Thursday, December 31, 2009
Ninety-Eight
Dear God,
If You're out there (and I know You are),
If You can hear me (and I know You can),
Please
Give me
the Strength
to accept the things
I cannot change
the Courage
to change the things
that I can
and
the Wisdom
to know
the difference.
I think,
together,
You and me,
we're Unstoppable.
So I'm in if You are.
8:54 PM
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Ninety - Seven
It's inevitable. We already bought
stationary, new shoes, new bags. I've already gone to meetings discussing and planning what to do for the whole stretch of next year; I've gone to group studies; I've started on my 2010 book. It's inevitable.
School's starting.
A part of me is peeved, of course. But a tiny part of me misses the note-taking, the revising, the sitting in class. I dare not say it outloud, though. I don't miss it
that much.
I wish they would have school at home. I mean, I love doing work and keeping myself occupied. I'm just too lazy to actually get up and get ready and get out. Pajamas all day long, I say!
Anyway. I guess you can't enjoy the holidays without first enduring school. You know, no light without the dark kind of thing.
Ok! So I'll see you around, um, June next year. So much to do, so little time.
(BTW, I just realised that I don't have a post 'Ninety'. I just skipped it and went straight to Ninety-One. Wadda.)
9:07 PM
some nina time, oyeahhhh :DDDD
HAI GUYSIES HOWS YOU?
we're going to dinner. at bistro. at courts.
i want meat. but i dont want to eat too much yknow?
ok.
ok.
ok.
i am so running out of ideas.
kthxbai.
1:01 AM
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Ninety-Five
Instructions: Write down a list of your top 30 favourite artists in no particular order. Then answer away!
Q: What do you like about 12?
A: (James Morrison) His deliciously searing voice. I think he may have one of the nicest male vocals out there.
Q: What is your favorite lyric by 20?
A: (Carrie Underwood) Umm I don't really listen to her because of amazing lyrics. In fact, I only know two songs that are originally hers - the rest are covers. So I'll pick a cover: 'Charity is a coat you wear twice a year'.
Q: Which song by 8 describes you the best?
A: (Queen) I think... 'Bohemian Rhapsody'. Because that song starts off as sad and slow, then blows into this crazy goodness. And I'd like to think that I'm sad, and crazy, but good.
Q: Which song by 26 would you play on your wedding?
A: (John Legend) 'Save Room'. I think that's nice. And the most fitting out of all his songs I know. Which is only like, 3.
Q: If you had to listen to one song by 2 everyday for the rest of your life, what would it be?
A: (Coldplay). 'Yellow'. My favourite love song.
Q: Which song by 30 makes you want to dance?
A: (Greenday) 'Holiday'. Hahah not really a dance song, but it makes me want to jump and clap. And that's pretty much the only kind of dancing I'll do.
Q: If you could have written one song by 15, which song would it be?
A: (Nerina Pallot) Ooh, lovely songwriter. I wish I could say 'Everybody's Going to War', but there's a part about God in it which I would never say, so 'Sophia'.
Q: Which song by 22 do you like the least?
A: (Kelly Clarkson) 'My Life Would Suck Without You', or something like that. I don't get that song.
Q: If you had to sing one song by 17 on stage, which would it be?
A: (KT Tunstall) Hahahah it's so hard to pull off her songs. Umm 'Other Side of the World'.
Q: Which song by 5 would you sing to your child one day?
A: (Regina Spektor) 'Laughing With'. It's about how people laugh at God and makes joke about Him, but when they're in trouble, they desperately start praying.
Q: If someone knowing a song by 11 impresses you, what song would that be?
A: (Death Cab for Cutie) 'Little Bribes', because that's not one of their popular ones. But, really, any song will impress me quite a little.
Q: Which song by 3 do you listen to when you're sad?
A: (Jason Mraz) 'Mr. Curiousity', which is full of mysterious lyrics. Jason Mraz just sounds down in it.
Q: Which song by 24 inspires you?
A: (Adele) Ummmmmmm 'Chasing Pavements'. I think it would be inspiring if I were in that situation, but I'm not. Maybe someday.
Q: Which song by 10 would make a good start to your day?
