Thursday, February 15, 2007
Songs in my head
Well, besides the usual Chinese New Year songs and dong dong chiangs I keep hearing, my manager and I have been hearing this song over the radio and it has been stuck in our minds for quite some time now. It's pretty catchy and i decided to do a search on the lyrics. The song is by Kelis... yes yes.. surprise. the same one who sang Milkshake! And it's called Lil Star. The lyrics are quite nice.
Lil Star by Kelis featuring Cee-loo
Lil Star by Kelis featuring Cee-loo
There is nothing special about me
I am just a lil star
If it seems like I'm shining brightly
It's probably a reflection of something you already are
I forget about myself sometime
When there's so many other aroundWhen deep inside you feels darkest
That is where I can always be found
That is where I can always be found
That is where I can always be found
Chorus:
Just keep trying and trying
It's just a matter of timing
Though the grinding is tiring
Don't let 'em stop you from smiling
Just keep trying and trying
Sooner or later you'll find it
It's surprising how inspiring
It is to see you shining
Cause in the dark of the night you're all I can see
and you sure look like a star to me
There is nothing special about me
I am just a lil star
If you try to reach out an touch me
you'll see I'm not really that far
I may not be the brightest nor am I the last one you’ll see
But as long as you notice, that’s just fine with me
Everything’s just fine with me
Everything’s just fine with me
There is nothing special about me
I am just a lil star
I’ve been running and jumping, but barely
Getting, getting over the bar
I plan on being much more than I, am but that's in do time
But until then I'm guilty, and being humans my crime
Being human that is my crime
Being human that is my crime
Yup.. remember, no 2 stars are the same and every one is special, even if you dun feel that way.
Here's the MTV if you want to hear what it sounds like. MTV isn't impressive though.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqOgx5HnunM
Speaking of impressive MTVs, I managed to find the MTV for OK GO's Here it goes again.
I saw the MTV when I was in Hong Kong and I was super impressed with it. I mean.. how often do
you see some guys who are mid 30's, singing and dancing around 8 threadmills? If that is not
impressive enough, you should see how well executed it is. It looks like it was done in one take!
It doesn't hurt that the song is quite nice too :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pv5zWaTE
What does the New Year Bring?
I was with my manager at Chinatown to deliver cards before heading off to eat lunch. "Why don't you read the horoscopes for next year while I deliver them?" he said. He pointed to a small 4-sided wall exhibit located at the 2nd floor and off he went to deliver the cards.
This exhibit was obviously a clever gimmick by a geomancer in a bid to attract more customers to his shop. After all, geomancy shops are dime a dozen in Chinatown. But it proved to get attention, judging by the group of people looking intently at the various writings on it. So I went to see my fortune.
Apparently, it's a terrible year for those born in the year of the Rooster. And among all the different types of roosters, it is especially so for those born in my year. Obstacles are abound and one will have to prove to be quite resilient to get through it. I quote the opening sentence: "This year is a terrible year for Roosters. Your path is filled with unlucky stars and not one lucky star to counter it. You also have direct conflict with Tai Sui. There will be truckloads of misfortune". I was like... wah.. serious ah? If what is writen is to be believed, apparently this year: my health will be down (this was worrying since I have my Op to consider); I will have no wealth to speak of since everything I earn will be spent (also worrying since no money, how to go for Op?); I can forget about love; and work will be tough with loads of backstabbing abound. Wow.. what an exciting year ahead. And it also said that I should not ride motorcycles (Shit... and I wanted to take my bike license this year) because I will be getting into a lot of accidents. It even warns me not to head east as that's where accidents are abound. Reading that, I was like... right... does that mean I cannot go home, since I live east? Or maybe i should not even think of going to Changi Airport to travel.... Gosh. One would think that if i died this year, it was also to be expected since I am supposed to be so suay this coming year! And in order to help me tide through the year, I was supposed to get ancients coins, clean them, get them smoked with the smoke from the incense pot in a reknown temple, and place them around a bowl of water. That bowl of water should be placed at the south east corner of my room and has to be changed weekly...right..........
Anyway, I had sometime to read other fortunes as well:
Dragon: Generally a very good year in terms of love, business and health. Will find love in the office. It is also a good year to get married, especially if your partner is born in the year of the Monkey, Rooster or Rat. I found this very amusing...
