.010

Unglam pics ahead! Elle in houseclothes… I haven’t been camwhoring or posting pictures of myself because I have just been busy. But since I haven’t embarrassed myself in a long time, please go on ahead.

.009

Why d’ya have to be so cute?
It’s impossible to ignore you

• you ask me why I can’t let you go, and I answer, “Because you’re probably the best thing in my life right now”
• I love you in an unhealthy way.
• you ask me if I love you the way you love me, if your love for me is greater in magnitude than my love for you. I come to you with no demands and no other intention but just to spend time with you.
• your face can stop traffic.
• I sometimes think you’ve been a part of me all along.
• It’s amazing how you can make me miserably happy and happily miserable.
• your smile melts my heart. Your glare freezes it over.
• you figure me out in just four easy steps.
• I am obsessed with your hair.

BOOK REC: VINTAGE MURAKAMI

 

 After reading Norwegian Wood, I had also borrowed Vintage Murakami. The collection includes the first chapter of Norwegian Wood, Lieutenant Mamiya’s Long Story Parts 1 and 2 from the Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, Shizuko Akashi from Underground, and the short stories, honey pie, Barn Burning and Ice Man.

 Of course I skipped the Norwegian Wood excerpt. I got grossed out by the “being skinned alive” part of Lieutenant Mamiya’s Long Story – it was so graphic. Shizuko Akashi was from the nonfiction book Underground which deals with the 1995 Tokyo subway sarin gas attacks by the cult Aum Shinrikyo. I remember that incident and as a kid it finally dawned on me that the world was a very dangerous place. The fragility of human life, the resilience of the human spirit and the bond between siblings are the main themes in Shizuko Akashi. Among the short stories, I loved Ice Man because it was different and intriguing. But I didn’t really get it though, probably because I was busy catching up on the due date of the book rather than analyzing the story.

 I like Murakami because he’s work is about modern life and yet poetic at the same time. I want to write like him!

Constant Play: Breaking the Habit

 

I admit, for the past four months all I’ve been listening to nonstop is NEWS. Though I have been listening to a few albums like The Killers, Fahrenheit, MiChi Madness, Rain plus a few TV and movie tracks (Marie Antoinette, Amelie etc…) I keep listening to the same NEWS songs.

The good news is that this week I have been weaning myself from NEWS bit by bit – but I still doubt it if I can  go a day without listening to Cherish, Ordinary and Kibou~Yell. Here are some songs that are helping me break the NEWS habit:

1. Why Can’t I?  is a song with a big HOOK by Liz Phair. This describes my current infatuation with you-know-who. I am convinced that I am obsessed with the guy. Uhm, yeah I understand that he is nowhere near me, but I think – what if? Then I know I’d react as the song describes. Honestly, I don’t know where I first heard this song but it kinda stuck in my brain that I had to Google it.

2. Truth - the mini-album from Arashi. Confession: I have never heard them sing before, I just know the band because of Matsujun and because of the number of products that they endorse! I mean even if they aren’t featured in a magazine you can still see them in the ads.

The first track Truth is very creepy, there’s a line that goes, “I’ll take your life forever, you take my life forever” or at least that’s what I think I hear. I mean what does that supposed to mean? Can’t wait to check the English translation of the whole song. It’s quite catchy though

 Next is Kaze no Mukou e, which has a reggae-ish, tropical summer mode, it makes you want to pick up those maracas and jiggy, complete with wide straw-brimmed hat. This is what I call a pick-me-up song, songs that pick up your mood and send you to a “happy place”. The rap sounds fun too!

The last song is Smile or “smiru” is a bit reggae infused, and another pick-me-up song, the type where you snap your fingers along. Isn’t it obvious the title is Smile? I can’t actually comment on the style choice because this is my first time listening to their songs. But I like the happy-happy mood.

3.  Your Love is Forever a cover by Ben Bridwell. George Harrison is the Beatle for me! I like George then John, I dunno why I wasn’t really big on Paul…maybe because he’s still alive? I love this song, I mean why can’t people write songs like this anymore? Or I just don’t know where to look?

4. The Scientist by Natasha Bedingfield, her voice is very unique and singing this Coldplay song really gives a new dimension to it. Sometimes I feel cover versions are better than the original ones. I like this song a lot!

5. The Weepies – I know I mentioned this before, but I love Hideaway and Gotta Have You. I heard All This Beauty from the SATC soundtrack and for me it was so-so. But then someone recommended Gotta Have You, and then I received a mix with Hideaway in it.

