A Day In The Life Of An Oblivious Ape.

Spaz if you want to.

2010-07-21T01:25:00.002+08:00

So I'm gonna leaving to serve the nation in exactly 2 weeks' time.

I guess I'm constructing this post in the hope that there's still at least one of you out there who will read it. Yes, I know this blog is hanging by a thread that is my steadily decreasing interest in blogging. Hell, I can tell you that the state of this blog echoes the state of my life.

We're talking about neglect and nonchalance.

And then now, I'm about to be thrust from the swampy bog of uneventful-ness into a whole other bag of chips in a little more than 14 days.

I'm talking about maturity. Obeying orders, respecting authority...and that's not even the half of it.

Actually, in retrospect, I don't think this whole army thing's the issue at all.

This uneventful-ness...I think it's because I've been holding back, though the questions of what I am holding back and what or who I am holding back from still remain. And this sudden realisation of my imminent servitude to the nation...

It's like it's now or never to finally let go.

Sometimes, it's a wonder how your own mind - most sacred, most fragile, and most treasured - can seem so foreign to you.

Good Lord, how long has it been?!

2010-07-05T00:57:00.002+08:00

A good 14 days, 23 hours and 10 minutes to be exact.

Well, give or take 15 minutes.

But before you start bringing out the celebration streamers and/or vuvuzelas to celebrate my inevitable triumphant return, I must regret to inform you readers that this...isn't it.

In fact, there is an altogether simpler and, some would say, 'shallower' reason for this post. Something that a number of you can probably identify with.

I'M HAVING NEW OBSESSIONS.

I want a copy of Transformers: War For Cybertron.

I want an Original Skateboards Torpedo 40 Longboard.

I want to longboard.

Okay fine, I wanna learn how to longboard.

I want a pair of new 'everyday' shoes.

Seeing as how it's my birthday in a mere 2 months, 18 days, 22 hours and 52 minutes, I thought it might prove a little handy to put those into mention should any of you feel an overwhelming generous need to provide me with them.

And no, I don't mean all of them at once.

Though I won't stop you if you do have the overwhelming generous need to do that.

And yes, I am aware of this whole 'consumerism' trap I'm falling into.

I'm taking one for the team here. So what are YOU complaining about?

And even though I'll be on an altogether separate island than most of you in a month or so, need I remind you that a great singer once mentioned there wasn't a body of water that was big enough to come between me and you, with 'you' referring to the objects I've named above?

I'm just paraphrasing here.

So yeah, do your local oblivious ape a favour and drop him ~~a booty call~~ off some of those as presents, 'kay? This is really the only time he's ever asked for anything.

Well, the only time this year.

Okay fine, THIS MONTH.

Again with the details, geez.

Rain Check?

2010-06-19T02:03:00.003+08:00

Stomach flu and a sore throat back-to-back, one after the other.

If one of you guys up there's trying to prove a point, THERE'S A LOT LESS PAINFUL WAY TO DO SO.

*AUUUGHHH* UNCLEE!!! I GIVE I GIVE!! I TAKE IT BACK!!! UNCLEEEEE!!!!

....phew.

Sigh.

What am I going to do with you, Hafeez.

What am I going to do with you.

Doubt, you are one cruel sonofabitch.

2010-05-20T00:33:00.002+08:00

I'm really apprehensive about my driving school prospects. Never in my life would I have thought that I'd find making a car move scary.

It's scary business, I tell you.

Just a few hours ago during my practical driving lesson, I would have run over some pedestrians at a zebra crossing if not for the quick thinking of my instructor and his rapid plunging of the brake pedal.

Halamak.

I mean, shit like that is enough to put anyone off the idea of driving...probably for GOOD.

And what do I get for it?

One subject passed instead of the usual two every lesson.

ONE.

And I pay over $50 bucks per lesson.

50 BUCKS.

"Kiasu Singaporean mode, ACTIVATE!"

You see, my family didn't exactly have silverware in our mouths when we were born. Our financial situation still remains the same as it was 20 years ago, which was so-so.

SO to have shit like that happen to you when all you want is to just get this whole license business over and done with...

It just gets to you sometimes.

And it SOOO doesn't help that it's a gruelling one and a half hours to the school.

Okay okay, the ranting shall stop here. For today.

Talk about bittersweet.

2010-05-15T01:27:00.002+08:00

Oh, 20-minute Friday crush on the MRT...

If only every woman brought the scent of sweet butterscotch and Paddle-Pop ice-cream with them just like you did.

Release accelerator, depress clutch then brake...or was it the other way?

2010-05-13T22:57:00.002+08:00

Okay I can explain this pretty substantial hiatus over here.

See, I've been enjoying playing with Roxie (see previous post) these past few days. I've also been taking up driving lessons; in fact, I just got back from my second one earlier today. And so far, let's just say me and the clutch pedal have a love-hate thing goin' on.

I could be me over-thinking this whole thing, but I am genuinely anxious about going through future lessons. And by 'anxious', I mean 'trembling in trepidation'.

I mean, here I am, just practising in the circuit in a beat-up sedan and making tonnes of mistakes as if I didn't read the training manual. And I DID READ THE MANUAL.

And as I sit here mulling in self-pity, I begin to wonder: Which nimrod invented the use of three pedals in driving a car? Honestly?

Well, whoever he was, he must've had a third vestigial leg because that's the ONLY WAY I SEE IT WORKING.

At this point, I'm sure the car enthusiasts and license holders reading this would condemn this post to the depths of motorcar learner nooby-ness.

But hey, I think I'm entitled to my fair share of gripes and moans at this stage, amirite?

Six strings of happyness. =D

2010-05-01T22:14:00.004+08:00

Thanks to Zat's heads-up on the labour Day Sale going on at Swee Lee today, I decided to bring mum out to get me a brand new GUITAR. YEAHOOHOO!

Check it out:

Say hello to my brand new Ibanez AEG10NE. I call her Roxie. XD

Got myself a neat little package (which I had to put together myself since they didn't have any pre-existing ones) which included a gig bag, guitar strap, an Ibanez amplifier and a guitar stand. All for a cool, cool price of a little under $600 bucks.

Yeah, my pocket's crying too, but I'd like to think of it as a good investment. Helps me take my mind of the pain too. Heh.

I'm already liking the hardware; the neck is way smaller than my aunt's (her guitar I mean), and there's like a preamp included, which is pretty nifty since the guitar doesn't sound as strong by itself if say, I wanna use it in a gig situation (SUPER MASSIVE HUGE HINT). But for home noodling it'll suffice.

It's much heavier than my aunt's (Her guitar. We're still talking about her guitar here.). Maybe it's got something to do with the electronics? I don't know. Regardless, I like the sold feel of it, like I'm confident that it can stand up to some really hard knocks.

Not that I'll be subjecting it to any of that, though.

Okay enough talk I WANNA PLAY! XDDDD

Perpetually high.

2010-04-30T02:05:00.002+08:00

Here I sit, listening to Q-Tip blabbering something about a girl and 'getting up'. Right now, anything would seem like good music. Even that mindless drum machine-driven techno drivel by LMFAO.

I know.

Damn it, Life, don't you have at least one shred of direction left to spare? No?

Not even the tiniest dregs?

Fuck.

In other news, you know how they say "Once you go black, you never go back"?

Well, right now, this is me saying "Once you've been in a relationship, it FUCKING HURTS to go back".

A hurt that's more like a wart-on-the-sole-of-your-foot-that-never-really-goes-away kind of hurt than a stab-to-the-chest kind of hurt. One's fucking annoying and lasts forever, while the other hurts like a bitch but is done and over with quick.

I feel like I'm Adam tasting the forbidden fruit for the first time, experiencing the sweetest sensations and enjoying them so much to the point where I couldn't get enough of it. Then, like anything you can't get enough of, it became an addiction. I was an addict, for this intangible they call 'Love'.

You wanna know what I call it? Emotional Crack.

And once you're off it, you recede into this cold turkey state, craving for more to satiate the appetite of that little monster you've bred within you out of that addiction. But you decide to exercise restraint to show yourself and other people that you ARE still in control of that fucking monster. And maybe, just maybe, that you're not that desperate.

And so I look at all these couples around me, and I'm telling you: I ENVY YOU BASTARDS.

You have, like, a lifetime supply of emotional crack! All the crack you'll ever need!

Hell, if I could I'd ask some of you if you could share it with me, but unfortunately emotional crack doesn't work that way. Well, for some people it does but to me, that's just wrong.

So like any self-respecting addict, I'll have to earn it for myself. But I'll be damned if it didn't cost me SO DAMN MUCH every fucking time!

You emotional crack dealers need to do some market adjustments pronto. Geez.

Whackadoodle.

2010-04-24T00:37:00.002+08:00

Whoohoo blog player's back! :)

Superhappyfuntimes are abound!

The sun won't say no.

2010-04-19T00:36:00.003+08:00

Of summers come and summers past,

Of hopes and dreams that never last,

While all of these will come to pass

The sun won't say no.

A bond forged in tears,

Sheathed in fears

and happyness

Though you can never really tell

It's like never really finding

the bottom of a well

or the light at the end of the tunnel.

But one thing you can truly know,

The sun won't say no.

The rising of emotion

The setting of passion

The glimmer of hope over the horizon

That disappears as soon as you begin to notice.

But then the next day

You look back

and it's still there.

No matter, if you wanted it when it's not

or didn't when it is.
The sun won't say no.

The sun won't ever say no,

So I can't help but wonder

Why did you?

A sombre week ahead, it would seem.

2010-04-15T00:29:00.004+08:00

First off, I'd just like to rattle off about how amazing the guitar is.

The fact that you can pluck any sort of imaginable tune and it could still sway the most hardened of hearts; the fact that a single instrument can move and give rise to so many emotions like how no other instrument can.

The fact that it's a welcome distraction from dwelling on the funk that was my previous post. Yes, my readers, it was uncalled for, and I'm sorry.

I am constantly amazed by what I can learn on the guitar, and I really have to extend a HUGE kudos to the two people who actually got me started on it in the first place: Imran and Haiqal. Without your basics and impromptu 'lessons', I could not have gotten anywhere with this incredible instrument.

Just today I saw a most beautiful performance on American Idol by Tim Urban. He performed Can't Help Falling In Love by Elvis Presley on, you guessed it, the guitar. And , despite the honestly depressing notions conveyed by the song, that familiar feeling that always came to me whenever my interest was piqued and my mind was set on reproducing something of a similar nature - it came to me again. I picked up the guitar, put the capo on the 4th fret, and started to imitate how he played on screen.

Granted, this was highly unoriginal, but hey, didn't they say imitation was the best form of flattery?

It was then that I realised how much I was missing out when, back in secondary school when most of my friends started picking up the guitar, and all I did was watch them play and occasionally sing along if I knew the song. I guess the deviant in me didn't want to be into what everyone else was into back then.

It's 2010, and my love affair with the guitar has just begun.

Unrelated note: If you're reading this, you'll probably realise I didn't have the balls to say this to you personally. And that it probably doesn't mean as much as it should.

But it does. And what I CAN say is, I really had no idea something like that would affect your mood so drastically, but then I guess springing it on you at such short notice didn't really help the situation much either.

So I'm sorry.

Really.

Really really sorry.

And you really don't have to find a buyer for those tickets. In fact, just forget about 'em. I'll be cool with it, really.

Even I don't get me.

2010-04-10T02:38:00.002+08:00

I'm getting really tired.

Not just physically, but in everything else.

I'm tired of not being good at shit I want to be good at.

I'm tired of looking at other people and the only thing I'm able to see is what they have that I don't.

I'm tired of constantly forgetting to be thankful for what I do have.

I'm tired of always trying to be someone else in front of people who I, quite frankly, don't give a fuck about;

And I'm tired of always coming up short for those people that I do care about.

I'm tired of being forced into this perpetual cycle of laziness and procrastination and worry, all of which is making me tired.

