Is trust but an aspiration?
Is hope but a passing fancy?
Mere words seems worthless
For those who think everything's a whimsy

No more despair
Just dull disappointment
So why tumoil? Why torture?
Apathy is not something that is a familiar emotion

No more words to offer
No more gestures to make
It is time to let go, to walk away
To introspect, to reflect, to reconsider

Perhaps things will lighten
Perhaps things will be better
Perhaps is all I an offer
To one who is always the weaker

A friend once told me to pray in times such as these - Pray for God to give you strength to change the things you can, the grace to accept the things we can't and the wisdom to know the difference.
Thanks my dear, for the kind words and for the empathy. It may not look like much but it means the world to me.

This last week was one filled with great fun and lots of laughter with friends and family. We had surprising people popping into our festivities to add dash and spectacle. I mean, an impromptu stripper and a belly dancer? Judging from the pictures, well, it was a sight to be seen!

If that's an indication of what happens when we have a hen's or a going away party, boy, we'd have one like that every other week ah!

It was also rather bittersweet as these are relatively new friends who I've recently got to know but all too soon, they are packed up and ready to be either shipped off to a new assignment or going home to start a new life. But hey, that's life, isn't it? You make friends - some people who you know will stick around forever, while some others you've known for sometime slowly get relegated into acquaintances. That pains me but that is another story for another time.

Tiffany and Terence, we will meet up again. Hopefully sooner rather than later and if not, well, I'm always here online :o) All I can say is Tiff, be prepared for chaos when we decend upon you in April and Terence, get ready for a dearth of Singlish-filled emails ;o) I already miss you guys terribly!

And in the words of Richard Ashcroft:

One day maybe we will dance again
Under fiery skies
One day maybe you will love again
Love that never dies

Oh, don't you want to find?
Can't you hear this beauty in life?
The roads, the highs, breaking up your life,
Can't you hear this beauty in life?

Yes, I am sappy that way. Korrect!

If you have to take the pain and sweetness to be able to really experience the beauty of life, then I can safely say that I am living.

Despite being busy as hell, this week brought many little moments of happiness :o) Well, there was the feeling of satisfaction at the end of last week's Hope Street event, yet another celebratory weekend with family/close friends and of course that the were-bunny got a coveted job that allows him to travel to the home country. The bitch.

Yah, I did a happy dance and all but hopped around his workplace in glee......for the uninitiated, the happy dance is a merry jig that is brought on with the announcement of happy news such as: a promotion, a new (good) haircut, that your hated rival got fat or fell on their face while trying to schmooze the bigwigs, you know...the good stuff ;o)

Well, onwards we go! It's time for the yearly review and of course to gripe about the latest avalanche of greatest hits CDs that have hit the market faster than you can say bye, bye, bye to crap they pass of as music. You know what I mean, each year, the music industry churns out Greatest Hits packages from almost every artist in their stable...including ones that barely registered in the scale like Hilary Duff (you mean she actually had hits?! That probably discounts stuff like killer litter...heh)

So far, Savage Garden, Melissa Etheridge, Destiny's Child, The Eurythmics, Anastascia, Simply Red, Alanis Morisette, Issac Hayes and even Bryan, yes Bryan Adams all release GH packages to cash in on the season. Ker Ching! Mr Adams should know this routine well, having released at least three GH albums since 1993's So Far So Good. Honestly, does he really have so many fans? Not to be outdone, two of the biggest boybands in the 90s - Take That and N-Sync have also jumped on the bandwagon. You can say what you like but the GH packages are really value for money. Especially for the el cheapos who are too skimpy to buy entire albums...idiots.

But my favourite albums of the year? Let's walk down the line:

10. Franz Ferdinand - You Could Have it So Much Better. For a sophomore album, this one kicks ass! Play it on LOUD!
9. The Ponys - Celebration Castle. Fell in love on the first listen. Textured and bold, it sounds different with very listen..
8. Editors - Back Room. The first time I heard this album, I was reminded of Interpol's Turn on the Bright Lights. Brooding, melancholy rock. The standout track? All Sparks.
7. Silent Alarm - Bloc Party. Jean & I have argued over this one but I still love it. It's dance, it's punk. It reminds me of Joy Division and the first time I heard The Music.
6. Depeche Mode - Playing the Angel.Not as confused sounding as 2001's Exciter, Angel sounds like the Depeche Mode of old, haunting sounds over Martin Gore's brilliant lyrics. Old skool!
5. Kaiser Chiefs - Employment. Just like The Killers last year, this was one album that kept me perpetually happy with its catchy tunes and yell out loud lyrics. I predict a riot. Indeed.
4. Oasis - Don't Believe the Truth. Post What's the Story Morning Glory, I thought the later albums were rubbish. Heathen Chemistry showed some promise but this one...ooo brilliant.
3. Pernice Brothers - Discover a Lovelier You. To an extent, their easy-listening California
sun/surf sound reminds me of The Thrill's debut album
2. Stars - Set Yourself on Fire. What got me hooked on this is the voices of vocalists Amy Millan
and Torquil Campbell. Mesmerizing. Oh and Jean, they're from Montreal!

