gorgeous) family ever
my parents splurged on gifts for each other, and both gifts are beneficial to me!
my brother and ta sao got me a chocolate making set
all my friends and i are in talks for an official nerf gun war

Jesus sure knows how to have one hell of (pardon the pun) a birthday!

happy new year folks, make this year count!

Anscoflex II Pseudo TLR

2009-12-17T16:52:00.001+08:00

The anscoflex series is a nice TLR but since many people classify it as “pseudo”, I think I should do the same.

Designed by Raymond Loewy (the same guy who designed the Studebaker Avanti & Lucky Strike cigarette package), the Anscoflex is one of the most stylish camera ever mad.

The Anscoflex not only has that cool slide open panel thingy to access the large and bright viewfinder, it’s got a nifty film advance crank. Instead of turning the knob, you twist the knob back and forth. Sort of like revving an engine, or something.

The camera’s kind of chunky, but it grows on you real, real fast. Gray metal & 1960’s lawn-chair-aluminum, the camera’s got a nice little heft to it, though it’s not at all heavy. The shutter button and back door button are red.

The anscoflex II was released in 1954 as an improvement from the Anscoflex and features a close-up lens and built in, user-selectable yellow filter.

From Madecine

when the world isn't looking.

2009-12-12T04:09:00.002+08:00

oh, an update on the job thing - i've written the letter. the only thing left to fill in is the date at the top right corner.

God, i know - i can feel it - you have something great installed.
and world, i know - i can feel it - you can't really stop me.

i'm feeling far more motivated that i've ever been because i know i'm not the only person who feels this way.

after a heart-felt conversation tonight with someone who had the guts to do what i will eventually do, as well as with two people that feel very much the same way, i realise the problem doesn't lie within me.

i shouldn't have to feel bad for having plans with my friends or beau after work hours.
i shouldn't have to feel bad for leaving at 7pm - even if it's an hour after office hours.
i shouldn't have to get slammed for telling a client "no" to protect my creative team.
i shouldn't have to do something that is not part of my job when i already have so much work to do that is related to my job

i should be able to trust my senior to protect me if my client abuses me.
i should be able to enjoy going to work
i should be able to be proud of the things that i have done
i should be able to say "this is not right, i would do it differently" when i feel it isn't
i should be given credit for something i created all by myself
i should be able to learn on the job - and not have things taken away from me because someone feels that they like to do it too
i should be able to inspire my team.
i should believe in the things i tell my clients day after day.

i can't run this way - my attitude is changing everyday. i work with people who think work life balance equates to 'being able to turn off your blackberry when you are out of the office'.

there are people here who make me seem like a loafer just because i want to leave the office before the streetlamps come on. or who just drive things to the ground because of KPIs and money.

and all because of what? no bonus, no respect, no balance.

i'm done and sick of it. i need a place where i have people who will have the balls to stop being yes men and start believing in the company.

and most importantly, start believing in me.

it's in the works.

2009-12-11T00:52:00.002+08:00

yes, i'm looking for somewhere new to begin everything again.
new hellos and where were you befores.
new finding places to spend an hour at a time.

just new. i need something new.

i don't hate where i am now. honestly, i quite love it.
but it's taking a toll on my state, and i cannot let it happen.

which leads me to think if maybe i'm just giving up too easily? maybe i'm not made for this line.

i really don't know, all i do know is i pray for God to align everything in my life.
yes, he doesn't answer my prayers sometimes.

but he never disappoints.

i'm counting on you.

in your head

2009-11-28T03:56:00.000+08:00

they are fighting...

Left4Dead2 is awesome.

Awesomely difficult!

kenneth, char, the beau and i spent 3 hours playing and we couldn't even finish ONE map all the way.

ok, noobs we might all be but when we played L4D the first time, completing a map was easy peasy.

no fucking away man, this game is too awesome.

and i think i might just make this gaming thing a weekly thing.

maybe i should just stay home and play plants vs zombies all day long.

full of glee.

2009-11-23T00:48:00.002+08:00

yes, i did spend 7 hours watching this show.
7 glorious hours of feel-good singing, dancing, teenage drama and inappropriate threats.

i hearted every single minute of it.

my god, Glee (2009) is number one - it's the crude version of high school musical - but actually dealing with real problems like homosexuality, preggers and socially-inept people.

Glee Football Dance (single Ladies) HQ Full Video - Watch more funny videos here

and my word, is the cast talented. though, i am pretty sure there's a bunch of uglier people actually singing the songs for them - everything is lip-synced but no one really cares. (edit: actually real singing is done every time. wow, impressed much.)

and coach Sue Slyvester - i could actually see my primary 6 form teacher (she who shall not be named but coded as Nazi Nun) embodied in her. it made it all too real.

oh well, 10 episodes down, 12 more to go. release it already!

love in my tummy.

2009-11-20T00:39:00.004+08:00

eve dying for adam by ~coffee-and-pepper ; deviantart

i tried two new recipes this week (yay, two more than usual!) and i must say both came out just delish.

the first one is one of those i'm-alone-at-home-don't-want-to-spend-money-don't-want-to-go-out kinda of thing. the other, totally spend effort, money and time to get this perfect.

do note that i'm a "感覺“ ("feeling") kind of accidentally cook so i tend to just taste test my food rather than go strictly by ingredients. i believe everyone's palette is different so just go with the flow or just "隨便“（"going with the flow")

find the recipes after the jump :)

numero uno - comfort ala creamy, chunky macaroni with cajun chicken and parsley
easy peasy meal meant for those rainy days that you don't feel like taking out more than one pot and a bowl.

ingredients
serves 2

Macaroni pasta - about 200 grams
Campbell Soup - 1 1/2 Cans (i use chicken mushroom cos i'm greedy and want both, but just use your favourite flavour)
Any leftover meat you have - about 1 cup (i used last night's cajun chicken; i find normal fried luncheon meat tastes phenomenal too.)
Water - 1 cup
Dried Basil - a pinch
Dried Parsely - for garnish

ok, the hard part.