I'm tired of wanting to please but never really being pleasing.

I'm tired of noticing but never really being noticed.

I'm tired of expressing...and it scares me.

Because I used to love to express, but instead of being understood I get mocked.

I don't want to give it up, but somehow it's become such that these days, self-expression only buys you looks that patronise and hardly those that encourage.

And most of all, I'm tired of doubting myself.

Now, if I could just find that 'Reset' button...

Like a lamb without a shepherd.

2010-04-08T23:43:00.002+08:00

Bleh. Blog's music player's on the fritz.

Life without music...unimaginable.

I've been practising a lot on the guitar these past few days, and I'm surprised at how much better I've become since I first started. Well, considering I knew zilch about tabs and frets and most of all CHORDS, I'd say I've done pretty well since then. I've been meaning to really study and memorise the strings and the fret notes, but never really got round to it. I guess I'm just content playing by both ear and eye for now. Just don't quiz me on what chord I'm playing because I HAVE NO IDEA. =P

Californication by the Red Hot Chilli Pepper has been a joy to practise, though I think my mom's just about had it with hearing the first few notes repeated for the 128371927812938th time. Let Me Go by 3 Doors Down's gonna be my next endeavour, from the looks of it. Them power chords are quite a bitch to the pinky finger. ='(

Other than guitar and Sambateria practice and periodic gymming and jogging and getting my driving license, I haven't really done anything since school ended. And I'm getting tired of the excuse "I'm waiting for my NS letter before I start planning anything else"; both giving it and listening to it.

Damn you letter, why don't you just appear in my letterbox already?!

Untitled.

2010-03-26T23:55:00.003+08:00

It's a well known fact

that the interactions between us

and the rest of us

define who we are.

Some of us have chosen to embrace this fact

Some of us have chosen to be indifferent

And some of us have chosen denial.

Like bodies in a morgue,

We isolate ourselves in bags

And tag ourselves 'Rebel'.

Supine bodies writhe

And contort and scream

"We are not you!"

"We define who we are!"

"We are our own person!"

The punk rocker clothed in hide

The glint from his lip piercing a distraction

From his cries against dictatorship

The birth child of industrialism

and blind deviance.

The gang-banger from the ghetto

With a Glock in one hand

And a mic in the other

Ancestral hate flowing through his veins

Ancestral hate the target of his rage.

The 'gangster' from the HDB block

Stepping to the beat of a furious silent song

Designer trucker cap hanging loose

Crying power in all the wrong signs

For what good is power that never existed?

Invisible, powerful, contagious

Hate.

Each one shunning, hating

Something.

Ending up never truly loving anything.

The thing about something that's contagious

Is that you'll end up just like the other guy.

Who's non-conformist now?

The 'Me' Police.

2010-03-22T01:15:00.002+08:00

Help, they're out to get me

Catch me, cuff me, and shove me

Into the deepest darkest recesses of my mind

While they stand in the dimly lit hallway

Of my conscience

Judge, Jury and Executioner

Disciples and perpetrators of the law

Protectors of the righteous

They put me up on a caged pedestal

Batons in hand, as if escape was a consideration

As if it was possible.

Its too late, they say

Damn right it's too late.

I'm in here and you're out there

"It was you who dragged me in here!" I shout

"It was you who dragged you in here" they reply

The 'Me' Police, in every sense of those words

Faces, bodies, hands like mine

Hands that grabbed me, got me

Caught me, cuffed me and shoved me

Into the deepest darkest recesses of my mind

I stood in the dimly lit hallway of my conscience

I stay, in my caged pedestal

Crimes, relived

Lies, judged

Violence, contemplated

Deceit, held in contempt

Punishment, executed.

I am my own police

And from them, truly

there is no escape.

The "I'm proud of myself" post.

2010-03-18T00:44:00.005+08:00

Lessee...

Well, The past week saw me teaching a bit of samba reggae to a class of secondary school students from Chai Chee Secondary School. Needless to say, I was apprehensive from the get-go. But somehow I managed to ease into it. I doubt I made much of an impact on the kids, but hey, they managed to get the maculele rhythm (well, somewhat) within 5 hours of lessons. Kinda says something about my teaching skills, eh?

Yes, yes, far from perfect.

And just last Sunday, I believe, I got two of my all-time best scores in bowling with the Sambateria gang after our busking plan got rained down upon. (Oho, pun!)

Thus, I am proud to show you... *drum roll*...THE SCORES!

A 101 for the first game, and a clean 100 for the second! Personal best yo.

Okay, the next post might be a bit NSFW. Not because it contains lewd depictions - if it did you'd probably have the same reaction anyway - but because it'll probably make you feel a little funny inside...somewhat queasy. So much so that you might just head to the toilet and puke out your guts in response after viewing this just because of it's graphic nature and then you head back to your cubicle AND FIND YOUR BOSS WAITING FOR YOU THERE POINTING AT THE COMPUTER SCREEN ASKING "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING READING THIS SHIT WHEN YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE WORKING?!"OMGALLCAPS.

So yeah.

Well, here it is.

A little more presses of the Enter key should do it.

There.

BEHOLD IT'S AWESOME AWESOMENESS: A BLISTER IN THE SHAPE OF THE LETTER 'A'!!!

Guess I decided I'd show it. You're going already? Don't say I didn't warn you about the NSFW!

Oh right, I guess that warning should have come BEFORE the picture.

Meh, procedures schmocedures.

Not sure how I'm supposed to be proud of this though.

But it's in the shape of the letter 'A'! That's gotta be worth something right?

Right?

Restless.

2010-03-13T02:05:00.002+08:00

Tip tap, drip drop

Goes the kitchen sink

A sound so loud I can't hear myself think

Drip drop, think tank

it's running on empty

In the face of technology

The morality and soul lack sensitivity.

Tip tap, drip drop

Raindrops on the windowsill

From there breeds a wish

for escape from the inadequate

Drip drop, think tank

Thinking about what could be,

A firehouse loft in Boston

With me staring down at the city.

Tip tap, drip drop

Reality cries down on my soul

Its pitter-patter like a million baby birds

Reaching out for control

Drip drop, think tank

Turning to Mother and She

They, who indirectly decide

how what could be, should be.

Life

should just stop screwing with the waterworks

And start getting us some damn umbrellas.

eh?

2010-03-11T23:26:00.002+08:00

I thought of posting a picture of a blister on my hand that was in the shape of the letter A, but you guys wouldn't wanna see that...

....would you?

ENTER KEY SPAM FTW.

In conversation.

2010-03-08T00:27:00.002+08:00

It starts off with a "Hey, hi there.

How do you do?"

"Why hello, friend. I'm fine, thank you."

It's been some time, hasn't it?

Why, yes, it has.

Incredible, how time flies

What we thought was now

Is now past.

So how's life? How are you doing?

It's been rough, I would say

Keeping late nights till the weekend

Why the late nights, man? Aren't you tired?

It's not like you're working, right?

Or have you...you know, been hired?

Not yet, actually, and surprisingly, no.

I haven't been tired for more than an hour or so.

My eyes are wide open in the depths of night

And at the heights of day, waking up is a plight.

Well, what do you do then,

while you're wide awake?

I just sit there...

I just sit there.

I enjoy the time and my moment alone

Me, myself, and, if I feel like it

The Rolling Stones

Explore thoughts both shallow and deep

No reason to hold them close

Or cage them in

Cos there's no one else with you

Who would poke fun at them then.

Like what you're doing now

You're giggling, I can see it!

If you think it's so funny

Hell, you might as well just beat it.

"No, man, I'm sorry, I can't help it!"

"Yeah well, you know what?

Just forget it.

I have to leave anyway, my mom's a-calling."

I take one last look at the wardrobe mirror and

Close it.

For the night.

Life worth living.

2010-03-07T01:24:00.002+08:00

What is a life worth living?

Is it one graced with the presence

of a large amount of money?

Ten, Fifty, Hundred dollar bills in neat stacks

Or gold trapezoids piled up and you can trade back?

Or of a large amount of recognition?

Gleaming lights like miniature suns

Some shining, some flashing

The oohs, the ahs and the hoo-has

An attractive facade for a fork in the road

Of a life worth living?

Or maybe its something more

That you'd like to stand for

No cash or fame, no, you don't like that no more

Freedom, peace, love for all

"Yeah, let's adopt one."

"Yeah, we'll have a ball!"

Yeah, you'd like to think it's something more

Yeah, sure, it's what you'd like to stand for.

Well, friend, a question I pose

Do you really care?

Or are you just a poseur?

See, following the trend's a trend nowadays

They require you to follow through

in the most elaborate of ways.

They tell you, this is your truth, my truth

Our truth.

And thus you follow it.

With utmost belief and conviction

When, in fact, you're straight up lying to yourself

Now, I say, friend

With utmost belief and conviction

A life in truth is the only true life worth living.

Miss Who.

2010-03-06T02:47:00.002+08:00

It must've been Thursday

Or some other day of the week.

I was busy, living life in rhythm,

In sounds and beats, lights and colours,

The world desaturated in my eyes.

Another wavelength, electromagnetic.

Then she came into view

The bars peaked like no other

Undercover I was till she pulled them off

Without even laying a finger

Tap tap, step by step

She walks.

Hair like palm leaves

The wind as if in servitude to their motion.

She walks.

Her feet leave emotions

Traces of them, in every shape and colour

Tales of tales untold

Deceit, anger, betrayal

Passion.

She walks.

As she stops, so does all life around her

She sees through obsidian

But with me they cloud her vision no longer

Because with her

I am her vision.

Her lips a breath away from mine

And like a breath she disappears

With no memory or record

Of origin or of end.

Like a cruel tease,

Like a dimming light of hope.

She is Miss Who.

Why's your choice hell.

2010-03-05T01:25:00.001+08:00

It's remarkable.

How putting feelings and thoughts down to words seems to make the burden disappear almost instantly.

Seems.

That'll do for now, I think.

It's a strange condition.

2010-03-01T22:42:00.003+08:00

Just a few minutes ago, I caught a glimpse of the person I was before.

It was through an online conversation with a good friend of mine.

He initiated said conversation, and we conversed (is there a law against using multiple forms of the same word? Lol) regarding a string of e-mails of which we were both privy to. Long story short, he found a particular reply of mine quite offending.

Now at first, like any sane individualistic self-serving person would be when faced with a similar situation, I was all like, "What? Why? It's not like I'm wrong or anything! It's MY opinion!"

Then it hit me; all those thoughts had self-referring pronouns!

I, me, my, MINE.

Selfish bastard.

Little did I think or take into account of what was on HIS mind.

Honestly, I'd like to blame it on my status as an only child; I've only ever been my parents' one and only for the better part of 16 years.

The other 3? Well, back then, I was the first child. But that's a story for another time.

As an only child, you really only ever think of your needs and your wants. I'll admit it; we're all selfish pompous arses! But, as life would have it, this was not the way I was to live.

I'd like to think past incidents and experiences have made me a more considerate person now, though I've certainly got a ways to go.

As such, I apologise to you, friend, for acting like it was only me who existed on the face of this planet.

AND I could have possibly worded a better and less easily-misconstrued e-mail reply.

Possibly.

On another note, yesterday was the first time I have ever gotten such multiple long tags on my tagboard.

*cue track* DAAAAWWWWWWWWW.

It's somewhat nice to see at least some out of the lot of you who care about ol' Oblivious Ape, even though I might not extend the same care and concern to you. For more information as to why that is, refer to above post. =P

Zoinks!

2010-02-27T02:16:00.002+08:00

You'd think I'd be wasting my days away on a beach resort somewhere now that school's (or poly is, for now at least) out, but nowadays some omnipresent feeling's been bugging me.

I'm scared shitless.

This fairytale jig is up, Hafeez my man. I'm slowly realising the futility of my carefree ways right now.

