Archive for January, 2010

Good days

January 25th, 2010 by Scarlett Ting

I see the serious lack of serious blogging, and I kinda miss it.

These days been pretty occupied and I had some pretty much fabulous company. The guys are great and hilarious, and I should really cease on the late nights, which pretty much wouldn’t go on much longer since I have plans coming up and they would be leaving Singapore for good during midweek.

Till then, I am surprise how we do live our lives vicariously through others, and it has been nothing short of enriching.

Some work stuff today before pole before meeting up with the guys. I am seriously missing something here.

Be back soon.

Posted in Senseless Quickies | 2 Comments »

Snooze fest & mother of all migraines

January 24th, 2010 by Scarlett Ting

Oops. I really didn’t quite update often did I?

The past few days had been pretty fun, after meeting up with some overseas friends and getting plenty of laughs from their stories.

And trust me, looking at all those gorgeous pictures they had taken from all over the world, man, I nearly wanted to throw their cameras back at them cos I AM THAT JEALOUS.

Strangely, none of the places they had been to hold the much mentioned names, and it is just amazing how those hidden gems exist without much fanfare. The world is really so big that we are missing out darn lots.

Thursday:

Had drinks with Felicia.

Pick Minibean up.

Back to home.

Jurong Point to pick couple of lads up.

Head to Tiong Bahru for late night crabs.

Car ride around Singapore.

Stop by Mount Faber.

Drinks at St James.

It was 4am when they were sent back to the on-the-other-end-of-the-world Tuas.

Got home.

Play Left 4 Dead 2 on Xbox 360.

7am. Sleep.

Friday.

Woke up at 12 noon.

Had lunch.

Feeling unwell.

Slept.

Woke up at 5pm.

Unwell.

Continued to nap.

Woke up at 8pm.

Okay. Time to move my ass.

Bugis.

Steamboat.

The rest reached at 10pm.

New people. Shy.

Funny conversations.

Clarke Quay at midnight.

Teaching someone to spite his “crazy girlfriend”. Evil people we were.

3 + am.

Streetlights gave migraine.

Went straight to sleep.

Woke up to bright lights. Migraine was horrible.

Stayed in bed.

Woke up. Drifted back to sleep.

Took a celebrax at 1pm when the migraine was still not slept off.

It was finally 5ish in the noon.

Headed out. Pictures to follow.

Left for another house party.

Migraine returned with a vengeance.

Took another Celebrax (though need to take only 12 hours later). Felt the need to lie down.

Pain was too much. Begged for painkillers from the host.

HOHOHO, so happy happy made the entire tab of Tramadol mine.

Drifted to sleep when I got high from Tramadol on the couch.

REEEEEELLLAAAAAAXXXXXX.

Despite all the pills, the migraine didn’t go away fully. First time the migraine is so stubborn.

24 hours forth, still nagging.

Still, feels the need for L4D2.

Tramadol fixed it well.

Unfortunately journey home, the streetlamps giving me mother of all headaches again.

Got home. Better.

Now blogged.

Feels like bimbo.

Texas Holdem on Facebook.

Pictures editing.

Lalalala.

Okay, goodnight.

Posted in Dailies | No Comments »

I will survive

January 21st, 2010 by Scarlett Ting

“At first I was afraid… I was petrified…”

Kept thinking I will never live till the time help arrives.

I spent oh-so many bullets, thinking how you still don’t die.

I grew strong, I learned how to carry on.

So you’re not dead, from the graves.

I just walked in to find you everywhere, with that menace on your face.

I should have changed my stupid weapon, I should have healed myself back in time

If I had known for just one second you’d be back to bother me

Okay, fine I grew lame.

BUT I SURVIVED THE BOTH TIMES WHEN WE CONQUERED THE PARISH AND AND AND… the other one I cannot remember.

Damn happy can? Plentifooooooooooooooooo of happy happy. Cos I finally survived the campaign, and ah hah! TWICE!

Though I am as clumsy as I am in gameplay and as in real life.

So.

Didn’t manage to go Butter today cos a friend from overseas lost his phone and the whole unpleasant saga had meant the plans for today were all scrapped.

I feel terribly bad for them cos their first intimate experience with Singapore was just.. crappy. And I also feel many many terribleness to Andrew who had very kindly guestlisted my friends and we weren’t able to turn up.

It was pretty sucky, and luckily the evening was saved with wonderful company!

Went to salsa. WOOHOO! Last lesson! And I managed to finally muster what I couldn’t.

Plentifooooooooooo of laughs. We are so critical of the chaps who are dancing as if we were critiquing their sexual prowess and moves.