Cook the pasta according to instructions. Cook them till al dente cos later on it'll be cooked through.
Pour in the campbells into a pot NOT on the stove yet. Many people add the campbells paste into a hot pot and end up having a nasty burn at the bottom of the pot. you can taste and add more campbells later.
Pour in the water
Now, turn on the fire to medium heat.
Use your ladle or spatula to kind of chop through the chunkiness of the paste + water. do this until its smooth like soup and slightly bubbling.
Once starts to bubble, add in meat and basil.
Stir and heat up the meat.
Finally, add in the pasta.
Heat the pasta through and serve with sprinkled parsley.

numero duo - Pho Bo (Vietnamese Beef Noodle Soup)

this recipe takes patience, time and loads to love. I add carrots to my recipe because i love the natural sweetness it brings to the broth. heaven!

ingredients
serves 4

Broth

Leg/Knuckle Bones or Oxtail - 2 kgs
200grams of Chuck Beef
Carrots - 2 mediums, chopped anyway you like.
Fish Sauce - 1 1/2 Cup
Sugar - 2 - 3 tablespoons
Water - 12 cups of water (give and take)
Spice packet - 1 cinnamon stick, 5 star anise, 6 cloves, 1 cardamom seed, 1 tbsp fennel seeds, 1 tbsp of coriander seeds. (tie them all up in a mesh bag = best!)
Dried Basil - 2 - 3 tbsp
White Onion - 1
Ginger - 1
Salt + Pepper

To serve

Rice noodles - 4 bunches
Sirloin - about 200grams (i put my sirlion in the freezer 15 minutes before i cut it, it makes it so much easier!)
Fresh Basil - a handful
Bean Sprouts - a handful
Fresh Cilantro - a bunch
Limes - 2, sliced into halves
Fresh Red chillies - 2 mediums, chopped
Fish sauce
Hoison Sauce

ok, the hard part

Char your onion and ginger by either a) putting it in your oven's highest rack for about 10 mins or until the onion turns black on the top; b) be extremely lazy like me and stick them into the microwave for a minute on 70% strength. The smells of the ginger and onion should be HEAVENLY.
Meanwhile, parboil your bones to get rid of the funk. Boil enough water to cover all the bones and once the water is rumbling, pour in the bones and boil vigorously for 10 mins.
Pour away funky water and wash the pot.
Fill the pot with clean water and bring to boil.
Once boiling, put in ALL BROTH INGREDIENTS except the Carrots. Carrots cook fast, so put them in last. sneak a few into your mouth, you deserve it.
Simmer for 1 1/2 hours, uncovered. every now and then, check the water levels. Pour in more water when the meat is not covered. for every 2 cups of water, add a dash of fish sauce.
After 1 1/2 hours, remove chuck beef and do a taste test. Add in more sugar/fish sauce to taste.
Simmer for another 1 1/2 hours covered, without chuck beef.
At the last 15 minutes, add in carrots and basil.
While the soup is becoming awesome, cook your rice noodles according to instructions.
Cut the sirloin, against the grain, into the thinnest slices that make size 0 models self conscious.
ok, now the fun part: put your cooked chuck beef at the bottom of the bowl, then rice noodles then strips of uncooked sirloin.
Do a final taste test of the broth - add salt and pepper to taste.
Now, ladle some boiling broth into your prepared bowl - watch that sirloin cook!
Allow your guests to add in as many veggies and condiments as they like. and indulge.

[adapted from steamy kitchen]

fuck yeah.

2009-11-18T01:01:00.004+08:00

the Leica M7 Hermes edition; USD14,000

DOGN by Cognitime; USD949.00

Razer Naga; USD79.99

Macbook Tablet; USD-who really cares, people will still buy/want/desire it

[via fuckyeahgadgets]

i want your ugly; i want your disease.

2009-11-14T02:33:00.005+08:00

i want your drama; with the touch of your hand

tonight, i realised i'm selfish.
self-centred, looking out for my own interests, petty and spoilt.

and i'm humbled by the fact that despite tonight's episode - you are still around.
and i'm humbled by the endless reassurance you gave me tonight.

most of all, i'm grateful for you in my life.

there is nothing better than knowing that you are loved despite of all that funk.
and that everytime you fuck up, it's ok.

pardon the emotive rant - it's a friday.

have a good weekend folks.

want you back for good.

2009-11-06T00:26:00.003+08:00

ok, let's pretend my whole "you need to grow up" thing never happened. i'm back at blogger. i don't know if it's because i'm use to it, or because it's just one of those better things.

i feel much more at home here, and i feel like a horny school boy who got his own place to lay girls but ended up missing his mom's cooking and not getting laid at all.

argo, hello i'm back!

(urm, to satisfy my itch, i'm going to play designer.)

tumble here.

2009-09-26T02:47:00.003+08:00

i have moved.

dear blogger,

it's not me, it's you.

we've been together for 6 years. you were my first taste of web freedom - the space to write anything i wanted. an avenue for my friends to understand me without actually talking to me. you knew my deepest darkest secrets.

but i've met tumblr. and, it was love at first sight. I swear when i was creating my new interface, i was thinking of you. it started as a physical thing - the clean layouts and interface, the excellent blogging facilities - but now it has morphed into an emotional attraction.

tumblr is a lot like you, you know. it does exactly the same things as you. maybe that's why i liked it so much. but there's one thing that it has that you don't - change.

You have not changed. with web 2.0 emerging, you still remained in version 1. while other blogging sites became intuitive, your engine remained complicated. when wordpress began revolutionizing the content management systems, you... you never did.

that's why blogger, we must part. though many firsts where given to you, i feel our relationship has not blossomed as much.

you will always be a part of me, i'm part of you...(i want to say indefinitely) no more.

love,
karen.

the weekend.

2009-09-13T22:34:00.000+08:00

my weekend was great. how was yours?

<3

love in my tummy.

2009-09-07T22:47:00.000+08:00

the best thing that came out of the infection - chicken macaroni.

when i'm sick, i cook.
because i'm at home, no one's around, i know exactly what i'm craving (usually good ol' soup) and i can eat as much of it as i want without judgement.

ok next thing on the menu - Bailey's Cornflake Crispies.

time traveller's meh.

2009-09-06T23:02:00.000+08:00

hello world. it's been awhile.

been home bound for the past two days due to an infection. first food poisoning last week, then this. i'm getting to weak for my own good, getting sick and infected way to easily. i hate taking mc and feeling like someone is trying to pull my stomach from the small of my back. need to stock up on vitamin c and other "bu" stuff.

well, at least i got to cook during my rest :) cooking always makes me happy.

enough of the infection, to the weekend!

first, as a welcome back to health treat, the beau bought me dinner at the much anticipated Astons. ok, i hear the "gasps!" from your screen, but yes i've never eaten at Astons, always put off by the long queues. He forced me to queue and discussed very questionable baby names (for instance, he would like his first child to be called Tchaichovsky or Aristotle or Xerxus, for that matter). since, at this point, i am not the mother of the baby, i had no veto. well done.

