my prayers to my fellow cancer warriors

Facebook has taken so much of my online time. I swear it's becoming unhealthy. But I'm glad that I found my long lost pal, Audrey, through Facebook. The past couple of weeks were crazy. GSE had three consecutive gigs on Friday (TPRawks), Saturday (Lime Sonic Bang) and Sunday (Toni& Guy event). I was so frustratingly drained by the end of the week, having to juggle with work, jamming and gigs, not forgetting, combating my 2 week long flu simultaneously.

Finally, the well-deserved school holidays are here. I went to NCC, SGH, for my appointment with Dr Lim. Good to know that I made it through a year of remission. Dr Lim spoke of my fellow survivors in the Lymphoma Support Group who were not doing too well. My heart broke. My prayers are with you out there, dealing with your relapses. I wish you well. I feel your pain as I struggle through each day in fear of relapse as well as trying my utmost best to live each day to the fullest. Be brave, my fellow cancer warriors.

I have officially shifted out from my own space and back to my Mum's. It is good to wake up to my maid, asking me what I would like for breakfast. But it cannot and will never replace the times I woke up in the arms of my parallelbliss, sometimes to the pitter-patter sounds of raindrops at my windows, knowing that I could sleep a little longer. My sanctuary, my little heaven. I actually miss that dearly. Till that day I will be sleeping in your warm and safe arms again, my dear.

I held a garage sale the day I shifted out and made $50, literally giving my clothes away at about a dollar each. It was an amazing experience cos I got to finally see my lovely neighbours and made some new friends, ironically after I shifted out.

Currently listening to: 'Window' by Album Leaf

Vintage Synth Collection: I want a Korg RK-100

The 1984 edition of Korg RK100 remote MIDI keyboard! Available in black, red, white and walnut. Sigh... What a beauty..

Old pics of Bali (2006)

I miss our chill-out afternoons at Cafe Del Mar

All I need is the sun, my sunscreen lotion, a couple of issues of Reader's Digest and you by my side.
That will be my favourite way to spend a day.

My first hair appointment at Toni & Guy

It's just crazy. David Mercer, director of Toni & Guy, has offered to cut my hair! I really don't know what to expect on Thursday but I'm very, very excited. Whee.... Will post pics of my new haircut.
Right now, I'm fighting to get well. Have been down with flu since Friday. I guess Saturday just made my condition worst. I had to be at Marina Square for the Bodyshop's Makeover Marathon then followed by a gig at Timbre's 2nd anniversary party. I only got home after midnight. I have been sleeping in since Sunday. It's Tuesday and I'm not feeling any better. I am running a temperature right now and all that is on my mind are my children in school. It's the examination period and I hope they gave their best. By the looks of it, I won't be able to go back to work tomorrow. Sigh.. I am just stuck with the four walls of my room and several bottles of mineral water by my bed.
Please. Please get well soon cos I am going to Toni & Guy. Heh.

I want the dress!

Mutemath's muisc video: 'Typical'

This music video, which premiered on YouTube on March 21, 2007, really kicks ass! In less than 4 days of its premiere, it registered more than 100,000 viewers!! I still can't believe that GSE played at the same music festival as them this year!
Love the concept of the video, which juxtaposes the title of the song. Apparently, the whole band had to do whatever is in the video backwards to get that awesome effect. okok.. This reverse effect is not fresh cos it has already been done before in Jack Johnson's 'sitting waiting wishing'. Also done wayback by Spike Jonze in his renowned work in Pharcyde's 'Drop'. It is all good. I heart Mutemath's video too!
For the video, Paul Meany had to learn to sing the song backwards and props to the drummer, Darren King, who had to play the drumbeats in reverse as well. Paul Meany's keytar aka synthar aka electroponce.... is coolness. It's a Korg RK-100. Yes, I am envious and No, I have not found a keytar yet. Sigh.. Anywhos, check out the making of the video.

An afternoon at Cafe Del Mar, Sentosa

GSE got to be models for a day

Look out for GSE in November issues of FHM and LIME magazines.

Mike's & Jerrine's birthday @ Barracks

Celebrated in a private room at Barracks. An initial intimate affair turned out to be the opposite. It was still a lovely affair. Mike has hoping we pulled out a golf set to his surprise. Sigh.. Sorry Mike. I hope the money from all of us was enough to subsidise that dream set of irons. We actually wanted to get you a PSP. However, through voting, most of us feel money will be good so that you can get whatever you wanted. There was a limited selection of food but it was good. There were about 20 or more of us at a long table. It looked like a scene of 'The Last Supper'. The bill amounted to an amount which somehow wasn't sorted out among oursleves. Douglas, Khai and David had to chip in additional $50 each to try to top up the difference. Saiful and some others joined in to chip in more money. So in the end, we managed to sort out the bill but after a long.... time. In the end, Khai and myself had to pay $200 for our share of dinner. Whatever it was, we had a great evening, chilling out at the veranda. Dino got himself silly drunk and it was quite funny. I hope Mike enjoyed himself too.

What the boys do during a GSE band meeting

Yes, they pose in their GSE t-shirts with pride! They look so adorable!

'Run For Hope' 2007, Siloso Beach

Went for the run with only 3 hours of sleep the night before. Woke up and it was pouring. Arrived at Sentosa at 8 and just in time for the run. As we entered Sentosa Island, as I watched the hordes of people streaming into the island for the run despite the bad weather, I got rather emotional. Everyone was there for a common cause; to raise funds and do their bit for cancer research, a hope for a cure for cancer. God bless all the kind souls who participated in the run.

