Hello :)
It's Christmas Eve and tomorrow, the day we've been waiting for is finally here! Yes, it's Christmas, people!
Perdana’s reflections as the year 2007 ceases in nine days’ time
Call it a case of monkey-see-monkey-do, or whatever you wish but I really think as we approach the twilight of another year in the Gregorian calendar (wish they had thousands of months in a year so that I don’t have to do year-end reflections that often!), there is something tiny in us that yearns for some soul-searching. I hereby declare that this is what I am doing now…
A little advice, though: this post might make you shed a tear I suggest that you have a packet of Kleenex ready; you will either cry or burst into incessant laughs depending on your sanity. Whatever the case, I promise you this lengthy post is worth your every second and kWh.
And yes, expect an unprecedented extent of honesty from me as I began to broadcast more of my minuscule life that is indubitably nothing vis-à-vis the much more humongous time and space-continuum at the background. At last, a true epiphany indeed…
One could say that life’s journey is akin to a roller coaster ride, with all its vicissitudes, its ups and downs. The only difference is, no one really knows where our final destination in life is, unlike when you indulge in that amusement ride you can always find in Escape Theme Park. Truth be told, as much as I grow wiser and more mature as I person, the mystery of life remains something too profound for me to fathom. It’s tantamount to an enigmatic, bottomless cavity that leaves me perplexed every time I try to comprehend its paradox. Again, that is perhaps where the beauty of life lies: no one knows the real answer for sure; those who claim that they do know are in fact, merely deluding themselves. Yes, I am talking about the answer to the question, “What is the reason of my existence?”
Let me proffer you a quote as a food for thought:
“All the world’s a stage / And all the men and women merely players. / They have their exits and their entrances, / And one man in his life plays many parts.”
--William Shakespeare (This is Wisteria)
What an insightful and reflective saying someone on this planet ever bothered to think of to illuminate the path of his fellow survivors! Have you ever wondered if your very existence is never even real in the first place? Also, how everything that happens in your life is pre-determined and pre-destined? Imagine if all that you are doing now is simply acting out according to an invisible script written for you. Without dwelling on a topic that is best left for KI discussion, allow me to reminisce what happened 360-odd days ago to the same Perdana publishing this post you are reading sans the unduly reflections on my part on whether those incidents taking place were predestinated or not.
“Hi, are you Perdana? I am your OGL. This is to inform you that you are in OG 2 and you are in a kingdom called ‘Ingstad’ for Orientation this year.”
Curt. Terse. Laconic. But simultaneously, professional. That’s exactly the way I like when people are introducing themselves. You get to the point, spare the other party any circumlocution while making yourself sound polite without giving too much, yet. I don’t mind that my OGL didn’t even mention her name. Like, come on, it’s not as if I would remember another Priscilla, Rachael or Michelle when there were so many things on my mind as an anxious fresh O-level school leaver just getting provisionally admitted to National JC. Wrong. Let me re-phrase that for you: a distressed Normal (Academic) student just getting provisionally admitted to a top Junior College. Yes, I am talking about my successful admission into NJC via PAE 2007, a school that used to be my dream school, a school that earmarked that prestige and honor. Maybe it was because the name ‘National JC’ had an inexpressible tinge of elitism; maybe it was because I was one of the scarce students from a neighborhood secondary school who made it into a top-five JC; maybe it was just me. Or for all I know, it was an amalgamation of all these factors. My point is… the year 2007 certainly had a bright start with my going to NJ, never mind that I forgot to mention that I scored six points for my prelims as well (I apologize that it sounds like I am self-aggrandizing here; be patient and you will see…). It is suffice to say that I never regretted going to NJ although it was only temporarily. The school wasn’t fantastic but it decently suited my notion of an ideal junior college. The friends I made there (my dearest 07A02ers!) are obviously individuals fantastic in their own right, some with which I still fervently keep in touch. It was my first time experiencing how it felt like being in such an ‘elite’ environment. 
