I Heart Eason

I stayed in Hilton over the weekend. Same hotel as Eason okay.

Anyway, I heart Eason!! I got VVIP invite and wah, first row! So I got some lovely pictures of the concert, as lovely as my Fujifilm FinePix F11 would allow. Was so flash-and-trigger happy that mid-way into the three hour long concert, the F11 actually sent out dying signals. Oh well.

He only started speaking after the 15th song was sung. What a voice! I heart Eason.





















Classic dramatic opening - slow emergence and elevation to the wild crowd *swoons*
















One of Eason's many friends
















Another of his many, many friends. Damn it - sing to me, Eason. Dedicate all that ardour and passion to me! Look at me, you hear! I'm here!!





















Hmm. What do you know. He's really looking at me and serenading me. What intensity. Yay! First row has its privileges.





















One of the best pictures I took based on proximity. He sat at the edge of the stage for a particular song and I sprang to the barricades to take the forbidden shot.

I Heart Eason II

Eason, being hiao and striking a 骚包 pose: Oh you love me??

NB: Just before this outfit change, Eason couldn't resist flirting with the crowd of 20, 000 and flashed at us for 1 whole second. He refused to strip despite continuous screaming and pleading by the totally charmed crowd.
















Sorry, did you say you love me? Erm, it's not loud enough.

















Eason to his adoring fans in mock exasperation :What do you mean you haven't had enough?! I sang everything!!!

Indeed, with 38 hit songs crammed into just under 3 hours, he sang way, way more than all the artistes I have come across. But of course, because he is Eason, he can never sing enough. Partly also because he has such great song material and so, so many albums.

















Eason and his super cool band at the post concert 庆功宴

















Eason doing a self-reflexive

如何承受这好奇

He got me the painting I heart.

夕阳无限好

It’s time for a clean confession. I love my job, I really do.

It’s amazing that I can do what I enjoy and eking a living out of it, and believing in good faith I’m contributing to society and the world while at it. Yes, it is not farfetched at all to say an (if not the) entire economy is sustained by my profession.

It’s even more amazing I happen to be damn good at what I do.

*contented sigh*

Interestingly, I also double up as a producer and copywriter and translator. I was happy to dash in and out of the malls last week for yet another shoot, very happy to be exact.

I guess whatever my gripes, I can’t deny I’m in my element. I can proudly defend and justify my profession and I definitely see meaning in what I do.

The invites to the biggies in the entertainment scene are just icing on the cake, for I have always bought tickets to productions I would like to watch. Except now I waltz in, free and in style, and get jiggy enough to attend pre and post cocktails occasionally.

What more can I ask, apart from the obvious? J

I’m also flying off on my first business trip this weekend. Granted it’s KL, but still!

Yay! I’m literally going to places!

*

In other news, Beautante gave me the best present I can ever hope to get. All the episodes of Daria dubbed into CDs!! Whee! How totally, totally unexpected.

In other, other news, Qingwei, Minxiu and I ate at this restaurant at Prinsep Street yesterday. Ambience was great but food an utter letdown. Perhaps that’s why there was no one else dining there for the hour plus we were. Then we saved the night by popping over to Minxiu’s place to chill. Borrowed DVDs in the name of work.

Bought the limited edition of a Mickey Mouse phone for only $100 – almost brand new from a colleague.

Received a free Creative nano due to insurance purchases. Hence the infinite postponement of Project iPod

夕阳无限好
天色已黄昏
本想去凭爱
去换最灿烂一生
想不到长吻
带来更永恒伤感

夕阳无限好
却是近黄昏
高峰的快感
刹那失陷
风花雪月不肯等人
要献便献吻

好风景多的是 夕阳平常事 然而每天眼见的 永远不相似

你明白吗

知道这样不行
偏偏继续下去
怎么会有结果
是我想太多

I went to the Biopolis Matrix Auditorium to watch a Chinese play “Snakes & Lovers” on Thu, compliments of a senior. While zipping merrily on the roads, we realised with horror we were speeding back to the office instead of Buona Vista. We ended up following the MRT line from Redhill onwards in a desperate attempt to move in the right direction. Then we couldn’t find the parking lot. We went round the place seven times before we figured where to turn.

Stepping into the building that housed the auditorium, it hit me I was here before when everything was much less developed and while everything else was still fine and dandy. No, apart from only thinking about calling to find out how he’s been doing in times of boredom, I have not progressed to actual action. I think, and I only think, on odd occasions.

I was formally introduced to Abigail and *gasp* I had better seats than Kit Chan!

