Tasteless, odourless
30/01/2004
Gunky headed
So, five days into the flu, I still can’t smell, which means I can’t taste anything I’ve been eating, my ears and nose are gunked up and I feel like crud. Still.
The great thing about the whole exercise is that I don’t know if the food I’ve been making myself tastes good or not. The not so great bit is that I don’t feel like eating until I’m too hungry, and by then trying to get something that goes down easy takes another hour to conjure.
Does aromatherapy work if you can’t smell?
I think so! I started out not smelling anything today in the office. Then after lunch, I turned the burner on, and tried 4 drops eucalyptus, 4 drops lemon, 2 drops peppermint, 2 drops lavender. It was about an hour to an hour and a half ago. Now I can smell little whiffs of it. But I don’t feel any real difference besides being able to smell.
A steady supply of lavender
I think I’m going to need a larger supply of lavender. The bottle I got from Naturally thinking is about half consumed. That’s 5ml. And I managed to do it in 1.5 months. 
This is happening with sickening frequency
27/01/2004
Down with a flu again
And getting progressively worse as the day wears on. I thought if I stayed at home yesterday I’d nip it in the bud. Evidently I was mistaken. So now I’m grumpy, pissed off, and generally tired of every damn thing. I’m not the only one who’s sick, but it doesn’t make me feel any better.
The unfortunate part about being sick is that nothing tastes like it should and I don’t even feel like eating. All those pineapple tarts and loveletters are staring at me with a pathetic eat-me look and I can’t bring myself to take a bite.
So the day flu by
Here I am, sitting in the office, wishing I was somewhere else instead. Spent the day reading blogs and miscellaneous Tony Leung trivia. What would cyberspace be like without blogs? But enough about me.
Me, My Yahoo! and I
This is pretty neat: an RSS module for My Yahoo! It’s lovely. I added Neil Gaiman’s journal feed into it. Works like a charm.
The End of the Affair
27/01/2004
Period Dramas
Ok. I finally finished the Condor Heroes VCDs. The HKTVB versions (in Cantonese, no less, so I think I missed out a good half of it) starting with Legend of the Condor Heroes starring the late Barbara Yung and Felix Wong, then Return of the Condor Heroes which starred a really young Andy Lau and Idy Chan, and just today the final instalment The Heaven Sword and Dragon Sabre with Tony Leung and a bunch of other miscellaneous chicks.
I can’t really tell which is my favourite, but the one I enjoyed the most was the one with Tony Leung, and we all know the plot had little to do with it.
But the major takeaway is this: Tony Leung is a far better actor than Andy Lau.
About the actor
So what is it about Tony Leung that’s just so magnetic?
I won’t attempt to speak for the rest of womankind, so if I say “we” or “you”, I really mean “me” and “I”.
Deep and dark
He carries this look of a man with emotional baggage, I guess. It makes you really empathise with him, and when he says (on TV of course) that he feels this way and that about you, geez, I believe him. I’ve seen him mostly in movies, and my favourite ones are the Wong Kar Wai ones, which he really takes and turns into pure magnetism on screen. He’s always the dude who gets jilted (Chungking Express, In the Mood for Love).
Yet, you know he has a dark side, and he probably needs his space, and he thinks about stuff you would sweep aside. He is so intense, he doesn’t have to try, and that’s part of the charm.
No insecurities
It also helps that he looks confident even when he isn’t dressed up. There’s nothing like a man who isn’t insecure about the way he looks.
The way he sounds
He sounds deliberate and pleasant, not too cutesy like Andy Lau sometimes can be. He makes the scripts sound so sexy.
Strange sightings
So this is the bit I don’t get: how he and Maggie Cheung get paired up and look ok together. He looks a tad short for her, but yet it always turns out right on screen. It seems that they should carry on offscreen, but it hasn’t happened. Not that I’m complaining, of course.
Two Tigers
So Tony Leung is the same age as Tom Cruise (42 this year), although Tony is slightly older (27 June vs 3 July). And before you think I’m totally berserk, I’ll stop at this.
Everybody Hurts
24/01/2004
The outcome
Yup, did the visiting, did the smiling and prancing, and got away with fewer stupid “When’s your turn?” questions this year. Perhaps the answer I gave them last year (you don’t have to feel obliged to give me a red packet if you don’t want to) was sufficient. Woo hoo!
Also noticed fewer and fewer relatives at these gatherings, cousins and aunts and uncles all noticeably absent. Perhaps everyone is sick of this show-and-tell, and at least we’re being a little more honest.
The only one who asked me when I was going to get married was my cousin’s wife who then begrudgingly shoved me a red packet. I took great pleasure in telling her that I much preferred getting red packets from her, and consequently marriage was the last thing on my mind. She has no sense of humour.
Later on, her husband (my cousin) lost a tidy sum of money at the gambling table. The Chinese Astrology thingey was kinda accurate – I won most of the money he lost. Sometimes, justice works in mysterious ways.
