rey's ramblings

Riddle me this

Plug-in: Time Is Running Out - Muse

My sister just walked into the room with one hand supporting the cordless
phone (she likes to walk and talk around the house aimlessly) and another
hand was twirling her hair. Seemingly, that's how she dropped her entire
bottle of pink nail polish and now it's all over my room floor, making the
whole place smell like lacquer squared! Esther reassuringly tells me that
the smell won't go away for another three days at least. mmm, okay its time
to get a gas mask.

Anyway, a rundown of what happened this week!

Firstly, sunday's lunch post-church was spent at my current fave budget eatery,
the soup spoon at raffles city basement with esther, joel and vanessa. Their soups
there are really great and supposedly healthy (they got the pyramid symbol of
health thing!). Had beef goulash along with thai chicken salad side which was
spicy, sweet, sour and tangy all at once and we shared wedges. The items on the
menu were all adequately priced around $4-$6, no different from food courts like
banquet and food republic nowadays and besides, the place charges NO GST even
though its like right smack in the middle of the city and that's an added plus because
we all know how super expensive restaurant trips (and everything else) is going to
be next year when dear PAP raises the gst to a whopping 7%.

Went to watch step up at gv plaza on tuesday with joel and charisse. For all its hype,
it wasn't really superb or anything. Everything besides the dance sequences were all
mediocre and slightly cheesy, so the former was definitely the movie's saving grace.
Still, it's certainly watchable despite its mediocrity, just not particularly outstanding.
I'd give it 3 stars. We ate at carl's jr afterwards and esther decided to hop over to
carrefour to buy her fbt's. Fbt's are a super in thing for girls now, so yeah. Hmmm.
After some indecisive moments (involving us watching people perform some super
weird dance at the mall entrance), we decided to head off to meridian for pool. The
place is one of the less shady places in orchard for pool so it wasn't too bad and we
did have quite a fun time! :D

Met changming, han an and paul on thursday at cine to watch happy feet. I hardly
watch animated movies but yeah, happy feet was pretty good. It was a bit lame at
times but there were a lot of good moments like the music and tap-dancing sequences
along with the lovelace character dragging on in an asphyxiated manner with the
plastic thingy wrapped around his neck which was a super hilarious side-joke. The
way they wrapped up the show with the whole humans and united nations thing was
a bit too sudden and overwrought though, so i didn't take that too well. Overall, it
was definitely still a very feel-good flick so i'd give it 3 and a half stars.

Subsequently, we had lunch at pastamania and han an gave up on his spicy chicken
like in a matter of minutes :O (too spicy la), then we went to hmv which i haven't
been to for oh-so-long and apparently, it shrank -.- But never mind, still a lot of
fun browsing cds and stuffage. Finally bought confessions cd because it was at a
lowered price (yes after all the procrastination). We also happened to see, browse
and laugh at someone's horrendous-sounding and looking album xD
Went to starbucks later, we laughed a lot at han an's expense (haha, sorry han an!).

Oh and by the way, i'm hooked onto muse for the moment, both on absolution and
black holes & revelations. Their stuff is soooo good although they are a bit
ambitious and extravagant but hey, u2's a lot like that too so yeah. Guitar riffs and
electronic mixing is just so funky!

to hold you in my arms

I crossed the bridge at 10:53 PM

Sunday, November 26, 2006

Reckless Driving

Plug-in: The Name's Bond... James Bond (Theme) - David Arnold
+ You Know My Name - Chris Cornell

I like how the holidays makes most of us forget that school ever existed
and everything study-related. I also like being free and having a lot off
my mind during this period because the weather is best now, meaning
very un-singaporean weather. =)

Was originally intending to go to jb on thursday but some problems with
the passport cropped up. Apparently, they don't allow anyone into their
country if it expires any less than one month's time. Oh please, it's not as
if singapore will send 16-year old spies to your country or anything.

Consequently, I had to spend the rest of the afternoon swimming, eating,
reading etc. which was a very good alternative. Yup, swimming can be a
lot of fun.

Yesterday there was a class hotel stay thing organised by alex at the
grand hyatt. Alex, jerome, jack, daniel, steven, shixian and sae cheong
were there when i came in the afternoon and they were lan-ing at a
shady-looking corner of far east shopping centre. We had a few rounds
of dota but mostly played cs, which was quite fun to revisit after god-
knows-how-many years. Went back to the suite where we played halo
2 and need for speed carbon on the 360 (4-way!) with the uber-sized
plasma tv for a while before crossing over to lido and meeting alex lim
for casino royale.

The latest installment in the bond series was by far one of the more
serious and less crassier ones, meaning it was good. I mean so far I've
only watched the pierce brosnan ones and er... octopussy but yeah I
could tell that it had a very raw edge unlike its more sleek predecessors.
The story was engaging and the characters interesting but it did get
super draggy, especially the whole segment post-Montenegro with
the rather unnecessary lovey-dovey scenes that look as if they popped
out from some cheesy romantic flick. Overall, I'd give it about 3 and a
half stars.

