Aching, Sneezing, Coughing, Wheezing

I was a bit of everywhere and everything really.

Went over to my mate's on Friday to do video conversion and stuff. But due to bad luck, I didn't manage to convert everything I wanted to.

Just before I left for this place in the day, I was notified of a Dramatec practice session. Rather late, I might add. So after the mate's, went down to school.

They were practicing Chicago and I know it's not really my thing but I guess it was good training and exposure. Days like these are the reason why I joined Dramatec. To learn, even though I'm nowhere near decent.

The next morning I was up bright and early again, ended up at Parkway Parade to deal with the script for MIC's Orientation '08 Show.

Then, in the late afternoon, was off to dad's for my sister's 21st birthday celebration.

I'll be joining her soon, I wonder how it feels like to turn 21. People make it out to be something big but I don't suppose she'll feel that different and I suspect neither will I.

Somehow ended up sleeping over at dad's, concurrently missing out on Man Utd thrashing Aston Villa 4-0 as there was no cable TV down where I was.

But I know dad liked it that all his kids were sleeping over and I guess it was right of me to cede this time and let him enjoy having all of us over. It doesn't happen often.Usually one of the kids are missing and that's usually me.

It didn't help that I had started to fall ill at my mate's place on Friday and I spent most of Sunday in a woozy state. Tried to sleep it off once I got back home this morning. Was glad to be back in my own bed, especially since I was feeling all sick.

Felt well enough to head down to the video store at Kovan. Apparently the changed location and downgraded in size.They moved from one block to another one nearby. But because of the downsizing, they carried lesser titles and I was less than happy about this.

On a whim, I decided to head back into Heartland Mall and ended up buying 3 DVDs for $49.90. I don't usually do that.But I did, had a bit of extra cash that was not part of my usual allowance so I guess spending that large wasn't so bad.

I bought Chicago, The Producers & of course Romeo & Juliet. 2 musicals and one with rather complex dialogue. So, it wasn't your run-of-the-mill summer blockbusters.

I've been spending the whole day in misery and a general lack of health. I dread tomorrow as I will be waking up early again for MIC at Bishan, leaving halfway around lunchtime for Dramatec at the Esplanade, picking up my free passes for Semi Pro (starring Will Ferrell) and possibly back to Bishan to pick up my laptop (if they were still not done with it when I left for Dramatec earlier)

I'm not moaning about it or anything but I just wish I didn't have to face all this while I was still sick.I wish I could just stay at home and do nothing.

That said, I am well aware that some of the MIC advisors and project managers put in more effort than me, particularly one of my fellow advisors, who's usually MIC and nothing else.

And I have dear friends who are busy with their own productions and camps and all that and a whole crapful of other things so at the end of the day, I guess we're all in the same boat.

I'm feeling so unaware and uncoordinated right now. I guess I'd best be off to rest and recuperate.

~ Doth that poor fellow be so poor in sense that he knows not how to treasure one like thee ? One who has given thine love so freely, love that is guarded so jealously and dearly that others with good heart may not even get a sniff of thine prized affection? ~

Did Shakespeare come up with that? No, alas, it is a cheap attempt at imitating the master, it is my attempt.

Good night and here's hoping I ( and all those dear friends unwell at this moment) will feel better tomorrow.

Teach Me How I Should Forget To Think

It feels slightly surreal, even awkward at times to be coming back for MIC Studio, having not being back for a while.

It is presently the calm before the storm. We are bracing ourselves for when the chaotic gale winds hit, possibly crushing the stability we worked for all this while to smithereens.

As for the work in progress for the April Orientation '08 project, I am slightly unsure about where I stand. I don't think I'm contributing enough in the area that is supposedly my forte or strong point.

I know I'm more of an advisor now and not a current member but I still feel I don't lead as much as I should when it comes to scriptwriting. Or maybe I should just realize that I should be okay that I'm not doing the bulk of the work, realize that the current project managers should be doing that instead.

Things are going good so far but like I said, the shit could hit the fan later. We're all caught up in musical fever and I cannot, for fuck's sake, get the song "You Can't Stop The Beat" from Hairspray out of my frickin' head. It is bugging the hell out of me.

I have an urge to go watch Chicago: The Musical. The star-studded one, with Catherine Zeta-Jones, Renee Zellweger and Richard Gere.

But actually, that's not the movie I really wanna watch. It's actually this one.

I love the artistry in capturing this emotion

Baz Luhrmann's Romeo + Juliet

I know that Baz Luhrmann's Moulin Rouge is more probably more popular but I don't care. I think that this is much more tragic. Besides, how can one go wrong with The Bard, Shakespeare?

