Thursday, June 29, 2006
♥ 10:29 AM
How now brown cow?
Never let it be said that organising a party single-handedly is a piece of cake. If you do, I will personally shove every bit of that delectable cake down your throat.
Ok, so admittedly, it is more a gathering than anything else, but hey, there is also much to be accomplished, from booking of the bbq pits to ensuring that guests would show up.
So, as of now, I have completed 0% of the tasks I am supposed to do. That leaves me with enough on my hands to bring on a case of hysteria. You know how it is when you just want everything to be perfect for the friends whom you happen to think are perfect as well.
Anyway, in my nightmares, there would alwayws be this beautifully planned party with no one showing up. I could scream just thinking about this dreary scenario.
Nevertheless, apprehension aside I am looking forward to spending some quality time with my loved and cherished friends, and I can hardly wait.
*~and you'll never know till you get there~*
Monday, June 26, 2006
♥ 1:30 PM
Far from being the Best
What started off as an innocuous shopping trip to a Best Denki outlet left me with a bitter taste in my mouth.
Apparently, it is now the current trend to hire sales assistants who are not armed with any manners at all.
Oh, for those who are curious, I am referring to a skinny, tanned and unattractive male sales assistant manning the counter selling telephones. No, I did not manage to acquire his name as he had felt it beneath him to don a name tag. Maybe it made him feel like a dog.
Well, let it be known that even animals have a more decent sense of courtesy than this particularly rude man.
While it was already unpleasant enough to be greeted with a scowl and a crude gesture of acknowledgement (he inclined his greasy head with a most ungracious nod), what upset me the most was the way in which he decided that my family would be denied his "kind services" due to the fact that we were casually clad in shorts and t-shirts.
Apart from tossing the box containing the merchandise we had requested, he pointedly ignored our queries until I whispered loud enough for him to hear that I would be demanding a feedback form from the cashier later on.
Yes, we eventually purchased the much-needed replacement handset for our home, but we left with the resolve never to patronise shops which hire people who deem themselves superior to their customers.
Best Denki? I think not.
*~and you'll never know till you get there~*
Friday, June 23, 2006
♥ 6:06 PM
Screw-ups
Okay, officially, I have decided to make the Great Singapore Sale (GSS) my foe.
Within a span of 2 days, I have spent an alarming amount of money on things which I do not necessarily need.
Here's a sample of purchases which I chalked up:
1.White skirt with leather belt attached
2.White lacy spaghetti strap top
3.Beige capped- sleeve top
4.Pair of Adidas pumps
5.Brown strappy sandals
6.Gold open-toe flats
7.Six sets of lingerie
I'm sure that there are more miscellaneous things which I have bought besides the above-mentioned. *Shudders*
Speaking of shopping, those in search of reality, turn not to reality television shows but to the hordes of shoppers spotted in town during the GSS.
Amidst much grunting, swearing and jostling - and we're not talking about a wrestling match here (they're staged and choreographed anyway) - the true blue Singaporean is suddenly unleashed upon helpless and some really rude sales assistants.
If you would like to witness firsthand how Neanderthals behave, venture not into history books and documentaries. Just come and participate in a spot of shopping during this annual event and watch history come alive.
*~and you'll never know till you get there~*
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
♥ 6:41 PM
Little bit of nothing
Here's a short snippet of one of the sketches in Little Britain featuring the Fat Fighters with their diabolical counsellor Majorie. Not highly diplomatic and far from being politically correct. Then again, nothing on Little Britain is, thus its appeal.
It is a relief to see that in a world where we are all pretending to be people we are not, expressing emotions we do not feel, and saying words which are insincere in a bid to make the planet a better place to live in, there still exists people who are not afraid to make a mockery of life as we know it to be.
*~and you'll never know till you get there~*
Monday, June 19, 2006
♥ 12:32 PM
Bubbles
My warm, lazy Sunday afternoon was interrupted by a most interesting sight: soap bubbles floating across my living room's floor-to-ceiling windows.
Remember how beautifully fragile those bubbles used to look as we happily created them using soap water and a straw?