Then, like a storm in the daylight, the news that took everyone aback: the demise of my beloved maternal uncle Charly—who succumbed to the complication of cancers after battling with those wretched abnormal cells for more than a year. It was the very first time in my life that the hands of Death clenched so ‘intimately’. The period, of all, taught me how real death is and it somehow made me treasure life and all that I possess even more. Prior to that experience, I deceived myself by thinking that none of my family members or even me myself would depart from this world so soon. Besides, the other case of death in my family was one told as narrative by my mother, that is, the death of my grandmother months before I was born, making death of a family member a foreign issue in my household. As such, I never really experienced the agony of having lost someone you hold dearly for good. Without my uncle, I would still be studying in Indonesia because it was he who recommended my parents to send me here. Not that studying in Singapore is all-immaculate or anything, it’s just that, ah, save it for next time lah. Yeah, he was gone even before I could express my gratitude, making me forever indebted to so great an uncle I ever had. 
Pardon the randomness but this reminded me of P. Diddy’s rendition of ‘Every Breath You Take’ (‘I’ll Be Missing You’):
…
Words can’t express what you mean to me…
In the future can’t wait to see, if you open up the Gate for me,
…
Every step I take, every move I make,
Every single day, every time I pray,
I’ll be missing you.
…
What a life to take, what a bond to break,
I’ll be missing you…
Some of you may prefer the version sung by The Police but in any case, the lyrics are so lucid the song is darn perspicuous. We live each day of our lives thinking about, or rather, preoccupied with, all the sublunary thoughts that concern mainly with our well being. How often do you say that you love your friends so much and they mean the world to you? Or thank them for always being there when you need them the most? Or reciprocate the unconditional love of your parents? Or treasure the pristine air that you breathe in, maybe? My utmost hope is that you do all the above, and more, before it’s a tad too late.
On the other side of the coin, while the incident taught me a priceless lesson to appreciate the lability of life, it too took its toll on me, with this manifesting itself in two B3’s for my pet subjects at the O-level: English Language and Combined Humanities. This might sound like a lame excuse coming from a pathetic loser who just cannot accept the fact that he scored a non-distinction grade for his subjects but as much as you have the privilege to think that way, let me assure you, I am not trying to elicit anyone’s sympathy. Keeping matters short, my uncle’s sickness affected all his family members and I was not spared either. Living under one roof with him, I often was the one left at home to take care of him while my aunt went to the office. The pressure was magnified a few weeks before my O-levels that I almost wanted to call it a quit. Already consumed with my last-minute revision, I still had to juggle between studies and taking care of my uncle that I was not ‘my normal self’ throughout my exam period. I did not tell many people this but the build-up of stress disturbed my concentration that I missed part (b) of English Paper One (Letter Writing component, which was worth 25 per cent of the total grade for the subject) and also, a 12-mark question for my Combined Geography Paper—inadvertently jeopardizing my A1’s. It was unmistakably a miracle when I scored a B3 for both subjects. I know for myself that never there is a tincture of regret or hatred that I had to spend so much time taking care of my uncle at such a crucial juncture. As a matter of fact, I am thankful the chance to somehow return him a huge favor hitherto still unpaid was still bestowed on me. The story continued more complexly but since this is supposed to be my reflection for the year, I don’t want to tarnish it with so much melancholy. It’s enough to say that in spite of what happened, I am sure there was still a disguised blessing, and I soon found out what it was. With my 10 points (4 A1’s and 2 B3’s), I found myself in St Andrew’s Junior College!
SAJC never, never, never crossed my mind when I filled up my JAE registration form online. Initially, I wanted to put National JC nevertheless and ACJC as my second choice. It was more like a matter of pride than anything else. I didn’t want to ‘downgrade’ myself to a lower-ranked JC, having already spent my three months in NJ. Putting that aside, the crux of the matter is how I eventually pass the decision-making prerogative to my father. I told him, no matter what JC he put for me, I would be glad to take it. So much for a coincidence but since I know you’re getting kind of bored, already reading more than 1,700 words of a post by Perdana, I shall skip the ‘divine intervention’ part and it’s sufficient for you to know that by God’s will, I secured a place in SAJC, a school I never even thought of going to.
My first day of Orientation was mostly filled with somber memories of my tepidity. I didn’t want to do this, that, or anything that basically had something to do with Orientation. But that was before, long before I met my class, 07A06 :D
Labeling this bunch of people in my class as awesome and fantastic would do injustice for them, for that in itself is a major understatement. No adjective that I know of is worthy enough to describe these ineffable classmates of mine, with their specks of ‘unglamness’, haha. Speaking of this innate ‘unglamness’, I seriously still do not think that “there are / Evils enough to darken all” their goodness. Their shortcomings of being ‘unglam’ “seem as the spots of heaven, / More fiery by night’s blackness, hereditary / Rather than purchased,” (‘Antony and Cleopatra’, I.iv.). LOL.