I really love the fact that Shakespeare's dialogue has been transposed onto modern-day Verona city but still has been kept intact.

I already watched a online copy but I still want to watch the DVD so I can really catch everything being said whilst trying to understand the context.I did so a couple of years ago and now I wanna do it again.

I am now more interested in the fact that Romeo loved a niece of Capulet, Rosaline before he ran into Juliet.

I think it does mirror my situation and feelings somewhat.I don't mean to come off sounding like a drama king but I just think it does portray my take on an issue accurately.

Oh, I've been dying to eat a good steak for a while now. Nothing premium-priced. Just something decent at a decent restaurant will do.

Just to make a point, I have to say that I really like that first picture in this post.

"One fairer than Rosaline? The all-seeing sun never saw her match since first the world begun."

~Romeo Montague; Act 1 Scene 2; William Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet~

The Self Takes A Back Seat

Been too lazy to update.

Highlights of the week include an easy night out with old friends.

The jokes, the banter. It was most definitely much missed. Even if is was just for a short while.

I want to do it again but I know that I'll probably have to wait a long while.

Also started back on the Mic Studio trail. Due to negative external circumstances outside of Mic, this might very well be the last student advisors' project.It depends on future events happening but they do look likely to happen. At this point we're just waiting for the moment to arrive.

There are a few internal matters that we need to watch out for, that we need to deal with from a managerial point of view. But those are internal issues and should remain as such and should not be discussed on a public platform like my blog.

The Jabbawockeez are killin' it every week so far on America's Best Dance Crew and I hope the win in next week's finale.

Hoping to get a compilation video at the end of it all.

Last week also saw a (proverbial) dagger struck in my heart. After the initial stab, a 'hand' took the hilt of the dagger and dragged it diagonally across my body. It didn't happen. But it sure felt that way.

As a result of that, maybe I saw the light.

I need to be less selfish. Sometimes, my happiness doesn't matter. It doesn't matter when the happiness of those very dear to you are at stake and their happiness is all that matters.

I know that God is a benevolent being that does not hate or harm. But He does make life a struggle and it should be no different for me. Plus, I personally feel that I don't deserve the treatment of the blessed since I'm hardly able to call myself pious. A fact that haunts me and quite frankly, a fact I'd like to change for my own benefit.

But today was the figurative equivalent of being kicked in the gonads (balls, testicles) while the abovementioned dagger was still in my body.

Again, it didn't happen. But it sure felt that way.

But, I must remember to be less selfish. It doesn't matter that I'm down. Sometimes, what matters is not my own heart but the fact that others are well-taken care of.

So, when you look now, all you'll see is a smile on my face.And I mean it with the truest and most honest strain of sincerity.

Why?

Again, it's because I think I need to be less selfish. I don't matter. You do.

Child @ Play

I had been doing well on the money front, getting by without spending too much but then, the ideal conditions took a dive, all within a couple of days.

Now, I have to pratice, limiting myself to spending only on proper days out that are worth it instead of indulging in daily, whimsical purchases.

Actually, come to think of it, isn't that flawed in an topsy-turvy way? Am I not supposed to spend on the daily necessities, like food, and stay away from money-draining adventures? Then, how come I'm doing the opposite?

Staving off the necessary routine just so I can have good times out with friends.

I feel so incredibly shallow and materialistic right now.

Something was up with me yesterday. For some reason, I felt compelled to tune into the Disney Channel. Perhaps, I needed an escape into the simplistic, bright world we all once had as kids once upon a long magical time ago. That was before this daft and dark world corrupted us with MTV.

Anyways, I spent most of the afternoon, watching cartoon after cartoon. I did enjoy it, with a childlike ignorance to the fact that it was not fitting of my age.

In the night, it was a real throwback to the old days. It reminded me of times I used to be baby-sat at my cousin's workplace. I'd spend hours roaming round the Warner Bros. store watching the cartoons over and over again.

Bugs Bunny is priceless. I laugh like a kid again when I watch him.

Remember how he has this line where he goes "Ain't I A Stinker?" In the adult world, we would have a harsh insult for him, starting with the letter 'B'. It would be apt, seeing how he screws Elmer Fudd and Yosemite Sam over and over again.

Last night was such that I even watched the cheesiest of the cheesy, High School Musical: The Sing-Along Version. Of course I did not sing-along, it would be infantile to do so.

Just for the sake of being random, if I had to choose from out of all the Disney tween queens, I wouldn't typically choose Vanessa H, I would go for this one instead.



Miss Tisdale.

I don't know why I would choose her. I just would.

