You're the reason I wake up every morning.
Because you bark so loud to be let out for your morning stroll / poop session.

You make my heart soften every single time you look my way.
You DO have puppy eyes, you know.

And every night, you're the one I sleep with.
Because you refuse to sleep in your doggy house.

You're a really good kisser!
Your kisses are always wet and you use lots of tongue.

You never fail to make me feel guilty about neglecting you.
Because you'd walk around the house with your toy in your mouth and your ears drooped low.

Sometimes, you really drive me crazy.
When you insist on playing the barking game with the other dogs in the neighbourhood.

***

But most of the times, I love you to bits. Today shall be Scruffy's day because he kept barking at the calendar.

via Azuzephre's Pon and Zi

girl to boy:
It's time to go! Did you leave anything behind?

boy to girl:
Yup, I did...

boy to girl:
I left my heart with you.

I used to find people who read books, listen to their players or play consoles while travelling amusing. Because I find joy in travelling: people-watching on the train, or admiring the trees as they passed me by. I didn't understand how those people could give up all these and engage in something so mechanical.

A year ago, I received a mp3 player as a Christmas present from my friends, and everything changed. Time became so much easier to pass. Trees didn't matter anymore. Commuters were just silent noise in the background. It was great!

And when my little sister begged me to lend her my player, I reluctantly parted with it. I found myself at a complete loss on my one-hour rides to school. Suddenly it was horrible just staring at the people around me, waiting for my stop. So as a desperate measure, I grabbed the PSP and twiddled around with it. (I used to dislike consoles quite a bit, just because.)

But, surprise surprise, I've been addicted to Dynasty Warriors.

I play it during literally every free moment I've got. In the toilet. Waiting for the lecturer to show up. Or for my food to come. Even when my friends are deciding things among themselves, I waste no time.

It's funny how my initial thoughts of the game were: Damn! I thought I'd chosen a female General. Turns out it's just a really good-looking male with long hair. Sigh.

And now: Grrr...I've run out of supplies, I can't attack the base anymore, gotta have a change of plans!

Like all the other games I've been addicted to, I become totally engrossed in it and forget my surroundings. I give non-committal answers to questions directed at me, and miss my bus stops all the time.

Yeah, I'm blogging about this because today was the worst case ever. I missed SO many bus stops, but because I was SO addicted, I reasoned to myself that it would be better taking a 30-minute walk back than a 10-minute bus ride.

It was drizzling.

She stopped her pink tricycle in its track, and stretched out her tiny finger gingerly.

"Daddy, look! It's a snail!" the little girl exclaimed.

"Yes darling. Come on, lets go, it's raining."

I watched all this as I passed by. I chuckled to myself, then continued my way home.

***

When I was little, whenever the rain had passed, my father and I would squish our way to the middle of the lush, green grassy area in front of our house.

Then we would bend over and peer at the ground. Whenever we found a snail, we would pick it up by its shell, watch it disappear into its home, and fling it with all our might... into the drain.

It would take a second or two before we heard the sickening crack.

And then, we would look at each other, giggle, and resume our snail-hunting.

One of the most memorable facets of my childhood that I pine for is how I always caught a good sleep with ease. The moment my head was on the pillow I would have fallen into deep slumber.

Each night without fail, this sleeping system of mine functioned without flaw. I would lay my little tired body on the bed, and nothing would interrupt that cycle of peace. After which, I would awake voluntarily, feeling refreshed and spirited - a telltale sign of revitalising sleep, which I miss terribly.

Sleep disorders are now a regime of my nights. I've gotten used to the routine of tossing and turning, and waking feeling like I haven't slept a wink. While I haven't yet gotten acquainted with insomnia, it's been ages since I've experienced the gratifying feeling of a night's long of perfect, uninterrupted sleep.

The results of my sporadic sleeping hours have shown themselves on my face. Dry skin, tired eyes and the frigging dark eye circles. I never thought myself to be a victim of eyebags.