And what sucks worse is the fact that it's those same carefree ways are all I've got left. They're like spliffs and I'm like Kumar. He can't live without his marijuana!

Thinking about the future's starting to scare me now; it's like a choose-your-own-adventure book for me right now. Except it's way less of an adventure and more of a Final-Destination-3 Rollercoaster-Death-Ride-Of-Doom. I have to decide which to do first - work or pursue a degree at a local university. And then I'll have to follow through with that decision. ACH DECISIONS DECISIONS!

It's times like these that you'll wanna need all the emotional and psychological leg-ups you can get. Honestly, from where I'm standing, I don't see many standing around who're willing to offer me that leg-up. This scares me even more.

It's a vicious cycle, I realise. I really hate to invoke this sense of self-pity in me (I tell myself this all the time but I do it anyway; I gotta fill this blog with SOMETHING right?) but with the way life's turned out so far, I really don't know how much longer I can last.

Is it just me, or is the world spinning too goddamn fast that I can't catch up anymore? I try to calm myself down - "Hey dude, take it easy. One step at a time." - and then I look around and I realise it's impossible.

Or maybe not.

Did I tell you I used to love reading those choose-your-own-adventure books?

Maybe this could work out after all.

The "Couldn't-think-of-a-suitable-title" post

2010-02-16T21:58:00.002+08:00

It's been 9 months since that night.

Time sure flies by fast, even when you're feeling like crap every single day.

You'd think I'd have gotten over you by now.

Heck, I'd have thought that too.

Fucked up thing is, I haven't.

Just two days ago - on the 14th of February - it would've been the anniversary of the day...the day we both swore affection to each other.

You'd think I'd have forgotten about that too.

Fucked up thing is, I haven't.

Yeah, I may have had a few days where I really enjoyed myself too much to care about what we had or what we might've had...

Fucked up thing is, you never really left my mind.

You were just sitting there, like an unwelcome guest in the house of my convoluted noodle.

I'd have shoo-ed you out, but the conscience....

Goddamn conscience.

I don't know how long this feeling will last, but I'm afraid it won't go away so soon.

Fucked up thing is, I don't feel like I want it to go away.

This needs another shot of chocolate milkshake, damn it.

It's a hit.

2010-02-16T01:35:00.002+08:00

So it's been...what, four days since the (unofficial) last day of school?

Wow.

I've spent three years of my life toiling, slaving - and, admittedly, enjoying myself - at an institution that's probably not gonna reward me as gratuitously as it did a decade ago and now all of that just...ends?

Wow.

Make that a double Wow. With extra cheese and pickles please.

Dig my rhymes yo.

It just feels...surreal, for lack of a better description. I don't really know how to feel about all this. When you get used to seeing the same goddamn people for 3 years in a row (and who will be the few closest friends I would have ever made, I'll admit) only to just have that routine jerked away from you in one swift motion...it kind of leaves no room for me to develop any kind of sentimental emotions.

It's kind of sad, you know...to know you're not feeling what others probably are right now. Especially when that emotion is supposed to be hardwired into you and activated when such a situation comes by. You'd think, "Hey, is there something wrong with me?".

In short, you start to doubt yourself. And this would be a highly disadvantageous time for me to start feeling that way about myself. For fuck's sake, I'm heading off to serve the nation in a couple of months and after that...who knows?

You know that pit in your stomach when people ask you "So what are you gonna do after this?" I don't have beef with you people; I just hate the pit. I hate being uncertain; it fucks up my life worse than a Mega McGangbang.

Yeah, try Googling that.

But then, it just hits me. I've held on to a simple principle: Live for the moment.

Granted, it's a pretty unsafe principle to live by, but right now, it's really what works for me.

So fuck uncertainty.

The class is having a gathering on the 24th after my paper, and I'm going. See where we're all going, now that our tertiary education is over.

Then maybe, I'll start missing you guys.

Crap.

FINALLY!

2010-02-03T04:37:00.005+08:00

I realised that if you don't visit a website regularly enough (case in point: Blogger), Google Chrome removes them from your Most Visited sites.

Like DUH, right?

Which is why I added that 'Case in point' part in.

See?!

Not everything I do is redundant!

Meh. Just an observation anyhoos.

Okay, maybe THAT was redundant.

Okay okay, stay on track, Hafeez.

My Individual Scriptwriting Assignment is finally COMPLETEDDDDDDD.

MUAHAHAHAHA

Sleeping at 5 a.m. for 3 days straight better be worth it!

Or I'm gonna murderlize somebody.

Yeah, murderlize.

Don't judge me.

This is me getting all artsy-fartsy.

2010-01-24T22:32:00.003+08:00

This...is living proof that patience pays off.

Two tickets to J-Star 09 PLUS two more tickets to Extended Play 09 at A Deign Film Festival 2010 down at Old School.

Or, should I say, 'up' at Old School? Right? Right? 'Cos it's like 7 flights of stairs UP on Mount Sophia?

Meh. Well, I found it funny. And I got them tickets. SO there.

Kudos to my man Felix Ng of Anonymous. Keep that good work goin'.

Oh yeah, and you fellas better buy some tickets to some of these films. 'Cos I'm cool like that. XD

Bodoh! Bodoh!

2010-01-16T21:36:00.002+08:00

So Friday evening marked the first time I've ever been to a play.

It was Jiwo Jiro (Javanese for Zero Soul) by Najib Soiman, in case for some reason you're still using dial-up and the picture above is taking two hours to load.

I was pleasantly surprised by my first theater experience; the stage set-up was something else, unlike any of those crappy plays I used to see back in my secondary school days. (English Language Drama and Dance Society, you reading this?)

I had my mind open for anything I was about to experience; knowing the arts scene, subtlety is not one of their many traits. The performance played out pretty much like an indie film; emotions were raw and unadulterated, and, trust me, when it came to the issues discussed, there were NO holds barred.

Even though the overall experience was enjoyable, I have to nitpick a little at this point. Some of the scenes were a little confusing, like they didn't contribute much to the flow of the story and, as such, seemed to serve no purpose other than being a warped imitation of a half-time show at American football games. If there's one thing I learned from my scriptwriting teacher Ms Kumaran (I'm giving you free publicity here, Miss K!), it's that every scene you write into the plot should serve a purpose in driving the story forward. And that whole abrupt and absurd closing scene? GAH.

But meh, this isn't my attempt at a review here. Just calling it like I see it. I AM looking forward to more installments in the series though; this looks promising.

I must say, there's this weird allure about the stage that I find addictive. Here's to me watching more plays!

I hear you.

2010-01-14T01:09:00.002+08:00

This is highly inappropriate but... this song just says so much.

In need of intravenous caffeine drip, stat.

2010-01-10T04:24:00.002+08:00

It's 4.24 in the morning.

I'm still up working in futility on my reflection of Mozart's Piano Concerto no.23. I shouldn't be blogging, but here I am anyway.

It's just that something's occurred to me;

We're all hypocrites.

Every. Single. One of us.

It's in our nature. We tell someone about something regarding another person while at the same time we don't want that other person to know we've been talking behind their back. We do something we swore never to do before, but eventually had due to certain pressures and circumstances. We criticise someone's character when they're not there, but make nice to them when they are.

Whatever principles you live by or hold dear to about hypocrisy: it's all fucked.

It's a lie, people. So let's do the whole world a favour and think twice before we call anyone a hypocrite in a derogatory way, alright?

'Cos that's just downright myopic.

And yes, I should sleep now.

All the potential fuck-ups notwithstanding.

2010-01-03T01:30:00.002+08:00

I can feel myself slipping under

With each minute, with each passing day

Am I in way too deep now, I wonder?

But the way this makes me feel leaves me

With nothing else to say.

That 14th of February feeling - I'll be damned but it's happening again. Boy, are you fucked up now Hafeez...

What the hell?

2009-12-27T20:10:00.003+08:00

Before anything, lemme just say that yesterday was THE most awesome Saturday ever; a Saturday well spent.

Yesterday also got me thinking a lot. Sambateria had this picnic/get-together so I guess we really got to know each other a bit better outside of our gigs and practice sessions. We had the works there: a super-massive potluck buffet, sing-along sessions (yes, sing-along sessions), frisbee games, fishing, and generally goofing off at the nearby playground. As we finally expended our last vestiges of adrenaline and youthful energy, Surya, Aiman and I sat at the breakwater to chill-out and chit-chat. And it was then that it finally hit me:

I have not lived a single day in my entire life.

I may be exaggerating, but I do believe it's true to some extent.

I have not gone fishing before; I've had only one relationship so far in my 19 years of existence on this earth. I haven't gone on some Outward Bound camp to do some really cool shit like kayaking and...well, camping; and I can't say I've smoked before. I'm still divided in my personal reasons for such a decision - salvaging my health, or self-imposing deviance? Right now, I think it's leaning towards the latter. Hell, at any moment in time during practice, more than half of the people in Sambateria have a ciggie between their lips.

I have not gone to a theatre production before; I haven't actually learned to play the guitar; I HAVE NEVER BEEN TO A COUNTRY OUTSIDE OF FRICKIN' MALAYSIA.

See what I mean? These would probably seem like trivial matters to some of you readers, but in this regard, I'd say it really is the little things that count. I definitely want to tell my grandkids in the future that I've screwed the rules and lit up before, and I'd want to be able to serenade a future special someone on that super special day.

But I figure hey, I'm still 19. God-willing, I've got a whole long life ahead of me, and I'd really want it to turn out to be as meaningful and worthwhile as possible.

So, does your life have meaning?

'Hot' Pants?

2009-12-25T01:48:00.002+08:00

This may be just me, but have you ever noticed fashion trends these days?

I'm telling you, everything's getting either tighter, thinner, shorter, or all of the above. And it's not just on the girls either. The guys, God forbid, are following their footsteps as well. (Whoops, there goes the traditionalist in me. Down, boy!) From a pragmatic point of view, what f****in' good does less material do for you, honestly? We all know how global warming's fucked our damn climate already, and that some people have tried to fix things, albeit with some major disruptions. (I'm looking at you, China.) Ergo, it isn't very practical for you fellas to be putting on LESS clothing now, is there?

I guess at this point, I really have to single out a group of people whom I have a HUGE bone to pick with: girls who wear HOT PANTS *GASP* (Note: NO sexual innuendos are intended. None. Absolutely nada. *cough*) See, it doesn't matter if it rain or shine, winter or summer; them girls got those pants stuck to their buns wherever they go. It's mind-boggling! And don't get me started on those chunky ones who are oblivious to the fact that their thighs look like Apollo Layer Cakes. Oh no, we'll be up all night debating that one.

Then again, I may have a theory: since those buttock-covering vessels ARE called 'HOT' pants, maybe there's some kind of other material - invisible to everyone but the person wearing them - that actually keeps any part of the exposed leg warm.

Hmm.

This is revolutionary. I may have potentially uncovered a huge government cover-up: a damned conspiracy!

I must hide now.

Call me when the pizza arrives.

Through the looking glass

2009-12-23T20:33:00.002+08:00

It's days like this that I wish I could rip off my skin and put on a new one.

Eww.

There, there.

2009-12-22T19:04:00.002+08:00

It's amazing how a friend, whom you've never really talked to the whole time you've known them, starts looking to you for a shoulder to cry on.

Goddammit, where's MY shoulder. =(

Put your records on.

2009-12-22T17:51:00.002+08:00

I never leave home without some semblance of a tune-filled device with me, be it my MP3 player, my PSP or my handphone. It's a force of habit more than anything, actually. I try to play it off as 'oh-I-love-music-so-much-I-gotta-take-it-everywhere-I-go'. Well, it was true once, but nowadays it's more like a need to have music in my ears when I'm constantly on the road.

Speaking of which, I think one's playlist really does reveal one's true character. When you're listening to music (and I assume you're doing this through the means of an audio-transferral device like earphones) it's more or less a private affair; just you and only you enjoying your music. You'll listen to whatever you like - be it reggae or metal or alt-rock - because it's your private time and you want to listen to what you enjoy listening to, simply because that music defines you. I'm probably over-thinking this shit, but it's nice to write out your thoughts based on what you've observed.

