Backstreet's Back....Alright!

(pics to be uploaded over the weekend)

Vern & I caught the Backstreet Boys' "Never Gone" Concert last night and were transported back to the times when the refrains of "I'll Never Break Your Heart" and "Quit Playing Games With My Heart" melted every secondary school / junior college female.

AJ did a fantastic live rendition of "I'll Never Break Your Heart" while Brian charmed with his smooth voice.Nick was visibly fatter than he was, and I don't mean oh-so-cute-baby-fat. He had a whale of a time on the guitar. Howie was definitely the best dancer. Kevin, the oldest in the group (in his late thirties!), queerly enough, received the loudest cheers and whistles as he tinkered on the ivories.

Although the current album "Never Gone" has cleverly hinged on the current trend of alternative rock while retaining the familiar R&B groove so as not to alienate BSB's fan base, and having done well enough to be deemed a successful comeback album, the songs drew a lukewarm response from the crowd, save for "Crawling Back To You" and "Incomplete" (and that's probably because these songs have been played to death on the radio). It was quite a shame though, as "Never Gone" had other fabulous songs like "Never Gone" (duh), "Climbing The Walls", "I Just Want You To Know" and "Siberia".

When Brian belted out, "Everybawdeh.............", the instant response drawn from the crowd was "Yeahhhhh.....". He seemed to relish that nostalgic moment when BSB was distinctly the most successful group in the late 90s. That was the climax of the night as everyone danced or at least, wiggled their shoulders to this wildly popular song from the Millenium album. "I Want It That Way" was definitely disappointing as everyone waited in anticipation, only to hear a strange rearranged tune. (Note: Fans don't care if it's a smoothly rearranged genre. We want it the original way. We want it THAT way!) Remember the uber cool MTV with chairs as each BSB member morphed seamlessly into each other's figure in "As Long As You Love Me" ? Apparently too old for nifty dance steps, the group chose wisely not to rehash the chair routine. Who could forget the angsty "Show Me The Meaning Of Being Lonely", the cheesy "Shape of My Heart", the cringeworthy "Drowning", and the woeful "All I Have To Give"?

Omitted songs that left me disgruntled were: "Anywhere For You", "What Makes You Different (Makes You Beautiful)", "No One Else Comes Close" and "Like A Child". BUT, the greatest cardinal sin was to omit "How Did I Fall In Love With You"! Comprehending the lack of exposure of this little-known song has always astounded me.

Some of My Favourite Tracks & Their Corresponding Lyrics (admittedly not the best literature around):

1. Siberia
My heart did time in Siberia
Was waiting for the lie to come true.
And it's all so dark and mysterious
When the one you want doesn't want you too.

2. Crawling Back To You
Everybody knows that I was such a fool to ever let go of you
And baby I was wrong
And yeah I know I said we'd be better off alone
It was time that we moved on
I know I broke your heart, I didn't mean to break your heart
But baby, here I am, banging on your front door
I'm grasping on the floor
My hands and knees are bruised and I'm crawling back to you
I'm begging for a second chance
Are you gonna let me in?
I was running from the truth and now I'm crawling back to you.

3. How Did I Fall In Love With You
What can I do to make you mine?
Fallen so hard, so fast this time.
What did you say, What did I do?
How did I fall in love with you...
Everything's changed, we never knew
How did I fall in love with you?

4. Like A Child (Brian's good at wrenching those hearts!)
If I could right the wrongs that made you cry
Would you promise not to say goodbye
Cause I'm holding on with a love so strong
And I can't take the day without you by my side...
...And if you take away the loving arms that surround me
Then I may break down and cry just like a child.

5. Every Time I Close My Eyes
Every time I close my eyes
I see your face and I wonder
When you close your eyes
Do you think about me?

6. 10000 Promises
What about your, your ten thousand promises
That you gave to me
Your ten thousand promises
That you promised me
Once we were lovers,
Just lovers we were.
Oh, You and I
What a lie.

I wish you were there with me last night.

On a positive note, Backstreet's Back....Alright! Now, what's this I hear about Take That jumping on the bandwagon and planning to regroup....... =p

Wanted: A White Mouse =.=

There is a general misconception that purchashing a white mouse in Singapore is a cinch. By "white mouse", I mean the live rodent, not one of the numerous Apple accessories. Does anyone know of a pet shop that actually sells a white mouse?