And all this scrambling to sleep before midnight, my newly formed before-sleep habit of massaging beneath my eyes, always leaving the house with concealer - it just tells me one thing: I'm getting old.

Nooooo readers please don't leave, I'm still here..

I don't know what I've been busy with, seriously. Time seems to whizz by me like traffic at a junction. Maybe it's also because I've taken to writing my more serious thoughts somewhere else..

Anyway, here's an excerpt.. (I'm just trying to trick you guys into thinking I'm still alive and kicking, and blogging!)

See some of you guys at Enchanted tomorrow!! (:

it’s like waking up in the morning, and squeezing your tube of toothpaste on your brush. you don’t notice it’s actually green tea flavour until you taste it against your molars. but you continue brushing anyway, because toothpaste is good, and brushing is a routine.

and fights are like that. you let them fade away because you think it’s okay, even though it’s horrible. you forget because it’s better for leaves to be blown away in the wind, than to be plastered onto your eyes.

It's been a while since I last swam. My exercise venues rarely includes the pool, because I've always found swimming a chore, a little bit like dragging myself out of bed for school. And, like waking up for school, I usually abandon ship at the very last moment. Suntan oil, towel, bikini. Check, check, check. Then... hmmm, I think the sky looks a tad too dark for swimming.

The only joy I get out of swimming, is the golden brown tan at the end of each session. It's different from running. There's no satisfaction and literally no sweat. Only a ravenous appetite, absolute boredom from watching the same blue waters over and over, and the exhaustion that caves in like a tsunami wave after everything.

This afternoon it was absolutely too sunny for jogging, and I was REALLY bored out of my mind so I dragged myself to the poolside. My routine would be to slap on some oil and jump right in for 50 laps (I had no idea how many laps would be the equivalent distance of my jogging route, so I used my energy level as my estimate).

I decided to break my routine today, and swam really leisurely. I focused on my strokes; fingers tight, hands straight, body streamlined, legs propelling. In no time, I was at the other end. And it felt, really, really good. There wasn't the pressure to complete 50 laps. No losing count. No hoping would this just end quickly so I can go shower. At the end of it all, I achieved a really great tan, loved my swim, AND I was feeling good about the way I looked.

And maybe life's like that. Sometimes, you set goals for yourself. It becomes a routine to complete your never-ending tasks. As each day passes, 24 hours never seems enough and you dread the looming tomorrow, where there would be more deadlines.

It might be good to focus on the little things in your life for a little while, instead of the big picture. Take a walk in the park with your loved one. Smell the flowers. Sketch the horizon. Write a poem. You never know when these things you thought to be insignificant, might give you the liberation and strength to tide over many days more.

Is it just me, or is there a "season" where all the good movies come out at a go? I've been catching alot of pretty great movies, and one of the trailers that always get me REALLY excited is the trailer for the movie, Enchanted.

I'm a sucker for fantasy movies. And even more so if it's fantasy mashed with reality. I swore that Enchanted was so going to be on my die-die-have-to-watch movie list.

So when Ming called me a couple of days ago telling me he's gotten Nuffnangers 200 free tickets to the screening of Enchanted, I squealed and went absolutely giddy with excitement. I'm not kidding. What are the chances that the movie you SO very want to watch is offered to you, FREE?

Anyway, Nuffnangers, you should have gotten this email in your mailbox by now, please do check it if you haven't. Here are the details for the benefit of those who do not check their email / have most of their mail end up in their Junkmail:

200 tickets are up for grabs for Nuffnangers and their guests. All you need to do is send an email entitled "Enchanted by Nuffnang", with your name and blog url to enchanted[at]nuffnang[dot]com.

The tickets will be given out in pairs, so you may bring that special someone along if you like! Tickets will be allocated on a first come first serve basis, we lurpe you all equally!!! Kindly reply by Thursday, November 15th latest. All successful applicants will be informed by email on Friday. Further details will be attache d in that email.

