Goodbye 2007

Just as every music album needs an emo song, every year needs a proper closing.

So here it is.

~

2007 has been a year of change. More seismic change than last year.

I watched a dozen more Japanese dramas! Including future classics like Densha and Hana Kimi.

I dipped my toe (just the tip of it!) into song arranging. And what little I did was quite tough for me already!

I got myself an electric bass and it's really quite fun to play.

I'm still single. Erm...

My house got much messier.

My newly-renovated office has come to have this very "self-help" atmosphere. Our "resident psychologist" CPL (NS) Yichuan who decided to offer a bit of help with his newfound knowledge on the Enneagram... I still remember the words of the earlier "resident psychologist" (my upperstudy YY) to Yichuan, "There're many in this office who are in need of your services". How true.

Jon baked more cookies and tarts while Mdm made more kuehs. Kelvin changed his synthesiser 3 times and Reuben pushed his push-up limit up to 60 when I last checked.

The Wii was launched and it turned Kenneth's place into the Arcade. It certainly didn't help when Jon and I got a DS.

Many of the colleagues I've worked with for almost a year went ORD... my understudy came as well! And I turned DDF.

Next year will probably bring greater changes for me. When my IC turns pink again I'll be jobless and this time I'll really have to fend for myself. Come Uni I'll be living a totally different lifestyle altogether... I just hope I can still keep my interest in music alive. I didn't buy my synthesiser and MIDI controller for nothing.

10x+y days to ORD. Come tomorrow, x=1.

Ni~ Zai Na Li~

I was so glad I got MyPaper this morning.

I haven't heard any news about Z Chen for ages... not on the HIM site, not on Wikipedia (at least it told me he left HIM)... nothing.

I'm considered a belated fan... when he was at his peak I was too poor to buy CDs.

So you can imagine my surprise when I saw this.

Wow! This Power Men concert at Taiwan... I decided to do a web search.

Yahoo.tw article

So the concert was supposed to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the New Stage in Taiwan... and I was quite elated to see...

He'll be doing a new album soon!

Good. I'll be waiting.

I hate it when

I hate it when outsiders who don't know a thing come and tell you what to do. I really hate that.

I hate it when religious people don't understand atheists and tell them what to do, and also when the reverse happens.

Long Vacation

Good afternoon.

Today is Christmas!!!

And also the last day of this long break since Thursday.

Holidays, chalets, potlucks and services... had my share of fun lah.

Gotta make full use of this last day to clear up the mess...

Retail Therapy: Dec 07

Isaiah (Level 25) is on a SHOPPING SPREE!!!

Again.

This time, I was going by Peace Centre to get my keyboard soft case since they're having a Christmas sale at City Music.

It's indeed the case for the X-50. It fits snugly.

A trip to Peace Centre means a trip to Sunshine Plaza across the street as well. Duh. Got some Eva figurines there, and ran into Kwok Onn at Nandemoya. The number of Anime shops there have decreased to such an extent, I think Sunshine Plaza has already lost it's uniqueness.

~

They say God helps those who help themselves. The wiser few say God helps those who help others. The latter's probably right.

Dropped by Funan to pick up the X-mini portable speaker for Jon (one for him and one more for Peng's ORD gift). It's really selling like hot cakes as it has a very mature and trendy design compared to most portable speakers. Ended up picking up loads of other good shit. Happy treasure hunting.

My own X-mini connected to my iPod-

"Black?"

Yes... my, erm, black iPod Nano... haha-

"Something's amiss. The click wheel!"

Ah yes yes... it's still my good ole' 4GB Nano... with a new case!

Meet my iPoser!

Not bad... it's quite a good case compared to my $10 one, flush-fitting and all. Just that the stupid finish makes it look like that fake iPod we see on the market nowadays... remember, mine is original iPod OK? Got cover flow some more haha!

Got to thank Chris for introducing the X-mini to us.

~

Besides that I found a good silicone case for my DS!

Original product huh!

~

Was helping Kai Guan look for Hero DVD (he loved the drama after I lent it to him!) and at the same time I found the DVD for Hana Yori Dango 1. A rare find as they now package the 2 seasons together, but I want to buy season 1 first to make sure it's good before I buy the 2nd season.

And yes, Hana Yori Dango is your "Meteor Garden".

I reckon it will be good. Watching Hana Kimi Jap version taught me a lesson: The Japs can do their own versions of f___ed up Taiwanese manga-adapted idol dramas really well.

December Boys

Goodbye guys. Yes, you who go ORD in December.

Peng... you're really a nice brother in Christ and, erm, a nice K buddy. Can imagine seeing a Dr Huang in about 6 years time, haha. All the best!