More often than not, I've seen friends who listen to popular music who, in turn, love to hang out with the popular kids. I've had friends who dig punk rock, and as such are one of the more extreme deviants of society, doing what they want just 'cause.

Which then brings me to a chicken-and-egg question, are we choosing our music based on who we are, or are we shaped by our choice of music?

And no, you may not slap me.

Sigh Part Deux

2009-12-21T01:57:00.002+08:00

Today, a friend asked me why I haven't been blogging much. (By the way, thanks. At least I know someONE's still looking to this page for updates. Heh.)

And I know I've posted countless attempts at excuses to explain such a situation.

Dear readers,

Truth is, I've been lying to you.

My guess on why I haven't been posting is as good as yours.

I think I've really lost focus...on a lot of things.

On myself, on what I really want. On my education, on my passion.

This past year has brought me up to heights never before known, and pushed me back down within the same time, with such unimaginable prejudice.

In short, I've been really messed up.

However, there is a plus side to being as messed up as I am: there's a strong motivation to pick yourself off the floor and prove to everyone that you're able to rise from the ashes.

'Stick It To The Man', if you will.

You just have to figure out where to start first.

Something I ask myself every day.

2009-12-12T21:19:00.002+08:00

Who do you carry the torch for, my young man? Do you believe in anything? Do you carry it around just to burn things down...

Radical redefinition.

2009-12-07T02:18:00.002+08:00

I used to think having a blog and making all the posts about one's daily (or weekly, or even monthly and yearly, for that matter.) activities was extremely narcissistic and self-obsessed of oneself.

I still do, actually.

Yet, somehow, with every fibre of my being, I actually managed to do the very same thing with mine.

Well, not on a regular basis, but enough to make it count.

Blows your mind, don't it?

It's just that somewhere, deep within the recesses of my more-or-less self-sustaining (I think my mum just twitched in her sleep.) and bachelor-istic life, I find it extremely liberating to tell someone about my day, from time to time.

I mean, that's how it's supposed to work, right? When talking to people?

Just that in this case, it's less personal, what with the mostly one-way communication, and a faceless one at that.

I seem to be using a lot of commas in my sentences, don't I?

I guess my point is that I probably should pull an overhaul on my posts from now on. Like, less about me and what I do, and more about what I think. I mean, that's what counts, isn't it? What the people on teh Intarwebs would like to see?

No?

Well, screw you voyeuristic bastards - I'm doing it for the intellectuals, so there.

Anyway, I bid you adieu with one for the foodies out there: BURGERS GALORE!!

Carl's Jr. has nothing on the burgers featured on this site.

Clankers! Shoot Them!

2009-12-03T01:42:00.005+08:00

Wow.

I can't even commit to a weekly post nowadays, can I?

Shiiittttt.

Oh well.

So it's almost 2 in the morning now. I just completed editing a short video for my Advanced Camera Production module (the title tells all about the hassle involved), and all I have to do now is export the damn thing and put it on a DVD.

Oh, and study for a quiz for my Music CDS as well.

Did I mention it was almost 2 in the morning?

I think my body acclimatizing itself to all-nighters. I feel like a damn bat in the day (sleeping habits, not caped-crusader-fighting-crime habits) and am fully awake at unearthly hours.

In short, I'm fucked.

And not in the way I would enjoy, either.

Dammit.

On an unrelated note, I think I'm gonna do something I haven't done in a long time: I giving my two cents.

Yeah, literally.

...

If you believed that, you get a pretend cookie. It's Butterscotch Pecan, but, you know, being a pretend cookie, you could very well think up of any flavour you want, really.

Yeah.

Okay back on track.

I think Clone Troopers are awesome.

Here's why:

It's a suit I made (well, with help from dear old Mum) for use in my video. Granted, it's a bit overdue. That still doesn't make it any less awesome. XP

What, you were expecting some kind of deep introspective reflection?

Well, you were right. It's just that the ol' noggin just isn't in a proper capacity for that kind of shit at this time of the morning.

Now, if I could only find where my DC-15 blaster rifle went...

Wasted.

2009-11-21T18:47:00.002+08:00

Assignments piling up.

Gigs piling up.

Weight piling up.

Stress piling up.

...

IT NEVER ENDS!!!

AHAHAHAHAAHAHAAHA*flumph*

Those eyes...they see right through you.

2009-10-30T00:39:00.008+08:00

It's been a lot of weeks since the America's Next Top Model Cycle 12 season started, but I still can't get over this really amazing bit of coincidence.

Here we have Allison a.k.a baby doll brought to life:

And here why have my lovely niece (or cousin's daughter, if you want to get all technical about it), Ardini Qistina:

A more recent picture:

Granted, she's not top model material (at least, not just yet), but those eyes...the resemblance is truly uncanny.

Here's a more up-close comparison if you still can't see it.

Freaky huh?

Musings of gastronomic proportions.

2009-10-28T01:32:00.002+08:00

I think I think better (pardon the over-usage) when I'm eating.

It's when you have that time alone to yourself, when you hands are on auto-pilot shovelling food into your pie-hole, that you really get to think deep thoughts.

Like how the guy sitting in front of you is putting his butt-crack up on a hairy display for all to see, free-of-charge.

Or how that baby boy sitting two tables across from you has the chubbiest cheeks you've ever seen that you'd want nothing more than to gnaw 'em right off.

Not the two best examples, I know.

Inspiration comes to me at 1 in the morning in sputtering bursts , like exhaust from a derelict jalopy.

But I digress.

So I was at Tang Tea House at Simpang Bedok today, contemplating the meaning of life itself (read Figuring Out Lunch Plans For Tomorrow).

Then somehow, my train of thought led me to this pseudo-epiphany:

Our music playlists mirror our life experiences, if not life itself.

DUN DUN DUN.

Think about it.

Remember when you started that playlist, way back when you were a young'un getting a hold of your first mp3 track?

You could tell; this was gonna be a start of whole new adventure.

So as you row, row, row your boat down the river of life, you hoard as well songs that seemed to speak to you,

Songs that seemed to echo your feelings;

Your very soul.

Then came along those bumps in your road;

Raging whirlpools of doom threatening to drown your very being;

Frightening thunderclouds poised to strike at any second.

They changed the course of your little raft, making it head down paths never before encountered - like listening songs that suited what you felt, songs that you think could make that pain go away.

Those songs - like your experiences - became a part of you too.

Over time, these raging waves ebbed, but not before leaving weathered scars on your travel-weary dingy. These scars - songs of angst and rage and resentment - they serve to remind you of mistakes past, and lessons learnt. You're a changed man, and those scars; they're a part of you now, part of your eternal playlist, and have made you into what you are now.

So you see, music isn't JUST music.

Not to me at least.

It's what I was, what I am, and what I want myself to be.

"Whoa, that's deep, dude." "Totally."

-facepalm-

2009-10-25T21:41:00.002+08:00

Wow.

It seems I've lost all semblance of readership on this page.

Not that I have a way of tracking it, though.

Or do I?

*cue evil maniacal laughter*

No, seriously, I don't.

What do I look like, a stalker?

Don't answer that.

Right, so here comes the part where I provide an explanation to you guys.

If any of you are actually here to read it, anyway.

If you are, you've probably been redirected by some fluke of the intarwebs, or you actually chanced upon my link from the homepages of many of my known associates.

I digress.

Either way, if you've actually been reading all the way up to this sentence, you have my utmost and unlimited gratitude from the depths of my oblivious-ity. Now you get a cookie.

FYI, it's a pretend cookie.

What, you never played tea party when you were kid?

Some childhood you have.

...

Yeanyways, I don't foresee myself doing much blogging for the remainder of this semester. My schedule's getting pretty packed, plus there's Sambateria taking away much of my time and attention (not that I'm complaining.).

So yeah, there you go.

Pretty weak huh?

Well, get me some blogging fodder and I'll get on with a proper post then, shall we?

Hmph.

Apologies.

2009-10-12T23:21:00.005+08:00

Gaddangit.

Looks lahk ah been leevin' this 'ere blog fer ded...

Well, here are some pics to tide you guys over till I get my groove back.

Oh oh...and Sambateria rocks...

...The Perishers are awesome,

...The chalet was GREAT fun,

...and Nerf guns hurt at close range.

Words of wisdom, they are.

Oh right, peektures.

I only put the last one up cos it's my best score so far. 120 XD

Gone going gone.

2009-09-30T23:20:00.002+08:00

Costa Sands Pasir Ris chalet from the 5th to the 7th of October, apes.

Them doors will always be open.

Things to expect: Nerf Guns, Barbecued whats-its, chocolate sauce and a whole lot of strippers.

...I might have lied on the last part. Heh.

In my backyard, a coffee cream cake lay in wait.

2009-09-26T02:57:00.017+08:00

Ohmahgadohmahgad I'm so late in posting this. Ummumm okay BEST BIRTHDAY EVER YESTERDAY OR ACTAULLY 2 DAYS AGO SINCE IT'S LIKE PAST MIDNIGHT NOW TEEHEEE.

Thanks to ALLLLLL the dudes and dudettes of Sambateria who took all that trouble just to come down despite whatever schedules they had, just for lil' ol' me.

Awww. I is touched. XD

It all started with a relatively elaborate ruse set up by none other than the mastermind himself, Zat, under the pretense of going out to watch a movie. Before I knew it, I had myself blindfolded with the help of a motorcycle helmet, on the way to god-knows-where, only to be surprised by the whole gang (well, almost) lying in wait under a shelter, birthday cake and everything. Complete with obligatory cake-smash-into-the-face, I'll let the pictures do the talking. =)

A single gift, but no worries; it's my firm belief that it's the thought that counts. And how'd you guys know I was into Lego Bionicle? Interesting... But we'll leave that mystery for another time.

Thanks a lot, guys. That really made my day. Here's looking forward to the 4th of October! =D

Boomz.

2009-09-24T00:12:00.000+08:00

Happy.

Frickin.

Birthday.

2 more days, people, and then I'm FREE.

FREE, FREE AS THE BIRDS IN THE SKY AND THE LEAVES IN THE BREEZE WOOOOO~

Bits and pieces.

2009-09-13T20:50:00.012+08:00

So I got down to the routine spring cleaning of the house in preparation for Hari Raya this year.

Started off with my room first. It's been ages since it got reorganized. =/

And lo and behold, I was treated to a blast from my past.

I got hooked onto these little 'egg-creature' toys are some point or other in my childhood. The fact that you could just pull out an animal from those egg toys was highly intriguing to my youthful intellect. Heh.

And who could forget these 'mini-cons'?

Bought at 50 cents or less from your neighbourhood vending machine, these obvious China-made rip-offs of Hasbro's originals fueled my interest in the series for many years to come.

I'd like to call these 'Chupa-surprises', 'cos they're basically like your average Kinder Surprise (which would go ga-ga for as a kid, by the way) but this time they were bundled with Chupa Chup lollipops. Let's just say I'm a fan. =P

And who doesn't love them Happy Meal toys? These are but a fraction of my treasure trove of Happy Meal goodies. And yes, that was a Batmobile beside the visage of Will Smith on a horse from the movie 'Wild Wild West', in unfortunate disrepair. =(

To think this fella actually survived the onslaught of time and neglect.

Treasured readers, let me introuce to you Billy Lee from the relatively unknown TV cartoon series Double Dragon. WOOOOO *fanboy squeals* One of my favourite toys, this macho man will always hold a special place in my heart. Plus, that mask is just TOO cool. XD

Amazing, the revelations that surface as you go about such a mundane activity. That, and the amazing pain that comes with it once you're done. =S

Brilliant.

2009-09-10T01:29:00.003+08:00

Went out to check out prices for the dude's proposed Malaysia trip at the end of our SIP.

