ineluctabletruths ; you must not know about me

2006-12-21T22:11:00.000+08:00

today, i received the an email from regina. since it says i can't keep the message, i thought i might share it with you guys here:

This is without a doubt one of the nicest forwards I have received. Hope it works for you -- and me!

You have 6 minutesThere's some mighty fine advice in these words, even if you're not superstitious. This has been sent to you from the Anthony Robbins organization. It has been sent around the world ten times so far.

Do not keep this message.It must leave your hands in 6 MINUTES. Otherwise you will get a very unpleasant surprise. This is true, even if you are not superstitious, agnostic, or otherwise faith impaired.

ONE. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.

TWO. Marry a man/woman you love to talk to. As you get older, their conversational skills will be as important as any other.

THREE. Don't believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you want.

FOUR. When you say, "I love you," mean it.

FIVE. When you say, "I'm sorry," look the person in the eye.

SIX. Be engaged at least six months before you get married.

SEVEN. Believe in love at first sight.

EIGHT. Never laugh at anyone's dream. People who don't have dreams don't have much.

NINE. Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it's the only way to live life completely.

TEN. In disagreements, fight fairly. No name calling.

ELEVEN. Don't judge people by their relatives.

TWELVE. Talk slowly but think quickly.

THIRTEEN. When someone asks you a question you don't want to answer, smile and ask, "Why do you want to know?"

FOURTEEN. Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.

FIFTEEN. Say "bless you" when you hear someone sneeze.

SIXTEEN. When you lose, don't lose the lesson.

SEVENTEEN. Remember the three R's: Respect for self; Respect for others; and responsibility for all your actions.

EIGHTEEN. Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.

NINETEEN. When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.

TWENTY. Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice.

TWENTY-ONE. Spend some time alone.

Now, here's the FUN part!

Send this to at least 5 people and your life will improve.

1-4 people: Your life will improve slightly.
5-9 people: Your life will improve to your liking.
9-14 people: You will have at least 5 surprises in the next 3 weeks
15 and above: Your life will improve drastically and everything you ever dreamed of will begin to take shape.

A true friend is someone who reaches for your hand and touches your heart. Do not keep this message.

2006-12-19T11:53:00.000+08:00

melvin was on his way to cineleisure to meet levin. he transferred to 162 at far east plaza and lo and behold, this was how the bus looked like:

how cool is that? yes, this is a public bus! the nokia music mobile!

2006-12-13T11:57:00.000+08:00

santa has been making his rounds around singapore the past few days, and this is where he went:

sunday 10dec
clementi
bukit batok
choa chu kang north
yew tee
upp bt timah
woodlands
braddell
yishun

monday 11dec
chong pang
khatib
admiralty

tuesday 12dec
upp serangoon
hougang south
hougang north
sengkang
punggol
pasir ris
tampines
bedok north
bedok reservoir
seletar
serangoon north
tai keng
upp serangoon

well there's left with the very last batch for santa. keep your fingers crossed!

2006-12-07T12:40:00.000+08:00

ok, and for once the very nice little melvin will be blogging plainly and bluntly about the past few days of his life. and the story begins with graduation night happening on tuesday.

well as everybody knows, melvin doesn't prepare for things very well. so while he's got an idea of the outfit he's gonna be wearing on that night, he hasn't quite put them together yet. so lo and behold, the horrors of all horrors when he realised that the black suspenders he was planning to wear couldn't be found anywhere! (insert background information)

---
CASE #54329 - The case of the missing suspenders

this happened when i first bought my black suspenders from topman last sunday weekend. well, my mom paid for it, and it was sort of like an agreement that my sis and i would share this pair of suspenders (fyi, suspenders come in one size only). well i bought a red tie too, so naturally the salesman would pack them together in one bag.

so when i got home i simply left the green topman bag lying somewhere in my room. and the next day the suspenders were missing from the bag. in the end, i found it lying on the clothes rack in my sister's room. well, being me, i wanted to assert my hold over the suspenders and took them bag and placed it - of all places - back into the topman bag.

so then on tuesday morning i found the suspenders missing from the bag again! obviously, traits run in the family and my sister wanted to assert her control over the pair of suspenders too. but she was smarter - SHE BLOODY HID THE SUSPENDERS. hell i swear i turned her room upside down, but it was nowhere to be found.
---

so i sent her a message at 11: did you take the black suspenders? (notice the very polite tone - i could have very well said 'did you take my black suspenders?')

when that did not get a reply i sent another in desperation: i need to wear the black suspenders today! urgent!

and then i picked up the phone and called. and bloody hell, no one picked up and i got routed to this annoying voicemail instead.

only when i was on the bus down to orchard did i receive a reply from her. pissed off, i said: forget it. i've left home already.

