February

12th to 17th
Family vacation (mother's side) in Gold Coast, Australia. More precisely, on the Sovereign Islands just off Gold Coast. Not enough interesting eating done, I thought. But it was a rare occasion on which I enjoyed Thai food, since it was watered down for non-Asian taste. Did all my shopping on the second last day; never have I put all my shopping skills to such good use before - or been forced to!

It was actually stressful, but I knew that if I paced myself and moved fast, I could pull this off. Spending every dollar was the challenge - don't deny every thing that seems whimsical; don't purchase every thing that seems indispensable. I had to stretchhhh my dollars to last 'til the last souvenir, but at the same time accomodate the trinkets that came before I found it.
Champion purchase? Beautiful hardcover notebooks that I'll only use for something as important as my wedding week. XP And I found good dance pants there for RM21!! *Dies of joy*



20th
Movie night with Sean and Jaf:
Legion first. Rather creepy but at the same time its creepiness seemed generic. Monstrous beings scuttling along the ceiling, sinister music spelling out fatal mistake, and self-blame for another's death. But Paul Bethany was interesting to watch; there's something about his mouth which draws the eye.
Then Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief was a major disappointment. Waste of time, even. Well I don't think the other Greek mythology flick of the year (Clash of the Titans) will turn out this bad. =) It's about time; I've liked Greek mythology for years.
Left MV for Yann's CNY open house. Mandarins are somewhat addictive. *So are ang pau's* XP

Mostly this year I've been busy running the Dance Club. Sometimes I want to cut myself some slack and just do my collegework. Wanna stop the downward slide I'm been experiencing in classes this sem.. But I can't. I've committed myself to my role, and though I've never imagined holding this position, I know in my heart I'd rather be a Nobody in Dance Club than a Somebody on the Student Council. 'Cause this is where I want to be. I want to learn, and being President has taught me so much already. First of all, that it really is about serving my members. It's about doing the things others won't, like staying back and staying up and calling left right centre.

Perhaps I'll continue another day. It's been a tiring one, with house chores all morning and music practice all evening and waking up early for keyboard duty tomorrow. Where does collegework fit in? When does the Scholar get to breath from under the DutifulDaughter, the ChurchGoer, and the ClubPresident?

My focus needs airing.


Trials are two weeks away, and the Scholar needs air to breath.

A Minute or Two in Jan's Sunshine

(way overdue)

...was what I spent just before I ran in to make this post - the one I kept putting off, always telling myself there'd be another time when I'd feel less preoccupied. But I never did. The days just rolled one into another, in a cycle as blameless as it is natural; and who am I to stop the order of nature?

I love the sunshine on my lashes, the wind on my cheek. Birdsong cuts through the air, like a forgotten lullaby - my old friends, I am glad to still hear you. Powdered wings flit around and past me; now I barely flinch. Maybe it's true I shall grow out of this fear someday.

Locomotion through the slits in my garden walls bring me out of reverie; but no, it is not the brown dog I was hoping to recognise. And its owner, not the leather-skinned old man who used to grin at us as we pedalled our bicycles across the road in haste, in the sort of fear little children have when they see a sharp-toothed critter coming their way (the dog, not the man).
With a pang of regret, I am unable to recall the last time I saw the brown dog on one of its evening walks. I only remember the shock I felt when, a few years ago, I noticed both dog and owner had grown scrawny and aged together, like partners heading for the same deathbed. And I wonder if he has indeed gone, on to the next world.


I'll now seize the chance to run through the many happenings of January!


9th
Second time in my life hanging out with my cousins from my father's side. They're closer to me in age but we're quite distant. Am glad my older girl cousin takes the initiative to bring us out. We spent the day at Sunway Pyramid drinking smoothies, feasting on Sakae Sushi delectables (scallops were a hot choice with me, thanks to their sprinkling of black pepper), playing pool and basically ignoring the gloves and socks we'd brought for ice-skating.

Lol, one delay led to another and by the time we were done taking photos at Dreamworld, a two-hour spell in chairs sounded nice. Which brought us to Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant. Rightly relegated down my list of 'Movies I Wanna Watch' beforehand, it was entertaining in a commonplace way, with characters two-dimensional to the point of being hackneyed (except for the slightly enigmatic Crepsley, well done to John C. Reilly), and a paltry romance subplot thrown in like an afterthought. Just alright.



10th
Michelle Too's newborn sister's full moon party. Scrumptious servings provided by caterers; I had two mid-sized rounds!
Rushed off for the highly anticipated Sherlock Holmes. Was supposed to be a treat for my mother - I lent her my Sherlock Holmes novels later, she was having a binge on him - but was pleased 'nett could join us as well. The show was really good! The writers did the character justice, bringing out his trademark wry humour, uncanny observations, superior intellect, and most of all... his wit. I loved how it was done, especially the men's facial expressions. In comparison with Cirque du Freak, the love interest here hit it off, providing an interesting collage of rivalry, enticement, and undeniable chemistry.



