so my life is not ruined in the end cos I managed to dissolve those particles at the end of the day.

i watched Painted Skin yesterday. Which claims to be an action horror movie. IMO, it is a drama, action, comedy, and a little bit of horror all rolled into one. If you are fond of Chinese fairytales and classical literatures, you will love this movie. Highly recommended. Plot-wise I love it. Though it looks quite cheap budgeted.

At first, I was confused cos I thought General Wang loves Xiao Wei in the synopsis, but almost throughout the movie he shows much more love toward his wife, Pei Rong (played by the ag*** Vicky Zhao). It was interesting when all was revealed in the end. As we all know, sin is a matter in the heart, not a matter whether we can or cannot do virtues. Wang Sheng shows up to be a virtuous husband, virtuous general, but he knows that he has sinned in his heart cos Xiao Wei has turned his attention.

It was interesting too when the foxy lady finally became good in the end. This shows that we all have the need to be loved. Love conquers all? No? Then, when Pei Rong drank the poison (almost Snow White like) and sacrificed herself for her husband. This was very touching. Yet, she only knows in the end that the one good man was Pang Yong since the very beginning. Ohh...what a heartache.

As usual the general themes of love appear in the movie.

the sacrificial love.

6 Set me as a seal upon your heart,
as a seal upon your arm,
for love is strong as death,
jealousy [1] is fierce as the grave. [2]
Its flashes are flashes of fire,
the very flame of the Lord.
7 Many waters cannot quench love,
neither can floods drown it.
If a man offered for love
all the wealth of his house,
he [3] would be utterly despised.

(Song of Solomon 8:6-7)

It was shown in the desert lizard demon's love toward Xiao Wei. will do anything for her, yet despised. and so full of jealousy toward Wang Sheng too.

There were interesting details too in the movie. Such as why the Chinese women were wearing kimonos? And scarily the Chinese men too. It's just weird. Then, the White Snake hairstyle worn by Xiao Wei. I guess men should beware of women wearing this hairstyle since they all were demons on screen. lol. Of course then, Lee Dong Wook fans would think they've found a Chinese look-alike of him in Chen Kun who played Wang Sheng, though LDW is much more handsome la. The good thing about this movie is that, the 3 key players, Chen Kun, Zhao Wei, and Zhou Xun all played their roles very well. Zhou Xun was so creepy with a voice so low-toned. A demon who knows everything going on around her. Wang Sheng played the virtuous man very well. And of course Zhao Wei fit her character so well too. It makes sense that the man got attracted to a younger-looking woman while his wife was ag***. Then, the ending almost reminded me of The Banquet. But that movie is fuller of political intriques and definitely was not for the faint hearted. So, yeah this one wasn't so Banquet-ish or as full of tragedy.

Looks ugly again I know, too little sauce too =s What can be improved from the recipe in periplus: have more chicken broth and rice wine. Add pepper for added zing. Can try adding in Chinese shitake mushrooms for improvisation.

Ardi actually tried this dish and said that it was fine, although a bit saltier than hawker's usual food =P *happy*

I think I'm addicted to cooking...gawat...

i've been living a life seen as too "careful" to outsiders. I opened up very little and seen as having my own world. I doubt I have schizoprenia for now. But this may be a sign that I've been exclusively associated with devout Christians only. I need to open up for other people to see who I am. Who I am? I'm just an imperfect sinner who's been saved by Christ, struggling hard to give my best for the Lord. What does it mean by struggling? It is impossible to be 100% perfect at all given times. Maybe our mistakes are there at times when God plans them to be there, for his own purpose. Even when we've tried until it looks like we're trying too much. Does all this sound like too much too?

If I'd be ***** even after trying tooooo much, I'd have no regret leaving. But if I didn't, let me be ashamed. If I have to be ashamed at the end, then I'll just be. May all glory be to God and may I bring out the best for Him alone.

moving back onto the fast lane. here i come.

“Now on whom dost thou trust?”

Isaiah 36:5

Reader, this is an important question. Listen to the Christian’s answer, and see if it is yours. “On whom dost thou trust?” “I trust,” says the Christian, “in a triune God. I trust the Father, believing that he has chosen me from before the foundations of the world; I trust him to provide for me in providence, to teach me, to guide me, to correct me if need be, and to bring me home to his own house where the many mansions are. I trust the Son. Very God of very God is he—the man Christ Jesus. I trust in him to take away all my sins by his own sacrifice, and to adorn me with his perfect righteousness. I trust him to be my Intercessor, to present my prayers and desires before his Father’s throne, and I trust him to be my Advocate at the last great day, to plead my cause, and to justify me. I trust him for what he is, for what he has done, and for what he has promised yet to do. And I trust the Holy Spirit—he has begun to save me from my inbred sins; I trust him to drive them all out; I trust him to curb my temper, to subdue my will, to enlighten my understanding, to check my passions, to comfort my despondency, to help my weakness, to illuminate my darkness; I trust him to dwell in me as my life, to reign in me as my King, to sanctify me wholly, spirit, soul, and body, and then to take me up to dwell with the saints in light forever.”

