Month: August 2008
Thick and Thin are online
!(imgcenter)http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3084/2802310265_dcc5a63105.jpg(We are online!)!:http://www.flickr.com/photos/yannie/2802310265/
One of the things I love about the wedding is our website.
Yes, we is geekoids and we is lurve the Internet. But well, the Internet is there for us to utilise, right? Right from the start, we knew that we were going to have a website – no questions asked. And now that it’s fully conceived, I really love clicking around even though I know what to expect because I wrote everything on the site! Oh, and if you think it’s pretty, it’s all due to the boyf. He’s so clever, he put it all together by himself. I’m pimping him right now: write to me if you want him to do up your website! He’s for hire by the hour and I’ll even waive GST.
On the site, you will see a whole lot of pictures of us – some downright ugly and some supremely gorgeous – as well as information about the friends who are helping us with the wedding. It’s a little way for us to thank them as well as acknowledge their help because really, without them, the wedding wouldn’t be half as interesting as it is (ain’t I selling my own wedding, hah!). Every word that we wrote came from our hearts so it’s a nice, little personal tribute to the friends we love most in the world.
And, uh, the wedding is in 18 days. But first, we have to get over the Guo Da Li, otherwise known as the selling of the Bride, this Sunday. If we were back in the olden days, his parents would be leading a herd of cows and sheep, some gold ingots and a bunch of cakes in exchange for my hand. In modern days, however, I am worth only 26 boxes of Bengawan Solo pandan cakes, a couple of oranges and two 1.5l bottles of soft drinks. I can’t remember if a roast pig is thrown into the fray or not but I doubt it. Depreciation, it seems, applies to humans too.
Hold your own
I haven’t been me for a while.
Or rather, this is me. I despair. I ponder. I grimace. I replay certain words and scenes over and over againe. I pray. I remind myself that hey, tomorrow will be a better day, even if today is unpleasant. I smile. I laugh. I close my eyes and send a silent prayer up to the powers that be. I can’t see the future although I wish I could. I retreat, myopically, back into the shell that protects me. I think. I predict. I imagine. I listen to my iPod. I see it as a lesson learnt. I look forward to a new life. I look back with no regrets. I complain. I panic. I listen. I feel thankful.
I know. That tomorrow will be a better day.
All I have to do is wait out the storm.
It may be pouring now but hey, the sun’s warm rays will peek through the clouds sooner or later.
!(imgcenter)http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3161/2752868265_5b9842e176.jpg(And we soar)!:http://www.flickr.com/photos/yannie/2752868265/
The Polaroid Funk
Cheryl + Andrew’s SDE – Vancouver from StillMotion on Vimeo.
This fantastic same-day edit video has to be one of the best wedding videos that I have seen so far.
To be honest, hiring a videographer for the wedding was never a priority for us. Both of us love photos and it was a no-brainer to splurge on photography.
But as the day drew closer, I started wondering if we should get someone to film our memorable moments, particularly the solemnization, so that we can relive them in future. We searched for a while, trying to find someone who gives us the – for a lack of a better word – zsa zsa zum. In the end, our search was futile and we decided to just give videography a miss.
Thing is, if there had been a local videographer who could shoot in such a creative way, I would have hired him/her immediately. The choice of music used (very important criteria!), the feel, post-processing and transitions (loved the use of the Polaroids)…it was all WOW.
It’s just three weeks more and I am still digging up stuff like this to kill myself over. Gah. Enjoy the video!
Insane in the membrane
!(imgleft)http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3026/2762946228_5a804bdfc5_m.jpg(Seriously, geekoid)!:http://www.flickr.com/photos/yannie/2762946228/
Instead of working on the invites – which are late! – he is off to Comcentre to catch the launch of the iPhone with a bunch of hysterical fanboys. Even though he is NOT going to buy the gadget. And what’s more, he’s filming his friends in action and updating his blog with a live feed of the videos.
Am I seriously, seriously, marrying this…person?
Sometimes, I just want to scream at the sheer obsession he has for the fruit (and Xbox). If only he would show such unbridled enthusiasm and excitement for the invites, seating plan, photo shows and losing weight, I would be in seventh heaven and less than stressed.
But then, I can’t help but roll my eyes and chuckle in amusement because it’s just so mad. He’s just so mad and incorrigible, it’s ridiculously funny.
Heck, he may even name our firstborn Newton or Wozniak.
Heaven forbid.
The monologue diaries
Who’s this person staring back at me? She looks tired, her eyes lack that sparkle. The corners of her lips are tilted downwards, her brows furrowed. Who is she?
Oh, she is me.
I want to bury myself in the covers and hide away from the world. The conflicting mix of frustration and empathy is churning crossly within. I’m angry, so angry with the people who are nearest and dearest to me. They can’t seem to understand my point of view, my sense of urgency.
Would I be so frustrated if the acts weren’t committed by people I love, I wonder.
