I am controlled by my tv.

OMG. Thursdays are like serial TV night.

630-7pm Jeopardy!

7-730pm Wheel of Fortune

8-9pm Ugly Betty (seeing that stupid biatch L.Lohan got booted out of the show seems soooo satisfying)

9-10pm CSI (original Las Vegas version with Grissom still on it)

10-11pm Eleventh Hour (new sci-fi crime show, giving it a shot since, well, I've nothing better to do)

1135-1215pm David Letterman

1215-105am Craig Ferguson

If you realize, I only got a 1/2 hour break in between Wheel of Fortune and Ugly Betty. And that's when I try to check my email real quick or steal something to eat.

Or I sit with the laptop and type a really quick blog post to share my enthusiasm.

ARGH! I still haven't figured put what to dress up as tomorrow. Oh well~ anything done without effort isn't worth doing. I think I should pass. My 2-day-old hippie idea is not that fantastic anyways.

Boo!

In this country, Halloween is also another word for Candy. And in this country, candy means not only sweets and lollipops. It also means chocolate and/or anything with sugar in it.

So have you thought of what to dress up as? Coz’ I haven’t and would love to steal your idea if the entire costume would cost less than USD$10.

I realize I would make an effort to dress up every year since I move to the United States. Except that I broke the tradition when I moved to Vegas last year, right before Halloween.

Sorry, I can't find the photos from 2001(devil girl)-2002(Milla Jovovich's character in '5th Element').

2003 as a weird clown—modeled after a toy figurine with Sayaka's parents

2004—as a pirate grrrrrrrrrr with Sayaka as Frida and Shinta in her bathrobe
2005—as Robin (pic taken with a bunch of other superheros. costume found in thriftstore for like less than 10 bucks.)

2006—as a sixties' air stewardess (won best costume in the agency! yay! too bad you can't see my patent white boots in this picture.) with dear eric as Dorothy.

Mainly because I haven’t befriend a single soul and there isn’t any ‘unofficially official’ street party over here like the ones I would go to on Market and Castro in San Francisco.

What the heck. I think it’s entirely because I had no friends here.

But fortunately last year, an old friend unexpectedly visited me from SG that week and since it was too late to get a costume, we just wandered around the Strip admiring other people’s costume. It was wonderful because when I see those skimpy nurses/Victoria-secret’s-angels/policewomen/firefighters/insert-skanky-stereotypical-identities-here, I felt incredibly blessed in my warm, cozy outfit out on the freezing desert night.

Nevertheless, once the calendar turns to October, I see Halloween items everywhere for sale. I wonder how will ‘business’ be this year due to the massive economy catastrophe. Will people ration the amount of candy they distribute? Will people even bother to dress up amidst dark times?

One of my colleagues actually put up a Halloween candy bowl on his desk. He fills it up with miniature Snicker bars, Crunch, Reese’s Pieces and assortments of sweets and they are free-for-all. The girls stop by like bees to a flower. I reckon he just wants to be more popular. But I warned him that by the end of the month, the girls would be coming over to blame him for fattening their asses and he should prepare for it.

The ridiculous thing is, he himself never once ate anything from that bowl. He is a health freak.

So I was strolling along the vast aisles of a ordinary supermarket here and eventually bought a purple wig on my way out. Dang. I’ve always wanted a pink one à la Natalie Portman in “Closer”.
Oh well~ purple is as cute.

So now I am stuck with a new purple wig, in a short bob just like my platinum blonde version, with no idea what to match up.

Any ideas for a character or something you imagine in your farked-up head? The reward will be a life-size photo of me in your costume, sign and sealed with a kiss. LOL.

Current obssession #2

Victoria's Secret - Pleated swingy slip in Platinum

Hey Lance, I didn't know your son is touring already~

Apparently Lance's first+newborn has became such a global phenomena that he's touring after he just marked his one month birthday milestone.

I have to say Jilian's is such a perfect choice. I fancy myself any venue equipped with pool tables and overpriced beer.