Got some pretty affordable quotations. Whether you guys are willing to pay for it is another matter, eh?

Headed down to Kampung Glam/Haji Lane area 'cos Kak Yana wanted to take a look around. Spotted an absolutely talented Arabic calligrapher. I don't really know whether to use the term 'Islamic calligrapher' or 'Arabic calligrapher', but I'll be more respectful to our secular nation and stick with the latter.

Got him to 'calligraph-ise' my name. Cost me a good five bucks, that one. But I must admit, it's pretty good, although I would have wanted to see something more elaborate and expressive. Heh.

I guess I'm being unfair to a certain group of people right now. If you can read Jawi or Farsi, this would probably make more sense. It reads my name, 'Muhammad Hafeez' from a sort of clockwise direction starting from the top right hand corner.

Hell, western calligraphy is hard enough, but my respect really goes out to Arabic calligraphers (and ambrigramists too. Didn't think I forgot about you guys, didja?)

Check out my post on ambigrams here.

Bay-frickin'-BEATS.

2009-08-30T01:36:00.004+08:00

Wow, what a day.

Went to the gym for the first time in two weeks, what with being down with a bloody high fever and all. By the way, here's a shoutout to all of you who dropped a message or a call during that week wishing me well or asking how I was - you know who you are, I know I do. Just for that, you guys rock. =)

Went to the office for a while to get some work done on my promo project.

Headed down to Bugis after to meet Ranor and Fala for buka, after which we headed down to the Esplanade for Day 2 of BAYBEATS.

WOOOOOOOO.

The first act we caught was Meza Virs. Well, technically, it was The Marilyns but since we couldn't see a thing from outside the Arena, we gave up.

Now, Meza Virs. Apparently they're the first metal band to appear on Baybeats, so props to the organisers for arranging that. Haven't been to any metal gigs before; not being a real fan of the genre kind of contributed to the lack thereof. =S Needless to say, I went in with an open mind, and I was actually pleasantly surprised. They were pretty much what I expected a metal band to be: long hair, vocalist with heavy goth makeup, though the guitarists were pretty unorthodox in their dress - their attitude more than made up for it.

And I have to say this: their cover of The Cure's Lovesong was FRICKIN AWESOME. Most of you would probably recognise the song from 311's cover of it in the movie 50 First Dates. To hear it being rendered in METAL was a totally refreshing experience - they actually managed to pull it off! Props to you guys for that.

Hung out at the rooftop for a bit while we waited for Love Me Butch's set to start. Finally managed to catch the funk beat for the pandeiro with Fala's help. Thanks eh! =)

So then Love Me Butch began their set...and that's when the mayhem started. It's like society descending into anarchy in 60 seconds flat. The scene was ugly. Love Me Butch was brilliant, as expected, though the fucking mat reps totally ruined the experience.

And the Baybeats shirt in XL still seems pretty fitting. Damn you, Asian sizing.

2:30 a.m... and now I'm off to bed. Ciao.

In recent light of things...

2009-08-15T22:57:00.000+08:00

Let me ask you readers something:

Have you ever gone out and tried out an activity, just for kicks...

Only to find out, 'Hey, I kinda like doing this.'...

So you expose youself to it, get involved in it on a regular basis...

You're getting to like it more, and the company around you's an added incentive...

...people who share the same interests as you!

Soon you find yourself becoming more passionate about it...

Like it's impossible to imagine life without it...

Well, have you?

Now, imagine if one day, under one circumstance or the other, you can't engage in this activity any longer.

Not because you don't want to, but something, or someone, is holding you back.

I ask you know, what do you do?

Or, more aptly, what CAN you do?

That rush...

The one you get when you perform in front of a live audience...

Among like-minded people who share the same love and passion for music as you do...

To be lost in the energy of the performance with them...

To devote your very heart and soul to the one thing you care about more than your own family...

Those precious few minutes of escapism and ecstacy, away from all the days and weeks, and months and years of troubles in this world...

Those precious few minutes...

I fear I can never get to experience that again.

Sunlight? Or Sun's Light?

2009-08-10T15:58:00.000+08:00

I don't know about you guys, but personally I find intelligence - AND a good sense of humour - in the opposite sex extremely, and irresistably, HAWT.

A possible shortcoming, yes. Then again, I haven't found those two attributes in a single package so far (Well, until a little more than two months ago.) so I'm still holding out for that.

Shit, now I'm getting all excited.

Programme Promo proposal due tomorrow? Not gonna happen, mister. Urgh.

An unlikely...something.

2009-08-07T00:19:00.003+08:00

These past Saturdays hav been pretty taxing on the ol' body. Late nights and dark circles do NOT make the man, apparently.

Though, I just wanna say that...I think I'm starting to have that little patriotic spark in me. Okay, you know how this year's NDP has 10 chapters in total right?

Oh, you don't?

Well, now you do. Talk about learning something new every day huh?

Anyways, there's this particular chapter - chapter 4 - where there will be a sort of musical showcase of the different cultures in Singapore and the different art forms unique to them. As expected, many of your iconic national songs will be playing, but there's this particular one - not so much national as it is culturally-specific - and it's called 'Rasa Sayang'.

Ring a bell? I bet it sounds a damn orchestra in there huh?

About this song...it's just that, everytime I take a look at that segment of the show, without fail, a surge of emotion just swells up in my chest upon hearing it. I won't deny that it actually almost made me tear up once. It's just incredible, our culture. I guess no matter what a mish-mash of different races we are, there might just be something unique about us Singaporeans as one people after all.

On an unrelated note, I've been having sessions with my personal trainer lately. Just got back from my 3rd one today. I must say, looking at myself, California Fitness can be a pretty depressing place at times, if you is getting what I is saying. But then again, the eye candy there ALWAYS takes the mind of the flab. And there be plenty of candy in the jar too. Eh, eh?

TWO MORE DAYS PEOPLE. COUNT THAT SHIT DOWNNN.

Who's gonna save my soul now.

2009-08-03T02:17:00.004+08:00

Just got back from a trip out with the Upbeats (Upbeats or what...=P)

Went for a training session before that with my presonal trainer, Jeryck. Nice guy, though I think his career kinda overworks him more than what it's worth. To each his own, I guess

Headed down to Swee Lee after to meet the dudes. Celebrated Uan's arrival back in Singapore (the only way Upbeats know how, of course), albeit only for a short while. A simple affair, really. Boy, the guy really hasn't changed much since he left (well, except for the new do. Love the updated look, man!)

And and, I finally got a hold of Jack and Rai's album at the Esplanade Shop when we were walking through the Esplanade to catch this jazz gig at the Outdoor Theatre. I cannot tell you how LONG I've waited to find that damn record lol.

Speaking of which, I...I just got back into this deep-seated funk. Which kinda sucks.

And how Gnarls Barkley seems to exude my very emotion.

Chains on brains.

2009-07-30T00:38:00.003+08:00

No post for a week, I know.

Plenty to blog about, there is.

To blog soon, I will.

Why I'm talking like this, I don't know.

By the way, Public Enemies is THA SHIT.

See you next moon. HAHAHA.

To revel in colour and sound. Magical.

2009-07-20T22:51:00.001+08:00

Somebody send me to a samba school in Brazil.

Like, right now.

California. Fudging. Fitness.

2009-07-20T01:10:00.007+08:00

To further reiterate said addiction (see previous entry), I just became...

....A MEMBER AT CALIFORNIA FITNESS! 0_0

It all started with this call I got one Sunday morning, from one of the sales reps teling me I had been referred for a two-week free trial at the Orchard branch. I figured, what the heck, it's free anyway, why not give it a go.

So I scheduled for an appointment early in the afternoon on Sunday, and somehow, through plenty of coercion and really effective persuasion, I got me that membership.

I'm still in shock.

I guess I'm really only trying this out for the first couple of months, though I'm aware there'a an early termination fee; the membership commitment's 12 months, you see. With a personal trainer in tow, I'm sure I'll be able to exercise more efficiently once I do decide to terminate early.

Okay, I sound badass already. ZE POWAA OF CALEEFORRNIAA FEETNESSS. MUAHAHAHA.

Also, it's much closer to the workplace. We'll see how that endeavour goes in the coming months.

Went to catch Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince in the evening with mum.

I was pleasantly surprised with this instalment, having been disappointed with the Goblet of Fire (WHERE WAS THE QUIDDITCH WORLD CUP???) and giving up on the series thereafter.

This time, I went in unprepared for what was to come. Newbie mode, activate.

Having had prior knowledge of the plot and characters from previous books, it wasn't hard to get whatever was on screen (that, and a whole lot of wiki-ing). The darker tone kinda made it more enjoyable; screw family-friendly, WE WANT TO SEE SOME WIZARD BLOOD SHED!

In short, the movie was awesome. Can't wait for the continuation with the Deathly Hallows in 2010 and 2011.

Well, I'm off to finish up some backlogged work, which is weird, considering I have 3 days leave starting today. Heh.

Gosh, I'm tired.

So very tired.

3 more weeks people.

By the way, CAN THE FELLA WHO REFERRED ME PLEASE OWN UP?

The curiosity's killing me lol.

Hafeez Zainalabidin Version 2.0

2009-07-17T00:06:00.001+08:00

A word of caution, my fellow readers.

The Oblivious Ape has officially...become a gym addict.

Yes, yes he has.

AND THAT'S AN ADDICTION I AM NOT WILLING TO GO COLD TURKEY FOR.

So there.

Watch out for the new and improved me in a little more than two months.

In the meantime, please keep those McSpicys away from me.

Please.

I so do love McSpicys.

Yeeeeaaap.

Maybe we've been lost all this while.

2009-07-13T23:28:00.005+08:00

Abso-tively, posi-lutely brilliant. Go ahead, give that play button a click.

It's no wonder.

2009-07-13T21:11:00.002+08:00

Once again, Pasir Ris leaves me in awe.

Ber-rab-bab-bebap-bap-bebap-BAP!

2009-07-12T13:55:00.005+08:00

This week shall officially go down in Oblivious Ape history as THE most tiring week EVER.

Tiring.

But fun.

Well, mostly fun.

That got a little tiring.

Still...fun.

3 days of Bloco rehearsals in 1 week! That's gotta be a record.

Well, I just wanna put it out there that yesterday's NDP rehearsal cum NE Show was THE BEST EVER. Towards the end, that is. The rest of the day felt just dog tired. Bloco Singapura had their very own video shoot in the afternoon (under the blazing hot sun, I might add) but it was cool, 'cos we were wearing shades.

...

Eh? Eh? See what I did there?

Aww, pfft.

So we ran through the whole parade schedule a.k.a Chapter 1, 5 and the finale. Costumes were hot as hell to keep on, as usual.

The FINALE.

Oh, the finale.

The finale was when all hell broke loose from the advent of the first raindrop. Well, hell was when we had to carry the drums back to the holding area from the stage (Why the hell we brought them out there for the finale in the first place, I shall never come to comprehend.) After which, we proceeded to FUCKING PARTY IN THE RAIN!

Trust me, once you've spent 12 hours in a non-breathable suit of nylon and foam, the rain will seem like a freakin' GODSEND. Urgh. I think I totally channelled Michael Jackson that day, arms outstretched, looking to the sky, almost shouting "HO!!!"...

...almost.

We were dancing, chanting "Brazil...Lalalalalalala.." like a bunch of hardcore partying Brazilians; without a care in the world; of how wet our costumes were getting or if our bags were getting soaked over at the holding area. Nope, not a care in the world. Just a bunch of teenagers living in an autocratic society with so much repressed energy that just exploded with the help of a few gray (or grey?) skies. Me wants more moments like those. XD

Of course, post-celebrations were kind of a bitch. Bloco got separated into two; one heading back to the G6 entrance while the other half got stuck backstage after being redirected by some officials. I was in the latter. -_-

Nevertheless, the rain died down soon after, and we got to cleaning up the instruments and belongings. Something short of chaos, I think it was all worth it in the end.

