a gloomy christmas - happy holidays

It's almost Christmas but it doesn't feel like it. 

Everyone with whom I've shared this opinion has blamed the season's lack of cheer to the current economic recession and the impending economic gloom for 2009 and beyond. I suppose it's a valid explanation considering Maslow's hierarchy of needs. If the foundation of human needs - physiological and safety, are in danger, surely the desire to revel in the joyous occasion of christmas, often marked by excessive behaviour (eating, drinking, partying, and most of all, buying) will be dampen. And particularly for this city, the "Christmas feel" comes from the efforts put into decorations and ambience-setting by malls, landmarks and the like. And it's difficult not to notice how very much more modest this year's efforts have been in preparation for the upcoming holiday season.

How very Singaporean to experience the 'feel' only when it's shoved in our faces. 

Anyway, on a personal level, I am feeling the general lethargy the city seems to be emanating. Although everyone who's still employed is well aware that we need to work doubly hard to ensure our economic viability amidst the looming uncertainties, it's rather difficult to be motivated especially when it comes to the month of December. Having associated this month with Christmas and thus the holidays and the accompanying celebrations, all I want to do is have a major holiday. 

Of course I still drag my ass to work everyday, willing myself to stay focused and concentrate on all the things I have to do. But all I really want to do is to stay home for a Desperate Housewives' marathon. 

Alternatively, I can get down to writing those book reviews I've planned for so long. I've been reading quite a fair bit this year (thankfully!) and have marked down a couple of books worth reveling about. Among those are: 

Lottery - by Patricia Wood

How I Live Now - by Meg Rosoff 

Me Talk Pretty One Day - by David Sedaris 

Hopefully I can start sometime tomorrow. 

Happy holidays everyone. 

leaving some digital footprints

Someone once told me that he didn't like to leave too many digital footprints around, and asked me how I feel about putting my thoughts online, having those who bother to read them discover the change(s) in me as time goes by. Well, internet as a channel of communication has always been sort of a double-edged sword. While its ability to make information easily accessible has certainly made our working life easier, the proliferation of information; making the private public, can make it a dangerous playground for some of us. Just look at what "Rich Barry" did. 

Of course one can argue that it's all a matter of choice. We choose what we'd like to put up online, with full knowledge of the risk involved. Also, just because some of us choose to put up genuine information about ourselves, we shouldn't expect everyone else to do the same. Can't be naive, got to acknowledge that there will definitely always be losers and psychos out there who would pretend to be what they're not, whatever their intention may be. Behind the mask of the computer screen, we can be anyone we want to.

With FB and the like, as well as the multitude of chat rooms, forums, blogs and so on, digital footprints will always be left behind. How much can we erase those footprints. Are we important enough that what we've left behind will matter to anyone at all? 

-END-

Anyway, this is pretty random but I came home to this arrangement on my dining table and thought of it as extremely appropriate. 

kitty affection

Perkins came home today. 

In a box. 

The people from the cremation centre finally delivered him back this morning. The box is exquisite. Even though I didn't actually open it to check if his ashes is truly in there. I just have to believe. I'm thinking about where I can actually keep it since my mom has violently rejected the idea of keeping it in my room. Well... we'll see.

I miss Perkins.

On a much lighter note, we've all noticed Gallie's recent change in behaviour lately. Ever since Perkins' death, he has been unusually affectionate. Le lil' sis attributes it to the fact that he's getting old (and probably realises that it's either humans or no one now that Perkins' gone), while the freakishly devilish Norm keeps saying that "Perkins' soul is inside him" FREAAAKKYY. 

Anyway, here are a couple of pics for proof. 

Okay, so I obsess over my cats. Any problem?

what a beautiful lazy saturday

Saturday afternoon and I'm skipping Ben and Jerry's Chunk Fest for a Desperate Housewives marathon at home, nursing an aching body and a lethargic mind and loving in. The best friend has recently revealed a delightful secret about one of my favourite chocolates - BACI. 

That every single chocolate holds a unique little message about love. 