Glad to know that Aiden is such a miraculous child! Lance + Nica! Well done! You may now proceed to continue your exceptional work with No. 2, 3 and so forth.

The above screenshot has not been doctored for your pleasure except for the PINK highlights to draw your attention. See proof here.

Gotta go! Need to buy the tickets before they run out.

It's ok if you don't get this post. Most of the time you don't get it anyways.

marc jacobs by me

Okay. I admit that I didn't try very hard, but I really had no clue why so many people admired and worshipped Marc Jacobs as a fashion superman.

I have long heard of his *big* name but it's not only until I saw a photo spread of his Paris apartment on the W magazine (read whole coverage here) that I got fascinated by this peculiar man.

Marc Jacob's chilling in his study (photo via W magazine).

Well, since then I only got impressed by his zany taste in art and home decor ways but I still didn't run out to the nearest MJ boutique and buy his wares. I always though they were overpriced for what they are and the current paycheck I'm receiving doesn't allow me experiment with overpriced anything.

So a few nights ago I was browsing through the free movies section on my on-demand cable tv system. If my memory didn't fail me, I saw amongst a list of movies on the Sundance channel, a documentary named "Marc Jacobs & Louis Vuitton".

I thought "Sure, why not?" I just needed some eye-candy for the night. 72 mins. Well, I could turn it off if it bores me.

I would guess this exclusive insight to MJ's daily work schedule and environment was filmed about 2 years ago when he was still sporting a head full of long stringy hair and oversized plastic glasses. He was (and still is) heading the house of Louis Vuitton, his self-titled labels—Marc Jacobs + (cheaper)Marc by Marc Jacobs and some other guerilla-style labels. He was/is a busy man.

As a wannabe artist and designer, I watched and is extremely fascinated with the fashion industry on a whole. Just like what I feel when I'm watching the very successful reality show—Project Runway. Basically this documentary reveals a lot of scenes whereby you would think MJ is on Project Runway but with a whole team of sidekicks and smashing seamstresses ready to make his visions come through.

We get to see some censored scenes of brainstorming sessions where he sits with all these people to pick ideas, colors, buttons, fabrics and anything. I see people agreeing to whatever he says and I wonder is that how it really works? But then again, he is afterall the creative director. He is the one who brought LV and himself multi-million dollar success. He is Marc Jacobs.

Marc Jacob in a skirt and his gigantic hermes' birkin (2008) He looks pretty good I would have to say.

My favourite scene would be when he divulge his health secrets by showing us the numerous vitamins and supplements he takes daily, apparently. He drinks mangosteen juice in a shot. Mangosteen? Where do you find it in the USA? I had to smuggle one in my luggage from home just to prove to my colleagues that I ain't making shit up.

So after the documentary ended, I felt like I have to find out more. I need to know first of all: Why? Why is the whole world begging to own something with his name sewn on the back?

For all I know, I would have thought of Micheal Jackson instead of him when I see those initials M.J.

So I asked a poshy friend who is a fan and got to know that the "Stam bag" is one of his signature items. Cute, but I'm still not convinced. Then I thought about Danielle as I know she's covered (almost) head-to-toe in his designs. But I still haven't got to talk to her much as she's super busy.

Then I remembered I was pretty in love with MJ's signature perfume last X'mas but never took the plunge (hint hint).

But guess what I found!

Marc Jacobs Rana (which means frog in Spanish) bag.

Vicki Beckhams in a MJ ad featuring the Rana bag.

The Rana bag in neon PINK.

So I guess I'm a little swayed towards the MJ camp for now. IF ANYONE OF YOU SEE ANY OF THESE PRECIOUS FROG BAG(on sale) PLEASE LET ME KNOW. They're a little hard to find as I'm totally backdated in the fashion trends (and sorry for yelling).

Oh well. I digress.

You all know that it's the economic crisis now. We have to stop, or rather, I have to stop all my impossible, irrational shopping urges. Even if I lock myself at home, online shopping still calls upon me. ARGH.

