ok, updates on the piano tuning.. it was a failure. my strings are all rusty so Nair told me to forget the piano and just buy a new one.

so number one on my shopping list is a keyboard. i really shldn't be spending anymore money. so after my spree at F21, it's no more shopping until for christmas which i'm getting a head start on this year. the shoes and bags will have to wait 'til i hit the lovely city of shanghai.

ok, i need to get my walking shoes too. i'm not going to let my toes freeze in the canvas sneakers in china. you kidding me? i refuse to fall sick when i shld be enjoying the winter.

to my girls, no more shopping trips. let's go to marmalade pantry or canele for cakes and tea!! i seriously miss all that. :P

*****
random note of the day: lovin' billy joel right now. damn, i adore my ah pa and his incredible taste in music.

i hate it when Straits Times gives away my secrets. so i'm gonna screech now..

LEAVE HATM ALONE! IT'S MINE!

i don't quite care that the band always ask the crowd to tell their friends abt the place. it's mine! ok, i do tell my friends. but i'm selfish that way. it's my place!!

drinks are NOT good. the electric chair i was subjected to? sweet. since when did vodka shots become sweet? the only decent drinks are the beers. but the atmosphere. everyone sings along. everyone claps along. everyone dances with the band. not gyrating dumb-ass i-too-cool dance. it's the bird-in-the-egg-in-the-nest-on-the-leaf-on-the-twing-on-the-branch-on-the-tree-in-the-woods-in-a-hole-and-the-green-grass-grows-all-around.

and i love the band. i don't wanna share them. so what if jamie is an idiot? i forgive him 'cos he's just so darn incredibly talented. the last i wrote about him, i said, "of course, it helped that Jamie was absolutely charming and plays damn a lot of instruments: piano, guitar (electric/acoustic/bass), drums, keyboard, saxaphone, trumpet, clarinet. ok fine, the recorder too. with his nose!"

add harmonica to it. and i love him as lead on the acapella of "For the Longest Time". he did "Don't Stop Believing" for me despite having played "Open Arms" just a few minutes ago. i didn't even ask for the song. i just said, "Journey". the dude knows how to make me happy. he did "Faithfully" later and smiled at me.

it's not just Jamie. i love Amy. i love Scott. i love Randy. i love Jevon.

Jevon is an absolute sweetheart despite dedicating a verse of the kitty song to me. he helped make Ah Pa's birthday a blast. he gave Foo 2 free beers on his birthday. he was such a sweetie during his breaks when i bumped into him. and that return salute from him on stage even though i was among the crowds? *grin*

HATM, thank you for making another bud's birthday a blast. Guns and Roses' "Sweet Child of Mine"? Rage against the Machine's "Killing in the name" without the key-tair but Jamie slaying everyone on the guitar?? Absolute rocking. i love ya all!

P.S: if you're just gonna sit there and be embarrassed about singing out loud, cheering and dancing to "joy to the world", HATM is not your place. it's my place, with my B's, S's and W's. :)

weird moments in the office are a norm. we always try to get past them eventually but some moments just trail off to god-knows-what. i'm still quite amused.

D: Yeap.... u can buy me the next time!!!
Me: erm
Me: i dun wanna buy yooouuuuu
D: Haha... u can't afford my charge-out rate! hahahaaha......
Me: it's ok.
Me: i don't wan...........
D: hahah... then whose u prefer? haha....i can recommend...
Me: i dun waaannnnnt
D: haha... sound like a small gal being traumatized!
Me: i'm feeling a bit traumatized..

yar. the wonders of silent communication in office. periods galore. and believe it or not, this was sparked off by a trip to starbucks. after that, our specks of conversation somehow linked back to charge-out rates and the cousins.

ah well.. getting past the moment. :P

During Dec 2001, Ally McBeal had a christmas episode. the town mayor decided to do away with the usual christmas parade as he felt that it was not apt, given the grief of the nation just abt 3 months ago.

John Cage brought a case against the mayor and fought for the parade and rallied the people. some were adamant for they felt the same way as the mayor. then John said, "It's not a year for skipping Christmas."

and he was right. they went ahead with the christmas parade. i bawled my eyes down as i watched the firemen and police who prob had a part at ground zero march past the people holding up candles, remembering the lives lost.

christmas decor is up early this year in Singapore. some say it's the retailers' way of getting people to spend and indulge in retail therapy before the slump hits us hard.. pumping money into the income cycle of the local economy.. i guess that's true.

but a little naive part of me believes that someone somewhere wanted to just remind people that you need Christmas because it's just a festival of joy.. it's possibly even bigger than our independance day.

surely a day to remember the greatest gift of all that brings joy and hope in the midst of uncertainty and despair is what we need now. a simple reminder to all believers that all this will pass away away, the good and the bad. but one thing is eternal: the relationship with our God. one thing is true: the love of our Father. one thing is certain: He'll come back and call us to Him and we'll be in that place once again.

Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconcile.

51 days to go and counting. Yet Lord i pray, help me to always remember You, christmas or not, of what You've done and the promises You have given me to get through the darkest of dark and brightest of bright all my days.