There is a new hero in town

and his name is Kong! I have just watched King Kong with Sangeetha yesterday. V fun to watch a movie with a dear friend. The movie was quite good, too many dinosaurs, lots of laughs and there is, of course, King Kong! Andy Serkis (preciousssssss) was Kong so that explains why I love him. I thought the girl was stupid to have left Kong. Room with a view, sweet protective ape. What more could a girl want? Ha ha. Poor big lug - captured and displayed. New York deserved to be trampled because of that. Still, the one person who deserved to be eaten (Jack Black) didn't. On the minus side, the native-like natives were ever present and not appreciated by me. Still, yummy Adrian Brody shots so all to the good. Ha ha.

Just for fun: my top ten list of actors I would watch a movie for no matter how crappy it is .

Gael Garcia Bernal
Marlon Brando
Adrian Brody
Ioan Gruffudd
Vinnie Jones
Diego Luna
Viggo Mortensen
Paul Newman
Jason Statham
Mark Wahlberg

Addendum: My sister (Adik, or my kakak Adik) informs me that I should add Robert Carlyle to the list. True. But then it wouldn't be top ten anymore. Anyway, Carlyle don't do crap films.

Highway to the dangerzone

Have just returned from KL. The trip there was rather hellish - there was a huge jam at the Causeway even though we had left at 5 am. Despite my 'advice', Nazir went to the Causeway instead of Tuas, to the motorcycle lane and cut into the queue (most annoying for everyone involved) and to the express lane even though he had passengers! He is as of this moment banned from such uncourteous behavior on the road as my marriage can't take it. Ha ha.

Had an okay time in KL. Got some great saris - pale bronze and another, a gorgeous emerald green. Time to go to the tailor...once I can find one I can trust. :S It's quite difficult to get a good one, really. KL was full of people and after it all, I was quite sick of it. Ha. Until the next time that is. Not a particularly interesting trip but a welcome break nonetheless.

Something nice

Was done for the day when I came across this in Minerva's blog. Am usually not a sucker for this kind of stories. There was some linking of God and helping hand, etc... but I prefer to take it as a nice story about a man who was nice enough not to embarrass or yell at a child. A rare thing indeed.

The Concert

Wishing to encourage her young son's progress on the piano, a mother took her boy to a Paderewski concert. After they were seated, the mother spotted an old friend in the audience and walked down the aisle to greet her. Seizing the opportunity to explore the wonders of the concert hall, the little boy rose and eventually explored his way through a door marked "NO Admittance."

When the house lights dimmed and the concert was about to begin, the mother returned to her seat and discovered that the child was missing.

Suddenly, the curtains parted and spotlights focused on the impressive Steinway on stage. In horror, the mother saw her little boy sitting at the keyboard, innocently picking out "Twinkle,Twinkle Little Star."

At that moment, the great piano master made his entrance, quickly moved to the piano, and whispered in the boy's ear, "Don't quit." "Keep playing."

Then, leaning over, Paderewski reached down with his left hand and began filling in a bass part. Soon his right arm reached around to the other side of the child, and he added a running obligato.

Together, the old master and the young novice transformed what could have been a frightening situation into a wonderfully creative experience.

The audience was so mesmerized that they couldn't recall what else the great master played. Only the classic, " Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star."

On the road to recovery

I have been sick this past week and finally getting well. Mucus drying up and I am going to KL tomorrow.

Went to HDB hub for my first appointment. It took two and a half hours just to sign stuff! Ay, ay, ay! Anyway, it wasn't such a horrific experience. Mildly irritated that I had to wait for the other parties but must be getting calmer or something since I did not get past mild irritation.

My eldest sister is getting engaged and the party is growing to gigantic proportions. And I thought mine was bad - at least Nazir didn't have to hire a bus! Not that we are hiring one - the guy's family is dead keen on shit (things - for adik) like this apparently. There's some fun to be had with Adik on the other hand. Nazir keeps teasing her about setting her up with his Afghan friend. Of course, say the word, Adik will probably get loads of marriage proposals - she already has more than me and Kakak combined. The sly thing. Ha ha. Still, I suspect my sister is enjoying her travels to much at the moment to get married, despite proclaimations to the contrary.

Nonetheless, change is in the air - I'm moving out soon and Kakak is getting married. I wonder how it will all work out. I hope we never become distant sisters. :D Hugs all round!

Nota bene (ooh, aren't I clever!) : Did quite well in my exams! Hurrah!

Silent treatment

Have been on the receiving on of the silent treatment from my mother. My mom is the champion of silent treatments - she doesn't yell, she just ignores you once she has given up on dishing out "advice". It is really quite difficult to reason (read: argue. Ha ha.) with someone who wouldn't talk to you. Still, this is a battle I do not wish to fight.

Perhaps I am getting less confrontational. Or not - maybe my stubborn refusal to fall in line while not arguing can be constructed as confrontational. I don't know. Nonetheless, this is an occasion where I have to disagree with my mother. I am not saying she's wrong and I'm right. For all I know, I might be wrong and will bear the burden of my sins anyway. What I do dislike is being treated like a child while being held accountable for my actions. I thought the whole point of adulthood is so the person can make their own decisions - whether it is a mistake or otherwise.

