Comrades, Almost a Love Story! ~ A tribute to friendship

Dearest XY and Minty

Oh, I hate to sound mushy. But do both of you realise that we've been friends for more years than we were not? And things have grown so comfortable with you two around.

You've seen me through lean and thick, literally. You've put up with my raucousness in the bus, at the bus-stops and everywhere in school. You've survived the unintentional embarassment I put you through. You've seen my best and worst. You've heard my secrets and the many times I repeat them. You've felt my fear, excitement, uncertainties and triumphs. You've been at almost, if not all of my important moments. And I do wish, I've been as good a friend as you would have wanted me to be.

This year marks our 14 years of friendship, and a significant anniversary I must say as it overtakes the length of time that we haven't been friends.

Here's to many more years to come.
For better or worse.
For richer or poorer.
For single or married.

Yum Seng!

Yours Lovingly
Pi

I Look Like 九孔?!!!

Please hor XY, HM and Geok! I may have a 明星 face...but but... this resemblance is ultimate lor!

The Return

The "career review syndrome" strikes again! Sometimes I'm not too sure if I'm sure I know what I want to do, wish to achieve and where to head. I mean I'm not exactly clueless, but am I doing my best? Is there a part of me wishing for something else? Am I maxing my potential? Argh....! This doubt occurs once every 1 or 2 years, when life's routine get wearying, when I start counting gains and losses.

Ok, despite feeling a little jittery, I'm quite ready to take myself on another self-discovery ride. May enlightenment arrive soon.

Me and my Supernatural Talent 

This (Un)Creative Business

Quick, get me out of this recurring situation of irksome clients who kept stealing the joy of the creative business from me. Blame it on poor luck, maybe it's us, or maybe the big break has yet to come, but truth be told - I'm tired of all these nonsense. Let's see how irritating the top 3 on my dart board can get:

1) The I MUST SEE IMMEDIATE RETURNS Businessman - Behind the guise of an earnest attitude to embrace the new economy talk of branding and creative advertising is an incorrigible approach that believes in putting up haphazardly planned (IS THERE A PLAN AT ALL ANYWAY?) marketing strategies. Ads SCREAM "SALES", "AMAZING RESULTS" and all that ra-ra ALL the time! Ad bookings are done as and when he feels like it. Product taglines change every other day. Better yet, decisions are always done the very LAST minute thinking that all will fall into place as long as he pays...yet for an issue as small as doing a tiny signage, he takes days and a boardroom of brains to deliberate.

2) The I THINK EVERYTHING IS EASY Idiot who thought her middle name is Smart - This woman smutters comments that apparently didn't go through the big brains. She could be saying your idea is good one moment, and trash it the next cos she DOESN'T HAVE A MIND OF HER OWN - it's swayed by where the wind from her boss blows. More insultingly, she could raise some examples of works and thought they could be done like, in a snap. Hallo, what ignorance! It's sad how people who haven't learnt, experienced or seen enough could be calling the shots, determining the value of our works. Big companies won't be paying hundreds of thousand if getting a cow to dance can be done in a blink darling. Your peanuts budget is only enough to pay off my illustrator to draw a nice monkey on surfboard.

3) The CHUP CHUP...WAIT LET ME THINK Old Bird - Having been in the business for some time now, this mad hag is eager to drive others into her realm of nuttiness. NEVER commital until the very very last minute, she takes us through the whirlwind of a vomit-inducing roller coaster ride until the ULTIMATE deadline is declared. Again, thinking (and showing) she's some smart ass, no ideas are ever that good, except hers of course. We've come to a point of not having to propose much but just to hear what she has to say and agree. Yes, that's all we need to do to earn compliments like "Great job!" from her. Nice, isn't it?

Of course, I can give incessant recounts of hellish jobs that are akin to slow-release toxic, waiting to creep to my once fresh mind and turn it all mouldy. What to do? BEAR WITH IT.... better things await once I scrape enough profits from whom my enthusiasm was plundered.

My Meme!

MeMe reminds me of MiMi, the infamous masscommie who eagarly waved her hands to offer her answers to lecturers' questions (and so it was told as the story got passed down...). Now that I'm tagged twice, I shall present my very own MEME!

And what is it like to be tagged?
List three random facts about yourself that your friends might not know, and then tag five other friends to do it.

1) I'm tough on the outside and a real softie inside! I cry at movies, songs and a lot of other subtly poignant moments. But no, I don't cry watching ra-ra superdrama tragedy ala the style of Taiwanese Qiong Yao.

2) I used to live at 6 Eng Hoon Street, Singapore 0316. It's a shophouse, very laupok, filled with pests like rats and snakes but also full of adventures. I promise minty and xy that I'll try my very very best to curb the urge of pointing out my old house whenever we pass by again.