Yichuan, fellow type 9 haha... I was very glad you shared your knowledge on the Enneagram. Glad to see you being able to finally do something meaningful to you. You're probably the first friend of mine who came into my house! Keep up the enthusiasm for music. You can do it!

Yi Heng & Robert (LOL), Pwn my head for 250 gold, again. You guys are a fun bunch.

Edmund, It was really too late that I knew of your hobby of writing songs, but come to think of it it's not really too late. Let's work together still!

Chad: You do plan for your ORD haha. Kino is quite a nice idea...

Wanting

Argh! I was just doing some random image search on the Net, and found this model that got me wanting!

Punk'ed

I feel so punk'ed.

When they do some stupid new version of their albums. 所谓的 改版。

Tsk... What happens to loyal fans who go buy albums as soon as they launch?

"Jay Chou On The Run Special Edition - Comes with exclusive album figurine! Only at $33.90!"

Erm... can the figurine be bought separately, 'cause I have already bought the albu-

"No."

I feel so PUNK'ED!

Platoon fall in!

I was playing this Keroro game on the DS which I couldn't figure out the time I got it (too lazy to read in Japanese haha). It basically involves unlocking mini-games with each episode (like all Japanese conversational waste-of-resource DS games), and the mini games are quite entertaining! And you get to see Keroro at his best!

... Or maybe, worst.

House party!

It took place quite sometime ago, but I'm only blogging about this now 'cause I was waiting for Jon to upload his photos.

One fine day, Kelvin and Jon decided to hold some sort of house party... since Jon and I have been to Kelvin's house umpteen times, and Jon had sort of a good impression of Kelvin's kitchen, it was decided that the party be held at Kelvin's house!

Alex lives in Tanah Merah, and I live in Tampines, so we're invited as well!

And so it begun... with our shopping for ingredients at Sheng Siong (what with all the temptations of chocolate and ice cream and all)... it was relatively easy, since most of us were not exactly experts at choosing the prime picks.

At Kelvin's house it was where the whole drama began!

Jon's quiche prepared beforehand.

For the burgers

Pardon the cutting.

The first wave of sensory assault came when the bacon made its appearance. Dear me, I was assigned to cut the bacon, and... and... the temptation to have a small piece of it was about as strong as the salty bacon aroma. We did have our pieces of it - leftovers from those already fried in the pan.

My nose... argh my nose!

*Sniff Sniff*

The bacon-mushroom mix was to go into the quiche along with beaten egg.

Before

After!!!

The meat patties for the burger looked a bit gross, especially when we still had to wring out the water & blood before frying it. Kelvin did a good job getting them done, though. They were very nicely cooked.

Awaiting the pan.

Kelvin at work.

Ta-dah! Topped with cheese!

And with Kelvin as the host, there's no worry about surround music. Want some Jazz?

With the table set, it's time to tuck in!

"Toast to good food!" (Taken by Jon. Why did Jon choose to upload the one without him in it?)

Another shot at the full setup, also taken by Jon.

Usually, Kelvin and Jon and I together in a place with a musical instrument lying around... means JAM!!!

Jon took a shot of Kelvin playing his M3, from a very nice angle.

Quiche, burgers, wine and instant Cream of Mushroom soup... and nice red wine. What more to ask for?

Bailey's Irish Cream, of course!

Cheeeeeers!

Weather

With December comes Christmas and Peng & Yichuan's ORD and... the weather!

My camp is on a hill, so we get some really refreshing wind... during muster parade the wind was almost constant!

The rain today was a bit extreme, though. At least it left the whole evening cool.

Udon

The little things in life are really giving us important lessons.

Udon, the seemingly normal (maybe only to me) and not-so-filling noodle dish, was once available at the food centre opposite my office. As I said, I dismissed it as not really filling, so I only had it like, once... when I wasn't really looking to eat much for lunch.

It was quite filling, surprisingly. And delicious.

Just when I was basking in the joy of finding a new "friend"...

...

The stall MOVED.

ARRRGH!!!

After that was NUS, where I attended a talk on Special Term. I had a very good impression of the Science canteen (Canteen of the year!!) and I had Udon there once again. It was good!!!

I was happy. That there are so many opportunities to have Udon near my house. The shopping centre food courts, for example.

Until I tried them.

...

I will, erm, cherish the coming days in Science fac more, and have lots more of Udon.

The secret to good Udon is the soup. And you can't find the sweet-savoury soup everywhere. Don't take it for granted.

P.S. God is the potter, and I am the clay. Yes, and I can feel the Potter's hand break me down and reshaping me once again.

Cross-over

Back to playing Pokemon Ranger these days... and I was quite glad when I had a Heracross in my party at some point!

"At some point" 'cause in this Pokemon game you can't keep a caught Pokemon for long, you've got to release it after your current mission is over.

"Love it, Need it, Heracross!" -- Some NPC girl in PKMN Fire Red