Let me get this right –
I just drank a Dandelion coffee with chai and soy milk. What is wrong with it? More importantly, I just drank that… what is wrong with me? Well, my defense is that it was just too compelling! Being able to drink my two favourite beverages in combination (chai tea + coffee). Mmmm….. definitely hit the new-age hippie / coffee junket in me BIG time. It was coarse-like (almost like the residue of coffee grounds, but less bitter), with the chai being extremely sharp at the front palate, but with the lingering taste (and breadth!) of coffee.
I am still tossing over whether that was a winner.
Sorry for being so slack lately, I have been overwhelmed with trying to finish off work before I put on my travel shoes and haul my arse to New York / KL. I am very excited, so excited that I have only managed to sleep 4 hours last night! Also because I was worrying about how many things I still had to do before I got on the plane! Argh! So today, I’m slight disoriented. Putting things in the mail without signing the documents, talking gibberish. The fact that I haven’t eaten anything really solid in the last 48 hours might have something to do with it as well.
Anyway, I am off! Packing up the joint now, and I will see all/some most of you when I see you! Ta ta… love ya loads!
Friday, June 24, 2005
Friday, June 10, 2005
Rhythm a-go-go
I have been on a music rampage lately. From downloading on K-Lite (naughty naughty) to outright just buying albums. I am supposed to be saving for my NY trip. Gahhhh! And my music has gone all ‘cepelang’ as well - R&B, Kelly Clarkson poppiness, rock, whiny Chris Martin (nerdy and pimply, but cute Mr. Paltrow). Highly recommend the new Foo album and X & Y is pretty excellent as well!
Have a wonderful weekend everyone! Love lots x x x x
Have a wonderful weekend everyone! Love lots x x x x
Tuesday, June 7, 2005
Peace and War
Howdy!
I’ve watched many movies lately, including the German film Downfall. It was about the fall of the Third Reich in Nazi Germany (circa 1945), detailing the last week or two before the Germans surrendered to the Russians in Berlin. I can’t claim to be an expert in WWII history, but I know enough for it to be fascinating viewing. The portrayal of Hitler as flesh and blood, instead of his usual salutary figure and that ridiculous moustache – I must admit that just before he blew his own head off, I actually cried. Tears were shed because of the absurdity of his situation, how a once powerful man who convinced an entire nation that the killing of 6 millions Jews was the right thing could not live with his own destructibility and his own delusions. How the people by his side loved him only because they didn’t know any better.
The director was heavily criticised for this portrayal of Hitler of anything other than a megalomaniac, but I think people who choose to watch this film would already know, that no matter how you paint ol’ Adolf, it wasn’t going to change your perception of the war, or of him. As I walked out of the theatre, there was only a sense of completeness. That the madness was finished. And then I thought, “Was it?” – think of the war in the Middle East, the civil wars in Africa. People will keep recycling, but the same old issues prevail. It feels as if we haven’t really come very far from ancient times of war. It just disguises under a different name. The new wave of colonialism is just less evident, but even more persistent and deadly. Because the world gets bigger, we get smaller, and hence, more insignificant. There is a quiet desperation for peace, and it makes me wonder as to what lengths does one need to go to make that happen.
For more information on the movie, click Downfall
I’ve watched many movies lately, including the German film Downfall. It was about the fall of the Third Reich in Nazi Germany (circa 1945), detailing the last week or two before the Germans surrendered to the Russians in Berlin. I can’t claim to be an expert in WWII history, but I know enough for it to be fascinating viewing. The portrayal of Hitler as flesh and blood, instead of his usual salutary figure and that ridiculous moustache – I must admit that just before he blew his own head off, I actually cried. Tears were shed because of the absurdity of his situation, how a once powerful man who convinced an entire nation that the killing of 6 millions Jews was the right thing could not live with his own destructibility and his own delusions. How the people by his side loved him only because they didn’t know any better.
The director was heavily criticised for this portrayal of Hitler of anything other than a megalomaniac, but I think people who choose to watch this film would already know, that no matter how you paint ol’ Adolf, it wasn’t going to change your perception of the war, or of him. As I walked out of the theatre, there was only a sense of completeness. That the madness was finished. And then I thought, “Was it?” – think of the war in the Middle East, the civil wars in Africa. People will keep recycling, but the same old issues prevail. It feels as if we haven’t really come very far from ancient times of war. It just disguises under a different name. The new wave of colonialism is just less evident, but even more persistent and deadly. Because the world gets bigger, we get smaller, and hence, more insignificant. There is a quiet desperation for peace, and it makes me wonder as to what lengths does one need to go to make that happen.
