summer in autumn

no i'm not referring to singapore's perennial climate. it's my summer in the month that marks the start of autumn that is also the month when my planet, stars, moon, sun and whatever else in the solar system align!

i'm very grateful that some of the recent misfortunes have been averted somehow, miraculously. tell me, how can I ever lose faith in life when so many signs tell me that i'm being watched over?! like i won't need to pay a cent for the leaking big pipes at home cos HDB said they'll pay, the water heater that refuses to heat up just light up again for reasons beyond me, my dad's hospitalisation doesn't cost me a cent in the end cos medishield can cover it...

And then I wanted to teach part-time and somehow, one assignment after another just came to me. I wanted a MNC job with regional exposure and casual work environment and then the opportunity arrived after I remained adamant in rejecting the 'false starts'. This is as good as it gets. I am grateful and the only thing I can do in return for these is to spread the joy, and contribute where I can.

don't buzz my cellphone asking for my cellphone number

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I Said No to IBF

This is my final decision. When decision on taking the job hinges upon a mere extra $100 on the salary package, I know I won't be too happy even if I got my way. Anyway, they won't up and I won't budge. Not meant to be, don't want to be, so don't let it be.

I feel weight has been lifted off and true to what XY said, perhaps it's because I stick to my guts. Of course there's still the life pocket money issue which is temporarily relieved with my teaching assignments. And if I may see the signs, those assignments come to me fairly easily because the higher beings know I'll need them till the right offer comes along.

No looking back now, 'cept to keep the faith and keep trying.

The Best is Yet to Come

300906. I packed up and left the attic with the help of friends. It doesn't take a rocket scientist nor a super psychic to figure out why I chose the date. (You mean you dunno??!!)

Changing paths is not easy though not a big deal and it's necessary. I'm glad I have the lucidity of mind to do it then despite I'm still not getting anywhere one year on.

Life over the last year is at best enlightening but ironically entrapping. The long vacation didn't bring me a Kimura but it gave me enough time and space to think through what I need to do next to reach where I want to be later. It's great to have dreams; not very nice when the mysterious hands at work are not cooperating. I've to admit I'm running out of patience, sinking into angst and possibly disillusion. Ok, maybe not this bad since knowing myself, it only takes one big positive thing to send me to cloud nine again.

While this cycle of ups and downs is expected to last a lifetime for hot-blooded folks like me, I couldn't say my thoughts better than Mayday's "我". One of my favourites among my many other favourite Mayday numbers that I cried listening to it sometimes. I'm such a sap.

And how could I end this birthday entry without well-wishes? May the folks at home and friends around me be safe and healthy always - your well-being really means a lot to me. May I realise what I want to do, step-by-step and not missing one. May the career option I so desire happen very soon.

Happy 29th.

我 / 词+曲:阿信


还记得　小时候　作文簿上的志愿
那天真　的幻想　如今都到哪裡躲藏?
走出网咖凌晨的三点鐘　飆过天堂世纪帝国直达战慄时空
看不见的世界裡　我是英雄　
然后回到没有目标的活著　在现实中
oh my god, oh my god who am I ? 我的外号是　嘴上乔丹
oh my god, oh my god who am I ? 座右铭是　我混故我在
也曾开心的耶耶耶　也有失落的我我我
蝴蝶飞出了潜水鐘　我却还在原地停留
留不住时间耶耶耶　总是后悔的我我我
我不要一生就这样　到最后一生就这样　这样的我
这样的　勇敢的我　单纯的我　复杂的我　冷的我　热的我
无聊的我　懒惰的我　总是怀疑的我
讲了不听　听了不做　做又做不好的我
买一个梦　五十块钱的梦　期待五百万分之一的奇蹟降落
从此以后　想要什麼　喜欢什麼　就有什麼
但是我的人生还可以　努力　追求　什麼
Have you ever wanna be a spaceman?
Have you ever wanna be a president?
Or you're still a daydreaming maker?
Have you ever wanna be wanna be wanna be wanna be

warring halves

i dunno how many times i need to go through this ritual of deliberating over choices. and choosing is tough when i'm sadly bound by reality. i know instinctively the offer is not right when i have to kill so many braincells thinking through this...

oh the omni-mighty one(s), pls turn on your most powerful headlights and show me a bright path by early next week. it's all that i ask for as the stars and moon align to mark my earthly arrival.

