This blog is all about me, and anything about me. Be prepare to be loaded with lots of food, movies, music, grumbles and even some foul language. This is the place for anyone who knows me, even on the most superficial level. Enjoy and hope you know me better each day. (please adjust your display setting to Unicode)
Confidence
Arakawa Shizuka, (or this for more details) the Torino 2006 Winter Olympic lady ice skateing champion from Japan.
Enjoy her perfect performance that earn her the first gold in Olmypic for Japan.
She was beaming with confidence in and out of her performance, as a close friend of mine pointed out to me. But I can say, the confidence and maturity of this lady, who is less then a month younger than me, is something she did not attain overnight.
Back in 2002, she was a young girl who could really skate well, blessed with talents that have outshone many in her early years. However, she just did not make it up the bar to represent Japan in Salt Lake.
In 2004, she won the title of World Champion, but that no only did not bring her a long lasting joy, it brought to her the notion of retiring. Her performance in 2005 had drop some much that she was ranked only 9th. But this is exactly the spark that light up the flame in her to strife on.
She contacted her current coach, flew over to the State, bearing the homesickness of spending her New Year on a plane back to training after a visit home, all in for the cause to strife for her best in mastering a new style of performance, which now have brought her the gold medal.
Some people may say her confidence may well be due to her graduation from Waseda University, which is among the best school in Japan.
But, I would say it is the ups and downs in her skating career that have brought out the very confidence she has for the world. With maturity she had gain through her life, she manage to keep her composure, and not be affected the nervousness that have affected her younger team mates, her performance flowed smoothly with grace. She did receive a standing ovation after her superb free-skate performance that allow her to surge from 3rd to the lead after her short program.
As compare to her, which I should not really do, I have yet to attain that sort of confidence and maturity. While I need not push myself to attain her world champion sort of confidence, I will definately need to work harder to reach the level I can make myself proud. For the moment, Arakawa Shizuka will be my role model, and I will learn to strife hard in life to attain my personal gold medal in life.
// sprinkled by wing_0 @ 2/27/2006 10:36:00 pm
This Recess
Am I so busy this recess that I almost cease to blog? Sort of, but things is actually till popping out here and there around me.
The backbone of this recess is basically revise my school works, and prepare myself for the quizes that coems after it. I basically managed to force myself to mug a few hours a day, but yet, I still feel I am fully prepared.
Maybe because is the amount of work I have to prepare for Japanese Appreciation Club (JAC). The major event, a cultural fest, is coming after the recess. I need to work out the floor plan, the logistic list, and manpower. To make it worse, some of the stuff from last years had gone missing due to transsition, and I have to went from City Hall (the venue of the meeting), to Liang Court, and finally in IMM, all in 1 afternoon, all in the attempt to look for a plastic hoop for scooping goldfish, in a traditional, all-time-favourite festival game in Japan. And becuase it is from Japan, other than stealling one or two from the yearly Summer Fest organised by Japanese Assiocation, there is 0 chance of finding it sold in local market, 'cos the better half of Singaporean knew nuts about it!
And now, with metal wires, I hope to recreate it with the best of my means... I really mean it...
But on top of all these workload, I did really have some interesting time.
At home, I watched some of the best figure skate on TV, as Winter Olympic is here. Still find it weird as here in Singapore is hot, you see competitors of other winter sports in winter clothes.
I went for a industrial visit to Institute of Materials Research & Engineering (IMRE), where I finally get to see what my field is really about.
I also went down to pubs in Chimjes on Monday, after movie and dinner around Orchard Road, and just last night, to enjoy some good jazz and company at Boat Quay.
Of course, a bigger whole is seen from my pocket after all these...
Finally to round it up, my parents' little misadventure of the returning flight from Langkawi. So, the story goes that, as normal, they went oversea, literally to Malaysia for a short vacation while sai lou have his oversea training in India (which so conveniently hit by bird flu in some part, and hence no chicken for them for the whole duration). They called me around the evening on Friday that their flight is going to be delayed, and told me need not wait for them to come back. Life goes on until around the expected time of arrival back in Singapore, I did a check on the flight thru the airport website. To my dismay, there is totally no record on the flight. I goes on to the news channel on TV, but there's no news of any 'incident', which sort of comforted me. However, where could they be? I gave them calls, they switched off the phone, and I ger nervous. I could not really sleep, and so I waited for their return. Fortunately, they return home around 2+am. In fact, the delay of the flight, as observed by lou dao, there is a sudden heightening in security at Langkawi Airport. The flight was also actually redierected to Singapore, before it's suppose destination at Langkawi. What does that means? Some 'security' issue yah... I shan't comment further as the event did not make it to the news, and I shan't make any speculation.
What a recess I have, but what is the real break I asking for...? (T0T)
// sprinkled by wing_0 @ 2/26/2006 09:59:00 am
Me - 小心眼 - 黑舟寻剑 = better me
I know I have some traits that really make me tumble a lot in life. 2 of them seems to taking bigger effect than others.
1st, 小心眼, or to be over-suspicous, in a petty way.
