Sunday, Apr. 27, 2003

Karaoke Diarrhoea!

Went out with my SIM gang today...

Woke up very early cuz I had a terrible diarrhoea. Ate mee kuah for my dinner yesterday night, before meeting Ina, and then at night before sleeping, I binged on roti john with condensed milk. Yes, I guess eating those food brought to me having diarrhoea today too.

Supposed to meet everyone at 1pm Orchard MRT, but due to my diarrhoea when I was about to leave my house, me and Kok Yong were late. Met up with Kok Yong at Jurong East MRT and went there straight where Liping, Naz and Liz were already waiting for us. Orchard's pretty crowded and all of us donated some money for the SARS charity and sported peach ribbon pins on our shirts, except for Kok Yong who refused to wear his.

Went to Far East Plaza Sakura Thai restaurant for the girls' lunch. Nat came in the middle of the lunch from work. Jason called my mobile and asked whether he could meet up with me or at least join us, cuz he needed to wind down and cheer up. After informing the gang and asking them whether it's okay for Jason to join us, I told Jason to meet us straight at Far East.

After the lunch, the 6 of us went down to Bits & Pieces for our goal and agenda for the day, ring-shopping. We decided to each buy a silver ring with different patterns and with our group name, ITYLES engraved on the inside. So there we were creating a ruckus, and we took quite a long time to decide on our ring choices. I don't really wear rings, so I had to rely on the girls to help me choose. Spent almost an hour there.

In the midst of the ring-shopping, Jason came along. After choosing our rings, making our payments and informing the cashier of our group's name to be engraved, we all walked around Level One Far East Plaza shops, looking at the clothes and stuff there, before going back to Bits & Pieces to collect our rings.

Both Naz and Nat had to leave after collecting our rings, while me, Kok Yong, Liz, Liping and Jason walked on to Cuppage for our karaoke session. During lunch, we were all choosing between playing pool, karaoke and bowling. Somehow we ended up favouring karaoke and booked the 5 to 8pm slots.

It is OFFICIAL! I no longer enjoy karaoke! I used to enjoy hanging out and singing with any of my friends at our karaoke sessions, but honestly now I don't.

I have my own reasons. To me, it's just a freaking karaoke session, but it gets annoying and disconcerting to have your friends act like and think they're American Idol judge, Simon Cowell. For God's sake, none of us are professional singers and EVERYONE is out of pitch when singing in karaoke. Nobody's voice is perfect. Everyone is there to enjoy themselves and singing badly should be totally acceptable. Plus nobody's voice suits every song. So it's okay for your singing to be flawed cuz we have to admit, none of us are professional singers.

So it puzzles me that some of us were quite mean-spirited. Everyone appreciates constructive criticisms from our friends in karaoke, and it would be better if they actually help you to improve, but still it's just a freaking karaoke session and all we want is to enjoy ourselves and nobody takes karaoke seriously. I don't recall myself making mean-spirited comments or judging them when my friends were singing? So I don't understand why some of us have to. Plus, I think I didn't really sing that many songs cuz I had no mood to.

And I don't know why, maybe it's just me, but I'm increasingly feeling left out when I go karaoke. Is this just my comeuppance for being myself? Couldn't really put my finger on why I felt left out. Actually there is a reason, but I'm not gonna bother saying what it is cuz it's not worth it. I may always be surrounded by my friends but yet sometimes, I feel so alone. Sigh...I just wish Naz was there at the karaoke session, so we can sing our Malay songs...

It didn't help matters that the karaoke room was freezing cold and my stomach was giving me problems towards the end of the session. When the 3 hours were finally over, I had to excuse myself and rushed to Le Meridien Hotel to settle my diarrhoea. My stomach was so relieved and drained right after that. Honestly, I think my overall mood was really ruined by my stupid diarrhoea.

We all took dinner at the Kopitiam below the hotel. I didn't eat anything cuz I was broke and my stomach wouldn't be able to take it. The 5 of us sat around for almost an hour there chatting, bitching and gossipping as usual. But fortunately by this time, my stomach and mood were feeling better.

