Huggies

= In need of hugs =

Come To The Table of Mercy

For some reason, this all too familiar song stirred something within.

Come to the Table of Mercy
Prepared with the wine and the bread.
All who are hungry and thirsty
Come and your souls will be fed.

Come at the Lord's invitation

Receive from his nail-scarred hands
Eat of the bread of salvation
Drink of the blood of the Lamb.

Happy Birthday, Alex!

Happy Bird Day to you!
Happy Bird Day to you!
Happy Bird Day to Gin Unn Gaga Pee!
Happy Bird Day to you!

(p/s: Viva Cuba! =p )

Blink And You'll Miss...

these random moments.....

If you see flashes at a traffic light, it's probably me in the car. (Or it could mean a hefty fine is coming your way.) Heh.

Stick figure at large.
Bad shot!

"extreme exfoliation"
Poor Alvin!
(If you're familiar with The New Paper, you would have read numerous cover stories by Alvin Chiang eg. the Huang Na case, the tsunami, the general elections, etc.)

A Sucky Anagram

Psst....

Have you noticed?

Y U C K S

is an anagram of

S U C K Y

*giggles*

Reflection - Shel Silverstein

Reflection
= Shel Silverstein =
(1930 - 1999)

Each time I see the Upside-Down Man
Standing in the water,
I look at him and start to laugh,
Although I shouldn't oughtta.
For maybe in another world
Another time
Another town,
Maybe he is right side up
And I am upside down.

Short Cuts

Saturday 22 July 2006

A collaboration by the National Museum of Singapore (NaMoS), The Substation and The Singapore Film Commission, the 3rd Singapore Short Cuts is a premiere showcase of local short films. 4 films will be screened every Saturday from 22 July - 12 August 2006. The Singapore Film Commission works on a budget of $200 000 annually and provides funding of $5 000 per film to aspiring local filmmakers.

The first of four screenings, Saturday's event was marked by the presence of bigwigs from the local film industry and Colin Goh himself.

At 2pm, speeches were given by Ms Tan Sushan, director of NaMos and Managing Director of Citigroup Private Bank; Ms Julie Englefield, General Manager of the Substation and Ms Jennie Chua, Chairman of The Singapore Film Commission, President & CEO of Raffles Holding Limited, Chairman of Raffles Hotel Ltd, the Community Chest, Sentosa Cove Pte Ltd, Tourism & Hotel Accommodation Services Industry Skills and Training Council. Ms Jennie Chua also serves on the Boards of several companies like CapitaLand, statutory boards and government committees, both local and international. She was appointed Justice of the Peace in September 2005. (altogether now: FWAH!)

Ms Jennie Chua

The following films were screened:

• Hello? - Gavin Lim ( 4 / 5 )
  
• Old Woman - Lau Chee Nien (3 / 5)
• Lost Sole - Sanif Olek ( 4 / 5 )
• 3Meals - Woo Yen Yen & Colin Goh ( 4.5 / 5 )

Colin Goh's short film was a hilarious take on a local Chinese lady seeking The One by inviting potential partners over to her humble flat for dinner. It overshadowed an otherwise brilliant effort by Sanif Olek with Lost Sole, a witty film that thrived within the single setting of a mosque and detailed the exasperated efforts of an old man who had lost his pair of shoes after prayers. Nostalgic nuances were aplenty with Hello?, with a retro setting that chronicled a lady's vicious cycle of failed relationships rooted in sex. Driven by a desperate quest for true love, each disappointment would end in the bludgeoning of her lover with a telephone receiver. Narrated by her daughter, the film's paradigm shift is abrupt, ending with the daughter's reprisal of her mother's actions on a hapless lover. A concerted effort in showcasing an old lady's despair on her son's demise in the police force, Old Woman depicted the old lady anchoring her purpose in life on an abandoned baby by her doorstep, only to have him taken away shortly after by the social worker and his biological teen mother.

The opening scene of 3Meals by Woo Yen Yen & Colin Goh

As photography was strictly prohibited within the museum and theatre, Del & I had to settle for these few photographs.

