Rents, Rants and Formaggio Dreams

Compromises

2009-08-29T04:01:00.002+08:00

Time and again......isn't it common to the verge of tiresome to hear from those around you to compromise? For every compromise, someone else is pleased other than yourself isn't? Its some selfish excuse glorified for the greater "good" as it is so regularly perceived.

Doesn't it set you wondering amongst the "others" and the "everyones" somehow the component of "u" is conspiciously missing?!?!?! Technically I'm but of that group isn't it? But oh well, if democracy is the tyranny of the majority and socialism is the idealistic phenom, simplistic to comprehend but near impossible to achieve given the dynamism and tendency for thought for individuals, where does the utopian equilibrium lie?

Doesn't life represent that recurring equation of infinity where there isn't any definitive formula to the perfect answer whatsoever. Don't you hate that no matter how you claim to have control of your life and destiny but yet it is paradoxically correlated to the actions of those around. There is no absolutely control of your own fortunes watsoever isn't it? There is no such thing as your happiness unless it is deemed plausible to be bestowed to you by that ultimate alpha, the omega. Me, myself and I is just a feeble motion put forth by those who choose to indulge themselves in denial for seclusion inconceivable.......

RE-living 18.....

2009-08-25T05:10:00.002+08:00

Well, I finally DID it. For those who know me and probably those who have heard, you probably would have heard about me flirting with the idea of shaving my hair (not body hair) off for more than a year. Till now, it has been doing the opposite, getting longer and longer to the point where it drew flak from controversy.

Perhaps the frustrations of late has gotten to me and I have finally succumbed to a moment of impulse. Call it an act of spontaneity or foolish lost of control, to which you may prefer. After losing my long hair which took over half a year to cultivate, I had a sudden feeling of emancipation. Even the stylist at the salon was surprised by my decision and she too felt that it was such a waste, or maybe it represented a loss of income from me for say another 6 months?

Well, after getting my hair done, which was swift and decisive affair, I was greeted with a chorus of welcome back to being 18 from the rest of the stylists as they prepare to close for the day. They are right, I feel refreshed and ready to start over again.

Losing a "moment"

2009-06-18T00:50:00.003+08:00

I had it and then I lost it.....just like that. While going about my work today, I thought of something to blog about, something which I can recall to be cheeky and satirical BUT I did not pen it because it would be unethical to do so. Now I can really empathise with the need for the "moment" by composers, authors or anyone who needed that moment of inspiration to break through the mental barrier. Now I guess I pretty much have to wait till the time when I realise what I lost and do the rhetorical "that's the thing".

Well, recently I gained a new perspective towards looking at gifts. Sort of in the notion of it turning to out to be against you like the Trojan house from greek folklore. Or that such gift should be channeled in the "right manner" in order to harness the potential. Everyone knows I'm articulate and sometimes overly outspoken, just never thought it would turn against me even though I did not use my arsenal of swords at anyone in particular.

Though caution has been thrown into the winds that I should exercise restrain. I felt that I should be and must be holding my ground given that I have the morale high ground and crystal clear conscience that my actions were not of malicious intent but merely my as an expression of my right as an individual to voice my opinions and it had not and was not meant to be some of form of deviant act.

Sometimes, its better to look at things on the surface and not read too much into someone's actions. Because the latter merely means you lack magnanimity and show little regard for reflection and acting with a false of perseverance and continuous victimisation of oneself.

New DVD - He's Just Not That Into You

2009-06-15T09:09:00.003+08:00

I really liked this movie when I caught it a few months back and now I've bought the DVD. Should be good fun and entertainment I suppose.

Start to The Week

2009-06-15T08:49:00.002+08:00

Yet another weekend has passed me by and soon we will be at the halfway mark for the year. Haven't done much over the weekend, mostly spent "Zzz-ing" & spending time with my buddies Foong & Liang on his Wii which presented almost too much of workout for this aged fellow. Now I'm feeling the after effects with an aching back and right arm from all the simulated "bowling", "baseball", "boxing" and "tennis". At least I had a real sport shooting bballs at the neighbourhood court.

