Broken Flowers

Bill Murray at his best. This movie beats Lost in Translation hands down. (Even though I love LIT too). Watch it if you haven't.




Well, the past is gone, I know that. The future isn't here yet, whatever it's going to be. So, all there is, is this. The present. That's it. - Bill Murray in Broken Flowers

Vadisiova & Teffo

Taking a break from the World Cup tonight...

Let's watch the Wimbledon Open! So happy Nicole Vadisiova won her first round nice and smooth!

This gal's super hot man...following a great run at the French Open (she made it to the semis), things are definitely looking up for the 17-year old. And she has just dethroned Gabriela Sabatini as to who I feel is the prettiest female tennis player alive - current and retired included.

Pretty in lovely pinkie dress.

Anyway, if you, like me, felt Ghana did a pretty good job against Brazil last night despite their loss to the South Americans, you should catch African lads live in football action...right here in Singapore.

I'm talking about Sporting Afrique, that all-african team playing in the S.League. African players have good stamina and fitness, and the fact they pia every game like it's their last, it's pure joy to watch their delivery on the pitch.

Sporting's small-sized defender Ejenne Kaze Teffo never fails to thrill me. Though only 1.66m, he runs like a speeding bullet pumped filled with burning adrenaline.

I Want to be Fearless

Read in the papers today that tennis beauty Maria Sharapova bears strong desires to revive her old, fearless self - the gutsy, gungho 17-year old who fearlessly defeated all odds to win her first grand slam.

I've never been a fan of Sharapova, but in this instance, she does make a lot of sense. True. It wasn't just physical strength or on-court tactics that won her the Wimbledon two years ago, but the fact that she just went into the competition, fearing...NOTHING. There was nothing to lose, so naturally, she had nothing to be afraid of.

Wouldn't life would be great if we could be fearless in whatever we do!

Human beings generally live under a cloak of fear; there's the fear of loneliness - so some fill their lives with all sorts of self-gratifying activities to kill time - , the fear of being labelled society's outcast - so some jump on the fleeting bandwagon of blind consumerism and materialism - , the fear of shame amongst peers - so some climb the corporate ladder, flash their gold cards and strive for that first million with no regrets.

Of course, there's the fear of karma - so some call donation hotlines, do their part on flag days, pray to the gods and make silent pleas for divine forgiveness.

Me? I had my fears too, once aplenty when it comes to dealing with matters of the heart. Years back, if I hadn't succumbed to the fear of consequence & the unknown, I would have bared my soul to a certain somebody. My life would have been vastly different today.

If not for my fear of hurting another's feelings, I would have decisively ended a previous relationship that lasted longer than its due date, sparing myself all that post-romance ugliness.

Swinging back to the present...now, I just feel old. And I'll be the first to admit that I fear AGING. (Had a conversation with TSO about this sometime ago and we both agreed aging's more scary than death.)

It's not so much about the wrinkles or the biological effects, but more like how it'll mean you are confirmed an old woman liao and being an old woman, by definition, you cannot behave in ways that don't complement your age.

In a moment of impulse, I blurted out to TSO -- Don't care. I still want to wear berms when I'm old, I still want to listen to metal, I still want to write silly songs, I still want to jog and hit the gym occasionally. And at my wedding, I'm not going to play that all those oh biang tunes like 'Xuan Ze' or 'Tonight, Let's Celebrate My Love'. The background music shall be Firehouse, Bon Jovi. Or better still Nirvana.

Shucks, this is such a long post...must have been the black coffee just now. Making me go all pensive under a dark, cloudless night sky.

Sa-Rang-Hey-O

Sigh...it's not been a great weekend, with regards to the World Cup. All three teams I'm rooting for were sadly, ousted.

Mexico put up a valiant performance against Argentina, but eventually cracked during extra-time and lost 1-2 to the South Americans.

Sweden were just no match for Germany, who I have to admit, are looking stronger and stronger by the day.

And, to top the heartbreak, in the last of the first round matches, Asia's best (and only) hope for the quarter-finals, South Korea, lost by two goals to Switzerland.

Lee Chun-Soo...

Lee Young-Pyo...

And the rest of the South Korean squad. My heart goes out to each and everyone of you.

Mexican Greek Gods

Of course football is more interesting than politics lah...it's not only in Mexico, I'm sure if Singapore is ever stupid enough four years later to decide holding the GEs during World Cup, no one would turn up at the voting booths!...haha...well, that's provided voting isn't mandatory anymore.

Ahh...how I adore the Mexican World Cup squad! All of them fit the bill of the quintessential sensual Latino hunk! Totally swoonsome, I tell you.

Take Raphael Marquez (above)...doesn't he look like the strong, silent type all women die for? Hee...

And Oswaldo Sanchez is just...yummy yummy delicious! No other words to describe!

Gosh, I've never felt so...heterosexual.

Show some Love

England is playing Sweden as I write now. I want Sweden to win! Even though many have said they aren't the team they used to be, I still think they are pretty decent. And Henrik Larsson is still a great player...

with or without dreadlocks...

Was at an S.League game earlier tonight - Sengkang Punggol kena thrashed 0-5 by the visiting Tampines Rovers. Buck up, Dolphins! No one likes being bottom-placed all the time & I'm sure they want to get out of that rut.

Show some love and visit the Dolphins' official website!

*Cheering from the television set* - Alamak, Joe Cole just scored...!