And lastly, the album that I have practically on replay mode over the last 12 months. DDDrrruruummmrrrrooolllll pllleeaassseee!!! It's a bird, it's a plane, it's Blunty! Well, actually, it's NOT Blunty, even if I liked his album well-enough. He's good but just not great.

1. Ryan Adams & The Cardinals - Cold Roses. Go ahead and mock...ya, you know of my loathing for everything country but then again...this one kinda snuck up on me. While it doesn't quite reach the heights of the classic Gold, the tracks here are simply fabulous and there are no fillers despite being a double album. It's heaps better than Rock N Roll...and it's not all Sweet Illusions ;o)

It's interesting to see that musically, I've evolved from the early days of 80s hair-metal (rawk on!) and 90s grunge into the mixed sounds of what is known as Indie today. Must listen to everything...oh and Coldplay is seriously overrated this year. I dunno about you but R&B's a little too pretentious for me...good to dance to once in a while but the lyrics are appalling! I seriously encourage everyone to go out and listen to the other bands that are out there. You'll be amazed.

The show began with a promise, that "Hope Street is....a place where dreams become reality in the escape through dance". The production, Hope Street Reconstructed by LA Dance Connection held on Dec 9 & 10, 2005 showcased a rising young company and approximately 35 dancers in a show that frankly, blew the audience away.

I've not seen many local dance productions in recent years due to a myriad of reasons but this one was different. So yah, I may be partially biased because some of us have been taking classes at LADC since earlier this year - but I'll strive for the honest opinion. It was refreshing to finally see our instructors perform. If you've been to any classes, you know the drill: You see these guys and girls each week, taking you through the steps, telling you that you do not have two left feet and occasionally supresssing laughter at your overall klutz-iness. It's one of the most fun experiences I've had but what many people don't get to see is the company dancers actually dance.

To say that this is the best show I've ever seen is overstating but for a fledgling dance company, it is certainly rife with opportunities and possibilities. Yes, the show could've been tighter with less cartoons - I've heard the audience groan a few times but then again, the lag was forgotten each time the dancers appeared on stage. The show was extremely high energy and the vibes coming off stage was just fabulous. You have to be there to hear the calls of encouragement and even see the little fan clubs that came to support the dancers :o)

The pieces were amazing. The audience was taken through a journey of different dance styles set to different backdrops. From the thumping urban sounds of Soul Dancer to the lush sounds of the Salsa piece, the modern realities of the Silent Scream and even dance-off featuring the LADC Hip Hop crew and the Dragones Latinos. Each piece showcased how the school and the dancers have grown in strength from its diversity of styles and the company dancers grasp of each piece. It is also heartening to finally see a performance that not only featured its company dancers but it's smaller dance groups.

Overall, I had a wonderful time watching and being part of the crew for the show. All I can say is that I can't wait for the next one :o) Congratulations guys, on a fantastic show!

I've always loved December. Somehow, the year's end always heralds something new and exciting, something to look forward to. New possibilities that could come with the onset of the year ahead. Mmmmm...Anticipation! That's the optimist in me speaking :o)

This weekend, I finally got to catch up on some much needed rest and finally settle down to watch Kal Ho Naa Ho or "Who knows what tomorrow holds” .Yes Belle, I caught it at last! I have to admit that watching Hindi movies is one of the myfavoritee things. I've always been a big movie fan but Bollywood movies have a special place in my heart. Why? Well, everyone knows about the gorgeous stars (hello, hello, hello...!),the singing, and dancing, the colorful costumes and the fabulous scenery. But how many people actually appreciate the story? Apart from the pomp andpageantryy, the magic of the Bollywood film lies in its story. Sure, most of it is simple rom-com or family drama fare but damn, no one delivers heartfelt stories like Bollywood.