A: (Demi Lovato) That girl has a wicked voice! 'Trainwreck' would give me that oomph.
Q: Which song by 28 would you sing along to in the bathroom?
A: (Rascal Flatts) 'God Bless the Broken Road', which I have sung in the bathroom, actually. So my answer is 100% legit.
Q: Which song by 18 would you like to dedicate to someone?
A: (The Script) They're mostly love songs! So 'We Cry', because it's not one. It's about broken dreams in a broken world.
Q: Which song by 13 would you listen to when angry?
A: (Keane) 'Is It Any Wonder', which is a bitter bitter song. Perfect!
Q: Which song by 16 would you listen to continuously for an hour?
A: (Five for Fighting) Aiyoo, one hour ah? 'Superman'.
Q: Which song by 6 do you think is underrated?
A: (The Fray) 'Over My Head'. I don't think people fully realise the beauty of the lyrics and the real meaning behind it.
Q: Which song by 23 would you play in the car?
A: (Lenka) Right now, I'm liking 'Trouble is a Friend'.
Q: Which song by 1 moves you the most?
A: (Switchfoot) What song doesn't? =D 'The Blues':
'It'll be a day like this one when the world caves in'.
Q: Which song by 29 would lull you to sleep?
A: (Christine Aguilera) I had to check with google to spell her last name, hahah. 'The Voice Within'.
Q: Which song by 21 would you recommend to others?
A: (David Cook) 'Permanent'.
Q: Which song by 4 would you like to direct the music video?
A: (My Chemical Romance) I don't know if I can capture their style, but I would pick 'Teenagers'. Their video clip for that was a little weird. And I'm a teenager, after all.
Q: Which song by 9 would your parents approve of?
A: (Rachael Yamagata) 'Elephants'. Her songs are pretty soft and docile, so I don't think they'd have objections. Don't know if they'll like it, though.
Q: Which song by 25 would you like to be dedicated to you?
A: (Dashboard Confessional) "Carry This Picture'. It's quite sweet.
Q: Which song by 19 would you like to do a cover of?
A: (Travis) 'Closer'. But it would be a terrible cover.
Q: Which song by 14 would you want to play on a romantic date?
A: (Michael Buble) 'Come Fly With Me', because it's romantic but fun.
Q: Which song by 27 would you want to be played at your funeral?
A: (OneRepublic) Hahahahaha 'Apologise'??
'It's too late to apologise...' I don't know, I only have a handful of their songs.
Q: Which song by 4 do you feel lucky to have found?
A: (John Mayer) 'Gravity'. I've had it in my handphone for 3 years now. It's evergreen.
7:57 PM
Ninety-Four
It's hard to know when to give up the fight. Some things you want will just never be right.
5:07 AM
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Ninety-Three
New skin again. I actually made a new one yesterday, but I didn't put it on because it just didn't feel like me (i'm tempted to put in some joke that uses the word 'boomz', but honestly, that thing is alrealdy so old. it annoys, rather.) So I decided to make a different one today. It's about the only thing that happily preoccupies me on the computer, really. That, and scouring the internet for new songs.
I love finding new songs. Whenever I find one that I really really like, I always feel like 'wow. how come i've never heard this before?'. I'd marvel at how amazing it is, and how it's been existing all this while without my realizing it. It makes me think, 'the things i don't know'.
Yes, I admit it: I take music very seriously. I think we all should. Music is an extension of our souls, right? It transcends barriers. For me, when I enjoy or fall in love with a song, I love it completely - not just the voice of the person or the beat of the song, but the lyrics and sound of it too. This is why it's so hard for me to delete songs - because there will always be something about it that I really love. I can't be singing along to one song one day and then chucking it the next.
This is also why I'm not into mainstream songs. I can't really connect with them. They can be nice on the ear, sometimes, but that's about it. I don't
feel anything, which is very very important, because that's what music should do to you. In fact, I'm actually kind of disappointed (and by that I really mean 'kinda sorta pissed') that people I know listen to what I feel is not so good (deep deep in my heart I mean 'crap', but I want to be open-minded) music on the radio. Especially people close to me, like my sisters. I wish they knew what was out there! Still, my sister tells me that my taste in music is boring, so I understand and I accept - to each his own.