Dinner was at mezza9, where we had a yummy western grill with
many different kinds of selections for the marinated meats. Didn't
get to try the 8 other kinds of dining concepts but i don't think we
had the stomach for more. Couldn't stay over due to an eye check
up early next morning, so i left for home afterwards.

Today was mostly spent at home. Have been keeping up with this
exercise routine as i'm ever more reminded that ns looms nearer but
more importantly because looking anything short of healthy in jc is a
no-no. Running's no problem for me but i think paying more regular
visits to the gym/pool should be in order. I try to alternate running,
swimming and going to the gym on alternate days, so yeah i guess it'll
serve me well soon.

Hmm, today's evening was an incredible mood-setter. Normally i wouldn't
really talk about weather, environments etc. but i think everyone has
their day when the weather's just nice and the whole crescent moon +
no clouds + wind smelling of sweet ocean spray just happens to make
my day.

Anyway, speaking of oceans, mother's making mussels, mm! must makan.

"Three measures of Gordon's, one of vodka, half a measure of Kina Lillet,
shake it over ice then add a thin slice of lemon peel"

I crossed the bridge at 3:20 AM

Wednesday, November 22, 2006

Changing Scenes

Plug-in: When You Were Young - The Killers

This week's been quite eventful so far. Went for prelude @cube opposite
central mall organized by joleen, maria and a bunch of other ny people on
monday night. The party got off to quite a slow start as the crowd there
was mainly 16 and being first-timers, most were hesitant to initiate anything.
However, it did pick up quite some time into the evening around 11. The whole
hip-hop/r&b theme was safe and okay but i think a bit of house would have
been welcome. On the whole, it was quite a good first experience, not something
too big or anything. There were relatively few ac people there though, most were
from hci, ny or raffles, although i did see a few familiar faces from the o levels track
and more surprisingly, some from ib. Got to know some new faces around.

Left early, around 1 plus because I was sorely reminded that the pae briefing
was next morning, or more accurately LATER that morning. Hanged out at
riverside point's 7/11 with jin, paul and fish talking about singapore's nightlife
(or the lack thereof) until jin's parents came to fetch him. Took a cab with paul
and fish to balestier for supper before heading home on the insistence of dad's
car.

Tuesday morning's pae exercise talk was nothing much, pretty disposable. I
think everyone didn't really want to come back to school again but on the orders
of our dear level vice-head! Speaking of provisional admission, if i haven't told
before, i'm pretty disappointed with my prelim results of 11 pts after deduction
all thanks to a screw-up in maths.

Still very indecisive like many others over which jc i should go to. However, prelims
leave me with no choice but acjc although many seniors tell me that it isn't a very
good place to go. Oh dear. Never mind, i'll see how it goes for the first 3 months.
I think i'll have made up my mind by februrary when the results should come out
sometime around my birthday. Yikes. I'll definitely do better than the prelims but
hopefully, a single-digit L1R5 will materialise leaving me with more options. Some
people have recommended vj but that's just simply too far away for me.

Anyway, after the pin number collection, cabbed with ben, samuel and marcus to
kai an's house who oh so happens to live a few doors down from junior Lee. Played
need for speed carbon, x-men legends etc and with the two very excitable dogs
before leaving for lunch and watching samuel desperately trying to recall his one-day
old puk code before succumbing to the nokia phone care centre @ wheelock XD

Didn't go for surge later in the night because of the combined birthday parties that
joel and siew hwa were having at hard rock cafe (but partially also because i didn't
think i could survive another night of clubbing). Food was pretty much hard rock
cafe standard - not bad but also not scrumptious or anything like that. Music was quite
okay, there was a live band performing but then two-thirds into the whole party,
the band disappeared and someone had the wise idea of putting on dance music.
joel: "oi, please lah, go somewhere like surge if you want to club!" X)

Conked out today until lunch because i was simply too tired from the past two nights.
went out later in the afternoon to marina square for a hastily planned class movie,
death note, with daniel, kong yew, shixian and kai an.
We watched it at gv and i think it was officially the last timing in singapore for it.
Personally, it wasn't a choice movie for me but i think the story was quite engaging,
never mind the bad CGI. Would give it around 3 stars. Decided to arcade afterwards
and we pretty much owned house of the dead 4 (: Had dinner at long john silvers
before heading home.

Was just wondering why other schools grad nights are all after their 'o's and only
ours(?) is before it, stuck somewhere between prelims and the big O in a somewhat
awkward manner.

But nevertheless, before i forget, some class photos!

Got tonnes more photos but can't find some of them and one post
can only take so much.