Astons was very satisfying. The steak i had was very very tasty - had it in medium, and it is one of those places where you don't have to down the doneness. You get the exact doneness you like. yummers. the beau's chicken was delish too. We had two mains and two soups and it came up to less than 30 bucks. quite reasonable. lovely.

we proceeded to catch District 9, which literally blew me away. i went in with the beau refusing to disclose the story line to me and came out begging the beau to promise me a sequel (ok, beau is not peter jackson, but worth a shot). It was simply - great. no doubt. i can't tell you what's great about it though, it was just a great experience. the story line was pretty solid, character development tops and the cinematography was very unique. GREAT LOH!

but all good things come to an end, as you will read.

so today, me + beau + 2 other hardcore TTW fans headed down to cine to watch what we have been waiting for months for: henry and clare immortalised in flesh on screen.

all i can say is a big big big MEH.. italics, bold, caps and underlined.

supremely underwhelming, story was cut in a unkempt and disregarded way. important bits from the book were left mysteriously out, even altering the very poignant and important ending (i understand the movie cannot contain the full book within it, but this, this was insult!). this book wasn't meant to be a happy ending! it was meant to be tortured, painful, poignant and joyful all at the same time. no word.

they left out ingrid, the torrid affair, henry's mother's death (over and over again.) and kinda of trivalised the entire story. wah lau, worse 10 bucks i spent at the movie! (aside from twi- ok, nevermind!)

luckily, dinner more than made up for it. headed to bedok 85 for bak chor mee, orh luak, chicken wings and otah. good to the last drop though i became so full i had to hunch forward to suck my stomach in. WAY too much effort.

thanks to ling who sent me straight to the doorstep despite living in the west. huat ah pop cherry crush!

ok, another week of work, another weekend to work towards. mini milestones, baby steps.

samurai girl is playing on channel 5. oh hello stereotype!

checklist.

2009-08-23T12:10:00.000+08:00

clearing cobwebs - both online and offline at the moment.
that explains the dead air that's present here.

quick updates can be done, as such:

- job: check
- love life: check
- friends: check
- family: check

things are going well in karen's world.
:)

it's like hollywood heard me

2009-08-05T16:19:00.005+08:00

I cannot believe so many of my favourite books and stories are being immortalized onto screen with big hollywood names actually interested in making it work.

the lovely bones was one of the very first books which i could not put down. i think i must have read it at least 4 times and everytime, every single time, i always discover something new about it. it's so child-like and different.

time traveller's wife is the ultimate favourite book for me. heart-wrenchingly beautiful, it's an out of this world story made believable. love knows no boundaries, not even time and space.

and alice in wonderland, my favourite childhood book. my mom actually banned me from it for a good while because she thought i had an over obesession with it. just as icing on the cake, tim burton took it and made it his. with johnny depp, but of course.

i'm too excited to work, i'm just googling all the book titles i love to see if a movie is attached to them.

next stop: real world by natsuo kirino.
hollywood / japanese directaaa - are you listening

spent time

2009-08-03T23:14:00.007+08:00

rock it, i by mad puppet (deviant art)

thinking about you today.

There's still a door here shaped like you. Boarded up, covered in chains and nails. Look at you, like a new tattoo. Because I might not always have you but I'll have the feeling of you for the rest of my life. But life doesn't give you a second canvas. So all you can do is paint on. And, sometimes, even over.

so in the meantime, I built you a house and a garden inside my head. I know you'll be happy there.

and stay there for a while. Just so i can keep you there for that little while longer.

How many special people change
How many lives are living strange
Where were you when we were getting high?

and they say.

2009-07-16T23:48:00.000+08:00

love exists. we haven't discovered it yet.

top sex.

2009-07-15T22:55:00.004+08:00

today during lunch, my colleagues were discussing on the sexist people ever.

The criteria was personality, looks and pure raw sexual power.

though mixed reviews and many tears and heated discussions, 8 of us managed to agree on 10 people - 5 men and 5 women - who are the sexist people ever to live and walk this earth.

i present to you the sexist people ever:

do you agree? i think you do.

pack my bags.

2009-07-11T01:41:00.004+08:00

You think you’re waiting for help. For someone to tell you what the right thing to do is. Even though, at the back of your mind, you already know what that is. So all you’re really waiting for, is a time when you’re forced to do it.

When you finally understand what it meant, the truth will leave your lips. Not as words. But a sound at the back of your throat.

You will hear it and no one else will, like your soul wears headphones and only it can hear the music.

If it was easy, everyone would do it. But it's not. Which is why it's up to you.

I feel guilty for not feeling guilty.

I don't know if it is suppose to be so easy. Are we meant to block out things we know we cannot deal with? Is it our mind and body's way of defending itself - much like how the brain produces adrenaline in times of fear and panic or when the body produces antibodies for a virus each time we are infected with a new one?

Is this my mind's way of telling me: you can't deal with it?
so don't deal with it, lock it away so that we won't need to suffer a breakdown.
Other people need you, your job needs you, your beau needs you, your friends need you.

You don't need you. You just contort and follow in everyone's plan and then it will be fine. Because of this, you will have multiple backup plans - you'll never be alone.

I hate feeling like I don't care. Because I do, because I want to care. I want to feel that I'm living for myself. And the sad part, is that I don't care enough (or at least my mind says I don't) to even do that.

I feel guilty for not feeling guilty.

2009-07-03T23:54:00.002+08:00

oh, bugger.
the week went by really quickly and somewhat painfully.

firstly, mj dropped dead.
secondly, all of my projects got pushed back cos my client is quarantined.
thirdly, i got some terrible news which involves intrusive solutions.
lastly, i found out the beau is working all weekend at an event.

on the total opposite side of things...
firstly, mj can never die because he is immortal.
secondly, all of my projects pushed back = no over time for me.
thirdly, at least this news made me realise how important i was to someone.
lastly, i got all the time this weekend with zac without feeling guilty.

see, giant silver lining is works!

HUGE NOTE
i'm thinking of taking a trip to thailand in oct - all in 4d3n at 187, any takers?

death of a king.

2009-06-28T00:20:00.003+08:00

Michael Jackson showed me that you can actually see the beat. He made the music come to life. He made me believe in magic.

- P. Diddy

thank you for singing the songs that defined my generation.
thank you for creating music that i still find too good to be true.

the world has lost another great.

p.s please say hi to ed and farrah. :)

robots in demise.

2009-06-26T00:50:00.004+08:00

whoar, so big.

so transformers: revenge of the fallen came and went.

the animation was amazing still. but hype has fallen since the first transformers.

i still squealed (inside) when optimus prime transformed for the first time.

i was pleasantly surprised there was a Blackbird in the show - one of the most technologically gorgeous aircrafts ever.

nice to see still got GM branding even thought they are kaput.

i was also very surprised to see megan fox looking quite delish. always thought she was manly.

[highlight to see spoiler] part where optimus died actually brought tears into my eyes. i asked the beau why like that about 4 times in 2 secs.

the villan - also known as the fallen - only appeared like for 2 mins out of which he spent half the time dying.

i was not prepared to see decepticons humping, "ghettobots" and a butcher's ass.

and the last scene where the US was blowing up pretty much all of Egypt's ruins was about 20 minutes too long. [end of spoilers.]

and josh duhamel is married to fergie. like what the fuck.

after thought of the movie: michael bay cannot do romance, comedy and romantic comedies.