It's not a crush, I don't like her that way. I'm just making a choice, as if I'm answering a random question in one of those Facebook quizzes.

Silverscreen Indulgence

Felt woozy earlier on in this serene Saturday afternoon. So I took a nap and now I'm wide awake in the humid wee hours of Sunday.

Friday was a bit of all right, to be honest. I had to wake up earlier at 9 but the eyes refused to shut once they opened at 830 so I had to deal with the now unfamiliar feeling of being up while the sun was still in the east.

Caught Step Up 2 with Wahida. Close friends know I've been moaning about this show since I saw the trailer late last year. So it was nice to finally catch it and put and end to all the hype.I was proud to say that I managed to resist all temptations to watch an online copy. Except for one moment of weakness where I watched the 1st 5 minutes of the movie before forcing myself to close the window.

It was great. The moves were slick, mad, crazy and just plain sick. The supporting cast made the show quirky and nice. The chemistry between the two leads wasn't as great as in the first movie.It's no fault of the actors. I think it was a plot flaw. But having said that, while Rob Hoffman is a decent guy, Channing Tatum just exudes incomparable charisma. The dance was better than in the first movie. But that was expected, given that that this was totally more street while the first one was tainted with a more classical aspect; which was almost completely ignored or even made fun of in this 2nd movie.

Since this movie was all street, I thought it would have been crazier had Channing Tatum been in the 2nd movie instead of the first one. About 10 minutes of screentime, 3 of which was dance, showed his influence. He totally killed his dance routine and I shudder in excitement trying to imagine how it would have been liked if he had, for example, teamed up with the 2 leads in a surprise plot twist, or even the lead role instead of Rob. The latter still did a decent job though.

That trio together would have been a sight to behold.

Oh and Briana Evigan is way, WAY cuter than Jenna Dewan. Yeah, she may have a slight tummy and not have washboard abs but that just means she looks more like a real girl, instead of a generic Hollywood girl. As for Jenna vs Briana, it's just a matter of personal taste, innit?

I reached home later and chatted with Shuoke about the movie on MSN. All it did was make me want to go watch the movie again. I wouldn't mind paying again.I especially want to see how Channing ended his dance routine again, it was just mad creative.

Right after the movie we were supposed to have a MIC meeting but that was canned so I went to meet with the mates, with the intention of just staying for a while.

But one thing let to another and believe it or not, I was on course to watch Step Up 2 twice in a day! This time, with the mates. And that would have happened, had we found out that the timings weren't suitable.

So I ended up watching Leap Years. It was slow-paced and I found it hard to believe and feel the emotion portrayed in the movie. I usually leave my skepticism at the door but this time it was with me as I watched the movie. I did enjoy it in parts but unfortunately I failed to see what the hype was all about. Maybe it was the accented English and or the story flow but I just didn't feel it.

Now, don't accuse me for being having an unfeeling ego. I was more than affected whilst watching A Walk To Remember and numerous times after.

I would have gladly paid to watch Step Up 2 again instead of Leap Years.

Dad was having dinner with the family and I met them to get a ride home.It was a long, tiring day and I was glad to get home.

I'm dead serious when I say I want to watch Step Up 2 again.

Oh, the Jabbawockeez had a minor role in the movie. They're the group that's tearing up the MTV show, 'America's Best Dance Crew'. Videos are hard to come by. Viacom, who owns MTV, gets them removed from Youtube within a week of being posted. So you have to be fast to see them.

Don't know what to do tomorrow. Been saving a bit of cash, so hopefully I don't spend too much tomorrow and keep the frugality going. Spent a bit more than I would have liked so I'm looking to save a bit. But if the plans are decent, I will probably be up for whatever that comes.

P/S It's 5am and I am nowhere near feeling sleepy. I must be mad, listening and even lip-syncing to Donna Summer, Richard Marx, Meatloaf and other soppy-centered artistes.Oh good, I've just starting sneezing. I hope it goes on long enough for me to have an excuse to take a flu pill and fall asleep faster.

Surprised & Unorganized

It struck again.

The anonymous and seemingly innocuous SMS. Received when the phone was switched back on after it was 'off' charging.

My initial reaction upon seeing a very unfamiliar number was a quizzical one along the lines of "Who the feck is this?"

That first clueless wonderment was quickly followed by an audible gasp as I realized the cold truth in the message. There it was, looking ever so casual like any other SMS sent by a mate, were my exam results.

Having been surprised the previous semester, I should have been prepared this time round but I wasn't. They had sent the results a day earlier than I had expected.