Del's test shot of the museumMich & her best guy pal, DelJust MeDel Looking GoodTwo Of UsOur Lunch @ The Soup Spoon, 4pm
(Overkill of clam chowder)

Gastroenteritis

It started first with the Pop being rushed to A&E. Within a few hours, Cedric was down at the A&E at 3am. Like bowling pins, each was struck and the domino effect soon reached me in two days.

I woke up today with an urge to throw up. Contents of dinner from the previous night were emptied. Repeated trips to the lavatory ensured that soon enough, I was throwing up nothing but water. It didn't help that diarrhoea lent a hand in this torture. Coupled with the chills from a fever of 39.1 degrees, it was nothing short of pure agony.

A trip to the A&E was inevitable. A jab and expensive medication were on the cards and a foregone diagnosis of gastroenteritis for the second time this year.

If you do recall, my infected toe had brought on a high fever at the start of July, after which I had a tetanus jab. Following that, I was in hospital last week to have an X-ray done on my ankle bone. Today, gastroenteritis is my latest gift.

Excuse me while I go throw up. Again.

vous m'aimez

vous m'aimez?

Where'd You Go - Fort Minor

Where'd you go?
I miss you so,
Seems like it's been forever,
That you've been gone.

-- Fort Minor "Where'd You Go?"

My Abyss

There are many things beyond one's comprehension that frazzle one's grasp on logic's cradle. One which - of turbulent throes - lacking in quantifying rationale is why, despite fraternal cracks and stitchless seams, my hand remains on the clutch.

I don't believe I'm terribly important to you.
For if I were, you would not have chosen to hurt me repeatedly.

I don't believe I'm anything more than a comfort threshold.
For happy indulgences are not with me.

I don't believe you treasured whatever transient moments shared between.
For they were never encapsulated and frozen in time.

Yet,

Without belief, I turned to hope.
When that was shattered, I picked up a shard and kept it in my pocket.
I see your smile in the glimmer of that fragment.
The entrapment of my self-indulgence within stupidity.
A willing prey.
A bumbling fool.
Mich.

World's Most Avid Recreational Shoppers Found In Asia

It's official - Singaporeans love to shop! Look at the astonishing figures!

World's most avid recreational shoppers found in Asia: survey
By Asha Popatlal, Channel NewsAsia
Posted: 19 July 2006 1631 hrs

SINGAPORE : A global online survey has confirmed that Asians are the world's most avid recreational shoppers.

In fact, Asian countries accounted for seven of the top 10 markets where people shop once a week simply to occupy their time. Hong Kong, Thailand and Singapore rank highest in the world, their citizens heading to the malls about twice a week.

They do not actually need anything but find shopping a form of entertainment.

And "retail therapy" is not just a buzz phrase for many of them.

Singapore and Japan are among the global top 10 countries whose people agree with the therapeutic effect of clothes shopping.

Meantime, the booming economies of China and India are fast joining the list of places where clothes shopping is a popular pastime. A third of Chinese consumers and one fifth of Indians say clothes shopping is their favourite thing to do.

The survey was conducted online among 22,000 Internet users in 42 markets by AC Nielsen Research.

In Singapore, where shopping is touted as one of the national pastimes, nine out of 10 respondents say they go shopping as a form of entertainment.

Some 32 percent do it once a month, while 22 percent say they shop once a week.

Seven percent admitted indulging in it twice weekly or more often.

Slightly over a quarter say they find therapy in shopping for fashion apparel, and 12 percent say that it is their favourite pastime.

- CNA /ct

If I Could Tell You - W.H Auden (A Villanelle)

An abundance of first impressions settle remarkably well upon reading this classic villanelle by Wystan Hugh Auden. Most villanelles are, interestingly, revolving around themes of time and loss. Subscribing to a similar vein, Time continues to be a malicious tyrant of old, capturing the essence of loss. In particular, this villanelle - a common teaching tool in Literature lessons - draws a poignant analogy of that which is not mine, a parallel to a previous blog entry - If I Could Have Told You (click link to read previous entry). Indulge in this poem and be mesmerized.