And then, getting a near-perfect-if-not-for-the-indolence Project Work group was like the icing on a cake. I seriously will miss those Saturdays ‘fruitfully spent’ (in the fullest sense of the word—both metaphorically and literally, especially at Alina’s, where we were served non-stop supply of all kind of fruits almost enough to satiate the palates of five always-ravenous teenagers) doing WR and rehearsing for OP. Thank you for everything and for the abundant ration of lunch as well, guys! The debates (“Yeah, I know yadayadayada, but don’t you think, yadayadayada?”), the laughter, the tears (“I was reminded of my [insert someone’s term of endearment here] whom I used to bully due to his *ahem* control of the English Language”), the ever-familiar snivel (“Hhh, life! This is life!” or “Wah lao, I got sinus lah!”) and the oh-so-traumatizing virus attack that swept out our precious MS Word files within seconds when it took us a lifetime to create them. All will definitely be fondly remembered. One disclaimer—allusions to real persons are intended for nostalgia purposes only, not for mocking ar, haha. Yeah, the whole experience was tiring but the lessons that we acquired, personally speaking, more than made up for it. But again, in hindsight, the embarrassment of having to film and direct a short video-clip for Group OP amidst the busy Toa Payoh Central, wearing a sarung and a worn-out polo tee (wit me starring as a Malay uncle who was supposed to look decrepit), effectively negated all the positive experiences stated above. Haha. So, Julian, Alina, Pei Xin and Zhun En, listen hard: do keep your fingers crossed that all of us will get an A for PW! It’s been wonderful being the Group Leader of SA025 :)
Another exciting part of my JC years would be being elected to the 30th Student Council!!! Council seemed very stressful when I first went for the strenuous Leadership Training Camp (LTC). But then, this LTC group named ‘FAITH’ came along, assuaging the physical and mental torment that would otherwise be too unbearable. Thank you for these extraordinary fellow councillors and Faith-ers who made that transition much lovelier: Xiu Wen (who eventually became my sub-comm. head, the cool Service Counter sub-comm.!), Verine and Vivian (the two V’s whose combined voice is so loud and high-pitched it is comparable to a Public Warning System (PWS), haha), Sharon (my night-walk partner!), Dano (the fellow ISFJ individual who is also in debates!), Jin Zhuang (whose lame jokes are SA-renowned, hehe), Zong Wei (my arguing partner—come fight lah; and ultra-lax Treasurer/ Logistics boss), Zhi Yang (my long-bus-ride-home partner), Jeriel (aka J, whose jokes are also lame, LOL) and last but not least, Jia Lun (whom I still owe the claimed paint money :D)…
Getting into Council is surely one of the things I am most thankful for. As if this was not good enough, I still got my Welfare sub-comm. of choice and even the position as the committee treasurer! Yeah, all those crap about my being a detail-oriented and meticulous person actually sound believable. Ignoring the disputability of my possession of those qualities, it’s really my greatest pleasure to serve Welfare with ‘Captain Kai’ under the helmet now that Su left to pursue a diploma in mass-communication. And regarding all the other equally-heavenly councillors, I found that they are also true, loyal friends and that goes without saying.
Now, the year is coming to an end already yet there are still so many things gone unnoticed by me, the foremost being the people in my life whose contributions are never acknowledged by me yet they resolutely touch my life no matter what. These are the people who deserve more than what I could give them at this point in time. I am sorry for not being able to cherish your kindness yet. Rest assured I am learning to.
Time does fly; it really feels much like yesterday that I celebrated my 18th birthday—accompanied with my first going to a nightclub, watching an M18 show, learning how to drive, getting a MasterCard, among other things. One more year before enlistment into National Service; one more year and A-levels will soon end. Didn’t I just sit my O-levels?! Gee, and I have been living in this Republic without my parents and sister for more than four years already. Phew, I never thought I would make it this far. Next year will be the first year I am living not with any relative I know in Singapore. That’s right, I am finally renting my own room to live in, all by myself without a maid, and all the life’s simple luxuries. It’s going to be tough but I have to learn to be independent sooner or later so why don’t I make it now, right? After all, notwithstanding any adversities that might come my way, I know that He is forever with me, as he was, and will always be. I am so blessed that He always provides me with everything that I need, and therefore, I don’t have to worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow “will worry about itself” because each day “already has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:34).