10:53 PM
Ninety-Three
I had just about the best Malaysia trip this week, because I made such amazing buys. Seriously. I've never spent this much before - usually I'm the one who's left with the most amount of money on the last day, but this time I only had about 7 RM while Nina, by comparison, had 150 RM. Yeah. But it was so worth my money.
My two favourite buys are:
(1) The Godfather novel by Mario Puzo, for an awesome 35 RM. So ridiculous. I've been meaning to read it for a long while now, but the libraries here strangely don't have it. I actually didn't have enough money to buy this book, but I managed to convice Kak Han and my parents to 'donate a small amount of money to contribute to my literary education'. Score.
I spent all of last night reading it. My eyes had gone itchy from tiredness, but I just had to finish it. I watched the movie today. It was as good as the novel, like LOTR.
(2)
I know!! I had to have it! I hesitated at first, but really, that was just procedure. My heart was already set and my mind made up. No regrets.
Now I'm spending just lolling around with the family: listening to music, playing the computer, playing games, watching TV. I feel at peace. I think I might go to the bathroom and cry the day school reopens.
3:01 AM
Friday, December 18, 2009
Ninety-Two
K, Nina. Updated, like you asked for.
HAHAH IM A CHEETAH (cheater, geddit? geddit?)
SHAH!
7:56 PM
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Ninety-One
You guys! It's tomorrow!! (One of) The highlight(s) of our year.
The day before is usually the worst, because the anticipation kills, but I have to say that I'm having a very good day today. Great, in fact. It's days like these that you are thankful for God-sends like cable and comics. They take your mind off things and pass the time amazingly quick. I just borrowed 2 more Calvin and Hobbes comics (which is actually not only funny, but also at times intellectual, intelligent and philosophical), and I just watched this awesome documentary series 'Battles B.C'. Fun.
I still haven't packed my bag yet. I like to leave that till the end of the day, because then your excitement really builds up, and when you're done, all that's left to do is sleep the night away so that when you wake up, it's finally The Day. A-woooooo-hoo! For now, though, I'll satisfy myself with just making lists. Lists are fun.
This is what it feels like when everything just falls into place. I don't what I did to deserve all this, but I feel like everytime I hope for something, it happens.
Headphones.
Zoo.
Pulau Ubin.
My own hand-made tote bag.
Cable TV.
Super shoes (I don't know what they're really called).
Revamping my playlist.
New Switchfoot songs.
Arbaya.
And yesterday: a bag for my headphones, that I've been wanting for a while.
And tomorrow: Malaysia.
It's not like I work for these things to happen. More often than not, they're just opportunities that unfolded infront of me, ready for the taking. They just, happen. I mean, like, whaaaaat?
Right. See you guys on Saturday.
I am in for a treat. A tur-reeeet.
10:51 PM
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Eighty-Nine
I did it! I've revamped my playlist! Win!
And guess what?
Tomorrow's Saturday,
And then it's Sunday,
And then it's Monday!
And Monday is Malaysia!
6:14 PM
Eighty-Eight
12:00 AM
Wednesday, December 09, 2009
Eighty-Seven
The first thing I did this morning, after the obligatory butt-scratching and eye-rubbing, was mop the house. I'm not kidding. Well, I am, a little, if you want to be all technical and be an ass about it (and I mean ass in the sweetest of ways). I had just walked into the living room and sat down on the sofa when, lo and behold, me mother suddenly appeared with a mop and bucket.
"Today I'm going to teach you how to mop." She announced it like I had won the lottery, which
of course I had, because I had never mopped the house before. On hindsight, what my mum said was kinda cute, but not at that time. I didn't say a single word the whole time, just looked at her and followed her instructions, but she didn't make anything of it. I guess she understood. I mean, come on! I hadn't even had my breakfast yet!