This guy who reminded me of the huggable ex of mine had managed a flying pass!

Things with mum had great improvement. My 2010’s main resolution had worked so fine so far :D

Spent the entire day building dreams in the air, and was pretty happy lah.

Of course, the agreed hour of L4D2 was expanded from 9.30pm to 1.45am, so I was awesomely pleased too.

AND I SURVIVED ALL THE CAMPAIGNS TODAY!

CALL ME MELEE WEAPON QUEEN!

I love my axe and katana and machete, frying pan is not for me.

The gore! The blood!

And was watching CSI earlier and it was all about KATANA! And this warehouse in the episode reminded me of the numerous warehouses I navigated (BLEARGH to motion sickness). I tell you, it is all destiny!

Don’t know why everytime play online games we will end up debrief with such enthusiasm that it gives a real high.

I thought this was gonna be a 2 sentence post, and see where the adrenaline led me to?

And yes, that is the reason why I haven’t been here.

BAH.

OKOK I try tomorrow….

Posted in Senseless Quickies | No Comments »

Linus

January 19th, 2010 by Scarlett Ting

I think I was a bit slow to realise what was really going on. Like I am part of it then ah, yet I don’t know what is going on and then ah, eh, orh it is like that.

Honestly I was quite taken aback by the sheer audacity of it all. But anyway, it was indeed quite disgusting. And the funny crushes stories are quite hilarious.

***

I think it is pure torture I am putting myself through with Pole dance 2, cos I simply do not have the grace, energy nor the balancing skills for it hahahaha.

My thighs are incredibly pain and it was quite a sight seeing all of us trying to “cool down” our thighs and walking about not unlike a duck.

Had an incredibly girlie-time with Jiali. I think one of the most amazing thing about pole dance is we ended up meeting up much more often, and our session at Miss Clarity was a nice one.

Ended up on a car ride around Singapore and a supper session at Lau Pat Sat (where my efforts of coercing the others to join me in my quest to save the world went down the drains) before returning home to How I Met You Mother.

The night didn’t seem to end with the threesome with 2 gorgeous ladies and the funny stories exchanged.

It also roused the older memories, which prompted to an even longer night - I felt I didn’t need the sleep. A morning call with Siren did make things better.

Which was just apt when the maintenance works to the house begun in the morning.

With all the cleaning, mopping and clearing the atrocious amount of dust, I suddenly realise I REALLY NEED A WARDROBE. Maybe a lil couch and a carpet in the room where I can roll around with Minibean.

Now I am without curtains and I feel kinda exposed, and there is an urge of me not wanting to give a damn and just prance around the room naked because wearing proper clothes in my room is just OFF.

***

I think I drifted off topic, had wanted to make this a short post because a friend of mine had lost her cat, and she is now anxiously looking for her. Unfortunately, she hadn’t been able to find it and I know she is feeling damn upset.

I am not sure what other ways I can help, so I do hope if anyone of you staying in the east, particularly Marine Terrace area, do help to keep a lookout.

Missing small white cat with grey patches, grey striped tail & brown mouth, last seen in Marine Terrace. http://tiny.cc/linus1 Linus is not a street cat and might not cope with outdoors, please help to find her soon.

If anyone does see it, please leave some information here so that it can be passed on, thank you so much!

Posted in Dailies | 2 Comments »

Invictus - Unconquered

January 18th, 2010 by Scarlett Ting

I think that explains.

Watching a movie that didn’t define us, but had described our fate.

***

The Saturday I looked forward to didn’t quite happen.

The massage which they didn’t go, and the pieces of garments which I had meant to shrunk didn’t get to the tailor’s.

I don’t quite enjoy town area, and I still don’t.

I ended up sitting outside Far East, enjoyed my bubble red tea, and get all blurry-eyed as I stared emptily into the space.

It was that moment, an hour plus into it, when I decided the clutter I no longer want, and deleted everything from my phone. Thousands of them, from various people, many people.

I must have deleted some of those with important information inside, but uhm, oh well, nevermind. But it makes me conscientiously delete those new incoming messages before they build up until it becomes such a tedious job to tidy them anymore.

Then I stood up, and walked away.

***

Met up with Siren and I thought we could utilise the 2 hours prior to the movie to well, save the world.

Alas, the walk around the area proved to be exhausting and unfruitful, and it left little time for us to save the world.

So, we piled on the carbs with some suppering. :)

Not forgetting exchanging horror stories of frightening, hair-raising nature, as well as those laughing-out-loud nature ones.

***

What’s wrong with me with all the fatigue and exhaustion, that makes me feel a perpetual need to prop my feet up or else I feel breathlessness? :(

***

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul. — William Ernest Henley

What a poem.

