on Saturday, January 28, 2006
Cant believe that i havent mention this but comes July, there will be a new addition to the family.
I am so gonna suggest to her parents to name her Reyna II or Reyna The Second! Hey if bananas can do it, why cant we?? Henry The Eighth? Ok you get my point. :)
Carina
2:30:00 PM
Thursday night was a night of antecedents?
First time to Fisherman's Wharf. I had long wanted to try it but the opportunity didnt knock on my door until then. The place sells great fish and chips along with oysters. You get to choose the type of fish you want instead of plain dory fillet. I had danish meatballs as well. The same thing as the ones at Ikea except they were fried. I am not a fan of fried food but the fish did not turn out to be too oily for my liking. Oysters were fresh. The decor is simple and not much of a fuss. Vinegar with chips?? I like! Will definitely go again.
It was also my first time meeting Ongky's sister (Hi!!!). Heard a fair bit about her from Will. I was reminded of Hui Yee, who was born on 26th, and Jade, who was born on the 27th. Now i know someone on the 28th. 2 of the guys on 30th and 31st. Now i just need someone to fill up the 29th slot. LOL I love Leos! We Rule!!
After dinner, we proceeded to Settler's. My debut at Taboo was horrible!!! I sucked at it! Anyone who teamed up with me ended up losing (I am so sorry!). Nevertheless, it was such a fun game that i went out today and bought it for CNY at Grandma's (No, i am not going to cheat). Oh they do sell refills. Just not in Singapore. Darn. Oh, there is a game called Scattergories. Looks pretty fun but it is not available locally as well. Reg, would you help me out?
I also saw the Star Wars' edition of Monopoly and Risk! The temptation to get it was so strong! Even as a figurine, Obi Wan Kenobi is hot! Ha ha!
Tons of people crowding up the shopping mall (Yes i know. Me being one of them.) for last min shopping. I love Lunar New Year. Get 2 new starts in one year, stuff myself with pineapple tarts, mahjong, ang paos and gatherings! Although the songs are damn annoying ( It irritates the hell out of me... its always about money. We all want to have more money but to sing about it??) but the spirit of the culture is nice. I even got a LNY gift! Who would have thought?? Thank you!
On a totally unrelated note, 2 cool websites i came across today. Check it out if you wanna know more about SG.
http://Singapore.metblogs.com
Http://www.overheardinSingapore.com
Happy Lunar New Year everyone! Eat your worth of pineapple tarts! I know im going to. ;)
Carina
12:13:00 AM
on Tuesday, January 24, 2006
Met up with Campos after school. He was late for an hour!!! Must be my retribution for always being late. Of course, i kept myself occupied with MORE shopping. LOL FOS is such a great place to shop at. You will find great outfits at cheap prices. I just couldnt resist. :(
Chilled out at Starbucks. * I am not a coffee person but always find myself end up at some coffee joint. :s Victorian tea room anyone??* Went off to Sistina at Chip Bee Gardens for dinner. It was kinda quiet. The dinner crowd started to stroll in after we were seated. We started with seafood antipasta which was really good. Seafood in a tomato based sauce. Shared a beef tenderloin pizza and washed it down with a glass of Shiraz. The wine was great. None of the nasty aftertaste. Total bill came up to $50 per pax. Well, considering the fact we ordered 2 glasses of wine, a starter and pizza to share, it was quite expensive. Well, thats Chip Bee Gardens for ya. Service was alright. My glass was never empty. Good place to try out if you have never been there.
Oh!!! I saw the outlet for Massimo Dutti!! Italian fashion is just like Italian men. GORGEOUS! lol. Well, i will have no need for their clothes until i start to work. Until then, i will keep the dough in my pocket. You believe me dont you?
Carina
10:59:00 PM
on Sunday, January 22, 2006
I got to dine with a celebrity yesterday!!!!!!
We went to Cafe Cartel for dinner to fix in with the masses. How humble!!
You wanna know the identity of the celeb dont you????
Ok i will show you.
It is none other than the multi talented singer and composer.....................
Divad Tao!!!!!! Diva, as she likes to be "affectionally" known, was unlike how she was portrayed in the media. She was very friendly and insightful, not to mention obliging to answer any questions.
She was so nice. She lent me her sunglasses!!!"How do you feel about the bad press surrounding you?", i asked.