One final question begs to be asked: Do I have any regrets for the year 2007? Well, I shall answer it for formality sake. Frankly, I do. It was not one particular incident but rather, a few things collectively; one coming to my mind as I wrote this was how I could have tried harder for my Promotional Examinations. However, let the past bury itself—anachronism is sometimes too painful. Without those mistakes that I made in the past, I would not be who I am today. For that, I garner no interest in contemplating my regrets unduly.
After all, you live just once. Forget the unhappiness and see only the finer side of things, because you will always find one. Although the dawn of the incoming year sees me growing in apprehension (what will become of me as I grow older?), it also gives me a solace in the knowledge that the new year shall also bring with it, many good things to come.
And now, as you yourself resume this life’s journey on your own, all that I could say is, Godspeed!
May you always be blessed and have a joyful merry Christmas with your loved ones… All the best for 2008!
A Maverick-by-Choice,
Perd.
P.S.: I think Guy Sebastian’s Angels Brought Me Here can immaculately sum up my experience for this year:
It's been a long and winding journey
But I'm finally here tonight
Picking up the pieces
Walking back into the light
To the sunset of your glory
Where my heart and future lies
There's nothing like that feeling
When I look into your eyes
My dreams came true
When I found you
I found you, my miracle
If you could see what I see
That you're the answer to my prayers
And if you can feel
The tenderness I feel
You would know
It would be clear
That angels brought me here
Standing here before you
Feels like I've been born again
Every breath is your love
Every heartbeat speaks your name
My dreams came true
Right here in front of you
My miracle
If you could see what I see
You're the answer to my prayers
If you could feel
The tenderness I feel
You would know
It would be clear
That angels brought me here
Brought me here to be with you
I'd be forever grateful (oh forever grateful)
My dreams came true
When I found you
My miracle
If you could see what I see
You're the answer to my prayers
If you could feel
The tenderness I feel
You would know
It would be clear
That angels brought me here
If you could see what I see
You're the answer to my prayers
If you could feel
The tenderness I feel
You would know
It would be clear
That angels brought me here
Hey!
To those of you who have confirmed your attendance for Perdana's inaugural self-initiated Christmas party, do not forget that we are meeting at the Concourse Shopping Mall this Monday, 13:00. Meet at Starbucks, yeah? We are going to get the candles and balloons.
On Tuesday (the D-day), we will meet first to buy the ingredients for our white-and-green-imbued kind of donut tower at Raffles City Shopping Center, time hitherto yet to be fixed (we'll discuss again on Monday). On top of that, we are to get from there the wine and disposable cutlery.
Pearl: bring your camera, myself: to bring my laptop. The rest: just bring yourselves dressed in white and green. Don't forget your $5-gift to be exchanged.
Okay, I shall head back to complete my assignments (at least, try to!) and see you guys soon :D
Tired but Content,
Perd.
Okay,
It is four days to Christmas I can't help but feeling excited! So many parties, celebrations and camps planned but so little time. I wonder how I am going to finish my holiday assignments (namely: H1 Geog essay and data response question, H2 Lit essay, H2 Lit poem critical appreciation, H2 Maths set of questions and H2 Econs research--basically all the assignments I have, on top of having to complete both my Lit texts, Fasting and Feasting and Pride and Prejudice) with all these events ahead of me. Oh well, it's not like I didn't expect this. Since this is a random post, here are a few things no one can see the nexus why I'm including them in my blog:
1) Today's bus ride to school (service 985) was soooo long because the bus driver drove so sluggishy; I reckon that was coupled with the fact that 70 per cent of the passengers (my most rudimentary approximation) had a BMI of 35 and higher. Like, I was one of the few skinny passengers on board lah! Other things being equal, I bet the downward force exerted on the bus due to the immense net weight of its passengers caused the velocity of the bus to be slower. Oh wait, that, coming from an Arts student?! Ah, heck--randomness is the catchphrase today so, yeah...
