It's one of those questions that always hover around but you are afraid to ask: Is he gay? Are they going out? Do you want to go out with me? Do you think I out on weight?

This is a ponder-y post that spun off from a discussion that I had with my big brother. The question: What type of guy are you looking for? My brother, being a well-travelled, well-worn type has a list that is similar to the six Cs that Singaporeans have and it seems to have worked quite well for him so far. The key to the list is that the items or traits within it are flexible. for example, one of the Cs is condominium. Now, it is not the end of the world if your current mate does not have one now. They can work towards it eventually.

But why do you want to live by a list? I demanded. Lists are limiting! I know people who've made such lists, who have insisted on living by it an eventually what happens? They become embittered by it because it forced them to seek only what was written down. Lists are good but people are inflexible enough to want to live by it and that's just a bloody shame, I huffed.

Lists help you define the type of mate you are looking for. He countered. Or else, how would you know that you've found the right one even if it bit you on the ass?

By sheer magic, of course! Came the smart-arsed response. My poor brother just dropped his head in his hands and sighed. Uh oh.

Well, it's not an exact science but I'll just know. The guys that I've gone out with have come from all over the place and while there were some real duds, there were also some guys who were real gems. Really great guys who would've made any woman's dreams but unfortunately, just not for me. Why? Well, but that’s another story for another time, children.

Honestly, I don't make lists because I'm afraid that I may just be like everyone else. The temptation to live by the list is just too strong to ignore. And I hate limiting my choices. I know what I want and well, I'm not afraid to go out and get it. I’m not good at beating around the bush and playing coy. I guess I'm one of those women that the Singapore government has been warning our male population about. I'm independent and self-aware with a dash of brass and a hint of irony and oftimes too opinionated and outspoken for my own good. In other words: scary and weird! What happened to the guys who could voice their opinion and give as good as they get? Did banter die out with chivalry?

Meanwhile, the discussion has come to an impasse and my brother needs a little more time to recover before we butt heads again. Stubbornness runs in the family.

As for me, I’ll keep my eye out for that guy. I guess I just have to ponder this one out, or I can get myself a pet...like a little rabbit or something.

I'm very inspired by a close friend's recent birthday bash, hence this little list.

Instead of the madness that usually accompanies the 'becoming-a-year-wiser', this time we all trooped to a really neat little cafe in Arab Street which served the most heart-stopping, artery-clogging cheesy (cream cheese, who'd've thunk!) brownies I've ever had...orgasmic! But I digress...What really got me was that this little cafe came with its very own little cinema. Think big, roomy couches, lots of throw pillows and comfy lounges and you're in the right place :o) This is the perfect place to accomodate all your buds for a night at the movies, where you can cheer the hero, heckle the baddie and sigh over the best friend who didn't get any. Freedom, people! I am proposing freedom to lounge whichever way you want and enjoy a movie as it should be...

Here's what I'd recommend: Witchy's top 10 list for movie night (in no order whatsoever...). Somewhat crowd pleasing, somewhat eccentric and strictly NO Pretty Woman - cos I'm biased, that's why!

1. The Sound of Music - Blue pussies, anyone? If you were there on movie night, your ears would've fallen off at this
2. The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert - Altogether now, I love the nightlife, I want to boogie...
3. Das Boot - it's masculine, it's 42 men stuck in a submarine with a captain that has to lead them through sheer madness. It's Bridge Over the River Kwai, in a U-boat
4. Salsa - because we've already had the time of our lives and because there's more to Menudo than Ricky Martin
5. Some Kind of Wonderful. Some of you may be familiar with my grouse with the run-of-the-mill rom-com (I can't stand most of them) BUT I do love the 1980s John Hughes movies and this is one of my all time faves...
6. Pulp Fiction - Where Mr Q reminds us why he was great, long before that idiot called Bill
7. Spartacus - Long before the mountain that broke backs, Kirk Douglas and Sir Laurence Olivier made men in skirts sexy. We will be entertained
8. Life of Brian - The reason why I go "the Messiah!" every time I meet someone called Brian...insanity at its finest
9. Grosse Point Blank - because hitmen need to be loved too...
10. The Little Mermaid - Le poisson, le poisson...the reason why I have a soft spot for psychotic French chefs. Oh, and if Ursula was a real witch, why couldn't she have made herself slimmer sooner? So susah!

I did, however reluctantly, have to let a few things go...or else this list will never end! Aye! What's missing is:

• The Drew Barrymore double-bill: Ever After and Never Been Kissed. Funnily enough, she's the ONLY Hollywood actress whose rom-coms I can stomach...
• The Princess Bride - classic fairy tale with a twist of madness
• Dude, Where's My Car - because I may be murdered after that...annnndddd ttthhheennn...
• Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey - Keanu Reeves' best role, like ever, dude!
• Velvet Goldmine - Bale + Rhys Myers + McGregor = major drooling :P
• Hedwig & the Angry Inch - For pure indulgence and because we can all watch this in a far-out blonde wig while pretending to be punk rock stars!

Anyone up for movie night?

I am rather proud of myself. Well, usually, I'm not too much of a gloater, but this weekend was just wonderful. Epiphanies abound!

One. I attended the two nights of the Singapore International Salsa Festival which took place at Downtown East. It featured a great mix of international and local instructors, different performances from the various studios and the legendary Johnny Polanco Y Conjunto Amistad band. The atmosphere was electric, there were familiar faces to dance with and the music...oh, the music...!