" I cant control what the media wants to write or print. My little brother once told me that its better to be wronged than be in the wrong. I have nothing to hide. Jay and i are just collaborating on my new album. We are friends who hang out after work. Thats all.", she replied.
Diva is in town to showcase the art of rejection. Besides her excellent singing skills that has won over many fans in the SEA region, she made headlines after rejecting bread from a psyhotic fan.
" Why didnt you just eat the bread?"
" As an artist, i have to protect my vocals. Bread is considered "heaty" food. I had a concert at night and that means i had to be at my best condition. Besides, carbs are bad. BAD!!!!! They should be banned!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. The bread was stale too."
She recapped what happened.
Note: role playing was done to give the readers a clearer idea.
" I was dining with a fan after she won a "Dinner with Diva" contest held by my record company to promote my concert. Among the food that was served, bread was one of them. She took one piece and started checking if it was mouldy. The piece of bread appeared to be fine."
"She started spreading the butter on her bread. All seemed to be normal except that she talked to her food before she eats them like " I am going to eat you, ha ha ha!!! I just dismissed it as something people do that i might not know of. Everyone has weird habits. Who knows?"
" She started eating but not before requesting me to sing. She said my voice made her hungered for more. By the way, that was really flattering."
" It turned out that the bread was stale. I told her to stop eating it. The record company is afraid of liability. Oh no no.. i mean im just worried that she might get food poisoning. My busy schedule will not allow me to visit her in the hospital........ However, the most infuriating thing was.........
"
" She tried to offer me the stale bread! Siao one!!! Where got fans offer their idol stale bread???!! I superstar leh!! Caviar queen hor!!! J.Lo also cannot win me ah!!! Err... no no.. what i meant was that it was weird that she offered bread that had gone bad. I explained to her why i couldnt eat it. But you know how persistent some fans could be. "
"I had to reject her outright. She left me with no choice but to cover my face. That was how she got the "hint". Apparently some of my label mates face the same problem. Seeing how brillant the action was, they have decided to employ the same method. Now im teaching the form of rejection to many others who will soon benefit from the power of it!!!!! "
Diva kindly offered to take a picture with me with her minders nearby.
Divad, thanks for dinner. You come back!
The ultimate MJ remixes by DiVa.d Tao is out in stores now.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Enough of my sick humour. Mom and i went all out to splurge today. Retail therapy at its best. I have finally figured out why shopping is such a therapuetic activity for women. First, you spent the money on yourself. You own the stuff you buy instead of spending money to see a therapist. It is even worse if its a female therapist. You are giving her money to buy pretty things while you are so broke from therapy that you can only look at pretty things. However,the most important reason has got to be the fact that when it comes to shopping, if you got the dough, you get to buy whatever you want. The logic is quite clear cut. It is so much better than dealing with whatever emo crap that you cant buy or solve no matter how much money you have.
I am a serious shopaholic. 2 pairs of shoes and 4 bags in one week. 3 pairs of earrings in 2 days. I AM SCARING MYSELF. OH. MY. GOD. And i always wonder why i am broke. Ok. I have to stop. 4 bags??? 4 bags???? Whats wrong with me???????
Carina
12:16:00 AM
on Saturday, January 21, 2006
Me and Chrystal. So we were there for the opening of Le Baroque. It is situated at the same space previously known as China Jump (Dentist chair!!!). Spacious dance floor, simple decor and i like the chairs. Alfresco dining is also available. Great for outdoor drinking and chat sessions.
Carina
3:36:00 AM
Ally and me. Congrats on your job!!!!
Carina
3:29:00 AM
Me and Will.
Carina
3:27:00 AM
The dude was there with his friends before i got there. Seriously i know i need to work on my time management skills. Suck so badly at it.* Hey man, i think you look great in this pic!*
Carina
3:26:00 AM
Went off to Attica with Cindy and Chrystal. The club wasnt as crowded as i thought it would be. We were in the mid of dancing and i just had whipped out the cam for a shot. LOL. The great thing about alcohol is that it loosen up people. I get to know snippets about their lifes. I think its great to learn something about everyone ,who is even for a mere second, involved in my life. Its like leaving a footprint. You get the drift.
3 things i learnt this week....
from Leftie... Its better to be wronged than be in the wrong
from Cindy... knowing what you want in life and how to go about getting it
from Chrystal... Its better to be loved than be in love.
