Forgiving is like having an eraser in your head,
That you use to clean out events which make you see red.
Misdeeds no longer replay in a lifetime of stored memories,
Making more room in your heart for happy revelries.
Two lip colors, one mascara, a cheek blush and $60 lesser, I found another jdorama to watch... this time starring Inoue Mao. She acted in Hana Yori Dango I, II, and the HYD movie which I watched with Gra last Saturday: --
Ayaka -- a gifted songbird with a powerful voice that spans many octaves and genres from Jpop to classical and jazz, she wields immense vocal dexterity that labels her a class act.
Now for my favorite performance! You must watch this clip with her performing with her father, legendary saxophonist, Makoto Hirahara, who played the soprano sax. Are they genius or what? Hmmm. I love, love the pianist too. Watching this clip made me miss playing the sax sooooo much.
I read yesterday's URBAN and found out for the first time what a lariat is. It was interesting to me as I didn't know that was the jewelry I spotted so often on actor Kim John Hoon in K-drama Goong:
I know the color saturation in the above picture is way off mark as my prince looked so sallow, but I am going to have that same hair color as him come tomorrow morning as I attempt to dye my own hair with a $13 hair coloring kit from Guardian Pharmacy.
I hope people will not remember my faults as I cover people's transgressions towards me with forgetfulness. If only I can channel forgetfulness however I want to!
My friend is getting married mid June. Another living near London has her boyfriend ready to ask her hand in marriage anytime, as they have already gotten a house. Most of the others I know have stable relationships. Why oh why is the notion of being taken so foreign to me these years? I've even stopped mulling over it! Enough of gripes, ranting, and all those me-stories. I just want to lose that me-complex and get on with living and loving, i.e. less of myself and more of others.
I am thankful that I have such a nice bunch of colleagues to work with. They're amicable, down-to-earth, and totally different from the sort who 'dabbles' in office politics just to climb a rung higher than the next person. I will cherish them everyday!
Last Saturday was the grand opening of our skincare brand's seventh outlet and to be given the task of manning the reception and overseeing buffet arrangements brought back memories of my time at a PR-cum-events agency. I also helped receive the congratulatory flower stands from well-wishers. Or are they called 'standing ovations'? Or 'flower sprays'? Can you tell the real flowers from the artificial ones from the pictures below?
I go through the hours tapping away on my keyboard submitting assignments fulfilling obligations and I have no complaints toward my job. I love it because I love writing and no other will do. But hollowness inside is what I feel a numbing feeling in my mind. What is peace? I want a life unlike such as mine a real life unlike such as mine I walk through my days feeling empty, angry, nothing.
Busy, busy, busy! It prompts the question -- what is truly important? I don't want to live like this. What is my resolution?
STRAIGHTEN UP!
This I will attempt to do.
Life is not about me.
Recently, I have been hearing more swear words than before. And them coming out of my mouth too. When people say who you mix with is important, they aren't lying. You become like those you spend lots of time with.
These weeks, my company will be preparing for a friendly inter-department competition in mid-June. Each department is to compete in a seven-minute performance to showcase the members' talents, the teams' camaraderie, and the department heads' leadership qualities. We, the Marcom team, will be doing a musical (read: spoof) of a Chinese classical love story Liang Zhu infused with Indian love dances. It is written largely as a comedy, meant to elicit laughter from our audience. Details later.
A friend from my university days got me two boxes of false eyelashes from Taiwan, purchased from an online spree. I love a good bargain, and just couldn't miss the offer when she said they can be had for less than $10 for a box, each containing ten luscious pairs.
They arrived in the mail today:
A totally random song for today:
13 hours of continuous shut-eye with some waking up in between and I'm still feeling groggy and sluggish. It's been happening for two days straight; I would wake up, feel like my body's sapped of energy, and fumble around the kitchen in super slo-mo. Is work draining me? Where are you sunshine and energy?
And then came the momentary kick when I read and saw Samsung Soul, the new handphone model released as the perfect round-up to previous Ultra editions, in the papers and online. Look at this!
Sound delicious already?
My Group Assistant Marcom Manager who has been with the company for eight long years will be transferred to Shanghai, China, with his wife, for two long years, to oversee marcom activities. He will leave end-June. When I first the news from a colleague in HR, I was dumbfounded. I thought he was only going to be away for a week or two.
Mr. Little White is the most patient and gentlest boss I've ever, ever had, or will ever have. When I made mistakes, he never raised his voice at me, but would advise me in a brotherly way that I mustn't repeat them. He makes me learn. He's also the most unassuming and humble boss I've ever met. I'll miss him!