6. Motion City Soundtrack’s Fell In Love Without You is the road trip song, the type you sing with the top down, singing loudly along while crusing Route 66. Or the acoustic jamming type in a park or tambayan. OK, I know the song is so sad, I mean it opens with “Last night I fell in love without you”. But I like the lyrics, and if I have the time I can learn how to play it on Aiden!

only time will tell
the violins will swell
in memory of what
we used to call in love

7. Can I Call You Mine, OK wait when I saw the composers I saw a familiar name – Michael Cera of Superbad and Juno? You gotta be kidding? Right? Right? But it sounds like him…this is more acoustic indie-folk type.  He’s (or was?) part of The Long Goodbye. This lulls me to a state of relaxation that can only be achieved by being in an idyllic place.

These are seven songs that would hopefully help me expand my musical knowledge and develop musical taste (which I don’t really have except that I haven’t gone to the heavy metal extreme).

And yes, I’m in dire need of English pop or RnB songs, I haven’t been dipping into that pool lately, probably because I’m disillusioned with that field of the music industry.

 

image via weheartit

.008

 

my sentiments exactly…

Things I Love Tuesday //

It’s A TUESDAY again, and here are things which made me laugh, smile, and long to have!

♥   Andrea Barja’s Flickr photostream

♥  Hiro’s so cute! For the record I only stumbled on this video because I was looking for a Mei-chan no Shitsuji video.

♥   from Vintage Japan

 

♥  Hello Kitty vs. Barbie 

♥ A nice big bowl of champorado. YUM!

 

♥ Jennifer Behr’s  wide crystal lace headwrap. Can anyone say, super classy chic? I LOVE it soooo much! So vintage-y chic.

 

♥ Bobbi Brown ‘Brights’ Eye Palette (Limited Edition) kinda reminds you of a watercolor paletted doesn’t it?

 

♥ …this song plays on my mind even if I don’t want to. It’s like a lullaby, sending me off to stage 3 of sleep.

♥ Kawaii Cute Fruits Mini Kit the perfect fusion for my love of all things paper and KAWAII.

 ♥  Don’t you think it’s strange that life, described as so rich and full, a camel-trail of adventure, should shrink to this coin-sized world? A head on one side, a story on the other. Someone you loved and what happened. That’s all there is when you dig in your pockets. The most significant thing is someone else’s face. -  Jeanette Winterson, Written on the Body

 ♥   asofter world

 ♥    we all need a little haiku every now and then, don’t we?  Was reading this when I stumbled on this, totally INDECENT!

  ♥  What to do when a cute guy walks in on you while you’re *ahem*? CRY of course!  I found this hilarious!

 

for other TILT goodies click here

And this year was supposed to be different

I was supposed to rev up my creative juices, and I had a lot of plans to make stuff. I planned to:

1. Learn how to knit
2. Bind a leather covered journal
3. Create an iPod case for Wacky also made of leather.
4. Write short stories and poems
5. Create my own chapbook
6. Paint at least once a month.
7. Finish a visual journal.

But so far, I have only achieved:

1. To be creative by making birthday cards for my CG members.
2. One measly poem about cranes and loss.

This bites…this bugs me a lot.

Because I need to see beautiful stuff, or better yet make beautiful stuff. And I’ve been compensating for this art/beauty hunger with shallow stuff *cough*pretty Asian guys *cough*. Did I just chastise myself?

I feel like someone experiencing withdrawal. But everything else is clamoring for my attention and energy.  I choose to be positive about this, I mean after all, it’s only February, right? I will manage to cough up, nay, even if I bleed through my pores, I will come up with something substantial by the end of Feb!

Last Sunday of February

After service we went to Raffles City to eat. Shella managed to make me eat this ultra-spicy BBQ dish. I wasn’t really high because the humid weather makes me want to sleep all day long!

Then one by one N178 trickled out to only four people – me, Shella, Daniel and Weng Lok. There was a reversal of roles because we let the guys window shop. We were just dragged into the going into shops. I couldn’t help but laugh as Weng Lok imitated the mannequins poses at River Island – if you haven’t noticed all of them seem to be thrusting their pelvis out. I haven’t gotten the picture from Shella.

After a bit of walk-walk  we had the brownie ice cream thingie at Ben & Jerry’s, super sinful! and of course it put a dent on my wallet. But yeah, a little bit of something rich is beneficial once in a while.

Then here’s Daniel, who looks like he’s permanently adhered to the Adidas wall:

And pictures with THE GIRLS:

 

Yes, I know, I look tanned. My skin’s super sensitive to the sun, and a few minutes of exposure is damaging. Last week, I was under the hot sun for a total of five hours!

