Monday, July 27, 2009

Don't you just hate it when the weather disrupts your exercise routine? I was in the middle of my swim just now - only 22 laps, 8 more to go! - when dark clouds gathered at an alarming rate, and it soon began pouring. Being the typical kiasi Singaporean, I stopped for fear of getting struck by lightning. After 15 minutes of waiting, the rain ceased a little, so I swam 16 more laps. The extra 8 laps were to compensate for the waiting time. See, that's why it's annoying when the weather disrupts your exercise routine. Ah well. It's the weather; what can we do? We are but pawns on this wild, wonderful, unpredictable world.

Anyway. Caught Pocahontas on Saturday evening on TV. And have I said before that it's the best Disney movie ever made? Such an epic love story, and all the impactful messages it sends out. They don't make em like that anymore. Now, it's all the High School Musical and Hannah Montana and Wizards of Waverly Place trash. I'm sorry if I've offended anyone by saying that, but that's really how I feel. It's so senseless and pointless. Oh, John Smith. I totally cried at the last part, where she ran to the edge of that cliff and waved that special goodbye to him. And also when she repeated what he said about being with him no matter what happens, forever. Sigh. They're the most believable couple in Disney. Aladdin and Princess Jasmine weren't quite so believable. Just one magic carpet ride and they're in love. And if you think about it, Aladdin fell for Jasmine at first sight. No such thing, sweets. Plus, Pocahontas has a rocking soundtrack. I love that part where Pocahontas said, "This is where the path of hatred has brought us," and her dad, the village chief, said, "My daughter speaks with a wisdom that is beyond her age," and that was like Pocahontas living up to her dead mother's name, because her mother was wise too and Pocahontas' father had always wished his daughter would grow up to be like her mother. That was kind of a poignant moment. Triv was funny, when I told her how she should have left with John. She was like, yeah she's only really needed there to pick corn anyway, so she should have left with him. LMAO.

Okay, over that. I also caught the Singapore versus Liverpool match yesterday evening. I guess it's kind of expected that we'd be annihilated by them. But it was poor effort on the Lions' part, imo. They didn't even seem to put in any effort. You could tell they totally thought, we're going to lose anyway, so what the heck. I mean, even if you lost, you could still put up a good fight, like Thailand, RIGHT?? The players ran so slowly, always defending, never attacking, and several times, they even passed to the wrong person. My dad laughed his butt off during those times. It was really funny; you'd have to watch it to get it. And that 'tap' by Fernando Torres just takes the cake. I mean, when Alonso made his move, it was obvious he wasn't aiming for the net. Why did the bloody goalkeeper still try to save it? So he left the net wide open and allowed Torres to 'tap' - that's the word they used - the ball in. Tap. Implies 'piece of cake'. I bet they must be laughing their asses off at how much we suck. Ah well. I've never watched an entire football match, so I never knew the players swopped jerseys at the end of the game. Personally, I think it's disgusting. Exchanging sweat. Ugh. But if it's Fernando Torres' sweat, I'd gladly have it. He was, duh, amazing. Those beautiful doe eyes, that smile. His wife is one lucky girl. And his baby daughter looks like an angel. I hope she has her father's eyes.

Oh, Fernando.

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Caught Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince yesterday. And can I just say how ABSOLUTELY DEPRESSING it is?

I mean, don't get me wrong, it's a great show, but just the whole mood of it. If it weren't for all the fluffy romance stuff that David Yates (the director) paid attention to, the entire movie would depress the hell out of me. Not that it hasn't already. Just the whole mood of it. So sombre, and heavy, with a sense of foreboding. I mean, it's good to make it darker and all, but you know, LIGHTEN UP!