After church service yesterday, April and I hung out with her cell group mates for a while before heading to Hyang To Gol at Amara Hotel. The second-floor Korean restaurant was recommended by an ex-colleague for its authentic Korean cuisine and wallet-friendly prices.
We had what he had -- gopchang-jeongol, or beef intestines with tofu, rice cakes, noodles and vegetables in a chili-red but not-so-spicy soup base. This, plus lots of side dishes and kimchi! April and I must have asked for about four servings of that fermented cabbage. We also ordered pancakes with pork in them.
My aunt and sister left for Nepal on a backpacking trip last Thursday and will return on the 27th. Hope they're having fun now! Strangely, I am enjoying the peace and quiet without her endless yakking. I watched all 17 episodes of Korean drama Who Are You? and one of the themes covered was the father and daughter relationship. The 20-year-old daughter became devastated and felt regrets only when her father passed on. She wished she had done the things she's never done for him while he was still alive, like putting on the band-aid on his forehead for that smarting burn. The very next day he was killed in a planned accident.
I hope this pride in me disappears quickly enough. Sometimes, I just don't want to get closer with my family because I want to protect myself. I am too tired of this cycle of getting near to them and being hurt by words, remarks, quarrels, etc. And I thought it'd be better to be in my own world so I get more immune to hurts. And then I realized, it's impossible to have close friendships with other people because I have closed up my heart. I feel sick of being tired.
On another note, I am scared of becoming like people I know, who lead poor lives not because they are in financially weak positions, but because they get unhappy over the slightest things and they are never, ever satisfied. They don't have joy in their lives. Between having an open heart, loving, getting hurt but still continuing to be open and to love, and getting hurt, never recovering, becoming bitter and always griping, I will of course choose the former. At least I know, God is there to heal, even if there are a million hurts.
And there's my current favorite theme song from K-drama Who Are You.
Enjoy!
This is my current favorite Mandarin song, sung by Super Junior M, a part Korean and part Chinese group.
From deep within a desire to succeed erupts. This force makes me want to push away all negative influences and set my face to be better at my work, managing my time and finances, and life. I want to dedicate myself to personal development and I know only good things will come out of this. Sometimes, you need to encourage yourself. You need to love yourself, because you can't get away from yourself.
I am so glad that Super Junior exists. This group of thirteen gorgeous and almost delectable Korean guys are immensely talented in singing, dancing, acting, emceeing, and they have such great personalities. My free time will be spent on YouTube watching them do what they do best, and chuckling at their "adorkable" antics on variety shows they appear on. Ranked as one of the top boybands in Korea, they are also hugely popular in Taiwan, China, Thailand and Malaysia. They had kickstart a Asia Tour recently, sweeping fans in these countries off their feet.
See eye candy in picture below:
Front row, left to right - Ryeowook, Sungmin, Kibum, Donghae, Eunhyuk
Back row, left to right - Kyuhyun, Kangin, Heechul, Siwon, Hankyung, Yesung, Leeteuk, Shindong
Cute Overload has the most wonderful captures of animals in the most ridiculously cute poses. Look at the gem of these two photos in this week's entries. For your visual pleasure, a hedgehog with 'tunnel vision':
This CNY period saw me eating copious amounts of food and drink because it is just the season to binge with family and friends. Feasting on barbequed sweet meat, tarts and pies, nuts, alcohol, steamboat meals and a few more dinners in between are what filled our time together, besides watching TV and playing cards.
1st Day: My parents woke up early on the first day of Chinese New Year and by the time I woke up past noon, they have already gone to my maternal grandmother's place at Tampines with my youngest brother. My younger sister, brother and I made a visit to my paternal grandmother's house where my aunts and cousins gather before we joined my parents and youngest brother.
(I have a big family and if it helps you read better, I'm the second of five children. I have an elder sister who is 28 and married, I'm the 26-year-old kid, I have a younger sister aged 24 and two younger brothers aged 20 and 17.)
The apartment was bustling with my relatives whom I rarely see. I love my grandma and was glad to see her. She is getting on years but still going strong. Each time we visit her, she would be working in the kitchen with my aunt and mum to whip up delicious dishes that will cover the entire table top.
The same awkwardness remains because my siblings and I hardly get to mix with uncles, aunts and cousins from this side of the family, and when I was younger, I would wish that the hours pass more quickly so we could leave for home. I still left the place earlier than planned with my siblings save for my younger brother who opted to remain. We headed for my brother-in-law's place in Tanah Merah with my elder sister. Thinking back, maybe it could have been a better option staying put and getting to know those relatives I don't meet often. After all, occasions for us to gather aren't aplenty.