We walked to Istana Park, hung out and chatted by the fountain for awhile before taking our trains back. I still had diarrhoea problems when I reached home just now, but luckily I got to eat pizza which my mother prepared.

I'm sorry if you think that "here he goes again, whining", but really, this is how I feel. You're entitled to your own opinion of me. Okaylah, enough ranting, time for my sleep.

Did I mention the reason why Jason joined us? Well, news flash, he just broke up with Joanne. Frankly, since he's my close friend, this is like the umpteenth time he and Jo are off-again, on-again, so I have no idea whether this time around, it is once and for all. But Jay, hope we did help you cheer up just now.

To my Ityles/SIM gang, I love you peeps and enjoy going out with you guys, but pleaselah, no more karaoke for me!

posted at 1:53 a.m.

Saturday, Apr. 26, 2003

Frustrated

Went for my Friday prayers in the afternoon and helped my Mom buy some groceries at our neighbourhood Shop & Save and Prime supermarkets.

One thing I observed was that both supermarkets are so super cramped now. The isles are very narrow and if the supermarkets used to be spacious, it's now filled with a lot of tables of fruits and vegetables. Must be due to the recent SARS case at the Pasir Panjang distribution centre. A few people were infected there, so that place had to be closed down and disinfected. Sigh, this SARS fiasco is damn scary. I just pray that the cure can be found soon.

After reaching home, I took a rest for awhile, before taking my dinner and meeting Ina at Westmall at 6.30pm. I expected her to be late, and boy was I right. So luckily I was smart enough to leave my house 15 minutes later.

Visited the library, checked out some magazines and books and walked around Westmall, before settling down at the Kopitiam nearby.

I was planning on spending our 1 mth anniversary this coming Thursday, Labour Day, doing something nice with her, but too bad. Initially she agreed that she would make time on that holiday for me, but now apparently she'll be working and will not be free on that day, nor the entire week, so I guess I have to scrap my plans. Aaarrrggghhh, this is quite frustrating. But oh well, I have to be understanding...

Sent her home and in time to catch Survivor: The Amazon. Another fabulous episode. Power shift again. This time around, Alex is voted out. But he's kinda dumb to actually tell Rob that he would vote him out in the end, if they're in the Final 4. So knowing the great player that Rob is, he joined up with Matthew, Butch and Christy to vote against his old alliance.

Rob confessed to Matthew his lies and agreed to form another alliance with him and the other two outsiders. I liked Rob in the beginning until he started to make fun of Matt and painted him out like his stooge. But now looks like he has redeemed himself.

Though I still can't stand that dumb bimbo Heidi, Jenna is getting on my nerves. I admit I kinda like her but her actions this week during the reward challenge are so disgusting. She is clearly using her spoilt brat attitude to manipulate her alliance, even Jeff Probst, and definitely using her sex appeal to advance in the game.

Too bad, 3 more episodes left and Jenna is not going anywhere anytime soon...

posted at 2:15 a.m.

Friday, Apr. 25, 2003

TV Land

I'm quite happy with some recent good news. And pls don't mind, it's all tv-related.

First and foremost, Frasier is coming back to Ch 5 this Saturday. Yay! About fucking time! I don't know why Ch 5 always neglect this show. It's already in its 10th season in the US but Ch 5 has only showed up till Season 6 so far. So now they're returning the show with Season 7. But it's at an odd timeslot. Every Saturday at 12 midnight. Gosh! That means most likely I might miss this show a lot, especially if I stay out late. Hmm, time for adjustments to my Sat night activities (if any).

And another good news. Frasier's complete 1st Season DVD will be released on May 20th, according to Amazon.com. Damn it. If only I have mastercard or even money right now. I so want to own this DVD. And besides that, the greatest 80s sitcom, Cheers 1st Season DVD, will also be released on the same day. Temptations, temptations. Too bad I'm very broke now. But I've been waiting for these two items for so long! Damn!

