17 December 2007
I'm walking on a new road
Living a brand new life
I've found myself a better way
Walking with Jesus every day
Lord You've taken me as I am
But I'm never gonna stay the same
In the power of Your glory
I know I'll be forever and ever changed
Extraordinary
You take my breath away
Extraordinary
Make a brighter day
Extraordinary
Way beyond the ordinary
Extraordinary
Nobody like You in all of the earth
Nobody like You
Nobody like You in all the universe
Nobody like You
Extraordinary
My God is
Extraordinary
Extraordinary
My God is
Extraordinary
(This song brings back memories... and it's funky!)
Aiyaya, the cough is almost gone but now there's a mild fever.
I miss Breakaway camp. It really was the best camp I've ever been to, although I was coughing like mad the whole time. The people I met were so warm and true. I don't know where people get those strange ideas about our church from, seriously.
Reflecting upon the last half a year... I concede that I made many mistakes. With people, with my studies, with time management, with the way I portray myself. I feel refreshed now though, like I have a new beginning.
Saturday practice was one of the most tiring ever. My legs are still aching like crazy from the dancehall bounce and my lower abs HURT. The handstand against the wall part wasn't easy either (maybe because of my sickness, since I felt fluids - that weren't blood - rushing to my head). I did make some progress with breaking though... I roughly know the problems with my mills and I managed a 180 degree turn on my head. Can't wait to do headspins!
Kevin did a wonderful airchair. So proud of him... and the three b-boys are really good now, especially Weiqiang. Jean and Junwei are getting real good with their locking... Junwei got more moves now and Jean looks like she's taking it seriously. I have to catch up with these people! It's not a matter of competition. It's more like... when you see people improve so much, you feel the push and the drive to get better, because there's nothing stopping you from doing it too.
I think the fever is dying down now... I'm starting to feel warm.
and...
CAN'T WAIT FOR CHRISTMAS!
15 December 2007
I'm back from camp, and I forgot to bring my voice with me. It was worth it... it was fulfilling and fun. I won't bother to summarise it. It's one of those things that needs to be experienced rather than told about. (And also because there's too much to cram into one entry.)
Movies...! The Cat Returns is an excellent one. Its story is enchanting and the cats are so adorable. It's not a film that tries to be deep and philosophical, but as with all aesthetic creations, you can catch something from it.
Now that I think about it, I don't think I've lived a single day of my life without an animal in the household. Usually it was a cat. Our first one was Calvin. Cool name for a cat right? Then there was Brownie the cocker spaniel, whom we sold after he destroyed our wooden kitchen cupboards. Lucky was a kitten who met an unfortunate end... which I'd rather not talk about. Jacky was a grumpy girl... named after my sister, no less. She started getting mental a few years ago... then she went. When Jacky was around, in came Cow and Milk. In fact, there were two Cows, both explored and never came back. They're probably wandering around the neighbourhood, grown up and all. Duchess joined us one or two years ago... and now it's just her and Milk.
Sometimes, there would be a couple of turtles... or angelfish... and then were rabbits too... at one point, there were sixteen birds at home. Sixteen! Coincidentally, the balcony was beginning to resemble a forest by then - in a way, it was appropriate.
It would be nice to be a cat, and just laze around in the sun the whole day, not having to look out for others... but that's a cat's job. I have more to do!
09 December 2007
In the recent weeks leading up to today, I've had a lot of time away from the turmoil and conflict and strife to think, relax and recuperate. I thought about everything from the meaning of life to the origin of the universe to the kitchen sink to how to get my cat to fetch my slippers.
Although I let my thoughts run all over the place, I didn't get anything out of it... except the renewed will to stay happy and joyful. In all honesty, I found out things which made me sad today. It made me feel like others will cover up any effort and creative energy (to put it nicely) I spent, in favour of themselves or their clique members. Then I realised it is not my place to complain, because I don't need to covet opportunities in such a way to succeed.
It doesn't matter because I started learning on the streets, and though I've had formal training since, I still learn on the streets and if need be, I will continue to do my stuff on the streets... ...until the opportune moment to seize, to take hold of my destiny.
Love involves kindness. Share it, whether it be just plain simple love, love for food, love for dance... maybe that's why locking appealed so much to me. It's just like in Junwei's MSN handle... "Locking is a social dance, not a solo dance." I love pointing at people and getting them out of their comfort zones. No, I'm not trying to sabo them... it just isn't as fun dancing by yourself or within the same old group all the time.