Search Results Thus Far:

• Sunday = The pet shop at Marine Parade used to hoard many guinea pigs, hamsters & white mice at the height of the Chinchilla frenzy. My first stop brought on disappointment as a few hamsters were all the shop had to offer.
• Monday = Pet Safari, touted to be "the largest in Singapore & the first in Asia", had hamsters in dwindling figures and made the pet shop at Marine Parade look good in comparison.
  
• Tuesday = Constructive Online Search....Not.
  
• Scanned www.pets.com.sg/forums - sent an SMS to 3 people with no replies. Gee!
• Dutifully called up numerous shops in the East that were listed at Mivick's Cattery to no avail. (discovered the irrelevant existence of Tim"bark"tu Pets at West Coast Way.)

Other friends quote the rearing of dogs, cats, fish, hamsters, terrapins, rabbits, chinchillas and birds as conventional pets. I want a white mouse. Desperately. One that is drenched in silky white fur, complete with pink pitter-patter feet, a pink tail, dwarfed ears and bewitching whiskers that twitch when it nibbles some food. Excuse me while I relish this bimbotic moment, "So cuuuuuuute!" -squeal-

Is Mich weird to want a white mouse? o_O

Congratulations, Daniel!

= Congratulations, Daniel! =

After enduring your course & interviews & back-to-back assignments, your reward comes in the form that you've long desired......that trip to I-cannot-reveal-or-you'd-kill-me-Land! It's quite an accomplishment to be the final man standing among your mates. Get out there & celebrate to your heart's content before you leave. =P

Date of Departure: I-cannot-reveal-or-Daniel-will-kill-me
Date of Return: I-cannot-reveal-or-Daniel-will-kill-me
( this is beginning to sound like a repeat telecast =p .....)

It's dangerous out there in a land far, far away from home. Take care of yourself during these four months. Mich would like to see that you have a safe and sound return. Meanwhile, a question to ponder : Who's going to maintain your bike on your behalf?

Updated 20 January 2006, 2345hrs
Note to Daniel: Your bike has an affectionate moniker indeed. =S

Paul Will Be Cremated Tomorrow

Paul will be cremated tomorrow.
= Farewell, Friend. =

I am standing upon the seashore. A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength. I stand and watch her until at length she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other. Then someone at my side says, "There, she is gone."

"Gone where?"

Gone from my sight. That is all. She is just as large in mast and hull and spar as she was when she left my side, and she is just as able to bear her load of living freight to her destined port. Her diminished size is in me, not in her. And just at the moment when someone at my side says, "There, she is gone!" there are other eyes watching her coming, and there are other voices ready to take up the glad shout, "Here she comes!" And that is dying.

- Anonymous

暧昧 - 杨丞琳

Listening to this song evokes pangs of sadness, regret and a tinge of bitterness. What it could have been, what it should have been, what it might not have been....Torrid waves of inconceivable emotions. I am here, if you would only see and realise that pretence ultimately hurts us, if not me. What is wrong between us? Why have you chosen this way out? I'm waiting for a semblance of an answer. I'll wait because I've been waiting all these years in silence. When one loses the source of happiness, can one smile again? Put aside societal norms and search within yourself for a definite answer. Can you look at me in the eye and tell me with honest fervour that I was wrong? If you can, I will hold back my tears and walk away, pretending that I have never known you.

暧昧 - 杨丞琳 (click to download the mp3)

暧昧让人受尽委屈 找不到相爱的证据
Ambiguity lets one suffer when one is unable to find the evidence of a reciprocated love.
何时该前进 何时该放弃 连拥抱都没有勇气
To press forward or to let it go?

只能陪你到这里 毕竟有些事不可以
I can only accompany you up to this point of time, after all, some things cannot be undertaken.
超过了友情 还不到爱情 远方就要下雨的风景
Beyond the boundary of friendship, before the shore of love, witness the approaching rain in the distance.

到底该不该哭泣 想太多是我还是你 我很不服气
Should my tears fall as I think of you and me? I am indignant
也开始怀疑 眼前的人 是不是同一个 真实的你
And I've started to wonder if you are the same person I once knew.

暧昧让人受尽委屈 找不到相爱的证据
Ambiguity lets one suffer when one is unable to find the evidence of a reciprocated love.
何时该前进 何时该放弃 连拥抱都没有勇气
To press forward or to let it go?