Snake: not a very good year too, but not as bad as the Rooster. Not a good year for Business, especially for salaried employees who will face a lot of obstables and backstabbing. Health will also be down. Love life is not good. Not a good year to get married (now it makes sense why Kokodile wanted to get married before the lunar new year). And there will be 3rd parties.
Horse: Not too bad a year. Love is in the air! (To my horsey frens, didn't have time to finish reading but promise to go back and read!)
So to my fellow heavy metal chicks, take it with a pinch of salt (make that loads of salt). Nonetheless prepare for a bumpy ride. Ganbatte yo!
This exhibit was obviously a clever gimmick by a geomancer in a bid to attract more customers to his shop. After all, geomancy shops are dime a dozen in Chinatown. But it proved to get attention, judging by the group of people looking intently at the various writings on it. So I went to see my fortune.
Apparently, it's a terrible year for those born in the year of the Rooster. And among all the different types of roosters, it is especially so for those born in my year. Obstacles are abound and one will have to prove to be quite resilient to get through it. I quote the opening sentence: "This year is a terrible year for Roosters. Your path is filled with unlucky stars and not one lucky star to counter it. You also have direct conflict with Tai Sui. There will be truckloads of misfortune". I was like... wah.. serious ah? If what is writen is to be believed, apparently this year: my health will be down (this was worrying since I have my Op to consider); I will have no wealth to speak of since everything I earn will be spent (also worrying since no money, how to go for Op?); I can forget about love; and work will be tough with loads of backstabbing abound. Wow.. what an exciting year ahead. And it also said that I should not ride motorcycles (Shit... and I wanted to take my bike license this year) because I will be getting into a lot of accidents. It even warns me not to head east as that's where accidents are abound. Reading that, I was like... right... does that mean I cannot go home, since I live east? Or maybe i should not even think of going to Changi Airport to travel.... Gosh. One would think that if i died this year, it was also to be expected since I am supposed to be so suay this coming year! And in order to help me tide through the year, I was supposed to get ancients coins, clean them, get them smoked with the smoke from the incense pot in a reknown temple, and place them around a bowl of water. That bowl of water should be placed at the south east corner of my room and has to be changed weekly...right..........
Anyway, I had sometime to read other fortunes as well:
Dragon: Generally a very good year in terms of love, business and health. Will find love in the office. It is also a good year to get married, especially if your partner is born in the year of the Monkey, Rooster or Rat. I found this very amusing...
Snake: not a very good year too, but not as bad as the Rooster. Not a good year for Business, especially for salaried employees who will face a lot of obstables and backstabbing. Health will also be down. Love life is not good. Not a good year to get married (now it makes sense why Kokodile wanted to get married before the lunar new year). And there will be 3rd parties.
Horse: Not too bad a year. Love is in the air! (To my horsey frens, didn't have time to finish reading but promise to go back and read!)
So to my fellow heavy metal chicks, take it with a pinch of salt (make that loads of salt). Nonetheless prepare for a bumpy ride. Ganbatte yo!
Monday, February 12, 2007
Cheeena New Year
Yup.. it's that time of the year again... Time to spring clean and make everything spick and span.. the dreaded SPRING CLEANING *insert creepy music here*
So the weekend was spent cleaning the house. Thankfully, ever since i moved into my new place, I cultivated the habit of cleaning my room at least once every 2 weeks, before all the rubbish piles up. So I just cleaned my windows, the lights, the fan, the bookshelves and the aircon. Also washed my curtains. I thought it was over. I was so wrong
Everyone (except my mum) had to clean a common area. And I had to do the kitchen. That still wasn't so bad. Problem was, I had to clean out the fridge and the table in the kitchen. And the fridge... *shudder*.... sigh.. someone's gotta do it. The problem with my family is, they have a tendency to buy stuff, hoard it in the fridge and then conveniently forget it. I know I am no angel, but I definitely don't hoard as much as they do.... here are my top ge(r)m finds:
- Chocolates that have expired (loads of them... i seriously dunno where they come from!)
- a bottle of Yakult that has expired (trust me, the L.acidophillis in there must be SO potent that u just need one sip. Definitely will aid your digestion since you will be running straight for the toilet)
- Frozen solid Bacardi Breezer (lollipop Bacardi anyone?)