see why sometimes an elder sister is not the best thing in life?

okay i won't talk so much about what happened later that evening at graduation night, because i realised i haven't blogged at length for a pretty long time and it can actually get tiring. what i will say, however, would be that i was pretty disappointed at how quite a number of people conducted themselves - teacher and performers included. what a shame.

well the naive little boy here actually held true to the belief that he would be able to catch the last bus home from orchard (the event ended at around half past 11, and there was still clearing up to do). well, in case you don't know, service 105 (which runs directly to my place) happens to be the last possible service that leaves the orchard area at around 1218 daily. but hell, everything dragged and we actually only managed to get out of meritus at 1230. so since it was already late we decided to all go for supper.

so i brought the whole bunch of them (eric, hannah, ruth, clara, evan, bernice, timothy, weiqi + the foursomes) to fat mama's! ha. but i didn't eat much there, really. (okay fine, so i stole from bernice's plate of dried beef ee mee)

anyway we walked out to catch a cab after that. (a first for me - catching a cab past midnight in orchard!) okay here i have to insert some more background information on why this is such a big deal:

melvin is a very thrifty person. in close to all cases, he never takes a cab. the only reason when he takes a cab? when he's late for school. and that was back when he was still schooling at anderson. so there, you see why taking a cab is such a big thing?

that's not all. if he were to take a cab, one place he would never take it to is orchard. with all the city surcharges and what not, it is little wonder why he has taken the cab to town only ONCE (and that was years ago when me and darrell were rushing down to town to meet ben).

finally, any person with a sane mind would know that taking a cab past midnight is so not smart.

BUT NO! guess what. the cab fare came to only about $3 per person. that's pretty cheap i would say! (but then again, how often would you get four people sharing a cab man!)

okay so that's about it.

now i've got to tell you about this netball tournament that i caught with nigel (and his cousin, his teammates, his sister, and his sister's friend). hahaha. okay it's this thing called the four nations netball cup, happening at the toa payoh sports hall. well just in case you were wondering, the four nations are: singapore (quite obviously), papua new guinea, scotland and canada. and hell, was the second match exciting. okay, to put it in a bad way, there were like a bunch of pigs down on the court. boorish, but good entertainment. basically, the stout, big-built ones versus the tall, lanky ones. but their moves, woah, it sure excites me lots. there was lots of actions, quick passes and amazing shots (by the PNGs). amazing i would say. and hell, i feel like a midget standing near a scotlander.

for the record, singapore won the match against canada, while papua new guinea took home the game against scotland.

the games will be going on till saturday, every evening at the toa payoh sports hall. can't catch tonight's showing cause i've gotta be down at my cousin's wedding rehearsal. boo.

well at least i'll be able to catch the match on friday - singapore's playing papua new guinea, and i have no idea how everything will turn out.

singapore's team is something to look at. the player's are good, and the uniform's a healthy red. go singapore!

okay it's hard to describe something as pictorial as a netball match, so i'll leave you here. either catch the matches yourself, or if you can't, here's a site you can visit: http://netball.org.sg/index.php?page=4nations

till then, bye bye for now!

2006-12-06T14:09:00.000+08:00

the evening was nothing i expected. sure, there was some good raillery here and there, but still..

(Time to go away)

I only knew you for a while
I never saw your smile
'Til it was time to go
Time to go away
(Time to go away)

Sometimes it's hard to recognise
Love comes as a surprise
And it's too late
It's just too late to stay
Too late to stay

(Love never ends)
We'll always be together
However far it seems
(Love never ends)
We'll always be together
Together in electric dreams

Because the friendship that you gave
Has taught me to be brave
No matter where I go
I'll never find a better prize
(Find a better prize)

And though you're miles and miles away
I see you every day
I don't have to try
I just close my eyes
I close my eyes

(Love never ends)
We'll always be together
However far it seems
(Love never ends)
We'll always be together
Together in electric dreams

(Love never ends)
We'll always be together
However far it seems
(Love never ends)
We'll always be together
Together in electric dreams

(Love never ends)
We'll always be together
However far it seems
(Love never ends)
We'll always be together
Together in electric dreams

(Love never ends)
We'll always be together
However far it seems
(Love never ends)
We'll always be together
Together in electric dreams

(Love never ends)
(Love never ends)
(Love never ends)
(Love never ends)
(Love never ends)
(Love never ends)

love never ends. or does it?

2006-12-04T17:32:00.000+08:00

this is pae og20.

this is pae 06s08.

this is jae 06s02.

this is the 29th student council.

these are the people who make my st. andrew's experience never forgotten.

2006-11-24T11:15:00.000+08:00

a scar remains forever embedded.