Considering that I snoozed through sunday, I managed to wake up real early today to have a fresh start with breakfast! Haven't had breakfast for the longest time since I have been known to be "J.I.T" and my daily morning diet usually consisted of a certain caffeinated brown beverage serving as my energy pill to begin with.

Yes wishing every one a super start to a super week

Back From A Night At The Museum

2009-06-07T02:29:00.003+08:00

Just back from the movie. Figured i needed some reprieve given that it is the weekend and most people REALLY look forward to these 2 days out of 5 usually. I'm sure if the ratio works the other way round, working days will be just as precious.

Well, entertainment as it is, the movie tries to bring across a moral to a story as with most others well. In a nutshell, true happiness lies with doing things that are fun to you. I'm sure we REALLY needed some 2hr cinematic experience to tell us how to live our own lives.

It seems always cleared to be outside a picture and be that narrator of a thousand words. provding advise and possibly directions for ones that are lost but if only we can become detached at will whenever we are in a fix. Imagine if you had that "remote" from "Click" to pause moments in your life, so that you can tinker and mull over issues and make decisions so that you won't regret them later. I, however will prefer the option to turn back time.

To my friends who are reading this, as far as it may sound cheesy and rhetoric, LIVE THE MOMENT but DO NOT GIVE IN TO ANGER or whatever humanistic feelings that comes about from unhappiness. Easier said than done I know for I am far from a wiseman you should be taking advises from. PEACE be with all of you.

10 years ago.....

2009-06-01T23:33:00.002+08:00

Reminiscence is a common thing. More often than not we will always look back at the fond memories from the past or some haunting events that scar you for life. That's perfectly human of course, given that even for a choice of entertainment, there will always be differing camps with their own presence of genres.

With every sip of my beer in my hand, the images of nostalgia keeps coming back to me, reminding me of who I once was and whom I wanted to represent and why I chose the road less travelled despite the many "indistinct chatters" that went by my ears, hoping to dissuade me, desperate attempts to dislodge me from my determined course. As much as this may sound rather cliche but now, these are but history.

Yes, I was a cop. A full blooded 19 year old barely out of his adolescence plunging head first into the relentless and unforgiving waves of reality which soon thought him many harsh and painful lessons. It is only human to err, to realise their mortality and vunerability. For we are but pawns of some celestial chess game before too long, it'll be checkmate and or worldly intervention will be called time.

Been drowning in melancholy of late. Little wonder why this feeling of despair seems to be intoxicating me more than ever. Maybe its time I change the CD in my car stereo.

Growing Disenchantment.....

2009-06-01T00:18:00.003+08:00

I have always loved music. In fact in defines my life and that there is always a perfect song, some form of melodic score or rhythmic synchronization that fits into any moment of our lives.

Lately, I have a growing affection towards the old works of Nirvana, the iconic grunge rock band of the 90s, fronted by the late Kurt Cobain. There is saying that the music produced is a reflection of one's inner feelings, an art of expression by the artist then the angst-filled lyrics of Cobain's songs were probably an indication of his inevitable suicide. Cobain ended his life in 1993 with a shotgun. Ironic to the lyrics he had penned for his famous hit "Come as you are" which wrote, "no I don't have a gun".

I need a retreat soon, for long awaited sanctuary before this sudden infusion of doomsday rock overwhelms me eventually. Life is not the same of late, in fact it has been the same ever since or will it be the same ever? Some say simplicity is happiness but I say mediocrity in life will be a life time of regret.

Nirvana - Come As You Are (1992)

2009-06-01T00:13:00.000+08:00

Come as you are, as you were
As I want you to be
As a friend, as a friend
As an old enemy

Take your time, hurry up
The choice is yours, don't be late
Take a rest as a friend
As an old

Memoria, memoria
Memoria, memoria

Come doused in mud, soaked in bleach
As I want you to be
As a trend, as a friend
As an old

Memoria, memoria
Memoria, memoria

And I swear that I don't have a gun
No I don't have a gun
No I don't have a gun

Memoria, memoria
Memoria, memoria
(No I don't have a gun)

And I swear that I don't have a gun
No I don't have a gun
No I don't have a gun
No I don't have a gun
No I don't have a gun

Memoria, memoria

Thoughts At 12.30am On A Wednesday Morning

2009-05-27T00:31:00.002+08:00

Have you ever wondered if time was that metaphorical carrot dangled in front of you by God as some act of mischief. My apologies for coming across blasphemous but I'm quite a known cynic and making "people" like me ranks just above getting my ass kicked on my priority list.