Cheers is one of the best sitcoms ever in television history, and it clearly paved the way sitcoms would be produced in the 90s, just look at Frasier and Friends. Meanwhile, Frasier is definitely one of the best sitcoms now, one of my favourites actually. Once I get the DVD, I can finally use my Frasier vhs tapes to record other shows, or maybe can just throw them away. My cupboard is getting too packed with too many vhs tapes.

The obvious link for both Frasier and Cheers is of course, the character, Dr Frasier Crane played by Kelsey Grammer. In case you are not aware, Frasier is a spin-off show from Cheers. Frasier, the character was a supporting role in Cheers. But now being the lead in his own sitcom, honestly Frasier has surpassed Cheers in its high quality and brilliance.

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The Complete 1st Season DVDs for Frasier and Cheers.

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And another thing to look forward to is Smallville's return to Ch 5 after a two week's break. The Season 2 premiere will be shown on Monday at 10.30pm, after Friends. So my Monday nights are fully booked haha. And after Smallville, their going to show the Season 2 premiere of Alias. I think I should start following this show.

Are any of you guys a fan of Alias? Is it any good? Should I start watching now? Would I miss anything if I don't watch? The reason I didn't bother to watch the first season is cuz I already have so many favourite shows to watch and record that I didn't think I would have enough room for Alias. But now AXN is showing the first season, so I'm guessing I can slowly catch up. Please advice me whether I should bother about this show...

Okay, on to more tv...finally managed to watch American Idol 2 while it's being screened on Ch 5 just now. The past few weeks, I had been stuck in class, and my niece had to help me record.

Finally the lamb is out. I'm gonna miss her. Carmen's voice really sucks but she was the true eye-candy for me (besides Julia DeMato). But she went on a high note. She was really confident when the judges were putting her down, I love that spunk in her. And to be frank, that was one of her better performances. But let's face it, she's never gonna win this show, the competition is too tough. However, I believe she's gonna be very marketable...

This week's theme was the Diane Warren week. Yeah the songwriter who is famous for her power ballads such as Unbreak My Heart by Toni Braxton, Celine Dion's Because You Loved Me and Aerosmith's I Don't Wanna Miss A Thing. It seemed like it's gonna be a boring snoozefest, but seriously, this woman has written a lot of very nice songs. So the episode was quite alright for me.

Next week, I hate to see him go, but I think it's gonna be Joshua Gracin's turn. He's not very consistent, too country for most people and some say that the reason why he lasted this long is because he is a marine and Americans just want to show their support. If that's truly reason, I say that's jackshit. I hope it's not gonna be the others who will be voted out next week. Then it would be the best Final 4, Trenyce, Ruben Studdard, Kimberley Locke and the winner, Clay Aiken. Well, that's my choice actually.

I'm chatting on ICQ with some of the Moonies now, mainly Mona and Sha and my BMT friend Joe. They're all creating a ruckus online, arrghhh. I'm recommending to Sha and Mona the website to put their personal photos. And Joe is surprised to see me online this late. Well, my friend, I'm surprised to see you this late too. But I guess both of us are insomniacs...

posted at 5:15 a.m.

Thursday, Apr. 24, 2003

Swiftly

What a boring and uneventful day for me, but it felt good cuz time seemed to fly swiftly today.

Did the usual bumming and slacking, surfed the net, *check*, watched tv, *check*, took naps, *check*, made an ass out of myself by sticking my ass on my bed too much, *check*. Sigh, so bloody damn boring. I'm getting restless I tell ya.

Nowadays I look forward to Wednesday nights. Actually I have always looked forward to Wednesday nights. Watched C.S.I. just now, another intriguing episode. This deserves its high ratings in the US. No.1 most-watched television show right now. But I totally understand why Ch 5 never showed this during primetime. Cuz it's too gory...I like all the ciminalists, especially Catherine Willows played by Marg Helgenberger and Sara Sidle played by Jorja Fox. But of course, William Peterson's character, Gil Grissom is da bomb!