But I must say, Rupert and Daniel's acting have improved a hell lot. Actually, Dan's acting improved a lot since Goblet of Fire. I remember cringing so hard for him in Prisoner of Azkaban (especially that scene where he was crying, in Hogsmeade, about how Sirius Black was that friend who betrayed his parents), but in Goblet of Fire I was impressed by how far he'd come. Emma Watson's acting, though ... Well, Triv and I agreed it's completely OTT (over-the-top, for those of you who don't know). The weird eyebrow-raising, the inexplicable expressions at times, and the exaggerated manner in which she delivers her lines. I don't know, it just seems too forced to me, like you're aware of her acting. Dan's acting, compared to hers, is so much more natural. That scene where she was conjuring those birds after seeing Ron and Lavender kiss made us laugh a little. Did she have to cry like that? In Order of the Phoenix, they weren't even that obvious about their love for each other, and now she's weeping over him kissing someone else?

Oh, and Tom Felton's acting was pretty good too. It's good he's got more screentime this time, because his performance was impressive.

And of course, our lovely FREDDIE STROMA (Cormac McLaggen). I love that dignified look he pulled after vomiting dragonballs all over Snape. My god, how SMOKIN HOT is he! He should get more screentime! But, ah well. No Hogwarts for The Deathly Hallows.

And then, of course, was Dumbledore's death, which totally made me cry when Prof. McGonagall (or however you spell it) lit up her wand and everyone else followed suit. Triv turned to me and said, "You're crying over this?!" Which is funny, because I didn't cry when I read the books (then again, I don't cry when reading books, only once or twice). Well, I cry in almost every movie, though, so.

But what I didn't like about the movie was how much the director changed it. Well, not completely, but he tweaked some details and added some scenes. Why did Jo Rowling agree to them? It was Tonks who found Harry in the train compartment, not Luna (but that's okay). And Ginny and Harry kissed after the Quidditch match that Harry didn't participate, not when she was hiding the Potions textbook for him in the Room of Requirement (she wasn't even supposed to be there with him). And what is with the burning down of the Burrow? All of a sudden, they were there, and for some reason, Ron wasn't, and then after that, there's this short scene of Ron canoodling with Lavender. Fragmented scenes much? And that girl at the train station hitting on Harry? Was he even supposed to be at the train station to begin with? Maybe they didn't have money to hire the Dursleys. And Dumbledore was supposed to have Stupefied Harry, not chase him down the stairs to hide. And they were both supposed to have been tricked by the Death-Eaters' Dark Mark, not just happen to be at the Astronomy Tower. I don't get it, what's the point of changing and adding these scenes?

Maybe it's because I just finished re-reading it a day before I watched it, that I'm nitpicking like a grumpy old spinster (where did that come from?). So when The Deathly Hallows comes out next year, I shouldn't re-read the book beforehand, or I'd just get too hung up over the details.

But all in all, it was a good movie. But Goblet of Fire and Order of the Phoenix were better. Mike Newell's the best so far (Goblet of Fire's director). Good soundtrack for GoF too. And of course, Cedric Diggory. But this one has Cormac, so it's a tie in that aspect. I think Freddie's hotter than RPattz, though. Rob's a charming interviewee, and looks good as Edward, but other times, he's got nothing up against the likes of Freddie Stroma or Jensen Ackles (speaking of which, I feel like re-watching Supernatural again) or Ryan Reynolds.

Friday, July 17, 2009

Night time. The time I usually get all nostalgic.

Tonight, I decided to pull out the World History book that I bought from a second-hand bookshop at Bras Basah and do some reading. I was reading about the fall of Greece and got so confused about Macedonia and Sparta and all the Peloponnesian wars that I needed to hunt for a map.

Which led me to riff through my drawers and boxes in which I've stored all my secondary and JC textbooks.

As usual, I got distracted and ended up doing some H2 Math sums. After getting sick of it after an hour, I decided to read Wendy Clark. For those who don't know who she is, she's all O'Level History students' saviour (as is Marian Chong O'Level Geography students' saviour). We swallowed up that book (practically every sentence was important - I remember my dad telling me I might as well highlight the sentences that weren't important instead, so the pages won't be filled with highlighted chunks) and vomitted everything out for the Cambridge examiners.