Managing time seems to be such an impossible task of late. When you need more, it "depreciates" itself into oblivion, leaving you counting the extra hours you wish you had. No ones asking for special favours for a personalised "time extension" but just hope whoever spinning that clock pleassssssssssse cut some slack and have a coffee break already!

I'm just about done with mine and its time to get back to my work and desperately in need for inspiration for time to stand still. 33 hours to go and counting......

Heart - Alone (1987)

2009-05-26T01:20:00.003+08:00

I hear the ticking of the clock
I'm lying here the room's pitch dark
I wonder where you are tonight
No answer on the telephone
And the night goes by so very slow
Oh I hope that it won't end though
Alone

Till now I always got by on my own
I never really cared until I met you
And now it chills me to the bone
How do I get you alone
How do I get you alone

You don't know how long I have wanted
to touch your lips and hold you tight, oh
You don't know how long I have waited
and I was going to tell you tonight
But the secret is still my own
and my love for you is still unknown
Alone

Till now I always got by on my own
I never really cared until I met you
And now it chills me to the bone
How do I get you alone
How do I get you alone

How do I get you alone
How do I get you alone

Alone, alone

Discipline begins here

2009-05-26T00:10:00.004+08:00

I had an interesting conversation recently. For one, I remembered that I still have a blog and two, I have not been doing my utmost to keep it alive. My blog as I have always maintained, is suppose to be an open diary, an outlet to let loose some steam and the occasional "foul" air that besets me. Perhaps life has settled into a monotonous tone with any attempt to increase the tempo reflecting that I'm very much off the key. I've tried to break out of this vicious cycle but any bid thus far has been scuttled by a wicked combination of sloth and weariness.

Maybe its time I begin a concerted effort to bring "me" back to live again. How often have we been guilty for allowing the sands of time slip through our fingers. Though there's not much we can do about it, but at the very least "count as many as you can". I remember an interesting quote I heard in a movie, "Life is not about the number of breaths you take BUT the moments that take your breath away".

For a start, maybe I should get my act together and do simple things right before all else. How about being punctual to begin with? I can imagine a few heads nodding in unison already.

To all my buddies out there, think of it this way, patience is a virtue. Therefore every time I'm late, I have been in fact helping you nature a side of you that you may have neglected unknowingly. On a personal note, perhaps I'm just rehearsing every bit of the part that will be so aptly carved into my "door sign" of my eventual resting place. Won't it be nice when it reads "The late David"? ^_^

Inconsiderate People

2009-05-24T18:27:00.001+08:00

I just can't believe it. There are such thick-headed A**holes around these days. Whatever happened to courtesy and our sense of public consideration. This couple (yes i know the picture is crappy and doesn't quite illustrate anything)is watching a mooooooovie on there pint size notebook with the volume turned up, overwhelming the music the cafe is playing. Oh yah, force us all to be "curious" about what show you are watching. Apparently they are living in their own world consumed by their selfish nature, oblivious of their surroundings and considers everyone else around them as plain nitrogen.

I pray for their battery to go dead soon coz there's no power point anywhere near them. Let peace & tranquility return to what once was coz someone here is trying to get some work done!

Reality Show

2009-05-24T14:00:00.004+08:00

For all the hype about the battle between the much-fancied Adam Lambert & his legion of "Glamberts" with America's favourite underdog-next-door, Kris Allen who's infected some parts with his brand of "Allenation", I for one, had no clue about them other than the few articles I read about in the tabloids here and there. Well, I did manage to catch the re-run of their final showdown last morning (Yes! morning, I actually woke up on a saturday morning) and the reason behind their following was apparent if not crystal clear.

