And yes, after ages of an unchanging layout - Here is a new one, at last. *huge grin* This is Ewan McGregor, and this particular shot was taken during the Moulin Rouge shoot. Due to new obsession with The Phantom Menace fandom, he is here. *delighted*
Went over to the Dark Side at 11:05 PM
Legolas Fancier and Family stopped by yesterday – They were on their way back from the supermarket on an emergency shopping mission, and they bought us two cartons of Mocha Milk. Because their family loves it. ^_^
Legolas Fancier told me about Jedi Cheese.
^________________________________^
Turns out one of their family members has an issue with the way "Cheddar Cheese" is pronounced. Therefore we have Jedi Cheese.
We also have Jerry Cheese, but I know which one I found more fascinating.
Sibling decided at that moment to invent an Obi-Wan Kenobi Jedi Cheese Ad.
And perform it.
In front of the house.
Complete with lightsaber action.
Went over to the Dark Side at 10:59 PM
Had my Final Driving Theory Test yesterday. Spent entire afternoon studying (and procrastinating.) For the first in a very long time I had that “My Brain is Full” feeling. It happens and then I know I can’t study until I’ve procrastinated. Read TIME and Newsweek today while procrastinating, and saw a gorgeous ad for MTV Screen. I knew I simply had to watch tonight’s episode. ^_^ (I love MTV. No Thinking Required. And such pretty colours! And sometimes, even music I like! ^_^)
Oh, and MTV! MTV has Crazy Monkey!
Crazy Monkey is an MTV parody of those Fear Factor and Jackass shows. But this version features highly pointless and un-dangerous acts. Such as:
Driving Without a Seatbelt.
(Done in an empty parking lot, and at a speed which I estimate is 10 kilometres per hour.)
Swimming On A Full Stomach.
Eating Cornflakes Without the Milk.
Jumping on My Bed When My Stepdad’s Downstairs.
Running With Scissors.
(Down a patio with absolutely no one in the way.)
Prank Phone Calls.
(But ones done very nicely, as if they had mistakenly dialed a number. Complete with polite apology.)
Extremely Pointless Character Name Invented Today, and Why
Oh. I’ve invented a name for a character who does not exist! ; )
Chie Cross.
*evil smirking*
And then I saw one of LJ communities - marysues - had a Mary Sue Report with a character named Charisma Cruise.
Chie Cross is a perfect name! *dies laughing* It originated from my reading TIME today – It featured Japanese culture! And I was procrastinating from (Oh wait, that sounds wrong somehow – Word choice wrong, that is) studying for my Final Theory Test. So I read TIME. ^_^ I saw the name Chie in the report, and later, while hard at work with More Procrastinating, I was watching television and saw the name Cross. The surname of the lead character in a new series Based On the True Stories of an Indiana-Jones-esque type explorer. Except Modern Era. *cue slow, I Believe This Nodding*
It screams Mary Sue in all the High School Student in Deep Trouble ways! And with that name... ^_^
Pardon to all who read through that and had my deep insanity inflicted upon them. This is a seriously stream-of-consciousness thought.
Had massive happy attack while on way home from Final Theory Test. For one, it was over, and I was going home to watch MTV’s promo for How to Deal, Legally Blonde 2 and Down With Love. Goodbye, Brain – Hellloooo Fluff! *delirious smile*
(Oh, no, wait - I sound like a Warner Brothers' Animaniacs Character... I sound like Wakko and his "Helloooo, Nurse!")
(I loved that show.)
And it turned out that they showed a Pirates of the Caribbean short, sandwiched between How to Deal and Legally Blonde. (There is a joke in this, but I am too amused to see it.) And it had very short interviews with the cast. (This being MTV, their idea of a short interview is a gesture and some ten words from each actor.)
I SAW ORLANDO BLOOM LOOKING LIKE A GIRL!
*dies laughing*
*flees Orlando fans*
ALSO, I HAVE THE TAPE TO PROVE IT! I taped the whole thing!
(Pardon the all caps.)
And then of course, in the grand tradition of Shows Which Make You Wait Til the End to See What You Want to See, Thereby Forcing You To Watch the Whole Show, “Down With Love” finished the show.
In the advertisement, they used Nicole Kidman and Robbie Williams’ cover of “Something Stupid” as background music for this promo. And I kept thinking about how perfectly it fit.
Went over to the Dark Side at 10:58 PM
Tuesday, August 5th 2003
Went to JN’s house to cook! *wild glee* Got lost along the way, however. Took five buses when I should have taken two. *hides* That is all With Absolutely No Sense of Direction will say.
I arrived at 1.30pm, and we cooked all the way through to 3.30pm. ^_^ I made pancakes with sliced strawberries, chocolate chips. Oh, and I also used almost an entire canister of whipped cream.
And then there was the maple syrup. ^_^
We made sushi, spaghetti, and chicken chops. First time I’ve seen spaghetti sauce made with nothing but tomato ketchup and chilli sauce.
I would also like to know how a chicken chop can expand to three times its original size once it is cooked, and how to repeat this effect. ^_^ It will come in great use when I am a starving student in the UK. ; )
Also, I like decorating lunchboxes with sushi. With strawberries. ^_^ I must do it again sometime. It was very therapeutic. Especially with the strawberries as blossoms and cucumber slivers as blades of grass.
I wanted to add marshmallows, but felt it was a bit much.
*giggles at everyone O_O-ing me*
Ran into an ex-classmate on the bus. And apparently NUS has a bidding system for the modules. You’re given points, and you must bid for the modules you want to take. You only need one point to bid for a course in Econs (Where supply, ironically, exceeds demand - *is stoned by all who didn’t want to be reminded of Econs*) but for Philosophy, a student bid some 498 points out of her total of 600. Yes, it’s extremely popular.
Then I went to the library. Compulsively arranged all the Jedi Apprentice books. ^______________^ Made off with the Jedi Quest ones. To my delight, found Alan Dean Foster’s “The Approaching Storm”. Now do not have to buy it.
Alan Dean Foster novelized the Aliens movies. (I know that sounds grammatically peculiar, but it’s correct.) (For the record, I didn’t like the novelizations. The films were better. Much.)
Aliens was my first fandom. Yes, Aliens. Sigourney Weaver and acid-blooded creatures. I loved the second movie. And then I hunted down every single Aliens spinoff book and devoured them all. I didn’t know what fandom was at the time, but it was mine. My definition of fandom being something you obsess over, that you hunt down, that inspires you to write. ^_^ That was what led me to science fiction. And from then on, to fantasy.
Went over to the Dark Side at 10:57 PM
Tuesday, 29th July 2003
Met Risa for lunch. ; ) Went to Delifrance. Iced lemon tea there is 40% ice. But I love their fruit tarts. ^_^ Then went to Kinokuniya, Borders, and Kinokuniya again. *happiness*
And the Finding Nemo Junior Novelization is back out in bookstores! Fishing Stocks were depleted two weeks ago, but they’re back!
Which begs the question (for people like me) – if there’s a junior novelisation, how about the Adult Novelisation of Finding Nemo?
Wednesday, July 30th 2003
Met up with Sparrow for dinner. Am very grateful to her for enabling me to meet a senior at the university where I will hopefully be soon. Had dinner at Tampines Mall. Saw a shop which did T-Shirt transfers. Saw an Attack of the Clones transfer which was Yoda-centric. Happiness attack resulted. ; )
Thursday, July 31st 2003
Met up with Sparrow for lunch, this time also with two more seniors. Much thanks again! *beams* After lunch, we headed off to Jasons’, but not before stopping by Out of the Pan for passionfruit sorbet (my fault), which Sparrow says wakes you up better than coffee. Is tangy. ; ) Also went to the Body Shop and spent a lot of time looking. I like the | Mango | and | Brazil Nut | moisturizers. (Which they call Body Butters.) Sparrow likes the Mango and | Grape Seed | ones. Naturally it being the Body Shop, they are wince-inducingly expensive.
Joined JN, Xiu and D for KTV at Cuppage Plaza. That place has the best KTV lounges I’ve seen so far. Then we went clothes shopping. U2 has a 20% discount at its Orchard Emerald/OG branch. Bought yet another article of black clothing to add to my collection. (I just like black.)
Then met up with my family for an extended-family dinner. Sibling and I wanted to go to “see fish”. This is in reference to the fish tanks with live fish which are in full view of the restaurant’s patrons. We asked Second Youngest Cousin along. (She’s seven next month, as she will tell you.) Youngest Cousin, who is five, followed enthusiastically. He reminds me of a young Star Wars: The Phantom Menace-era Anakin Skywalker. (Shh. I know I’m strange.) The fish tanks are two-tiered, so Sibling and I had to pick up a cousin each so that they could see into the top tanks.
Youngst Cousin proclaimed that the smallest luohan (Flower Horn) fish in the tank looked like Nemo. (Had been thinking the same thing. Go us!) And young children (when clean) smell nice. Like babies (when they are clean). Youngest Cousin, freshly-bathed, smelled like soap powder. Somehow, that was nice. ^_^
Also, Sibling and I were singing Evanescence songs at the dinner table. Started off with “My Last Breath”. And then we began assigning them to relevant characters and scenes in Carol Berg’s Rai-Kirah trilogy. Evanescence, to me, says/sings all the Pretty Angsty Things, and so very beautifully, too.
Somehow very appropriate to two of Ewan McGregor’s more high-profile screen roles in the Phantom Menace and Moulin Rouge.
It’s the death scenes in those films. Ewan as Obi-Wan Kenobi and dying Qui-Gon. Ewan as Christian and dying Satine. Disturbing parallels. Even the way he holds them is the same. Except the way he grieves.
Went over to the Dark Side at 10:55 PM
Saturday, 26th July 2003
Had predeparture session for UK Students. 30% of the talks were actually useful, but they freaked me out 200%, thanks to the You Must Do Well Or You Will Never Be Able to Work Back Home speech. Was with Risa. My freaking-out fit also painfully obvious. Am not cured of compulsive note-taking either.