Oh, blessed trust! To trust him whose power will never be exhausted, whose love will never wane, whose kindness will never change, whose faithfulness will never fail, whose wisdom will never be nonplussed, and whose perfect goodness can never know a diminution! Happy art thou, reader, if this trust is thine! So trusting, thou shalt enjoy sweet peace now, and glory hereafter, and the foundation of thy trust shall never be removed.

Currently feeling: glad

“Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant?”

Numbers 11:11

Our heavenly Father sends us frequent troubles to try our faith. If our faith be worth anything, it will stand the test. Gilt is afraid of fire, but gold is not: the paste gem dreads to be touched by the diamond, but the true jewel fears no test. It is a poor faith which can only trust God when friends are true, the body full of health, and the business profitable; but that is true faith which holds by the Lord’s faithfulness when friends are gone, when the body is sick, when spirits are depressed, and the light of our Father’s countenance is hidden. A faith which can say, in the direst trouble, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him,” is heaven-born faith. The Lord afflicts his servants to glorify himself, for he is greatly glorified in the graces of his people, which are his own handiwork. When “tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope,” the Lord is honored by these growing virtues. We should never know the music of the harp if the strings were left untouched; nor enjoy the juice of the grape if it were not trodden in the winepress; nor discover the sweet perfume of cinnamon if it were not pressed and beaten; nor feel the warmth of fire if the coals were not utterly consumed. The wisdom and power of the great Workman are discovered by the trials through which his vessels of mercy are permitted to pass. Present afflictions tend also to heighten future joy. There must be shades in the picture to bring out the beauty of the lights. Could we be so supremely blessed in heaven, if we had not known the curse of sin and the sorrow of earth? Will not peace be sweeter after conflict, and rest more welcome after toil? Will not the recollection of past sufferings enhance the bliss of the glorified? There are many other comfortable answers to the question with which we opened our brief meditation, let us muse upon it all day long.

do you have a specific preference for good friends?

lately I've realized that I'm most likely to befriend sanguine and phlegmatic people. or is it me who is drawn to them? I am usually a friend of sanguine girls and phlegmatic guys. very very choleric people are too frightening, so are people who are almost always depressed. i just don't get them.

i've tried every way of life, haven't I? rebelling, researching, reflecting, I've been looking for the one concrete thing that I can direct all my energy and thoughts and heart to. If I've found it, I hope it would be like Ban's passion for Italian cooking in Bambino! Is hoping for such case too much? perhaps it is *sigh* but it looks like the searching has been obsolete till now. trying this, trying that, i've diagnosed myself unhappy. unsatisfied with this life. why? i don't know. but let's not search for it without the focus of looking onto Jesus. He's got the masterplan for everything, I'm sure of that. Even if that's the only thing I can be sure of now, I won't give up this search. Pondering upon this life again, no, just living from day to day, surviving without much thought of the big picture doesn't give me happiness and satisfaction. why does human search for refreshing tools after getting stress? what is it with all the shopping, spa, good food, movies, dramas, sports, videogames, travel, and even sleeping for long hours? just name whatever you like. I'm getting skeptical that all these are proven long term stressbusters, probably only for short term relief. writing all these really makes me feel like sleeping. aiya, i really should not abandon prayers in the first place. guys and girls, please don't do this as home. even if you laugh at this, make it a lesson for your own.

Divided into four segments, A Moment to Remember follows the theme of discovery in a relationship and the burdens of loss caused by Alzheimer's disease.

The first segment of the film, staged in romantic comedy style, introduces the protagonists, a woman named Su Jin and a man named Chul Soo. The movie highlights their accidental meeting in a convenience store and confusion over a can of soda, followed by their subsequent courting despite the social standings that should have kept them apart.

The second segment follows the couple now settling into married life. Su-Jin learns to be a housewife as her husband cares for her. But as the segment progresses, Su-jin begins to display forgetfulness, including an incident in which a fire breaks out because of a forgotten stove. While Chul Soo caught the fire in time, the seriousness of the incident and others draw them to seek medical help.

The third segment involves the revelation of Alzheimer's disease and the couple's consequent response to it. Su Jin is heavily burdened by the knowledge that she will forget her husband and hides it from him at first until he seeks advice from the doctor himself. Despite the disease, they make the commitment to stay together and as the disease progresses, the trials the couple go through increase because of Su Jin's forgetfulness.

The fourth segment reveals Su-jin in the final stages of the disease and the grief Chul Soo experiences because of it. Yet he remains beside her, despite her lost memory, hiding his eyes behind sunglasses when he visits her so she can't see his tears.