But I didn't complain, for two reasons (this is a tip, kids, write this down). First: because you shouldn't. Not only is it rude and marks you as a lazy person, it pisses people off. And you don't want to piss my mum off. Second: acceptance of chores marks you as an obedient child, and this will enable you to reap much rewards. People are happy when you do the things they tell you to do, so they're easier and nicer on you. I knew this, which was why I even did the dishes without being told after mopping. You know, bonus points. And now, what am I doing? Sitting in front of the computer, drinking a tall glass of iced milo and eating a delicious plate of eggs with mushrooms and buttered prawns. Technically, Lily's supposed to play before me, but even
she couldn't argue that I deserve it more. See? See?
Just. Rewards. God is Just.
Gosh, Malaysia is coming up veh veh fast. Tomorrow's the deadline that I had set for myself for revamping the playlist. I have to do it tomorrow. I've been looking forward to this day for a long while, but looking back at the songs that I'm going to delete makes me reluctant. I'm going to miss them. I told Sabrina about it, because she regularly updates her songs. Like, really: I'd give her a song one day, and she'd delete it the next. She had no trouble, so I wanted some of that sage wisdom. Her advice?
"DON"T BE AN IDIOT. They're just songs. In fact...delete them all!!!"
"Delete them all?!" WTH??
"Yah!!" She gets excited for no apparent reason. Bloodlust.
"What about the Switchfoot ones?!" I have 32 of their songs. It's a collection full of hard labour.
"Ahh, JUST DELETE!!" (She really yelled. She does that a lot.)
All changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy; for what we leave behind us is a part of ourselves; we must die to one life before we can enter another.- Anatole France
4:24 PM
Monday, December 07, 2009
Eighty-Six
So we had a huge dinner at Breeks last night, celebrating my parents' 24th wedding anniversary. It was great fun. I had this huge plate of pasta, which was not only very very good but also, like I said, huge, which is actually quite rare for a plate of pasta. For me, anyway. I've never had a plate with a satisfactory amount of pasta 'till last night. Then I had a couple of bites off of Nina's chicken; and then we had this HUMONGOUS bowl of ice cream appropriately called MASSIVE ATTACK. I am
not exaggerating. I think they should have given us a trough instead; it was hard to eat from a bowl with 6 other people clamoring to do the same. Needless to say, I got plenty of ice cream running down my scarf by the end of the night. Needless to say, but I said it anyway. I never understood why people used that phrase.
Naturally, being sugar-high, and the area around Breeks being wide and empty, my sisters and I proceeded to run and jump around like beautiful maniacs. It gave us stomach-aches. Awesome.
PS: Nina asks me to inform you guys that she was the one who fervently cleaned our table in the restaurant, regardless of the fact that there were waiters around who could do the jobs themselves, and regardless of the fact that it left a gigantic wad of tissue wads on the table, which was disgusting.
Next event: Malaysia Trip!
We can start counting down now!
5:22 PM
Sunday, December 06, 2009
Eighty-Five
Your Top 10 Personality Traits (http://www.signalpatterns.com)
1. Introspective
You like your own company; you're a very interesting person. Tracking your own mental processes, knowing what you're thinking and why you do what you do, is important to you. Often, what's going on in your mind is more compelling than what's going on outside. For the most part, those with a high score on the "introspective" trait enjoy reading, taking long walks, learning new things, and other solitary activities.
You are not someone who is constantly looking to be among a group of friends; you never feel bored when you are by yourself.
2. Original
You are constantly coming up with new ideas. For you, the world as it exists is just a jumping-off place; what's going on inside your mind is often more interesting than what's going on outside.
You don't feel that the road to success is to be a realist and stick to the program; you never stop yourself from coming up with new ideas or telling the world what you're thinking about.
3. Curious
You like to get to the bottom of things. You're not content knowing what someone did; you want to know why they did it.
You don't simply take things as they are and move on; you're not content skimming along on the surface; you don't feel you're wasting time by digging for the meaning of things.
4. Innovative
You come up with a lot of ideas; if one doesn't work out, there's always another waiting in the wings. You often have interesting solutions to difficult problems. You're practically a one-person brainstorming session.
You are less interested changing the world than in dealing with things as they are. Unlike those who spend all their time trying to solve problems, you prefer to zero in on things that work and stick with them.