Haha, i'll miss 4.2 Jacob!

now is forever

I crossed the bridge at 10:00 PM

Sunday, November 19, 2006

And you know it's only just begun

Plug-in: Rock Steady - All Saints

The comeback album Studio 1 by All Saints, famous for their unforgettable
single 'Pure Shores', has a very hip number called Rock Steady which has
a funny music video involving a bank robbery: "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dpS4F4kRvE".

Spent yesterday afternoon kicking back at vanessa's place with joel and esther
mostly by the pool or in it. Then we went upstairs and I got to try out the latest
FF installment (twelve) on the ps2. The graphics engine is amazing and the
cutscenes were breathtakingly real (i still can't get the 7 minute long wedding
battle introduction out of my head). What everyone's being saying about FF -
the music, story, gameplay etc. is all true. I've never really been into the series
but I think this one might just change that. The whole gameplay was quite
complicated though so I didn't really get far before having to get home.

Today, immediately after church was the post o levels lunch at New York New
York at citylink with charisse, joel, esther, vanessa. Siew hwa, zhi ting, candice,
serene, kenneth, roy and jan also came along so we had to have 2 whole tables. The
bacon-and-cheese wrapped bratwurst sausages was really good amongst a couple
other items on the menu but the service did leave a lot to be desired. I think most
of the waiters were like hastily-trained temps or something. Hmm.

We went bowling at marina square next to gv afterwards. It was a whole lot of fun,
I managed to get 3 strikes out of the 5 full games that we played. Went into the gutter
a handful of times and all the rest were spares or open frames. It was relatively okay
considering I haven't gone bowling for ages. Candice, being a school bowler, made us all
look really inexperienced with her skills. Quite annoying though, was how a group of
kids that came in midway through our games wanted to snatch some lanes from us.
Despite there being a lot of other people around, they found 12 people using 4 lanes
unreasonable. Although there were only six of them, apparently the three remaining
lanes weren't enough for them. Ergh. It took away 15 minutes from our game, but
thank god they were evicted by the management subsequently.

The euphoria of the 'o's being over still hasn't left me and I hope it doesn't until the
holidays are over!

bags packed, ready to go

[p.s. new spiderman3 trailer just out yesterday on iFilm! watch it in HD
-> http://www.ifilm.com/presents/spiderman3]

I crossed the bridge at 8:29 PM

Friday, November 17, 2006

Electrified Atmosphere

Plug-in: It Ends Tonight - The All-American Rejects

It's finally OVER! That's what set the tone for the end of exams, either
for those who finished on thursday or today on friday. Utter craziness
involving cartwheels, random dancing about, people screaming happily
etc. Thanks to all those who've wished us the best and been there to give
support for this difficult period, difficult in the sense that everyone's having
fun whilst we are studying :(

Spending the last whole month in captivity: otherwise known as studying
does have its pros but i don't think i'll ever go back to that anytime soon.
Not at least until the 'A' Level year i suppose.

It'd be quite fine with me if I can get a >10 L1R5. Paper reviews amongst
classmates and friends was quite a good gauge of the potential marks I'll
be receiving. I just hope something unlucky or bad doesn't happen and the
Cambridge markers aren't super picky this year. Oh and that nasty bell curve
as well. But overall, minimum expectations are 6 distinctions.

Anyway, that's all about 'O's. A chapter of Singaporean education closed there.
Walked around VivoCity after the exam with chu ting and checked out really
cool stores like Gap. Initially we were supposed to watch Step Up but I got a
very last minute information that my grandmother's birthday was today, so
had to rush off to one of the Tung Lok restaurants at New Bridge Road. It
was quite fun to catch up with some of my cousins especially those who've
also just finished their 'O's, spent a lot of time talking about future plans.

I've a humongous list of movies to catch this holidays. Although missing out
on The Prestige (argh), there are still quite a number of good movies out this
holiday season. Still have yet to watch Step Up, Casino Royale and possibly
Happy Feet which has a long line of A-listers voicing tap-dancing penguins.
There should be some amusing results to this. December will bring Eragon,
Charlotte's Web, The Nativity Story, The Fountain, The Holiday and some
Chinese flick going to the Oscars next year starring Chow Yun Fatt and Gong
Li which should certainly be better than The Promise which from what I heard
was an abyssmally bad movie. But honestly, the most anticipated movies will
all be coming next year. The summer line-up alone will already have not 1 or 2
but 5 major threequels (most likely final installment to a trilogy). Obviously
everyone's heard about Spider-man 3 but besides that there's going to be
Shrek 3, Ocean's Thirteen, Pirates of the Caribbean 3: At Worlds End and The
Bourne Ultimatum all opening within a few weeks of each other. And let's not
forget about Order of the Phoenix, which you've got to admit you're probably
going to end up watching.

Got lots of stuff to keep me busy for the following couple of weeks. First
up, to get the party started: prelude @cube and surge @MoS next week!

I crossed the bridge at 9:34 PM

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