In the red corner, we have Mr Adam Lambert, the much polished stage actor who just about convinced everyone that if ever he's gonna cut an album, its gonna be worth every penny left in your allowance. And when the dust settled, the general public were left to rue his defeat and attribute it to some form of injustice they felt better known as "Kelong-ism" in this part of the world. And we have Mr Kris Allen in the blue corner, a man-boy personified, clearly punching over his weight but eventually managing to pull finish on top of the pile in this talent contest by garnering what matters most, THE VOTES.

Lighten up people, this is a reality show/competition, so when "reality" smacks you in your face, accept it because why should we lost our level of sanity and every sense of reason. True to the show's original intent, it is a reflection of life on its own. Think of it this way, there's a drama queen/king in all of us who wish for some form of excitement to happen and intrigue our lives so that we do not die of mediocrity, lie on our deathbed trying to recollect what happened in between. We have always envisioned that our "hero" to be the unique combination of brains, brawn and beauty. Let me remind you " 1% brain, 98% brawn and 1% beauty" is also a combination ok. Mr Lambert did manage to win some of us over with his presentation and poise but please be reminded that he's a professional. If he can't even pull that off at least, he's not just out of a competition but effectively out of job too.

Anyway, on the same note, we will always celebrate the triumph of the underdogs. The victory against the odds because we can all empathise with the pressures and the need to show what we can do, the need to make the difference. So the story of a boy made good can just about sum up Kris' win. Not quite leaving us in the right kind of awe but totally justified.

Personally I thoroughly enjoyed the delivery given by the collective mix of colourful characters on the show coz its meant to be entertainment, so take it in the right spirit and move on. Life is not about them and the stuff they do, think about yours and what you should be doing.

Hokkien Mee at 2am

2009-05-17T16:03:00.003+08:00

I had a craving last night. Funny that it had to be a full plate of hot sinful carbs in middle of the night, considering that I've been trying to cut down and shaping up.

Anyway, since this doesn't quite happen every other day, I decided to leave the comfort of my home in search of my elusive "Hokkien Mee". Sure took me some time to rammage through my memory for a plausible location to visit, since most eateries I know of that serves a decent helping is closed. Maybe I should go for a cruise while I'm at it, another past time from my younger days which I can only reminisce now.

Pure laziness overruled my will to fulfill my wishes, so I settled for the one nearest to my home to satisfice for the night. Even so, I was far from settled since the end product was far from desired, a true reflection of life I thought. So many a times we set about looking for something not knowing where to find it and eventually decided on the first option we found not only to discover that patience is virtue and sometimes, not having something may well make ourselves better off then regretting it in the first place.

Parking?

2009-05-06T23:24:00.004+08:00

Its frustating sometimes isn't it? Parking in Singapore with our system which is very much the same as our neighbours up north, I wonder who started it first, us and them "cheonging" us or the other way round with us "modifying & upgrading theirs. It really doesn't quite matter does it. Sometimes I wonder who's bright idea was it, considering that it doesn't quite cultivate the right values in us does it anyway.

First of all, it promotes cheating. Ask yourself sincerely, have you ever been diligently tearing those coupons whenever you park your vehicle? However brief that stop maybe? There is no 15min option is there now or the 10min grace in shopping centres. This somehow encourages us to invoke our own sense of justice by conveniently avoiding the coupon and cry foul when the system gets back at us. Even if you do display coupons, you should stop vindicating yourself with self righteousness because you probably would have torn some 10mins ahead of your actual start time or in some cases, I've seen people who went 20mins in advance. There's a crook in all us as long as we don't get caught right?

Do not belittle that 10 bucks worth of "tikam" booklet, it may well be a bait for $500/- fine or worse, your ticket to publicly exhibit yourself in a national park, doing a service to the community. What happens to all that round stubs after you're done? Does it really go to the nearest dustbin or was it fed to the cement floor or some green grass next to it? Far fetched you may think, overly imaginative only because you have not been caught! Then again it may not be easy to get caught considering that those vultures have other better things to do then standing under the steaming hot sun waiting for your moment of folly. But the sooner they realise that that's one of their surest bet to "boost" the economy via government revenue and eventual reinvestment, they just might do it so look out behind whenever you want to pull an "Oops" trick.