Please note this is a no-frills community event, so there will be no reception before or after the event. A simple movie treat to thank you all for the fabulous and resounding support that has made us the community we are.

More information can be found on the website, www.enchantedmovie.com.

Haha isn't all this very exciting? Quick send your emails now, I'll be looking forward to seeing you guys there! *happy happy*

Written November 2005:

sometimes, in the middle of the night, you reminisce. you think back on the would-have-beens and should-have-beens.

you hover above your wound. it looks healed, but you're afraid to touch it, because you aren't really that sure.

you remember the hurt, pain and confusion. the emotions, pulsating within you, so very alive.

gingerly and delicately, you brush your fingers across. it stings, but it's bearable.

then, you feel an indescribable tingling sensation stirring, somewhere. it's like happiness and relief mashed together.

and it's glowing, warming your insides.

Picture via pmarella

girl to boy:
Look at the sky! It's as if someone took a paint brush, and painted it this shade of blue... it's beautiful.

boy to girl:
I did it - I knew you would like it.

girl to boy:
Oh really! Hmmm... paint me a rainbow then.

boy to girl:
I would do it, but I only had enough money to buy one colour of paint.

It's a hazy memory.

My little heart 'fell' for this young boy when I was in primary school. He was funny, cute and smart (we were both in the best classes).

I was his desk partner for a short while. I was terribly disappointed when I was relocated, but it was sweet while it lasted. At least it was, for me.

I stole glances at him, laughed when he cracked jokes and found every excuse to be within his vicinity.

I didn't know what was happening then. I thought it was shameful to be feeling butterflies in my stomach for someone that way, so I kept it a secret from my best friends at school.

It was pretty clear that he wasn't the least interested in me, because he never, EVER looked my way or paid any sort of attention to me. But I continued to bask in the joy of seeing him around in school.

Until one day, when everyone was passing books around for autographs, I had a startling realisation that I probably wouldn't see him again.

I waited and waited for the perfect opportunity.

And then, it struck..

When the bell rang recess, I stayed back, walked past his desk...

...and stole his pencil.

The pencil that I'd seen him using for the 2 years that we were in the same class. And my success meant SO MUCH to me at that time.

I've kept the pencil with me until today. Now, each time I clean up my room, I would chance upon it. I would scribble something to test its working condition. And everytime, it avoided being thrown into the bin.

Then I would place it back with all my other stationery, and smile at the memory.

Do you recall your first crush?

Sorry for lack of updates! Been really busy lately.

Last week was two of my dearest guys' ORD, or their Operationally Ready Date, which refers to the date on which a National Serviceman completes his 2-year term of service. (via Wikepedia)

It simply means, it's the day when the boys become true men.

We gathered our closer group of friends and hit the club like our routine, except this time with a purpose. I'd prepared the cash to buy them drinks but Raj insisted on paying because it was his Big Day.

You wouldn't believe how intoxicated all of us were, because there was just too much alcohol to go around. (Note to self: I should stop soon, binging is taking a toll on my skin.)

Pictures!

From left to right: Raj and I; Priscilla, Eugena and I; Glenn with his pink IC; Cass, Peck and my sis; Becca and friend whom I wasn't introduced to; Glenn and I.

I asked around my guys friends for the more memorable times in the army, and here's a few I've picked out:

- the legal and illegal slacking in bunk
- hiding the TV during spotchecks
- churning out MCs
- counting down to ORD

And here's what I DEFINITELY WOULD NOT MISS:
- speaking in 24-hour notation

Call me a bimbo, but during deciding of a meeting time, subtracting 12 hours off the said timing is just way too tiring for me!

To my other friends who are still far off from their ORD, I'm just as anxious as you are. I can't wait to start hanging out with my friends at my whim and fancy. Anyway, congratulations to those who are free!