2) Another funny incident happened as I boarded bus 963 home. I fell asleep from Woodlands Interchange all the way to Bukit Panjang turn but when I woke up, guess what I saw. No Christmas present for this but four people of different races sitting next to me (I took the rear row of seats)! Just next to me was a Caucasian man, next to him were a Malay lady, an Indian boy and a Eurasian girl. Call it a coincidence!
3) Councillors could be likened to a Grinch (yes, from Dr Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas) this Christmas. We practically deprived others from the chance to send letters because our pile of letters (a jaw-dropping 558 of them) rendered the SingPost letter-collection box in Toa Payoh branch useless. We are so evil! Haha.
4) Jo Quek has a musical tomorrow at her Church, which I am so gonna feel sorry for missing as I am not free myself, but, yeah, all the best, Joanne! Just have a cup of honey water with lemon; it works wonder for sore throat :D
Okay, let me make this random post an abruptly-ended one too.
Perd.
Hey,
A few hours ago, I chanced upon this mini-book, Money Matters (published by SGM International), as I was tidying up my perpetually-messy desk (which doubles up as a shelf for dozens of books I don’t recognize myself). I don’t know how often you usually worry about money and your material possessions but I just would like to share the wisdom contained in this little book.
Sometimes, we ask God to give us more money. Money for more movies, cooler mobile phones, sleeker iPods, branded shirts and whatnot. But again, how many of us constantly realize that life is never measured by how much one owns (Luke 12:15)? A few, I dare say. I am not saying that it’s bad to own many Zara shirts or Levi’s jeans (on the contrary, not purchasing some of such items spells troubles for our economy ahead, haha). As a matter of fact, it’s taught via the Bible that it’s bad if, and only if, you don’t put God first. You will find in Matthew 6:19-24 that earthly possessions will become obsolete too soon because “[m]oths and rust can destroy them”. After all, isn’t it useless to have the whole world when we ourselves are destroyed or lost (Luke 9:23-25), which we eventually will be?
The bottom line is, He has came to give us an eternal life—life “in all its fullness” (John 10:10). Isn’t that worth more than anything else on this earth?
You bet.
Your blogger-turned-evangelizer,
Perd.
NB: Now, my wish is to be able to practice what I preach; it’s tough to survive without much money in this ultra-materialistic world, I know.
Hmmm,
Time. It’s just a simple word yet what that word universally refers to could change the world. Call it a case of understatement. Or, shall I call it, a case of ‘underword’? Haha. Okay, I paid a visit to my alma mater, Chestnut Drive Secondary School yesterday when the 2007 N-level results were released. Congratulations to those who did well and for those who didn’t do as well, continue to strive harder next year. Okay, I digress. I was about to say, how regal this little thing we call ‘time’ is. Like, it has only been eight months since the last time I went back but so many things have changed ever since: the atmosphere, the feeling, even the paints on the walls!
One thing that I kind of miss deeply is the ‘morning ritual’ I used to practice every single day of my life as an eager, promising sixteen-year-old student (ahem!). Yes, I am talking about the fifteen-minute walk along Chestnut Drive. Come rain, come shine, I can still remember how each morning during my secondary school years began with a walk with some of my schoolmates as we shared some jokes, whether slapstick or wit.
A walk to remember—the minute walk along the inexorable and immense passage of time. I guess that’s how that walk would be preserved in my memory. 
On slightly different note, I went to Kallang Leisure Park again last night with ZP. Four years ago, when I first visited an event by New Creation Church in the former National Stadium at Kallang with my late uncle Charly, there was barely anything ‘entertaining’ there. I mean, who goes to such a remote area for entertainment? Fast-forward 52 months later and poof! You have Kallang Leisure Park, a shopping mall housing Singapore’s biggest ice-skating rink, bowling lanes, a Cineplex and K-Box, all under one roof. And yeah, all these just next to the Stadium… What else are you looking for in a shopping mall? Did I tell you too that the Koufu outlet here has cute couches resembling a soccer ball? Phew, I shall stop promoting the shopping mall (I sound more and more like its spokesperson, don’t I?!) but if you haven’t been there, just hop onto SBS service 11 from Geylang Bus Terminal (Kallang MRT)—I am serious, service 11 does exist, ignore the lame joke that it refers to traveling by feet—and alight at the bus stop after the Stadium. You will see an overhead bridge adjacent to the Stadium connecting to that very bus stop; the Leisure Park is within walking distance from there.