想通了, 就好

Compromise is sometimes a dirty word but life does not revolve around me alone. My dream is still mine and me to fight for so if compromising now means I get to learn the crafts I've been wanting to learn, go the places I've been hoping to go, and provide for the folks I'm obliged to support, it seems not a bad deal.

However, it's not easy coming round to accept a lesser choice, at least for me. The rational mind constantly fights with the idealistic soul. I'm grateful I could still entertain thoughts of trying out for the ideal. The cleaner uncle at Maxwell Food Centre couldn't. He wore baggy pants not to strut fashionista hip-hop style. He tied oversized shoes over his ankles with rubber bands not for experimental anti-slip soles as thought of by my so creative dad.

Thanks for this occasional life's little lesson. It's one of those reminders I need now and then to wake me from unnecessary despair.

My Top 10 Korean Leading Men: #9

Korean Cutie #9:

Lee Dong Wook

Wooed me over in My Girl

Pi's Sizzling Meter:

His Wiki page here.

Wookie is perhaps one of the few guys I wouldn't mind in cardigan. Starting off as a model, his good looks glams up the television screen, especially in the funny comedic hit - My Girl. Even the dowdy looking Father-Mother show on Channel U now gets a bit interesting whenever he appears :D He's been missing in action from the small screen for a while and the recent bad choices with movie scripts are not helping to move his career. I'm looking forward to another hit from this pretty face. Btw, did I say I think he has sexy lips?

My Top 10 Korean Leading Men: #8

Korean Cutie #8:

Rain (Bi)




Bewitched by his smile in Full House

Pi's Sizzling Meter:


His wiki page here.

Rain has the bod that makes bren (and presumably many other gals) drool. Though I'm not obsessed over flesh and flash - you know those naked top stunts that evoke screams and dreams - Rain lack of typical good look is indeed made up for with his build. His killer weapon, in my case, is his smile. That silly grin he often spots in Full House are toothpaste-ads worthy. To top it up, his hardworking attitude completes a great celeb personality.

I still can't fly

I wish I hadn't had hope, only to be crushed
I wish I could scream, instead of just weep
I wish I could run, but my power was drained

driving miss pipi

I've been cursed behind the wheels. It's amazing how I could have flunked driving so many times given that I really drive quite well... haha.... As usual, I believe it's destined and I'm feeling very zen about the entire attempt and decided that I shouldn't use driving to delay my other development plans. So photography and music - here I come!!! The only hurdle to clear now is landing my stable source of revenue and I'll be off to action on my to-do list.

On a side saga pertaining to driving, I'm disappointed that things turned sour with that idiotic, petty, shortie-fatso. I could go on with this demeaning list but as I'm nearing nirvana, I actually feel sympathetic towards this person who looks anytime a potential victim of bursting arteries. Somehow I also feel delivered having made the decision not to see this fatso anymore and this positivity alone offsets any letdown I might have experienced from my unfortunate test outcome in far greater effect than I've thought.

This coming week promises great excitement as I venture upon events and decisions that can be life-changing. GYM, I hope you'll answer my prayers as recited to you during my recent visit. Macau or Taipei - wait for me!!!

I want to take photos like Ashin

I can't believe how talented Mayday is. I mean I can believe cos Mayday is my idol afterall and as most of you know, me and my 美女friends are not into blind faith. By the way, since I'm on 美女, let me introduce you to the new titles I've bestowed upon some pals. XY is named 亮眼啵蜜美少女, Geok is 亮丽俏鼻美少女, Minty is 另类丰唇美少女. I am........... *drum roll please*................................ 宇宙无敌美少女!!! I know it's befitting, thanx ;p

Back to my very talented Mayday. Lead vocalist Ashin doesn't only write and compose well. He takes great photos too + has great design sense. Monster is good-looking and this is what I consider a talent oredi, and needless to say (but still must say), he's great on the guitar. Masa makes a good bassist + back-up vocalist and of cos, his impressive English that bridges Mayday with music guys from around the world. I'll not elaborate on the 2 married fellows.

Seeing how talented my idols are, I'm very motivated to stretch myself further in realising my potential. Not that I want to boast, I define what it means by "Singapore Got Talent", albeit my crafts being all half-hatched, and waiting to burst out of the cocoon. Once I clear driving out of the way, I'm going to venture into a series of skills-honing programme:
1) photography
2) music classes
3) Korean + Japanese languages
4) tour guide course
5) baking

I'm determined to live my life as fulfilling as possible before I'm past the 'youth' age category. And don't think I'm just writing a space-filling entry. This post got deep meaning ok! :
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IT'S GOOD TO HAVE AN IDOL.