The Part 2 of Season 6 premiere for Buffy The Vampire Slayer was also aired just now. Buffy was finally resurrected, but had problems adjusting cuz she was in total shock. And Dawn got to meet her sister, so touching.

Chatted with Jason on the phone just now for awhile. He was still awake cuz he wanted to watch the Man U vs Real Madrid match. While I was still awake cuz as usual, I'm an insomniac and couldn't sleep. Felt frustrated about certain stuff just now so needed to vent and confide in him.

Anyway, the match has just started and we hung up. Think I'll just watched some new episodes of Charmed that I have downloaded off Kazaa now. Couldn't be bothered to watch the match. I'm a fan of neither team. And anyway, I'm pretty sure Man U will lose anyway! *ducks from the bricks thrown by the Man U fans*

posted at 2:43 a.m.

Wednesday, Apr. 23, 2003

Overdose

Met up with Sha and May Theng today. Was the late one cuz I took dinner at home.

Initially planned to accompany Sha break her fast but since I'm broke and my mother had already cooked dinner, I decided to eat at home first.

Reached Cahaya restaurant around 7.40pm. Sha was already eating her dinner. May Theng was also on a financial diet like me, so she took her dinner earlier at home. Sha called Mona in Perth using her mobile in the middle of her dinner. It's good to hear the voice on the other end of the line. Mona, all the way in another continent. We took turns to talk to her. We miss you babe (and of course you too, Lauren and Susan) and wish that you could have been there with us!!

Mona sounded ecstatic on the phone. Yes, Mona, me and May Theng can vouch that Sha indeed wore a skirt today, denim one at that...

After dinner, we walked around Far East Plaza Level One. Tried to help Sha choose and buy a new pair of slip-ons/sandals and handbag, but sorry Sha, I guess I'm not the best person for you to bring around shopping for such stuff. I know nuts about them. Hmm, I don't know about May Theng, but she should be more experienced. But I guess, sooner or later, I need to have that experience too. In the end, Sha went home empty-handed, not even with a polaroid that she was intending to buy.

We then went to our usual ice-cream spot. Swensen's at Crowne Prince Hotel. Sha treated us to ice-cream. I had my favourite cookie summit, May Theng her frosted chocolate malt and Sha, her sticky chewy chocolate. When a guy can remember such ice-cream/dessert names, it tells you that the guy has spent too much time binging at Swensen's, haha.

There we were gossiping, bitching (well, the girls mostly haha, ok ok, I'm guilty of that too) and laughing our asses off. This time around we chose to sit outside and not inside with the air-con. And like May Theng said, we really had an overdose of ice cream. Well I managed to finish mine, but the girls didn't really finish theirs, and as usual, I became the scapegoat, cuz they asked me to help them finish theirs...I know I'm thinlah, but cannot take too much of these junk food, if not my abs won't be visible...

We took the train home around 11pm. Definitely enjoyed myself just now. Sha and Ting thanks for the great evening. And Sha thanks for treating this poor friend of yours. Hopefully I can return you the favour in the future...

Okay, this is my attempt at putting a personal photo here in my blog. I just registered to a website, http://www.villagephotos.com, that I just discovered. Hopefully, my blog can accept this photos since they have a separate link to it...

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Anyone can guess the date this picture was taken?

posted at 1:51 a.m.

Tuesday, Apr. 22, 2003

Care Bear

Didn't do much today...

Watched another new episode (episode 7) of Charmed Season 5 off Kazaa. Downloading the other later episodes, but somehow it's getting even longer for me to complete their downloads.

Chatted with Ina on the phone for awhile in the late afternoon. Then called Sha to arrange our appointment tomorrow with May Theng. Should be having dinner with them. Been awhile since I met them, so we want to play catch-up.

I stumbled upon the Disney Channel screening The Care Bears Movie around 7.35pm. It was just starting. So I was lucky that I didn't miss much of it. Yes, before you girls snort at your corner, yes, we guys also watch Care Bears too when we were kids. C'mon it was part of our childhood, so I'm not ashamed to admit.