And reading Wendy Clark made me think of Mrs Haridas, our History teacher. She was always so maternal. Wonder how she is now.

And thinking of Haridas made me think of Mrs Singh, the best Chemistry teacher I ever had. Her explanations are so lucid and she's the no-nonsense kind of woman. R-E-S-P-E-C-T.

I unearthed my secondary 1 science notebook, and read through the atoms and molecules notes. I kind of miss studying Chemistry. Too bad I suck at practical. It always pulls my A down to a B. Chemistry class was always so productive.

And then, later, I was just sitting there reading the notes I had scribbled all over my secondary 2 Geography textbook, when Don't Tell Me by Avril Lavigne comes on the radio. It seemed like not so long ago that I was in the same circumstance, reading my Geog notes while Avril wails on in the background. Wonder how Khrish, Yvonne and Stacy are doing now. Haven't met them or caught up with them in ages.

I guess the reason why I enjoyed mugging for O'Levels (yes, I realise how geeky that made me sound, but wtv, geeky is the new chic) is because I had great influence, in the form of my friends, around me, especially Gerlynn. My friends made going to school and attending lessons fun. Thanks, Ger, for staying with me after school in the library everyday to mug. I remember we'd force ourselves to sit at different tables just so we wouldn't get distracted and talk. People would think we had a fight, which was sort of funny.

A'Levels wasn't as fun to study for, because, well, circumstances were different. And it was a hell lot tougher, especially Geography. I was besotted with the subject in secondary school (I think everyone in 4E2 were) - I loved my subject combination - but H2 Geog is so much more demanding, and I ended up finding it a drag sometimes.

Ah, well.

I just miss school and studying so much, all of a sudden. Maybe it's this looooong break that made me yearn to employ my brain once again. I don't ever want to go out into the working world; I want to stay cocooned in school forever, where your worth and performance are only determined by the grades you get. It's simple and clear-cut. Not much depends on chance or luck, like in the real world.

Dammit, I miss school. I miss studying for O's. That was, in fact, the best time of my life. I know it sounds sad, but it was. Studying for A's wasn't as rewarding, because you don't get your A's as easily even though you put in the same amount of effort. In my case, I didn't put in the same amount of effort, because I guess I lost the drive after O's. Which made it more difficult to get the A's.

In short, can't wait for school to start.

By the way, I unearthed ONE diary that I had left out. I'd decided to throw away ALL the diaries I had written in the course of my secondary school years (at least 10) one day, and this is the only one left. It was the sixteenth one (I label my diaries in chronological order) and was written from after secondary 4 Prelim exams to the beginning of J1 in the best junior college in the world (come on, I love SA).

I really regret throwing away my diaries. How could I? Those were my formative years. Sigh.




I told you I get awfully nostalgic at night.

Friday, July 10, 2009

Had a great time with the girls last night. Triv, XH and I watched Transformers at Cine, and rolled our eyes at how the guys panted after Megan Fox, even though we (okay, I) went nuts over Josh Duhamel and Shia Labeouf. Joyce joined us for dinner at this BBQ restaurant afterwards that served pathetic-looking food drenched in olive oil. Just because it's the healthier choice doesn't mean you go crazy with it, people. Anyway, we had loads to talk about, and Triv and Joyce argued over petty technicalities as always (something about how hand sanitisers don't remove dirt even though it kills bacteria... I don't know, something trivial like that), and we laughed like psychos over almost everything we talked about. The night seemed too short. We have to meet up again soon, darlings. Love you guys.