Picture them against a backdrop of lush greenery and you have for yourself a most captivating portrait marrying elements both natural as well as man-made. My first impulse was to grab my camera and to immortalise this bizarre moment in the form of a picture, although I failed to do so for a couple of minutes, and was content to merely gaze leisurely as these little globes floated past my windows.
When the camera was finally whipped out, it was too late. My procrastinating has cost me a fabulous, picture perfect moment.
The same can be said of many people. We know instinctively the actions which need to be taken most of the time, but alas, dallying proves to be a more attractive alternative, which usually results in us missing out on what could very well be the best things in life.
Simple things like telling the people around us that we love them, meeting up with long-lost friends, craddling your baby when you still have the opportunity to do so are often taken for granted by us and are thus neglected, sadly overlooked.
Maybe there lies a great deal of truth in saying that we ought to live every moment as if it is our last. Maybe.
*~and you'll never know till you get there~*
Saturday, June 17, 2006
♥ 9:43 PM
Keeping Mum
Rented and watched Keeping Mum, a darkly humorous Brit movie, and boy was it awesome. Rowan Atkinson and Dame Maggie Smith were really fun to watch, and well, black comedies are always welcomed - there is only so much slapstick humour one can stomach, oui?
Really, catch it for yourself, then you'll know how sardonically funny the English can be.
When you're done, you may want to catch Little Britain on Arts Central as well. Delightful mish-mash of sketches satiring every imaginable situation would leave you torn between wanting to laugh out loud and wincing at the humiliating scenarios being played out.
Lip-smackingly good.
While we're on the subject of movies, yet another one which had moi glued to my screen was Casanova. No, I am no sadist, but it was good fun seeing the lengths fine specimens of my own gender can go to in order to snare her man. Even better, the satisfaction of seeing the consummate ladies' man having to grovel when love finally comes knocking on his door is priceless.
Of course, it does help that Heath Ledger and his oh-so-gorgeous smile feautres in well, almost every scene of the movie. Love his smirk and the mischievous glint in his eyes. Not quite Mr Darcy material, but still charming nevertheless.
So there goes my Saturday; holed up at home watching brainless, even bimbotic movies, but oh how I liked it.
Ah, how we are all in need of that little bit of mindless indulgence from time to time.
*~and you'll never know till you get there~*
Thursday, June 15, 2006
♥ 4:41 PM
Baby Love...
Amazing how Anne Geddes manages to transform what would risk being saccharine sweet pictures featuring babies into works of art.
Cute ain't it? And I'm not just saying it 'cos I'm a baby person.
Aww...can they get any cuter?
Would be nice to have 3 of them...would it not?
*~and you'll never know till you get there~*
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
♥ 2:13 PM
I'm sorry
I'm sorry for not being there for you in your darkest hours, for not being there to hold your hand, for not being a friend when you needed one.
How I managed to let four months go by before uncovering the truth is beyond me. It is startling. It is disgusting.
The pain must have been unimaginable, yet, you remain resilient, strong, never giving up, never conceding defeat.
Although the worst is now over, there still lies ahead a long road to recovery. But never doubt your ability, your will-power. You can recover, and you will.
Persevere my dearest friend, and don't think for a second that you are any less gorgeous and wonderful than you ever were.
Whenever you need me, I will be there.
I promise.
*~and you'll never know till you get there~*
Saturday, June 10, 2006
♥ 3:03 PM
Musings
Sometimes, it is hard, if not impossible, to get your heart to listen to your brain. You know the answer; it is crystal clear, undeniable, and rather rudely in-your-face. However, more often than not, we choose to follow the tracks of romantics and to "follow our hearts".
Mistakes would be made, tears shed, animosity and anger created. All because we, being weak-hearted homosapiens, decided to throw caution and rationale out of the window and to simply let intuition be our guide.
Maybe, it would be best for us to feign ignorance and remain nonchalant. That would be the coward's way out, but if it works, it works. Nobody can fault us for our choices except ourselves.
I have committed my fair share of errors (been there, done that as they say) and although I expect myself to come out of my experiences stronger and decidedly more learned, the truth is fair from that.
The solution, in my current circumstance, is right in front of me, begging me accept and to act on it. Only question remains: do I wish to play the stupid heroine once more or to concede and do what logic dictates must be done?