3) I've got a birthmark on my left hip. If you are a guy (of marriageable age, say between 24 and 32) with a birthmark on your right hip, we might be destined for each other ;D

I don't think I have 5 friends to tag (awwwww.......so few friends). But I shall name:
1) XY
2) JO
3) Shazz
4) my bro, if he blogs, that is
5) San

Blowing Out 27 Candles

May I have another fulfilling year with
happiness to spread,
friends to share,
less problems to worry,
beauty to show,
business to manage,
bonus to keep,
new skills to boast,
ideas to create,
nice place to work,
money to travel,
concerts to watch,
figure to impress,
great food to eat,
pretty clothes to wear,
time to relax,
license to drive,
good health to live,
funds to assist,
wisdom to outwit,
luck to win,
jokes to entertain,
more friends to make,
hope to inspire,
guts to try,
no one to hate,
someone to like and
love sparks to thrill.

Taiwan Not Enough

Taiwan again? As Minty claims, she could tour the island for 3 months and why not? There's so much to do, see, feel, learn and experience (anytime more than Hong Kong I'm sure!). Singaporeans' recent interest in travelling there is long overdue! I must say Taiwan's sure one underrated place on our "MUST VISIT" countries list.

Ooh...I'm so excited *_* !!!! Got down to planning and thinking through my itinerary even though my trip's 1.5 month away. Anyway, will get real busy from this week at work so better have a good idea of where I'm heading so that I can tuck this to the back of my mind till nearer the day.

And the forum regulars @ tripadvisor.com have been a SUPERB bunch! Not only do they provide tips, some even bothered doing research on info to help answer clueless travellers' queries. I feel soooo welcomed even before setting foot :D

Ok, in the spirit of sharing, I'm posting my itinerary summary for all those interested in referring. Sorry, the detailed itinerary and travelling details later, till I firm up plans towards early Oct. Feel free to post questions, I'll try to help answer if I FEEL LIKE IT. HA! To get replies quick, you know where to go. (Where? Where???) Read my blog again! DUH!

PAPICO's ITINERARY SUMMARY (7 Days / 6 Nites)

Day 1
- Arrival @ ~5.30pm
- Transfer to hotel
- Hit Ximending

Day 2
- Pray for safety @ Longshansi
- Go get train tix to Hualien
- Taipei 101
- Zhongxiao area / Dihua St
- Raohe Night Market
- Wufenpu Wholesale Centre

Day 3
- Set off for Hualien
- Taroko Gorge

Day 4
- Farm / Marble quarry
- City tour in Hualien
- Depart Hualien in evening
- Gongguan Night Market in Taipei

Day 5
- Northeastern coast / Yeliu / Jinguashi / Jiufen / Keelung tour

Day 6
- Yangmingshan
- Danshui / Bali / Fisherman’s Wharf
- Shilin Night Market

Day 7
- Ximending
- Depart for Singapore in evening

This Morning

The cooling breeze
The overcasted sky
The doleful tune
The quiet bus-stop
And a pensive me

Project Superstar Derrick Hoh

Support for Derrick must not slacken. Especially now that we are down to the final 3. If you haven't heard how well he sing, just visit: www.hohweijian.info.

By the way, mediacorp hasn't responded at all to my tix requests (it's been over a month ok!) My self-addressed envelopes with stamps gone to waste... Maybe they're giving me tix to see Derrick @ the finals @ Indoor Stadium. Oh yea! Largi better!

By the way, Happy National Day!

Korean Cutie Kim Rae Won...

I'm done for again this time. It's all XY's fault, for lending me Attic Cat and had me hooked on Kim Rae Won! Argh....!!! And knowling me, I'll be at it for at least a few days - out-of-sorts, disoriented and as if out of love. Help!

I don't care, I'm going to get my own set of Attic Cat to keep and maybe 'My Love Patzzi' too. I think the general audience would prefer the latter though I swing towards the former. Attic Cat can be a little draggy but Kim Rae Won's acting is great and the cheeky smile's mesmerising. What's more, the very average-looking lead actress makes the serial more realistically convincing.

Now I really love the fact that I work in an attic. But where's the hunk?

The Tell-Tale Signs of Age

Lines and crinkles aside. As it dawns upon me that the wilful 18-year-old days were long gone, and that I'm 26 going 27 in no time - I also realise the significance of what age has done to me.

First, the tastebud changes. What was once queer and beyond my belief that it was befitting for consumption is now norm and, erm, I hate to admit, quite tasteful. It started with accompaniment of sliced red chilli with noodles, zi char and porridge. Then it was brinjal (I simply love it these days) and more recently, over the last 2 years, lady's fingers. Perhaps the next things I might welcome are ginger, coriander and raw cucumber.

And then, subtly and slowly, temperament, personality, preferences and appearance were transformed. While the core self remains recognizable, I can't say I'm still as noisy, as loud and as touchy. The kilos has caught up and the psychological exercise of "THINK SLIM AND YOU'LL BE SLIM" just refused to work. But the red-head acne is gone and overnight, many neighbours started commenting to my mum how pretty her daughter is these days. (Learn the trick - dress lok kok most of the time. The impression impact will come full-force when you dress up on rare occasions!)