AND IT'S NOT EVEN THE ACTUAL DAY YET!

*groan*

I can't believe I'm saying this either, but something about it being the end of the week just gets to you sometimes. This time, I just can't help but freakin' wonder: when or where in the hell did all of that just...go wrong?

I guess I'll never have the answer to that either.

Epiphany, o' epiphany.

2009-07-10T00:12:00.003+08:00

OMG Retail Therapy ISN'T A MYTH!

WAHAHAHAHAHA.

Though, I must, say, I gotta work on them bargaining skills. I'm practically fodder for these retailers. =S

Hey, waiter of ages; my glass is half empty.

2009-07-06T14:12:00.005+08:00

OMG IT'S BEEN HELL OF A WEEK.

Curse thee, AYG...

Urgh.

Yeanyways, what with the pretty packed week and all, I managed to sneak in some me-time to go catch Beats and Breaks 2 at the Esplanade Outdoor Theatre last Saturday. Managed to grab Imran to come along as well. (Ohh, Beats and Breaks tau nak pegi, NDP prac tak tau nak datang...) LOL.

The show was brilliant. EFFING BRILLIANT. There is a total abstract difference between listening to a hip-hop track, and actually experiencing one being performed live right in front of your eyes. I mean, the lyrics, the message, the words; they just come alive, given more meaning through the expressions and emotions and passion exuded by the MCs and rappers themselves. Well, I know this rings true for the live performances of other genres as well, but there's just something about the spreading of social messages through hip-hop that makes everything seem so...justifiable. And please, people; gangsta rap isn't included in this whole praise-giving paragraph.

Two MCs who were the highlight of the night's set for me: Figure of Speech (this Chinese/Japanese dude?) and Apocalypse Dawn (I'm assuming he's Malay). Didn't manage to catch which collective they were from, nor could I find any identifying pictures on the web. But damn, they WERE what hip-hop was all about! Every song was preceded by a few minutes of introductory beat poetry, with issues ranging from the condemning of Islamic extremists and their misinterpretation of the religion, to the so-called 'environmentally conscious' efforts of multi-national corporations. Their sound reminded me heavily of The Roots, with heavy emphasis on lyrical expression, leaving a melodic backtrack to accentuate the message and soothe the soul at the same time

It's a freakin' art, I tell you.

So yeah, pretty crazy set that was. The dudes probably finished their NDP rehearsal by the time the show was over, so Imran and I went over to where they were lepak-ing just to say hi. Sorry I couldn't stay long! Work, work, work on Sunday. Pfft.

Went to the gym after work finished early the next day. Found out along the way that RDP had a busking session that day as well. What luck huh? Nevertheless, discipline is a much more firm master, so went straight on down to the gym instead of catching their set.

On another note, I get to clock in at 4 this afternoon! Yay for me.

Okbye.

WHOOP WHOOP.

2009-06-29T23:22:00.001+08:00

Yeyeh I get to clock in at 2pm tomorrow. Wheeee~

Okbye.

Here we go.

2009-06-28T23:00:00.003+08:00

Alrighty, 4 days of updates.

Okgo.

Thursday, o' Thursday. Got to catch Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen. Pretty awesome, I guess, especially with the introduction of the Devastator and Optimus Prime-Jetfire combiners.

My advice?

Go in with your eyes wide open and your brains shut down. Eye candy aplenty, though the same cant be said for captivating storylines.

Friday, o' Friday. Headed to NDP rehearsal. Managed to get off work early because of that. My boss still can't seem to believe I'm a drummer. Okay, fine, PERCUSSIONIST. Picky, picky.

To tell you the truth, Friday was quite an ego boost. Apparently to a lot of my dudes and dudettes there, I seemed to have trimmed down quite a bit. Well, I have, but I didn't think the change was that drastic to warrant that kind of reaction from people. Maybe it's because the relatively small-fitting Marks and Spencer polo I was wearing. Either way, the compliments are all good. Heh.

Saturday, o' Saturday. NDP rehearsal again, this time a full dress. Went for a gym session with Haiqal before that to build up before the big reveal, what with our costumes being sleeveless and all. As expected, the costumes made us shed buckets of sweat. (Chey, melebih eh. Lol.) Coupled with an unforgiving Singapore equatorial climate, this week's rehearsal was a pretty...freaky? I'm sorry, words seem to escape me right now. Had to leave early for a prior engagement with the dudes over at Dawn's birthday party, which she so graciously invited me too. *cough*

I'M STILL WAITING FOR THE PICTURES, BY THE WAY. Hmph.

Sunday, o' Sunday. Bleh. Went to the cemetery with my mum, aunt, cousin and her husband. We haven't gone for close to...what, 8 months? So yeah. After which, I had to head to work, as stated below. And here I am, typing this post.

The hours for tomorrow are from 8.30 am to 10 pm. Somebody get me a bucketload of coffee powder. And maybe some Botox. Urgh.

GAH.

2009-06-28T18:51:00.000+08:00

At work now, after which I'll only knock off at 10.

On a SUNDAY.

Oh, the horror.

Okbye.

Dix-huit....and counting.

2009-06-28T00:20:00.002+08:00

There isn't an easy way to keep you out of my mind.

There really isn't.

And what's screwed up 'bout that is...I don't think I ever want to.

Huh.

(Sorry folks. Regular and proper updates coming up soon, right after I get more than 6 hours of sleep every day. *faints*)

ZOMGWTFBBQ.

2009-06-26T01:24:00.001+08:00

OMFG Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen IS AWESOME.

=DD

Will update with a review soon. Got back at 12 plus since the movie was at 9.30. Totally worth it though. I is a happy goober. XD

Gila gila gila.

2009-06-23T22:40:00.004+08:00

Say hello to my latest local musical discovery: thecrazy88.

Picture credits: www.the88movement.wordpress.com

Saw a notification on Facebook that a friend had become a fan of these guys. Went to check 'em out and I was pleasantly surprised.

I can safely say that these guys show how local hip-hop and rap is really done. The Malay accent's barely noticeable, which is a plus, 'cos really, most others end up sounding like mat-rappers. Not a selling point, I can assure you. And they cite The Cool Kids as one of their musical influences, and I'm happy to say the resemblance of the sounds between these two groups is uncanny. Whether that's a good thing or not, I leave it up to the individual listener to decide.

They have a couple of tracks available for download at their Wordpress site. Go check them out if you're interested.

Brace yourselves.

2009-06-22T20:37:00.008+08:00

Finally got a haircut today. Got home, washed up...

...and would you look at that, I accidentally conjured up a new hairstyle for my extremely stubborn crop!

Warning: the following images may be disturbing and/or barf-inducing to some readers. Reader discretion is advised.

BOOM!

Pictures are in increasing order of surprise with increasing doses of RIDICULOUS.

Muke memang nak mintak kene djembe slap, I know. LOL

But hey, look Ma, Insta-Bangs!

Ba-dump-psshh.

Now leave me as I pick up whatever's left of my pride. Heh.

EDIT: I just got to know a few days ago that the whole 2002 graduating cohort of Loyang Primary School were organizing a reunion this weekend! My oh my, the memories. Hopefully the plan pulls through.

'The Best Is In Me. Loyang Primary School'

Chey, nostalgia or what. =D

The evening skies were awesome today. Sigh.

And so it begins.

2009-06-21T23:40:00.005+08:00

Amazingly one of my most packed Sundays yet.

Woke up for a bloody early morning gig at Paya Lebar Air Base (Or was it another name? Damn air bases.)

Ended late so I couldn't go for madrasah. Not like I wanted to, anyway. Heh.

Got home, changed, and went for one of the most fruitful gym sessions I've ever had thus far. When that was done, got a call from Zat to watch a movie at eHub. 'Twas to be I Love You, Man but it ended up to be Blood: The Last Vampire instead. Movie was good, great special effects and visual style. Pity the ending spoiled the shit out of it. Urgh.

Went home after that.

An hour later, me and my mum went out for dinner, again at eHub. Seoul Garden buffet. Realised something right then: this is probably one of the more close family dinners we've had together since, like...ever. I guess I kinda liked that.

Well, that's my weekend in a nutshell. Oh, and by the way, the costume I got for Bloco's NDP gig: totally makes me look like a ringmaster/traffic police/power ranger/go-go dancer.

Watch out for the next instalment in the Power Rangers series: Bloco Force.

Booya. LOL.

Just one of those days.

2009-06-21T00:54:00.002+08:00

I'm gonna put this thought out right here and send it your way.

If you don't like it, just ignore it or send it right back.

I freakin' miss you.

In fact, words can't describe how much that is.

Every time I try to keep myself occupied, the thought of you just manages to creep into this little head of mine every single time.

I just...

I just miss you, alright?

So there.

Nudge.

2009-06-19T23:00:00.003+08:00

"Hate Me" - Blue October

I have to block out thoughts of you so I don’t lose my head
They crawl in like a cockroach leaving babies in my bed
Dropping little reels of tape to remind me that I’m alone
Playing movies in my head that make a porno feel like home
There's a burning in my pride, a nervous bleeding in my brain
An ounce of peace is all I want for you. Will you never call again?
And will you never say that you love me just to put it in my face?
And will you never try to reach me?
It is I that wanted space

Hate me today
Hate me tomorrow
Hate me for all the things I didn't do for you

Hate me in ways
Yeah ways hard to swallow
Hate me so you can finally see what’s good for you

I’m sober now for 3 whole months it’s one accomplishment that you helped me with
The one thing that always tore us apart is the one thing I won’t touch again
In a sick way I want to thank you for holding my head up late at night
While I was busy waging wars on myself, you were trying to stop the fight
You never doubted my warped opinions on things like suicidal hate
You made me compliment myself when it was way too hard to take
So I’ll drive so fucking far away that I never cross your mind
And do whatever it takes in your heart to leave me behind

Hate me today
Hate me tomorrow
Hate me for all the things I didn’t do for you

Hate me in ways
Yeah ways hard to swallow
Hate me so you can finally see what’s good for you

And with a sad heart I say bye to you and wave
Kicking shadows on the street for every mistake that I had made
And like a baby boy I never was a man
Until I saw your blue eyes cry and I held your face in my hand
And then I fell down yelling “Make it go away!”
Just make a smile come back and shine just like it used to be
And then she whispered “How can you do this to me?”

Hate me today
Hate me tomorrow
Hate me for all the things I didn’t do for you

Hate me in ways
Yeah ways hard to swallow
Hate me so you can finally see what’s good for you
For you
For you
For you.
______________

This song's been in my playlist since '06, but never really got to playing it after the initial download.

How convenient that it chose to play on the one day I chose to put my playlist on shuffle.

They say you won't really know the true value of what you have until you lose it.

How true.

Fly.

2009-06-18T21:23:00.004+08:00

This would probably sound awfully childish and immature of me (but then again, when have I ever said anything that isn't, right? Eheh.) but damn, I wonder what it would be like to live in the clouds.

It's just that, every time I get home from work, I look out the balcony and my eyes are treated to one of the most breathtaking views of the horizon the east side could ever experience. Honestly though, my flat is probably one of the most strategically placed placed flats in the whole of the Pasir Ris estate, WHICH IS FUCKING AWESOME. If I'm lucky, I might even get to see the sunset.

The hues, the clouds, the colours these days...make for an awe-inspiring muse to the east-side masses.

Seriously, if I were able to dump all the troubles of this world, get the first ticket to live in the sky - if that were at all possible - I would.

Heh, I guess that's why Allah created Heaven huh? Well, if you're a believer, you're a believer. To each his own, I say.

I'd like that Boom Boom Pow, yes?

2009-06-17T22:32:00.004+08:00

Woosah....

Guess what?

THE APE JUST BOUGHT HIMSELF AN AWESOME TUNE BLASTER BABY WOOOO.

Say hello to my little friend.=D

The Creative Zen X-Fi media player.