JAMES CAMERON FOR PART 3!

with love, from taiwan

2009-06-21T01:57:00.003+08:00

so, i spent a good week alone at home. just me and my house.
liberating, yes
lonely, yes.

but i welcomed my parents home today. and to that, my mom bought these goodies for me:

before she left, i said: "just get me some nice cosmetics lah."
my mom is great innit?

the simple truth.

2009-06-10T00:01:00.004+08:00

visit cardboard love

I never really intended for these little bits of cardboard to be a big deal, but the response has been both surprising and uplifting.

In general, I am a pretty negative person. This project has been a chance for me to focus on the positive for a change.

Some people like these, some think they are lame, to each his or her own.

I’m just glad to have someone in my life that makes me not afraid to be lame.

Thank you for visiting. I hope something here makes you smile.

for the beau.

2009-06-07T22:16:00.002+08:00

oh, this is just for the beau who has patiently watched one and half seasons of Chuck with me.

ok fine, it was also for me.
aren't they just fiiiinnnneee?

to quote the beau's friend: "viagra is made of these."

oh well, kayel.

2009-06-05T22:59:00.003+08:00

i still have to:

- develop my film from the gorgeous canon ftb.
- return very overdue library books
- get over how awesome KL was.

now that i tasted heaven, how can i go back to mediocre foodcourt food!?
and the shopping - not as fabulous as bangkok but still quite satisfying:

everyone needs to go to kayel and get stuffed :)

in hindsight.

2009-05-28T00:15:00.003+08:00

I:

- watched an entire season of 30 rock.
- watched an entire season of chuck.
- have in possession one of the childhood defining movies of all time
- am hooked on unfortunate shortcomings of other people (ala fmylife, textfromlastnight and awkwardfamilyphotos)
- am serious of getting that long awaited second tattoo
- starting to not like dealing directly with people
- am looking extremely forward to going away this weekend
- am bringing something (hopefully) delish to char's this weekend.

:) out of country!

click!

2009-05-16T15:00:00.001+08:00

look what i just inherited! :)

uh awkward.

2009-05-16T13:20:00.002+08:00

so after fmylife.com, failblog and all are done with, where are you going to find mindless entertainment aimed at making fun of other people's misfortune?

AWKWARD FAMILY PHOTOS . COM

it's just restoring my faith in humanity and love all over.

crazy is what crazy do.

2009-05-14T00:29:00.002+08:00

it seems like a good plan, don't you?

moon.

2009-05-09T17:36:00.005+08:00

It is the near future. Astronaut Sam Bell is living on the far side of the moon, completing a three-year contract with Lunar Industries to mine Earth’s primary source of energy, Helium-3. It is a lonely job, made harder by a broken satellite that allows no live communications home. Taped messages are all Sam can send and receive. Thankfully, his time on the moon is nearly over, and Sam will be reunited with his wife, Tess, and their three-year-old daughter, Eve, in only a few short weeks. Finally, he will leave the isolation of “Sarang,” the moon base that has been his home for so long, and he will finally have someone to talk to beyond “Gerty,” the base’s well-intentioned, but rather uncomplicated computer.

it's a date.

totem destroyer!

2009-05-06T23:22:00.001+08:00

please play this game :)
it makes me happy!

job hazzard.

2009-05-01T12:21:00.002+08:00

Noteboek from Evelien Lohbeck on Vimeo.

all i could think of during the video was: "can this be done in Flash?"

job hazzard.

k-i-s-s-i-n-g.

2009-04-22T23:26:00.003+08:00

this restaurant is gorgeous. Yellow Treehouse Restaurant, New Zealand was designed to be a hideaway from the city, somewhere the chic could dine in style but in the middle of mother nature.

Best part - the restaurant was built as a statement. The Yellow Group built it to show potenial clients that they can do anything.

However, the restaurant is fully booked for the year(!) and only 2,000 people have ever dines within its branches.

new zealand really pulling out the stops man... first LOTR then this.

in other news, if you read the papers today, 9 out of 10 MJC students scored distinctions for project work for the A's whereas only 26% from CJC and 85% from Hwa Chong getting the same result.

now, the papers are making a huge hoo-haa about how some teachers gave more attention to the project work module and some teachers just heck cared. For instance, MJC cited that they had to turn in 7 drafts before the project was approved and their teacher was very merticulous when coming to details and such. Whereas other colleges, the teacher saw 2 drafts, gave a rough overview for improvements and sent the students on their way.

my god, Singaporean JC kids, wake up and smell the common sense.

Not only are you implying you aren't good enough to develop your own ideas, but also that you rely heavily on others to validate and proof your work. do you honestly think that in the working world, your boss is going to check facts for you? or that he is going to allow you to submit 7 drafts?

by draft 4 you can go look for a new job already.

all i can say is that kids nowadays need to stop expecting help and to stand on their own two feet. sheesh, two page article dedicated to how reliant the kids are on the education system is appalling.

and parents, stop defending your children and blaming it on the teachers. you of all people know who unfair the world is. keeping your child wrapped in a tiny bubble isn't going to do good for your young ones.

whatever happened to good old resourcefulness and self-reliance.

manners where?

2009-04-08T23:27:00.003+08:00

i took to most terrible, ungracious bus ride of my life today.

- man put his bag on the seat next to him when the entire aisle was filled with people standing.
- not a single person (not even above mentioned man) gave up their seat to a obviously preggers woman. she stood for the whole of little india before someone off in front of her.
- people snatched seats from a preggers woman (same one as above.) she looked at me and sighed.
- 3 kids played their stupid mp3 from their phones at max volume. wang lee hom, some extreme death metal and some extreme malay rock were infiltrating the bus.
- the conductor had to physically push people to the back of the bus.

seriously, where has all the hard work of courtesy gone?
call ourselves a first world nation.
we have third world manners.

shame on all of us.

maybe not.

2009-03-29T17:53:00.003+08:00

i'm starting to get worried.
where are you now?

coming to terms.

2009-03-29T01:38:00.003+08:00

i've realised: it's time to fuck it.

hidden talent.

2009-03-19T23:14:00.002+08:00

here is another too cute to resist picture of baby zachary.

He is growing fast and furiously but has been a rather quiet and managable baby.
my sis in law is doing very well, recovering all too fast.
my brother? as usual lah, told me that day the baby said PAPA.

This week flew by too fast.
I managed to get my mojo going for work. so far it's been trying, figuring out terms and getting use to clients' idiosyncrasies. But i have to say, my company is letting me take on more work then i expected which is awesome.

throwing me into the deep end, or more aptly - the shark pool.

apart from that, i've just been clinging on to anytime i have left to spend it with the people that matter to me and doing things i like.

thats the key to prevention of burning out. All the late nights in the office, all the 24/7 emails you get will eventually wear you thin. i come to realised there are only 24 hours in a day and after that 24th hour, you start again.

so on weekends, i dedicate to doing things i like. I actually make an effort to wake up early and go for breakfast with my parents. I go out with the beau and maybe have drinks with my friends.

and most importantly, try very very hard not to call/email/communicate with my clients and so far, they have been understanding. but come monday, its all systems go again. thankfully, the week goes fast and somewhat painlessly.

well, TGIF tomorrow :)

baby boom.

