Appletastic

So today had me fishing about in the thrash bag/can twice for entirely different reasons I’m beginning to wonder if I’ve an infinity with it. Who the hell rummages in the thrash! -.-

My payment via ATM to a certain online service provider hadn’t been exactly recorded under my name and hence the outstanding, as they claim, amount of $100+. I gingerly poked around in the bag and quickly gave up on the two discarded receipts; it could be explained away, anyway. The second instance had to do with a piece of A4-sized paper scribbled on by my dad with apparently very important work-related details, which he had accidentally shredded – thank God, into quarters not bits – with others the computer table can gladly do without. So I emptied the recent contents of the thrash (oh gross, peppered with used tissue; it was in my grandma’s room after all) and meticulously went through the torn contents, laying them out on the floor until I found what my dad had described in the sms. As I fixed and taped the said pieces together, I thought, this is so turning into a scene you find only in dramas. The next time I’m going to think thrice before dropping things into the bin, really.

By the way, I’m sporting a new hair colour – guess?

A new project in the works: Miracle Moments newsletter, in fact a 32pg A5 booklet, for church; design and general template carried forward from the previous inaugural issue I designed at the end of last year. When, after the Chinese translations have come in and after a round or two of proofreading, this is complete, I’m all set to working on CJ’s wedding card (long overdue! I’m sorry) and have it produced by this month.

Perhaps I should kick myself in the head for making the most unwise decision of this year (oh come on, it’s only February? omg) for agreeing to meet up with the panel of executives in the coming weeks to have them review my portfolio as well as for me to learn about the public installation project. By unwise I mean mindlessly jumping at the opportunity without noticing that you are certainly overestimating your own abilities. What’s installation??

Anyhow, I’m prepared to present myself as a nervous wreck, but first not without some proper reading and research on that certain label that would most definitely put me in the worst possible light if I have zero knowledge of which. It’s the least one can do right?

Now I don’t even understand why I’m crashing headlong into this. *groans*

First of all, for the birthday wishes on msn, facebook and via sms, here’s the THANK YOU namelist:

Erfa, Atikah, Weijie, Adeline, Tiffany, Yiliang, Max, Sheena, Yingle, Ps Raymond & Sis Lily, Ps Wilson, Ron, Abigail, Ray, Hongbei, Eugene, Kar Kin, Jonathan, Raymond, CJ, Sharon, Bochun, Hazimah, Najib, Amanda, Alvin, Tommy, Carmen, Yanjie, Amanda Lee, Ruth, Sherrilynn, Gifford, Faith, Jolene Fu, Siitee, Tse Yun, Jonny, Samantha, Crys, Shane, Amelia, Atika, Mattea, Lijia, Shermaine, Tan Chun <3

Meetup with the PL Clique: 27 Jan | 313@Somerset, Ion

A belated/early birthday meetup for Sara and I with Claudyne, Cathleen and Mindy. To think the last time we actually had a gathering like this was almost exactly a year ago?! Everyone’s changed – drastic or not – within the span of 12 months; and that short but sweet outing had made me realise how comfortable we could be around one another still. Counting the years of friendship – 8 to be exact? – even when we don’t meet that often, in the end there’s always something that clicks. Thank you guys for the great afternoon, the lovely messsages on the birthday card as well as the sketchbook. <3

Birthday Surprise: 29 Jan, home

Grace, Hajar, Charissa, Nural, Justin Tan, Azmi, Joshua, Daniel, Justin Lee — GAWD one moment I panicked because Azmi’s car has arrived to drive us for supper but I wasn’t done with make up, then I had to open the door for Grace (because she absolutely needed the washroom, uh), the next moment had me thinking that some freaky neighbours were lurking at the lift lobby, THEN A FULL FLEDGED ATTACK, at 2400!!! OMG it took half a second to snap back to reality :O and gawk at the birthday cake and heart-shaped balloon and the horde of ‘Bintan’ people trooping into the living room. That was followed by the real supper at simpang Bedok lol.

It’s….. the best birthday surprise ever, and I suspect nothing in the near future will surpass that. Aww XD

High tea: 30 Jan | The Rose Veranda @ Shangri-La Hotel, CQ Brewerks

I was late because it rained and there had been a jam at Chinatown where I collected the cupcakes. Speaking of which, Onicupcakes, was a disappointment; out of 3 flavours only the nutella one tasted good, while I had been misled to think the cupcakes were actually quite pretty on their website? One paltry blob of cream on a flat cupcake with a plain looking holder and that’s all? Hajar can do way better. Simply put: I will pay Hajar 70 freaking dollars for not just 15, but many more pretty cupcakes the next time.