*

Mr Dimples is so incredibly nice that he can wait 3 hours for me. Immediately after watching the matinee Broadway Beng with him, I had to report for work. So he was hanging around in the vicinity patiently for me to finish to have dinner together. Seriously, I can’t think of another person who can do (and I really mean putting up with such dreadful notice) this. I feel naturally bad about this. Despite the obvious niceness, I can’t help either to feel that the law of diminishing returns is mocking me big time.

It’s wearing thin. It is, it is. 见好就收

I literally bolted from the car. Like serious. It seemed like we were starting on a potentially extensive conversational thread but I wasn’t in the mood to weave. Plus the thread was of a strange colour – on grammar and correct usage of English, which floors me entirely in spite of my mastery, probably because it was weird to talk about this in the middle of the night.

Depressing. This law of diminishing returns. Why, why, why.

需要一点勇气
来面对现在的心情
也许时间依旧
很快就忘记

相爱的运气

你确定吗 我是你早起的理由

你确定吗 我是你晚睡的理由

我还在想我还在想

*

Just because. There are moments during which I really don’t want to be all by myself. Moments when friends are a poor substitute. While at the end of the day, I do like to have my own space, nevertheless, it will be nice to have the occasional boyfriend. Hmmm. That reads rather rude. Ok, if I like him enough and he doesn’t cramp my way of living too ridiculously, he can stay longer than the occasion stretches.

*

我们都是很好的人
默默忍住不惹谁伤心
只是幸福啊岂只是来来去去


While I do shudder at the notion of being reined in, commitment as action instead of staying (neither pun nor irony intended) a thought experiment is worth a shot itself.

*

Maybe it just means I’m ready.

All it heralds is more waiting. Of that I’m sure.

只是幸福啊 只是相爱啊 还需要运气

你确定吗 我们有相爱的运气

我还在想我还在想

Diminishing Returns

Perhaps the law of diminishing marginal returns has finally set in. He was as attentive and gallant as usual, so it was just me. Perhaps. Or he is too well-bred to show otherwise. Then again what the fuck am I talking about. I know nothing. Only it’s always the safest to assume progress is linear, constant, stable with the understanding there is no need to have an end and some meaning in due course. The journey is protracted, possibly parochial in nature and so why obsess over the point if I can cruise along

I think it’s me. Today, it was strangely unsatisfactory to dwell on politics, befitting the occasion though it was.

iPod & iDress & iSin

I have resolved, with renewed determination, that this week will be the week that I shall buy me an iPod. As Mr Dimples never fails to remind me, I have been talking about getting one since last year, and simply never got down to it. We both agree that the price cannot be a real factor, given that I can splurge $200+ on a bracelet, or skirt, or haircut + treatment. Maybe that’s the whole point. That’s always something better, and cheaper to buy. An iPod, after all, would make me part close to triple of that amount (assuming the new 60GB now that it is 45% slimmer than its original counterpart) and gaining only one item, as opposed to three.

Nevertheless, realizing that I’ve not made any major buys for this month (apart from getting the usual haircut + treatment at Action Salon, Paragon), I noted gladly that it will be the perfect time to acquire and end this eternal deferral.

I am so serious about it that I called up Minxiu in the afternoon and made him say he’ll share/upload his music collection with/for me (and we have been through this before). After which I called April to arrange for the purchase after we have watched a movie that has been planned for the coming Sunday.

Then, as with all well-laid plans, you consider an abortion, most unexpectedly.

*

Feeling bored today, I decided to go window shopping, with the casual intent to buy something light (easy on the eye, on the body, on the wallet) if something is catching, and fetching enough.

Didn’t see anything I like and was extremely tempted to hop onto a cab. But bearing in mind the impending (huge) monetary loss that was scheduled to take place over the weekend, I fought valiantly against the natural taitai instinct in me and argued with myself that I ought to be a good heartlander girl and save that $15.

The easiest way to persuade me to take public transport ie MRT was to find company home. So I tried the one and only person who I believe could still be in office at 7pm: Wang Yun, who has finally graduated from architecture and is working very near me (in fact we just did lunch two days ago). And so he was. So happily I said to let me know when he is to leave his work, to meet me at City Hall and that meanwhile, I shall browse the shops a little longer.

Before I knew it, it was close to 8pm. Nothing fanciful and so nothing I fancy. My phone has neither ring nor sms to send it into orgasmic vibrations either. Hmm. So walking past Blum, I decided to enter and poke through the numerous sundresses so in season now. There can’t be any harm right. I have never bought anything from there before.