If you really take the time to watch one you'll know what I mean. Yes, yes, I know that the movies are around 3 hours long but then again, the stories are stitched together to form an almost seamless movie that covers all bases. The closet romantic in me loves the whole shebang. I've watched countless Hollywood rom-coms but I've never felt that I was part of any of those movies. Compared to Hindi movies where you get family drama, romance and action all at once, Hollywood fare is well...boring. Yea, so we all know the foregone conclusion of the movies but where's the added spice? We never get to see the human essence of the characters, or the flaws. What we usually get is the romanticised version of what the audience expects. Which is why we all wait to catch Hollywood rom-coms on dvd. :P

The Bollywood movie meanwhile shows how the relationship between the characters develop, how their family reacts to the situation and how everything is resolved in the end. Be it disapproval or warm-hearted happiness, the audience is taken on a roller-coaster ride that goes through the highs and lows of each stage. I candefinitelyy see why the movies are gaining a greater foothold among avid movie-goers worldwide. It's pure escapism. Once you step in, you are taken to a world where anything is possible. You'll find love with that wonderful stranger (Pardes) , or meet life-long friends (Dil Chata Hai), triumph of the Indian spirit (Lagaan) or cry buckets, yes, I bloody did, over Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham. I dunno about you but I've laughed and wept along with more Bollywood movies than I can count. And yes, part of me would always be tickled at the ridiculousness of how dancers can suddenly appear en masse at each song and how the hero never fails to get seriously hurt in fights.

Oh and for the detractors, the movies are not all about couples rolling down hills. Not anymore. Unlike you people, the movies have progressed along nicely and we actually have a variety of different plots and they now actually do water scenes, desert scenes and of course who can forget the Swiss mountains and the workers in the fields?

So, go ahead, mock all you want and laugh but if you've never enjoyed a Bollywood movie, now's the time. And if you were wondering what the title of this entry means, it's a line from a song taken off one of myfavoritee movies. Translating literally into "What can I do, oh, something is happening". Oh yeah, something is definitelyy happening ;o)

After many, many weeks and months of waiting, I finally caught Rent - The 10th Anniversary World Tour, featuring its New York cast and well, Hong Kong star Karen Mok. Mind you, this is not the movie version that everyone or at least Jean and me have been waiting for but the stage version.

One thing I have to say though is that this version is frankly, a little disappointing. Really. Yes, so the cast came from Broadway and we have an Asian star in a leading role but I still felt that something was missing. From earlier version, what clearly came through for me was the songs and the heartfelt delivery. You felt the heartbreak, the joy and the pain of each character. You wiped away tears, you laughed at their silliness. This version lacked the extra heart and soul that would've made it the toast of its Singapore season. I'm sure that the papers have been raving about it as have I in an earlier post but still...sigh. Maybe I am jaded, but still - where is the oomph?! Being ranty and all, another thing that rankled was the lack of merchandise. Call me weird but I am one of those mad people who collects programs from every show that I've seen and the fact that this one lacks even a little program is a bit annoying.

Cast performance was a little lacking. Frankly, from the reviews of Karen Mok's past shows, I expected her to burst on stage and own her songs, but well. Not much luck there...she was better on the slower numbers though. My favorite character of the night was Angel. Sweet, affecting and totally believable. And let's not go down the Roger road...

Oh and did I forget to mention catty Singaporeans? While we bought more expensive tickets, Jean and I met up with a friend during intermission and we decided to switch seats. I was initially surprised that the theatre was not maxed out. So well, we did the evil thing...Abandoned our friends and moved closer. What happened next was pretty hilarious on hindsight. Two couples were seated in front of us and the local women, well, they went to complain! Amazingly enough, they bitched and moaned about the fact that we moved and went to complain to the ushers. I was just waiting for the guy to come tell me to move my ass and relish the moment in telling him to hold on we got the more expensive seats! and moved to the cheaper ones to be closer to the stage -honestly, Singaporeans can be such philistines sometimes. Last I heard, the bitchy twins were thinking of writing in to complain. Some people have absolutely no life. Ok, so final note on the musical? It's just ok and nothing much to rave about. First-timers will probably enjoy it a lot more than seasoned Rentheads.

Meanwhile, the movie version of the musical is taking it's own sweet time to come to our sunny island. Maybe the distributors are hesitant in bringing in the more superior version to the current musical but then again who won't be? The movie version contains most of the original cast (hello Jessie L Martin!) and will probably be the version that more people will flock to see. And I don't blame them. How can you compare? I almost went into spasms when I found out that they cast almost everyone from the original musical... . Well, don't just take the word of a Renthead...go check out the trailer!

And yes, no one can top Adam Pascal as Roger...be still my little heart! Mmmmmm...