2009-03-13T00:20:00.001+08:00

meet Zachary Wong Jian Heng.
my nephew, born to my brother and sis in law 3:57pm, 11 Mar 2009.

i would have never guess my brother could produce something so beautiful. :)

opulence.

2009-03-08T16:04:00.006+08:00

oh, warning, long post.

i shall sum up the past few weeks in 3 sets of photos - of which the last ones is specially for the ladies :)

SOUTHERN COMFORT

so i got onto a yacht with my colleagues we we sailed out to open sea on a saturday. boy was it extremely awesome. think nice warm sun, cool sea water, awesome company, smokes upon smokes, beer upon beer.

I also tried my hand at fishing and caught a mighty sizable one but the line snapped (ok, -_-) and it got away. wah lau, photo moment gone.

best part of the whole week end was just lying back on the deck with a tatami mat, a gin & tonic, a cig in my hand and the cloudless sky.

(i got a nice tan too, seriously, coppertone rocks my could-have-been-burnt socks off.)

JASON MRAZ LIVE IN SINGAPORE

like as if my week wasn't awesome enough, jason mraz came and literally blew me away. if you thought he sounded good on a cd, live is just way better. his voice is crisp and just plain amazing. Not a single note wrong in the whole show, not a beat off.

what also, um, stood out, was singer joi chua. she made a guest appearance and sang lucky with JM. you could tell she was 'excited' by the strange bulge in her dress:

thanks to chocomocholala from youtube.

i could not stop pointing and laughing and kenneth on my other side was giggling like a school girl. it was there through the whole song, flapping and waving at the audience. she obviously was excited. well, at least she got a standing ovation.

JM's concert was worth my 100 bucks 5 mins into the show. great man he is.

[half] Nekkid Man Carwash

this one's for the ladies!

so me and kris headed out on sat morning for brunch at dempsey.
oh but brunch was not the main agenda - Sony Entertainment Television TOPLESS Carwash was on our mind.

hello, featuring the men from Singapore Water Polo team and manhunt. how can not go?!
and then allan wu took his top off for 1,000 bucks (as seen above). and some of the boys have muscles in places i didn't even know have muscles. so much definition.

we didn't have a car but gave a tiny donation to the breast cancer foundation each. then we just sat back and enjoyed the fantastic view. most of all, it started raining halfway so all the boys were soaking wet and half naked.

it's good be a woman. cos if men were to say the kind of things we said about the hunks, they would've been thrown into jail.

up for next week is midnight marvel showcase and paintball.
WAHLAU, my life is exciting!

electricity.

2009-02-22T23:43:00.002+08:00

I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints, --I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life! -- and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.

elizabeth browning, how do i love thee

what a night.
i sense this lightness in the air.
and i see the extremeness of everything.

and i'm happy for some, disappointed in some.
but overall, i'm satisfied.

there's this electricity tonight.
just all around me, fleeting but powerful
and in their eyes, i see completeness and submission
submission to each other ; to environment.

and there's a song inside me
a poignant tune of sorts. because
on one hand it's pure euphoria
and on the other, it's the manifestation of grace.

i am happy for you.
and i know you're happy for me.

In the words of the great Kazakhstan hero: great success!

love you long time.

2009-02-11T00:00:00.005+08:00

so miley cyrus is being called racist for the above photo. her pulled back eye slitty thing is supposed to make fun of us asians with teeny eyes (which i find really stupid, since the asian dude has bigger eyes than ms montana herself.)

also, i found out that the spanish basketball team also made a similar action, which of cos caused a stir among the asian community.

all i have to say is: look at the asian guy in the cyrus photo and you'll draw the same conclusion.

he looks the least stupid out of everyone in this blog post.

the caucasians got to spice it up.

om nom nom nom.

2009-02-09T23:20:00.002+08:00

i've started work at a new place (see above.)
and it's pretty darn exciting.
i'm doing servicing for interactive media clients.
.php, SEO, SEM, HTML, XML, javascript, flash, keyframe

liswanto is really laughing at me now.

also this week, i sent one of my bestest friends off to perth.
i miss her, and i was trying hard not to cling to her and let my tears soak her through.
what would lazy saturdays be without her!?

i wish her well, and i wish her love.

most of all, i wish she was here.

flea circus.

2009-02-01T01:01:00.004+08:00

so flea at home club was quite awesome.
i managed to buy quite a number of things for under $50! (refer to exhibit A above.)
and you must be saying, tsk karen, where is your sense of control? two brown bags that look so similar?

i blame kenneth soo, the devil himself, whose eagle eyes spotted most of the above bargins.

my favourite buys are the three awesome badges, they were too bloody cute to resist.

ran into a number of people at the event, mostly old poly mates. everyone looked excellent.

this week was just great. i start work on monday and to make the most of it, the beau and i headed for our last epic date.

cable car, underwater world, reading at the beach and the luge.
damn tiring but just too fulfilling. reading at the beach fufilled my deep dark geeky desire, srsly made me burst into fit of girly giggles.

[note:] finished Neil Gaiman's Graveyard Book. It wasn't as bad as most people sad it was, but i thought it could have been better. much potential wasn't tapped.
re-reading Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold ; always pleasantly surprised.

quote of the day:
(sneeze) Ahchoo! Snort, snort, snort.
euw, you sick ah? got cold?
Oh no, my nose is stuff with awesomeness, i need to let some out.

ok, altogether now: -_-

inspired.

2009-01-29T03:34:00.004+08:00

You’re so God damn beautiful, I cry, before I begin to write.
You were always my dark cloud that let me stare at the sun.
And i strum my fingers gently across your skin, like I was playing the slowest love song in the world and only you and I could hear it.

I want to fight over little things with you.
I loved you before you were cool.
You are different.
You’re not the same.
Something about you stands out.
Something about you shines in the dusk.
And then my soul saw you and it kind of went “Oh there you are. I’ve been looking for you."

Making love was never about you and me in a bed.
We made love whenever we held hands.
I thought I’d found my favourite picture of me.
Then I realised it was just because you were in it, too.

I let the clock face the mirror so that each second takes me closer towards you.
Instead of further away.

The world will tell you that the way you say things is more important than what you say.
The world is wrong.
I would find you down the line with broken wings, pick you up, and swear that you would taste the sky again

the world isn’t a dream and you and I really are happening at the same time, even if it’s not in the same place.
That this is real. You’re really there. I’m really here. We’re real.