- Oranges from LAST new year (stuck in the forgotten corner.. pushed further and further in as new things arrive)
URGH... i seriously scrubbed and cleaned all of that junk out. Even removed each and every shelving to wash. Together with the junk on the table, i threw away 2 big trash bags! Yikes... had i not done the spring cleaning on the fridge.. I'm not sure what's the next things that will open the door and walk out. Now.. it really nice and clean! A whole, brand new fridge! Ha h aha
So the weekend was spent cleaning the house. Thankfully, ever since i moved into my new place, I cultivated the habit of cleaning my room at least once every 2 weeks, before all the rubbish piles up. So I just cleaned my windows, the lights, the fan, the bookshelves and the aircon. Also washed my curtains. I thought it was over. I was so wrong
Everyone (except my mum) had to clean a common area. And I had to do the kitchen. That still wasn't so bad. Problem was, I had to clean out the fridge and the table in the kitchen. And the fridge... *shudder*.... sigh.. someone's gotta do it. The problem with my family is, they have a tendency to buy stuff, hoard it in the fridge and then conveniently forget it. I know I am no angel, but I definitely don't hoard as much as they do.... here are my top ge(r)m finds:
- Chocolates that have expired (loads of them... i seriously dunno where they come from!)
- a bottle of Yakult that has expired (trust me, the L.acidophillis in there must be SO potent that u just need one sip. Definitely will aid your digestion since you will be running straight for the toilet)
- Frozen solid Bacardi Breezer (lollipop Bacardi anyone?)
- Oranges from LAST new year (stuck in the forgotten corner.. pushed further and further in as new things arrive)
URGH... i seriously scrubbed and cleaned all of that junk out. Even removed each and every shelving to wash. Together with the junk on the table, i threw away 2 big trash bags! Yikes... had i not done the spring cleaning on the fridge.. I'm not sure what's the next things that will open the door and walk out. Now.. it really nice and clean! A whole, brand new fridge! Ha h aha
PERTH - aftermath
Well, basically for the Perth trip, the first day was the most drama of it all. The rest of the week was pretty relaxing. Which allowed me to recharge my batteries.
One day was spent at the Swan Valley area, where we visited a wild life park and the Jane Brook wine estate. The wild life park was ok, loads of native marsupials. There was even a whole enclosure where the kangaroos roamed (or rather, jumped) free. You can feed them and pet them. Most of them were quite docile. Probably due to the heat. They just lay in burrows in the sand to keep cool. Also saw a real Tasmanian Devil for once (the last time I went to Tasmania, I didn't even see a bloody one!). Went up close to touch and smell a sleeping koala (fun fact: male koalas mark their territory by rubbing themselves on trees. They smell like smelly socks!). They also had a farm animal section. Kids were in the enclosure, both kinds of kids. The goat and human variety. But it seemed that the human variety were more afraid of the goat variety. And the sheep, for no rhyme or reason just kept bleating... That amused J a lot becos he loves sheep.
We then went around the area to look for a vineyard to stop for lunch and do buy some wine. That wasn't too hard a task since every couple of yards, there was one. But it was more about the question of price. We stopped by one of the vineyards, looked at the menu.. and scooted off (A$50 per pax!!!!). We finally settled on Jane Brook. The wait staff were friendly, who kept asking which wine we wanted to try. They literally went down the whole list of wine, letting us test it one by one. Before you say we are kiasu Singaporeans, we didn't even request for it! They just kept going, " This wine won blah blah award, it's excellent"... "This one is even better!"... " you really have to try this one" ... Can we say... no? Unfortunately, i was the driver, so i had to keep my alcohol intake in check. We had lunch there.. and i tasted the best pate. The mostest, delicious, heavenly, smooth pate!! It's called chicken cognac pate (Do I hear a unison of voices saying "why am i not surprised?") Ha ha ha ha.. but it was the most fantastic pate i have ever tasted. We literally scooped the whole bowl clean! Too bad it was impossible to bring it back with me....sigh....
A trip to Perth cannot be complete without a short trip to neighbouring Fremantle! And with fremantle = fish and chips! The problem was.. with so many claiming to be the best and most famous in Fremantle, which one was the real deal??? In the end, we decided to go to Kaili's. With the huge size, we figured that it must have some standard there if not it wouldn't be this big... And we had a fantastic meal.. golden fried fish, grilled fish, grilled calamari, lobster, prawns, seafood chowder.... delcious to the last bite. We wanted to try Yabbies too... but they weren't available. And if I weren't so full, I would have ordered shark meat to try... After, we took a stroll along the pierside and had Baskin Robbins ice cream. Yeah.. 31 flavours!ha ha ha ha. Black adder literally went insane there.