暧昧让人变得贪心 直到等待失去意义
Ambiguity fuels an increasing desire. Hope dwindles as while one waits indefinitely.
无奈我和你 写不出结局 放遗憾的美丽 停在这里
Helpless to the fact that you and I are unable to complete the ending to our fairytale, this beautiful regret stops here.

Sad Words of Tongue and Pen

There's only one singular reason.

Farewell, Paul

When one passes a remark that a friend has had a stab at fame, you wouldn't expect its delivery to be in the harshest form.

A call at 11.14pm had me gasping in disbelief. Tianlong greeted me with this ominous question, "Have you read the newspapers?" To this, I had a negative reply. "Why?" I asked with apprehension, sensing that something was amiss. He replied, "Paul is dead." For the minutes that followed, words garbled on but didn't sink in as bits of information streamed in. All I'd caught was, "jamming with friends at his studio", "lay down to sleep", "never woke up again", "found his body this morning", "St. Peter & Paul Church", "Dewei saw the picture of his studio", "Zhiyong received an SMS from Paul's phone", "Lianhe Wanbao", "News on Channel 8" and other incoherent mumble-jumble.

"You're kidding, right? This is a very bad joke, right? Tell me you're joking, Tianlong!" The pregnant pause between us provided the answer that I didn't want to accept. As reality sank in, I muttered that Paul had just attended my dinner last month, to which Tianlong retorted that Paul was with them yesterday,"Would it be all over the news if this was a joke, Mich?" Other details were exchanged and the conversation ended.

This is surreal.

Back row, 5th from left: Paul, as seen in this class photo.

Paul had been living at the neighbouring block for as long as I can remember. Known for his wacky jokes and non-conformist attitude, he would crack the class up with witty retorts and slapstick antics.He was part of my clique, along with Yusheng, Tallie and the rest. Tallie , Paul & Johan would drive teachers up the wall with their 101 excuses when it came to homework. Johan, Paul and I were constantly vying for the top position in English. Paul would bang his table in mock frustration and do a clap of sarcasm when he lost to either of us by a mark or two. The group split when we settled at TJC in different classes while Tallie & Paul went to TPJC.

His metamorphosis took place when he was in NUS. He was sporting dreadlocks and looked like a figure from the hippie movement. True to his idealistic nature, he went ahead to be a swimming instructor and rented a three-storey apartment across Hong Lim Park that doubled as a studio for rental & self-entertainment. Struggling bands and jamming enthusiasts could rent his studios at a cheap rate. His studio was a cosy place to hang out, although the exterior could do with some paintwork.On the roof, alfresco dining & a game of open-air pool was available. It was a cosy place to lounge around, as we lazed there for hours.

TCC Boat Quay: Paul, clad in brown on the extreme right, at the Sec 4B gathering

At the rooftop of Paul's apartment: Yusheng's turn at the pool table.

Tallie, Xuzhen & Wenbin waiting for their respective turns

To Paul:
You used to copy my homework & I would screech at you for the umpteenth time. You would hide my stuff and I would chase you in exasperation. Sleep was impossible when you chattered incessantly at the chalet and I threw pillows at you. Once, we had a heated argument and we didn't speak to each other for days, after which you broke the ice with your forte - sharp wit. We have taunted each other in mock disdain from time to time and exchanged lame remarks via MSN Messenger when you were online. Today, I sifted through all the old pictures on my computer in the afternoon when I came across the ones we had taken at our previous gathering. I was looking forward to the next gathering when the familiar banter would take place. It had not crossed my mind that I would never see you again after the dinner. I'm shocked, Paul. When Tianlong called, I had hoped that the details provided by the media would be wrong and it would be a case of mistaken identity. I'm saddened that you've embarked on your new journey without a word. You were my neighbour, classmate and friend. I will miss you. Farewell, Paul.

Ski360

An excerpt from TODAY

For those with a taste for extreme sports, East Coast Park will be the place to go with the launch of Singapore's first Cable Ski Park around March next year. Cable skiing, an activity similar to water skiing, involves the skier being pulled by an overhead cable suspended above the water's surface instead of by a boat.The $2-million Cable Ski Park Ski360 will bring water sports such as wakeboarding and water-skiing inland within the salt water East Coast Lagoon.