Just today, I was so worked up that sai lou ask me to help him get some batteries for his camera. So, I asked him, are you not free? Aren't you back at home? Can't you just go down and get it yourself?
He got fed up, pass the phone to lou ma zi, and I repeated the same rant. Then, she told me, as I will definately pass by the photo shop, why can't I just conveniently get the batteries? But, I was just petty to listen on, and hung up the phone.
However, I got the batteries in the end. I realise how dumb was I to get worked up such a small matter. It's just like getting grocery any other time I go home. Why do I got so worked up, just because I am helping sai lou this time, and letting him to have the previllege of enjoying a little freedom before spending 3 weeks in India for training? When have not my family shown little convenience to me before?
As for 黑舟寻剑, in simple words, to keep drilling on the past and small details, or as the orignal story goes, to make a mark on your boat, as the spot where you drop your sword into the sea in the dark (this is the cloest summary I can get, using my utmost knowledge...). This is bascially used in my case, my irrational, cork up, uncalled for grudge of small things people do me bad in some stupid way. This also apply to my love life.
This is to say, what passed is past, if the other party don't care about it, why should I wait my brain cells remembering it.
This is especially my concern, when the fact that 3 years in a roll, since I got into NS, I have been getting the same lot from Guan Yin Temple, adivsing me not to drill on small details in life, past or present. In another words, I am still not in a state to start a relationship as long as I don't change my traits.
So as long as I get raid of these 2 traits, not am I doom in love life, my entire life will also be doomed with uncalled for grudge.
So, I ain't left with not much choice.
Change, or deity upstair will give me the same lot again...
// sprinkled by wing_0 @ 2/17/2006 10:53:00 pm
Used to It?
Why am I so free to blog on Valentine's Day morning? Simple, 'cos I am a loser in love who have no one to date or propose to. I am also on the brink of having a bad flu, possible extension from the allergy to the not-so-good air quality at home.
Actaully, that save a lot of time and money, and so 14th Feb is just another day in the year for me.
Yah, as if I'm so ok with my unwanted status...
How bad? A little update for my concern obasan and gu je on my flop in my life:
The Chengdu gal is having a very busy semester now. Though I often talk to her online, she had clearly stated once to me that she is not keen on starting any relationship any time soon. One of my close friend did give me advice on how to make myself noticible, so she might consider me when she's ready, and I am doing it now, with not much concentration into it also.
The local cutey, after managing to savage the weak friendship after the little skirmish last year, I am in a more confused state. She had told me once, indirectly, I am irritating, or simply not the type for her. But, her conviction to someone in her life, who unappreciate her, make me feel for her, as this reminds me of myself some years ago, and through occasional words of encouragement, the weak friendship has hold up to now. Since it is so weak, I really do not want to do anything that jeopardise is.
And you can see, it is all one sided, from me.
Reminding myself here in Singapore, ladies don't give chocolate to their interested one on V-day, there is just nothing to be surprised about.
And you may ask, did I miss others around me? I hope I did, but I really do not know who.
So much for horoscopic prediction that my poplularity among the opposite sex is high this year...
So, am I used to this sort of V-day? I want to, but I still yearn to have someone by my side...
// sprinkled by wing_0 @ 2/14/2006 09:20:00 am
Sizing
I buy clothes for myself starting from a young age, with occasional advice from lou ma zi, who worked in the fashion-related industry before she got married.
In terms of design, I often make a right choice that goes well. Ain't too loud, but not too nerdy also.
However, due to the different size system in US, Europe and Asia, I often getting clothes a little off my size.
Just bought a T-shirt from a stall at Art Fiesta (organised by AnimeWorks parent club). I love the design, and which happen to be an hot item also. The piece I've got was among the last few pieces left in stock.
Should I say, whenever I decide to buy clothes, and see something I like, it is always too late...
So, I ordered the shirt yesterday, and collected it today.
And just when I thought nothing could go wrong, after washing it, i realise the sleeves are a little too long...
And that reminded me of the jacket I got for JC prom...
Everytime when I thought a M-size is good for me, I did not realise US or Europe M-size is slightly bigger than Asian M.
And I forseen having more problem like this when I go shopping online...
dope... waste money...
// sprinkled by wing_0 @ 2/10/2006 12:12:00 am
Fetis?Soft Spot?
I have some special liking, or to some extend, a little fetish about somethings around me... Take a look: (hope I don't scare you off...)
Cute little kids: Most guys, or even gals, hate them, I am fairly ok with them, especially when coming to very cute, but well mannered ones. They are like little angels. When I was in Myanmar, I met quite a number of them, and could not miss the chances to take pictures of these little darlings.
Girls + Blue Clothes/Acessories: I like blue, but other than on a pair of jeans, it really goes as a nice colour as a top or acessories. In contrary, I developed a liking for girls (cute 1 of course...) to wear anything blue colour on their body in an apporiate ways. Yesterday, the local cutey (yes, i still call this school friend of mine this name...ahem...), she wore a blue, checked sandal, with blue toe nails. It was exactly what I like best, and I kept staring at her feet for the whole lecture... embarassing...
