The Annual BBQ at Weeli's Place

Highlight of this year's bbq? Guitar Heroes. Haha.

Kite II

There's something about cutting loose
the string of a kite
that invokes in people a sense of freedom;
of being untethered from restraints

to be allowed to soar
as high as one wants
carried by the breeze
soaring above the clouds

There's something about being carried by the breeze though, that people conveniently forget. There's no way to steer, and a kite cut loose is essentially at the mercy of the breeze. The perceived freedom is in fact an utter lack of control.

Yes of course there's undeniable exhilaration; dancing along with the breeze. The trouble starts when the air stills, and the kite comes crashing back towards the earth, far from where it previously was.

-

The kite cut loose tumbles as freely as it soared now that the air is still. I see where the kite is headed to; a marshland that I'm all too familiar with.

Not one where I shrivel up and wallow in self pity but one where moral compasses never seem to work and insignificant details like consequences and conscience slide off minds like water down the back of a duck.

This is where a bitter laugh and a cynical shrug are the only defenses one might need. This is where the concept of monogamy is sketchy at best, where a girl can look you in the eye and make you swear exclusivity while she fucks half a dozen other guys behind your back.

This is where you fuck not because you're lonely, not because you're attracted, not because you love, but because you can.

This is where "I'm a bastard" spreads more legs than a trembling declaration of love.

This is where ... I once lost myself.

This is where ... I never want to be again.

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Now playing: Chet Baker - Everything Happens To Me
via FoxyTunes

In little flutters and a series of gentle teases, the suppressed emotions bubble, threatening to disturb the surface of forced nonchalance.

The kite cut loose tumbles as freely as it soared now that the air is still.

The pristine white of newly fallen snow now soiled and sullied.

It used to be that I write better with a broken heart. Now it seems even that little comfort has been taken away from me. Maybe I need to be intoxicated and broken-hearted. I shall try again tonight.

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Now playing: A Fine Frenzy - Almost Lover
via FoxyTunes

Results

My results for this term? 2Bs and 3C+s. Bad, eh? Haha, I guess I should be thankful I didn't fail anything considering how I lost all zest for studying after my exchange. I expected to do well for my business law paper though(remember the one for which I forgot to print my notes?) and getting a C+ is quite an injury to my pride.

Speaking of injuries, I went to a sinseh for my swollen instep. She was a middle-aged lady from mainland China who seemed to know what she was doing; explaining to me how the injury spreads from my big toe, to the sole of my foot and all the way along the outside of my shin to my knee. I understood little else apart from that though; I need to brush up on my mandarin.

And so now I'm kinda confined to my room. I think twice before even going to take a leak. Hobbling doesn't become me.

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Now playing: Augustana - Rest, Shame, Love
via FoxyTunes

I limped my way laboriously back to hall from the bus stop. Just as how I limped from harbourfront station, hopping on one leg to catch bus 30, and how I limped painfully from the cathay to dhoby ghaut. I hate this, it makes me feel utterly helpless and miserable.

Only this morning I was feeling slightly proud of myself for being able to complete the runs during training, and in the afternoon entertained myself kicking heavy bags and pads at Fight G. Look at me now, limping around with a swollen ankle which was a result of my in-step connecting with my sparring opponent's knee/shin after less than a minute in the ring.

Pathetic. Merry Christmas, Shaun.

The One

I got out of bed to check if Job's wife died along with all his children. It would have been great proof that there's no such thing as "The One" if she had died and God had simply blessed him with a few replacement wives.

Unfortunately though, that wasn't the case. She survived everything that Satan threw at Job and I'm guessing remained extremely fertile considering how Job had many other children; 10 to be exact.

And so the question of whether "The One" exists remains unsolved, apart from the fact that "The One" does not have to be perfect. The only appearance Job's wife made in the entire book was to suggest that Job cursed God and died. Not exactly an ideal spiritual supporter, eh.

Doesn't really sound like something worth getting out of bed for. Good thing I need to pee, so that's precisely what I shall do before going back to sleep :)

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Now playing: Powder Finger - Whatever Makes You Happy
via FoxyTunes

Escape

There aren't many things more satisfying and more effective than escaping into an utterly enthralling book. I've been reading Ken Follett's Pillars of the Earth on Weeli's and Rachel's recommendations and I must agree it's awesome.

It's set in the medieval times - my favorite era, considering that I read Critchon's Timeline at least three times over - and more or less centers around the building of a cathedral. I know it doesn't sound particularly exciting, but I suck at descriptions. Just read it. It's cheap too, considering how thick it is; works out to lesser cost-per-page.

I'm averaging 8 unique visitors a day to this blog ever since I changed the address. If you're reading this, spread the word on the address change!

And I've also lost my list of favourite blogs. Msn me your blog addresses, friends. Or tag on my board.

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Now playing: u2 - where the streets have no name
via FoxyTunes

Drinking 101

Okay kids, when at a house party with a plethora of different alcohols, resist the temptation to drink "some of everything". Choose a poison, and stick to it.