Carina
2:55:00 AM
on Friday, January 20, 2006
Surprises come in the form of emails nowadays. I love it. You never know what is inside the inbox (except junk mail, of course). Why is my diamond necklace in black? I want the one in purple too!!!!!!! " Fat arms rule!" Hear, hear! Thanks leftie.
Carina
3:39:00 PM
*Gosh, way too early to be awake. I am a terrible sleeper.*
Sunday Morning by Maroon 5The song that got most of my airplay time in 2005.
Sunday morning rain is falling
Steal some covers share some skin
Clouds are shrouding us in moments unforgettable
You twist to fit the mold that I am in
But things just get so crazy living life gets hard to do
And I would gladly hit the road get up and go if I knew
That someday it would bring me back to you
That someday it would bring me back to you
That may be all I need
In darkness she is all I see
Come and rest your bones with me
Driving slow on sunday morning
And I never want to leave
Fingers trace your every outline
Paint a picture with my hands
Back and forth we sway like branches in a storm
Change the weather still together when it ends
That may be all I need
In darkness she is all I see
Come and rest your bones with me
Driving slow on sunday morning
And I never want to leave
But things just get so crazy living life gets hard to do
Sunday morning rain is falling and I’m calling out to you
Singing someday it’ll bring me back to you
Find a way to bring myself home to you
And you may not know
That may be all I need
In darkness she is all I see
Come and rest your bones with me
Driving slow on Sunday Morning
And I never want to leave
PS Somehow the player isnt functioning the way it should be. If you are keen to listen to the trial recording of Crave, its on my Multiply site.
Carina
8:51:00 AM
on Wednesday, January 18, 2006
Unfortunately for me, i am still stuck in the office at this hour.
However, browsing thru all the new arrivals earlier was so fun! Reyna made a surprise visit and both of us started drawing on papers. Being the mischievious kid, she tempted me with fries. My diet plan has gone awry for more than a week now. :S * Somehow, i could hear someone smirking, " Ha ha! Fish and rice! Fish and rice!"* Being the childish adult, i took my "revenge" by pasting price tags on her forehead. With a bewildered look of " 2 decades of age gap cant make her stop being silly" on her face, Jas continued doing whatever she was doing. I found it to be extremely amusing. *Yes i AM very silly with kids.* Jas asked, " Why are you doing these silly stuff with her?" My reply? "So when she grows up, i can tell her about it and hopefully she will find it funny and we will have a good laugh about it."
I love to hear stories about my childhood. Although you dont remember anything you have done as a kid but hearing about it is a way of reliving it once again.
My childhood was filled with funny stories. Having a brother means that i got a accomplice in whatever grand scheme i came up with. LOL. We broke our grandparents' bed several times by reenacting scenes from WWF(then). Played figurines of Brett Hart and Undertaker! Love em. Monopoly was taken very seriously in our household. I was on the losing end and being the real estate "morgul" that he WAS, everything that i owed had to be handed over to him. In short: I was bankrupted. He even insisted for the the apple that i was eating to be part of the payment for my "debt". In the end, we ate half an apple each. LOL As disgusting as that might sound to some people now, it is memories worth holding on to.
One of his friends asked me over dinner on Monday after listening to our whole "DUDE" banter," Do you ever called him Kor Kor?" I had to think for a moment and replied," Probably when we were little. As we got older, i just got used to calling him "Dude!" or " Xie W** Q**!!".
Even though, i stop addressing him in a way considered by many as proper status protocol,the DUDE is such an intergral part of my life that i wont trade him for anything in the world.
Perhaps many years from now when i wanna blog about the happenings in my twenties, there will be more stories about our late night convos over coffee and 1am dim sum supper trips.
Carina
11:42:00 PM
on Monday, January 16, 2006
I almost doze off in during Management Science Methods due to the 4 hours sleep routine recently. Sharon lowered her head and "closed" her eyes. I dont know how anyone could sleep like that. Genius. No one teaches anything worth learning in class anymore.
I dragged my tired ass off to meet the leftie in town. Poor girl is evidently not feeling her best. Walked around, geographical sense of mine is pretty much screwed up. Did girl things. The sweet thing took the train with me. Thats really nice. Thanks!
Did i mention that i have been eating all day? Came home to a steamboat dinner with friends of the DUDE. For the first time ever, i did not have to do anything except eat when a dinner is hosted at my house. Wo hoo!
I am now filled to the max. Sitting in my room writing this damn boring entry which i dont know why you bothered to read it.