Went for somewhat of a shopping spree with my mom after dinner just now. I figured since it's been a personal goal of mine to become somewhat of a musical afficionado, my ears deserved something better than what my existing player (my PSP. I know. -_-) could offer me.

Enter above player. I've been hearing good reviews about Creative players from friends; the quality of the sound churned out as well as its software's ease of use. So why not? The pay's been sitting there for ages anyway, might as well treat myself right?

The player's charging now. Guess it's another 6 hours before I can finally experience the aural pleasure that is the Creative MP3 player. In the meantime, my X-Mini speakers shall satiate those desires. XP

Monday, coming right up.

2009-06-15T00:19:00.003+08:00

Hokay, new week's come up just over half an hour ago.

Meanwhile, I shall attempt to do a proper update within such a time.

So I headed to Rhythm De Pasion's busking session over at Tampines One after today's gym session, since it was on the way back home anyway.

I must say, they've really gotten better since the last time I saw one of their sessions at the same place back in early '08. New songs, for starters, and of course, new members. Which makes for a fresh new performance, I think. Haha.

So, mid-way through their second set, me and Mirul were invited to play the surdo and caixa respectively for a Bloco-hit, Bahiana Funk. And we played.

All I can say is: Damn, I miss busking.

And turns out, I sustained my worst injury so far from playing the surdo over there.

I miss Cybershot. =(

And weird part is, I didn't even know my flesh got freakin' scratched out till I raised my water bottle to my lips and saw it on the finger. Talk about passion for the music. Lol.

Blood-stained and ripped like I'd just punched somebody silly.

With a finger.

Man, I wish I was that awesome.

Well, I guess there's a first time for everything huh?

Anyway, headed for the movies afterwards with my mum. It's been ages since I caught a movie with her, what with the procrastinating and all.

I was looking for something funny to end the day with (God knows how much cheering up I need.) a.k.a Monsters vs. Aliens. The only show available then was at midnight; way too late. So we settled for something with potential substance like The Taking of Pelham 123 instead.

With two actor powerhouses in the lead roles, this flick was just too good to pass up.

Burgh, what can I say... It's your basic bad guy-hostage situation-good guy saves the day kind of movie. It's got a lot of underlying themes though. Anarchy, rage against the machine, rebel with a cause kind of themes.

And for the first time in such a movie, we see that the good guy as flaws of his own as well. Denzel Washington portrays a good train despatch, I must say. Heh. John Travolta tries too hard though, I think. Vulgarities? Not really your style, my man.

So not in the mood for long reviews nowadays. Although I do want to take this quote out from the movie.

Scene: Denzel As Walter finally confronts John as 'Ryder' on the Manhattan bridge after chasing him down the streets of Midtown.

"So is this how you thought this was gonna end, when you put your socks on this morning?"

Fate can be a bitch, sometimes.

Confessions of a Football Virgin.

2009-06-11T00:52:00.007+08:00

Been looking for something substantial to blog about for a change, and today, it seems like I've found it.

I WENT TO MY FIRST FOOTBALL MATCH BABY!! WOOOOOOOOO!!!

Well, I didn't go there because I wanted to; more of because I wanted to see how the camera and production set-up looked like at the Jalan Besar Stadium. Part of the internship, you see.

Didn't have to pay a single cent to get in, and I got to stand near the benches where the coaches and substitutes were! All because of this sweet lil' thang:

A.K.A ALL ACCESS. MUAHAHAH. ^^

So we got into the OB van to observe the studio set-up. The match was Woodlands Wellington FC versus Super Reds FC, and was to be telecast LIVE. So you could imagine how hectic the situation was at the studio just now. And the best part is, they have to do this same thing all the way til the 19th of June. Wah, jialat.

Just to give you guys an idea of how confusing the filming process can be, here's a look at the video switcher:

SO.

MANY.

BUTTONS.

Way more than what we have in school. Then again, we were only controlling 4 cameras; they're controlling 8. -_-"

So the match ended in a draw at full-time - they were filled with many exciting chances though - and since it was a quarter final match of the League Cup, we went into extra time, WHICH ENDED IN A DRAW AS WELL.

And during extra time, Woodlands and Super Reds got into an all-out fight right on the section of the field beside me. LIKE WTF. The Korean dudes so started it first lah, which prompted the Woodlands bench to react like a whole bunch of matreps. The whole stadium was filled with 'em by the way. -_-

So the match ended with a win by Woodlands through penalties.

First live match.

Draw on both normal and extra time.

Fight broke out right in front of me.

WHAT ARE THE ODDS.

Pretty good, actually. XD

All touchy-feely.

2009-06-09T23:38:00.001+08:00

Damn.

It feels weird to have a chin as clean and smooth as a baby's bottom after so long. =S

Guess it's a week of new beginnings then, huh? Lol.

Just me and my music now.

2009-06-08T21:32:00.003+08:00

Hafeez Zainalabidin wonders how The Roots managed to evade his music radar for 5 long years.
posted 5 minutes ago. Comment. Like.

Lol.

This post shall stand tribute to one of THE greatest hip-hop ensembles to ever exist on the face of this earth: The Roots.

Their hip-hop live band sound is EXACTLY what I've been looking for. It just really gives that urban, laid-back feel;

like when you're walking down the streets of the urban jungle,

the thumping bass motivating your every step,

your kicks sending ripples up your spine, into your ears, sending a rush through your mind,

when all of a sudden, the dull colours of the world just come alive again when the rhythms and melodies kick in.

It's a feeling unlike any other. Heh. I remember a time when I used to say that about something else. =S

Check out a few of their tracks that I added to my playlist: All Night Long feat. Common and Erykah Badu, Baby You Got Me feat. Erykah Badu, as well as Lazy Afternoon.

Keep making good music, guys. Long live hip-hop.

I'd be kidding myself if I said I didn't miss you. But hey, 48 hours; that's gotta be a record.

God, this is miserable.

To run, or not to run. That is the question.

2009-06-07T20:18:00.002+08:00

Run, wayward one, run
Till you can run no further
The angels, they hunt in earnest now
For you, they cry 'Murder!'

Wisps of memories
Born of happy things
Now grow thorns and hooks
Piercing you
Hurting you
With the one thing you treasure most.

'Tis a crying shame, indeed
For one such as you.
But yet, you allow yourself
One fleeting glance
That lasts just short of forever.

Letting her portrait linger on the canvas of your heart.

Plead
'One moment longer.'
But truth is a cruel master
He does not answer.

He does speak these few, precious words:
"Run, wayward one, run."

He'll be back?

2009-06-05T23:49:00.004+08:00

With regards to the previous post, apparently the worst part of today stops right there.

Finally got to catch Terminator Salvation just now.

I must say, this third sequel to the franchise (or prequel, if you want to get all particular about event chronology) is a sci-fi, action packed 3D feast for the eyes. Wait, have I said that about another movie before...? Digressing...

It's pretty easy on the newbies, if you consider giving the series backstory in short lines of text over at the start of the movie easy. Other than that, newbies: you're good to go.

This installment features a future, older John Connor, played by Christian Bale. Battle-hardened with probably an overactive paranoia of machines, John's come a long way since we last saw him in the events of Terminator 3, and has since been seen as the de facto leader of the resistance and the human race. Okay well, maybe not leader; preacher, or chaplain maybe? As in those Warhammer 40K Space Marine leader units. Okay, I see many blank faces...moving on.

Rollin' in his crew is his officer and right hand man Barnes, played by *gasp* COMMON! Probably one of my favourite hip-hop artists to date ever since I first heard his track 'Go!' on one of the Don and Drew podcasts.

Fanboy moment there. XD

So apparently he's got to find Kyle Reese a.k.a his father from the future. Thing is, in this present time, Kyle's only a teenager, lost in the ruins of L.A. Okay, so he finds him. But think about it: what's he gonna do?

Tell him: "Hey, I want you to go back into the past, save my mother and hopefully screw her so that I might actually exist. You'd do that for me? Hey, thanks dad. You're the best dad EVER! *HUGS*"?

This whole past/present/future time travel thing gets fucked up the more we try to think about it.

My suggestion?

Stop.

Great.

2009-06-05T18:40:00.000+08:00

Could this day get any worse?

It's times like these.

2009-06-04T22:08:00.004+08:00

The workplace is starting to feel more like a classroom - and you'd think I'd be glad, what with my missing the school environment and all - if only the politics didn't come with it.

Hell hath no fury like a boss scorned over instructions that got fucked up in the relay.

And you'd think I'd have learned something from that by keeping my own anger in check.

I guess all I managed to do was shoot myself in the foot YET AGAIN.

Seems to be a recurring theme these days.

Maybe if I try hard enough, time might go in reverse and that moment would never have happened.

That's right, all I have to do is close my eyes real tight, vibrate a little and shout " YATA!" when I'm done.

Here's goes nothing.

.....

YATA!

Waitaminute.

I'm still here.

....

I guess there's nothing left but to say "I'm sorry". That selfish, insensitive bastard that texted you right then; that was me let off my leash.

And I'm sorry.

FEVAAAA.

2009-06-03T21:41:00.002+08:00

Pata-pata-pata-pon.

*Buh-wugga*

Okay, I admit this is a poor excuse for a post.

Been searching high and low for more blogging material; well, more like varied blogging material, 'cos you readers are probably sick and tired of what I've been posting these few weeks.

Heh.

Well, the first SIP on-campus session is this Saturday. I sort of can't wait; it's been two months since we last saw each other altogether in school. But it's at 9 a.m, which means I'll probably have to miss a good portion of this weekend's Bloco practice. Urrgh, please don't let the session take too long.

Rediscovered my passion for Patapon over the past few days. Okay, Patapon 2 more like it. There's just nothing like watching your own army of walking, talking eyeballs (How do they talk...?) do your bidding. A hail of spears, arrows and musical notes raining down upon an army is truly a sight to behold.

Now, I'm thinking of getting Resistance: Retribution. Been wanting to play the series since its debut. I guess this is my chance to get some.

And OMG I'M TURNING INTO A FACEBOOK ADDICT. Blame my line of work and me not being able to use MSN Messenger. Pfft.

It's quite simple, really.

2009-06-01T21:51:00.002+08:00

From this...

To this...

Yeah, I probably might have compensated for a few things in my side of the portrait. Hey, it's the first time I'm drawing myself. Cut me some slack, will ya?

And, more importantly,

I'm sorry.

Mobots.

2009-06-01T19:41:00.005+08:00

Humans.

Men and women.

Us.

We're all kind of like machines in a way.

From time to time, some function or mechanism inside clogs up, breaks down or wears off, thereby signaling for some kind of repair.

Some kind of release.

Each and every one of us go about achieving this release through various means.

Some of us choose to repair ourselves.

Some of us rely solely on others for repairs.

Some of us work with others for a mutually beneficial relationship.

Some of us forcefully explode.

Some of us attempt some form of self-containment.

Some of us don't even bother trying, letting the degeneration run its own course.

You get the picture.

I, personally, find that release in writing. As if you hadn't noticed that from a 300plus post archive over a period of 4 years.

Expressing innermost thoughts - both pleasing and plaguing - through the beauty that is the English language. Call me colonialist. I don't give a damn.

Thing is, this form of release possesses equal chances of both inspiring and anguishing the reader. Coupled with facial anonymity through the Internet, such is the fallibility of the English language.

And yet, here I am, typing.

Am I okay NOW, you ask? Have I achieved that release?

I calmly offer you my response: yes.

As such, if you find that there isn't a point to this post, there is, in fact,a solid one.

To me, at least.

I'm...enamoured.

2009-05-30T20:43:00.006+08:00

I find sometimes (check: MOST of the time) I think too much. But I guess one of the benefits of that is in the process, you get to chance upon a little piece of nostalgia in your life.

A moment.

A distant memory.

In my case, a song.