Went to dreamcatcher’s place for a Writers’ Circle barbecue! *hugs dreamcatcher* It was utterly amazing. She made potato salad with green apples, hard-boiled eggs, and mayo. It was delicious. ; ) Our dearest Auntie Al baked a cheesecake for the first time (made me ashamed of own lack of baking talent). He used 1 3/4 pint cream cheese, and 1 pint of sour cream. (I had no idea sour cream went into cheesecakes. Score 1 Ignorance! Go me!) His cheesecake also had strawberries and a digestive biscuit crust, and looked wonderful for a first cheesecake. (My fifth would look half as good at his first.) And dreamcatcher bought whipped cream! *amusement* Which went wonderfully with the cheesecake.
aingeal, davidbard and the Professor were there too. Much amusement for the Rataliens resulted when dreamcatcher remarked, when asked why a chair wasn’t taken, that “The foil is sitting on the chair.” *elbows Ratal’s beloved werewolf and giggles helplessly*
And in true hobbit fashion, we were treated to fireworks! It was a National Day Parade rehearsal, and dreamcatcher’s place is near enough to the stadium for us to catch a fabulous view of the displays. Cheesecake, whipped cream, and fireworks. ; ) It’s hard to get much better than that.
But we did it ^_^ Had maniacal photo-taking session, then wrote trash. *smiles evilly* Trash is a Writers’ Circle tradition, passed on to us by our esteemed seniors. It is done with a fellowship of writers, who sit in a circle and pass a sheet of lined paper around said circle. The first writer begins with a line and a half, and folds his or her sheet backwards, such that the first line is concealed. The next writer then takes up from the half-sentence. Each writer leaves half a sentence, unfinished, for the next writer in the literary daisy chain. (Suddenly this reminds me of The Blue Room. All this talk of daisy chains.)
And we came up with very interesting stories. The following sentences are especially interesting and resulted from this exercise.
Do not know why I ended up chief noisemaker. Suffice to say that I was the subject of this sentence fragment. Different colours indicate different writers (writing completely outside the knowledge of each other).
“as she did not manage to keep the Plot Bunny population of the nation under control. So everyone heaved a sigh of relief when things were going well, but she still felt a need to reflect occasionally on where everything was going and how everything would change once they figured out how to set the right intelligence stats for her D&D character”
“where nobody has ever ventured before in the history of mankind, fraught with much war, chaos and grief, like the blood of the innocent and the grief of the guiltless, and immediately wept for shame as the cleric couldn’t resurrect their eight-day week, the resultant effect was that the currency exchange rate has rapidly increased due to the reason that everything was really going off and wrong and chaos reigned. The television set began showing the Power Rangers, who to the huge disappointment of the flock of following fangirls, did not resemble Aragorn. Instead the baby looked like a mix between Arwen and Legolas. Which was not a good combination at any rate, especially since he had gotten Arwen’s good looks but Legolas’ nancying tendencies to write long pieces of endless trash like this one. Oh it ended. Hooray.”
aingeal_isilme - I think the “secret code” business is about us. The rest… Suffice to say that I admit full responsibility for Darth Vader, but I had nothing to do with how the rest of the sentence subsequently turned out.
I believe someone admitted responsibility elsewhere ^_^ Thank you ^_^ I was delighted by the way it turned out. Evilly delighted yes.
“don’t make quite so much noise while taking photos and laughing in their secret code which could not be broken by even the most intelligent people in the kingdom of Rohan, which was about to fall into the hands of Sauron, who was the literary forbear of Darth Vader, who suddenly burst out into joyful song, serenading Luke Skywalker about Mirkwood and the enchanting delights of the National Day Parade”
Oh, and also - *hugs Serry*
Just because.
Went over to the Dark Side at 10:54 PM
Last made What Did I Do Today (Proper) entries on the 23rd of July. It is now the Seventh of August. *amusement* Let me begin again where I ended.
July 19th – Attended Dae’s birthday party. Found them after much wandering about HDB void decks in shadow. Also found them in playground. Birthday Ratalien was on the swings. ; ) D/E-ers would be very happy with the introduction she gave me. There was sparkling apple and grape juice – which in the semi-dark, looked an awful lot like champagne. Tidying up was faster than I expected. Had extended conversation that featured anime, Pokemon, slash, Finding Nemo (my fault, as everyone who will read this knows), and Final Fantasy. Did not know that fics were written as a form of payment. That is interesting. Must investigate further. Now if I could get Rataliens to pay me for not writing fic… *devious smile*
Also I would like to speculate that the birthday party preparations involved buying all the satay sticks/bamboo skewers within several blocks’ (and an MRT’s) radius. Went to two major supermarket chains at could not find any bamboo skewers. And then I went to the barbecue and found where they’d all gone. *amusement*
Sunday, 20th July 2003
(I would like to add here the Insufferably Random Remark of Day: Why is it that Sunday, 20th July 2003 sounds better than 20th July 2003, Sunday? [Waiiiit. That’s not a remark. That’s a question.])
Went out with family for lunch at the Marriott. Sibling and I were very amused by the price of chicken sandwiches. Or should I say horrified. I remember them as being $5, but it must be post-traumatic stress. The actual price of the sandwiches must have been $10 and/or (most probably and) above. Had the smoked chicken pasta and was ashamed of my own cooking. Then again, the Marriott is a hotel and I am not, so I must not feel too bad about it.
(This is beginning to sound very Bridget-Jones-ish. I would also like to take the opportunity to say that I read the VSDs before I read Bridget Jones’ diary. So the amusement occurred the other way around. I’d be reading Helen Fielding’s work and going, “This is so VSD!” whereas if I’d kept up with reading, it would have been very much the other way around.)
Was breaking in new pair of boots. Went off to Kinokuniya (which is a very long trek from the Marriott if it’s done in new boots, after lunch, in the heat) and headed for the Jedi Apprentice section. Was easily five years older than the oldest child in that section. Compulsively arranged the JA books until they were in order. Also did this to Tolkien’s books in bookstores. And to Robin Hobb’s books. I want what I like to look nice, darn it. And I’m saving the staff effort. ; )
Am steadily acquiring the JA series. Except the Ties That Bind arc. Was rather violently repulsed by the whole Qui-Gon/Tahl relationship. I like Tahl, who’s independent, spunky, sarcastic, and a lovely person (er, if that’s the word); and I like Qui-Gon, but the summary (I do not like “blurb”) at the back of “The Death of Hope” begins with an exchange of lines between those two that begin with “I pledge myself to you”. Wanted to be sick, but was in bookstore, so could not be. After which, studiously avoided that three-book arc. I only like the cover of “The Ties That Bind” because it has Qui-Gon and young Obi-Wan standing together before Yoda. Will avoid its contents assiduously.
*goes and reads “The Rising Force” and “Dark Rival”*
Dark Rival – has Xanatos. If Jedi Apprentice was Harry Potter, Xanatos would be fanon Draco Malfoy. But. Without canon Draco’s spiteful childishness, without fanon Draco’s leather pants, and without fanon Draco’s distressing tendency to redemption through Harry/Hermione/Original Character’s love.
Except, of course, Xanatos would be several years older, and at least three times more attractive than Tom Felton.
Though I saw the Prisoner of Azkaban pictures – Felton’s looking better than he did in the previous films. Or perhaps that was because I only saw his profile.
When I first saw Philosopher’s Stone’s Malfoy, I was – “He looks so sweet!” Hardly a thought to be associated with that particular Slytherin. [Although yes, ideally, Slytherins should look sweet, which would cause everyone else around to let their guard down. Perfect.
Also, I’ve read on LJs – “A Gryffindor is a Slytherin who understands PR.” I agree. ; ) Well, but only for the singularly cunning Gryffindor/Slytherins.
Bookshops and Other Obsessions
I can never spend enough time in a bookshop. I go in thinking twenty minutes will be enough (this is the Centrepoint Times) and it never is.
Also, the Centrepoint Times has no Jedi Apprentice books.
The Orchard Library also lacks a children’s section.
You know how I know.
Went over to the Dark Side at 10:51 PM
Wednesday, July 23, 2003
Most Hilarious Thing of Day: Finding Nemo Mary Sues!
*shrieks with laughter*
XJ, HY and KT came over yesterday. Besides playing Scrabble, we watched Yamakasi, A.I., and Moulin Rouge. Due to obsession with Jedi Apprentice, had a disturbing tendency to laugh with rather inappropriate enthusiasm at certain moments. Due to fanfic-reading, and general equating Obi-Wan Kenobi to Christian.
Also cooked pasta for them. Have begun to add light sour cream, eggs, and sherry to the pasta I cook. ^_^
Addictions begin so easily. It all starts of with what seems innocent. I’ll just take a look at this fic. I’ll just find out what this tastes like. I want to see what everyone’s crazy about. And then before you know it, you’re in the obsession with the rest of them.
In other words, I really like Coffee Bean’s raspberry mousse cake. ^_~
Went over to the Dark Side at 6:53 AM
Monday, July 21, 2003
Went for the prize presentation at my College Day. Discovered that I received Best in History as well as a VAC Academic Award. I thought the Academic Award was describing the subject prize. So did not realize that it was otherwise until I was told where to stand during the prize-giving ceremony.
My Civics Tutor is a grandfather! ^_^ He insists that we must all respect him on account on his Grandfatherhood. *giggles* He shares the same birthday as my mother, and his granddaughter shares the same birthday as my brother. *impish grin* I delight in finding connections with absolutely no meaning whatsoever.
Have Kinokuniya vouchers. Am going to use them on books that are fun and absolutely no help to my studies. Do not care. They will make me happy. They will make me very happy.
Wonder if it is an aftereffect of studying far too many serious books. Just like watching MTV. Is so fun to turn my mind off for a while.
That said, am now addicted to Jedi Apprentice books. Am making an utter idiot of self by wandering about the 9 to 12 Year Old Section of bookstores and the Young Adult Section of libraries. Still do not care. Am happy.
Very amused by Moulin Rouge now, on account of Christian and Obi-Wan Kenobi being played by Ewan McGregor. (Whom I think incredibly gorgeous.) Listened to the Moulin Rouge soundtrack and was endlessly entertained by lines such as:
"We should be lovers..."
"We could be heroes... Forever and ever..."