Limbo Rock

I am going through a limbo brought upon by my own doings. Honestly, I'm not feeling great. And there are people I carefully avoid cos I've got no freaking mood to entertain. I don't need consolations. I just need a breakthrough to make amends.

Coffee Savouring Never Get this Fun

It's official. My number 1 favouritest K-drama, to date, is Coffee Prince Shop Number 1 or 咖啡王子1号店. In an attempt not to over-raise expectations, I shall try my very best in containing my about-to-spill-it-all urge in sharing what I [heart] about this drama.

Instead I present you 10 generic reasons on why you shouldn't miss it, when you decide to embark on a new show:

1) Eye candies

They should add a 's' to Prince. We're talking about at least 5 Coffee Princes here. This is one drama that's crazy about its 'visual appeal' i think.

2) Chemistry

Not only do the leads have great love chemistry, the cast as a whole shone through with brotherly chemistry, sisterly chemistry, brother-sister chemistry, old-folks chemistry... hahaha...

3) Great Houses

'Oppang' (rooftop) houses get redefined here. It's no longer those crampy attic homes which are cute for the first time and boring next. The 2 key houses featured in this drama got great panorama + to-drool-for interiors. So good, you thought you wanna live in Seoul.

4) Men who can Sing

Maybe a female director made the difference; maybe the guys offered to do it, but this drama shows their happy men singing. And they all sing considerably well.

5) No Wily Foxes

Sometimes you really wanna pull the hair of those vixens in some series, wondering how one can be so evil. This drama has got none of such. And you wonder how then does it keep the narrative interest going? I dunno... it works for me somehow.

6) Cliches that Work

This drama has no original plot whatsoever and it didn't make an effort to hide that. I started with sceptism too, wondering how a 'Hana Kimi' theme can be done better than the Taiwanese's adaptation. But the 2 cannot be put on the same scale. The approaches are different.

7) Great Soundtrack

If Coffee Prince doesn't score with you, you can't fault its soundtrack. Superb choice of music, not just typical Korean pop songs that go "sarangheyo sarangheyo". It has muscial depth, truly.

8) The Coffee Prince Shop

Yes, the very cafe where the key story unfolds! It's lovely where it is. The cafe has drawn such huge crowd ever since the drama catches on. I want a Coffee Prince Shop here too :p

9) Gong Yoo and Yoon Eun Hye

Watch it for them. Eun Hye shows her acting range. If you think she's good in Goong, then you don't know much yet. As for Yoo, he doesn't seem like he needs to act at all.

10) Miss It Only to be Left Out

With its humongous popularity, you won't want to be left out once the folks on our shore go into coffee-whiffing mode. This is Korea's highest rated mini-series to date, beating the records set by Goong. And surely, some magic is brewing within?

* Screen caps courtesy of Javabeans.

Fellow CP addicts who drop by, drop me a line too! :D

Why Why Love, why like this?

Sometimes, my own words can be foreboding. The plot development for the last 3 eps of Why Why Love just downslided the way my excitement plunged.

SPOILERS AHEAD

As though a last ditch effort to prove the series' worth as a more serious and in-depth drama, the writers took a turn towards the last few eps to throw in really cliched sob stories. I've got no problem with worn-out ruses but there's always better ways of handling the narratives. Despite closing all the loops that it created right at the start of the drama, the whole effort is contrived and lacking in mastery. Shan't say more but I'm contemplating to auction off my VCDs while pondering over if the first 70% part of the drama makes it worth keeping.

My Cuties List is Taking a Break

Seriously with Coffee Prince filling my head all the time over the last few days, I can't imagine myself gushing over other men for now. It's kinda exciting that I'm catching this super hot Korean drama almost 'real-time' as it airs in Korea. Thank gawd for internet and computer, it's gotta be the greatest invention of all time!!! Thank goodness for fan-subs, they gotta be the most generous people around!!! Thank all those kind souls for uploading as soon as they can, I wonder how they find all the time and bandwidth!!! I can't wait to rewatch the entire series again after I've landed my hands on the VCDs. CP is such great dope that I've neglected my love for Why Why Love - I can't believe I'm not a tad excited that the VCDs are finally all out :S

I'll do a rank and review of my Top 5 Korean dramas after CP ends its run on 28 Aug and I'm crossing my fingers that the last 3 eps live up to expectation so that my love for it thus far comes full circle to a great finale. You know lar, there are a lot of sucky endings these days that spoil it all - especially those TVB dramas. Ask XY, she knows best.