Then there are those idiots who would park their vehicle, not tear a coupon and stay in their vehicle for the whole time. "I'm waiting for someone" they'll say to some parking attendant and will probably be excused. I mean, who should we despise more in this instance, the driver or that timid attendant who fears the confrontation should she decide to exercise her duty. Technically the vehicle is parked as its stationary and not moving. It is in a designated parking area which is chargeable. I don't remember reading this logic of "I'm in the vehicle so excuse me" syndrome to waive the parking fee. Here they are, depriving able and willing motorist who are in need of a parking lot and most willing to contribute to the ever so deep reserves of HDB but unable to do their "little part" because of your sheer selfishness or miserly behaviour.

Of course the marvel of ERP will come to everyone's "rescue" now and with it the end of "creative" problem solving on this subject matter. Maybe they should start with the open carpark at subordinate courts who have they left it "untapped" because $30/- is still better than $2/-? Food for thought nonetheless but the only thing I ned to take orally now is some panadol cold relief. God I hate falling sick.

After Effects From Monday Night BBall

2009-05-05T09:13:00.005+08:00

Aching Limps, shortness of breath and a heavily bruised ego, it was a chastening experience with numerous battle scars left behind by the sheer energy of youthful exuberance. Having resolved that I need and I should be exercising, I finally made myself ditch my office desk for some hoops.

It started out with an aimless drive around Hougang, scouring for a court to begin my secret training. It wasn't easy, most grounds are occupied, occupied by teenagers who won't let me have a decent game, who will hustle me into games of 3 v 3.

Eventually I settled myself at Punggol Community Centre, a hunting ground from my yester years. Started out on the empty half and let the leisure shooting begin. I miss my rebounding buddies who will pick up the loose ball rather than let it bounce and make me RUN for it.

Eventually I settled into my shooting rhythm, like some pigment of my past when I was so used to the "swishing" rustle from the net. Didn't take long before "retribution" caught up with me. In the form of some teenagers wanting a game of 3 v 3 and I obliged. Despite knowing that I won't survive it but all in the name of fun, except I won't be the one at the receiving end of that package. As they saying goes, the rest is history.

I rue the times when we used to challenge some middle-aged men into games but now its time for payback. Over time we age, though not all of us mentally, physically we do and its catching up. Better now than never to realise that we have to move on despite the fact that most times, we look over our shoulder and our thoughts linger and cling onto the fond memories not realising that we are holding up the line, not keeping up with the currents of time. Someone's got to twist my head back......real soon.

Nirvana - You Know You're Right

2009-05-04T23:18:00.004+08:00

Took me a long while, 7 years to discover that this song, a previously unreleased (until 2002 of course) studio recording from Nirvana is out there. I'm kind of hooked onto this piece of grunge rock classic. So here's the song for reminiscence, for what ever motivated you to click on the "play" button. Enjoy......

Liverpool vs Newcastle United

2009-05-03T22:25:00.005+08:00

Just finished watching my beloved Reds spank the "bar codes" from Tyneside 3-0 at home. Pity for all the good football they've been playing, their championship fate does not lie in their own hands. For better or worst, everyone knows I'm still RED through and through.

Rents, Rants annd Formaggio Dreams

2009-05-03T18:02:00.003+08:00

The name I have given to the humble abode for my reflections and musings. Its easy to appreciate the meaning behind it as long as you are Singaporean. From a cynic's point of view, this practically sums up what its like trying to survive in our urban jungle.

Everything is about "Rents", because most of us don't own our property except for some minority. As Singaporean, its well documented that we offer quite a fair bit of "Rants", enough to populate some obscure pacific island I reckon.

Formaggio Dreams? To the privileged few who have managed to have an insight into it, I shan't elaborate further. Not till I can at least draw out some blue print of this castle I have up in the air.

In The Beginning......

2009-05-03T17:39:00.003+08:00

Doesn't take a genius to realise that everything has to start somewhere. A typical cliche which means something as much as it offers not much an insight into anything.

Isn't it funny that many a times we have inner monologue which we feel like letting out but we didn't, only to allow the passage of time carry our thoughts and believes with the its current, leaving none for our future but bits & pieces of recollections from the yester years.

Let me tell you what I'm all about from this day on.