Need to fill that tummy? Ski360's affiliated restaurant within its premises will do just that.

My cousin (the one guarding my ang pow box) resigned from the civil service to invest in this. My family was unaware that it was a large-scale investment. He had mentioned something about an "East Coast investment near the Lagoon", much to our initial disapproval. Today, Mum casually showed me his namecard and my eyes popped out of their sockets when I caught sight of the name Ski360.

Cable skiing + seafood, anyone?

Stricken with Gastric

Today is the third time in a week that I've been inflicted with gastric. To save on my medical bills (the cumulated cost of the previous 2 visits is $84), I decided to head to a polyclinic. After the mandatory check-up, the doctor concluded that the recurring gastric attacks were stress-induced, particularly so as the occurence of pain was cyclic. I shook my head when he asked if I faced any stress at work. Then, he placed his pen on the table and looked at me.

Mentioning that the physical pain was only a symptom, he stated I had to address the root of the problem. Up till that moment, I was certain that the irregularity of my meals triggered the bouts of pain. Therefore, to be told otherwise, came as a rude shock for me. I could only stare and offer a weak smile as he spoke calmly. Gently, he said that I could talk to him and he would listen. Moments of silence passed and nary a word left my lips.

I sought medical advice and the alternative avenues. I was told that if the issue was not resolved and it were to trigger the physical pain persistently, I may need to undergo a scope examination at the hospital.

I came home and I cried.
I've never felt this lonely in my life.

The Ho-Ho-Ho-lympics

Click here for a hilarious take on the Olympics. (For those who love diving, you MUST watch patiently till the end!)

Art You Ready?

I chanced upon this great site on the different genres of art. I've an inclination towards works of the Abstract Expressionists. Bold lines and the gradients of juxtaposing colours are particularly alluring. Rather appealing are the oils of Surrealists & Cubists too, not to mention paintings of the familiar Renaissance & Impressionists.

Below: Alexei Jawlensky's "Resting Light". The stony gradient and sharp, angular lines connotate the stoicism behind this weary face. Deft, bold strokes amplify this. (erm, that's my own interpretation, so don't quote me on this!)

Below: This Symbolism depiction of "Ophelia" is compelling to me. The words we pronounce have no meaning except through the silence in which they are bathed. Death obliterated Ophelia's loss of rationale in Hamlet when she drowned. Water, a symbol of baptism and cleansing in Literature, takes on a dual role. (ok, ok....so that's my own interpretation again.)

Bored

Without pausing to think, I shall list ten songs that are running through my head now:

1. Again - Lenny Kravitz
2. Because of You - Kelly Clarkson
3. My Sacrifice - Creed
4. Every Other Time - LFO
5. When I'm Gone - Eminem
6. How Did I Fall In Love With You - Backstreet Boys
7. 浪漫手机 - Jay Chou
8. 珊瑚海 - Jay Chou
9. High - James Blunt
10. Goodbye My Lover - James Blunt

Significance? None. Yes, I'm just bored.

Addtional Pics on our Holland V Escapade

Additional Pics on our Holland V Escapade

I like the angle of this shot....It was a candid moment too!

Me to Felix: Show me your ID! Zhihao: Hmmm....
Gary & I are tickled pink... Shuhong's turn to guffaw...
Me: Yeah, yeah...
Ding: Heh, heh...

Side dishes for sampling

= Next Stop: Haagen Daz =

Where's our ice-cream?!

Good choices, Zhihao & Ding! Zhihao: -slurp-
Me: -points- STOP!

Zhihao: Can I move now?

= Apparently, Vern went ballistic while taking shots of Felix. =

Rain Reigns

Gastric flu continues its battle against my constitution. Engulfed in work all morning. Had a one-to-one talk with Number 2 for an hour. Lunch was a quick pop-into-the-toaster-for-10-minutes pizza. It's been raining all day. Pattering gloom embraces a uniform mood nationwide.

Despite these, I'm relatively happy today.

Why?

Dear Mich,
Have you done something stupid again? I think you have. Have you just lost a friend? Can you tell me why? I have no answer for you, Mich, because I haven't been told.

I'm Sorry

I'm sorry.
I hope things won't change. =)

New Year's Eve 2005

Saturday 31 December 2005

Dinner at Orchard: Steamboat
Spotted along: Dbl O, MoS
Final destination: Brewerkz
Drinks: Tequila
Freebies: Champagne & Party Popper Set
Stroke of midnight: Display of fireworks.(obstructed by ongoing construction)
Across the bridge: Revellers sprayed foam all over my hair.

