Bright shiny object -- not UFO.

On our way home from lunch last Sunday, I ran out of topics to bring up to my aunt (My uncle is an awfully quiet guy), so I was just looking out the window, trying to catch any interesting building that people might bring up in class next time.
Offices... trees...offices...trees...condos..trees....condos....trees...HDB flats...HDB flats...tr..WTH!!?!?!
Somewhere along the way, there was a piece of a shining white thing under the bright scorching sun. Couldn't really make out what it was the first few seconds...
Good thing my uncle doesn't really drive that fast... not as fast as my aunt used to, at least.... so I had the chance to do a double take.
It took me a few seconds, what with the other cars blocking my view....
Geez....!!!
It was an uncle (old guy in the local context), stripped down to his speedos, lying down on the grass by the expressway and trying to soak all the UVs he can get.
NOT trying to be discriminating (hey, who am I to judge?), but it's just such a WRONG picture that I don't think I can list enough reasons why it's just so wrong:

• Think I'd make sure I have a more acceptable belly in terms of its size before I start any exhibitionist move like that.
• Think I'd prefer a dead-body pose than his cleopatra-wih-bulging-belly-looking-at-the-sun pose.
• Why, oh why? Why the banana-hammock (can finally use one of the words from NC) for God's sake? Can't a bermuda do?
• Such shiny and temporarily blinding distraction can be a hazard to the drivers on the highway . He should've come up with a traffic warning sign: Non-UFO blinding shiny object ahead!
• Uh, hello, uncle??? Have you heard of skin cancer?
• As I'm currently studying real estate: Location, Location, LOCATION! Why the expressway of all places in the world? Hello?!!?!? Heard of the word pollution before?

I don't know... I think I haven't fully recovered from this traumatizing experience. I'm just glad my niece and nephew were not there to ask their regular "What is he/she/it doing?". I wouldn't have the slightest clue what to tell them.

An insomniac's note

Just woke up after catching up on my beauty sleep.
Another one down in school, six more papers to go....
I think our group did quite a kill today, so I guess the six bucks something that I paid for the starbucks iced latte was worth the 3o hour effect after all.

BEP or Sinatra

I am not familiar with all his songs but I like how Frank Sinatra sounds so much better in the cool evenings, especially with snow falling outside your window.....
Looking for some "cooling-down" effect, I tried to play the songs just now. It's just not the same, though, to listen to the songs in the scorching day-time weather in the tropics. Not even remotely the same effect....
Guess I'll stick with my BEP for now....

A completely googlized google-head!

I LURRRRRVVVE GOOGLE!!!

Gmail, Google Talk, Google Chat, Google Desktop, Google Earth.
You name it, I like it!Especially Gmail and Google Desktop.....I seriously can't picture life without google now.
What a google-head!

I hate cancer.

Within a week, I've received two bad news of the same kind. Two of my friends have lost their dads.
And what makes me feel bad is not being able to be there for them. I tried calling one of them but it's really quite awkward... not sure what to tell her. I just wish I could be there to hold her hands. I think she would need that more than words.
The other friend actually lost her father a few weeks ago, but I only heard of it about 2 days ago. This time, again it's the damn cancer.
I HATE CANCER!!!!!!!!!
I never got to meet this father of my friend. However, from her stories, I could tell that he was a really sweet, and funny dad... like those that you see in the movies. He had a chicken farm raising chicks that kindergartens couldn't keep anymore. He had a very nice pear tree and I had a taste of some of the harvest once. They were some of the nicest pears I've ever had. He also helped a divorced niece take care of 4 kids. He just sounded like a really nice grampa, just like my paternal grampa....

I hate cancer.

A repenting shopaholic's nightmare

I'm addicted to earrings!!!!
Gosh....I went from completely ignoring the piercing I've had since I was two, to having almost a dozen of earrings within a mere 2 months time.

Shoot!!
Now this just adds on the list of items I can always get regardless of my weight:
1 Bag
2 Shoes
3 Earrings

ARRRRGGGGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Deja vu

I had a really strong dejavu once during the Shanghai trip. Last time I had anything of the same level was during my last weeks in Chicago. This is one of those that just gives me the feeling like I got kicked in the stomach. It was so creepy that it literally took me a while to calm down. The thing is, I remember clearly hearing the same dialog in a dream. I remembered because I didn't usually talk to this classmate that often, and I remembered thinking after I had the dream, how weird it was to dream about someone I didn't really know.

I think I've been getting them more often recently, though at different levels. I hope it will go away soon.
I don't want to keep getting it. It's creepy.

