Sunday, July 30, 2006
Taken from Debbie's blog, how's this for a pic with the prettiest, chummiest, chattiest, funny and flirty paaaaaarty buddy DEBBIE YONG? Hahaha.
On the coveted central podium on Mambo Night, a place which takes true courage to tread upon, especially for us clueless-about-mambo-moves swakoos.
With 2 mambo nights in a row and yesterday's foray into butter factory, she's so teaching me the Penn lifestyle of turning my blood into alcohol.
he rocked the party at 9:21 AM |
I really, really, really, want my item to shine at this year's Rapture concert. And I know that I'll feel like shit if it turns out nothing short of spectacular.
Yet, our performance on Saturday's vetting left much to be desired. I've got a nice, safe item in which everyone knows his/her steps, yet easily passed off as just another school item. At least, that's the feeling I got from watching the video. Hell, I know my dancers can do it, i've seen them shine during rehearsals before, I've been blown away by their pulsating energy and magical blocking changes before, so why, why, why did it turn out so crappy on Saturday?
It ain't about my ego, or our image, or how many "wah your item's damn nice" comments we get anymore. Superficial credit, or even supportive applause from the audience, would hardly be worth the effort spent rehearsing for this concert.
With the amount of time (3 times a week since May) and money spent, the amount of stress, shit, frustrations, sweat and tears sacrificed, it isnt about what other people think about the item anymore. It's now how WE feel about it, how WE are gonna watch the post-concert video, smile and think to ourselves that it was all worth it. All I have as evidence of our hard work is a silly video (I dont even get to see my own item unfurl in all its glory, cause im dancing in it), which I know I will watch a thousand times over, to validate to myself that it had been a wonderful journey.
And I really, really, really want that to happen. 5 days left to change it from good, to downright powerpacked, hiphopping SPECTACULAR. I need to accomplish it. Like now.
he rocked the party at 8:37 AM |
Thursday, July 27, 2006
...is me and my bruddas.
You know who're your true friends when:
1. They stand in line at the Zouk queue for you for 45 mins, and endure the embarrassment of getting chased away by the bouncer, while you rush down from dance rehearsal.
2. They buy you a graveyard cause you cant get into Phuture.
3. They stick with you through the night, enduring cheesy Mambo songs, even though they'd probably much rather be grooving to R&B.
Clubbing's hardly a bonding activity, but its certainly a good indicator.
he rocked the party at 9:00 PM |
Monday, July 24, 2006
I must say that Ballet Under the Stars (BUTS) on saturday was disappointingly... disappointing. Perhaps I am losing all sense of culture whatsoever, but after last year's little mermaid, I felt that this year's BUTS seemed a tad mundane.
After all, there's only so many times you can say "waaaaah... nice pirouette!" in a night. I found myself zoning out at most of the classical pieces, though I enjoyed trying to piece the dances together with their synopses.
The significance of the items were admittedly portrayed very well, though culturally blur me only had the brainwave to read each synopsis halfway through the various items. Haha.
Saving grace of the evening was Sakura Shimizu's Reflections at Dusk, a really emotive piece exploring "the depths of a woman's emotions as she reflects upon her relationships with the men in her life" Chim huh.
Aiyuh, I shouldnt even criticize so much, I cant even dance for shit myself man. Still, every BUTS occasion is always saved by the opportunity to kick back on a qaint picnic mat, devour a subway sandwich and honey djon chips, drink green tea out of a plastic cup, under the stars. :)
he rocked the party at 9:19 AM |
Friday, July 21, 2006
I admit that dragging my post-work, post-dance rehearsal ass down from NUS all the way to Loof at Odeon Towers for Renhua/Edward/Philip's party wasn't something my exhausted body/mind was looking forward to, but I'm sure glad I did!
It never fails to amaze me what a fantastic time I always have with the Penn seniors. One would think it would be just so difficult to fit into the articulate, sociable, successful and overachieving world of Singapore's overseas scholars, but these fellows just make it so natural. I love it, love being around their infectious chumminess, their smooth charm and sincere attitudes. I love listening to dozens of stories of how X got a Phd in 4 years and how Y started his own business. Or how Z got wasted one night and scored an A for an examination the next day. Honestly, these guys are just... cool. Every meeting just heightens my anticipation on going overseas: the opportunities these guys get exposed to, the adults they develop into, and the experiences they recount with relish is just simply, for the lack of a better word, exciting.