We returned with giveaways from my elder sister's place, who parted with her unused branded makeup and skin care items. My dresser now sits products from Dermalogica, SKII, Origins, Shu Uemura and Opi. An uncle from my mum's family passed around a paper bag filled with other cosmetic items, from which I chose a bottle of Biotherm loose powder, Lancome sunblock and a tube of mascara. My mum got Crabtree and Evelyn and Vichy skin care items, and my aunt Estee Lauder eyeshadow, lip color and blush palettes.
2nd Day: I watched Taiwan pop king Jay Chou in action for the first time in the theatre with my younger sister, brother, aunts and a same-age cousin. Jay starred as a basketball player with unbeatable aiming skills and mean kungfu abilities in a feel-good comedy flick titled 'Kungfu Dunk'. My, he is cool! I find his uncleardictionmumblejumble way of speaking sexy. He looked especially hot in suits like this:
Jay Chou looked quite a stunner in a crisp, black suit in the movie, and may I also gush about the hoodie-sweatshirt-and-trackpants look he pulled off very well. Still, his stylist should have left the sleeves in the above picture alone and ironed the cuffs...
My cousin drove us back to his house after the movie and we spent the entire night feasting some more, watching cable movies and playing cards. I love family dinners and it was especially funny when my aunt referred to her two sons as "women under post-natal confinement" because they don't like feeling the chilly morning wind. We got home at one-thirty in the morning after the jolly time together. I stayed up past five after downing a potent mug of coffee my brother made. The caffeine kicked in like a double espresso's, but my brother who also drank a mug he made for himself, fell asleep like it didn't matter. Come Sunday, I will look for a bottle of good coffee powder and coffee press for my coffee-loving brother.
3rd Day: I woke up at three in the afternoon after my mum came in and announced that my second uncle will fetch us two and a half hours later. My circadian rhythm is wrecked! I reached his house by myself at six-thirty and almost all members of the Lim clan were there. My uncle, being an awesome host, poured me a glass of red wine as a welcome drink. I think my liver overworked these days, but I'm not complaining. : ) We feasted, made merry, watched TV and played Blackjack. My uncle's wife made tasty dishes like deep-fried prawns in batter, braised pork in vinegar, a gigantic steamed fish, and more. Our bellies were certainly happy after such a satisfying meal. CNY holidays are meant to be relished and I love that our families did so. :)
I prepared kimchi fried rice with kimchi bought from the supermarket at Shaw's Isetan for lunch today. I grew enamoured of the fermented cabbage after tasting it at the Korean food court stall my dear friend April brought me to. Mixing the cabbage, its spicy juice that consists mainly of vinegar, salt and red pepper, and an assortment of other ingredients with rice in the pan was easy enough for me. I saw how the rice turn orangey-red and couldn't wait to taste it. Verdict? I liked the crunchiness of the vegetables and that the juice seasoned every grain of rice with mild spiciness. Well, I just wish for packaged kimchi to be available at more supermarkets and that they cost cheaper. The two packets I bought at said supermarket cost me a whopping $17!
***
Have you ever had one of those days when you get up feeling grouchy and ready to snap at anyone? Today is it. I think it meant that PMS has struck.
For sure, I thought it was a cleverly photoshopped picture submitted to www.cuteoverload.com (where else?) until I read the comments that such hybrid mammals really exist. Love called out to Mr. Zebra and Ms. Donkey, they made out, and Ms. Donkey popped out 'lil Zebkey? Donkbra? Zeedonk? Anyhow, the kiddo looks really cool.
Addendum: Wikipedia says they exist, and that they are called zebroids or zebra mules. Other names include zebrass, zebronky (!), zeedonk, zebadonk, zenkey, zebrinny, or deebra. Nature is awesome!
I love the good food that mama cooks so much, I've forgotten my resolution of shedding 10 kilos. I still run regularly to make the 'feel good' hormones flow. Dieting starts tomorrow! Skippadeedo!
The big news dropped on 8 Jan 08, after a call from the Operations VP which I didn't pick up. I had left my mobile phone at home the whole day. At ten-thirty, I returned a call from my colleague and there we had it, the entire company was to go on Garden Leave for an entire week. Oh my, it was so telling what was to happen. Words of comfort were exchanged, frayed emotions were dealt with right during that phone conversation, and determined quests to look for new opportunities were made. We are so getting over it already. Big lesson learnt -- salaried people must never work for start-up companies. We are moving on and heading for greener pastures. All sixty of us.