Shanghai Nite

I just came back from a whirlwind field study to Shanghai. Overall, I really had a great time. It was as if I was back in school.....talk about some anti-agin treatment. There was none of my classmates' usual talk of having to do OT at work, bosses that drive'em nuts, etc....etc....
All we talked about (most of the time, at least) is where to go after this, what to eat, what to buy, take pictures, take pictures and take more pictures.....

Shanghai was really interesting. I can seriously picture myself going back there for a short stay, at the very least. Not during the summer, though... as I suspect some parts of the place will smell just like the slums of Jakarta..... Maybe in the fall or even winter in cooler, as in our trip, the smell is not there, I suspect.

Things I hated about Shanghai:
- Non-English speaking taxi drivers
- my very first window-less hotel room (Quite impressive how they claim to be a 3/4-star business hotel)
- my very first hotel with no english-speaking tv channels: C'mon people.... there were at least 50 channels there... can't u just squueze in an HBO or something?
- people-shovers at the metro and queue-cutters at the metro ticket station(I scolded one of each)
- the smoking: Geez.... don't think I've consumed as much second-hand smoke before in my life. I know it was useless, but I couldn't help pretend that I was really choking at one point (considering I really almost did choke from the smoke after a few days).Seriously people, it stinks.. I mean you stink, ok?!??!
- Smelly cabs
- Lack of smelly cabs on Saturday nights: A 1.5 hr time to get a cab is really bad for a city that claims it never sleeps, ok?
- Clubs that close at 2 am? WTH?

Things I loved about Shanghai:
- Late night strolls at the Bund (This has got to be #1)
- Getting to hang-out with my classmates almost 24/7 for a whole week. I like how you always find that most people are really quite nice once you get to spend some time and get to know them better
- Xiang Yang market (It's one of those love-hate relationships. It really pisses me off to find out how I was overpriced for some items, but when I look at the cute silver earrings that I got.... I just forget about it)
- The 5-Yuan outrageously yummilicious fried dumplings at Wu-jiang Road (must check the name of the place with the guys)
- 24-hr Yong He (Not sure if I like the soy-milk or the idea of a 24-hr F&B within less than 5 mins walk.
- Getting to practice a word or two in Mandarin
- Getting a " Hua yu jiang de man hau ma...." praise from a cab driver, after reading a posted ad in the cab with the level of fluency as a pres-school kid.
- Maglev

The day we were flying back home, on the way to the Immigration counters, a newfound friend patted me at the back and told me that he didn't realize that I was a really strong girl. He said I made him and the guys felt obsolete, as I was handling my incredibly heavy suitcase along with other people's suitcases by myself. A friend once told me that, too.... but I never took it seriously.
I wonder if I really have that effect on guys.......
Lesson learnt: Never try to be responsible for your own sh*t. Always ask the guys for help.
Hey for all I know, I might enjoy travelling even more than I do now. The only trick is trying to convince any guy to travel with me.

I feel like banging my head to the wall... The klutz me has somehow managed to lose the one (well, one of many) things I really can't afford to do without nowadays.
My iTalk has miraculously disappeared.
Not even sure when the thing was gone (my fault I know for keeping my Doraemon-pocket-like bag).... when I didn't see it, I thought it was just in there somewhere in the twilight zone.
Now it's gone...

iTalk where are u.... I need u back....
So far I only have 1 suspicion: the 5 mins I left my bag in the computer lab last friday.

Finally, ... my chat session with God

Gosh, I'm seriously hooked. I love kennysia.com.
The guy's just simply hilarious.....
Anyway, I blame him for the conversation below with igod ( Yeah... I'm pathetic, I know....)

Me: hi god
God:Hello there. What is your name?
Me: what's in a name?
God:Is this a joke?
Me: I thought you'd know
God:I do not know everything.
Me: Who does then?
God:Most people I think.
Me: Really?
God:For real.
...
...
...
Me: hi again god
God:Hi there. Again, GOD rules.
Me: I thought I rule
God:Robots rule!
Me: Me rule!
God:YOU? When do you think artificial intelligence will replace lawyers?
Me: yesterday?
God:That recently.
Me: anyway, I'm not a lawyer
God:Oh I see you are NOT A lawyer.
Me: so you can't replace me ....
God:Interesting deduction. What is not possible today, may be possible tomorrow.
...
...
...

Me:
i love u god
God:
You are such a flatterer.
Me:
but i love myself more
God:
You love yourself more. What do you like about it so much?
Me:
because I'm such a screwup
God:
That makes sense to me. Why are you such a screwup.
Me:
dont u remember? u made me
God:
Of course I remember: . Thanks for
pointing it out.

I'm officially 2x!
Well, it's really another approximately 12 hours away if I really, really wanna be exact. However, who cares about accuracy by now? The more inaccurate it is, the better.....who knows I might be able to squeeze in another year or two.