Is it a complaint of every child - my parents don't treat me like an adult? Even when they are? For me, I suppose, the point is that my mom wants me to make my own decisions - as long as they are what she thinks are the right ones.

Before everyone starts wondering what this mysterious fight is all about - upshot: my mother thinks I am not being religious enough because I do not pray early (and sometimes on time), or read the Quran anymore, or go to any classes. Sadly, she is under the misapprehension that I am not listening to her because I am married. Funnily enough, in a way, it is true. Being married had made me more able to voice out my opinions more - instead of just silently seething as I did before. Still, my opinions and reasons for what I do now are a cumulation of thoughts that have started way before my husband came into the picture. He's not to blame. I just got some spine that's all. As I have said though, it is rather difficult to put that across - especially when she doesn't want to listen.

Meanwhile, I am supposed to decide on my HT topic - and I haven't. Not quite in the mood for it now. :-(

Old/New Talent

It had been quite an arty weekend.

Went down to the Esplanade to take out some videos and found Star Trek: DS9. Hurrah! Finally, get to watch beloved Dr. Bashir and find out what happens to the rest of the crew. My main purpose for going was to find DVDs/videos of Marlon Brando and Paul Newman. Call me lookist but damn were those two good-looking. The extent of my interest in them, I'm afraid. Still, good looks cannot keep me watching - nearly passed out cold watching "The Battler" (based on John Steinback's novel. Ha ha. What a major tipper). Speaking of good looks (and nothing to do with art), Morientes scored two goals. :D His hair is long now!

So...back to my art theme. On my way to the Esplanade, I passed by an exhibit by two Sinagporean artists. A video of remakes of P. Ramlee's shows -which was damn hilarious. The other, I do not quite get. Digitalised photos? It's not even pretty. This is exactly the type of art I hate - making a point and not much else. I prefer Turner, Caravaggio and Constable, so you can see where I'm coming from. Not a big fan of Impressionism either.

Also went to watch my cousin perform in "Oi! Sleeping Beauty" (or something like that). What had started out as (a pretty expensive) family obligation turned to be quite well worth the time and effort (and cost). It was hilarious - a tad too many gay rights humour but funny nonetheless. Puns on "Singaporean" stuff and interactive theater. That sort of thing. My cousin looked very good in a suit though. Ha ha. I shall no longer think of him as the kid who bit my sister (ha ha).

Then, watched an even younger cousin perform the violin, only to end up late and missing her performance. Ha. Sat through other people's mediocre performances. The school made up for it with a good performance of Libertango so I didn't mind too much. My aunt and I kept laughing at the performers, unfortunately. And the brother to the performing cousin kept yawning and doing funny things. An arty family we are. :D

At long last

Exams are finally over! Am still tethered to school by honours thesis but am, more or less, a free agent. For now.

My last paper was last Wednesday - I was so ansty. As usual. Spent the rest of that day in front of the TV - hurrah. I had a stats course the next two days - so it was school as usual.

Friday was movie day - after abovementioned course, I helped Adik film a "pedagogic" short film. It was tiring but hilarious. She had got this "actor" to help... I feel bad but my sister and I kept bursting out in laughter whenever he made a mistake in pronunciation. Thank God, he was very nice and was not at all offended. Anyway, my sister had sorely needed a director: the guy is not much of an actor. I had had to show him what the directions in the script meant; my dear sister is not very fond of asserting herself - she simply could not order the guy to emote. Me, no problem, bossy cow that I am. :D Still, the few times my sister tried, the guy didn't understand anyway - ah, perils of chiminology. Compare:

My sister: Look appalled/ disgusted/etc.

Me: Look like "don't cheat my money", ah/ aiyah, like you can't be bothered, damn jialat.

Note that this guy was from AJ. HA HA.

That Friday night, Nazir and I and Adik went to the premiere of "Pride and Prejudice". We got tix cause Nazir was invited as a Chevening scholar. It was very fun - we got a goody bag of Crabtree and Evelyn stuff, tea bags and, Adik's favourite, a map of "Pride and Prejudice" tour (am SO Singaporean to talk of the freebies first). The show itself was quite awful if one liked the book and the BBC version (Colin Firth is the only Darcy!). But all liberties were forgiven for the beautiful shots of England and much better locations, particularly the shot of Keira Knightley (she's NOT Elizabeth Bennet! Wail! *in denial*) on a cliff [when she was on tour of Derbyshire]. The movie was good in itself, I thought. If only it weren't an adaptation. Still, well worth the price of the ticket (which was nothing! ha ha). Joke aside, overall, it got a thumbs up.

My weekend was spent sleeping and watching TV - working off the stress of exams. :D I had a meeting with my supervisor for HT yesterday, so today is the first day I can truly relax. HURRAH. Have to think about HT but am adopting the Scarlett O'Hara philosophy today.