11th
Glad it was a holiday from college. Attended the burial of Giovana's grandmother. I woke up close to 6 in the morning and in my haste forgot to bring my phone along. Only realised when I wanted to call Gio while stuck in a jam outside Summit.
It was a Buddhist affair, an echo of my grandfather's funeral rites - he was my closest relative ever to die, and I was only 6 - except now I was observing it with more understanding. I remember my grandfather's rites as a happy occassion, playing catching to our heart's content, and I, relishing my ability to outrun them.

On this day, my sister seemed calm and unperturbed. Perhaps she'd already spent the worst of her sorrow the preceding weekend - the soul left on Fri, burial was on Mon. Only her mother cried, and hid her eyes behind shades. We had a sunny morning all the way; with dolefully cheerful music coming from traditional instruments, and incense permeating the air - not that I had any particular objection to that.
Gio took me to see the deceased when we reached (it was near Dewan Bahasa and Pustaka in KL). I looked at the elderly figure who had always been in my sister's life, who'd seen me periodically growing up beside Gio, whom I'd shared a vacation bedroom with when I was 13, whom I'd heard snoring... now devoid of life.
After that brief moment, the morning passed with several prayer sessions. Standing at the back and smilingly refusing the joss sticks, we had the view of all other relatives bowing, shuffling and basically waiting for the next instruction to bow. Honestly, if I learnt one Chinese word this day, it was "bai". Several other humorous observations struck me, but I don't recall them now.
A bus to the cemetery. Tying a red sash to my sister. Feeling very 'ang moh'-ish as she translated the priest's instructions. A clod of earth thrown atop the coffin with strictly just one hand. Back onto the bus and back to Subang.

We took advantage of Gio's leave and spent the afternoon at Summit. Lunch at Hainan Chef to see Aunty Karen, then peeked into every photo store to find my cousin - the only one of my age.



12th
Went to the Placement Centre in Taylor's Subang with Carmen. All on account of some important uni-application form. On impulse, I dropped in at the studio across the road. TDC was busy rehearsing for the next day's flashmob and they were using Tik Tok! Somehow or other they got me standing on a chair, recruiting dancers for my flashmob. Which paid off, since half my mob was imported from Subang. Afterwards, I brought Carmen to Patisfrance for a customary 4 scoops of gelato, before picking up something for her mother's designer business.


14th Got my wish, but at a price. Came back late from college, no electricity at home. Got lost on the way to KL Pac. Had problems collecting our tickets. But I did it. Went for Men in Tutus and it was worth it. Funny, engaging, brilliant execution by the hulking ballerinas.


16th Unexpectedly marvellous reports from from all lecturers at the Parent-Teacher Meeting. I felt like a mushroom whose shelter rock had just been removed; the sun was dazzling. But my academics went downhill right after that - this new semester.


22nd Trained hard the whole week leading to this ECA Drive Day. ThDC's first flashmob ever was a success! I was too anxious to demo at the Club booth. Why hadn't Subang called to confirm if I could go get them now? So I left Sri Hartamas a little late and it was jam the way back and Subang crew and I arrived with 5 minutes to spare 'til performance time. I hadn't peed, eaten, or drank in hours. But it was time to go. I remember how my lips cracked into a smile for the audience and how very dry my throat felt as I danced - parched as the sands of Gobi.


30th Showdown 2010 auditions with TDC. Met up unplanned; visit ThDC's blog for details and pics. =]

Review the old Sun, Sea, Sand... It's Sights, Sorbets and Shopping!

Vacation Notice :


Feeling rather drained after college today. Worked crazy last night completing three different subs, and preparing Valentine's gifts for today's celebration. I hadn't planned to do anything, but the idea just took root in my head yesterday and I went ahead with it - especially as I was conveniently eating in OU that night. Dressing gifts and writing are, after all, two things I really enjoy!

It would take a lot of oppression for a girl not to feel excited about flying off to the Gold Coast the very next day; maybe it's not oppression but fatigue that's dampening my spirits. A good night's sleep should put that to rights though, and I foresee myself being cheered up by being in the presence of my adoring cousins - who themselves are sugar, and spice, and free of lice. X)



Back in the country on Wednesday, the 17th.

Back to college 24 hours after. Oh man.

A Pensive Adagio

Perhaps the hardest part about having divorced parents is that the one who stays separately doesn't know the minute details of your life. The details that distinguish one day from the next, that prevents the week from being just another block of seven before meeting for the regular Sunday dinner.

I'm being less than general here, but it somehow gets tricky to share this little jarful of anecdotes; often it feels like I store them up hoping for an appropriate moment to laugh about them, or moan about them, but that window of opportunity evades me.