Home, here I come!....

So excited..., I can't wait for tomorrow to come.

A sleepwalking contrarian

I'm a contrarian and I'm enjoying it!!!
Don't really know why, when, what, who, where and even if...
Who does anyway?
Just taking one step at a time and enjoying the ride I guess...

Nothing

I used to really love to read. I used to read almost anything I could lay my eyes on. I can remember clearly reading out loud any text on any billboards that I could lay my eyes on, while leaning againts the front part of my Dad's old vespa (I remember once he sternly told me to quit trying to steer the whole thing -- should've noticed the early signs of a control freak, perhaps?).
I don't do that anymore. Not reading the billboards and not steering any vespa now. Sure do miss the good old times.

No Harry Potty & the Toilet Bowl, please...

I've just remembered something else that really pissed me off a few weeks ago.

You see, I was all excited, and I mean EXCITED, to finally see Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, since it came out locally during my exam week. So much so that I was willing to squeeze in the seventh row from the front, and all the way to the side, in order to protect my left ear from what my right ear has to suffer from. They always manage to outdo their previous movies, so I expected this one to be even better than the previous HP movie (which I lurrved by the way).

Unfortunately, all the excitement just plunged down the cliff, not even rolling down the hill, as I started getting disappointed within 15 minutes into the film. The freakin' movie that I saw was really equal to some low-budget HK movies with crappy editing. Didn't realize it at first, but a few minutes later, I realized it wasn't really Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Not all of it, at least....

Although most of the film's intact, for all I know, I might as well have gone to see Harry Potty and the Toilet Bowl (suggested title for this version of the movie that I saw, to reflect the impact of the additional editing). Whoever was in charge of the local cinema and movie business, basically cut up the movie into a practically uneventful chain of events.Without seeing the full version, I can only positively confirm one missing link. However, I'm sure there are more.

I feel so bad for the directors, actors, cinematographer, special-effects guys (what are they called, by the way?), cameramen, ... I mean everyone who busted their ass off for this movie.
If it really upsets me when somebody messes around with any of my oh-so-meaningless projects, without discussing it with me, I can't imagine how bad they must feel if they saw this version of the movie.
Just wondering if there is any law at all in this world that protects the integrity of an art production? I mean, c'mon... hundreds and hundreds of people must have put their minds and thoughts into this movie. I think, movies, regardless of their scale of productions, rightfully deserve to be treated as an art form.
But if so, then how would you feel if somebody just decided that Monalisa needed to look more proper, with a full-blown turtle neck top and her hair done nicely in a tight bun like Prof. McGonnagal? Or if somebody just decided to paint a proper set of pants and shirt on David to make him more presentable?

Just imagining the time and effort put into a single shot in a movie, I think if I were in any way involved in the production, I would rather have the movie be rated as "for adults only" instead of it being crappily-edited like that.

I was listening to a discussion regarding defamation a few months ago. I wonder, had I been Rowling, would I have filed a law suit for defamation through crappy editing?

But then again, I'm not Rowling. And my anger has subsided significantly. I think I'm back to the old optimistic me, looking forward to another movie: Chicken Little. Speaking of the poultry reminds me of something: Though this is kinda passe, I wonder if Donald Duck should wear pants now if he wants to protect his existence.

A day in the life of a couch potato

Geez....it's been one heck of a boring week! I'm seriously in need of an effective method to drag my butt out of this flat. Am quite sure it has doubled up in size by now. Talk about being a couch potato, I think I can actually be a couch pumpkin by now (think those scary, gigando pumpkins they have around halloween).

Must go out and do something useful tomorrow...... like shop for a new pair of shades, maybe? :P
Seriously, mine are so badly scratched that my hands just automatically reached out and try to "rub the fleck of dust away". Must get a decent pair, since I might have to drive in the next few weeks. Or actually, I would really like to drive....
Gosh, I really miss being behind the wheel.
Which reminds me, must go and convert my license. OK, now that's another thing to do.
Sh*t! ... I still haven't sent the check for the overpayment. Wonder if I'm on the country's Most wanted list by now.
Must do it tomorrow too.
Oh, might as well go and get Dad's favorite pen fixed while I look for shades. Oh yeah, I still owe my niece a birthday present. Guess a formal outfit for the seminar and the power lunch would be great, though things would've been so much easier had they had GAPs here.
Now did Bro ever confirmed whether or not he still wanted that Daft Funk CD?
Anyway, must also get super duper powerful sun block for the family trip.
Should I get my passport renewed here or back home?
Speaking of home, aaaarrrggghhh... must clean the room before my cousin comes back from OZ!