Perhaps we need to break free of the mindset that we must all outdo each other technically, expressively or creatively. Perhaps we need to stop looking at our talent and using it to improve only ourselves. Perhaps we should help each other as peers, not as superiors and subordinates (unless it is warranted... search your soul for the answer eh), to go to the next level. Perhaps we should realise we could all learn from each other in different aspects. Perhaps I ought to just shut up and go sleep now because I'm really tired from lack of sleep and KH's class, and I'm typing all this based on the impression I have of the situation which could be totally different hahahahahahahaha.
Now Playing: Dashboard Confessional - Hands Down
05 December 2007
I'm so sick...
...though not of love songs. I'm really literally sick. My throat burns! My nose leaks! My eyes water! Ah December, you wilful woman of wonder and woe. You bring the joy of Yuletide, yet you also plague Singaporeans with that dreadful viral wind.
What a stupid entry this is.
Now Playing: Ne-Yo - So Sick
I've been chilling with Xsass and Daphne and Kaeting lately. It's great fun with them. No tension. All fun. We went to watch b-boying baboons on Monday. It was cool! Love you guys (girls actually). Dang that sounds effeminate.
Today, I had lunch with my momma. It kind of made me think for a while. Where do I want to go? Am I on the right track? Which way am I headed now? Will everything be alright in, say, three years' time? Somehow, I have the assurance that it will. It's kind of like a sort of inner peace. The future is still open. Uncertain, but open. The journey will be easier if I look on the bright side, right?
Finally got myself some new kicks and a new bag. My Airwalk bag's zippers are seriously messed up. Yes, zippers, plural. I'm so relieved to have a bag that has some degree of quality now. I went down to the Esplanade in the evening for a session with Michael, Kevin, Matthew and Jeffrey. I was early though, so I went to the library to read stuff... about dance, of course. Which was apt, considering the library stocked mostly books on the arts. I read this collection of interviews of the greatest dancers in the past century. No hip hop dancers of course, but their words can apply to all aspects of dance, and the interview with Edward Villeva impressed on my mind.
As for the session. Well, I sorted out my Sneak Peek and Stop & Go with Michael's help (no, not Michael Sim). As you all know, I love putting Stop & Goes into my freestyling... and now you're gonna get even more Stop & Goes! Maybe it's an indication I should delve into Boogaloo. Michael also gave me some nice tips on box splits.
And thanks to B-boy Greg, I am SO HAPPY that I fixed some major problems with my swipes. And SO HAPPY that I'm starting to get one-handed lunar eclipses, although it's still far from stable. I'm beginning to get the feel of windmills too. It sounds like a lot, but I actually still have a long way to go. Practised the chaine-sashay-jump across the floor routine too... hope all goes well tomorrow.
Now Playing: Bobby Valentino - Turn The Page
02 December 2007
Sadness...! We didn't make it into the finals... apparently the judges were really looking for the most extravagant Christmas outfit rather than the most hip. Ah well... Channel U. Not much in the way of sophistication.
So there goes my Alife x Puma First Rounds. On hindsight, I wouldn't have worn them a lot anyway. Who can bear wearing S$349 shoes more than five times a year?
It was an interesting experience anyway, and I hope for the ADM finalists to win all the top three prizes! Especially Pearlyn Oh's group, which had tiiiiight/dope designs.
The Tattooist is an alright movie. The premise is quite interesting but the story was kind of boring and flat. In terms of scares, not that scary either, except for a couple of parts when ### started 'bleeding' in the pool and the scene in the hospital (Sorry, no spoilers ah). Even then, the movie isn't exactly scary. Just the same old creepy music and loud noises. Either way, no horror movie can top Shutter for me. That one really freaked me out.
I want to watch Stardust again...
Now Playing: The Crystal Method - (Can't You) Trip Like I Do
I hate going to Far East Plaza. Not that there's anything wrong with the place; I just happen to look inside The Black Chamber, Leftfoot, Leftfoot's affiliated stores and recently, Warped... and then I get cravings.
Well, I checked out The Black Chamber very recently and saw a pair of Pumas. Very special Pumas. Pumas made in collaboration with Alife, as a matter of fact. Alife is a prominent streetwear brand in the States and among the more learned street culturists around the world. It's a notch above Adidas and Nike... more along the line of A Bathing Ape and Stussy. So what's so special about those Puma First Rounds (they are called First Rounds)? For starters, there's only 500 pairs worldwide. Each pair at TBC costs $349. They look really hot of course, otherwise I wouldn't bother posting this.
Christmas is coming! Pardon the sinfully materialistic post. At least you readers know what's on the shopping list, should our group place among the top three for the Most Hip Christmas Outfit competition.
(Although I might sober up by then and purchase something more practical and... ...affordable.)
Now Playing: move - Gamble Rumble