(Very Jedi Knight. *amusement*)
"Just one night... Just one knight..."
Oh, and Your Daily Randomness Quotient of the Day is fulfilled by this word:
ANemone.
Courtesy of ex-classmate GM, whom I was sitting next to. Did not notice this. Am delighted to find out. Very happy.
Made beef, mushroom and cream pasta today. Pasta much improved by addition of sour light cream. And eggs.
And CLAMP's X/1999 Book 6 is out! In English! *huge grin* Bought it. This was the book that first made me take a second look at X/1999. ; )
Went over to the Dark Side at 7:12 AM
Friday, July 18, 2003
Went to buy boots the other day. Do not understand why it is the Boots for Men which are all black and the Boots for Women that are red. The black boots look so much better than the red ones. *makes face* So much for equal opportunity clothing.
Anyway, got the black boots. *wild cheering*
Thursday, 17th July 2003
Went out with Sway. Went to Out of the Pan! ; ) Am addicted to the crepes there. Someday I will get around to trying the blue cheese crepes. They sound good. With raisins and apples! ; ) Had the Exotic Crepe. Essentially, whipped cream with a crepe over it - somewhat like an inverted sunny-side up egg, with passionfruit sherbert, dragonfruit, kiwifruit, strawberries, mango, and passionfruit. I loved the passionfruit sherbert! *delight*
Then went to the library. ^_^ The fountain there is beautiful at night! It's lit up, and the shadows the light makes through the water are gorgeous. The word for it was coruscating, I believe. ; ) Makes me think Coruscant. (Too much Jedi Apprentice. *hides*)
Today: Friday, 18th July 2003
Went out to Suntec today with my mom and bro. Giftland is closing down! :( That makes yet another Singaporean (was it Singaporean, Giftland?) shop to go bust. Wah. 50% off on all items. Eheh. Went and bought loads of wrapping paper. I adore wrapping paper! *cheers* Tried the new Chocolate Mint Pretzel at Auntie Anne's. I didn't like it. *makes face* Will not try it again. I go for the Cinnamon Sugar Pretzel!
Oh, and they opened the Suntec City fountain - they built a walkway in it, so you can actually go to the center of the fountain and look up. Will go with you if you want to check it out ^_^ It's kinda cool, to walk up there ^_^ Though of course, this being Singapore, the management put up a sign that says "Walk three times around the Fountain for luck and prosperity". Or something like that. Saw it last week, I believe. ; )
Made pasta today - cream sauce, with mushrooms, sausages, and bacon. I sliced the sausages diagonally. Put in lots of herbs. I don't think the meat will give it enough flavor. And I simply must learn to cook fried rice! *embarrassed laughter* *hides behind the wok*
Today, Life! featured Buying Nemo. Clownfish craze that's swept Singapore. And apparently one shop did especially good business by putting up clownfish in plastic bags with NEMO marked on them. Feel vague trepidation over the fate of those clownfish. *wonders sadly about the Porcelain Express*
And we have an excellent Public Utilities system. *smiles* Call them, and they appear in an hour. Amazing. Efficiency like this makes me - call me silly and materialistic - proud of my country.
Having a prize presentation at school tomorrow. Am getting a History prize. This would be completely impossible without Risa, who was an inspiration through those two years, often spent in the shadow of the mountains of History notes, and near-impossible essay deadlines. Thank you ^_^ I could never have done it without you.
Still cannot bear to discard History notes. Am a packrat. Must have developed an emotional attachment to said notes. *looks warily at cupboard*
Though does this mean that, as a Year Three at the presentation, I will have to be obedient and actually pay attention to what is going on? Most prize presentation ceremonies usually have me, er, falling asleep. And it being College Day, I do wonder if they will pull a stunt like they did on the last one, and have the Chinese Orchestra play songs like "Prancing Tiger, Prancing Dragon". That was the actual song title.
Consciousness, stay with me...
Went over to the Dark Side at 7:01 AM
Thursday, July 17, 2003
More Current Update
Monday, 14th July 2003
Bro went back to school : ( Had driving. Could not see him off at airport. : (
Met Sparrow for dinner at Orchard. Did not manage to make it to the library as we intended ; ) Went to the Pasta Café – had the seafood linguine with white wine sauce. Not a choice I will make again. This white wine sauce was sour. Unless it’s intended to be that way.
Went to Kinokuniya, where I headed off to the Star Wars books. *hides in a corner* The “Intended for Ages 9-12” books. Am ashamed to admit that they involve me far better than the books written for older readers. Either that says something awful about the writing style for the adult books, or something worse about my mental age. *edges away* Am fascinated with the Jedi Apprentice series. If I’m in a fandom, it’s The Phantom Menace fandom, and the pre-TPM fandom. Do not get the whole Luke and Leia issue. Also do not get the Anakin and Padme issue. So, it’s Obi-Wan Kenobi for me ; ) Speaking of which, Ewan McGregor looked way better in Star Wars: Episode One than he did in Episode Two.
And also, speaking of which (Digression! *cheers*) I’ve seen the Down With Love posters. The new romantic comedy starring Renee Zellweger and Ewan McGregor. Will watch said comedy if for no other reason than Ewan McGregor. *amusement*
Then went to the Coffee Club Xpress with Sparrow. Had a Hot Vanilla and a Viennese chocolate cake. The first time I ordered this, the lady taking my order warned, “There’s rum in it.” ^_^ I wonder how that is meant to be a bad thing. ; ) I like Hot Vanilla, even if it is nothing more than foamy, sweet milk. Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf does a good hot vanilla, too. And, er, Starbuck’s Hot Milk is just that. Hot milk. With foam.
Then went to Borders ^_^ Yes, it was a Major Bookstore Marathon for us! ; )
Also, both Kinokuniya and Borders are out of Finding Nemo books. I saw the junior novelization in MPH – and it was just the one copy. My notes on the Gill Front are better! ><
And does this mean there is an Adult Novelization? ; )
(I know! I know! Random Question of Day!)
*sidles off into a corner* I bought Jedi Apprentice books. The Rising Force and Dark Rival.
Tuesday, 15th July 2003
Saw Anya off at the airport. *weeps*
Went for a BK breakfast with skye. Then off to the Marine Parade Library. ; ) Haven’t done that for way too long ; ) At said library – ended up in the Children’s Section. Yes, I was going Jedi Apprentice hunting.
Very amused by the library shelves. At MPL, I walked past a shelf that read N-S. Then, at the Ang Mo Kio library, which I went to later, a shelf read L-S. *cheers* Yay for Fandom OTP-supporting shelves!
Went out with Xiu and Dulcia. JN couldn’t make it : ( We went to Far East Plaza. Met up with Alex there! *beams* Spent some three and a half hours in Far East Plaza, all told.
And when I was there... I acquired more Jedi Apprentice books. Much better to go to secondhand bookstores. Got two books there for less than what one book costs in a major bookstore. Granted, the selection is nowhere as wide.
Went off to the massive DFS store. It is very pretty, and also built entirely for tourists, which may explain it. Said store has an escalator that goes up four levels. ; ) To me, more impressive than the one at Shaw Towers. *smiles* We played Following Fish. *hides* It’s when you stand near the koi at the pond and see if they follow you. These ones did. And very responsively. The ones at the Fullerton can be responsive, but they’re erratic. Only if they wish to.
DFS store also has miniature microphones, loudspeakers and radios – the keyring variety. They can record and play back sounds. You could leave many interesting messages there. ; )
*reads what have written* Have sunk into randomness again. *hides*
Then went to Scotts Marketplace for dinner.
Wednesday, July 16th, 2003
Must have been something I ate. Had nasty episode involving what I suspect was food poisoning. Very ow. Played Curl-Up-On-the-(bathroom) Floor. *wince* But was better after medicine. Worst being not being able to sleep due to pain.
Went driving after that, as felt better. Some instructors at my driving centre are helpful. They praise you, and they don’t berate. Have had one instructor for several sessions (we get different instructors every time, purportedly. Though I do not know how I managed to get this particular individual so many times). And when this one doesn’t scold me, that is praise enough.
Then came home. Ate porridge. Safe Food time, it was.
Then joined Aingeal and Dae at Plaza Singapura. Dae couldn’t come find Nemo with us. *is sad* And I watched Nemo for the fourth time. Thank you, Aingeal! ^_^
Great show. ; ) Aingeal observed that the song the Fish Shoal sings - “Whale of a Tale” – is also a Disney song. Self-promotion! It’s a Disney Movie Month – even Pirates of the Caribbean is a Disney ride! Not to mention the movie ads which Disney so strategically aired before Nemo. Brother Bear and The Lizzie McGuire movie. I do not know how Lizzie McGuire could’ve been a successful TV series, but then it is unlikely that people like me made it so.
Then went to Secret Recipes for tea. ; ) Had a chocolate cake (again). Aingeal had a tiramisu that was 50% cream, and delicious. *smiles*
Came home and posted on Ratal. Another Long Overdue Ratal High update. ; ) *apologies to Serry*
Thursday, July 17th, 2003
Went driving in the morning. Went through two lessons today! *cheers* First of which was the Pre-Drive check. Apparently the car needs:
1. Engine oil
2. Brake fluid/ Clutch Pedal fluid (if car is not automatic)
3. Coolant (though tap water will suffice)
4. Battery water (this time, tap water will not suffice)
5. Water. For the windscreen jets.
You check the depth of the engine oil with a dipstick. For some reason, this made me think of the X-Files line which had Mulder saying that Krychek’s “moral dipstick is two drops short of bone dry”.
Very Random Happiness-Inducing Event of Day
Button Mushrooms have returned to the shelves of my Supermarket! *cheers*
Went over to the Dark Side at 2:25 AM
Much delayed update:
Wednesday, 2nd July, 2003
Found Nemo for the first time. Initiated a spiral of addiction that continues til tjis day. Watched it with Australian aunt. ; ) Which made the fish-shoal impression of the Sydney Opera House all the more interesting.