After having been training on the treadmill for months now, covering at least 15km per week, I thought the run would be a breeze. However, with the lack of sleep and having just recovered from food posioning days before, I finished the last part of the run with a sharp pain in my tummy. Sigh. But anywhos, we finished the run and the feeling was awesome. It was rather dramatic that we finished the race, locking arms. Hahahaha.

We chilled out on the beach and we had the home-made fruit salad. I love it; after a morning run, chilling out on the sand, at the beach... Something we rarely do or have never done on a Sunday. I sure hope the next time we do it, I have enough rest though. Heh.

My first bouquet of flowers from K

It has been 3 years! Happy Anniversary Baby! I'm glad we made it through and you are still next to me. There is a sudden rush of bittersweet memories to my head, the time when we spent in school rushing projects, the time we hid in the Video Room to watch 'Kung Pow', how I broke my hand and how you insisted on using a remote control as a brace, the aimless driving in the night, my lonely walks around Punggol and Sengkang, our "hide-and seek" sessions, the most wonderful speech you gave after your graduation, at The Balcony, the times you held my hand during my chemotherapy sessions..... Thank you for the flowers and thank you for everything.
All I wanna say is in our song,
"Honey, It's been a long time coming
And I can't stop now
Such a long time running
And I can't stop now
Do you hear my heart beating
Can you hear that sound
Cause I can't help thinking
And I don't look down

And then I looked up at the sun and I could see
Oh the way that gravity turns for you and me
And then I looked up at the sky and saw the sun
And the way that gravity pulls on everyone, on everyone

Baby, It's been a long time waiting
Such a long, long time
And I can't stop smiling
No I can't stop now
And do you hear my heart beating
And can you hear that sound
Cause I can't help crying
And I won't look down

And then I looked up at the sun and I could see
Oh the way that gravity turns on you and me
And then I looked up at the sun and saw the sky
And the way that gravity pulls on you and I, on you and I"

I 'Run For Hope' this Sunday

Just like how Melissa Etheridge sings in her song, 'I Run For Life',
"It's a blur since they told me about it.
How the darkness had taken its toll
And they cut into my skin
And they cut into my body
But they will never get a piece of my soul"

This Sunday, I will be running in the 'Run For Hope' maranthon at Tanjong Beach, Sentosa. This annual event is considered the "single largest and longest-running event" for cancer research in Singapore. Previously known as the 'Terry Fox Run', Run for Hope 2007 is inspired by the courageous story of Terry Fox who despite an amputated leg due to bone cancer, ran a 'marathon of hope' across Canada to raise funds for cancer research, so that one day a cure could be found.

Come help continue this dream. You can test your skill with the 8 KM Competitive Race or join the 4 KM Fun Run where you can walk, ride a wheelchair, or push the pram - all for a good cause.

Run Info
Event Date: 7.50am, Sunday Sept 16, 2007 at Siloso Beach
Closing date: 8.00 pm, Saturday, 15 September 2007.

Registration Fees
* $30 Adults and $15 child (3-12 years old) and Full-Time Students with bonafide ID.

It is still not too late to sign up now. go to http://www.runforhopesingapore.org and you are on your way. "Funds raised each year are distributed as Research Grants in Singapore. Every year, the Singapore Cancer Society receives numerous requests of funding for Cancer research from doctors, researchers and oncologists. In 2005, Research grants of S$100,000 raised from the Run were each given to The Cancer Institute (TCI) and National Cancer Centre (NCC)".

"Terry Fox's race is over. In fact, he never finished the course; none of us do. What is important is the running. What is important is to set goals. What is important is not to quit, not ever. What is important is to run well and honestly, with as much as human grace as possible - not forgetting, too, to take joy in the running, to laugh at life's absurdities as well as weep at it's cruelties."
The Globe and Mail
July 1, 1981

random blah blah...

I'm down with Gastroenteritics aka food poisoning. I am on sick leave for two days. What I have been doing for the last two days was eat fuits, take medication and sleep. I think I slept for more than 18 hours on Sunday itself. Definitely not a good way to end the week before going back to work. Basically, the one-week break was spent marking papers, watching people do their work, jamming and gigging. The only good thing that happened last week was the launch of the album.

Homemade 2007

GSE will playing at The National Museum this Friday at 9pm.

An unforgettable trip to HMV

I'm learning how to poach eggs

Went to Bakerz Inn yesterday for lunch. The dish that I love has been removed from their new menu. I can't really remember what it was called but it has sauteed mushrooms and greens on a buttery toast. Finally, it is topped with a poached egg. Simply wonderful dish. We had the famous warm chocolate cake. Yummy! =)

I bought some eggs from the supermarket just now and I'm going to try to poach some eggs for breakfast. I searched the Net and this is what I have learnt:

First, In a saucepan , bring 2 to 3 inches of water to a boil. Reduce the heat to keep the liquid gently simmering. Break cold eggs, one at a time, into a saucer. Holding the dish close to the liquid's surface, slip in the eggs. One thing to remember, when poaching eggs is not to drop them very hard into the water or they will break up; have to be very careful not to break the egg yolks.

Secondly, let the eggs cook in the liquid until the egg whites are completely set and the yolks begin to thicken. Then lift out the eggs with a slotted spoon. Drain the eggs in the spoon or on paper towels.

Finally, trim any rough edges and serve. =)

The album is out in stores today! Finally!

sudden golf impulse (Orchid Country Club)

My school Teachers' Day Dinner @ Sheraton Towers

Dunman Secondary School Teachers' Day Dinner

Asian Dub Foundation @ WOMAD 2007