2006-11-22T11:10:00.000+08:00

with courtesy of dictionary.com

substitute [suhb-sti-toot, -tyoot] noun, verb, adjective -noun
1. a person or thing acting or serving in place of another.

he looks through the photos, scans through the pages. this is something he's not comfortable with. he's subaltern, he knows. and it's not a good position to be in; it sucks the life out of him. emptiness. the feeling of having no one there, as he yells out and screams for attention. it's a tight rope, a big risk to take. the net below is set into place, but still, something about that rope scares him; it's not an easy task to set your feet upon it. if you were him, would you do it?

he doesn't know where he's headed. feelings of uncertainty return - he isn't a friend qua friend. this feeling - it's a vagary; it simply has to set it now. he's an anathema to himself.

he's not in his stablest of times.

2006-11-17T16:13:00.000+08:00

i feel so empty inside. it's as though there's a big gaping hole; a void that cannot be filled. i yearn for things i don't possess - who doesn't? to be envious is an understatement, i'm jealous. i'm jealous of everything you have; i want them all. it's not you that i want, it's your life that i need. give it to me.

but i know it will never happen. for the problem doesn't lie with others, it lies within me. give me anything, and i will not make it the way it is for you. i want more. i cannot be satisfied. life for me is a chase - of ideals, of perfections, of control. it's a sickening mix of demonic values. am i being acrid here? not at all.

face up to it, boy. your life will never be as good.

2006-11-17T11:41:00.000+08:00

In the light of the sun
Is there anyone
Oh it has begun
Oh dear you look so lost
Eyes are red
And tears are shed
This world you must have crossed

You said you don't know me
And you don't even care
Oh yeah
You said you don't know me
And you don't wear my chains
Oh yeah

Essential yet appealed
Carry all your thoughts
Across an open field
When flowers gaze at you
They're not the only ones
Who cry when they see you

You said you don't know me
And you don't even care
Oh yeah
We said you don't know me
And you don't wear my chains
Oh yeah

She said I think I'll go to Boston
Think I'll start a new life
I think I'll start it over
Where no one knows my name
Get out of California
I'm tired of the weather
Think I'll get a lover
And fly him out to Spain
Oh yeah and I think I'll go to Boston
Think that I'm just tired
Think I need a new town
To leave this all behind
Think I need a sunrise
I'm tired of a sunset
I hear it's nice in the summer
Some snow would be nice

Oh yeah you don't know me
And you don't even care
Oh yeah

Boston
Where no one knows my name
Where no one knows my name
Where no one knows my name (yeah)
Boston
Where no one knows my name

2006-11-10T18:37:00.000+08:00

why make your work mine?

2006-11-08T21:04:00.000+08:00

i am not alone.

i know i am not alone. stories they tell, how easily i identify with. are they the same? no. are they similar? i should think so.

i tell my story through a twisted tongue. a storyteller is not born, nor is he trained; a storyteller is one simply because he has something to share. an unfortunate soul, you ask? perhaps. but it also makes him more interesting than anyone else, don't you think?

not all storytellers are authentic, though; some tell true stories, while some, paddle chimeras while the rest straddle in between. where would you think i would fall?

i love to word an arcanum.

2006-11-06T18:50:00.000+08:00

"wake up!"

it's eight-thirty -
she nudges;
she ignores.

"do you want to go or not?"

irate, she lets out
a bang, then a crash
and wail.

all hell
breaks loose;
and the yell.

"if you don't want to go say so!"
"early in the morning and you have to wake me up like that!"
"i've told you weeks ago about today!"

more raised voices.
and the authoritarian
steps in.

"forget it, just go!"
"are you going or not?"

how did i,
who stayed out,
come into the picture?

"if she doesn't want to go then let it be!"

by the corridor,
a pause
and wait.

"do you think it's a solution to keep waiting?"

i tried
but there's only
so much i can do.

silence.

the gate
crashes into place
and i stare.

"you guys are no better."

so much to say
but nothing comes
out right.

"he failed simply because he gave in too much."

emotions
running high;
i'm ineffable.

"forget it, you don't have to come anymore!"

words from his mouth
don't tally
with what he feels.

she finally emerges
and the blue taxi
stops by the side.