*~and you'll never know till you get there~*
Thursday, June 08, 2006
♥ 10:58 AM
Pest of times
Do you know about the existence of lizard traps, seen one before or know how these contraptions work?
Well, as of 2 days ago, I have obtained an affirmative answer to all three questions.
Bugged by their annoying presence - what with scampering across kitchen counters and scaring the living daylights out of us faint-hearted, squeamish females and boldly eating foods left on tables - my mum purchased a couple of these so-called "lizard traps" and proceeded to make full use of them.
For those not in the know, these devices are boards which supposedly emits smells which attract these household pests, and when they are lured by the scents, they would find themselves horribly stuck onto the boards thanks to the industrial strength glue smeared on them.
Then, it is simply up to us, humble plebians, to pick up the traps - with lizards stuck on them mind you - and discard them as you would a piece of used tissue.
Scoff if you will, but these things work, although it was rather disconcerting to come eye-to-eye with a lizard staring pleadingly at you with huge, bulging eyes. Of course, any misgivings were swiftly tossed aside when one recalls the harrowing sights of watching these little reptiles in action.
All in all, this whole experience has released the sadist in me and convinced all at home of the effectiveness of a nondescript 3-dollar invention.
How disturbing.
*~and you'll never know till you get there~*
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
♥ 3:29 PM
The mark of the beast
6th June, 2006. This rare day comes only once a century, and for most of us, we are awarded the chance to witness this ominous day not more than once in our lifetime.
666. A number which comes attached with many negative connotations, a number which many believe is cursed, and with good reason.
"He was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that it could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed. He also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name.
This calls for wisdom. If any has insight, let him calculate the number of the beast, for it is man's number. His number is 666."
Revelation 13:15-18
Amidst this gloom, it is always encouraging to take refuge in the One we call our Lord and Saviour - Christ Jesus.
"Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:
'Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the Accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night has been hurled down. they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short.' "
Revelation 12: 10-12
There is much to fear but truly, even surrounded by the gloom and calamitous events of recent years, I have never felt safer than in the loving arms of my Heavenly Father.
*~and you'll never know till you get there~*
Sunday, June 04, 2006
♥ 11:11 AM
Childhood memories
A routine trip to the wet market with my parents this morning proved to be an eye-opener.
Mention the word "childhood" and to many of us, the images conjured up are usually pleasant ones. To us, we would most certainly hold fondly the memories of playing "catching" during recess, grimacing in fear together during our routine annual medical check-ups, and writing little notes adorned with hearts and flowers to one another during yet another draggy class.
Yet, amidst us, there exists another group of children, often neglected and unnoticed, who are forced to grow up prematurely.
Ambling down the gloomy corridors of the one-room flats in Boon Keng, with heavy bags of miscellaneous food purchases, and a headache-inducing whine about how my tired muscles are killing me, a sudden glimpse through the open door of one of these spartan flats halted me.
Within the dingy confines of the little apartment, a little girl stood on tiptoes near a lighted stove at what is supposed to be the kitchen of her home. While many jaded parents would brush this sight off at yet another attempt at mischief by a precocious child, there was something different here.
With concentration etched into her features, the nymph-like child gently stirred the contents of the scarred little pot, as if it was the most important task in the world. Then, surprisingly, I was a faint smile touch her lips.
At an age where her peers would not even be allowed anywhere near a hazardous kitchen, the little girl has already began shouldering tasks way beyond her years. At an age where she should be leading a blessed existence centering around the latest craze in toys, she has already become an adult prematurely.
Twenty years down the road, when this same little girl looks back at her past, what would she see? A childhood filled with loneliness and emptiness, or a period of time with which she has been blessed to pick up the practical wisdoms of everyday living?
Similarly, whenever we are faced with an obstacle, there are two ways to deal with it: lament biterly about the cruel blows life has dealt us and wallow in self-pity, or pick ourselves up and realise that hey, the situation could have been much worse. Just like that nymph-like child, we can always find something to smile about, regardless of our circumstance.
What would your choice be?
I do not know about you, but personally, the answer is rather clear, is it not?
*~and you'll never know till you get there~*