But of course there’s always a first. And obviously there has to be a gorgeous item waiting to seduce weak-willed me. The dress was of a classic and classy design that I was vaguely on the lookout for. The pattern was simple, yet elegant. I looked pretty in it. Er. So. I glanced casually at my phone as I changed out. Eeks. He’s almost here. And quickly I swiped my card and committed myself.

Another casual look (moral of the story: casual looks are a bad idea. Stare intently. Before. Not at the aftermath) at the receipt and I nearly choked. Did the sales girl cheat me? I thought the price tag read $158. How come now $238. Gulped. I’ve never paid this much for a gu-niang/lady dress. Ahhhhhhhhhh. All it took was 10 minutes and an sms that came later. So much for saving on the $15.

$238 poorer. But I shall still get the iPod.

*

Newsflash: Anyone keen on the 50th anniversary dinner?

The Girl In The Meadow

He made a handsome picture against the setting sun as he waited for yours truly most patiently in the corporate heart of the city.

(And to think once upon a time, it was someone other, The Other, in another context, but this same place, waiting for me after the day's work has been relinquished. NB: Yes, relinquished ie not done.)

It's quite lovely to see him again, after a month's lapse, discounting phone calls and sms-es. Deeply dimpled and all for me! Yay!

We strolled to China Square and settled ourselves comfortably in Old Saigon, a charmingly quaint Vietnamese restaurant tucked away in a corner.

It was some time during dinner that we talked about Friendship. I probably started it by confessing that I have broken up with Best Friend (now an official axed ex) via sms. We were getting too comfortable with each other, I recounted, or rather she was. And I still wanted to feel loved and enjoy the pleasure of being wanted. So all that familiarity drove me to conclude we are nearing the end. She could no longer speak without offending me and that led me to feel she was careless towards me. And I summed up by saying well, so far you come across as a very nice person. You probably wouldn't treat your friends that way.

He interrupted solemnly to say that while I may think he's very nice, he's quite sure (which I agreed) we would, at some point, quarrel eventually. As with his close friends Mr L & Mr B. Which I registered internally that I was acknowledged as A Close Friend officially. I wasn't sure previously. In the sense, I know we share stuff that matters and we are close but, well, there has been no official crediting of either party till now.

In any case, he's going to Bintan in late August and yes, he's gonna hunt down that painting for me. Especially since he's staying in the same resort as I did previously.

So we yakked a bit further about friends and expectations. Got asked nicely by the restaurant to leave as they were closing (it was only 9.30pm ). Walked to Boat Quay. Yakked more. Drove home. Parked car at my block and talked more. Actually we chatted till 11.30pm. Well.

Well, I guess it's okay to be in the thick of singlehood-doom when you have friends who can offer you the kind of company, comfort and care that makes you feel loved. While he's far from being my new Best Friend, he's certainly, at this moment, eons improved from my axed ex.
















The painting that he liked best when I showed him the photos of said stall
















The stall: check out the blue nude painting! I thought it was very artistically done too. Well, check out everything!
















One of the owners and painters. It was his nude veined arm and naked torso that caught my eye before the paintings ever did.
















The Heart Of The Ocean: The Heart Of My Desire: He asked me what feelings did the painting stir in me, such that I want to own it. I threw out a string of conflicting and irrelevant adjectives: courage, vulnerability, nostalgia, contemplation, liberty, loneliness...

But really, it speaks to me, because she looks lost in her thoughts. Is she missing someone or missing something?

因为

If things go as planned, I will be watching a getai tonight. Mr Dimples is absolutely endearing in how he is most encouraging of my sudden whimsical whims, to the extent he is willing to give up watching Singapore Idol, which he is a huge fan of (I kid you not), with no persuasion.

I’m pleased to announce I did not say anything damaging or deterring when the 40 minute long conversation meandered into déjà vu territory. Horribly familiar, he spoke of how meeting on the average of once every fortnight is for close friends (bearing in mind we are going to meet once a week for the next three consecutive weeks, thanks to getai, JBJ & Broadway Beng). Okay, don’t ask me how that came about but I’m sure it’s nothing we should be getting worked up or excited over unduly. It was nevertheless an interesting observation.

So fortunately, I did not put my foot in the mouth.

Unfortunately, I said nothing illuminating or inspiring either.

I merely changed the subject.

*

In case, anyone is wondering, JBJ (part of the inaugural Singapore Theatre Festival) Broadway Beng tickets were fully paid for and not invites. I give all my money to local arts, you know.