What a movie.

***

Many emotions ran through me as I sat through the movie. For those who know me well, I don’t like to find out too much what the movies I watching are about, unless, those adapted from the books I already read.

I did know the show was good from people’s recommendations, and it was Nelson Mandela related (seriously, who can pass this up?).

And with Morgan Freeman (and that would mean the reminiscing on one of the most brilliant movies made - Shawshank redemption), Matt Damon (Talented Mr Ripley, another of my favourite), and behind-the-camera Clint Eastwood (I bawled watching Gran Torino, what do you think?!), did I hear bonus already?

I didn’t know what the movie was going to be about, nor did I know about the plot. Heck, I wasn’t even really aware it was about, rugby.

But the movie gripped me from the start, to the end. I didn’t even know that more than 2 hours had passed cos the movie was THAT compelling.

It wasn’t long into the movie that I felt moved in a way that built its way up throughout the movie. It is not exaggerated for me to say that I had tears rimming my eyes throughout the movie, which had me walking out telling Siren how I think I was being hormonal cos the emotional impact the movie had on me.

Apparently I was being “normal” cos Miss Cynical agreed with me. Phew.

The movie got us and the chaps talking for a while in the car, and it is a fantastic movie that you should NOT miss.

A message of incredible value to be told to the world, and to remind those who have forgotten.

Of peace, of equality, of…. forgiveness. And it will be one of those films I will list down for Minibean to watch in the future (yes, I do have some kind of this list tuck away somewhere).

I was particularly touched, when the soundtrack Colorblind was playing in the background, with the lyrics:

And it’s not just a game
You can’t throw me away
I put all I had on the line
And I give and you take
And I played the high stakes
I’ve won and I’ve lost
But, I’m fine

Hear me say I’ll rise up ’til the end
Hear me say I’ll stand up for my friends
And I crash to the ground
And it’s just my own sound
I drop in the blink of an eye
I’m colorblind

And your milky way fight
Won’t stop my delight
You keep me and lock me away
And it’s dark and it’s bright
It’s your colorful pride that kept me here 9000 days

Hear me say I’ll see the sky again
Hear me say I’ll drive for you my friend
There’s a noise in the crowd
But it’s just my own shout
A stumble I fall and I pray

Hear you say your eyes see green again
In the end we’ll lived up holding hands
Yes, we’ll spark in the night
We’ll be colorblind
And these are the lives we gave

Hear me say I’ll rise up ’til the end
Hear me say that I’ll stand beside my friends
I won’t stay on the floor
I will settle the score
A stumble I fall and I pray

Hear me say it’s time we stop talking
Eye to eye we see a different face
Yes we we’ve conquered the war
With love at the core
A stumble I fall, but I’ll stay
Colorblind.

The unyielding theme to the movie, and how strong the divide and tension was portrayed, and how everything melted away because of one man’s geniuses, foresight and big-heartedness… and it is beautiful to see people of different agendas from the start to have their doubts and cynicism washed away because of a leader who believes in setting an example and extended the grace of forgiveness to the Afrikaners - and convinced them with the assurances of the important roles they had to play post apartheid.

At the end of the show, I don’t think I remember any divide of colours, as if everyone is an equal, like you and me. It had perhaps helped us to see beyond that. When people unite, hearts as one with their guards down, it is a picture of beauty.

I know it is a bit off pace, but it is not unlike when you are in the stadium and you start hugging everything when your team scores. Think Manchester United V Chelsea in Moscow. -Smiles fondly at memory-

I watched the rugby match with the same sweaty pump, and had my emotions manipulated even though the story was an ending anyone could predict.

I mean, some critics say the film is predictable, but seriously! If it is a story inspired by real-life accounts, it gotta be predictable right?!

Most importantly, it shows a person with heart, who had made a difference, because of his humility, and sincerity.

Forgiveness liberates the soul, and removes fear, that is why it is such a powerful weapon.

***

So many other movies I had wanted to catch. Mother. The Blind Side. Morgans. It’s Complicated. Brothers. New York, I love you. Oh, with The Lovely Bones coming up too. Nine.

***

Yes, as I was saying, Invictus was perhaps aptly describing our fate, not defining us.

It was 3am when we finally left the cinema, and hopped down to Peninsula to realise the LAN gaming centre does not have L4D2.

SERIOUSLY?!

We headed to Prinsep, where the 4 of us took on the world of zombies, and emerged looking like one of ‘em past 7am in the morning.

We could still go on, but the uncle amongst us had decided to fly us kite like the way Siren (kudos to her, did it for the RIGHT reason) had done it the night before.