Thursday, 3rd July 2003
Went out with JN and KT for karaoke. *evil grin* Went to Delphi in Orchard, which has one of the best deals and rooms I’ve ever seen. ^_^
Met up with Sway for dinner, at the Dome near Plaza Singapura. Had the beef bowl, clam chowder, and the iced chocolate with gelato. Risa introduced me to the last food item on that list. Yet another addiction. ^_^ Which happens to taste far too good to give up.
Dome has a great pesto. I wonder if I can find it again. This somehow started a pesto-pasta making fascination. *hides*
Friday, 4th July 2003
Had strange dream of a Ratalien meeting. And that I was so delighted to see the Professor that I hugged her. And I woke up this morning to meet goldfish. And when I hugged her, it felt the same as in my dream. Exactly. It was great to see her again ; )
Went to Mos Burger for breakfast ^_^ They now serve apple pie as apple pie nuggets. *looks at said apple pie nuggets* Not bad.
*glomps goldfish* She gave me toe socks! *huge evil grin* Have never had toe socks with a different color for each toe! *happiness* And also a chef’s cap that reads “Noodles”. Thanks to recent pasta obsession. ; ) Thank you, goldfish!
^_______________________________^
Shall work towards deserving that chef’s hat! ; )
Went to watch The Twins Effects. Edison Chen was Kazaf, the vampire prince. He was immensely cute. *beams* Unfortunately,
Spoilers for The Twins Effects
Reeve, the vampire hunter, is almost completely useless. *makes face* Uselessness compounded by his fellow vampire hunter/girlfriend. He deserves the ridiculous girlfriend he hooks up with. *buries head in hands* How can fluff like that become a vampire slayer? And what’s with making mistakes like that? ><
Apparently, vampire hunters need to drink vampire blood to give them the powers needed to combat vampires. This can only last without ill-effects for one and a half hours, after which they are required to take an antidote lest they turn into vampires permanently. Said antidote is stored in a Banana Essence bottle. *thwaps makers of the antidote* You, readers, can see the problems coming a miiiile away, but this somehow eludes the vampire slayers. There must be a message in this.
So naturally, Reeve’s Token Girlfriend takes the antidote and makes banana muffins with them. This compels Reeve to go on a banana-muffin spree simply to avoid permanent vampirism. Of course, the antidote, in banana muffins, doesn’t take action so quickly. Thus we get to see Vampire! Reeve scoffing banana muffins.
Is it only Chinese shows that possess this particular brand of bang-head-against-wall, over-the-top qualities?
Kazaf being cute made up for the silliness, though said vampire prince had his own silly moments, such as making a date with his human girlfriend at 12 noon on a beach. And not realizing that his vampirism would make this impossible until his manservant, Prada (yes, Prada), pointed it out to him.
Cue sequence where Prada and Kazaf make suntan lotion. In a deliberate parallel to cooking shows. “First, you add the sesame oil...” starts the whole scene off. It doesn’t help that all the ingredients used in said suntan potion are all edible.
Wah. Prada was fun. But Duke finished him off.
Duke’s the requisite Evil Vampire who needs the “blood essence” of five vampire princes to open the book of Day Into Night, which is a heirloom in (you guessed it) Kazaf’s family. This book, once opened, enables a vampire to walk in day as if it is night, thus removing one of the key limitations to a vampire’s power. Naturally, Kazaf is the last Vampire Prince. (This reminds me of Christopher Pike’s The Last Vampire Series. I adored Christopher Pike, as a child/teenager. Only his books tended to go a little too heavy on making-out.)
Kazaf does have a girlfriend, though, who is far more fun and ten times more capable than Reeve’s. She helps her oftimes bumbling boyfriend evade vampire hoodlums, has the sense to procure blood intended for transfusion for him (since said prince refuses to drink from humans), and is a far better fighter than Reeve’s girlfriend. She at least gets to the point. And she has her own share of facepalm! moments, such as when she misconstrues a conversation where Kazaf reveals his vampiric nature to her as Kazaf wanting to break up.
Summary of the Ending: Duke kills Prada and allows Reeve to turn into a vampire. This forces Reeve’s girlfriend to kill her erstwhile love. Oh, and Kazaf’s girlfriend is also Reeve’s sister. So vampire slayer and vampire prince’s girlfriends team up to battle all the vampires, Kazaf being conveniently out of action, thanks to Duke’s acquisition of his blood essence. Reeve’s girlfriend (why? Why her? Why?!) gets to acquire part of the powers of Day-Into-Night while attempting to thwart Duke, and becomes a *facepalm* vampire. Nevertheless, the duo defeat Duke. And…
The Eventual Ending: All three survivors – vampire prince, vampire prince’s girlfriend, and vampire-slayer-turned-vampire, become a vampire slayer trio.
*drowns in parmesan*
I liked the show, though. ; ) There was a lovely English-speaking exchange between Kazaf and Duke that lasted less than five minutes and justified the price of the movie (for me). And Kazaf (Edison Chen) has a lovely non-Chinese-accented speaking-English voice.
And Kazaf’s name, while reminding me of a certain file-sharing software, is pretty cool, really. (To me.)
Then met up with Risa for lunch at Swensen’s. *beams* Had a Chocolate Malted Sundae. Which was really good. Also, all the sundaes that I order with Maltesers in them tend to generate Maltesers as if they’ve been hit by a Matrix-Reloaded Agent Smith-esque replicator. Which necessitates my needing help to finish them off. Had the salmon and mushroom baked rice. ; ) Yet another item I must learn to make for the time when I go overseas.
We were joined by goldfish’s senior, and were introduced togoldfish’s Three Mice In A Box. Reminded of Babe, Risa and I performed a rendition of Blue Moon. From the mice. *evilness* Was much interested in how the mice were named. *smiles at Anyaand waves to the Mouse in the Middle*
Had to leave to go for driving, and then to a family dinner. One of those massive outings involving the extended family and dinner commencing at 8.45pm. We were celebrating my Australian aunt’s visit, my brother’s return home, and my Malaysian cousin’s birthday. ^_^ Family gatherings tend to have their share of moments:
Joke told at said Gathering
“Why does the bride cry at weddings?”
“Because she can’t get the best man.”
Also learnt that cousin’s graduation involved balloting for the different colours of graduation gowns. (First I’ve heard of it.) And that his faculty ended up with, of all colours, pink.
*falls over*
Had mango pudding for dessert. This was the first restaurant I’d ever been to which gave you one of those tiny jugs of evaporated milk to go with the mango pudding. About two or three jugs per table. Which means you can add as much milk as you want. Which also meant that I went overboard. *evilness*
Saturday, 5th July 2003
Went to Anya’s house!
*huge grin*
Thank you, Anya
^_____________________________^
Met Risa and goldfish! *huge evil grin* dreamcatcher met us later – and brought Mrs. Field’s Brownies! *smiles* Thank you ^_^ Am of the opinion that Mrs. Fields does the best brownies. ; )
Anya’s place does the best barbecues! *happiness* I loved the mango salad. And Anya, your mom does the best sake-marinated cod I’ve ever had. *delight*
And many thanks to Anya for enabling me to see the Warcraft III: Frozen Throne opening cinematic. *dies of happiness* It was absolutely beautiful. As wonderful as the screencaps I’d seen. Do not care if Illidan is fat. *laughter* He’s still pretty impressive! ; ) And I loved the Naga. (If that’s how they’re spelled.) And I agree, they move like Hydralisks. Also adore the Hydralisks. ; ) *happiness*
Watched the Engrish version of The Two Towers. The very first line is out of whack – Gandalf’s “Fly, you fools!” has mutated into “Follow, you fools!”
*collapses laughing*
Cannot imagine the Fellowship plunging headlong into Moria after him. ; )
I also second Anya’s mom’s opinion of Legolas. *smirks evilly*
Got to see Anya’s Yami no Matsuei manga. She is right. Touda is very cute. Though she goes for him with the visor, while I go for him sans visor. ^_^ Makes him look like Cyclops, in my opinion. ; )
*flees Anya*
And Muraki is cool. ; )
Had a stayover at Anya’s place!
*cheers*
Got to see the Making-of Cakes Personified: New York Cheesecake! *cheers* In person! *huge smile*
Poor Risa had to translate Anya’s manga for me *hides from the both of them* Especially the… questionable scenes. *stays hidden*
Sunday, 6th July 2003
Woke up in Anya’s place. Thank you for the great stayover, Anya
And for lunch! ; ) Hadn’t eaten nasi lemak in ages. ^_^
Met up with Ratal in the evening. *huge grin* In the Hotel Intercontinental. Shall I proclaim it the most impressive Ratal gathering locale ever? *grin* Thank you, Isilme for the room! *glomps Isilme* Hope our gathering didn’t disturb everyone else on the floor ^_^
May have traumatized Elear with “Elear, I’m here” opening line. *goes hide*
Finally met Laire! *smiles* Half of Ratal’d just returned from a cosplay session. Sarah made a pretty cool Ringwraith ; ) Then again, am a Wraith Fancier. ^_^ It was great to meet someone who’s also into Mary-Sue induced amusement. ^_^ Me, I have the sinking feeling I write them, but they shall stay mercifully unposted. *glee*
Ended up half-strangled by Dae again. *glares at said half-orc* Why does this happen almost every time we get together? *amused*
Celebrated a birthday with mango and apple strudel. ^_^ Have now discovered a liking for mango strudel. Thank you cait for said strudel! *beams*
Isilme and cait stayed over. ^_^ cait and I wandered down to Bugis Junction to buy dinner back (at 9.40pm). *laughter* Ran into an ex-primary school classmate. *surprise*
Watched The Queen of the Damned over Yoshinuya and takopachi. *giggles* What a combination. The movie was better than I’d remembered it, but probably due to where I was and who I was with ^_^ Although I still prefer Tom Cruise as Lestat. And where was Louis? *weeps*
Also discovered strange property of our hotel room – the TV can be heard in the bathroom when it’s on. *stunned* Also, we discovered that it is not a very good idea to visit the bathroom if The Queen of the Damned is playing on television. This worsened by fact that we could not bring down the volume on the bathroom speaker.
Watched the Engrish version of Two Towers after that. *evil grin* (Yes, again. More. *smirks*) Then had to go to sleep as had driving the day after : ( But cait and Isilme were up : ) They managed to draw the map of Ratal! *cheers* And slept at 6am. Was vaguely conscious of them moving to the other side of the room in the middle of the night morning, but other than that, was out.