Memorable conversations of the night:
Long-lost "oh-my-gosh-i-used-to-have-a-crush-on-her-in-pri-5" Denise Tan, who successfully passed the conversation test. (in case you dont know, dear reader, my benchmark for a true friendship is being able to pick up where we've left off, even though we havent been in contact for ages)
Ed's girlfriend Michelle + friends on reminiscing SA days and trying to recall the school song
Kendrew and his hwachong seniors on Economics, SMU, and exchange programs
A short but definitely pleasant cabride home with the fantabulous, spontaneous, lovely (enough, enough!) Debbie Yong, the lady whom without with I wouldnt even have known about Penn, and a lifelong friend dear enough for me to pangseh two hot girls to go rescue her from grindy guys during Wednesday's Mambo night. Haha.
he rocked the party at 1:18 PM |
Thursday, July 20, 2006
1 flaming lambo, 2 shots and 1 so-strong-it-slapped-me-silly graveyard later, Nolan gave the quotable quote of the night: "The higher you get, the smoother you are!"
Last night's Zouk was a blast! I've discovered clubbing aint so much about the music, nor the chicks, nor the see-and-be-seen scene anymore. Nope, its about:
-Arriving late and find your buddies re-queuing for you even though they've already gotten a stamp.
-Plans to be smooth and charm the pants off female friends of friends.
-Sharing a one-for-one flaming lambo
-Back slapping and toasting our friendship over yummerific shots
-Mutual dares to down our graveyards in one shot. (Even though we were scared silly by the, in Eugene's words, "every fathermotherson" amount of alcohol in it.
-Back slapping and roaring laughter
-Imagining what a great photo opportunity 4 of us occupying Zouk's 4 urinals would be.
-Meeting the whole world throughout the night
-Prata, ice milo, and relack jacking at Spize
-And a kind gesture to send a totally-wasted-need-to-go-to-work-in-like-2-hours Lionel home.
Cheers to our friendship, my lifelong bruddas :)
he rocked the party at 7:41 AM |
Monday, July 17, 2006
Me, hardly the expert when it comes to Apple products, need your advice dear reader:
Should I fork out a little extra cash (well technically the cash comes from Company X), to purchase a MacBook Pro instead of a MacBook? Is it worth spending an extra 800 bucks on?
Email me if my tagboard doesnt let you type the lengthy technical explanations that you're so good at.
he rocked the party at 9:24 AM |
Nolan and Eugene seem to think that I reallyreallyreally look like this guy:
Oh my freakin gawwrsh. Can it be any worse?
he rocked the party at 8:11 AM |
Sunday, July 16, 2006
Recent events have triggered a strong dislike for the Establishment, whether its political, corporate, beauracratic, or any of its other forms. I hate 'em all. Damn their regulations and restrictions, their faceless indifference and worst of all, their pretence in showing concern for the masses.
'S funny, I used to love it so much.
he rocked the party at 9:06 AM |
Saturday, July 15, 2006
It's funny how I naturally become a little high every time I watch Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow. It happened in Pirates 1, and now 2 hours after Pirates 2, I've found myself walking glazed-eyed, limp wristed, and silly smiling home. I also irritated the hell out of everyone who called me. You just cant help but envy/admire Jack Sparrow, who just seems to enjoy himself so much, no matter how much shit he's in. Savvy?
Preparations for Penn are underway! I've confirmed my housing (King's Court English!), my meal plan, medical insurance, penncard and flight ticket (25th August at 2350, sendoffs anyone?). I've FINALLY received my I-20 so I can go apply for a visa. Finalization of courses and purchasing of my brand new laptop (MacBook Pro? Hmmm... tempting!) should be confirmed by this week as well. Oh hurrah for the anticipation of a brand new lifestyle such mundane things can create.
"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."
-Mark Twain
he rocked the party at 10:21 AM |
Monday, July 10, 2006
Well, this is probably the first time I'm blogging about something even remotely related to soccer, so hooray! It's a momentous moment.
Was out watching the final between France and Italy with buddies Nolan, Eugene, Ervin, and a long missing Kuan Sian on sunday, one of those im-damn-stupid-for-staying-up-cause-im-already-exhausted-and-have-work-tomorrow things, but who could resist being part of the 1.4 billion people watching it at the same time? A truly epic event indeed.