And as for the movie, I'd say three and a half stars. It was good, but not fantastic. Very fluffy, very plot-driven. I have nothing against this type of movies, of course, since chick flicks are just as fluffy and plot-driven. But I thought there was way too many explosions and collisions. Plus, it didn't seem ... real. Like, if those machines (okay, autobots) were so heavy, wouldn't all those roads snap everywhere they go? I mean, there are always sparks and ground-shaking everytime those autobots move. Anyway. I gave it three and a half stars because compared to something like LOTR, which is irrefutably 5-star material, that's all it's worth. I enjoyed Revenge of the Fallen, but it's just like MI3, action and cars and explosions and girls (I did not need to see Megan Fox's ass or cleavage, or her Collagen-injected lips that she kept pouting nonstop throughout the movie). It's a boy movie.

Speaking of LOTR, I've been setting The Breaking of the Fellowship on replay mode the whole day. It's on my playlist (the gray one, right at the bottom of the list), so go watch the movie (if you haven't, my goodness) and then listen to it. It's the sort of music that brings you to tears. And I'm going to watch Fellowship again now. Gotta love the Shire. Later.

Oh, and that skank from Transformers (not Megan, the other one who was hitting on Sam in college, the one with the diesel-tasting freaky tongue) reminded me of this Victoria's Secret model, Doutzen Kroes. She just kinda looks like her, is all.

And I'm not saying I'm crushing on Shia now. He's just cute, you know? The kind that you'd love to be around, because he seems so innocent and not about to hit on you all the time. Plus, he's so funny and unassuming. Man, that guy's a gem! I can see why Megan Fox said he's her 'favourite person in the world'.

Tuesday, July 07, 2009

I really should post something. Only I don't have anything worth telling. Work on the sales floor for Mango's end-of-season sales, aching feet, et cetera. I don't want to seem like a whiner. At least I'm not working anymore. And I've decided to take my driving test - finally. My dad's been bugging me to take it since school ended, and I've put it off for this long. Yes, I know, I'm a horrible daughter. But hopefully, I can get it all over and done with by the time semester starts.

And in three weeks, semester will start. I can't wait. I cannot wait. Just think of all the classes to attend, the extra modules to take - Creative Writing, languages, etc. Think of how I can employ my brain again, instead of rotting in front of the computer playing Solitaire everyday. Not that I don't appreciate all this free time. Flexible hours are so hard to come by, and I'm so glad I have this holiday to do whatever I want, anytime I want. But how cool would a Creative Writing module be? I. Cannot. Wait.

That said, however, the whole bidding system is really, really troublesome. So much administrative work to do beforehand. Medical checkup, application for CPF and Tuition Grant, application to pay miscellaneous fees by GIRO, registration and, of course, course bidding (not just one round, but rounds 0, 1a, 1b, 1c, 2a, 2b, etc).

Much as I'm excited for school to start, I still have some misgivings about it. I always thought I don't belong in uni, you see. Everyone there's cool and smart and confident and outgoing, and I'm like this weird little hermit who doesn't talk to people and goes everywhere alone. I'm hoping uni will rid me of this problem, and I'll not turn out to be some maladjusted adult who ends up throwing herself off a building because the growing loneliness in her life crushes her spirit.

And I know I made this oath to myself that I'll not be so boy-crazy anymore and just ignore the hotties, or at least act like they're not worth looking at, but this guy at the pool today was ... WOOOOOOW. My goodness, I almost had a seizure in the water. The pool was 1.2m deep, where we both stood, so I could see his pecs. Omfg O.O Those shoulder muscles (and you know how I'm a sucker for guys with contoured shoulder muscles; they just look so good under a t-shirt), that tan, that strong jawline and cheekbones, those pecs. That guy is on fire. Seriously, he has the hottest body I've ever seen on a Singaporean guy (he looks Singaporean, okay?), and his face isn't too bad either. Pretty darn good, I'd even say. This amount of hotness is absolutely criminal. And he swam like a fish, too. I was so fuelled just by looking at him that I swam more than my usual. YUMMMEEEEEEEEEE. Man, I hope he'll be there everyday after this. I'd gladly swim a marathon just to see THAT. Yessir, I will.

Okay. Now that I've gotten that out of my system ... I should go for my haircut now. Till next time ;)