Monday, 7th July 2003
Woke up in the presence of elf and half-elf. Was only human. *amused* Had to leave for driving lessons : ( Last gathering before Ratal turns Ratal International. ; ) And we must learn to synchronise three countries with three different timelines.
After driving, wandered around in Takashimaya and succumbed to the cuteness. *hides* Also wandered off to Paragon (why did I accidentally type a “r” there? [wait, is it “an” r, or “a” r? – Snape references notwithstanding?]) and spent a great deal of time in Jasons Supermarket. Wandered off to the toy store and found a stuffed Nemo toy retailing at 10 cents shy of fifty dollars. *runs away*
Met up with family, then off to the Esplanade. Visited Thai Express ; ) The green mango salad is better than the green papaya salad. The latter is mostly tasteless. Then under my evil influence, family moved to Haagen Dasz, where they were persuaded to buy Midnight Chocolate ice cream and Bailey’s Ice Cream. ^_^
Later note: Ha! One sibling addicted to Bailey’s and the other to Midnight Chocolate. May also have converted my father. *cheers*
Tuesday, 8th July 2003
Spent much of time asleep, due to earlier Ratal gathering and two successive stayovers ; ) Made pesto pasta. With mushrooms, chicken, red oak lettuce (I adore red oak!) and grated mozzarella. *happiness* Poor family were subjected to my cooking. *hides from them*
Wednesday, 9th July 2003
Met up with Risa, goldfish and Skye for lunch. Was delighted to run into Anyaas well. *huge grin* So it was lunch for us ^_^ After which, went to watch Finding Nemo again, with Risa and goldfish. *happiness* Risa noted the pathetic fallacy in the rain falling after
Finding Nemo Spoiler
Marlin seeing what he thinks is Nemo’s death.
Then went to Kare Kano’s new location ^_^ But not before stopping for a break at McDonalds. *cheers hot fudge sundaes* Sundaes go well with French fries. *flees the disagreers*
Kare Kano’s now located in Sunshine Plaza, in a place with automatic doors. Would never have found it without goldfish’s guidance. The new shop is much better-looking than the last. *grin* Better lighting. More space. Everything. Unfortunately, the same erratic opening hours for different sections of the shop.
Thursday, 10th July 2003
Woke up to send goldfish off at the airport. :: tears :: Got to see Vee again! *cheers Vee* Found out about roller lint-removers. *laughter*
After driving, met up with cait. ^_^ Had lunch at Suntec, where I was shown a Spiderman comic that had me going on a hunt for the Spiderman movie VCD. *buries head in hands* To quote Jacques, “I am ashamed.” But... I still did it. *laughter*
Went to Shop-Which-Sells-Movie-Related-Merchandise near Carrefour. Why do all the shops that sell fun things always have strange opening hours and stranger opening practices? Bought a set of Finding Nemo postcards. ; )
Then went to the Esplanade ^_^ Poor cait had to endure my “I can move the bubbles”-ness at the reflecting pool outside the Esplanade. Also my horrible picture-taking skills. *flees cait*
Went to Haagen Dasz. *huge grin* Tried Toffee Crème and Midnight Chocolate. cait had a Hot Belgian Chocolate. *grin*
Had much fun! *beams*
Friday, 11th July 2003
Was exhausted by previous day, so spent lunch hour at home. Tried my hand at making Maggie Mee. Have concluded that:
1. I cannot live on Maggie Mee while overseas
2. I have no sense of proportion. (Conclusion brought on by fact that added too many peas to the noodles.)
3. I must learn to cook something else.
Left for the airport after dinner to see my Australian aunt off. Had the Venetian Chocolate Cake and Hot Vanilla at Coffee Club XPress. Chocolate cake had rum in it, and was 50% pure chocolate. The Hot Vanilla was just as good as the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf’s one. ; ) Yes, it’s essentially foamy, sweetened milk, but I like it. ^_^ The one at Starbucks, however, is just hot milk. With foam.
After the airport, went to watch Terminator 3 with the family. This was one movie I was always going to watch, whether or not reviews lambasted it, whether or not no one wanted to watch it. Because it’s a Terminator Movie. ; ) I loved Terminator 2: Judgement Day, although it scared me to pieces (I was a kid!).
John Connor is not cute. *massive protest* He was cute in Terminator 2. Edward Furlong! ; ) But in T3, he’s played by Nick Stahl.
Spoilers for Terminator 3
I had the sense that this movie wasn’t going to be anything near Terminator 2 from the trailers, but that wasn’t going to stop me watching it. : ) I suppose if you’re watching it for a sense of danger, an omnipresent feeling that fear’s all about – this is probably not the movie. (That, or I was an impressionable child for T2 to do that to me, whereas I’m several years older for T3.) It’s an action thriller, all right – a van-police car-fire truck-crane (don’t ask) chase of epic proportions takes place somewhere within the first hour.
I’d have to say the Terminator gets some of the best lines. I suppose the fun that originates in the incongruity of having this “killing machine” speak lines that are immensely human. “Talk to the hand.” *falls off chair*
Also the scene where he puts on sunglasses that have flower-shaped frames. Oh, and they’re glittery flower-shaped frames. My mind was thinking, “Icon! Icon!” *amused*
Strangely enough, the Terminator’s brusque, extremely business-like attitude to everything he deals with makes some scenes strangely humorous. This is probably the filmmakers’ intention.
The TX is pretty cool. Though I have the feeling the censors’ scissors took away quite a bit from the original film. T3 is R-rated in the States. There is no way the same film could be PG here without several cuts.
T3 also has Claire Danes. I was surprised.
Saturday, 12th June 2003
Went to see cait off at the airport. :: tears :: First step in Ratal going International. Hope you had a good trip ; ) And bring us back a Smith. Each.
Joined family for dinner at the Botanic Gardens. Had one very long taxi ride there. Also, Tyserall Road goes alllll the way to Farrer Road, and half of it (where I was supposed to be) is one-way. *cries* So guess which way I went. Yes, the wrong one.
It had just rained, and it was dark. The gardens are beautiful in the dark, with the lanterns and lights glowing in the trees and along the walkways. I crossed a path by a pond, which was lit from within. The water was a luminous green. ; ) And the air – it was like nothing else. It’s the scent of the air after the rain, when everything smells fresh, and yes, lush, though I try to find a better word. Either I was hungry, or it was the restaurant, but there was rum on the air as I entered the gardens, and the scent turned to mint when I approached the restaurant. ; )
Then wandered the Gardens with family after dinner. It’s so very different in the dark. Palm Valley had a giant TV screen, and it was showing, of all things, Chinese drama serials. *collapses* But the rest of the gardens were tranquil, save the pavilion which housed a (relatively) rowdy party.
Sunday, 13th June 2003
Spent a disturbing proportion of today asleep.
*unsettled*
Then saw part of “Dude, Where’s My Car?” on TV. My defense is that I was not in control of the remote. To my horror, said show was not as bad as I’d expected it to be. Which means that my taste is worse than I thought it was.
Also saw Viggo Mortensen in Daylight. ; ) He looks more Viggo than Aragorn in that show. But of course. ; )
Went over to the Dark Side at 2:22 AM
Wednesday, July 09, 2003
Due to complete obsession with Finding Nemo, have watched said movie three times, with copious note-taking each time.
Finding Nemo opened here on the 5th of June. It wasn’t until the mid-twenties of June did I finally manage to see it. Making up for lost time, I guess ^_^ But I adore this show. First watched it with the Australian aunt, which made watching the Fish School’s impression of Sydney somehow more entertaining. ; )
The day my family went to the airport to bring my brother home, my cousins and I were Counting Nemo in the airport fish tank. It was a massive tank, and housed, along with four sharks, some sixteen clownfish. ^_^
Pilot Pointless Observation (Prototype): When Finding Nemo opened, Lido had a fishtank in its cinema lobby put up especially to promote the film. And also fish food. Said tank, however, had no clownfish.
First Pointless Observation on Knick Knack, the short before Finding Nemo: Sunny in italics reads an awful lot like Serry.
Second Pointless Observation: I’m deranged.
Obsessively went to hunt down the Finding Nemo interviews. Check out this site for the Interview. Go to the Fishy Folk link. ^_^
Pearl the Octopus looks like a pink aquatic Boo (from Monsters Inc.). Not surprising. Both are Pixar films.
This film reminds me of a simile my sibling invented: “Her voice was like a Pixar film – entirely animated.” Was much amused.
Jacques the Cleaner Shrimp (I’dve said he was a Tiny Lobster, but apparently, no) is utterly hilarious. His answer to Gill’s admonition against tank-cleaning – “I shall resist”. His abashed answer to being caught cleaning – “I am ashamed.” It’s the perfectly clipped, formal tone in which he speaks that makes me laugh. ^_^ As this pretty cool fansite says, he “cleans and cleans with the fervor of a soldier in the French resistance”. *amused* *remembers learning the Napoleonic Wars*
Bubbles (the yellow tang) – immensely giggle-worthy. Utterly consumed by his fanatical obsession for bubble-capturing. This worsened by the fact that the Chinese subtitles for “bubbles” were pao4 pao4. *falls off chair* Somehow, reading it in Chinese made it doubly hilarious for me. Bubbles’ voice actor – Stephen Root – said, in the interview, "Bubbles is just plain nuts."
Bubbles’ line that made his character for me?
*possessively* "My bubbles."
And Gill. Gill. *falls at his fins* [ line used in homage to my Professor, who used this in relation to our Professor, substituting feet for fins ]
I name Gill the aquatic version of Snape, except this version has a reason to be slimy, and is much nicer. ^_^
(Would that make Nemo the aquatic version of Harry?)