Have I felt the effects of the crisis? Yes. How? My agency has been laying people off. Today the toll was 8. The total? I think I lost track.

Misconceptions of Obama fuel Republican campaign - 13 Oct 08

“I don’t like the fact that he thinks us white people are trash… because we’re not!” LOL
source here

what a saturday

I got back to my apartment and I found myself whistling and humming as I prepare for a 5 PM dinner. I actually caught myself in a good mood, totally off guard!

Today was one of those wacky-weather days. It was just 90+ degrees in Fahrenheit yesterday afternoon. I entered my car and felt that it has been slowly cooking under the hot desert sun. I though to myself: Yay! Bits of summer still haven’t left. Then today. I woke up feeling chilly. The familiar unoccupied sides of the bed were unpleasantly cold. It was so comfy that I had to get up and for the first time, change the setting from air-condition to heater. Yes. And I dreaded this very moment.

I hurriedly put on my cargo pants and long sleeve tee, made something to eat and dashed out. I reached the Summerlin Community Park just 8 minutes late. I saw the SPCA van already parked next to the booths and speed-walk as fast as I could, while fighting to put on an extra jacket, towards the people in the ‘too-bright-for-a-Saturday-morning” florescent green tees.

Today I was assigned to handle Tigger, a 7-years-old black+ white male rat terrier. As usual the dogs that luckily got to get out of the animal shelter are always too excited and can’t be bothered to even greet the handlers for the day. Well, at least in my past 3 experiences. Immediately, Tigger took ME for a walk around the whole compound, sniffing and discovering every inch of the grounds. Within the first 15 minutes, he had peed and boy-oh-boy, someone had a huge dinner last night!

Tigger & I "making out" in my car on a cold rainy afternoon.

My task as the volunteer and Tigger’s handler is to let Tigger meet and greet as many people and dogs as he can, answer any questions potential adoptive parents have about him, relate his behaviors and temperament and most importantly, ensure Tigger and I have a great time.

I have met Tigger as at previous event but I was handling another dog—Jake, a handsome 2-years-old male Australian Cattle dog. Jake is a medium-sized dog, about ¾ of my size and basically was dragged me all over the place. My hands were a little roughen from holding onto his thick leash for 4½ hours. Today, sweet-tempered Jake was also present and I am happy to announce that he was adopted (!!!!!) within the first few hours of the event.

Jake—sitting like a gentleman

So this time Tigger, being a rat terrier, is definitely much easier to deal with. Plus, he has absolutely zero temper at all and is always so sweet and friendly, but not too friendly. In fact, some people think he is too aloof because he is not one who will just park himself on your lap and fall asleep. Besides being too distracted to concentrate on one particular human being or dog, he never barked or whined throughout the whole day (and he didn’t the last time I saw him too). He basically just does his own dog thing and chill.

So it began to rain on top of the icy winds and missing sunshine. Tigger started to shiver and I managed to score the last doggy sweater for him. Unfortunately, it was pink. Fortunately, it was a snazzy dazzling bright neon pink sweater that’s hard to miss. If I could I would scribble ADOPT ME right on his back and he would be “flying off the shelves”. At one point, it was so freaking cold (like 10 degrees celsius) that I eventually brought Tigger into my car to hide. He had no problems jumping into the back seat. Then I thought, Ok, I’m hungry. So I proceed to eat my egg sandwich but I made sure I faced the other direction in order not to torture him. But who am I bluffing? Of course he can smell it. So when we came out from hiding, I had to get some biscuits for him. You should have seen the way he took the biscuit out of my hands. Gentle. I wish some men would behave like that.

Throughout the day we met several prospective adoptive parents. And I never never act like the over-zealous underage sales assistant who hovers and barges into your personal space with a “you-better-buy-it-now-while-I-stare-you-down” attitude. Because unlike clothes, returning an incompatible dog after a few days does no one good.