People around me start to change too. My mum's less fiery these days but my father is getting 'crazier' each day. It feels like only yesterday when my brother and I had pillow fights, and I must confess I still feel guilty over shouting into his ears when he was 5 and passing him a glass of urine when he was 6! And look at him now - skinny, pimply and with a galfren.

I hate to think my 20s will soon be a decade I can only reminisce, but I sure look forward to a wiser, surer and more stunning me inside out.

Derrick and Harry

It has been a whirlwind week, entwined between 2 boys, Derrick and Harry!

Derrick first. If you haven't known Derrick Hoh (何维健)by now, you might be missing out on Singapore's next Superstar! He just rose from the ashes, having come through a tough REVIVAL ROUND in the competition after being temporarily left behind 2 weeks ago. Derrick caught my attention during the contestants introduction episode on Project Superstar. I like his chipmunky impersonation! Thereafter it was his sincerity and how he made me notice Vann Fan Yi Chen's songs once again. It's great Minty likes him as much, if not more! Oh yes, I forgot, call her Derrice now. And make reference to Derrick as if he's Derrice's *gulp*..... Now, who's crazier?

On Harry*.
DISCLAIMER - The following para contains spoiler which any smart Harry Potter reader would pick up easily. Read at your own risk.

2 years of anticipation, all consumed within 2 days. Damn it! I'm a fast reader. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is an intense read. It creates as many question marks as the mysteries it unravels. Now, I'm disoriented, and could only pray that the miraculous "rise of gandalf" replays in Harry Potter's final instalment.

Finally, I'm glad after all the excitement and buzz over the past week, I'm ending it with a fun JB trip with Minty also known as Derrice, XY and Shazzie. As for the coming week, I'm on my way to real big stuff @ work again!

When I Wish Upon A Star

Some things that could make me very happy...

1) An office / home @ Emerald Hill
2) An Eason Chan concert in Singapore
3) A holiday in Japan
4) Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
5) Renewed ties with my cousins
6) Discovering another nostalgic neighbourhood with XY and Minty
7) Another MayDay concert
8) A road trip down ECP
9) Back to school
10) Another good movie, good song, good book...

Paradox - Chew on It!

We are all the same, thinking that we are different.

头文字D

我在i周刊上读到一则这样的报道"开工第一天,两位导演给所有人一封信.信里写道,他们想拍<头文字D>电影想了3,4年了,现在终于等到这个机会.他们知道在预算方面,甚至拍摄现场,会出现很多问题,如果我们像一家人互相帮助,一定能拍出一部很棒的电影..."

撇开导演如何去实现这项企划不说,我想举动上的真诚就很让人感动;对理想抱着赤子之心,不轻易妥协与所谓现实的主义,相信队友同心所发挥的力量 - 我想这就是我要(延续)的精神.

希望过程是精彩,也希望一路走来不孤单.

History Repeats Itself in America

I have a prophecy. Pretty scary one. It'll rock the dow jones. It'll shock the whole world (once again!). It'll mock at those who takes a serious view on being politically correct.

America will be assailed. This time by a spew of blazing sauce, setting the land on fire, burning the guts of those who tread near. Trouble is, the arsonist's an insider, a home-grown true-blue American, in conspiracy with ahem, some harmless-looking executives from (very embarassingly) my hometown.

God bless America.

Amitabha

The deities heard 1 of my 2 prayers!

No, I must not be too happy. I must not slacken. I must not start counting the chicken before they're hatched.

I must work hard. I must step up. I must stay cool. Because the best is yet to be. Hopefully, just hopefully, when I look in retrospect during the year-end, I could move on with no fear.

Ok, and if I could be a little greedy, I hope the good hands of destiny turn up my luck so sincerely asked for in my 2nd prayer ;p

Mind Your Ps' and Queues

How would you react in the following situations?

1) You've been waiting for a cab at the side of a road; you're in a hurry. Someone who came later cut your path, jumped the queue and started flagging. Would you go up to this person and say you are first?

2) There was a long queue at a foodstall. You've been queueing for quite a while and were nearing your turn. Someone came along and asked you to help buy. There's still along queue behind you. Would you agree to help?

3) You were first in the queue at the bus interchange, waiting for a particular bus. An old woman came along and asked to queue before you. Would you allow?

Bonjour Monsieur Shlomi

"Take the money Sholmi. I put aside 10 shelby for each meal you make, 15 shelby for each bath..." Grandpapa's last line bought the tears. Uncontrolled, because it pricked. Popo told me to keep all her money, and her favourite gem. It was her way of appreciating the very insignificant things I could have done better. And with what she has left me, I know I'll be fine. That I'll be good.