The upside
Well, it has been a prosperous year so far, we won close to two hundred dollars off my relatives – and this doesn’t include the red packets. Coincidentally, on New Year’s Eve, I set up our Corner of Wealth in the livingroom. This is supposed to be the far left end of the room (when you come in the entrance). You want to place objects that remind you of abundance and wealth in this area. Here’s an easy introduction to arranging your room the fengshui way. Tell me if it works, though.
Firecrackers, Fireworks, Fire ‘em All
22/01/2004
Happy Year of the Monkey
Well, the Year of the Goat is finally over, let me check if my luck will improve this year.
Well, according to Chinese Astrology Online, I’ll be luckier in the earlier half of the year. Especially in February and March. We’ll see if I win the lottery.
Where’s the Party?
Well, it seems that it is right downstairs, at Chinatown. The music began at 10pm or so, and it’s still going on now. Are they ever going to shut up?
Caught the fireworks though:
Shakey, even with a tripod
I managed to steady the tripod somewhat, but it isn’t perfect
There were more fireworks, even closer to where I was, but by that time, I decided that I was just going to watch it instead of fumbling over the camera. It was good. I ended up with 76 shots, with more than half shakey, or blank. Ah well.
Excuse Me
Great, stuck visiting relatives tomorrow. That’s the dumbest part of Chinese New Year. If I really wanted to see my relatives, I wouldn’t wait till some festival dictates so. I don’t see them other times of the year because I choose to, and I hate it that tradition (and my mother) insist that I do it. While I’m at it, I should think of nice little retorts to the endless stream of stupid questions that will fly my way.
When are you getting married? When’s your turn? When are you going to start giving angpows instead of receiving them?
a) When the cows come home
b) When they legalise gay marriages in Singapore
c) When I stop getting asked stupid questions
So what are you doing? Still at the same job?
a) Goofing off, and yes, it’s the same job
b) It’d take you too long to understand, and you’re in the way of the food
c) Does it matter? Every year I tell you the same thing and you forget anyway
So does your company make money or not? How can it survive on advertising?
a) I don’t know
b) And even if I did, I wouldn’t tell you cos you won’t understand what I do and I’d have to explain it, and I’d rather be eating something
c) Even if it didn’t, it’s not like you could find me an alternative (you didn’t for the last 3 New Years)?
d) If you were smart enough to understand what it is I do for a living, you won’t have to ask me this. So let’s not waste everyone’s time and pretend that 1) you’re concerned for my well being and 2) you know what you’re talking about*
* I think this reply will be a hit at any party
Wah, long time no see…
a) There is a reason for that
b) I’ve been busy… avoiding you
c) That’s why I’ve been happy
Or I could just head for the Bak Kua and ignore the casual conversation. Let’s see how I feel tomorrow. I’ve had quite enough of this for a few years now, and I’m doubly sore I couldn’t go away this New Years to get away from it. Perhaps if I retort badly at the Q-and-A’s this year, I won’t have to do it again next year.
The Road Ahead
I hope the year works out like I think it will. Already looming in the not too distant future are so many things that I didn’t think would come to pass yet. I guess that’s the thing about being comfortable. But change is good. If I don’t take the steps now, I’ll never do it, and I’ll end up bitching about it the rest of my life, I just know it!
This year, I’ll grab the monkey by its tail and see where it lands me and I’ll blog it as I go along.
Where Butterflies Go
16/01/2004
Do butterflies poop?
Apparently not, according to this article.
Believe.
Everything you read on the internet.
Viggo said
Famously that he was more observant of life when he had a camera in his hands. Maybe.
I think nothing makes you more appreciative of anything until you know you won’t have it the same (or at all) for long.
It’s a slow day
After a week of cranking up the heat in the office, getting everything back on track, today it feels like I’ve slammed into a brick wall cos I was looking everywhere else except in front of me. Perhaps it’s just the holidays. Or maybe it’s cos I haven’t had a proper caffeine infusion.
I did manage to get a cup of tea from the cafe downstairs. If you ask for Peppermint Tea, they make you a cup of BonTea (teabag and all) and crush a couple of fresh spearmint leaves in. It’s not unpleasant, though. It’s like drinking tea while chewing Wrigleys.
Scrapping plans to scrap the store
So Robinson’s is doing a 180 degree on their earlier plan to sell the store, break out the champagne?
Looking forward
Well, life has to go on despite the conclusion of Lord of the Rings, and even though I’ll never look at epic movies the same way again, I know I’ll find a way to go on.
I’m already looking forward to a few movies this year.
- The Passion of Christ
I hope it makes it here. Even though I’m skeptical about Mel Gibson’s ability to be balanced (look at Braveheart). Apparently James Caviezel was struck by lightning twice during filming. - Big Fish
It has Ewan McGregor, what more can you ask for? - Kill Bill Vol. 2
Conclusion to my favourite slasher-fest. - Troy
Orlando Bloom, Brad Pitt, lotsa action, good enough for me. - King Arthur
I’m skeptical about the storyline of this one. But I’m going to watch it just to hear Clive Owen speak. - Alexander
I’ll think about this one a bit more. I’m not a big Oliver Stone fan. He did manage to make a perfectly fantastic Tom Cruise look awful in Born on the Fourth of July. - The Incredibles
The Pixar offering for the year.