On the other hand, we had a whale of a time (literally stuffing food in our faces, more like) having high tea at The Rose Veranda *which I misspelled as Verdana, oh designer blues* with the same people: Grace, Hajar, Charissa, Nural, Justin Tan, Azmi, Joshua, Daniel, minus Justin Lee plus Mayfen. Nural and I sneaked up on the rest at the hotel entrance because they hadn’t seen us ^^ And I received balloons again – this time in a bunch; huge and pink and red and imprinted with hearts – exactly matching my dress <3 THANK YOU LOVELIES <3 The restaurant had a real pleasant ambience and an awesome spread not including the more awesome dessert bar.

Afterwards, we managed through the evening traffic and headed to Clark Quay, sat at Brewerks and were treated to a visual feast of GORGEOUS FIREWORKS!!! Stunning *___* I knowwwwwww you guys totally planned that too.. XD

Meetup with the cousins: 31 Jan | PS Hot Tomato, lift lobby *lol*

Our gatherings have never been full of over-the-top parties, expensive meals or remotely materialistic, yet my younger cousins garner the most respect and awe from me, because they are the ones who understand what quality time is. We relished and reminised fondly our past as well as discussed about our futures over dinner and dessert. Besides the familiar topics, there’s always something more profound in their conversations and meaningful purposes I find attached to their thoughts. They share, they teach, and I gladly learn. One of the simpler discussions during that night was, “Have you found your goal in life?”, to which I didn’t have a concrete answer. The time for change will come, surely.

But what I wanted to be thankful for was the company and the knowledge that these awesome people have grown up to be positive influences. And that they’ve been in my life for about as long as the 21 years I’ve lived. <3 HEARTS TO YOU ALL <3

( So, what about the Yama Hentai Bar? )

If you serve me what you claim as ramen that comes in a mess of yellow frozen supermarket bought noodles tasting a bit too much like msg dunked in a crappy soup base, –

I AM GOING TO HATE AND BOYCOTT YOUR RESTAURANT RAMEN DISHES FOREVER.

Rummaging through wads of old artwork (I’d like to imagine them as tangible ones on paper, rather than digital) in my harddisk, a painting stood out and it occurred to me that I never finished what I intended to. Acrylic on canvas. The carefully painted image of Leslie as Ho Po-wing still comes on strong; incomplete, yet I’m satisfied with it in another way. And then there’s the blog entry written in 2006; I’m 4 years late.

I can’t see me lovin’ nobody but you
For all my life
When you’re with me, baby the skies’ll be blue
For all my life

So happy together.

being jobless and unproductively stagnant, doing absolutely nothing, is bliss; and i’m alarmed that i’m actually not alarmed at the realisation of myself having already sunken into it.

Clearly I’ve never known of the hassle that comes attached with the beautiful picture depicted by “WINTER” until I started shopping for appropriate clothes, and then deciding what exactly to wear is altogether a different issue. Due to my non-existent fashion sense, I painstakingly mixed and matched them, noting down so I would be at least a mile away from becoming a walking fashion disaster on the streets of ZOMG Japan.

First of the many firsts of this year (oh, did I mention we are ALL freaking celebrating our twenty firsts?): a holiday trip with the family to Nagoya and Osaka during winter from Jan 15-22. Is this too awesome or what??

I know it’s been long overdue – one year, spell y.e.a.r – the concert report for the finale of AAA 08 in Shanghai, but heck! Without finishing it, I’ll owe myself another one *with a kazillion and satozillion moments worth spazzing about*, that is Arashi’s 5×10 Anniversary concert in Nagoya Dome~~~~~~!!! Finale show :D This is so thrilling – the mental image of meeting them upfront again in Jappoland – that I might just pass out from an Arashi overdose at the concert XD

So far things are looking good; I’ve recovered from my bout of illnesses and more than ready to embrace the chilly winds (and snow? pretty please??); my packing is almost done and I’m only missing several items like a new wallet and a light coloured scarf; I got new brown coloured contacts today when I went to have my eyes checked, etc. Yet the itinerary is still undone. Omg.

Hello!Japan in about 24 hours :)

Saigo no Yakusoku『最後の約束』was so mindblowing that I think I just lost my brain. It’s in a gooey splatter all over the floor right now, after imploding and then exploding in a megatonne worth of Arashi fireworks; incoherence ensues. *keysmashes until my fingers cramp; which thereafter shall be continued with the forehead.*

(Kicks and sends you flying there while the vids are still up)

The one thing I need right now is – dammit, to stop being sick; I’ve been having slight fever, bad cough and an epic SAW throat for more than a week now, so much so I feel lethargic all the time and had to stay home. What a terrible way to start the year with. Regardless, nothing’s going to hold back the excitement, because January is going to be such a fabulous month ;)
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2010 doesn’t feel any different.. It just isn’t, I’m sure, for they are only mere digits; the initial significance of which wears out as quickly as the pages of the calendar flip. This is probably going to be the year I can forget you — oh, uh, I’m already having trouble remembering. Freedom-seeker, I’m just like you, but different in all other aspects. And if our paths ever cross again in future, I might then begin recalling those things once again. Cheers to finding directions in life.
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Life’s great, live good ;)