I Got a New Doodad

It's the Great Singapore Sale once again! That period of the year when so many people are looking forward to, as they can finally indulge in our nation's favourite pastime without burning too big a hole in their pocket.

And while most of my female peers are counting down the days fervently to that Mango sale (now now, what's the big deal about MNG anyway...) or doing their manic midnite rounds at shopping malls around the island, I decided to buy myself a new...guitar.

Lurrrvve my new guitar man. It's sunburst in colour, the action's much lower than my old one (so don't have to press till fingers pain liao...nice), it's got a pick-up (can plug it into amp!) and best of all, it's lightweight! Perfect for us ladies. As you know, one of the most irritating things about the guitar as an instrument is that though it's portable, lugging it around too long will inevitably lead to aching shoulders and back. My new baby....I can strut effortlessly for hours and hours along Orchard Road carrying it on my back, and still look like a rock chick. Wahaha.

Shopping for new tees, jeans and sneakers can wait lah.

Tonight, I shall strum all night and pretend to be Sophie B. Hawkins.

SPAIN feasts big

After watching Spain annihilate Ukraine 4-0 last night, one of the thoughts that ran through my mind was - aaahhh, I so want to be there, to see all these goal-fests LIVE!

If you are still scrambling for free World Cup tiks, sleague.com's Exclusive World Cup Giveaway is down to the last two days. Can give it a try lor!

Serenity

Watch this, watch this.



Hoban 'Wash' Washburn: This landing is gonna get pretty interesting.
Capt. Malcolm Reynolds: Define "interesting".
Hoban 'Wash' Washburn: [deadpan] Oh God, oh God, we're all going to die? - Serenity (2005)

Once a Joss Whedon fan, forever a Joss Whedon fan. :)

World Cup Bits

Gosh, was so tied up over the weekend to blog...but tonight, it was great to be able to finally R&R at my favourite watering hole and watch the World Cup (actually, the pub had multiple television sets, so we had the best of both worlds! There was the Holland-Serbia game rara-ing at one end, and the French Open Men's Finals in the other quieter corner).

Realized there are so many Dutch fans in Singapore, expats and local alike. Anyway, Arjen Robbens was fantastic.

The Trinidad and Tobago vs Sweden match last night was truly a moment to remember for Singaporeans. Our very Shamsul Maidin officiated the game!

When the ang moh commentator read out "the referee, Shamsul Maidin, from Singapore...", it was such a remarkable feeling of pride. Let's hope Singapore's representation in World Cups to come, doesn't just end here...may our national team work towards this goal too.

Attack of the Flu Bug

Fell sick last night and most of today, thus my absence here.

Sigh, having to succumb to the flu bug really sucks big time. It's like one day wasted man...I literally spent my whole morning and afternoon doing NOTHING. Except yeah, tossing & turning in bed, popping medication, trying to relieve myself of that gnawing headache, dozing off and waking...if you count those as things.

Hahaa...did I just make myself sound like some junkie?

On the other hand, one good thing about falling sick is that it inevitably makes you appreciate life better. Think of moments in the past when you've complained about your life, griped about how your job/relationship/friendship is spiralling downwards...all you need then is really, to fall sick.

It's not about suffering another blow, or adding salt to the wound. When you're cold and feverish, when your headache's so bad you want to tear all your hair out, when your body becomes so nuah you can't even bring yourself to move from your bedroom to the kitchen...it just dawns on you that what's most important is to be able to wake up each day feeling bright and fresh, to be able to breathe normally, walk, run, feel the wind blowing in your face (ok ok , this is becoming too chicken soup for the soul, you get the picture lah). Hee.

When we lose our health, we lose everything. All those minute troubles in the workplace, girlfriend-boyfriend problems etc etc...simply pale in comparison. So, next time when you feel nothing's going smooth for you, perhaps, falling sick might not be such a bad option after all.

Negeri

Was in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia over the weekend...didn't take a lot of pics, but one which I captured of fireworks bursting in the sky turned out to look somewhat like an...explosive.

Bet no one can tell it's fireworks at all. :(
Photos seriously don't do much justice to beauty.

Anyway, here's what the pasar malam stalls were selling outside a football stadium -



Rows and rows of scarves for fans (of Negeri obviously). For them to bear their endearment of the club around their necks and shoulders!

Now, does Singapore football have any memorabilia to call her own? S.League Tees? S.League caps anyone?

Ecstasy

Everyone's talking about that silly, bizarre dance Peter Crouch did after scoring for England during a World Cup warmup game. Apparently, even Prince William is tickled by it.


How would you react after netting a precious goal?

Would you -



do the 'Crouch'...?



get down on your knees...?




Or simply...take it all off?
(ala Brandi Chastain, after scoring for the US in the 2002 Women's World Cup)

Hehe.

Delicate

It's one of those days when I don't feel like writing.

"We might kiss when we are alone
When nobody's watching
We might take it home
We might make out when nobody's there
It's not that we're scared
It's just that it's delicate.

So why do you fill my sorrow
With the words you've borrowed
From the only place you've known?
And why do you sing Hallelujah
If it means nothing to you
Why do you sing with me at all?

We might live like never before
When there's nothing to give
Well how can we ask for more
We might make love in some sacred place
The look on your face is delicate."

- Damien Rice, Delicate

I just want to play this song, over and over. The whole night.