That got me started on keeping all these little slips of translucent chocolate wrappers containing the messages. Since I wasn't successful in capturing the tiny words on camera, I shall reiterate what I've collected today. 

"We are incomplete alone, that is why we seek another kindred spirit."

"You may forget the face of the beloved, but not his kiss."

Okay this one's cheesy. 

"One in love fears no storm, he fears only the death of love."

And finally, 

"Love invented the rhyming pair." 

What can I say? A real romantic at heart. 

lolcatz pic of the day

more animals

letting my hair down

So I spent last Friday night having a romantic dinner...with my dad at a fantastic Japanese restaurant near Copthorne King. Followed by drinks at a cafe nearby with live music. Nothing fancy, just carrot juice. It seemed like a quiet night, only it turned out to be just a little more exciting after hours. 

We went to MOVIDA!

More pics coming. 

Early in the night. Still relatively matte. 

Dali says: "I hate MOVIDA Drinks" (black label on the rocks...didn't quite taste the same. 

2 AM. All greasy but having a blast on the dance floor. 

Sweating like a pig. (My face is a circle)

Pooped! 

-FIN-

what's with...?

What's with drivers who insist on hogging the parking lot just to wait for that one spot near the lift, when the rest of the parking spots in the next few levels are virtually empty? Does it really make that much of a difference, those few seconds of walking? Or is it just the whole kiasuism at work, bent on getting the 'best' spot no matter what. 

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What's with Aunties/Uncles who insist upon riding their bicycles/trishaws on the main road, in CBD, during peak hours? Do they think this is still Singapore in the 1970s? I mean, it takes a lot of self control not to get mad. I know I should be tolerant, and that I shouldn't get mad at really old people who might be doing that to make a living. But what happens when you're the car driving behind he/she who rides on the merging lane, holding up the entire the traffic while the rest of the automobiles behind you start honking at you as if it's your fault? Still keeping cool?

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What's with people who stare? Men who stare and women who stare. Looking's alright. After all, it's virtually impossible to walk on the streets without lingering for more than a second on a person, or persons. But staring is a whole different matter altogether. To be unbearably cliched - 'take a picture, it'll last longer.' I think it's the intrinsic tendency for people to be judgmental. People can claim to be open-minded and non-judgmental, but we are flawed after all, and generally bitchy by nature. So whether or not we voice it out, we still judge people/things/circumstances based on our own code of morality or sense and sensibility. It might not necessarily be bad judgments all the time. People could possibly stare and be thinking, "oh he's so good looking", or "what she's wearing is simply awesome." But stare back at those who stare at you, and very often you can see from their eyes that their judgments aren't necessarily the most favourable towards you. 

Call me skeptical, bitter, whatever. But it's more often than not, true. 

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I think it's sad and slightly sick that as petty humans, we find enjoyment in other people's misery - as long as the misery's not a matter of life and death or "global misery" such as war, starvation...things like that. But say an ex schoolmate who used to have it all - beauty, brains, suitors etc etc has now turned chubby and is stuck in a dead end job. While a part of you might feel sorry for her, the devilish part will secretly rejoice and proclaim that god is fair after all. 

Okay, so you're not that evil. But say a dude who's not the traditional hunk, and is neither exceptionally rich nor talented, exudes so much self-confidence that girls seem to like him despite his not-so-attractive exterior, would you likely be: a. happy for him and think that he deserves it? or b. think: why him? i'm so much better looking/smarter/richer? Now be honest to yourself. Which option more closely reflect what you instinctively feel? 

If you were a girl, and a random hot girl (who's not a model) on the streets shows off her beautiful legs in candy coloured hotpants. Would you be inclined to think: a. ola chica! nice legs! or b. so slutty! 

Now if you happen to spot some cellulite, would you be secretly glad? 

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Anyway, what I'm trying to say is: what's with the lack of consideration, the poison, the bile? 

Take it from the hippies (without the pot), and spread some love. 

Then again, isn't it ironic that here I am, bitchin' about the lack of love?