The first round went pretty ideally at the amusement park, except for the fact that they 3 of them had safely escaped, leaving me to fend for myself as I was “Raped” by those zombies.

I have to say again how much I love my melee weapons, and I seem to work the best with the katana and the axe so far.

And I have no idea why my teammates always shouting and screaming for me, asking where I am, and no matter how I tried, I could never find or keep up with them.

In a real life zombie-attack, I probably would be the first to perish, since I kept losing my way.

Is it any surprise when the credits rolled and it said, “In memory of.. Scarlett Ting“?

Pfft.

And subsequently, despite hours after hours, rounds restarting after restarting, we never did manage to conquer past the 2nd map we played, even though it was on EASY mode.

ROAR!

And us shouting NBCB turned out to be quite demure and subdued with the rest of the people behind and around us going 10 times beyond that.

We felt normal already!

Damn high can?! We walked into the sun-lit sky feeling all the energy ZAP! ZAP! ZAP!, sapped up within seconds and it did feel like I was really raped(figuratively of course) by thousands of ‘em zombies and thus the chui-ness of it all.

But I bet if you pull me back into the LAN shop and get me onto another map, I could probably spell Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious without missing a letter under 3 seconds cos my mind will be THAT sharp. Alas, didn’t happen, cos not enough kaki.

So we walked out as cowards, wimps, underachievers, who did not conquer the infected in that map, FOR MANY TIMES.

Boo!

***

I went past the overhead bridge near my place on my way back, and the movement of the figures on it made me shot up from my lazy lean and my mind just seem to go into instinctive zero-ing in on my target, and how I would aim my gun and pull the trigger.

Shudders.

I remember having the same traits during my Battlefield 2 phase.

It is not a good news that I went to sleep after HIMYM (yes, I even had the energy to continue on with that), and had several dreams about zombies and how I would go about killing zombies.

I insist that I am having such dreams cos of severe deprivation and the utter sense of failure for not conquering the map which well, we fail to overcome.

And then I dreamt about taking a boat ride with Minibean and forgotten to bring her home.

DUH.

***

Sunday was leisurely nice as we went to meet up with Suki who is in town for another visit, and we ended up having fabulous Peranakan food at PeraMakan at Keppel.

Buah Keluak (Minibean loves it!), and finally my Pulot Hitam with Gula Melaka. Plenty of yums. Ian shot me a look and gave a laugh when he saw the amount of rice on my plate. Ahem. It was no good news I finished all that carb. It was just good that the guest enjoyed her food :)

Minibean was excited, and her cough has became so phlegmy and she just manja-ed in my chest for a while before trying to tease and disturb me. She adores her jiejie Suki too.

And her favourite these days is the story of Goldilocks and the three bears, and she can recite the story to every bit of the details.

She is just so amazing.

***

I love my prosperity burger and twister fries and iced tea, nevermind that one upsized meal suddenly doesn’t feel enough. Slurps.

Burp!

Finally HIMYM Season 4 is finished and onto season 5!

Then it would be time to catch up all the fabulous movies I had missed in 2009. Gee, how about the Texas games and books I neglected?

And the plenty of updates I had put off?!

I need more time!!

And the spontaneity I promised myself in twenty ten?!

Tsk.

Oh sheesh, is today my first lesson for Pole 2 already?!

Bah.

Woohoo, happy Monday! More meeting ups this week!

Posted in Dailies, Making Sense of Life | 14 Comments »

In memory of….

January 16th, 2010 by Scarlett Ting

.. the 3 who parished in the midst of shouts and screams of “HELICOPTER! HELICOPTER!“, “RUN! RUN! RUN! Don’t come back for us! RUN AND GET ON IT!” and “SHIT THEY GOT ME!”

We burst out laughing after a vital shot of adrenaline, when the credits rolled with “In Memory Of…”

Siren was the only one who made it out alive, and we didn’t really blame her for leaving her fallen comrades behind, much. Hahaha.

Left4dead2 was a much celebrated affair last night after a spontaneous effort to find something to do which wouldn’t take too long since the guys need to work this morning, but we still ended up staying out past 2 am.

It was a much better experience cos we were playing team and not versus, where the previous time I pretty much spent my time dying than playing.

AND THE AXE ROCKS BALLS LAH! GIMME A CROWBAR ANYTIME!

I found myself forsaking the pistols and fell in love with the axe. AWESOME (say it Barney style)!

I justified my constant falling off the slopes and edges of buildings to the fact that they chose all the cool looking characters and left the meaty coach to me, and I found myself having troubles walking through the doors.

I insist it is not my poor key navigation skills.