Unusal beauty: Who do not love geogeous women, but I have some usual taste. I tends to have a liking for female faces that have flaws in each individual features, but goes nicely when put together. In school, I always look out for this female senior from my school, whom most guys say she look too... manly? Other celebrities example: Devon Aoki, Kuriyama Chiaki, Nakashima Mika, etc
One-bite Food: Trust me, even I don't spend on toys, my biggest spending is food, especially those you pass by on the street or malls. Though I used to go for the basic meals of each day and that's it, I can now fill my stomach my taking snack along the way when I go shopping. So, even it was to be window shopping, I would still end up spending money on food.
Fetish or Soft spot, you be my judge.
// sprinkled by wing_0 @ 2/08/2006 07:26:00 pm
Heavenly Sin
It have quite sometime I dedicate this blog to great food, and I am going to make you all drool today. Here are some of the great food I had savoured recently:
Italian pan-stew rice: I had this dish on that Sunday I have to go down to Millenia Walk for the yukata demo. My family and my family friends went to a Italian restaurant at Rifle Range Road (ya, I know how u-lu aka far off that place is...). For the main course, most people choosed the pasta, but I was rather adventurous that day, and decided to try something new. So I ordered the rice, which rumoured to taste like beans, which the Italian love it. Unfortunately, or fortunately, this place ain't 100% authentic, and the rice is not beany at all. Instead, I was very creamy admist the red wine sauce and liver sasuage. The beautifully purple blended dish is not only a feast for the tastebud, so is it a feast for the eyes. I could say, it is definately better than the today's-special of veal or the pastas other's ordered.
tofu: other than the standard Tiramisu, one of the more interesting dessert served is tofu. You got me right, that is what it is called, and it is essentially a soya milk concortion. However, it is not like anything you have eaten before. It is so thick in flavour and texture, it taste so much more rich then the Tiramisu I ordered that day. But fortunately, I founded out that it is also availible at TCC outlets, but I bet it won't taste the same. sigh.... what a waste...
choco-lixir by Godiva: Yes, and finally having a chance to savour this ultimate sinful concortion, all thanks to sai lou finally getting his butt out to CityLink to get some new clothes (and indeed, he spent $80 on a shirt which he quoted "very comfy"...) last Sunday. He treated (yup, you hear it right...) me cup of choco-lixir, dark chocolate to be specific, while he got himself one (of course...you think he idiot meh...). Though it costed $8 a cup, but it is definately worth the money. First, in each cup, there's 4 big square of dark chocolate thins, which cost around $1.50 each if you buy in box. Then, there's spoonfuls of choco-milk powder, also another Godiva quality product. To top it up, ice shave is added from the top, and blended into this sinful treat. Each sip, is like taking a bite of a choco fondue, with occasional bites of unmelted dark chocolate. Up to the very last sip, the after taste linger in your throat like never before.
God(or what ever 'upstair')... forgive my sin of glunttonly, please....!!!
// sprinkled by wing_0 @ 2/06/2006 10:54:00 pm
面白い...
(Japanese: interesting)
Today is 7th day of Lunar New Year, and the festive atomosphere has dampen a little. Been doing nothing more than my school work this weekend.
And my 'earning' so far seems a little less each year...
Watch some festive Taiwanese, TV program, talking about the fortune of this year. My love life: high on popularity... very interesting... I do hope it this sort of fortune telling thingy don't differ becuase you are at different part of the globe.
And yes, the new found ritual of inviting foregin student to my place during 2nd day. This year, 3 students from very varying region of the world. 1 Mexican lady, 1 Nokia... no... I mean Swede gentleman, and a Siemens... no... I mean German gentleman. (all these handphone brand reference are invented by lou ma zi... can understand her brain works nowadays...)
This year, the most interesting event happen on the dinner table, during kai lian fan (开年饭, opening of the year meal).
Some of the dishes we thought would be too adventurous, end up quite to the liking of the guest. The pig tonuge, was quite a bit of shock to the Mexican initially. But after the 1st mouth, it goes on and on, till my parents had none to eat. But other than this, she is rather shy in general.
We served some Ebisu beer and stout, and the German, which his home country is so famous for, tried the beer. He commented he don't have a liking for the normally bitter stout. But when persude by lou dao, he tried it, and end up alternating drinking, finsihing 4 cans on the table alone.
And lou dao also asked the German about a brand of beer he loved back in Hong Kong. The German gave a huge number of them, but lou dao keep on forgot what the brand is. After that, then he realise it is the very 1st one the German mentioned...
As for the Swede, he is very socialable, well versed in the ways of meeting people, so he didn't really have anything too interesting, and I generally enjoy his prescene though.
So, the day ended in quite a bit of laughter and photos (which non of them turn out well on my digi-cam...), and I hope it was enjoyable for them to know a little about our local culture.
And I can say, this New Year so far, have been quite interesting for me.
// sprinkled by wing_0 @ 2/04/2006 07:08:00 pm