If I Could Tell You
= W.H. Auden =
( 1907 - 1973 )

Time will say nothing but I told you so,
Time only knows the price we have to pay;
If I could tell you I would let you know.

If we should weep when clowns put on their show,
If we should stumble when musicians play,
Time will say nothing but I told you so.

There are no fortunes to be told, although,
Because I love you more than I can say,
If I could tell you I would let you know.

The winds must come from somewhere when they blow,
There must be reasons why the leaves decay;
Time will say nothing but I told you so.

Perhaps the roses really want to grow,
The vision seriously intends to stay;
If I could tell you I would let you know.

Suppose the lions all get up and go,
And all the brooks and soldiers run away?
Will time say nothing but I told you so?
If I could tell you I would let you know.

Fireflies & You Stay With Me - Faith Hill

Isn't Faith Hill absolutely gorgeous?

(1) FIREFLIES (click to download song)

Before you met me, I was a fairy princess
I caught frogs and called them prince
And made myself a queen
And before you knew me, I'd travelled 'round the world
And I slept in castles
And fell in love
Because I was taught to dream

I found mayonnaise bottles and poked holes on top
To capture Tinkerbel
And they were just fireflies to the untrained eye
But I could always tell

Cause I believe in fairy tales
And dreamer's dreams
Like bedsheet sails
And I believe in Peter Pan
And miracles, anything I can to get by
And fireflies

Now before I grew up, I saw you on a cloud
And I could bless myself in your name
And pat you on your wings
And before I grew up I heard you whisper so loud
Well life is hard and so is love
Child, believe in all these things


(2) YOU STAY WITH ME (click to download song)

TV flashes down the hall
Painting pictures on the wall.
And you're still sleeping on my knee.
And in the glow of silver light
I trace the lines above your eyes,
Just another wrinkle that you can blame on me.

But I can hear the current of the freeway in the distance
If I keep listening.
And I wonder if you ever thought of
Streaming off somewhere with it.

Am I not what you thought?
Will you get tired of what you got?

Chorus
If I can't give you anymore
Than weathered ships and distant shores,
Would you still be my compass?
Cause you keep loving me the same.
I don't know how but you still stay with me, baby.
Stay with me baby.

Another day, another week.
We'll slip back in old routines, to nights like these.
Come in between.
Simple moments in the dark
Ones that light can't tear apart,
That come along just when we need.

And I still hear the current of the freeway in the distance,
But I stop listening.
Cause I know you'll stay
Even though the waves are always shifting.

We're fighting our way through.
I guess I always knew.

Seafolly Temptations

Lovely Seafolly Bikini Set
(featured separately, not on the model)

I tried on the aforementioned Seafolly Taonga set at the Suntec boutique. It was perfect, albeit the rather costly price tagged to it. The halter top was $166 while the belted hipster boyleg would set one back by $135. It didn't take a genius to calculate the total cost - a whopping $300 for a bikini set!

Scouring swimwear sites religiously took me to this fantastic site - one of Seafolly's two online stores in Australia that shipped to Singapore with just an approximate shipping cost of $8. The greatest lure was of course, the price. The exact set found on this site was a mere fraction of the inflated price tag in Singapore.

The halter top was S$85 and the boyleg with belt was S$78.
What's fantastic was the fact that this Seafolly Taonga set was :
(a) Authentic & genuine
(b) Sold directly from the Seafolly store and not a second-hand goodness-knows-where-it-had-gone product.
(c) Available in the colour I'd wanted - Mint
(d) Available in my size - 8 for the top, 10 for the bottom
(e) Shipping took less than 2 weeks.

So, why am I still twiddling my thumbs? Well, for a practical reason - Would I have the opportunity to utilize it?
Gosh, I'm fighting the temptation to ship it from Australia!