Here's 'Kau Ilhamku' by Man Bai. (Translated: You're My Inspiration) Today's (and maybe yesterday's) events got me thinking, and the song just came right at me; that little piece of nostalgia smack in my life's windshield.

MySpace Music Playlist at MixPod.com

Beribu bintang dilangit
Kini menghilang
Meraba aku dalam kelam
Rembulan mengambang
Kini makin suram
Pudar ilhamku tanpa arah

Sedetik wajahmu muncul
Dalam diam
Ada kerdipan ada sinar
Itukah bintang ataupun rembulan
Terima kasih kuucapkan

Izinkan kumencuri bayangan wajahmu
Izinkan ku mencuri khayalan denganmu
Maafkanlah oh...
Andai lagu ini
Mengganggu ruangan hidupmu
Kau senyumlah oh...
Sekadar memori
Kita di arena ini
Kau ilhamku
Kau ilhamku...

Gets you singing along doesn't it? =)

All that's missing right now...

All that I need to make this moment just right...

...is you.

BOOMER!

2009-05-27T21:55:00.000+08:00

OMG I SUDDENLY HAVE THE CRAVING FOR SOME LEFT 4 DEAD ACTION.

DAMMIT I NEED TO GET THAT DISC BACK.

GOTTA KILL ME SOME FUCKING INFECTEDDDDDD GRAARGHH@&*!&!(#*!#(!@

Okaydone.

Is this the moment where I look you in the eye?

2009-05-26T20:15:00.005+08:00

No other lyrics of any song has ever hit home in me more than 'Permanent' by David Cook.

It's like the man's telling my life story through his.

I swear if I hear that song one more time, I think I'm gonna fucking cry.

Word.

Muhd Hakim bin Zainalabidin.

I think I'm starting to miss you, little man.

Al-Fatihah.

"Will you think that you're all alone
When no one's there to hold your hand?
And all you know seems so far away and everything is temporary rest your head
I'm permanent."

We got that good vibe goin'.

2009-05-24T22:00:00.002+08:00

Those engines of passion
We rev 'em up.

Hear 'em purr, the sweet surrender
Strong, animalistic, yet somehow tender
In a language so strange in splendor
We got that good vibe goin'.

Hit the stereo, hit it up style
Let the beat run through us strong and wild
In a sound that got us both thinkin' "Wow:
We got that good vibe goin'."

The heat is on, the fire's lit and stoked
We be burnin' now, leavin' the world in smoke
It's a rush; a license no badge can revoke
Hell yeah.
We got that good vibe goin'.

I do believe this is good material for a future song-writing / producing endeavor. Heh.

What?

When your special someone ain't there with you, your blog's kinda like the next best thing.

As a confidante, OF COURSE.

Not that...other thing...

That people do...

When they're together...

Okayimmastopnow.

DOH!

2009-05-21T12:39:00.000+08:00

Congratulations, Hafeez.

You just managed to shoot yourself in the foot. Again. -.-"

I'm treating this thing like a Twitter. LOL. Urgh.

One night stand with my tunes.

2009-05-21T00:00:00.004+08:00

In commemoration of possibly one of the most badass showdowns in American Idol history, I'm putting up the Adam Lambert rendition of 'Mad World' by Tears for Fears up on my playlist which he performed for the finals, simply cos he is TEH BADASS. \m/

It's a good thing he chose that as his first song because it was FREAKIN' AWESOME. I was blown away. Honestly, and absolutely.

And I think I'm starting to take a liking to the beats of Izaak Stern a.ka. ELIAS SOH (DOH!). Got one up on my playlist there too, titled 'A Lesson In Anger Management'.

Give 'em a listen.

EDIT: Okay, I decided to give Adam Lambert a miss. Apparently the players somehow screwing it up, making it all scratchy-sounding and icky. Well, go to Youtube or imeem for your Lambert fix, I guess, 'cos you ain't getting it here.

What the future holds.

2009-05-18T21:07:00.004+08:00

I feel like such a tool for not getting this post out sooner. You're probably well on your way back home right now.

First of all, I just wanna say that this post is dedicated to a man who, with no shadow of a doubt, has made an impact in my life, both as a person and as a percussionist.

That man, is Safuan Azari Haji Ibrahim.

A spirited character, with a fiery passion for whatever he has a passion for, be it percussion or otherwise. And that passion being put to action is undeniably one of the most memorable and awe-inspiring sights that I was fortunate enough to have experienced.

It's rare for someone to employ such a simple and stress-free approach to life like he does in times like these. But somehow, it worked for him, and that is one mystery of life I feel I might never come to comprehend.

Admirable. Truly admirable.

I regret not being able to bid you farewell personally yesterday. But then again, we all know you won't be gone for long. Iguess if we try hard enough, 3 years will pass by like nothing. I hope that SMS I sent to you got through; it's probably going to be the last one I get to send to you, for a pretty long time. =S

Till then, godspeed, Uan. May your journey bring forth rewards aplenty, and know that we'll be right here, in Singapore, if you need us.

Assalamualaikum.

(P.S. Suzie, just in case, the post I mentioned - it's the one before this. Heh.)

For the record.

2009-05-17T23:35:00.007+08:00

To my beloved Suzaina,

Fuck the language, fuck the flowery phrases.

This time, I'm bringing it to you; the one truth, each and every word. Straight up, Oblivious Ape-style.

I. Love. You.

I may have said it one too many times, or not enough. I can't be sure. But those three words...those three words are three words I could never be more certain about.

I love it when you smile, like when your picture's being taken, or when you see something funny and smiling's the only thing you can do without seeming rude.

I love it when we get close, and that, I believe, should be pretty self-explanatory.

I could go on forever.

Each and every week, I fervently count down the days, in strong and unrelenting anticipation of the moments, the weekends on which we would meet again. Each passing hour, minute, second feels like an eternity ; one of which becomes almost impossible to endure, but delivers a promise of near-limitless emotional rewards.

I understand if reading this scares you a little - hell, it scares me too - but it's like I can't hold it in anymore. It's because of one simple truth: that I honestly have not felt this way about anyone in, like, EVER. Which probably would seem pretty pathetic on my part, but hey, better late than never, huh?

Just being around you gives me a rush like no other video game or percussion arrangement can ever bring. It wouldn't be that far off to say that I am utterly hooked, fixated, and addicted. I don't know if I make it too obvious (this post would probably do it) or if this is normal behaviour (I'm assuming it isn't), but I want you to know that there is not a waking moment in my life that you are not on my mind.

And I am proud, unabashed and unashamed to admit that.

I can't help it; I probably should, but not doing so is a temptation that's far too great to ignore.

I realise I have my moments, and that you have yours too. What moments they are; we'll figure that one out as we go along.

For now, I'm just too fucking glad you came into my life when you did.

'Til next we meet.

Yours truly, in the truest sense of the word,
Hafeez Zainalabidin

Not the best picture, but 'twas the night I got high.
Both on samba, and on you.

Never before.

2009-05-17T01:23:00.003+08:00

This has got to be a new personal record: 15 hours spent of out the house; seeing, hearing, feeling, breathing nothing else but percussion.

Straight up.

So Bloco practice was at 9am this time round, over at oh-so-near Kranji Camp. Didn't expect the weather be so fucking burning like it did, but hey, all in the pursuit of the passion, right?

Right.

We also had to leave early to get ready for Upbeats' gig at Marina Barrage as part of the opening acts for the Singapore Arts Festival. Yes, it's here already. I'm surprised at how much hype (or lack thereof) it got this year. Strange.

So anyway, we were supremely tight in our set. Mistakes were definitely made, but we made an awesome job of covering them up, I think. Kudos to the crowd for being pretty sporting as well. Pictures will be up soon, I hope. We were definitely a sight to behold. Heh.

Afterward, we heard that our Bloco buddies, Voodoo, were gonna busk afterwards at 8 or so. So off we went to Clarke Quay to get our voodoo on. Turns out they were only starting at 9. Well, no harm done.

It was suffice to say that I was FUCKING IMPRESSED. Yes, Voodoo Drums is the shiz, ladies and gentlemen. Bass-driven rhythms were accompanied with various melodies colourised by the triple-team of snare players, while talented frontmen took to the stage with accents on the djembe, xequere, and bells, as well as the huge oil drum that added a really rockin' industrial feel to their songs.

Two things they definitely have going for them - without a shadow of a doubt - are their showmanship, and their harmony. Crowd involvement was excellent, especially when the crowd itself responded. That issue can be a bitch with a lot of percussion groups. Vocalisations were added at appropriate points, even though sometimes they strained a lot to make themselves heard above the thumping beats. Every instrument was definitely in sync with one another, and even though there were occasional slip-ups, they were forgivable. I mean, the surdo players were working EXTREMELY hard for the money. I think they deserve some credit for that, don't you? Bass, I take my hat off to you, good sirs.

A delicious melding of familiar Asian tunes with contemporary and industrial sounds, Voodoo Drums will definitely leave you spellbound and wanting more. Cheers, dudes.

Boom.

2009-05-13T21:58:00.015+08:00

My headphone fetish got the best of me today.

Got news that Jade Gift Shop over at Century Square was stocking SkullCandy merchandise on its shelves, and I HAD to go check it out.

Kudos to Syik for the heads-up. XD

Here's the result of my latest splurge fest. =P

Presenting to you the SkullCandy iCon Headphones Gift Pack, which includes an exclusive SkullCandy chain and bandanna.

That was the package, pre-mutilation. Heh.

And here we have it unpackaged.

The whole set.

The headphones. I decided to go for simplicity this time.

Interchangeable ear cup covers. Purple? Thinking twice 'bout that.

Warranty info + Stencil which I already have from the last one I bought which was the G.I.

The necklace. Heh.

Warning pamphlet on excessive audio levels. Bleh.

Tried it on for size just now. Very, very light, and in no way cumbersome like the G.I. (The G.I. still owns in the rugged looks department, though) Great for a relatively active lifestyle and if you want to put on your headphones without using both hands. Minor, but it's still a factor in my book.

The sound's pretty awesome. Better than the G.I, I must say. I didn't have to boost the volume on my PSP all the way up just to get satisfactory sound, though I think it still could have been fixed to do better. Plus the noise isn't isolated to just your ears, so if you're the considerate type, try and take note of this 'cos anyone within ten metres of you will be able to hear whatever you're listening to. Yes, even if you're listening to The Ting Tings. (Ooh, burn!)

There you go, the SkullCandy iCon.

Live Long and Prosper.

2009-05-12T22:15:00.005+08:00

Something's really wrong with me.

This is the third post so far that has the words 'Star Trek' in it. *GASP*

Here we are, the post that absolutely violates every code of fanboy conduct I employ as a Star Wars fan.

Star Trek.

*shivers*

Urgh, here goes.

As soon as the opening scene begins, the audience is treated to a no-holds-barred 3-D feast for the eyes. I guess at that point, I was sold.

The movie itself was relatively newbie-friendly. It wasn't too heavily-laden with universe terminology and provided just enough information to the average viewer to give them a sense of what the hell's going on in this true blue geek flick. Of course, I came already armed with the basic knowledge of the main characters, Captain James T. Kirk and Mr Spock. (Well, I was only familiar with their names, but doesn't that already tell you how newbie-friendly this movie is?)

GAHH I can't write anymore about this movie lest I turn Trekkie.

All I can say is that it was 2 hours well-spent watching a thoroughly action packed movie based on a well-established series that's as old as my mother.

And and, John Cho aka HAROLD LEE FROM THE ABSURDLY FUNNY HAROLD AND KUMAR SERIES OF MOVIES was in it.

He played Hikaru Sulu, and wielded an extendable katana. LOLOL.

Okay done.

Must...not...become fanboy...!

2009-05-12T00:00:00.002+08:00

Star Trek turned out to be quite...good, surprisingly.

Bleh, proper review out tomorrow probably, if I'm not too lazy. Heh.

Must...get...some...sleep...

*Flumpf*