I don’t care. I don’t want to speak to them. I just want to hide away in my bubble world. Find me under an avalanche of work and resentment.
Do I sound like a spoilt child?
The make-believe tai-tai
Sometimes, I find it sad that after working our asses off five days a week, 52 weeks a year, we are only entitled to between 14 to 21 days of “leave”. Who came up with this proportion? Who dictated that we need to work five days in order to rest for two days?
When I go on leave, I love to pretend that I am a lady of leisure. My favourite scenario of a perfect day out is to be equipped with a good read while sitting down at a comfortable cafe, sipping a cup of tea and having a slice of cake. And some delectable macaroons. Dressed in a pretty, vintage(-sque) floral frock, preferably this one from Prada.
Unfortunately, that never happens because my day off always consists of meeting up with friends and running errands. But I’m not complaining because I spend time with people whose company I enjoy and have good food too.
For instance,
!(imgcenter)http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3048/2762100277_1460bc8bf5.jpg!:http://www.flickr.com/photos/yannie/2762100277/
Slurping up thick mushroom soup and having crusty whole grains bread with balsamic vinegar on the side at Cedele. Hot chocolate and tuna sandwich were gobbled up by the boyfriend.
!(imgcenter)http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3200/2762099659_745f1d1c98.jpg!:http://www.flickr.com/photos/yannie/2762099659/
Having a good cuppa ginger tea at an al fresco Canele (Shaw Centre)…until a leaf fell into my cup.
!(imgcenter)http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3007/2762099245_82634cdf59.jpg!:http://www.flickr.com/photos/yannie/2762099245/
Sharing a deliciously light strawberry shortcake with my favourite air stewardess cum Loiters compatriot.
Nothing to lose
!(imgcenter)http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3115/2753702992_b46acb8bba.jpg!:http://www.flickr.com/photos/yannie/2753702992
Reading the news and watching the footage of the table tennis women’s team’s Olympics adventure yesterday bring tears into my eyes. Ay, I am a Singaporean girl deep down. Congrats to our three heroines! You can be sure that I will be catching the match on tenterhooks. Go forth, my island home, under the smoggy Beijing skies!
Maybe, just maybe, we could get ourselves a piece of gold.
T-minus one month
!(imgcenter)http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3013/2762049677_b52b0ac1dd.jpg!:http://www.flickr.com/photos/yannie/2762049677/
So cute…until he starts snoring.
It’s just one more month till I call him “husband”! Time flies so fast, it’s scary. Wasn’t it just yesterday that we were buying east end?
Speaking of east end, I love to tell everyone that if it had not been for me, both of us wouldn’t have a roof over our heads (and, now, a pretty teapot set! But that’s another story). See, in the week leading up to the selection of the flat, the boyfriend was really excited about it. I was a little apprehensive because it was a huge financial commitment.
On the day of the selection (Dec 3?), we went down to the showflat at the stipulated time and stood in front of the huge board that showed the prices. The flats were ridiculously dear (remember, this was December 2006, before the prices skyrocketed) and our brains were working overtime, calculating costs. Somehow, I became certain that purchasing the flat was the right thing to do. He, on the other hand, got cold feet. In the end, we compromised. If we could get a unit that fitted our budget and was in the layout that we wanted, it would be ours. Otherwise, we would walk away.
Somewhere out there, someone must have heard our prayers because the dream unit was available. It busted our budget by $10,000 but we figured that it wasn’t too big a deal. All the rooms overlooked the unobstructed green field and it wasn’t on the lowest floor. It just felt right. And almost two years later, after seeing how the property market and the following DBSS projects went insane, I am glad to say that it was one of the best decisions we have ever made.
I’ve been lucky indeed.
Happy t-minus one month!
Clickety click
!(imgcenter)http://img.skitch.com/20080813-xhn3ipps95fws2uk6a1hx9658e.jpg!
Call me paparazzi! New cameras alert!
Well technically, I have had my Canon Powershot A590 for more than a month now.
Why, you ask, do I need another Canon when I already have my trusty DSLR? Because the 400d is bulky and wouldn’t fit into my daily handbags. Why do I carry my camera around everyday? Because I just do. Anyway, I have been pretty chuffed with its performance – it’s a great little gadget that delivers sharp, crisp pictures with vivid colours. Its manual function allows me to change everything from the white balance to the aperture so it appeals to the inner geek in me.
As for the uber fabulous fisheye lomo with built-in flash, I have to say a big THANK YOU to You’e and Ash! They sprung a surprise on me this evening during dinner, handing this to me as a wedding gift. What are the odds? The boyfriend and I have been wanting to buy one for ages but were put off by the price. And coincidentally, we had just been ogling the Lomos at Peninsula Plaza the day before. It’s destined, I tell ‘ya. Clever girls!
Don’t you just love the retro chicness of the Lomo? Now all I need is the Holga and the happy camera family will be complete (lenses not included)!
Guess who will be going trigger-happy during her wedding?
Yannisms 