Flat Bs all round rounded off by a miserly D+. I had expected the latter but it was disappointing to not see any As or B-plusses present.The GPA dropped.I was bitching about it to myself the whole day but after talking to a friend, I decided that I should practice what I preach. Suck it up and deal with it, look on the damn bright side.

Right after, I cleaned up my room and it is now devoid of school-related clutter and I also rather beamingly declare it the neatest it can possibly get under my watch. Guess I better enjoy it while it lasts.

The chances of conditions remaining the same during the next semester are about as great as me finding a girlfriend within the next 5 months. Gee, now I don't know which one to be more depressed about.

No actually, just kidding. Well, at least I think so. Hmmm...

Watch the trailer of 'The Forbidden Kingdom' yet? Jackie Chan & Jet Li in the same movie? I'm sure I can't be faulted for expecting a great gongfu movie when I go to see it.

I've had this more than decent story plot running round in my head for days and I was rather frustrated that when I went to type it out, I found that I'm trying to shove in too many plot points, making it a convoluted mess.

So tomorrow, I hope to meet up with an equally creative mate, to see if he might be able to help me sort this all out.

I know some people may wonder why I talk so much about writing a story like it's a big deal.

To be honest, it's a bit of an ego trip. Writing allows me to tell stories that would sound weird coming from me straight. Some of it is inspired by real-life feelings and musings I've had and some are made up. Which is which? That's for others to figure out.

One thing for sure, whatever I come up with, is related somehow to what I see, hear and do or have done upon me.

Some people have songs, others poems, perhaps blogs and diaries. Writing a story is just another way of doing all that.Well, I've got to write the damn story first.

Speaking of stories, way proud of someone who got appointed to lead recently. I not only believe she's going to do it well, she's going to do so well she's going be kicking ass and taking names. Figuratively, of course.

Now, why can't I do anything like that?

Oh, I am not jealous. Far from it. In fact, I'm feeling quite chuffed for someone who throughly deserves it. She hasn't been getting the breaks despite putting in loads of effort. This added responsibility also gives her a chance to be recognized for those efforts. Again, I'm very proud of her, even though I don't really have a right to be.

As for myself, I'm just doing a little introspection, asking myself why is it that I am not reaching those heights that I know I want to reach?

Why is it that I now find myself stranded in a sea of own mediocrity and stink of the average?

That's fine for others maybe, and that's their prerogative. But I've been average all my life and I think a change for the better is long overdue.

Maybe I see writing these stories as my best shot at breaking from the pack and standing out.

I'm not doing it for anybody's approval or to gain infamy, though it would be nice to bring a smile to those who give a damn about me, with news of my success; in whatever form that may be.I'm doing it so that I can tell myself that I did do it. Even if I didn't make the cut, I could live with myself knowing I gave my best shot.

I've got 2 story-plots with me now. I know that in them, I can mould a great story out of each of them.

With too much time spent daydreaming and an overactive imagination, I've got to have at least one decent story in there.

And I'll end off with these NEW videos of 2 groups from America's Best Dance Crew. There are other groups but these 2 are my favourite and also people's favourites to make it to the final two. Go check out the other groups if you want, on Youtube.

It's a tribute week to Michael Jackson's 25th Anniversary of the release of the legendary album Thriller.

Jabbawockeez #5



Kaba Modern #5

Can't Be Still, As I Tap My Feet To The Funkadelic Beat

The seas have calmed somewhat after tumultuous times.

Been busy with lots of things, distracting myself with various activities.

Continued where I left off with a trip down to the Esplanade on Sunday. Went to catch The Great Spy Experiment, part of the programme for the Mosaic Music Festival.

Got there about slightly more than half and hour before the start of the performance, managed to get good standing spots

It was an acoustic performance, a first for the band and they pulled it off commendably, even though it was slightly weird to hear 'Dance With Me' mellowed out; it's usually a song played with an infectious energy. But 'The Great Decay' and 'Siti In The City' were played just right.

It was then off for supper somewhere near my home before a chilled out late night slack session with a mate, filled with insightful and meaningful conversations.

Today, along with a couple of mates, applied at Borders for a part-time position. Not really expecting a callback from their HR Department though.Even though I was told that they had vacancies.

After lunch, we went to Cathay Orchard and we spent a good part of 20mins just standing in front of the box office, trying to agree on what movie to watch. Finally, settled on August Rush (something I favoured, a gamble for the rest) but I knew they would like it and they did.

Oh, as a side note, Step Up 2 was initially listed as sold out but as we were about to purchase the tickets, we saw that it had been downgraded to 'selling fast'. However, my mates decided against inquiring as they probably wouldn't have enough seats to seat us all together.All the better for me since I'd already made a promise to watch this movie with another friend a long time ago.