Note to self: Never, ever give in to emotional eating. Even more so when it is late in the night.
Today's 14 Jan, the day Korean star Gong Yoo will enlist into army for two years. God knows which unit or whatever dangerous missions he will have to undergo during his stint, but I know a celebrity like him will receive treatment of a "different kind", for sure.
At times, I wonder why on earth would anyone care about famous people like Britney Spears and Paris Hilton and Ayumi Hamasaki, because they don't even know we exist. I mean, we even saw Britney panty-less. We know Paris Hilton has traction alopecia. We know Ayumi uses mineral make-up, likes to eat biscuits and collect white stuff for her room. We know intimate stuff about them but they don't even know we exist. To them, each of us are lumped collectively into a noun called 'fans'. This point of view comes about when I tire myself by fantasizing thinking too much about Gong Yoo a celeb and I am glad for it.
Life goes on -- onwards to our own aspirations. Onwards to fulfilling them!
On a totally random note, see these two cute pictures from www.cuteoverload.com:
One of the best animals to rear. White, smiley, cute and stupid.
The website insisted that these cute bears were practising their karate chops. Heh-heh.
Have you ever been surrounded by people whom you love but have little idea how to extend hope to other people, because they have been overwhelmed with so much sorrows? Everything that comes out of their mouths are about doom and gloom. I don't know if you have negative people in your life, but not spending so much time with them helps, especially if you are also going through some unpleasant situations. I know, this sounds so selfish. Negative people have pains in their lives and they need the comfort all the more. But, if you want your down season to be as short as possible so you can actually get on with life and then help them, it will do good to steer clear of pity parties with them for the time being. Ooh how I want to be happy!
My sister bought Ayumi's newest album and here is a title from it. Going for a short run now. Ta!
There's nothing not to love about this dreamy Korean celebrity when he can act, sing, play the piano and model. He looks sooo damn good in anything with that perfectly-sculpted body. Gong Yoo starred in a string of movies and dramas and his latest appearance in a k-drama was Coffee Prince, which is quite a sensation in other Asian countries beyond Korea. Coffee Prince is adapted from a novel of the same name, written by Lee Sun Mi. She was later roped in to script the story for the small screen.
My drama-loving brother bought the DVDs and they are now permanently in my room, feeding my obsession for good Korean soap operas. I've watched it thrice because the plot and actors were beyond superb. Gong Yoo and the lead actress, Yeh Eun Hye, (frrom Princess Hours) won the Favorite On-Screen Couple in the 2007 MBC Drama Awards. The 1.84m hunk also took home the Most Popular Actor by Netizens and Excellence Acting Award for Coffee Prince.
Story synopsis: Love rectangle develops amongst tomboy Go Eun Chan (Yeh Eun Hye), prince charming Choi Han-Keol (Gong Yoo), cousin Choi Han-Seong (Lee Seon-Gyoon) and artist Han Yu-Juk (Chae Jeong-an). Pretty boys -- who work as baristas -- and their love interests add the spice to an already scintillating storyline. The story also borders slightly on homosexual love. This article sums up the charm of the 17-episode series. Click here if you want to read fabulous recaps of each episode, complete with screencaps and songs.
It was later reported that Lee only had Gong Yoo in mind when she wrote the adaptation for the TV station. In an interview after the series were aired, she shared that Gong Yoo's Coffee Prince character as Choi Han-Keol was exactly what she has imagined -- "a boy as well as a man, as well as difficult to please... who went through the process of naturally changing into someone who's able to express his inner emotions."
I've included a clip below that features Gong Yoo singing to Eun Chan in the show:
It was only when I searched for Gong Yoo-related videos in YouTube that I realized he has such massive fan followings. And needless to say, he became quite the endorsement king, being cast in TV commerials for products from health drinks to ramen to handphones.
Another clincher is that this guy can really, really sing! His albums will sell multi-platnimum if he decides not to act anymore. (Heavens forbid!) Let me show you:
Thud-worthy, no? And thus began my search to cure my Coffee Prince withdrawal symptoms -- by trawling the Internet for more Gong Yoo-related clips and news. I read that he will serve a mandatory national service come 14 Jan 08, for two years. Omo, that's an awfully long time... Gong Yoo oppa, you know your fans will wait for your return to the entertainment scene. Well, I will! Saranghae!
P/S: Posting the picture below because he is more droolicious than his half-eaten donut:
Show us what you hope Santa brings you.
A dinner date with him will be nice...
I'm totally infatuated with this man
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*fangirly scream*
Smiling despite massive amounts of cellulite. Oh how I need to learn from the whale!