What 'details' do I mean? Oh, little things like how I left my blanket out in the rain yesterday and had to dump it in for washing and sleep with a musty spare throw instead. Or how my first visit to the cobbler went today, because the strap of my sandal broke suddenly as I was walking around college middle of this week.

He doesn't even know I nearly melted in the sun on Saturday and stood for 2.5 hours straight on Sunday evening, both at Showdown 2010 in OU. Or that I played backup singer for the second time in my life at a Youth bbq two days ago. He scoffs at my commitment to dance when I tell him it's causing me to slip academically.



The strange thing is, I don't remember these things when I'm with him. And it sure would be queer to read him updates from a list at dinner.

But ah, such are the vagaries of life.

"It's a Shopping Mecca."

My heart is beating fast just thinking of it.
Those words triggered a spot of research on the Gold Coast where I'll be spending the whole of my coming CNY hols...

absolutely disrupting my Literature analysis - which I'm sure will never be finished on time; that is, by tomorrow morning.

Die. But oh, to die for...

I promise to keep half my suitcase empty on the flight there. Or at least bring a spare suitcase or some other. *Maniacal shopaholic laughter*





P.s. January updates in progress. Too busy to blog these days.

Mind-messing Business

There's something I didn't include in the previous post. It was my last dream of 2009...
which was really queer because I'd never experienced anything like it before.


1st January 2010

Last night I dreamt I died. Shot point-blank. It was either Gio or me; I remember being glad to see her alive, and getting used to being dead, just looking at the people around (or slightly below) me... I still felt fear when something bad was about to happen, but no longer in the mortal way.

Without realising it, I left Dreamland. Felt disoriented waking up in my body, that I actually had a body. For just a few moments ago, I'd been an insubstantial soul...

Back from a three-day stay at my father's! The activity never ceases; time and time again people have called me a "busy woman" but at least I'm happy to be kept occupied, instead of rotting away. There is always something to be done, the way I see it. Maybe that's why God has seen to it that I have someplace to take a break at; like my own little holiday villa. Lol.

On Tuesday night we went out for groceries. Thought we were going to the usual smaller Giant, but my father turned into the gigantum one that I've often wanted to visit. You know, just to take a look around. I expressed my secret joy and he gave one of his little snorts and said,

"You don't have to wish, just say."

^ ^ How I love to be his girl.


Set my eyes in QuickScan mode 'cause I knew I couldn't drag two grown men (my uncle was there too) in tow for window shopping. This place was nicer to explore than Tesco! (Talkin' in terms of little stores.)

Well we entered Giant itself soon enough and I walked through aisles and aisles of detergent, cereal, brooms, steel pans... until we reached the confectionary section. Then my brain cried out "FoOOOD!"
Now my kitchen cabinet is decently stocked with biscuits and such.
*!!*
Oops, I left my KitKat ice-cream at my father's. =/


Another delightful buy was... WHITE BREAD. The last loaf of Gardenia, to be exact. Wonder why High5 was still in abundance. Anyway, WHITE BREAD is a rare commodity in my TTDI house. Which explains my jakunity. And c'mon, nobody eats pork floss on wholemeal. I've tried, and it's total sewage.


Wednesday, went to catch a movie with Yann. I think I'm a jinx for movies or something, 'cause we ...missed the starting of The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus. Rushed in from the Curve, newly bought calendar in hand. Sweet, beatiful desk calendar I can use year in and year out. Muax. (Ew, first time posting that.)

Heath Ledger's last project was worth the rush and my excitement. I found the movie very thought-provoking, especially since I couldn't figure out all that symbolism in one go. Gotta sit down with it some other time and digest it. Not free for that until 20th Nov 2010. =(

Visuals-wise, I relished the style it was done in. The colours were rich and saturated, but there was also a lot of darkness - shot the way it was, the filth felt real but glamorous. Very absorbing.
Then there were the out-of-this-world imaginations where even sparklier colours were used. The shoe dream was ridiculous, and the stilt-walking segment even more so. Both tickled me.

With so many big names in it, I was somewhat confused with who's-who. But now I know that 4 of those names were playing one character. Johnny Depp was unmistakable, though. He had those distinct cheek hollows showing and reminded one so much of Jack Sparrow. =)





One Phone Call Later...

Now is not the right time to tell me I've been spending too much. Now, when I want to watch Men in Tutus so badly.


Train of logic right now:
I'm returning to college in 5 days' time. There is an avalanche of studying and club matters waiting to be taken care of then. I probably won't set foot in a mall for the next 5 months save for its supermarket. I will, in short, turn into a nerd and bound and gag my shopaholic persona.

Is my expenditure justified now? Men in Tutus... the critically-acclaimed, one-of-a-kind... and my first ballet at a theatre.

='(

How can it not be justified?