Gill has this gorgeously smoky voice. *collapses* I am an utter sucker for these voices. As evinced by swooning over Alan Rickman (Snape in Harry Potter), Jason Isaacs (Lucius Malfoy in Harry Potter, but I liked him for his role as that savage Tavington in The Patriot [Was delighted to see Heath Ledger’s character wave bye-bye]), Jeremy Irons (As the Morlock in The Time Machine), and Willem Dafoe (The elder Osbourne/Green Goblin in Spiderman. Also, the voice of Gill in Finding Nemo). The moment I heard Gill’s voice, I was – “Okay, that’s it. I’m gone.” And I was. It was exactly like hearing Alan Rickman as Snape for the first time. Be still, my beating heart. *amused*
Producer Person I cannot identify: “Gill is this tough, scarred Moorish idol – a very proud-looking fish, inside this tank.”
Willem Dafoe in the interview: “Gill commands respect just out of sheer weight – and bravado.”
Gill!
His entire entrance won me over. Completely. He comes into the picture when Nemo gets stuck in the filter. In the midst of our clownfish’s cries to be freed, Gill materializes – and his first words are, “Nobody touch him.”
When Nemo asks, piteously, “Can you help me?”, Gill’s response is a seemingly-callous “No.” He continues, “You got yourself in there. You can get yourself out.” Dramatic change from Marlin’s overprotectiveness.
Nemo (almost-wails – he’s still stuck in that filter, after all): “I can’t! I’ve got a bad fin!”
And this is when Gill turns, allowing Nemo to glimpse his profile – and the Moorish idol’s mangled right fin, almost-twin (symbolic parallel?) to Nemo’s withered right fin. “Never stopped me before,” counters Gill, as he seals the I-Will-Be-Your-Mentor ritual.
The freed clownfish meets the rest of the aquarium’s inhabitants proper, while Gill and Peach the starfish hold back, observing the merry gathering.
“He’s from the ocean,” muses Peach. “Just like you, Gill.” She eyes him, and says, almost laughingly, of him, “Oh, I’ve seen that look on your face before. I know that look. What are you thinking?”
And Gill replies, “I think tonight we’ll give the kid a proper welcome.”
*dies*
Nemo’s startling innocence and naiveté, contrasted with Gill as the knowing/jaded voice-of-experience outlook. The same origins. The same handicap. They make a lovely pair. *smiles*
Appropriately enough, Gill resides in a skull.
I Obey!
I love Gill’s injunction on commencing the Great Tank Escape.
“Think dirty thoughts!”
[As tank escape is dependent on the aquarium’s inhabitants sabotaging the tank filter, and making the tank so filthy that the dentist-owner is forced to remove them from said tank to clean it, thus facilitating their escape plans]
“My first escape landed on dental tools.” That’s one determined Moorish Idol there, our Gill.
“Fish aren’t meant to be in a box, kid. It does things to you.” As evinced by Bubbles, Gurgle, and other tank inhabitants’ idiosyncracies. Were I in the tank, I’d probably be crazier than all of them put together.
When Gill catapults himself onto Fish-Killer Darla’s head:
Aquarium Inhabitants: *gleefully* “Smack her on the head, Gill!”
Darla Detestation due to her fish-shaking habits. Shook her last birthday present to death – said present was a fish – and her next present is to be Nemo. But our clownfish plays dead. *cheers* And wins his way to freedom. ^_^ Said escape owed much to Gill, who distracted Darla and flipped Nemo, with the help of dental tools, into the dentist’s washbasin. ^_^ *cheers Gill*
The Strangeness of Tankhood
As Bloat said: “Only the worthy may join our sacred order – in the fraternal bonds of… Tankhood.”
The entire Initiation Ceremony Incident. On Mount Wanahuckaloogie. Am very sure that the name for this aquarium’s underwater feature was not accidental. *stares at it suspiciously* Said Hazing Ritual involves swimming through the Ring of Fire (Dramatically lit bubbles from Mount Wanahuckaloogie).
Do not understand why Nemo had to thwack against Gill as he emerged from said Ring of Fire.
Dory, Dory. What can I say? ^_^
Situation: In lightless trench with Marlin (Nemo’s father). Due to her catastrophic short-term memory, she forgets Marlin’s presence.
Dory: “Something’s got me!”
Marlin: “It’s me!”
Dory: “Are you my conscience?”
Marlin (exasperated/patronizing): “Yes, Dory, I am your conscience. We haven’t spoken for a while. Is there anything you’d like to tell me?”
Dory: “Not much. Can’t complain.”
Marlin: “Tell me, Dory – what do you see?”
[ A light illuminates the darkness ]
Dory: “I see a light!” *pause* “Hey, Conscience! Am I dead?”
[It’s an angler fish. And a particularly vicious one, at that.]
After trapping said angler fish:
Dory and Marlin’s Victory Chant: “No Eating Here Tonight! *whoop* Eating Here Tonight!”
Dory: “No Eating Here Tonight! *addresses angler fish* You’re on a diiiiet…”
“I suffer from short-term memory loss. It runs in the family. Or I think it did. *pause* Where are they?”
Dory Talking In Her Sleep: “The sea monkey’s got my money.” [ I think this is ’s favourite line ]
“Are you gonna eat that?”
And my favourite: “Yes, I’m a natural blue.”
Dory’s Numerous Nemo Misnomers: Fabio. Elmo. Cheeko. Harpo. And Bingo.
Why, why not Bilbo and Frodo?! Don’t they rhyme with Nemo?
Dory’s reaction to (lethal) baby jellyfish: “I shall call him Squishy, and he shall be mine. And he shall be my Squishy.”
*apologies here owed to , , , the Professor, aingeal, Dae and everyone else who had the misfortune to witness my Laptop Squishy routine. Especially to . I fear I have blasphemed your Smith. :: weeps :: *
Dory and Marlin hanging off a whale’s tongue. *meeps* Marlin is hanging on to Dory’s fin as this is happening.
Dory (according to whale): “He says it’s time to let go!”
Marlin: “You can’t! You think you can do these things, but you just can’t, Nemo!”
*Freudian-slip and Emotional Climax/Psychological Denouement Moment*
Marlin: “How do you know something bad isn’t about to happen?”
I thought that scene was at the emotional heart of Finding Nemo. It didn’t give me the glee of the Gill scenes, but I was still thrilled, but this time on a Literature-student level. *laughter*
Gurgle: Aquarium inhabitant consumed with cleanliness.
“Sharkbait! You’re covered – with germs!” The last said in a tone of absolute revulsion.
I did not think Peach was voiced Allison Janney. Was quite surprised when heard that Peach the Starfish was female. Could not quite decide whether Peach was male or female. Save for fact that was pink. (Should have been big giveaway, but not with a voice like that, it wasn’t.)
Filthy Tank! Peach – “Look! Scum Angel!”
Peach cheerfully discloses her origins as: “Starfish from Ebay.”
*hysterical laughter*
Carnivorous Sharks Anonymous Pledge: “I am a nice shark, not a mindless eating machine.” “Fish are friends, not food.”
Marlin at said meeting: “I don’t have a problem!”
Bruce, Anchor and Chum: “Oh.” They exchange knowing looks. Then, in unison, they declare, “Denial.”
I think the humanity in these fish is what makes Finding Nemo so very amusing. From Dory’s frustration with Marlin’s refusal to ask for geographical guidance: “What is it with men and asking for directions?”, to the baby that falls off a coral and immediately bursts into tears – it’s all so human. Will not bother to muse on the anthropomorphist tendencies of the film. Am too busy enjoying it.
I loved the references. Bruce’s chase was highly reminiscent of a creature flick. Like Aliens 2 or Deep Blue Sea. *smirks* The whole floor-grills-dislodged-as-ravening-beast-pursues-defenseless-protagonists routine. Much amused by The Shining reference – Bruce wedges his head past a shattered submarine door and yells, “Here’s Brucie!” in a nod to Jack Nicholson’s infamous (and ad-libbed) “Here’s Johnny!” in The Shining. ; )
Crush and His Whole Surfer Dude ‘tude
“Kill motor, dude.”
On Marlin and the jellyfish: “You got serious thrill issues. *pause* Awesome.”
The Nemo fansite described Deb and Flo (a black and white humbug and her reflection) best:
“Probably a Gemini at heart, Deb and her identical twin sister, Flo, are like two peas in a pod. They do everything together: swim, laugh, share secrets... They are a perfect match. And it’s for this reason that the rest of the tank gang does not have the heart to tell Deb that Flo is merely her reflection on the tank glass."
Occurred to me that “Deb and Flo” is phonetically similar to “Ebb and Flow”. Sea puns, anyone? ; ) *eyes dreamcatcher warily*
Squirt and Nemo are voiced by children. Crush, Squirt's dad, is voiced by the Finding Nemo director, Andrew Stanton. And Anchor, one of the sharks is voiced by none other than Eric Bana. Yes, the Incredible Hulk. ^_^
I adored this show. But I suppose you can tell. ; )
You represent... hope.
You're quite a daydreamer and can be a hopeless romantic. You enjoy being creative and don't mind being alone at times. You have goals, and know what you want in life... even if they are a little far fetched.
Last thing I cooked - sausages. And I fried them with sugar. It's a trick I learnt from Serry. ^_^ I was rather startled when I heard of it, as you probably are, but I tried them and they are good! ^_^ Only I tend to put a little too much sugar for a little too long, and it looks like a sugar-coated sausage lollipop - but I will try! *puts on best earnest smile*
I conclude that Serry still does it better.
I believe I'll be going to the UK. Shall now have to refuse NUS. I actually want to turn up for the first two weeks of school, but my mom thinks it's a bad idea. She thinks I'd be better off staying at home, cause those weeks are gonna be a waste of time. Seeing as how most of it is going to be orientation, I kind of think she's right.
But then I think of how horrifically my mind has atrophied since the End of the A-Levels, and I rather think I need the work. My concentration span for Things I Have to Do is absolutely abysmal.
My mom was just saying today that my apartment in the UK is gonna be tiny! (Student hostel, what can I expect? ;) ) So she says that I should get practice in sleeping in small quarters - by sleeping in my bathroom.
Went out with my aunt, mom and brother to Orchard today. Had slipper lobster (really tiny crayfish) in tomato cream sauce linguine. I wish I could cook crayfish that well ;) My mom tells me it's practice, but I have the sinking feeling that my practice will involve an awful lot of wasted food. *hides behind the garbage disposal* A Cool Station's opened in Takashimaya. It's selling Rose Bubble Tea. *laughter* And Blueberry Ice. ;)
I Think the Information Below Is Useless.