I remember renting the vhs tape when I was younger. I don't know why, no matter how cute the Care Bears were, until now, I still prefer the Care Bear Cousins. Hmm, maybe I prefer the variety of animals that the Cousins offer. Among my favourites back then were Lotsa Heart Elephant, Swift Heart Rabbit, Cozy Heart Penguin, Gentle Heart Lamb and of course Brave Heart Lion. Meanwhile, among the Care Bears, my favourites were Tender Heart Bear, Good Luck Bear, Secret Bear, Cheer Bear and Birthday Bear.

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One of my (and I think most kids in my generation's) childhood obsessions, the Care Bears and their Cousins in their first movie, released in 1985.

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Okay, okay, fret not, I was also fan of Transformers and Mask, but Care Bears were cool too, especially with their "Care Bear Stare"! Aiyah, back then, I just watch whatever cartoons TV had to offer.

After the show, was so bored that I was busily talking with Kok Yong over SMS, talking about the SARS, and helping him with some Mambo song titles for him to download. Sigh, wonder when the recruitment agency will call us for our temp jobs.

Tonight's Friends episode is quite alright. Don't know why, wasn't really excited when I was watching cuz have already watched it off Kazaa. But I certainly love this new story development for Phoebe. She's gonna have a new boyfriend for quite long this season. Well, it's about time. I'm sick and tired of the writers concentrating the relationship storylines between Ross & Rachel and Chandler & Monica. Phoebe needs to get some loving and action, baby!

posted at 1:57 a.m.

Monday, Apr. 21, 2003

Peer-To-Peer

For the past three days, I have been downloading off Kazaa, the new episodes of Charmed Season 5, which is ending soon in the US, but not shown yet here in Singapore. So far have downloaded and watched the first 6 episodes. And I have to say this new season is damn good. Sigh, the great wonders of internet broadband and peer-to-peer file sharing.

Starting this season, Holly Marie Combs and Alyssa Milano are credited as producers. And in this season, Piper is coping with pregnancy and having a baby, so she's getting a bit whiny, but I still love her. Phoebe gets popular and busy with her newspaper column, but I don't like the workaholic Phoebe and she seems to be using less of her powers this time around, not that her powers are that powerful, Premonition and Levitation, I mean, c'mon!

Meanwhile, I think Paige might just be my favourite Charmed One this season. She has tremendously improved, she no longer seems awkward among the cast and the family and she kicks some major demon ass. She quits her social worker job and concentrates on her witchcraft! Plus I love her spirit. Go Paige! And Rose McGowan with red hair is so gorgeous!

Apparently, Charmed's timeslot in the US was recently shifted to Sunday nights on Warner Bros at the beginning of this season, and its ratings have been very very good. Well, not as good as when it first came out, but at least it's not flopping. And the actors have signed their contracts till Season 6. But since the show is still not a flop yet, I'm hoping that the network, producers and the actors continue with the show till at least, Season 8.

To Holly Marie Combs, Alyssa Milano and Rose McGowan, please don't pull a Sarah Michelle Gellar on us, your fans. Don't be like her who wants to pursue her movie career, that now Buffy is ending at only seven seasons. I'm losing Buffy already, and Friends in a years' time, so, I don't want to lose The Power Of Three. TV will never be the same again without these shows...

Anyhoo, Sunday is rest day, pretty much just watched the episodes on my comp and vacuumed my house just now. But it's damn sickening, cuz had a terrible and ugly quarrel with my parents. Painful and depressing, but we got through it. Now, I must really try to not always take them for granted.

Just finished re-watching the 9th episodes of Survivor: Marquesas and Survivor: Thailand. Come to think of it, if all my other favourite shows end, I still have Survivor, although I have no idea how long this show is going to run. Some say it's losing steam, but I just can't enough of it. So far, six seasons in three years. I just wish Mark Burnett continue to produce this show, until I can get an American citizenship and try to join the game.

What? Me, migrating to the US?! Dream on!

posted at 2:31 a.m.

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