2006-11-06T18:17:00.000+08:00

(this post was originally scheduled to be posted on sunday nov05)

the adventures of little mr melvin

little mr melvin went to the zoo today. as he trod along the path, he ran into little ms elephant.

little mr melvin: hello little miss elephant! how are you doing on this sunny sunday!
little ms elephant: i'm pulling logs across the river. man needs me to do these chores for them because they're too weak to do it themselves!
little mr melvin: why it sure looks like tough work! where do you manage to find strength to do this?
little ms elephant: easy! i eat alot to give myself the energy!

little ms elephant: see? i eat for 18 hours a day!
little mr melvin: wow! that's something i wish i could do too! i'll go find some food now, see you later little ms elephant!

and off little mr melvin went, in search of food for his hungry stomach. as he turned around the corner, a signpost caught his attention.

little mr melvin thought to himself, "a bird that flies in water? that must be little mr penguin!"

and pop! came little mr penguin.

little mr penguin: that's right little mr melvin! i am the bird that flies in water!
little mr melvin: wow! do you fly in air too?
little mr penguin: (laughs) why, of course not little mr melvin! i'm a flightless bird! but i needn't fly, anyway. i come from the south hemisphere, near the polar regions, and i can get around by water!
little mr melvin: oh, the polar regions! do you see lots of polar bears there, then?
little mr penguin: ah, no little mr melvin. we never meet. we occupy the southern hemisphere, while the polar bears stay in the north!
little mr melvin: oh that's something new i didn't know! thanks for telling me little mr penguin! i'll see you around!

and so little mr melvin got up and headed towards the snack stall. there, he bought for himself some cool mineral water, when little mr baboon came along and snatched it away from him.

little mr melvin: hey little mr baboon! that drink's mine!
little mr baboon: i'm sorry little mr melvin, but i have lots of other fellow baboons to feed! can i have it please?
little mr melvin: (looks around) wow there sure are lots of you! okay then, take it!
little mr baboon: why thank you little mr melvin! you are so kind!
little mr melvin: don't mention it. hmm hey little mr baboon! if there are so many of you here, where do you all sleep?
little mr baboon: oh we all sleep on the cliff! we hang ourselves there and sleep facing inwards. a few hundred of us can share the same cliff!
little mr melvin: why how interesting! i should try that one day!

at this moment, a really cute little mr meerkat comes along.

little mr meerkat: why, hello little mr melvin! nice to see you here!
little mr melvin: hello little mr meerkat! time for your sentry duty again?
little mr meerkat: why, yes! i just started on my hour of sentry duty for my friends and family. did you see any birds of prey around?
little mr melvin: no little mr meerkat, i should think you're quite safe! hmm, it's getting late, and i should be going!
little mr meerkat: alright then, thanks for helping me keep a lookout! i'll see you soon then, little mr melvin?
little mr melvin: sure thing! see you soon!

author's note: the meerkat happens to be my favourite animal. what's yours? anyway, the information provided here are accurate to a large extent, so i sure hope you'd learnt something reading this.

2006-11-04T11:20:00.000+08:00

earlier this morning, i was having breakfast at home with my mom when she read this line on the packaging of this particular cheese-spread.

"a little taste of heaven."

it immediately struck me that something like that couldn't possibly be true. i mean, look at it - the statement is based on two extremely flawed assumptions: one, that heaven can be tasted, and that if the above was true, two, that heaven tastes good.

actually, i often wonder if there's such a thing called heaven. how's heaven like? is it less worrisome than it is now on earth? or are there even worries? if there isn't, would i want to be there?

sometimes we make heaven out into such a wonderful place; fine dining, lavish accomodation, etc. but if everything is so smooth sailing, won't you be missing out on the experiences that really define life?

but then again, some experiences can really get you down and drain you out. which only makes the idea of heaven seem a little sweeter.

to end, here's a little question for you to think about. a man visited hell and was astonished by what he saw - dozens of hunger-stricken people, yet there were tonnes and tonnes of food available for them all. the problem, it seemed, was the extra-long chopsticks which made it impossible for them to pick their food up and eat, for their hands were not long enough to perform something like that. this same man then visited heaven, and again it was a similar sight, except that this time, all the people there were well-fed and happy. how could this happen?

because in heaven, they were feeding each other.

2006-11-03T15:55:00.000+08:00

she's a very kinky girl.

he exudes lust, through each and every single pore of his body. hot young blood - irresistable. he slithers forward, stretches a foot over and makes his move. tap. tap. tap.

the girl's a super freak.

which self-respecting individual could bring himself to do that? this, obviously, was one sex-deprived bete noire. hell to you.

she's all right, she's all right.

perhaps beneath the scratchings on the paper words don't seem clear. highly unlikely though, but he tries to believe. but boy, have you got to try harder - did you think you were given a sinecure? it's time to wake up.

that girl's all right with me.

2006-11-02T11:56:00.000+08:00

he's a cynosure of some sort, or at least tries to be. yet in the crowd that comes by, one cannot hear a perfect 'click'. some come close - a handful, 2 or 3 i would say - and the list stops short. you can hear the incessant 'thud' of the footsteps; they fall into earshot, pause for a moment and then slowly fade into silence. transience.

yeah, whatever. you know you get your way around with your sweet honeyed words.