The end of the movie finishes off with Chul Soo replaying the first time they met in the convenience store with all her friends and family in the store. Chul Soo takes her back to the retirement home as they are driving off he finally tells her he loves her.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ac-xksV_7BU

Personally I love this movie better than The Classic. Just because I dislike the ending where my fave couple didn't get together. I would say that it's still more down to earth than The Classic, and might not be just a fantasy after all. It didn't get too sappy when it's not, unlike TC. Thumbs up for the male and female leads' acting.

how do you prioritize family, spouse, and best friends (of the same gender) ?

Your warm whispers
Out of the dark, they carry my heart
Your warm whispers
Into the dawn they carry me through

And I'm weeping warm honey and milk
That you stay surrounding me
Surrounding me

Your warm whispers
Letting me drown in a pool of you
Your warm whispers
Are keeping the noise from breaking through

And I'm weeping warm honey and milk
That you stay surrounding me
Surrounding me

Yeah, I'm weeping warm honey and milk
That you stay surrounding me

Your warm whispers
Your warm whispers

And I'm weeping warm honey and milk
Your warm whispers
Yeah, I'm weeping warm honey and milk
Your warm whispers

Yeah, yeah
Oh, oh
But you're gone, you're gone, you're gone
You're gone, you're gone, you're gone

Your warm whispers
Your warm whispers
Your warm whispers

I think quarrels are necessary in a relationship, this way you know how each of you handle crisis in a marriage. I also like the ability to just be yourself around each other. When you can be the craziest around each other, I think this is a good sign =) I guess I'm the type of person who doesn't really need total romantic showdown. I appreciate genuineness more in a person, it matters a lot to me. It is also important that a couple try their best for each other's wellness. This shows how much love you really have, cos love is really not just about feelings.

This is what I would have to say if I were to get a "WGM" interview =P

Kau bikin pusing tujuh keliling
Buat aku mabuk kepayang
Gayamu cool dan seksi
Mentok aku kepada kamu
Jadi semakin aku cinta

[*]
Kau sihir aku yang sedang kosong
Di saat aku butuh cinta
Mantra-mantra dahsyatmu
Menarik aku yang sendiri
Memang lagi putus cinta

[**]
Katakan-katakan kau sungguh-sungguh
Hanya ada ku di didalam hatimu
Katakan-katakan kau cinta aku
Untuk selamanya kau jadi milikku

[***]
I don’t wanna lose you
Yes i wanna hold you
I don’t wanna make you
Make you sad and make you cry

Back to [***]

Oh baby baby baby (baby baby)
Oh baby baby baby (hu wuoo uoo uoo..)
Oh baby baby baby (my baby)
Oh baby baby baby (baby oh yeeah)

Back to [*][**]

Back to [***]

Oh baby baby baby (baby baby)
Oh baby baby baby (hieey hiey hieey)
Oh baby baby baby (baby baby baby)
Oh baby baby baby (uuuuuhhh)

Baby baby
Baby baby
Baby baby

Back to [**]

Back to [***] 4x

Oh baby baby baby (oh baby)
Oh baby baby baby (baby)
Oh baby baby baby (oh baby baby)
Oh baby baby baby (baby baby)

this song is so addictive...suka pasang pas lagi bosen2 di kantor hehehe =P

“God, my maker, who giveth songs in the night.”

Job 35:10

Any man can sing in the day. When the cup is full, man draws inspiration from it. When wealth rolls in abundance around him, any man can praise the God who gives a plenteous harvest or sends home a loaded argosy. It is easy enough for an Aeolian harp to whisper music when the winds blow—the difficulty is for music to swell forth when no wind is stirring. It is easy to sing when we can read the notes by daylight; but he is skilful who sings when there is not a ray of light to read by—who sings from his heart. No man can make a song in the night of himself; he may attempt it, but he will find that a song in the night must be divinely inspired. Let all things go well, I can weave songs, fashioning them wherever I go out of the flowers that grow upon my path; but put me in a desert, where no green thing grows, and wherewith shall I frame a hymn of praise to God? How shall a mortal man make a crown for the Lord where no jewels are? Let but this voice be clear, and this body full of health, and I can sing God’s praise: silence my tongue, lay me upon the bed of languishing, and how shall I then chant God’s high praises, unless he himself give me the song? No, it is not in man’s power to sing when all is adverse, unless an altar-coal shall touch his lip. It was a divine song, which Habakkuk sang, when in the night he said, “Although the fig-tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labor of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.” Then, since our Maker gives songs in the night, let us wait upon him for the music. O thou chief musician, let us not remain songless because affliction is upon us, but tune thou our lips to the melody of thanksgiving.

pagi yang baru...