Carina
11:01:00 PM
on Sunday, January 15, 2006
I was reading thru
The Onion and came across this. Yay to more years of junk, gossip and Internet Porn! LOL
CHICAGO—The longtime search for self conducted by area man Andrew Speth was called off this week, the 38-year-old said Monday.
Speth sets out on a new life, moments after announcing the end of his search.
"I always thought that if I kept searching and exploring, I'd discover who I truly was," said Speth from his Wrigleyville efficiency. "Well, I looked deep into the innermost recesses of my soul, I plumbed the depths of my subconscious, and you know what I found? An empty, windowless room the size of an aircraft hangar. From now on, if anybody needs me, I'll be sprawled out on this couch drinking black-cherry soda and watching Law & Order like everybody else."
"Fuck it," he added.
Speth said he began his search for himself in the late '70s, when in junior high he "realized that there was more to life than what [he] could see from [his] parents' Dundee, IL home."
The search initially showed great promise, with Speth's early discovery of his uncle's old Doors records and a copy of The Catcher In The Rye. Over the next two decades, however, the "leads just petered out." Although Speth searched in a wide variety of places—including the I Ching, a tantric-sex manual, and a course in chakrology—he uncovered nothing.
"My family and friends kept telling me to give up," Speth said. "But I couldn't believe that my true self was forever lost."
Speth was dogged in his pursuit, sacrificing his higher education, bank account, social status, and personal esteem. Despite the rising costs and mounting adversity, he vowed he would never give up his search—until now.
"I can't believe how many creative-writing courses I've taken, how many expensive sessions with every conceivable type of therapist," Speth said. "All that time—a whole life—wasted on a wild-goose chase."
Since calling off the search, Speth has canceled his yoga classes, turned in his organic co-op membership card, and withdrawn plans to go on a sweat-lodge retreat in Saskatchewan. On Tuesday afternoon, he loaded books by such diverse authors as Ludwig Wittgenstein, Meister Eckhart, and George Gurdjieff into a box labeled "free shit," and left it outside of his apartment beside a trash can.
Speth tours Prague in 1991 at the height of his search.
"The only books I'll be reading from now on are ones that happen to catch my eye in the supermarket checkout line on the few occasions I leave my apartment to buy more Fig Newtons," Speth said.
Speth said he will no longer lament his coding job at Eagle Client Services, but will rather "embrace the fact that I have a job that makes enough money to pay for cable." Additionally, Speth has vowed to marry "the first woman who will have me, whether I love her or not."
"Oh, and if I never throw another goddamn clay pot in my life, it'll be too soon," he added.
Though hardened and haggard from his long search, Speth expressed relief that it was over. Asked if he had any advice for those who are continuing on their own searches, Speth had two words of advice: "Give up."
"Trust me—there's nothing out there for you to find," Speth said. "You're wasting your life. The sooner you realize you have no self to discover, the sooner you can get on with what's truly important: celebrity magazines, snack foods, and Internet porn."
Carina
9:48:00 PM
'It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.'We are in a no-win situation. The above mentioned is much akin to the dating scenario in Singapore. Love could be replaced and traded like a commodity. If Love is supposedly one of the most sought after things in the world (acc. to some), then why does it seem so easy for some to trade it like a stock on the Nasdaq? Questions like these just make me wanna go bang my head against the wall because it cant be solved like a math question.
Singapore is a modern city (or claims to be) and yet being constrainted by many of traditional thoughts. Why is it that this area of thought has not evolved? Speaking locally, ladies have to act coy or not seem overly interested so as to not appear " desperate" or "needy". Why do we have to do that? Like what my brother said,"
Emotions in the Singapore dating climate is a no-no. Any displays of strong and intense affection towards one you like in Singapore is termed "coming on too strong" or carries the negative connotation of being "overtly and overly aggressive.Instead, being able to find "love" means one has to play incessant mind games so as to heighten the fantasy level in a relationship. One has to constantly suppress how one feels for the other pary so as not to be labelled as 'needy', 'clingy', 'pushy'.". What good does mind games do? In the end, both parties just end up being confused because of all the silent assumptions made.Forget about the right of expression. That concept is dead.
I do not buy into the idea that we should not express ourselves in fear of being labelled. What good does it do us have the ability to feel and not express? It is like being trapped in a tank and not able to come up for air.