As you may have heard, the $1.99 shops have gone bankrupt. The Watsons in Takashimaya is now considerably expanded.
Went over to the Dark Side at 10:19 AM
Where I prove that not only do I get onto bandwagons late, but also that I cannot even ascend said bandwagon well. Am currently sitting on the step that leads to this particular bandwagon.
In other words, I’ve bought The Sandman Companion, by Hy Bender. (Lateness of my step up the bandwagon is proved by the date this book was published, which was in 1999. Still, it’s all new to me.) Which states that it features “In-depth interviews with Sandman writer/creator Neil Gaiman".
It does more than that, really. Bender’s writing what is an excellent introduction to the Sandman series. (Well, if you like your introductions with all the spoilers in. Which I do, as I like to know how everything ends.) He prefaces the interviews with a summary of the events in the particular book, follows with an analysis of the elements and plot developments in the story, and ends with the interview with Gaiman himself. This is interspersed with interviews with the artists who drew for that particular installment, or extracts which expound on the themes (oh, how my Literature teachers hated that word) and references in the series. (Like a really interesting cookbook. Oh no. Now you know what else I read.)
One thing I really like about Bender is – wait, there’s more than one. His obvious passion for the Sandman series comes across very clearly. Another is the detailed research he puts into his interviews. You don’t get stock questions like, “So, when did you start writing?” You get questions that show that this man has really been looking into everything Gaiman’s done so far, everything that’s been said about Gaiman, and best of all, Bender’s been looking into Gaiman’s influences. Bender knows what he’s talking about.
He asks questions such as, “Is it true that Season of Mists almost didn’t happen because someone else had independently come up with a similar idea?”, “What went into Lucifer’s appearance?” and “Right after the various siblings arrive, though, something unique in the series occurs – you break the action to provide six short text essays. What led you to do that?” Incisive questions. (For an utter newbie like myself.)
And what’s better is that Gaiman himself is as involved as his interviewer. Gaiman offers insights on his work, anecdotes on what inspired him – he’s amazing. Even if you let his work alone speak for him.
Oh, and there’s a sixteen-page color section. Glossy. Cover art for the original version of Sandman, insets of the Endless for the trading card set, and a rejected version of the trading card Desire. (Personally, I think the Book of Sandman Quotes had better selections of color art, but The Sandman Companion has some excellent choices of black-and-white art, including concept sketches of the Endless.)
I would like to say that I like the Ramadan version of Dream quite a bit better than the versions.
I would also like to respectfully disagree with Mr. Gaiman when he says that “Dream is the least introspective character I’ve ever written.” (Then again, I view angst as introspective. And Dream’s the one who spends days and days angsting on his balcony, in the rain he creates, over his lover, who left him. As Mervyn Pumpkinhead says, “he’s gotta be the tragic figure standing out in the rain, mournin’ the loss of his beloved… In the meantime, everybody gets dreams fulla existential angst and wakes up feeling like hell.”
Oh, and speaking of Merv:
Heresy Approaching. Sandman Art Lovers Beware.
I’ve never much cared for the Sandman art I’ve seen so far. I’ve loved the ideas. But the art was usually a major detraction. I favour idealized art (which I know is not intellectually correct. I’m supposed to go for groundbreaking concept art, stark and existential. No, wait, I’m supposed to support every form of art there is. [No sarcasm intended. I simply feel that that’s the way we’re supposed to react to works of art nowadays, sophisticated consumers that we’re intended to be. I’m not quite there yet, and I don’t expect to get there anytime soon, if at all.]). I favour conventional art forms. And I love colour. I love illustrated men and women who are beautiful. I go for landscapes and architecture and – I’m more an Impressionist than a Cubist, in my tastes. (Yes, I know, I can find all that in Sandman, but what I saw, for most part, wasn’t that.)
*is stoned by legions of Sandman fans*
The art was more of a barrier than a bridge to Gaiman’s work, for me. I have a better feel for concepts. Gaiman, give me your words. They are more than enough for me to create a vision of your worlds. (And he wrote Sandman in concept. Other artists [with a lot of his help] drew the pictures.)
I devoured this book with more enjoyment than with which I’d read his comics. I respond better to ideas than to images. I know for a certainty that I would (rather childishly) have disliked Merv the Pumpkinhead on sight, if I’d seen the art. But my first encounter with him was through the words he spoke, the words that Gaiman wrote for him. And I liked him upon hearing what he had to say about Dream and existential angst. It was only later that I saw what Merv looked like, and I was grateful that I’d seen what he was before I saw what he looked like.
(Please tell me Gilbert looks better than Merv. I like him very much in concept. Gilbert is actually Fiddler’s Green – a place, rather than a person (this paraphrased. Bender said it better.) – he sounds beautiful as a land (“an especially lovely and peaceful stretch of trees, mountains, springs, meadows and green glades” - sounds better than quite a bit of the Dreaming), and beautiful as a personality. I know when I fell for him – when he said, “I remember when I was a young vinicity”.
(Also, *tears* over what happened to Gilbert.)
Also, there were times when I could barely make out the words due to the font in which they were printed. I know this probably doesn’t count for my reluctance to really get into something as wonderful as the Sandman series, but I find my enthusiasm for anything rather tempered when I’m struggling to make out what it’s even saying.
My take on Orpheus and Eurydice
Slightly Controversial Opinion (In my opinion):
I’ve always felt Orpheus was rather silly, really, and reading Gaiman’s portrayal of him has only reinforced my (mis)perception. I agree with what Destruction says about Orpheus being more in love with the idea of his dead love than he “ever was with the girl herself”. My agreement probably due to perverse reasons of my own (I also believe that Romeo and Juliet’s love would never have survived, even if they had). I find it hard to see Orpheus as anything more than an excessively angsty, moody teenager.
Though I’m extremely interested in acquiring “Fables and Reflections”. Why?
1. Werewolf Tale. (Honestly reminded me of Faol. I have Ratal on the brain.)
2. Robespierre. And Orpheus’ singing head. I have to see his song. Read, I mean.
3. I want to see what’s so beautiful about Ramadan, which is apparently the most popular of the Sandman stories. I saw some of the art – it’s lovely. The minarets of Baghdad – just as intricate as St. Peter’s Basilica. And that (I suspect it’s just that particular panel) in black-and-white. But the story doesn’t hook me all that well, so far, except for the ending. But that one’s a real kicker.
4. Two words. The Chibi Endless. Waiiiiii… And the description of Dream tripping over his own robes and Death attempting to restrain her giggles – priceless. And there are two pages of this?!
Went over to the Dark Side at 10:03 AM
Sunday, June 29, 2003
Last I was online was 9pm Friday night, two nights ago. *whistles* In these weeks, I've never spent so much time away from my computer.
Reasons abound, first of which being my brother's return from Australia on Friday night. *happiness* Played the usual game of "Who Sees Him First" at the airport. As usual, Mom won. I've only won once. Mom's won all the other times. *weeps* Guess I'll have to wait for his next return to try my luck again.
Second reason being my Australian aunt's arrival. She's staying over at my place for the time she's here, which means I'm sharing a room with her. She bought me a lovely trivia book which I feel I won't be able to put down for quite a while. Book quotes Nietzsche and Homer Simpson. *amused*
Also:
Welcome back, Anya!
*throws a celebration*
Went out for a walk with both my brothers this evening, after dinner. Came back realizing that it is brothers who do the most to add to your I Really, Really Didn't Need to Know That List.
Also came back from walk laughing harder than I'd been in days.
Also, I've found a Dark Elven Dictionary. ^_^ I like their Dark Elven Phrases. With proverbs like "All trust is foolish", "The best knife is the unseen one", "Do as you are ordered, and live", as well as several rather simple, but elegant curses - what's not to like? ^_^
(Although I do have doubts about one of the Dark Elven curses so closely resembling a rather common human vulgarity.) [Then again, that robot in Unreal 2 cursed like this, too... *weeps at the end of that robot*]
Went over to the Dark Side at 8:55 AM
Thursday, June 26, 2003
Tuesday, 24th June 2003
Awoke shamefully late, thanks to Sentosa trip the day before. Finally collected my A-Level result certificate! After some wrangling with the Umbridge-like clerk in the school office. Apparently you need your IC and the card they send you to tell you to get the results. *makes face at the pointless Evil that is Bureaucracy*
Went to the library to get more books. *beams*
Wednesday, 25th June 2003
More driving! Have the sinking feeling that the more I drive - well, put it this way. The more bad habits I lose/ the better at certain skills I become (i.e. learning to change gears without losing it on the steering wheel), the worse I become at other aspects of driving (such as forgetting to take my foot off the accelerator when changing gears). *thwaps*
You need to take your foot off the accelerator before you change gears (you have to do this while depressing the clutch allthewayyy. But when you want to release the clutch, you need to step on the accelerator at the same time, so that the transition won't be jerky.) Wah. Cannot think. Wah. *buries head in hands*
Thursday, 26th June 2003
Went out for lunch with Mom and bro. First in ages I've eaten at Pizza Hut. Then went to Robinsons with Mom. They're having a sale. I spent a long time staring at orange-and-lime patterned chinaware and a hyacinth-print set of crockery. I feel... Domestic. *startled*
Also saw a pestle and a rack for jars. Jars included.
Made seafood cream linguine for dinner. *weeps* It tasted so much of seafood. *hides in garbage disposal* But my family seemed to think it was fine. *continues weeping*
Cleaned squid. So much ink. All over the sink. Even in their eyes.
I have difficulty synchronising pasta-making and sauce-making. I'd attend to one and leave the other. Need practice.
The next thing I make will be mushroom pasta. Or a bacon carbonara-esque pasta. No seafood until next week.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is on now! ^_^
In the Sorting Hat scene, everyone looked so innocent! So young and so immensely sweet. Even Draco Malfoy. First thought on seeing Malfoy? *eyes widen* He looks too good to be Malfoy!