Taking the bus home I had a wake-up call, not just with the TLP thing that I’ve been blabbing about but everything. Trying to make things right this time around and it’s gonna be GREAT!

X Marks the Stuff You Didn’t Know About Me

(x) been in love
(x) been dumped
(x ) shoplifted
( ) been fired
( ) been in a fist fight
( x) snuck out of your parent’s house
( ) been arrested

(x) gone on a blind date
(x) skipped school
( ) seen someone die
( ) been to Canada
( ) been to Mexico
(x) been on a plane
(x) love someone or miss someone right now

(x) lain on your back and watched cloud shapes go by
() made a snow angel
(x) flown a kite
(x) built a sand castle
(x) gone puddle jumping
(x) played dress up
(x ) jumped into a pile of leaves
(x) gone sledding
(x) cheated while playing a game

(x) been lonely
(x) fallen asleep at work/school
(x) used a fake id
(x) watched the sun set
( x) felt an earthquake/tremor
( ) been through a hurricane
(x) touched a snake
(x) slept beneath the stars
(x) been tickled
(x) been robbed
(x) been misunderstood

( ) danced in the moonlight
(x) liked the way I look
(x) witnessed a crime
(x) questioned my heart
(x) been obsessed with post-it notes
(x ) squished barefoot through the mud
(x) been lost
(x) been to the opposite side of the country – depends on where I live: Singapore yes, Philippines – NO, Saudi Arabia – NO

(x) swum in the ocean
(x) felt like dying
(x) cried yourself to sleep
(x) played cops and robbers
(x) recently colored with crayons
() sung karaoke —– I FEEL SO DEPRIVED!
(x) paid for a meal with only coins

(x) done something you told yourself you wouldn’t
(x) made prank phone calls
(x) laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose
( ) caught a snowflake on your tongue
(x) danced in the rain
( ) written a letter to Santa Claus
( ) been kissed under a mistletoe
(x) blown bubbles
( ) made a bonfire on the beach
( x) crashed a party
(x) gone roller-skating

(x) glued your hand to something
( ) got your tongue stuck to a flag pole
( ) kissed a fish – more like a frog, really I did kiss a frog! I was more like showing off than anything. I didn’t believe he would turn into a PRINCE, ok, well maybe I hoped that the fairytale was true!
( ) sat on a roof top — I dream of this!
(x) screamed at the top of your lungs
( ) done a one-handed cartwheel
(x) talked on the phone for more than 6 hours —- EIGHT HOURS
(x) stayed up all night
( ) didn’t take a shower for a week

( ) pick and ate an apple right off the tree
( x) climbed a tree
( ) had a tree house
(x) are scared to watch scary movies alone
( x) believe in ghosts
() have more then 30 pairs of shoes

(x) jumped into a pool/hot tub/lake with all your clothes on
(x) been told you’re hot by a complete stranger
( ) broken a bone
(x) been easily amused
( ) caught a fish then ate it
(x) caught a butterfly
(x) laughed so hard you cried
(x) cried so hard you laughed

(x) cheated on a test
( x) cheated on a lover
() have a Britney Spears CD

(x) forgotten someone’s name
(x) French braided someone’s hair
(x) gone skinny dipping in a pool
() have had a fantasy over someone you love as a good friend
( ) sun tanned naked
(x ) ran naked in the rain – when I was a kid…I think.

.007

1. The best things I’ve heard this week:
   • “For such a young lady, I am amazed at how inspiring you can be. I really feel that it comes from your heart, there’s no fakeness in it.”
   • “What books do you read? Did you attend courses?”
   • “You parents have done a great job of raising you.”
   • “I can see that you’re hardworking and have the hunger to succeed.”
   • “Wow, I am impressed.”
   • “___ would be a waste of your talent.”
2. Friends who make life better. Thanks to Debbie for listening to me complain, “ten times more than usual” and for cheering me up when I want to cry from frustration. And Alexis Tan who encourages me a lot! Bird for her prayers and my sister for all the love and for being a patient person with me.
3. Guys from the past are dropping hints. And I’m dodging them like bird poo!
4. Thank You God, Thank You God, Thank You God. Words can never say enough how much You mean to me.
5. My TL knows how to cook! Plus 1000 points on the Husband Scale!  *seriously plotting how to get him to buy me a ring*
6. I keep listening to this
7. TWIGGY is the best!

 

 8. I’m a page away from finishing my first short story for 2009 and guess what? I lost my manuscript! ARGH!!!! A month of writing gone missing…kaput!

image from ffffound