For more information on the movie, click Downfall
Sunday, June 5, 2005
Of love and obsession
I fall completely in love about once every two weeks. Her name is Ella and she is my niece. She is 8 months old, and slightly over 50cm tall, but boy, is she a charmer. Today was an utterly satisfying day, because not only was I graced with her presence, but she somehow always makes my day (or whatever is left of it) sunny and beautiful (think The Truman Show) - it is in fact, a part gray and overcast day. She has the BEST smile and smells great. What is it about the simplicity of a child’s innocence and utter joy that I feel so drawn towards? Perhaps because I know the world is sometimes such an awful place, and to know she is going to grow up with the shit we leave behind makes my heart twinge a little (or issit my conscience?). But at the same time comforted to know that perhaps she might make a difference one day, as she makes mine every time I see her. It is like magic – I love that she pulls my hair constantly only to want to put it in her mouth. I am a familiar foreign object to her, all wonderful and strange. I love the way she slobbers over my nose with her cherub lips and breaks into the cheekiest grin, that you wonder she must know something that we don’t. That life is wonderful, that I am wonderful… she makes me feel wonderful anyway. I just wanted to share that, that’s all.
On another note, I have a slightly strange obsession about garbage. The waste disposal methods in my apartment involves trudging down to the car park in the basement (often done hurriedly because a/ the plastic bag with leftover sardine juice might burst, b/ you’re carrying something really foul and don’t want anyone knowing you’re the culprit for stinking up the entire bin, c/ you’re wearing the t-shirt that your mother made you throw out when you were 13, only you didn’t!! or d/ you couldn’t be bothered to brush your teeth). Either way it’s always a hurried affair – the quick left/right glance, two-step-at-a-time down the stairs kinda dance. But we are digressing from my point – the point is I like to see what people have thrown out. Yes, I confess. And I like to guess which apartment it came from. You can always tell who had the big weekend (boxes of empty VB stubbies and wine bottles), or someone’s moved in/out (Ikea flat boxes). Often I find inspiration from Ikea packages – they always have strange names for lamps “Lanvits” or “Rxptem” or something of that kind. And I think ‘Oh I need one of those’. I don’t of course, because really, who needs another shitty stainless steel 11W (equivalent 60W) table lamp that costs $16 (a bargain!!)? Now if you talk about a ‘Billy’ bookcase, that’s another story all together. Because Billy is just so much more humane, like someone you could relate to. I wish I knew who it was that name Ikea furniture – do you think Ikea actually advertises for a position “Wanted: Homewares Labeller – knowing how to spell not essential.” I want to smack the bloody wanker who made me think these useless thoughts, and then smack him/her again for making me smack them.
And all because I walked past the rubbish tip tonight.
On another note, I have a slightly strange obsession about garbage. The waste disposal methods in my apartment involves trudging down to the car park in the basement (often done hurriedly because a/ the plastic bag with leftover sardine juice might burst, b/ you’re carrying something really foul and don’t want anyone knowing you’re the culprit for stinking up the entire bin, c/ you’re wearing the t-shirt that your mother made you throw out when you were 13, only you didn’t!! or d/ you couldn’t be bothered to brush your teeth). Either way it’s always a hurried affair – the quick left/right glance, two-step-at-a-time down the stairs kinda dance. But we are digressing from my point – the point is I like to see what people have thrown out. Yes, I confess. And I like to guess which apartment it came from. You can always tell who had the big weekend (boxes of empty VB stubbies and wine bottles), or someone’s moved in/out (Ikea flat boxes). Often I find inspiration from Ikea packages – they always have strange names for lamps “Lanvits” or “Rxptem” or something of that kind. And I think ‘Oh I need one of those’. I don’t of course, because really, who needs another shitty stainless steel 11W (equivalent 60W) table lamp that costs $16 (a bargain!!)? Now if you talk about a ‘Billy’ bookcase, that’s another story all together. Because Billy is just so much more humane, like someone you could relate to. I wish I knew who it was that name Ikea furniture – do you think Ikea actually advertises for a position “Wanted: Homewares Labeller – knowing how to spell not essential.” I want to smack the bloody wanker who made me think these useless thoughts, and then smack him/her again for making me smack them.
And all because I walked past the rubbish tip tonight.
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