I remember my first look at Daniel Radcliffe as Harry. I thought then, and I still do now: This boy is perfect. I never had an idea in my mind of how Harry should look like, but one look at Radcliffe and I knew - He is it. This is the Boy Who Lived.
Also Hermione is something like four times better-looking than she's described in the book. Where are the buck teeth, for one thing?
Oliver Wood talks like Pippin. It must be the Scottish accent.
Snape. Snape. Snape. *collapses*
I love his voice...
Bro asked me why Hogwarts has Dungeons. Made Freudian slip. Intended to say, "The Dungeons is where they have Potions", but said, "The Dungeons is where they have Professor -"
You like fluffiness and romance. You don't want to see your characters unhappy (even if they aren't ACTUALLY yours...you remembered that disclaimer, didn't you?). You don't care what the pairing is, so long as the fic's two central character ride off into the metaphorical sunset together. Your stories are often full of huggles, kisses, and annoyingly sweet baby talk. Sometimes, they're unrealistically romantic. That's just fine with your readers, though; your stories, with their cavity-inducing sweetness, are more addictive than heroin. In fact, you're probably a really good writer and have got a rather large following.
You're Blaise Zabini! You're hardly noticeable. In fact, some people aren't even sure of your gender. But no worries, it's all part of the plan. Nobody ever suspects the quiet boy next door until it's too late.
Had fourth driving lesson today. Got my Provisional Driving License! To own shock, instructor said I was ready for the road. And off I went.
I vote those darn birds as more unnerving than the Weaving Motorcyclists, Sudden Overtakers and Vans Who Go Against the Traffic Lights. Yes, those birds - mynahs, ravens - who wander out in the middle of the road when I'm driving. My mood then can best be described as: !!!
Instructor noticed and reassured me that said birds are very smart. And will fly away when the car approaches.
(Somehow that makes me sound six.)
Then went out for lunch with Mom, bro, grandparents, and Legolas Fancier. Crystal Jade in Taka! LF and I went for the fried ice cream as dessert. Bro deplored our teamwork in chasing the ice cream all around its plate.
I think it was chempedak ice cream.
Then off to Dhoby Gaut to meet KT, NG and HY! My first ride on the NorthEast line, to HarborFront! Then to a Sentosa bus, and off to Sentosa!
Spent a great deal of time in Siloso beach. Attempted to skip stones and went shell-hunting with HY and NG. HY finds the most amazing shells - a perfect set of the tiniest translucent pink shells, like butterfly wings (they were still attached at the hinge). And whelks. HY can find whelks in Sentosa. *whistles* KT immersed self and I soon followed. Ended up swimming in clothes. Startling how the water near the lagoon floor can be so cold simply because it's out of the sun.
Then KT and I went off to bike, while HY and NG went round and round (and round) Sentosa on the monorail. After said bike ride, KT and I went on the Beach Train. Ride to nowhere, essentially ^_^ Both of us were immensely pleased by the fact that we managed to get the last compartment on the train. Gives you an unhindered view of the road behind (sort of. There are the guard rails). And then we changed compartments when the train was moving. By walking on the step that runs along the side of the vehicle. Bad. Do not care. ^_^ Fun.
(Those last three sentences(Ha) sound so much like Crazy Monkey. It's a MTV Program that I think is meant to be a Jackass parody. Sample "stunts":
1. Running with scissors outside the house.
2. "Jumping on my bed when my stepdad's downstairs".
3. Prank Phone Call. Wait. Which goes along the lines of:
Prank Caller: "Can I have two teaspoons of pork, please?"
Prank Callee: "Two teaspoons of pork? I'm sorry, you have the wrong number."
Prank Caller: "Oh, I see. Thank you."
*Prank Caller puts down the telephone*
Yes. How incredibly dire. )
Met up with our monorail enthusiasts at Palawan Beach. Which makes me think of Padawan. Which makes me think Star Wars.
Totally Boring You-Didn't-Need-to-Know-This, But I Found It Really Amusing Warning
Bought a Lemon Cheesecake slice at the 7-11. It was really good! Had the graham cracker base and all ^_^ Cheesecake also came in Tiramisu, Mango, Passionfruit, Vanilla and Chocolate flavours. I remember. I had a tough time deciding. ^_^
Then we went around the island. It's lovely by night! Especially the Fountain Gardens, when they're all lit up! Saw the laser-eyed Merlion. (It's eyes emit laser beams.) It sounds tacky when I describe it like this, but to see it from a monorail in the dark, and when you're looking right up at him - that's *hides* pretty impressive, really.
And then it was the bus-MRT journey back to civilisation. It was 8pm when we left Sentosa. *laughter* Had lunch at 9pm, in Plaza Singapura. Yoshinuya. ^_^ And now I've learnt to ask for more salad cream. ^_^
Went over to the Dark Side at 9:55 AM
Sunday, June 22, 2003
Went to the zoo today, with Mom, bro, Legolas Fancier, and Non-Legolas Fancier. NLF is a pretty good kid, really. Doesn't make much fuss. Much better than I was, as a child.
Did not eat breakfast, so had it at KFC. Just as well, cause there Mom ran into a colleague who told her that all healthcare workers going to the Zoo, the Birdpark, and Night Safari go free, where their party members get half price. That's til September. ^_^
The zoo's been renovated, so it all looks good. The entire front entrance has been revamped. No more squawking macaws or algae-filled pond. Just a fountain, and a new coffee joint next to the KFC. The whole look is very Balinese. Open air, space, and wood.
I believe that the zookeepers try extra hard on Sundays. Never have I seen so many animals as on today. And for the first time in years the chicks were free for handling. Was quite worried about the chicks, seeing as they were being held by kids whose attention span seemed to be some five seconds, at best.
The new elephant enclosure is up! It has an elephant hide. You can climb up and look around. ^_^
Went over to the Dark Side at 8:38 AM
Saturday, June 21, 2003
*glomps Claire*
(So yes, this is a For Claire post)
Quote, "Ohyeah, Angelus and Chris -- Alan Rickman is quite alluring in an old kind way. uh. i meant it as a compliment."
*goes off in a delighted daze*
Claire used alluring as an adjective as regards Alan Rickman!
*happy happy happy*
And your comments box and I have an eternal war - entirely one-sided, I maintain it started it, and that I am innocent! - here's where I reply to your posts:
I completely identify with your thoughts about Dr. Jekyll and Miss Hyde. ^_^ I have evil thoughts myself, too. And sometimes am utterly ashamed of them. But I suppose that's what civilization is - it's about hiding the savagery and cruelty that lies underneath us all. It's about finding a safe way to express whatever horror is within our psyches. And most of all, it's about not hurting people. I guess I get out of my evil thoughts by considering what I'd feel like if I was the person being thought of in such an awful manner. Usually wakes me up. I don't think any of us can avoid having malicious thoughts about other people. Especially for the people you already dislike. True, some of them do earn that dislike, but still. I guess I've no courage to be evil, even if I wanted to. I don't like hurting people.
I like your idea of "or would we rejoice in the fact that we are all hypocrites under 1 sky?". I'd never thought of it that way, but that outcome is certainly comforting. *smiles* I lean towards horror, myself, but the alternative you present is rather appealing.
It was great having Ratal and our friends over! And you both times! *hugs you* Thank you for that lovely Two Towers calendar! *smiles*
*smiles* We watched the Making of Harry Potter during the Ratal gathering, not with Ailin and Huileng. I would have been murdered for showing Harry Potter then...
Brought on by watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer's "Once More With Feeling". (Yes, where I am, we get it this late.)
This songset is Giles' "Standing in the Way". For Elrond and Arwen.
1. 2. 3. 4.
5. 6. 7. 8.
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12. 13. 14. 15.
16. 17. 18.
19. 20.
21. 22. 23. 24.
25. 26. 26a. 27.
28. 28a. 29.
Went over to the Dark Side at 8:56 AM
Went driving again this morning. Since it was a Saturday, the circuit was unseasonably crowded. Discovered to my horror that am not good in the presence of many other vehicles. I start to panic, if subconsciously. And there were... cars to the left of me, 'cycles to the right...
*laughter* Right in line with my first driving lesson, which began in the rain.
Just am thankful that the second driving lesson occurred on a relatively quiet morning.
Achievement! Only stalled the car twice today! *laughter* Though demonstrated a shameful level of anxiety on the road, and an equally painful lack of coordination.
Went to Great World City to watch the Matrix Reloaded on IMAX. Dad and Mom hadn't seen it. and Dad had been talking incessantly about it ^_^ It was wonderful seeing Agent Smith again! ^_^
In my opinion, however, IMAX only makes the digital scenes more impressive, such as the scrolling code shots. For most part, it was just like a big movie screen. Oh, and the fact that you get to see the uncensored version, which is only more of Neo and Trinity than you'd ever care to see. Than I'd ever care to see, that is. You're not missing anything if you don't see the full version. Unless you'd care to see Keanu and Carrie-Ann in the buff. *winces* Me, I'd rather not.
Had dinner at Great World City, then came home. En route to parking lot, heard kids outside the pet shop. Very disturbing. They were looking at a window-ful of rabbits and hamsters, and I distinctly heard one of the kids demand, "Who said they were poisonous?"
Did he mean poisonous hamsters? Strangely, that thought amused me to no end.
Biggest Irony of Day
The car park signs read "Exit: Zion Road".
Repeatedly.
Welcome Back, Harry!
Spent a delightful 9 3/4 - 9 = 3/4 of an hour today at Borders, evilly scanning Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix to find out Who Bought It. I didn't think I'd be so delighted to see the book, but I was. My idea of an excellent book is one that you fall into the instant you pick it up and turn the pages, where the story builds up around you and draws you in. That's what a good book is, for me. And after a time, you become so engrossed that you just keep on reading. That's why the fantasy section at Borders is such a minefield for me! *laughter* I go there, look at one book, read it, then catch sight of another, which looks equally interesting, and then as I bring myself to put it down, I glimpse yet another. *laughter*
For anyone who's interested, the book's available in Borders in all three covers. And it's sold at what MPH calls the "pre-order price". So there was no need to pre-order. Did not bother, in any case.
I have Spoilers! If anyone'd care to know, just let me know ^_^
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