That’s how wonderful time is. Everything and everyone changes as time passes by. New memories are created and the old ones, remain treasured. All these happening every single second in our lives. If you have a bad memory of your past, bury them with you; they are part of your history for a reason. And like they say, history is passé—stop raking it up as some things are best forgotten.
Okay then, I hope unlike me, you have more or less finished with your holiday assignments. I am procrastinating too much now that Christmas is just around the corner. Now, if only I could manipulate time like Hiro Nakamura from the TV series Heroes…
Oh well, take care and have many blissful Christmas celebrations ahead!
Perd.
Sometimes,
I really wish everyday would be like yesterday--when fun, fun and more fun envelopes both my nocturnal and diurnal life (no allusion to Robert Louis Stevenson's The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde whatsoever!). Well, I went to Vivo City with Raynard, Rachael and Pearl, with whom I have not caught up for quite some time ever since O-level ceased. After watching Alvin and The Chipmunks (a cute movie for kids and the young at heart--sans any negative connotations of say, being childish, attached to that label), we went for dinner at Subway before finally chatting the night away by the pier.
If only this could happen everyday...
But again, since we know that man is insatiable, won't too much fun have adverse effects as well? I guess I am indeed suffering from emotional breakdown.
Oh, but who cares? It's Yule around the corner. Be merry and forget about everything else!
The Cynical, Schizo Me,
Perd.
Hey,
Just a disclaimer, this post might irk you if mindless blogging is not your cup of tea. This post, like your usual blog-next-door, shall talk about the author’s daily activities without much reflection. I guess I am starting to be drawn toward such a vortex that engulfs my writing. Oh well, perhaps this is my sole chance not to be so profound when I blog :)
All right, I had a day-trip with Michelle to Johor Bahru yesterday because she wanted to see how cheap things in Malaysia are. And boy was she stunned! The exchange rate was RM 228.30 for SGD 100 but we were given an even better rate because we transacted more than SGD 100. 
Meet Michelle, my traveling partner (in her silhouette-ish photo)
Our first stop was the Pizza Hut at Komtar (near Johor Bahru City Square). She anticipated that she would get the same meal at half the price when compared to Singapore’s Pizza Hut but when we paid our bill of RM 29.44 nett (~SGD 12.80), astonishment was all that she exuded. Let me tell you what we ordered: 1 Regular Pan Pizza, 2 Soup-of-the-Day, 2 glasses of Pepsi, 4 pcs of Breadstix (a meal made from pizza crust sprinkled with Parmesan cheese) and 2 single scoop ice-cream. Back here in Singapore, $6.40 for one person would only get you 1 glass of Pepsi and 1 Soup-of-the-Day (after taxes). 
Like, half of the main meal.
The dessert.
Did you know that catching a weekend movie in Johor Bahru would only set you back RM 11 (~SGD 4.80)? And mind you, it’s not in some budget cinemas equivalent to our Prince Cineplex! That is how much one weekend-ticket costs in Tebrau City, dubbed as one of JB’s most prominent shopping centers.
All good things must come to an end. As we headed back to Singapore on our service 170, I began to sigh that my money is not going to worth twice as much anymore. Haha.
Okay, it’s Council break week but I must still make trips back to school next week for Orientation logistics. What a spoiler! Haha.
Perd.
Gee,
Looks like accompanying my six-year-old cousin watching SpongeBob SquarePants is not a waste of time, after all. A lesson from one episode I watched a few minutes ago (SpongeBob and Sandy in a conversation):
"Everyone is best at something, but no one is best at everything."
Wow, that I'm sure, is a bit too profound for my cousin (given her shallow experience in experiencing failures, haha) but heck, I'm sure her comprehension of the line should not differ so much from mine.
Why didn't I appreciate such priceless lessons as I watched tonnes of cartoon shows a decade ago?
Perhaps, I was too daft.
Oh well, let me digress. SAJC Graduation Night for 2007 Graduating Batch will be held tomorrow at Meritus Mandarin and yeah, I am sure the Committee will never regret the time and efforts they invested in it.
That's all for now. Take care!
Perd.