My beliefs were shaken to the very core recently. For a while, i had to readjust my whole cognitive process. I started to feel lost. What truth is out there if nothing appears to be what it seems to be?
Not too long ago, one of my friends pointed out that the main problem that i had major difficulties in reconciling my thoughts was due to my expectations and reciprocals. How others might set their standards and what do you expect in return from them.
Oh well. Regardless of everything, I have once again reached the conclusion that i cant bloody please everyone or anyone except myself.
I refuse to be constricted by society's expectations of how i should behave or act. I refuse to be suppressed by incessant nonsensical standards.
I have my own expecations. I cannot take account of what and how others might set theirs because it is out of my control to do so. All i can do is to fufill my own.
For once, i am starting to feel like myself again.
Note: The song that you are hearing (if your speakers are on and my bandwidth is not max out) is by a friend and his band, Crave. The song needs to be remastered and work on but for something to start off with, this isnt bad.
Carina
1:44:00 AM
on Wednesday, January 11, 2006
They have finally set off to Adelaide. Two and a half years of school. Albeit being homesick will be inevitable, there will be new opportunities, not to mention a ton of experiences to bag.
Sending Ting and Qing off at the airport turned out to be a more emotional affair than i had initially anticipated. I guess time isnt a good indicator of friendship at all. I have known them for slightly more than 2 years? Gosh, it certainly feels like i have known them for a long time.
In a way, i am really envious of them. Taking the plunge, doing something of major impact, making a change. Despite a lot of uncertainities, they are brave enough to do something different. Leave stability behind and explore something else out there I, however, am stuck in the normality of life.
I miss them already.
Dear friends,
I wish you well in the new phase of your lives. Keep each other safe. Will see you soon.
Carina
12:26:00 AM
on Monday, January 09, 2006
She is not asbestos.
Last weekend was tiring. Time to rest up.
Happy Birthday Ronald!!! You are awesome, dude!! Hope you had a wonderful day with many happy memories. :)
Carina
12:33:00 AM
on Saturday, January 07, 2006
Now im sick because the ill one decided to sit close to me last night despite my plea not to. * Soooo evil* No JB seafood trip for me today.
Woe is me.
Grandpa Droops, i got your card days ago. Thanks buddy! Say hi to Emma and Poppy for me, will ya?
Carina
12:06:00 PM
on Wednesday, January 04, 2006
The angel woman strikes again! My first gift of the year. Now if i could only figure out a way not to destroy the beautiful ribbon in my attempt to retrieve a card inside. Leftie, too much! I have to resort to taking pictures now so i can keep track of the presents you have given me. Merci, Gracias, Arigato!
Carina
12:33:00 AM
on Monday, January 02, 2006
It's a new day
It's a new life for me
And I'm feelin' good
Carina
12:29:00 AM
Last few days of 2005 were pretty well spent. While SH , Qi and me were waiting for Ron to be done with his meeting, we decided to entertain ourselves with junk food: Snack Buffet. Can you believe it? Canapes using potato chips? I will do that for all my parties from now on. It was great to chill out at Preview Lounge. Food was hmm.. crap but still, you get a great view.
Carina
12:23:00 AM
My firrst time to Chomp Chomp. Holy crap, look at that size of the glass. I had no idea that it was sold in that size. *Ignorance is bliss.*
Carina
12:20:00 AM
Orchard @ Night.
Carina
12:18:00 AM
Display @ Centerpoint. My legs were numb by the end of the night. Orchard-Selegie-Little India-Serangoon Gardens.
Carina
12:17:00 AM
Dinner @ Food Republic. I totally dig eating dim sum at night. Ha ha! Boy, we really do look alike. Geez.
Carina
12:10:00 AM
NYE was spent at Indochine's Bar SaVanh. I love the ambience of all Indochine's places, laid back and simple.* Leftie, maybe we should go to one together to clear my debt to you! LOL* At least this year's countdown wasnt spent waiting in line, trying to get into a club. It was a fun night. Pretty much set the benchmark for all NYE. No more waiting in line to get into clubs. I am lil old for that.
Carina
12:07:00 AM
on Sunday, January 01, 2006
The following pictures were taken in the span of 5 seconds. My brother, Mr *ahem* Poser!!!
Carina
11:49:00 PM
Gawd, i am crap.
Carina
11:49:00 PM
What? You wanna take my pic?
Carina
11:47:00 PM
In your face, buddy!
Carina
11:46:00 PM