Holland V

Tuesday, 3 January 2006:

• Dinner at Pho Poa ("foe fwah"). We were supposed to meet at 6.30pm but Ding & I arrived at 7.05pm. -sheepish look-
• Zhihao brought Felix (cutie alert!) who tried to convince us that he was just 17. Yeah, right.
  
• Viet noodles and other oh-my-gosh-what-on-earth-is-that edibles. Generous servings & the soup was good.
• Made our way to NYDC after that but there was no room for us.
• Trotted to Haagen Daz. Ice-cream was $200+.
• Shared cab with Ding & Zhihao.
• More pics to be provided by Vern.
  

To Someone Out There

To Somebody Out There,

I don't know which stance to take. Pick one that is applicable.

1. If your intention was to pay me back in my own coin, you've been successful. For I have fallen and am thrown into disarray. I am jaded, blase to the antics that you've employed. If I had indeed hurt you, it was never my intention to. It may sound incredulous, but I did what I did because I had to and not out of choice. Was it your choice to drag me out into the deep jungle and leave me to mercies of the wild? Did you set up a trap to ensure that my injury would be ten-fold? I applaud you for you've achieved your target. Is this what you really want?
2. Have I been wrong about everything? Did I allow myself to be blinded by fantasy instead of reality? Have I made a mistake by drawing conclusions benchmarked against societal conventions? Was it a mere figment of my imagination, a wild thought fuelled by nothing substantial? Was my instinct wrong? Look me in the eye and tell me that I was wrong.
3. If I was right, and you did not set out to hurt me, then what is stopping you? I need to be told, not draw my own assumptions without verification. Let me know. You may not realise this, but I've waited a long time to know.

Whatever the answer is, Mich is depressed now. She's been waking in the middle of the night, pulling the covers over herself and stifling her incessant sobs. In the day, she cannot betray her emotions and has to blanket her tears with a stiff smile. At home, she forces herself to laugh and maintain her usual chatty demeanour. Amongst her friends, she cannot talk to anyone because they are not the root of the problem and past betrayal has taught her to be wary. The fortress that Mich has built over the years since 18 has crumbled again. There are days when she stares at the moving images on the television, but her mind wanders. At work, she's lost her zest for everything and keeps to herself lately.

Mich normally likes shopping and she would never turn down a friend who wants to be accompanied to a sale. Lately, she has turned down such requests on three occasions and would rather hole herself up at home. The ongoing post-christmas sales islandwide would normally entice Mich to spend to her heart's delight. Aside from the Mango sale, everything else has failed to turn her head.

Mich is too proud to tell anyone how she really feels inside. Her colleague was shocked when her tears fell silently at lunch yesterday. She had always been known to be a carefree and fun-loving person. Her colleague expressed genuine concern, but Mich could only shake her head and give a crooked smile. This was her best friend at work and yet, Mich couldn't bring herself to say anything.

Mich loves sitcoms like Everybody Loves Raymond, Fraisier, Seinfeld, Malcolm in the Middle, Friends or anything that is shown on Star World. Earlier, she had tried to watch a repeat episode of Friends but found herself tearing instead.

This is the real Mich. She is not as strong as perceived. She thought that she had been through the worst but apparently, she wasn't ready for this today.

Mich Is Stupid

Stupid things happen to stupid people who persist in dabbling with stupid stuff, knowing jolly well that it is stupidly going nowhere and yet, wallow in stupidity, allowing oneself to be a stupid puppet being strung about without complaints because it is one's own stupid choice to begin with, to be crushed by one's own stupid stubborness that refuses to let go and clings on with stupid futility when eventually, one realises that one was just a stupid toy waiting to be tossed aside.

Mich is stupid, eh?

What Does Your Heart Desire?

Peer into every nook and cranny within your emotional baggage. Leave nothing unturned.

What does your heart desire?

Is it unsettled? Distressed?

Is it at rest, in sedated tranquility?

Stop. Pause. Think.


Now that you've established that which your heart seeks, it is time to move on to the next question -

What are you going to do about it?

Take My Hand

Take my hand.

If I should slip from yours, it is because you have chosen to let go.