And, when you're throwing a house party, for the love of bacchus please make sure you've a wine bottle opener somewhere.

Lastly, if you know you're going to be drunk, switch off your goddamn phone.

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Now playing: Muse - Knights Of Cydonia
via FoxyTunes

these foolish things, this foolish man

a black and gold bag sitting on a shelf in zara
a black jacket
a pair of skinny jeans
the flicking of a lit cigarette
misspelling "cigarette"
teasing someone about falling into the toilet
looking at the bumps on my shin
hamsters scurrying around their tank in a pet shop
drinking in my room
when a7x comes onto itunes
hearing friends bitch about some peranakan drama
splashing on cologne
picking out a black tee
putting on a ear stud
sweeping my fringe to the side
seeing a girl in patent leggings
a pair of high heels
eating a steak
subconsciously picking out a clean coaster at brewerkz
looking at the coasters pinned on my wall
looking at a little kid
sharing a jug of beer
ordering fruit juice
my friends ordering china apple
popping vitamin c
going ice skating
seeing movie posters
writing a blog post
googling for "baby alex"
plugged into my ipod
going pass "behind"
walking pass provence
hong kong
"you're making fun of me"
"inappropriate!"
"school! school!"
thinking of how i'll do for the exams
thinking about going to zouk
thinking about going to walas
thinking about the steak party
washing glasses in the sink
every time a msn window flashes
every time my phone beeps
sitting on a bench on the roof
lying on my bed
you invade my dreams
my every waking moment
these foolish things,
remind me of you.
it has only been a day
this shall pass
this shall pass
this shall pass
let me wallow
let me sleep
let me wallow
let me sleep
and never wake up
till it really
does pass.

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Now playing: Elliot Smith - Miss Misery
via FoxyTunes

And so it is

The emotional roller coaster of the past couple of months is over. I've always thought walking away was the easy way out, that if I love someone, then that someone is worth fighting for, worth staying for.

Even now I wonder if I made the right decision. But this feeling will pass, as with all things, and life goes on.

But for now, it hurts.

Legal papers served via Facebook

An Australian couple have been served with legal documents via the popular social networking site Facebook.

Mark McCormack, a lawyer in Canberra, persuaded a court to allow him to use the unusual method after other attempts to reach them failed.

BBC

Hong Kong Day 1

I must have drank more tsing tao beer tonight than i've ever had in my life thus far.

And my cantonese is ... atrocious.

Bought a tie (yes, again)

More shopping tomorrow :)

Off I go

I'm eating a $7.50 breakfast consisting of a foccacia sandwich with exactly one and a half slices of ham, a pack of jack and jill chips, and a plastic cup of lemonade at some GoGo Franks cafe in the airport. Bloody rip off.

..Then again, it's nothing compared to the food in London's airport. Ah what am I doing, taking a leaf from our esteemed government's playbook and comparing Singapore's cost of living with London.

I'll see how the food's priced in Hong Kong.

Ciao, I'll be back on the 15th.

World Class

I waited an hour for SBS service number 10 today. An hour. I was tempted to give up and head back to my room; only waiting because I wanted to give the bus driver a piece of my mind. I waited at the bus stop along pasir panjang road which is at most 5 mins away from the kent ridge bus terminal. How there could be ZERO service 10 buses was beyond my comprehension.

An hour later the bus came and I noticed a notice printed on the windshield informing people who see the bus that the route would be affected due to the standard chartered marathon. Come on, wouldn't it make much more sense to have notices at the BUS STOP instead?! I wait an hour, see the bus coming, and am supposed to be pacified by that one stupid notice?

I asked the bus driver what took him so long and he explained impatiently that his bus was stuck due to road closure. I went "what're you talking about, didn't you just come from the terminal?", and after a moment or two he realised what I was suggesting and explained that the buses travel towards the terminal, where the drivers stop for 20mins to have a meal break before leaving the terminal again.

I got it. It wasn't his fault. It's his company that's fucked up. The marathon happens every year. How difficult is it to cater for extra buses to leave straight from the terminal? As our government would put it, this is sheer complacency. Or maybe we should just regard it as a "honest mistake" and just move on.

A toast to the first triumph of reason over emotion.

This, yes, even this, shall pass.

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Now playing: Miniature Tigers - Cannibal Queen
via FoxyTunes

"you burst my bubble."

There's something peculiarly liberating about walking under a pouring rain. After the first couple of seconds you realize that given the distance you have to cover, you'll get drenched no matter how fast you run. In my case it's even more obvious given that my fastest running speed's probably slightly faster than that of a walrus on land.

And so, you settle for walking nonchalantly pass people cowering under the relative shelter of one of those tiny foldaway umbrellas, inwardly sneering at their surrender to the elements while priding yourself on your triumph.

At least until the bottom of the paper bag containing a six pack of chang, a plastic lighter, and an ipod nano gives, and the said contents spill onto the wet ground.

That's probably when you'll look down and accusingly mutter, "you burst my bubble."

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On an unrelated note, I'm done with this term's exams :)

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Now playing: Ben Folds Five - Evaporated
via FoxyTunes