Btw, I'll like to warn all potential antagonisers that I've got a few pet peeves so try not to push the wrong buttons with me these days when I'm not in the best of moods:

1) Don't take me for granted as a walking encyclopedia. Yea, I'm resourceful but dun ask me something as though I should know and expect answers like I should be responsible for knowing. I REPEAT, I'M NOT PIPIPEDIA.

2) Don't ask me anything only to refute what I think or insist on your opinion. When asked, I always try to give my 1/2cent worth. You can take or leave it but you shouldn't doubt the 'quality' of my answers. I normally tell it as how I see it, whatever that falls short is an issue of your own expectation or preference.

3) Lastly, respect my likes and dislikes but I dun need any superfluous 'sucking up' by trying to identify with my likes.

Wun name examples of incidents here. I'm not touchy-feely, just testy over how lacking in consideration some people can be.

My Top 10 Korean TV Leading Men: #7

Korean Cutie #7:

Cha Tae Won

Laughed in-between tears for/at/with him in My Sassy Girl.

Pi's Sizzling Meter:

His Wiki page here.

Sure he's not the best looking lead around but I will not give Tae Won a pass cos he is why I started on Korean movies and dramas. His cutiness is in his way of making you laugh with his effortless honest, sincere (and sometimes 'toot') look. His off-screen persona completes him as one of the best guys you could possibly ask for - dedicated, down-to-earth and endearing. Heard that he had a fine showing in his latest drama despite the poor ratings.

My Top 10 Korean TV Leading Men: #6

Korean Cutie #6:

Jae Hee

Made me grin silly in My Sassy Girl, Chun Hyang.

Pi's Sizzling Meter:

His Wiki page here.

This Kenji Wu lookalike is the reason why I pressed on with the draggy Chun Hyang and he was why the otherwise average drama becomes a little above mediocre. There's so much of him in the show - you get ice-cream for your eyes watching him transform from a high school boy to become a prosecutor, wah, lovely styling ok! He hasn't got much big break since My Sassy Girl but I'm looking forward to see more of him.

My Top 10 Korean TV Leading Men: #5

Korean Cutie #5:

Joo Ji Hoon

Caught my eyes in Goong.

Pi's Sizzling Meter:

His Wiki page here.

Ji Hoon stands tall, very tall in fact at 1.89m! What is this?! Korea has an industry full of NBA-qualified leading men...I wonder what they eat over there. Honestly, Ji Hoon's acting in Goong is not fantastic but he has a well-produced drama to thank for. You'll really grow to love this block of wood who looks wondrously befitting in the entire set. Quiet guys can be quite charming. And you know we gals fall for "oh, how he opens up to you because he so loves you" kinda fluff. I know too well... -_-

Top 10 Korean TV Leading Men: #4

Korean Cutie #4:

Kim Rae Won

Enchanted me in The Attic Cat.

Pi's Sizzling Meter:

His Wiki page here.

Lai Lai (as I fondly call him) is one cutie that XY has stood by despite the emergence of better, cuter and handsomer cuties. I swooned over him in Attic Cat though he was quite a jerk with intelligence being his only redeeming quality. Until he realised that he has fallen in love with the female lead of cos. But somehow, I kept getting attracted to such crappy guys. Oh I'm such a crap @_@. Starting early in the entertainment business has a way of speeding up maturity and Lai Lai is showing signs of 'ajuhsheeness'. I'm just hoping he doesn't beef up further to look like he's taking part in Mr Universe. Look out for his new works in Gourmet. Much anticipated apparently.

Top 10 Korean TV Leading Men: #3

Korean Cutie #3:

Hyun Bin

Went gaga over him in: My Name is Kim Sam Soon

Pi's Sizzling Meter:

His Wiki page here.

Great looking face with lean swimmer's bod, Hyun Bin is to-drool-for. And who can resist that gruff confident charm in Kim Sam Soon, his best drama to date? Then, I sought solace in being a real life Sam Soon who is a little more endowed, a tad untidy and not-too-feminine ~ you know it gave me hope that I could be liked by someone this cute. Apparently the dream went on for more than a year and there's still no sight of someone who's at least 50% near the standard of Bin. Maybe I need to get a life, a reel life.