Finally, as we were preparing to close for the day, the lady with her sweet 9 year-old came back with their 2 current dogs to see if they would get along with Tigger. And hallelujah! Her dogs are easy-going and very charming. Although Tigger didn’t immediately worship them, I see they did their initial acknowledgment (sniff sniff) and “approved” one another. And from now on, all we need is to give them some time alone to properly fall in love.

(Everybody together) Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww.

And so, Tigger going back to a warm loving home tonight instead of the shelter made me whistle and hum. I could’ve done a chicken dance if I haven’t been so worn out by the extensive walks with Tigger. And PLEASE my friends, next time you get a pet, make sure you’ve done the right research, thought through the lifelong commitment (yours and his/her life), make all proper arrangements and please, please, please, don’t buy from a puppy mill. Go to your local SPCA or animal rescue and do the right thing ☺

Woof!

Astro (aka yoda)— the first dog I handled at my first volunteer event who subsequently got adopted couple days later. yeah~ bad hair day.

Please meet Bert.

I am fish-sitting for my friend. This is Bert, a Beta male. He is actually very very smart. He knows me and when I am going to play and feed him.

In this video, you see that I dropped a pellet of food for him and if you listen closely, you can hear him crunching on it! Volumes up guys.



I promised myself not to commit to any living pets in LV anymore. My heart has been broken once too many.

xXx

Diesel video removed coz it was annoying. UI—do not auto start video. Users find it annoying.

Since we're talking about poop

It's funny how David Letterman is talking about his son talking about poop, his guest for tonight—Russell Crowe also talked about his son talking about poop. So now it all comes around into a nice round brown pile of shit, in a box.

Makes great Christmas present! Yupz, it's almost here!

current obssession #1

le sigh

Everyone looks out their own window.

I sat outside on my balcony in my comfy college-days red butterfly chair. I am talking to my dear pal in SF, exchanging bits and pieces between our worlds.

It’s pitter-pattering on the rooftop of the car porch right below me. I thank the heavens quietly under my breath for this miraculous occurrence. It smells damn right good, right now.

The rain. The scent tonight (or rather, in this city) distinctly distinct.

It’s gritty. It’s crass. It’s like mud in the air, a bizarre mixture of the unsettling earth and the lost leaves of trees clashing into each other’s elements.

Whereas in Singapore, when it pours, I can smell the density of each droplet. It’s very complex to say what I feel but it’s something more human, more organic, like the taste of a warm butter cookie, earlier, dipped into a cup of mint tea.

And to get a whiff of the rain in San Francisco is like having the crispness of an iceberg dashing through and through my entire insides topped with a 2-second blackout—only to be awaken into a dream that doesn’t end until you deliberately leave.

With the rain, it feel extraordinarily serene tonight. Like the weather, this week turned out random and surprisingly diverse. From sadness to disillusion, and from anger to hope. Today, I feel like I’ve been taken for a shaky ride and finally, finally, returned home safely.

This post is pretty confusing

I finally figured out what I do for a living. I’m an escapist. And I’m pretty good at it. I've ran pretty far. I hide in my little apartment. And again, far away from anything.

I don’t like to hear and know about bad things. I stop myself, like how I avoid watching any horror movies.

But then I already do know how those horror movies are like. Coz' I am capable of making them up in my head. And so for the bad news, I can totally capable of cooking some up and mind-fuck myself.

There is a brilliant line: A mind is a terrible thing to waste. Yes, but I would actually say in this case: A mind is a terrible thing to underestimate.

Don’t get me wrong. I totally know that I am over and psycho-analyzing things a little too much. All these little problems, as you will say, is self-invented. I am drowning myself with self-pity. I am painting a picture of self-abuse. I am completely self-absorbed and…………… ridiculous. But I think it will be too late to wait for something really bad to happen and then be finally recognized as the tragic heroine. Or is it?

Oh well. I am not one who will announce my woes to the world. So there, maligned I stand towards you. That is until you find out.