And the last day was spent doing shopping around Perth. Pretty convenient since Hay street, the equivalent of Orchard Road, was just around the corner. Unlike my previous trips, I didn't buy much this time. The only things i bought for myself were a tee, shorts and some accessories. The rest of my moolah was blown buying for others. personally felt that there wasn't a lot of things to buy, and even if there were, it was expensive.....
So that was my Perth trip. I'm just glad that my cousin and her family enjoyed themselves, esp J. He hasn't travelled for the past 5 years. No doubt the initial day was frought with anxiety and edgy tempers, but thankfully everyone settled down and enjoyed themselves. It's also a first for my cousin's family. It shows that with proper planning and teamwork, travelling is still possible. I hope there will be many others to come. And for Black Adder, I hope she got a great sense of satisfaction from it. She planned it all, fretting over whether the places we were visting were accessible, worrying about budget etc. I know she tried very hard. And it was worth it :) Cos up till now, J raves on how much he enjoyed Perth!
One day was spent at the Swan Valley area, where we visited a wild life park and the Jane Brook wine estate. The wild life park was ok, loads of native marsupials. There was even a whole enclosure where the kangaroos roamed (or rather, jumped) free. You can feed them and pet them. Most of them were quite docile. Probably due to the heat. They just lay in burrows in the sand to keep cool. Also saw a real Tasmanian Devil for once (the last time I went to Tasmania, I didn't even see a bloody one!). Went up close to touch and smell a sleeping koala (fun fact: male koalas mark their territory by rubbing themselves on trees. They smell like smelly socks!). They also had a farm animal section. Kids were in the enclosure, both kinds of kids. The goat and human variety. But it seemed that the human variety were more afraid of the goat variety. And the sheep, for no rhyme or reason just kept bleating... That amused J a lot becos he loves sheep.
We then went around the area to look for a vineyard to stop for lunch and do buy some wine. That wasn't too hard a task since every couple of yards, there was one. But it was more about the question of price. We stopped by one of the vineyards, looked at the menu.. and scooted off (A$50 per pax!!!!). We finally settled on Jane Brook. The wait staff were friendly, who kept asking which wine we wanted to try. They literally went down the whole list of wine, letting us test it one by one. Before you say we are kiasu Singaporeans, we didn't even request for it! They just kept going, " This wine won blah blah award, it's excellent"... "This one is even better!"... " you really have to try this one" ... Can we say... no? Unfortunately, i was the driver, so i had to keep my alcohol intake in check. We had lunch there.. and i tasted the best pate. The mostest, delicious, heavenly, smooth pate!! It's called chicken cognac pate (Do I hear a unison of voices saying "why am i not surprised?") Ha ha ha ha.. but it was the most fantastic pate i have ever tasted. We literally scooped the whole bowl clean! Too bad it was impossible to bring it back with me....sigh....
A trip to Perth cannot be complete without a short trip to neighbouring Fremantle! And with fremantle = fish and chips! The problem was.. with so many claiming to be the best and most famous in Fremantle, which one was the real deal??? In the end, we decided to go to Kaili's. With the huge size, we figured that it must have some standard there if not it wouldn't be this big... And we had a fantastic meal.. golden fried fish, grilled fish, grilled calamari, lobster, prawns, seafood chowder.... delcious to the last bite. We wanted to try Yabbies too... but they weren't available. And if I weren't so full, I would have ordered shark meat to try... After, we took a stroll along the pierside and had Baskin Robbins ice cream. Yeah.. 31 flavours!ha ha ha ha. Black adder literally went insane there.
And the last day was spent doing shopping around Perth. Pretty convenient since Hay street, the equivalent of Orchard Road, was just around the corner. Unlike my previous trips, I didn't buy much this time. The only things i bought for myself were a tee, shorts and some accessories. The rest of my moolah was blown buying for others. personally felt that there wasn't a lot of things to buy, and even if there were, it was expensive.....
So that was my Perth trip. I'm just glad that my cousin and her family enjoyed themselves, esp J. He hasn't travelled for the past 5 years. No doubt the initial day was frought with anxiety and edgy tempers, but thankfully everyone settled down and enjoyed themselves. It's also a first for my cousin's family. It shows that with proper planning and teamwork, travelling is still possible. I hope there will be many others to come. And for Black Adder, I hope she got a great sense of satisfaction from it. She planned it all, fretting over whether the places we were visting were accessible, worrying about budget etc. I know she tried very hard. And it was worth it :) Cos up till now, J raves on how much he enjoyed Perth!