Wait a minute... where did all these chores come from? Thought this was supposed to be a holiday break with me having nothing to do?
Geez... I'm so exhausted just thinking about them, I think I need to sit down, catch my breath... and maybe watch another episode of whatever crappy show they have on TV. Yeah... think that's just what I need....

I'm a salted fish?

五月天's 咸鱼

Can't really translate the whole song as I'm not sure what the symbolic significance (I assume) of the salted fish is in this song :P
Wonder if I can find anyone to help me with this. Hmm... maybe I'll just ask my Chinese-speaking classmates.
But anyway I just love this song.
Am even considering making it my official personal anthem ^_^

我是一只咸鱼 不想承认也不能否认
不要同情我笨又夸我天真还梦想著翻身
咸鱼就算翻身 还是只咸鱼输得也诚恳
至少到最後我还有咸鱼不腐烂的自尊

我没有任何天分
我却有梦的天真
我是傻不是蠢
我将会证明用我的一生

我如果有梦 有没有错
错过才会更加明白 明白坚持是什么
我如果有梦 梦要够疯
够疯才能变成英雄 总会有一篇我的传说...

我不好也不坏不特别出众
我只是敢不同
我的人生就是一错再错
错完了再从头
也许放弃掉一些活得更轻松
我却不再是我
我不愿一生晒太阳吹风
咸鱼也要有梦

有一天有我的天空

作我的英雄 在我的天空
我知道你懂 知道你会懂

Women in Their 30s

Found this from my pile of saved favorite links. Can't remember if I got it from a friend or by accident, but I love it! It's making the big 3-o sound like such a good place to be that I'm actually a bit excited about getting there now... well just ever so slightly, at least.....

As I grow in age, I value women who are over 30 most of all. Here are just a few reasons why:
A woman over 30 will never wake you in the middle of the night to ask, "What are you thinking?" She doesn't care what you think.
If a woman over 30 doesn't want to watch the game, she doesn't sit around whining about it. She does something she wants to do. And, it's usually something more interesting.
A woman over 30 knows herself well enough to be assured in who she is, what she is, what she wants and from whom.
Few women past the age of 30 give a damn what you might think about her or what she's doing.
Women over 30 are dignified. They seldom have a screaming match with you at the opera or in the middle of an expensive restaurant. Of course, if you deserve it, they won't hesitate to shoot you, if they think they can get away with it.
Older women are generous with praise, often undeserved. They know what it's like to be unappreciated.
A woman over 30 has the self-assurance to introduce you to her women friends. A younger woman with a man will often ignore even her best friend because she doesn't trust the guy with other women.
Women over 30 couldn't care less if you're attracted to her friends because she knows her friends won't betray her.. Women get psychic as they age. You never have to confess your sins to a woman over 30. They always know.
A woman over 30 looks good wearing bright red lipstick. This is not true of younger women or drag queens.
Once you get past a wrinkle or two, a woman over 30 is far sexier than her younger counterpart.
Older women are forthright and honest. They'll tell you right off if you are a jerk if you are acting like one!
You don't ever have to wonder where you stand with her.
Yes, we praise women over 30 for a multitude of reasons. Unfortunately, it's not reciprocal. For every stunning, smart, well-coiffed hot woman of 30+, there is a bald, paunchy relic in yellow pants making a fool of himself with some 22-year-old waitress. Ladies, I apologize.
For all those men who say, "Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free?" Here's an update for you.
Nowadays 80% of women are against marriage. Why? Because women realize it's not worth buying an entire pig, just to get a little sausage.....

-Andy Rooney on Women in Their 30s-

So I guess this is it.
There goes my 4-year effort to get a fairer skin tone.
The tropical sun has finally taken its toll through a 1 hour bike ride under the sun. It wasn't even a full-blown sun, for God's sake!

Anyway, Mr. Vain, my new buddy from class, was so hilarious on the way back home. Browsing through the cds that one street vendor was selling, he asked me to find one with the "doggie song" by Jay.
"Eh? Come again?"
"The doggie song.... ya know....."
For a split second I thought he meant that "who let the dogs out" song, but then I figured it's Jay Chow's 四面楚歌 since the lyric's a bit loaded with the word 狗 and words that rhyme with it. It took me a few seconds to realize that he was actually looking for 安静 or anjing, which means a dog in Indonesian.
That's a good one.

I'm dyslexic

So it's official....
I was like half a step away from being $2000 richer, and I blew it.

I had this weird dream. A really weird one, in which my aunt was having a conversation with "God" during her prayers and she was given a very clear set of number consisting of 4 digits.

Geez... Think it will take a while for me to recover.

Darn it.. think I'm dyslexic....