Looks like the movies this year are going to be doing a lot of looking back.
Tried and tested
13/01/2004
Banzai!!
Managed to catch the premiere of The Last Samurai. I thought it was ok. Not a mindblowing film, not a mindblowing story, touching as it might be. I prefer to see the way of the Samurai through Samurai eyes, I am tired of that Hollywood gloss over everything. Everything’s so simplisticly black and white, loyal-subject-and-weak-ruler that it’s just naive.
So instead, I’ll tell you what I thought about Tom Cruise. He looked old and haggard, probably appropriately so. I don’t know if he tried to put on weight for the movie so he’d look like someone who’s been on the drink a long time, but I’m convinced he was packing a paunch there. I haven’t seen him so scruffy for a while, so it was a nice change. The only time he looked worse (and the movie was far worse) was Born on the Fourth of July.
This is one of this better looking moments in the movie
The Samurais were amazing. Granted it’s a western view of the people, but seeing them ride in on their horses out of the fog, in that garb was awe inspiring. I love that mask they wear.
My favourite scene
Ken Watanabe did a pretty cool turn as the Samurai Numero Uno, Katsumoto. He looks capable of far better though.
Ken Watanabe
My favourite by far is the crazyass Samurai Ujio, played by Hiroyuki Sanada. Apparently he was also in Twilight Samurai (Tasogare seibei (2002)), a Japanese film I wanted to catch but missed. I will get it on DVD though.
Hiroyuki Sanada
Check out Koyuki, who plays Tom Cruise’s love interest and the token female in the movie. Andrea says she looks like Gong Li. A little bit, I guess.
Koyuki’s birthdate is 18 December 1976
In short, if I wanted to watch Tom Cruise, I’d do better with Mission- Impossible (1996), Few Good Men, A (1992), or even just Cocktail (1988). If I wanted to find out about the samurai, I’d watch Twilight Samurai, Seven Samurai or Ran (which is my favourite Akira Kurasawa film – cos it’s in colour).
I can’t help comparing it to The Return of the King, and even at his lowest beaten moment, Viggo Mortensen looked far more heroic despite trying hard not to look it.
Oh and did you know that Viggo Mortensen is four years older than Tom Cruise? That makes him 46 on 20 October this year while Tom Cruise turns 42 on 3 July.
Tonight, tonight.
10/01/2004
Scenes from Clarke Quay
Clarke Quay restaurants at night
The Reverse Bungee
What’s a koan?
09/01/2004
On the mend
08/01/2004
Back at work
So after spending a good day at home resting yesterday I dragged my sorry ass back to the office today, only to give in to a few fits of really violent coughing. But I think those cough drops are working. So we’ll see how it goes.
Getting my memory back
Oh guess what, after like almost 4 months of waiting, Alan Photo finally gave me a memory stick replacement. I sent it in maybe end of September because the 128mb Lexar was giving me a data error. I brought it in for a replacement, but they ran out of 128mb Lexars. They said I’d have to wait maybe 2-4 weeks for new stock to come in. Well, it took 4 months. I got a Hagiwara in replacement instead. Since KF was going to Sim Lim with the office folks, I got him to check up on it for me, and he brought me the replacement instead. Talk about efficiency. Check it out.
Hagiwara 128Mb Memory Stick – doesn’t have an access light
Fantastic. Now I can alternate between bringing my Sony and my Canon out.
Strawberrynet.com
Was looking around for an alternative facewash, since the Origins Checks and Balances is kinda pricey. And I found StrawberryNet instead.
It’s an online store, and they sell skincare and fragrances pretty cheap. Shipping is free, which is another plus. My stuff arrived within a week (and it was over the New Year holidays) so I’m pretty pleased.
The downside: they don’t carry very many brands that matter to me, and there is not a lot of product description. And the navigation can get quite funky.
When I get around to taking a pic of what I bought I’ll post a review.
Getting back into the swing of things
So, after weeks of dragging my feet around the office, I’m finally getting back into the swing of things and am making a real attempt to take my work seriously. Right.
Over lunch today, a visitor from the US office mentioned he’d been working at the company for 8 years and it was the longest he’d been in the same job. My boss said he has been at the company 6 years and it was also the longest he’d been in a job. I’ve been here 3 years and it’s also my longest stint in a job. The visitor then said, “It tells you something about the company.” I’m sure everyone at the table felt that things were changing, and it wasn’t so much what it said about the company now, but how those last 8 years have been. Ok, I won’t attempt to speak for the 2 living legends in the company, but maybe what’s driving me on is what I’ve been hanging on to, not what it’s like right now.
Or maybe a part of me really knows that for all the crap we take, it’s still lightyears from the sad real world outside, and I should be a little more grateful.
But for sure, in part all I want to do is outlast all those f**kwads from goggleland. >:)