saatnya refleksi diri dan sekitar. i took up kickboxing class, it was...well, calorie burning. great for toning your arms, butt, and legs i guess. sekaligus melatih self-defense? I hope to improve my weak jabs in the next few weeks. kesimpulannya? this class is highly recommended for those who want no fuss in exercising, pragmatic enough with many uses.

if you look around and observe the fashion trends around you. people are getting more and more indifferent with what they're wearing. combine non-matching things together, who says you can't wear them as you like? this is the trend that i have observed lately. punk, rebellion, and then chaos. of course, not every labels and designers are doing this. but if i look at street wear in singapore, then yes this is something major. it's frustrating, chaotic, and yet at the same time you're given more freedom in expressing yourself. be different from everybody else. yet when you're different and everybody else are different, you're all in the same category, "different". i would say, what's so wrong with wearing the same dress for a party/reception/prom? you can accessorize differently, bring different handbags and wear different shoes and hairdos. so i don't buy the effort of trying to be different from everybody else. wear what you look good and comfortable in.

lastly, i never dare to judge girls who wear too much makeup. plastic surgery is wrong, and maybe injecting filler into your skin is also wrong, betcha most of the girls are going to trash talk you after that heheh and the guys don't even notice. all they'd say is just that she's getting more beautiful. me? i don't care. it's her business. i got no envy for them. to me, at least makeup can be a tool in expressing yourself, be it a type of art. and it can freshen up your look if it's worn in the correct way. hey, at least makeup is much much more justifiable than plastic aesthetic surgery =)

Now that it’s all said and done
I can’t believe you were the one
To build me up and tear me down
Like an old abandoned house...

Well I never saw it coming
I should have started running
A long, time agooo!

Mario - 여기에 있어요(I'm Here)(Feat. 김보아 Kim Boa).mp3

http://www.esnips.com/doc/930a4464-bb9a-4cea-906f-67ff75bf6b2c/Mario---여기에-있어요(Im-Here)(Feat.-김보아-Kim-Boa)

박정현(Park Jung Hyun) & Crown J - No Break.mp3

http://www.esnips.com/doc/7daa959b-7ec8-4d17-bc98-9b64a48c04a6/박정현(Park-Jung-Hyun)--Crown-J---No-Break

비(Rain) - Love Story.mp3

http://www.esnips.com/doc/47a06e6b-9b73-4758-b34c-814d7479a1a1/비(Rain)---Love-Story

Rain - I Love

http://www.imeem.com/janejz/music/WeQqyCS8/rain_bi_i_love/

김종국(Kim Jong Kook) - 어제보다 오늘 더(Today More Than Yesterday)

http://www.esnips.com/doc/9cdd9f1d-ee67-44b9-a6bd-31fe5709dd5d/김종국(Kim-Jong-Kook)---어제보다-오늘-더(Today-More-Than-Yesterday)

The kpop scene is getting exciting again with Rain and Kim Jong Kook's new albums...whoohoo =D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJvWhzLD8-g&feature=related

so soft and gentle like the one played in korean movies =D

I've come to the realization that I now cherish the wretched moments in NUS which I had cursed with all my might before...They all look beautiful in His time. Then...perhaps...I will cherish the moments at work too, at some point later in my life...yeah, I hope.

she is the most unglam girl i've ever known. but people do love her for that. for being comfortable with herself in the most unglam way.

and she's even doing soliloquy right now =P

Take my hand, take a breath
Pull me close and take one step,
Keep your eyes locked on mine
And let the music be your guide.

Won't you promise me (now won't you promise me, that you'll never forget)
We'll keep dancing (to keep dancing) wherever we go next

(chorus)
It's like catching lightning the chances of finding someone like you
It's one in a million, the chances of feeling the way we do
And with every step together, we just keep on getting better

So can I have this dance? (can I have this dance?)
Can I have this dance?

Take my hand, I'll take the lead
And every turn will be safe with me
Don't be afraid, afraid to fall
You know I'll catch you threw it all

And you can't keep us apart (even a thousand miles, can't keep us apart)
'Cause my heart is (cause my heart is) wherever you are

(chorus)
It's like catching lightning the chances of finding someone like you
It's one in a million, the chances of feeling the way we do
And with every step together, we just keep on getting better

So can I have this dance? (can I have this dance?)
Can I have this dance?

Oh no mountains too high enough, oceans too wide
'Cause together or not, our dance won't stop
Let it rain, let it pour
What we have is worth fighting for
You know I believe, that we were meant to be

Ooooooh!

(chorus)
It's like catching lightning the chances of finding someone like you (like you)
It's one in a million, the chances of feeling the way we do (way we do)
And with every step together, we just keep on getting better

So can I have this dance? (can I have this dance?)
Can I have this dance?

Can I have this dance?
Can I have this dance?