This is real.

thank you for giving me the words i couldn't say.

ups and downs.

2009-01-26T02:03:00.002+08:00

Love is patient, love is kind.
It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails.

I Corinthians 13:4-8a

love never fails.
please repeat that to me when i'm being a bitch.

ugh, please make this day go faster.

the one.

2009-01-24T03:16:00.005+08:00

i found him.
the one, the one which is the final piece to my life.

we met at a party, filled with alcohol. there were girls and boys, everyone was pumped with alcohol and were talking loudly. the tv was on, the lights were on, it was bright and i was lucid.

then, i was pushed against him. his white shirt was glistening under the spotlight. his hair, messy but organised. he smiled at me,

"are you alright?" he smiled.
"yes, i'm ok."
"oh, no worries, do you know anyone here?"
"ugh, not really. i don't even know the guy who owns the house. i do know, his family met elton john."
"oh my god, are you serious? how do u know?"
"it's in a photo on his tv cabinet," i point to a red frame. "there!"
"let's see!"

we peered at the photo, and then he burst out laughing.

"it's madam Tussuad's babe. oh boy, you got me excited!"
"oh!" i blushed.
"well, i would be ten times as excited as if they met margaret cho."

(well i did a margaret cho impersonation here [thanks dean!] which is too painful to show on the blogosphere)

upon seeing my impersonation, he said the magic words.

"follow me into the room."

then followed two hours of margaret cho on youtube with two of us laughing as the party raged on outside.

and after that, just as icing on the cake, he called me his girlfriend.

"girlfriend, i'll see you soon. we can't just meet this once." and he went off.

my new gay best friend is rocks.
i'm secretly training him to be a jack mcfarland.

old skool.

2009-01-22T04:05:00.003+08:00

please don't be angry at me the next time i want to head home early after dinner or drinks.

but 和平的代價 is really too good. thank you tudou.com for bringing james lye, chenyu san san, jacintha and carol lin back into my life!

i bet all of you have these scenes at the back of your heads:
- james lye as ah cheng, blowing the trumpet at funerals
- jacintha as over dubbed indian doctor (for the life of me, i cannot remember the real doctor's name)
- xiang yun as a very convincing elizabeth choy
- rayson tan as lim bo seng
- carol lin parading naked in the streets after been raped and slapped around by her matchmade banker husband
- christopher lee eating porridge very dramatically with a metal spoon

its just really good acting, which is something we hardly see out on tv nowadays.

get lost la, little nonya (which isn't even authentic, where got nonya and baba speak cheena at home!),

this is what i call true local tv.

click goes the camera.

2009-01-16T14:42:00.002+08:00

ok, i've given up typing in point form. back to regular scheduled programming.

dinner at villa frangipani and dessert at prive proved to be an excellent combination for a northwest night. plus kevin proved to be rather witty that night.

keppel island was very very gorgeous and the wind was just awesome. (by the way, is it just me or is s'pore getting a bit too windy for comfort?)

lines of sailboats docked at the harbour, the city lights far away, the wind in your hair and the desserts were to die for. Frangelico Ice Cream Profiterole with Valrhona Chocolate for me and Gateau Opera for kevin.

all i can say is the cakes were just perfect. everything i imagined them to be. creamy, sinful, dark and forbidden. PLUS i ran into beni who was just a darling and gave us a nice discount. THANKS BENI :) nice running into you babe.

click to enlarge

i love how my b&w lomo shots came out. vintage and velvety, its just so mysterious.
total cost of developing 5 rolls of film burnt a huge hole in my pocket man.

goodness, i just researched and s'pore reported a high speed wind of 15mph yesterday. that's 24kmh. wow.

ok, now SNOW.

ooh baby baby.

2009-01-11T21:24:00.004+08:00

oh, i see baby christian is a republican. seeing you have lost the election, i should cuddle and console you even more!
(make almost unhuman cooing and gurgling noises)

1. meet baby christian!
no, my sis in law is still as preggers as before, but my cousin popped on friday. he's a nice 3.4kg and i am very much in love with him.

i spent about 2 hours cuddling him today, oh cuteness!

2. the ephrem chalet was very good and very tiring at the same time. i cannot believe we spent a total of 13 hours playing tai di and i pocketed $50 in profit.

13 hours of gambling vs 4 hours of sleep. ho sei!

3. played one of the most awesome FPS games in a long time - can you believe i played lan twice this week. could have been more. Left4Dead is s'rsly damn good.

4. got sunburnt after cycling for an hour (-_-).

5. ok, i realised i've been yo-yo-ing on the whole job thing but i have accepted a full time position and will be starting in feb. and its a job i want more than what i do now. heng ah, i waited.

ok, need to find a good popiah stall.
suggestions!

it's over and done.

2009-01-04T15:28:00.002+08:00

lucky to have been where i have been,
lucky to be coming home again.

jason mraz + colbie caillat ; lucky.

it's been an emotionally trying week.

1. attended two funerals, one of which i very dear to me. i realised halfway that the person we were praying for wasn't just a friend's grandma, but she was also 'aunty' to me. i have actually interacted with this person, seen her lucid as well as sick.

it was a very heartbreaking.

2. went out to club.
well, not much details here except i got a tinsy been high.

3. rejected a full time job to work part time.
i hope i won't regret this decision.

4. saw a friend break up and down. but also saw the person morphed into an incredibly composed, matured and level headed individual whom i have so much respect for.
you will get through this, you know i'm here supporting you.

5. caught very frighteningly skinny Christian Bale in The Machinist (2005).
dark, dreamy and extrememly disturbing but extremely awesome.

6. Drove up to marina barrage with two of my best friends. it was windy and cold and we all were snuggled up in jackets and sweaters, taking tourist shots and huddling together. it was the nicest feeling to have two people who care about you so much be near you when you need them.
it almost felt like a holiday.

7. had to listen to a close friend talk about a very disturbing incident that has made me lose alot of respect and faith for men.
i wish you would say more than what you said to him. he doesn't deserve courtesy.

i'm very tired now.
and so, i shall sleep.

oh, pure emotion is just draining.

everything is illuminated.

2008-12-31T18:00:00.003+08:00

"And when the coyotes they sing in the park
It’s when the city life starts falling for the sea
Winding roads are winding down and the flying men’ll hit the ground
Every motion is closer to touching the coyotes sing when they call on your lovin’

jason mraz, coyotes.

1. new year is coming, this means i've got to make some resolutions.
looking back, i did meet most of my resolutions for last year: lose weight, meet a nice boy, spend more time with family and graduate with above average scores.

this year, i'm starting a new chapter in my life, the corporate one. it scares me but oh well, its a rite of passage.

my resolution this year would be to seriously draft a plan for myself and to work very very hard to achieving it. this means saving money, knowing my job goals and working on relationships.

also, one of the not so impt resolutions is to take a trip. i didn't fulfill my one-trip-a-year quota this year so hopefully i'll have enough money and company to make it over the shores of singapore. vietnam looks like an awesome possibility.