The headphones are there to protect the other users, so they will not hear us scream, squeal, swear, rain threats and lose faith in human race.

So yes, we are supposed to play Texas Hold’em today, but then, with Thai massage in the agenda, followed by dinner, Invictus in the theatres at midnight, and L4D2 thereafter, I think Texas Hold’em would need to take a backseat another day.

***

I dragged my sorry ass out of home yesterday to have dinner with the group at Bugis Fish & Co. It was kinda funny when we were talking about ANG POWS. Ahem, well ya know?

We later wandered around and it became a night of guns and weapons.

Make me miss the Battlefield 2 days, really.

And the night was wrapped up nicely with How I Met Your Mother, before my insomnia kept me awake, and I started to douse myself with sad and depressing news.

But.

A couple of friends from London will be here tomorrow, and then another group of people from difference places of the world will be here from 18th to 28th (though probably will meet them for a short bit), and the evenings will be much filled with food, food, and more glorious food and exploring places which we have long overlooked since they are keen to do all the touristy things.

***

You know how ups and downs could co-exist ever so often even within minutes? I was just so looking forward to the Saturday and thought how brilliant it is going to be when I suddenly received news from a work friend that her brother-in-law had passed away suddenly due to heart failure.

Life is indeed unpredictable, as we mourned the fact that what we did, and what we didn’t do, and there will be no 2nd chances to make things right.

Yeap, no regrets, they don’t work. And sometimes, it still needs that bit of courage for us to, well, get out of the comfort zone to do the thing we always wanted to do.

Posted in Dailies | 5 Comments »

Doctors without Borders in Haiti

January 14th, 2010 by Scarlett Ting

No words can describe the emotions the pictures of the devastation and grim reports brought forth, and if you have read the reports (I couldn’t stop fighting back the tears while staring at the picture of the father holding his girl, she must have been Minibean’s age?), seen the pictures, you would understand.

My prayers are with the people of Haiti, as well as the trained personnels who are involved helping out with the rescue, and reconstruction work.

Haiti is a country that was already plagued by poverty prior to the earthquake, and this quake is the worst disaster it has experienced in 2 centuries, and had demolished important structures like hospitals and agencies that are crucial to rescue and humanitarian works.

Even its control tower is destroyed, which makes rescue teams from other countries finding it a challenge to rush into the city to provide relief.

And it makes me fume that while the world is trying to help, its own people are trying to rob the victims. With the flood of dangerous criminals out on street after the prisons caved in… all and all.. and the people stranded on the streets with no medical help, Haiti is looking at threats of the aftermath of the shake. Everything is reportedly to be in chaos.

Not forgetting asswipes like this, who make such disgraceful statements that remind me why shameful incidents in my motherland exist.

Many people in the world had been pouring with requests to volunteer their physical help, but the only people they require are people with expertise in the field of relief work, and that leaves people like you and me, to help in the most practical way - by donation.

There are a few organizations that are helping, and I narrowed down to a few important ones after reading on the reports.

It is just heartbreaking.

With their health care systems in ruins, and hospitals collapsed, the most important and essential thing is to provide medical aid, get them better, and eventually reconstructing their lives. The number of people who needs help, is almost equivalent to Singapore’s entire population and for a country that was already requiring help prior to the catastrophe, it isn’t going to be easy for them to cope.

We have seen South East Asia recovered from the awfully tragic Tsunami, and it wouldn’t have been possible if not for international help.

Doctors without Borders have 800 ground staff and more on the way into Haiti as emergency response to help with the rescue efforts, and several reports have cited how Doctors without Borders are trying to operate at 2 hospitals and setting up inflatables to replace the other medical facilities lost.

Doctors without Borders, or Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an independent humanitarian medical aid organisation. We are committed to providing medical aid where it is most needed, regardless of race, religion, politics or gender and also to raising awareness of the plight of the people we help.

They were operating in Haiti before the quake, and had clinics and hospitals set up. Unfortunately, some of them were considerably wrecked, and with some staff injured, it is also a mission they are struggling to cope with right now.

The operations need to be sustained, because they are pillar of support for the helpless people on the streets. People are just helplessly wandering around on the streets, because they could go no where, and when the staff pass by, the people will plead them to treat the injured.

They are also the hope for the people to cling onto dearly.

And with more to start from scratch for this, I believe a donation would be the best you and me can help.

You can follow their efforts with the sites of different countries, and the illustration of what they do with the money collected.

I don’t know who are still reading, but wherever you are in the world, do contribute to whatever cause you believe in to help the victims in Haiti to rebuild their lives, their homes, and their country.

DONATION CAN BE MADE HERE

Posted in Making Sense of Life | 4 Comments »
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