Anyway, I'm ashamed to say I know nuts about soccer cause i dont have cable and im too lazy to wake up at night to follow it anyway. However, I was supporting France because 1)I at least know a little something about Zidane and Henry to respect their playing, and 2) The New Paper reported that 7 out of 8 fengshui masters polled (and not "poled" as Nolan thinks) say France was going to win, so I wanted to see if fengshui would prevail against the experts, who were all gunning for Italy.
Well of course, we all know what happened. Zidane headbutted Materazzi, got sent off, Trezeguet missed a penalty and Italy went on to win the World Cup. I was actually amazingly disappointed. Its such a bitch when an obviously more deserving team loses, plus my heart goes out to Zidane, whose retirement game had to be mauled by such an event.
I dont know what Materazzi said to Zidane, but unless its "I'll give you 20 million Euros to headbutt me on my chest right now", there's no reason why he should have done that. Dammit man.
Still, its a beautiful game. I might just become a fan after all.
he rocked the party at 7:11 PM |
I dont particularly support our local blogreties, but I couldnt help but feel some indignation when I heard about the editors of Today suspending Mr Brown's column for THAT article, which apparently was "calculated to encourage cynicism and despondency, which can only make things worse, not better, for those he professes to sympathise with," according to Mediacorp.
K. Bhavani, press secretary to Mr Lee Boon Yang, wrote: "It is not the role of journalists or newspapers in Singapore to champion issues, or campaign for or against the government."
Well, at the risk of being a "partisan player in politics", I say a big POOI to that.
It seems MICA has a problem with journalists like Mr Brown's use of "humour" to portray the general sentiments of the public in a lighthearted, yet effective manner. Well, I'm sorry if those views arent very pleasant, but the fact is that the sentiments are THERE. The public feels it, Mr Brown echo-ed it, and shutting him up is only going to make it worse.
In all due respect, let's say our views are misunderstood. Then come out into the open and challenge them then. Show us that you have nothing to hide, and that the situation now is justifiable. Shutting the "despondents" up puts us right alongside the likes of North Korea and Stalin's Russia, and only serves to confirm our sentiments, that the authorities arent man enough to face up to criticisms.
Was the whole pre-elections saga of encouraging more open discussion, and more exposure on opposition views just a major fiasco?
he rocked the party at 8:33 AM |
Friday, July 07, 2006
I believe that the most erotic action in the entire world, more than any form of sexual activity, would be a kiss between strangers. The kind that builds from a spontaneous hovering of quivering lips, followed by that magical brushing of lip-against-lip, and finally culminating in a passionate breath holding, head carressing, lip pressing, tongue-wrestling session. Passion at its best indeed.
(No, contrary to what you're thinking, the above didnt actually happen to me. The thought just occured to me while I was watching that brainless-friday-movie Just My Luck, or more specifically, the scene where the leads first kiss)
Along the same line, I'm also wondering if its possible to make love below the Effiel Tower. I'm sure someone's tried.
he rocked the party at 11:18 AM |
Thursday, July 06, 2006
Perhaps its the recent discovery that office life is as monotonous as hell. Perhaps its my current dead-end internship. Perhaps its the waking up at 6 every morning and joining the thousands of office minions in rush hour. Perhaps its my E-Myth book (of which I've only read 4 chapters). Perhaps its the inspiration of various Penn alumni who'd succeeded in their own businesses.
I've been bitten by the entrepreneural bug. I was discussing the possibility of opening a nice beachfront/rooftop/alfresco bar with Nolan yesterday. I think I'd make a good bar owner. I'd serve all the alcoholic drinks with horny names. And I'd hire that lady who sings "dooo dooo doooooo" at the Mezzanine.
he rocked the party at 7:18 AM |
Monday, July 03, 2006
I sometimes find myself not being able to decide which version of myself I prefer:
1) The aspiring pre-overseas scholar, with plans to travel the world, ambitions to become president, flirt shamelessly and conquer the world, totally immersed in the extreme work/play lifestyle, with no time to eat, sleep, pee, or
2) The boy with the simple life, who longs to walk by the beach with a lovely homey lady ala chinese music video, spending days reading The Undercover Economist at a random Starbucks, and having prata with his buddies.
he rocked the party at 9:11 AM |
Sunday, July 02, 2006
As if my lovely name hasn't been defiled by gross mispronunciation already. (Working at Recruit Express has exposed me to the many different pronunciations of my name: from "lional, to leonil, to leoner...") Now, there's a freakin Singaporean mascot named after me as well. Oh goodness.
he rocked the party at 7:48 AM |