2. finished reading 20th Century Short Stories and now on Jonathan Safran Foer's Everything is Illuminated
20th Century was so much more interesting than when i had to study it in sec 4. but it doesn't help that my lit notes at the beginning of each chapter spoils the entire story for me.

Everything is Illuminated is turning out to be quite a light read, despite having a somewhat lacklustre story line.

3. realised how much i actually believe in God.
he never failed me, but this time, he is testing me. i can feel it. i don't know what to do, i don't know what to feel. i just hope i will understand the great plans he has for me.

in the meantime, kneel down and pray loh, what to do.

4. secured a full time job with not too bad of a pay.
yay!

i'm actually looking forward to the 'countdown party' at the beau's friend's place. though i know no one, it's nice to be a stranger this year.

happy new year everyone!

meh christmas.

2008-12-27T01:03:00.006+08:00

let me give by lestrim ; deviant art.

Just take it easy
And celebrate the malleable reality
Nothing is ever as it seems
This life is but a dream

live high ; jason mraz

oh boy, we have a long one.

1. christmas was excellent.
awesome dress which i got for a steal coupled with the choir sounding fantastic during mass was just too much to take in.

hugging and presents were flying by, the most excellent of flying objects don't you think?

finally, a quiet night with the yeo's in their natural habitat with loads of turkey, beef and ham and wine. by the time we left their place, it was 6am.

and christmas morning was spent with the family with tons of goodies on the table. the night was capped with point no. 2...

2. Twilight was only half good. or wasn't half as bad.
think the only good part of the movie was from the baseball scene onwards. before that, all the heavy breathing and tension was just tween porn (thanks yunwen). and i thought Robert Pattinson was a bad actor till the middle when he growled at the other vampires. ah, got depth.

wah lau, where got vampire got spark'ring skin under the sun?

3. watched the entire season of The Class.

its a little trashy so its quite sinful to watch. but there's only 19 episodes which ends rather fucked up.

Ethan: How amazing was last night?
Kat: For me, not so amazing. He's boring. His stories were boring. I couldn't stand him. The sex wasn't bad though.
Ethan: You slept with him?
Kat: Yeah, and I gotta say, for a mountain climber, he spends a lot of time at base camp!

Duncan: Hey the weatherman said our town will not be in the blizzard's way. so just nice layer of soft snow and ice.
Richie: Oh, then i must have slipped and fallen on the irony.

Lina: Try my Moroccan chicken!
- tastes it and cringes -
Richie: What the hell did poultry do to you, you angry angry woman!

it is seriously excellent. see the class here

4. The highlight of the week: the beau got me the sold-out islandwide hard cover copy of Tim Burton's The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy

i love.

4 points is more than enough,
i'm fulfilled.

weak week.

2008-12-20T00:33:00.003+08:00

x'mas is around the corner.
and this makes me uber happy.

doesn't it make you just want to hug everything in sight?

1. did all the x'mas shopping for others. (all except myself. bloody hell.)

2. met old friends at botak jones and laughed at all jokes about mass comm and the army.

3. went for 3 interviews - one totally bored me, one i totally want. come on baby, make it a home run.

4. actually had a 45 minute smoke break with a colleague.

5. had the ultimate x'mas moment - sitting in a nice space with someone i care about, eating ice cream with the overhead sound system playing "have yourself a merry little x'mas". nice.

6. cooked lunch after a gazllion years of not being able to.

7. had dinner with mer. it's been a while. as usual laughed from start to finish.

this week passed by too fast.
i didn't even have time to do 10 significant things.

shit, got another mysterious bruise on me.
wah lau, i'm like a peach.

right thurr.

2008-12-13T12:11:00.003+08:00

1. worked. worked. worked. and decided that i want to work no more. but have not much options. damn you world economy.

2. saw the beau in about 432530897 different lights - drunken mess, rock god, goth creature just to name a few.

3. manage to take a publicity shot with a band. HOW COOL SLASH INDIE IS THAT?

4. got myself a couple more interviews with boutique firms, fingers crossed.

5. watch a dear friend spent almost $90 on lingerie. i didn't even try to stop her.

6. played paintball with my kakis till i was sore, bruised and begging for more. it was my first time, but most definitely not my last.

7. played poker twice. played once yesterday but cannot remember much. Choice quotes of the night:

"Ariel (as in the little mermaid) is half sushi... but all sashimi."
"Dude, what does that even mean?"

"Drink all that water! And you will become the XXM!"
"what the fuck is XXM?"
"Xu Xu Master."

"i might be bankrupt, but i am most certaintly not a pussy bastard."

"what is this putrid, black, sour, vomit inducing thing i'm drinking?"
"it's Guinness stout."
"oh, no wonder it tastes so bad."

8. went to ikea, and picked up some mighty handy things for the new room.

9. watch the beau in action on a big stage, hip thrusting and all.

10. actually make a guy say: "i work as a risk analyst. why didn't i see you coming?!"

whose yo' momma?

making a porno.

2008-12-05T21:23:00.002+08:00

let's just say, zac and miri do make a porno and karen liked it a lot.

the beau however, enjoyed it more than she did.

and the man next to us, enjoyed it rather suspiciously.

its one of those comedies that make you think you know what's going to happen, until shit happens. hah.

like, i love to blog.

2008-12-02T22:16:00.002+08:00

Shot down: said you never had the chance
Took a ride on a suicide romance
Could have sworn there was somebody home
To facilitate the great unknown

easy tonight, five for fighting

honestly, five for fighting is ten times better live.

1. i like blogging, so therefore i shall not wait an entire week to blog about things. hmph.

2. I AM GOING TO WATCH CATS the musical! bought tickets and everything! and most expensive one somemore. this means times of austerity ahead.

3. i hate xiaxue. i think someone who has to photoshop her own eyelashes has serious serious issues. also if you're that dumb, don't blog. she should get real friends to tell her that.

4. zac and miri make a porno (2008) is coming to singapore! i must watch.

5. i had the most kickass presentation today in front of clients today who said my media strategy was the best out of 11 teams. takedown!

6. actually slept at 1030pm and could not watch desperate housewives. how. tragic.

7. unpacked into my new room... its now officially personalised.

8. i squeezed into a car with 7 other people. it was quite a pleasant journey.

9. i actually told my lecturer she was kaypoh. thank heavens she's a nice person!

10. for the second time in 2 years... I GRADUATED. i now have a degree. booyah.

ladidums.

right thurr.