Two. Yet another first ; I took myself to the festival. I figured that most of the people I knew would have already gotten their tickets and I'd see them there anyways, so I just bought the night passes and went. I realized that going stag has its advantages because you spend less time standing around and more time on the floor which is a fantastic way to improve your skills.

Three. I got to meet and hug Johnny Polanco!!! ...and did a short dance too...He's like a big, teddy bear :o) If you ever get a chance to see this band in action, do it. This is one of the best, salsa bands in the world...listening to CDs are great and all, but you can never beat a live perofrmance where the band is tight, its beats and its rythms are solid and the members have chemistry...at times I was torn between dancing and watching the band.

Four. The foreign artists and instructors...I got to see them in action and was blown away. Our local guys are good but these instructors have something our local guys lack. And that is: love of the dance. Technically, we have all the moves and the speed but what is lacking is the total package. Salsa is sensual dance which incorporates the sexy and the technical and these guys have it in spades. So you get to see some moves that they pioneered, something new and get totally inspired yet again. What completely took the cake is that they are obliging to boot. I had to shut my usual shyness away and got to dance with some of the instructors from the US, India and even South America. Did it matter that I am an amateur who got some of the steps wrong? Hell no...what I got in return was a chance to hotfoot with some of the best...

And when not dancing...I fall back into observation mode. Well, it could be a people + comfort zone thing but I noticed that most of the students from the local studios tend to congregate on one side of the hall while the foreigners and more gung ho people dominated the other side. So, yes people tend to go where they find familiar faces, and even I do it too but it was a little strange to see this division. I mean, yah, some of these guys are devastatingly great on the dancefloor but why come to an international fest if you are only there to dance with your friends? It's weird...

Another thing that was interesting, yet a little sad was that almost all of the studios were represented at the fest. Except for the one I'm with. Only the guys and a handful of the ladies that I dance with showed up. But not a single instructor from the studio came. I'm sure that there are a myriad of reasons for this absence...but, well...I know that they are scheduled to perform ont he final night but it would've been wonderful to see at least some representation.

The heads from several other studios were there at least on one night...What you can see clearly from the other instructors who were present was that some of them taught a distinctive style and flair that is carried by their students. What I would've liked to see was my own instructors coming down to mix and mingle with everyone else. It would've been great to see them take a turn with other instructors...Yes, so there's competition. So what? It seems a little unsporting to only show up when you are scheduled to perform - maybe it's just me, but I've always liked to check out the competition.

Were there showoffs? Of course! But it was definately bigger than a night out at Union, that's for sure :o)

Overall, it was a fabulous experience. I'm exhausted and my feet hurt like a mother...but glad that I got out of my comfort zone to do this. While, it's reassuring to show up with friends and all, at the end of the day, salsa is a social dance which helps you improve when you get out there and learn from other people. Sure, you can look and learn but, then again, the fun really starts when you dance... :o)

This is the week of sophomore releases, or what I like to call appreciating-good-American-music week. Well, almost...the last album's not American ;o)
First up....Largely unknown in their native United States and received with wild acclaimin the UK, the Scissor Sister's second album Ta Dah shows that the band still has much to offer. The album's like a breath of fresh air in a music indsutry that is getting increasingly crowded with hip-hop poseurs. It's Abba-meets- Elton John. If you're thinking big bell bottoms, groovy long hair and cool disco fused wtih electronica, you're on the right path. I dare anyone not to dance to this one.

And thennn... This album's somewhat of a revelation. Funnily enough, for a moment I actually thought I left the Scissor Sisters on when I was previewing this. The Killers second effort, Sam's Town veers almost completely away from their debut album. It's an album that's a mish mash of experimental sounds which borrows from the 80s' New Romantic era to the crazy 70s glam rock. I kid you not. Parts of it channels The Cure...But is it any good? Yes. It's experimental and while it may take the rest of the world to catch up with them, I'll say good effort, lads. I like :o)


The last post on the bugle goes to Australia's Jet. Shine On, they say. It reminds me of the first album, I say...While their debut, Get Born caught the music and fashion world by storm, the follow-up trods on the well worn formula of if it ain't broke, don't fix it. New stuff, guys, new stuff! Actually, they kind of remind me of Oasis...the force of the Beatles is strong here... The track Put Your Money Where your Mouth Is reminds one of Are You Gonna Be My Girl without the killer intro. Sigh.

Now , straightaway, name three things that you thought of immediately after you read that line.

Thought about lots of gutter-bending stuff? WTF, right?

And that, my friends is probably why we'll all miss Brian as back to San Diego he goes - who else could put such weird thoughts in our heads?

Technically speaking, that little gem didn't come from the man himself but was misheard by Melissa...nontheless, it made everyone burst out laughing. Such scintillating dinner conversation we have...heh. Points to anyone who can actually remember the original line...

Judging from the pictures, it was yet another stomping Saturday. I collected a massive amount of ROI on Saturday, Belle struck the lottery and Liz may now have a new career. So what's next then? Hell, maybe we should open our very own events management company where everything comes in-house. Afterall, we have all the talent right here, right now. From the business management division right down to the performing talent and event photography. We have dancers, magicians, emcees, DJs, videographers, photographers, bar tenders that can be outsourced as well as travelling chefs that will whip up a meal right in your kitchen. The possibilities are endless, but I digress...

We'll miss you, Brian! Who else can provide such entertainment when they are drunk? Who am I supposed to wakeboard with? And of course, who is that massage guy supposed to hit on now? Dang it!

Come back soon!