Hey,
It’s "Philosophy 101" once again, haha. I realize that it has been quite some time since I last blogged about life and everything that surrounds it. Well, I watched this DVD a couple of days ago—My Boss’s Daughter (starring Ashton Kutcher and Tara Reid) and whoa, despite its being a slapstick-comedy, it was, surprisingly, not that shallow. 
Frankly, I was taken aback. I mean, I rented the DVD, expecting some mindless entertainment (since I am so sick of reading dense books), something that Scary Movie sequels provide. But hey, it exceeded my expectations, frankly speaking. Yeah, never mind that Carmen Electra stars in My Boss’s Daughter as well. On top of providing me with a good dose of laugh, the movie also teaches a simple lesson about learning from the vicissitudes of life with all its vagaries! It is suffice to say that My Boss’s Daughter is indeed worthy of your 90 minutes. And did I tell you that the soundtracks are equally nice? Haha. I am really asking myself why did I miss the movie when it was in cinema four years ago…
Beware, though, for this movie has some sexual references that only the minds of young adults aged 16 and above may digest (at least this is what the MDA deems to be the case), haha.
There is a line is the movie (near the ending) that immaculately parallels one of my life principles: “Everything happens for a reason.” I guess, if you belong to that group of people who keep sniveling, “Why do bad things always happen to me?”, you should really watch this movie. My Boss’s Daughter provides a testimony to the fact that life’s downs are not necessarily a bad thing entirely. Every cloud does have a silver lining—and shame on me, it’s a saying that has been embedded in me from Thomas the Tank Engine cartoon show even when I was still a child!
Okay, that’s all for now. I shall see you again real soon!
Perd.
My Christmas
As the years go by, Christmas is something that
I
Will always look forward to
Something that remains a solace in
A boy’s little world, in times
That sometimes is Full of uncertainty and pain
Even without Its presents, toys or snow,
Christmas is as beautiful…
Its joy
Its warmth
Never forget them he shall
Okay, that is one pathetic poem I wrote all because of this Christmas tree I saw in Boat Quay last night:
It reminds me of how time flies; last year’s Christmas still feels so near yet it has been good 12 months ever since. I don’t know if my Christmas plan is trite and hackneyed but I suppose, going to Church in the morning, followed by a trip to the Children’s Aid Society (trying very hard to be a Santa Claus to these children) and a Christmas dinner pretty much comprises a decent evening to spend Christmas, at least to me. In fact, it’s perfecto.
Enough of that for the time being, for all I know, I could jolly well change my whole plan entirely, being a weird person that I am.
-------
Hmm, it’s the first Saturday afternoon in 2007 that I spent at home, because my BFFs are overseas and I am in no mood to go out after incessant mall-exploring for the past eight days.
For that part of the post, pardon me if you cannot see the nexus. It’s simply because there isn’t one! Haha.
Anyway, Happy 17th birthday once again to my Faithful beloveds Gerald Koh and Sharon Ho—stay Faithful, the two of you! Haha. Yesterday was their birthday but I am sure they are still in a celebratory mood today.
By the way, if any of you have a plan to watch “The Tattooist”, I reckon you better re-consider. It might be dubbed as “The Top NZ Horror Film of The Year” or “… a Singapore film with a global appeal…” but it was rather, a somnolent horror movie (what an enigma—whoever says horror movies are supposed to induce some adrenaline-rush in you?).
Why is that so? Most obviously, the plot is predictable, with some missing links in the story (like how there is no explanation of how the protagonist’s childhood, being raised in a pious family, affects his life of today). The supposed glimpse of his childhood, on top of being clichéd in utter Freudian manner, proves to be redundant, unless you call filling up the airtime is a function in itself. The movie has one fascinating factor notwithstanding: the myths of Samoan tattoos imbued in it. Other than that, better find someone gullible to pay for your ticket instead.
The bottom line is, watch the movie only if you think it is worth $9.50 to see a glimpse of the Merlion, Fullerton Hotel and some less-known Mediacorp artistes in this Singapore-New Zealand co-production. Otherwise, don’t say I didn’t warn you the movie would leave no mark (or shall I say, a tattoo?) whatsoever. What tattoo? The impression made by this film is not even skin-deep, even for the superficial me.
All right then, enjoy your holiday while I bury myself in logistical work for Orientation dry-run camp next week!
Your blogger-pretending-to-be-a-movie-critic,
Perd.