5. Aesthetic
You appreciate art, beauty, and design; you know that they are not superficial but absolutely crucial to living the good life. You have good taste, and you're proud of it. Those with a high score on the "aesthetic" trait are often employed in literary or artistic professions, enjoy domestic activities — doing things around the house — and are enthusiastic about the arts, reading, and travel.
You don't think it's pretentious to be moved by art and beauty. You're not one of those who believe it doesn't matter what something looks like as long as it does its job.
6. Intellectual
You are thoughtful, rational, and comfortable in the world of ideas. People find you interesting to talk to. You're the living embodiment of the saying "You learn something new every day." In general, those with a high score on the "intellectual" trait are employed in such fields as teaching and research, and are enthusiastic about reading, foreign films, and classical music.
You do not avoid abstract conversation, experimenting with new ideas, or studying new things. It bores you to stick to the straight and narrow of what you already know.
7. Organized
You like to think a task through before you embark on it. If it's the slightest bit complicated, you make a list (even if it's only in your mind) and methodically work your way through it. When you have a goal in mind, you're not satisfied until you reach it.
You are not one of those people who ignore the details, and you don't understand how anyone can get anything accomplished without thoughtful planning ahead of time.
8. Creative
You are good at solving problems, coming up with original ideas, and seeing connections between things, connections that most other people miss. People with a high score on the "creative" trait often are employed in such fields as finance and scientific research, and enjoy avant garde and classical music as well as literary fiction and scholarly non-fiction.
You do not shun abstractions and concepts in favor of the concrete and tangible.
9. Accessible
You're comfortable expressing yourself in words and actions, with no self-censorship. You believe that if someone doesn't like what they see it's not your problem, but theirs. A high score on the "accessible" trait suggests that you have a lot of friends, socialize often, and enjoy rap/hip-hop music (NOOZZZ).
You don't see the need to keep your thoughts to yourself, or to have a zone of privacy that encompasses only yourself and a small circle of friends and relatives.
10. Scrupulous
You are an honest, fair person. You don't lie or cheat to get ahead. You treat others with respect and hope for the same in return.
You do not feel that you are above the rules that everyone else follows; you are definitely not willing to do whatever it takes to get ahead.
Mmm. I love a good personality test. I wonder if that makes me narcissistic.
5:17 PM
Saturday, December 05, 2009
Eighty-Four
What you basically do in Ubin, every year without fail, is go cycling, play badminton, eat lots of barbecued food, and mix and mingle. That's it. Every year, for about 7 hours, that's all we do. And yet it never gets old. It's tradition now - I love it.
2:37 AM
Thursday, December 03, 2009
Eighty-Three
I'm on a mission!
It's my latest project. I'm rediscovering my type of music. It's like a playlist spring-clean: I'm sweeping out all the old boring songs, keeping the precious ones, and bringing in the new. Because music is a part of a person's soul and identity, and I want the songs that I have to really reflect the kind of person I am. That, and the fact that finding new songs that you like is always fun. It's like a breath of fresh air.
So far I'm trying out popular alternative rock bands, like Radiohead, U2, Dashboard Confessional and Death Cab for Cutie. Radiohead is okay; U2, despite being legendary and are the idols of Switchfoot, I don't really get; and Dashboard Confessional is pretty good. But Death Cab for Cutie is a revelation for me. I've hit the jackpot; I really really like what I'm hearing so far. I'm thrilled.
6:27 PM
Wednesday, December 02, 2009
Eighty-Two
So!
Good news: we got cable! Yeah, cable! The last time we had that was when I was, like, 5. It came yesterday for our viewing pleasure - it's got us all psyched.
The bad part? My younger sisters are hogging the remote. They're all out there in the living room watching channels like E!, MTV, and style, which I think defeats the whole purpose of getting cable, because the reason any sane person would get it in the first place is so that you can watch the things that you ordinarily can't. So instead of watching awesome documentaries or great cartoons, they're watching music videos, gossip news and make-overs, which is
stupid, because that's what they watch when they're not switching on TV anyway. If they're on the computer, they watch music videos and read gossip blogs. If they're not reading high school drama books, they're reading tabloid magazines. So
stupid. The injustice of it all.
Gosh. I need some support!
4:40 PM