As for August Rush, it's a nice movie. It has a fairytale element in it, in the sense that 'the world is full of magical coincidences' but if you'll enjoy the movie very, very much if you leave your sense of pessimism at the door.It is even touching and dare I say, 'magical' in parts. It helps you reaffirm your belief that there are good things worth believing in this world.

An underrated gem (especially if you're feeling down) 8/10

Before the movie started, we had a stab at playing Fifa '08 on the XBOX 360, a first for us. Perhaps we were only half-playing as most of the time, we were trying desperately to figure out and get used to the controls while playing.

For the trip home, we managed to get by on sheer dumb luck and catching the right buses at the right time, at a time where doing so any later would mean, a expensive taxicab ride home or a long trudge to the right bus stop and probably an even longer wait for the Night Rider bus service.

So that was the end of a long and interesting day, which had followed a day of similar qualities. Hopefully more to come.

It's been nice. My only grouse is that I can't do it with more of my friends. I have a couple of them with whom I haven't had a good, fun day in a long while. It's been long overdue.I hope I can get them this vacation period and have a good time out, laugh over silly jokes and maybe even moan about serious bothersome issues. A good friend is one that you can act stupid with and also be a listening ear for you when you need it.

And there are a few out there that I miss.

As for those that I've already met, most definitely no harm in meeting them again.

On a last and personal note,

'I know I'm meant for bigger things and I believe that there is so much more to aim for.Much more than others may realize, others who only live in the now and fail to see the promise of the future. I know that I can be much more than what I am now.

I can see it in the words of the many songs that I hear. They all tell me that there is a part of the world out there. Having you in that part would make it rather nice a complete. We're all small parts and there is that one small part that fits with mine, and, I hope it's yours.'

A thought that I've mulled over and tried to put in words, I don't expect many to understand, save a select few, for it is quite vague and generally sentimental rubbish.

Lights Are Off Today

Nothing spectacular to post about.

Rekindled conversations with old connections in the dead of the night in the middle of town, with hope of more to come in the following days.

Was almost taken in by the devils of temptation to purchase Justin Timberlake's Live In Concert DVD. Proud that I did not falter and give in to that sinful purchase.

It would have damaged my finances, not a good thing, with it being only a week into the holidays.Much more cravings to resist before month's end.

After the slight activity of yesterday, I'm content to not do much today, expect maybe to work on my script.

Not a peachy thing. In fact, I hate how it's turning out. Far too plain and uninteresting. For some reason, I'm pressing on with the story; maybe as it is still in its infancy and I just want a draft out on paper at least. Having something real to hold in my hands might just give me reassurance that I am getting somewhere with this endeavor.

Just how I'm going to continue today I don't know. I'm already struggling to complete this blog post and that doesn't bode well for me that I'm planning to continue the long-ass story I'm far from completing.

This sullen weather of grey clouds and cold winds is like a damn sleeping pill.

And it doesn't help that my body clock still thinks that the school term is still going on and insists on waking me up around 8-plus a.m.That would be alright, if it wasn't for the fact that the earliest I go to bed these days is at the ungodly hour of 4am.

If my body clock doesn't get me, drone of a heavy vehicle or the shrill screams of the pneumatic drill from the ongoing construction work (estate upgrading!) will be a sure back up to see that I get up bright and early, just like normal people.

Un-fecking-believable...

My nose has been leaking worse than a wet piece of Swiss cheese today.

Leaky nose+cold weather+lack of sleep...

I just want to curl up into bed again, por favor?

On an unrelated note, I'm not sure where I stand with you, but at least I feel better after receiving some advice yesterday.

I'll end with a few 'sick' videos from America's Best Dance Crew'. I can't force you to watch but you'll definitely enjoy if you do.

Kaba Modern #4



Jabbawockeez #3 (This ending is crazy shyte!!)



Status Quo #3 & Iconic #3 (Status Quo kicks Iconic's ass, but Iconic was at least decent)

Of My Own Making

In the movie 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind', you could have a procedure to have a part of your memory erased. Things you want to forget because they caused you grief, unhappiness and regret.

I wish I could undergo that procedure now.

There's a saying that proclaims that ignorance is bliss. If I can't remember the regret, how can I feel regretful?

There are certain people that you wish you'd never met.

I should have been careful what I wished for? I might have ended up biting up more than I can chew.

Damn, I'm churning out one cliched quote after another.

The goddamn screwed up thing is, the fault lies with no one else but me. The cause of my plight is completely blameless.

"Such a fuckup", says the guy staring back at me in the mirror.