Additionally, this set below caught my eye :
As you can see, I've a penchant for halter bikini tops and plain hipster boylegs adorned with belts. Any sponsors? =p

Fat! Fat! Fat!

Sunday 16 July 2006
Fat! Fat! Fat! Here's why....

• 1.30pm: Lunch at Marche's - chicken leg with mashed potato, mushroom soup, chin chow and calamansi with longan (yucks). That's just lunch for me. -BuRp-
• 4.00pm: Drinks at NYDC - Iced Cappucino Float
  
• 5.30pm: Adieu to all.
• 10.00pm: McDelivery - 4pc pepper drumlets, curly fries, green tea and chocolate fudge sundae.

Casual wear for the dayTime to go!Super famished.Gary & Shuhong....finally in pink shirts!
Shuhong's my walking diary & minder who doesn't mollycoddle me.
Gary's a comedian and so is Shuhong.
There's nary a moment of silence with them around!Gary and his beloved SE phoneGary & his best Freddy Krueger impersonation with that handy fork.Vern in her Mango halter & Me in my Zara tube.

Dotted with Polka DotsClick here to watch this hilarious short 3sec video of Shuhong & his eyebrows.

Trigger Happy

Loved this dress.

Unfortunately, the excess cloth made me look fat. =.=

We found these at the Youth Park and couldn't resist taking pics.
Adored this backdrop.Activated self-timer. Ran to and fro.Oops! Couldn't beat the timer.
The result of balancing the camera on a bag.Spot us.
You wouldn't want to know how we took this picture. Heh.I thought this backdrop was rather interestingGreat artwork.Experimented with continuous shots

Do You Care About Me?

Do You care about me?
Do You care for me?
Did you?
Have you?

Let it go, Mich.
Let it go.

I ought to.
But...
-sighs despondently-
I can't bring myself to.

What about you?

What A Joke

Dear Mich,
I think you're the world's greatest moron.
Now laugh.
Ha. Ha.

Happy World Cup, Italy! =)

Finishing Touches by Indian Sand Artist Sudarshan Patnaik

History had paved the way for Italy's win this morning. Appearing in the Final every 12 years, it was time for the Azzurri to clinch what they had lost to Brazil in USA 94, when then-national hero Roberto Baggio instantly became the nation's villain upon missing the crucial shot in a penalty shootout. Victory continued to elude Italy in Euro 2000 when they faced France in that Final.

It was deja vu again this morning. After ninety minutes of soccer theatrics - the threat of Henry's substitution in the opening minutes, Cannavaro's exasperated worry, Zidane's did-it-did-it-not-cross-the-line penalty, diving antics, Materazzi's splendid equaliser, Henry's less-than-admirable attempts at goal, Vieira's substitution, Del Piero's introduction and needless to say, the infamous head-on with Materazzi that led to Zidane's red card - extra time garnered little and the Azzurri were yet again embroiled in another penalty shootout in the Final.

All eyes were on Trezeguet who had to score. Fans worldwide would remember him as The One With The Golden Goal in Euro 2000 that defeated Italy in the Final. Score he did not and fans of Italy would surely be placated at this boomerang of events. As Trezeguet stared blankly, Grosso - with the most important kick of the tournament - deftly sent Italy into hysteria when the ball was slotted into the top right corner. At this juncture, one would recall the unfortunate fate of Escobar in USA 94 when he scored an own goal. Such is the nature of international soccer that transcends beyond men running after a ball. It'd be an understatement to note that Trezeguet and Zidane, in particular for a devastating end to his career, are the lambs for the foreboding media onslaught come this break of dawn. Being an absolutely huge fan of Cannavaro since his I-have-Totti's-hair-and-headband days, I was certainly pleased as punch when he lifted the Cup in victory.

Azzurri 1 - 1 Les Bleus (5 - 3 PSO)Happy World Cup, Italy!
You deserved it.
-BiG sMiLe-

Updated
Fifa World Cup 2006 will enter the history annals with a single burning question:
What provoked Zidane's vehement reaction?
Watch this video and be enlightened.