2008-11-29T00:09:00.004+08:00

for the photoshop junkies out there, isn't this like ridiculous? but omg, how awesome would it be as an interface.

this week i:

1. had the best pasar malam feast ever - think "sharks fin", crispy chicken, taiwan sausage, muah chee, tako pachi, prawn cake and milo. yum.

2. had someone other than my mom go through my underwear drawer and tell me what's in and what's out.

3. spent more than 10 hours at meetings at work. and i only have 3 this week.

4. sunk very very low on the "what am i doing with my life" level.

5. met up with people near civilisation - yassin.

6. read possibly the most awesome fiction book on terrorism - "Incendiary" by Chris Cleave.

7. started on another graphic novel - "Fables"

8. had much quality time with quality people.

9. PACKED MY LIFE INTO BOXES! (double hurrah!)

10. walked home from boon lay mrt for the last time.

i'm changing the lay to a keng.
i'm home biatches!

week in mono.

2008-11-22T01:24:00.003+08:00

this week i:

1. made friends with the IT guy at work meant lots of IT privileges.

2. had a kickass presentation for school which might or might not crystallize into a job.

3. made my colleague blush because of a remark about wang lee hom. and raised eyebrow at other colleague because of "i'm an actor with 30 productions under my belt" remark.

4. actually got the beau to try something that involved something hot, sticky and good pain.

5. got jealous at singtel.

6. sat through an episode of Beverly Hills 91210 - its sucks like a vacuum cleaner.

7. felt a baby kick in the womb.

8. ate till i actually could. not. walk.

9. visited the buddha tooth relic temple and saw the relics of buddha's brain and body parts. very very strange.

10. walked into my new house, i'm moving back biatches!

this is a much easier way to blog.
in other news: time traveller's wife the movie will be out in june next year due to post production delays. ONE BIG GIANT UGH.

24 oceans.

2008-11-20T23:04:00.004+08:00

x'mas is coming.
this means happy feelings all around, friends and family getting together.
and grandma's awesome devil's curry, mee siam and beef rendang.

i had like, the most useless but fulfilling day :)
i want an LG viewty, pfft!

iron chef.

2008-11-16T01:29:00.004+08:00

this is for matt, who see me no up!
my beef stew came out a tad smokey but still delish.
plus the linguine tossed with olive oil and italian herbs.

i made someone very happy!

for those who tried the maths question, highlight below this line to see the answer!

5
(1+8=9, 9-7=2, so, 3+2=5. its called a sprial number sequence, where it works back to forth, alternating between + and -.)

things to look forward to include moving home :)
TIME FOR YASSIN!

mad mathematician.

2008-11-12T00:19:00.002+08:00

from threadless.com

my niece called me today on the pretence of asking me a homework question, to ask me what am I going to buy for her for her 8th birthday.

but the point is, i spent an hour figuring out a PRIMARY 2 MATH PROBLEM.

after foaming at the mouth and breaking into fits, i finally manage to solve it.

what number can represent the question mark?

1 9 2 ? 3 7 8

s'rsly, like what happened to Ali and Gopal?

black is the new white house

2008-11-05T23:33:00.005+08:00

hello mr. pez-sident!

The Actually Happy
"Your extraordinary journey to the White House will inspire people not only in your country but also around the world."
- Manmohan Singh, INDIAN PRIME MINISTER

"Forty-five years ago Martin Luther King had a dream of an America where men and women would be judged not on the colour of their skin but on the content of their character. Today, what America has done is turn that dream into a reality.
- Kevin Rudd, PRIME MINISTER AUSTRALIA

The Questionable Intentions
"We don't expect any change through our previous experience with the Democrats ... When it comes to foreign policy there is no difference between the Republicans and the Democrats."
- Ali Al-Sadig, SUDANESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN

"I applaud the American people for their great decision and I hope that this new administration in the United States of America, and the fact of the massive show of concern for human beings and lack of interest in race and color while electing the president, will go a long way in bringing the same values to the rest of world sooner or later."
-Hamid Karzai, AFGHAN PRESIDENT

The George W. Bush
"What an awesome night for you, your family and your supporters. Laura and I called to congratulate you and your good bride."
- George W. Bush, CURRENT PRESIDENT UNITED STATES

an excellent campaign video by will.i.am and fellow famous supporters of obama. it's awesome, it makes you feel that america is destined for good things ahead.

i'm quite pleased! the americans got it (in my honest opinion) right!
black is the new white house!

oh! halloween.

2008-11-02T00:09:00.003+08:00

What a prize! Got a body like a battle
axe... Love that perfect frown, honest eyes...
We ought to buy you a Cadillac

get over it ; ok go

in case you are wondering, those featured here are the following characters:

kenneth - karate kid

kevin - japanese soldier

ling jun - america mcgee's alice

merlynn - sailor moon

joanne - duracell bunny

matthew - please see below

me - little red riding hood

ian - m. bison

anton - guile

jo - cammy

halloween was strange.
blacking out at the loof
getting stranded at thumper
getting owned by the crowd of people at attica
lining up at butter fact but eventually not getting in
bak ku teh with talks of lung blood and some merlot. (oh post-much?)

the costume of the night goes to matt, mr. battery stole the whole damn show:

quote of the night:
"oh my god, i suffered battery from a battery!"

island in the stream.

2008-10-28T01:42:00.001+08:00

believe me, island creamery is that good :)

sorry, say wha?

2008-10-24T22:07:00.002+08:00

"so, i'll just hammer it into submission?"

"what about hard gay? i'm sure he smells nice."

"i have black camo cream, can make myself look dirty."

"the new allswell ad is quite funny. its a good comeback from the previous crap."

"giggle snort, jp, giggle snort."

"my pick up line will be: do you need a recharge? geddit, geddit?!"

overheard at a cashier line at ntuc
"dear, we need the bang. our kitchen is a veh dirty place."

overheard at famous amos
"100 grams no nut please." "(giggle), no nuts. (giggle)"

my day is peppered with so much silly conversations, i don't need to even think of good one liners anymore.

weekend update:
1. jerry maguire
2. english patient
3. last king of scotland

ah, jurong is a one big dull dud.

krispy kreme.

2008-10-23T00:49:00.002+08:00

Floating high above the street
Laughing at people down beneath
Wierdos, but we don't really care
Today, things go our way, yeah

no one knows us ; mansun

ben&jerry's chocolate therapy.
plenty of girl talk.
sky high adventures
overtaking japanese school boys
almost drinking poison

i may not make it to kokomo, but at least i sort of got out of the country.
with you babe, its good enough

kokomo.

2008-10-19T23:31:00.006+08:00

from foto_decadent.

Bodies in the sand
Tropical drink melting in your hand
We'll be falling in love
To the rhythm of a steel drum band
Down in kokomo

the beach boys ; kokomo

henry + photos from recent holiday + super good food = an itch that will not go away.

ugh, damn you henry, showing me photos then making me wish i was there instead!
oh, i NEED a holiday.