We Can Do Anything, You and Me February 2, 2010
Posted by blith3 in Music.add a comment
Even though I spent most of it feeling under the weather, nothing beats a four-day weekend! I forgot just how much you can achieve when you have more time at your disposal than you know what to do with. I finished a book, ran family errands, shopped, tutored, partially fixed up my room, meddled in the kitchen, indulged in some story writing and slept tonnes and of course, (partially) watched the 2010 Grammys…LIVE! This is my first time watching the Grammys since my formative school days and I must say, from whatever little of it I did see this year, I liked!
Perhaps it is due to this backdrop of being refreshed, laid back and chilled out that I am presently enamoured with this particular song “You and Me” performed by the Dave Matthews Band at the Grammys. It appealed to the helpless romantic in me.
I can imagine a couple with a young family stealing time briefly away from the kids to dance to this in the living room…or better yet, dancing with the kiddies in a haze of giggles. *^_^*
Flavour of the Month – Jan ‘10 January 23, 2010
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This song was originally done by Nancy Sinatra, but I’m putting up the version sung by Zooey Deschanel simply because the only reason I know of this song was through the movie, (500) Days of Summer.
Zooey Deschanel
Sugartown
I got some troubles but they won’t last
I’m gonna lay right down here in the grass
And pretty soon all my troubles will pass
’cause I’m in shoo-shoo-shoo, shoo-shoo-shoo
Shoo-shoo, shoo-shoo, shoo-shoo Sugar Town
I never had a dog that liked me some
Never had a friend or wanted one
So I just lay back and laugh at the sun
’cause I’m in shoo-shoo-shoo, shoo-shoo-shoo
Shoo-shoo, shoo-shoo, shoo-shoo Sugar Town
Yesterday it rained in Tennessee
I heard it also rained in Tallahassee
But not a drop fell on little old me
’cause I was in shoo-shoo-shoo, shoo-shoo-shoo
Shoo-shoo, shoo-shoo, shoo-shoo Sugar Town
If I had a million dollars or ten
I’d give to ya, world, and then
You’d go away and let me spend
My life in shoo-shoo-shoo, shoo-shoo-shoo
Shoo-shoo, shoo-shoo, shoo-shoo Sugar Town
La-la-la-la to end
January is always blithe - everything feels extremely new, untainted. A month filled with new ambitions, new beginnings. No matter how hopeless things were just a month ago, there always seems to be just *that* different in January. Let’s hope we like where these new beginnings take us…
To Catch a Criminal… January 16, 2010
Posted by blith3 in TV.1 comment so far
…You Have to Think Like One.
The latest addition to my list of all-time favourite TV shows is a presently 5-years-old series, which I just only recently tuned into. How it had eluded me all these years, I do not understand, because the plotlines for each episode are immensely, disturbingly intriguing. And it is this philosophy - expanding on the creepy so thoroughly that it actually becomes fascinating – that draws me to the show continuously (this is such a cheap thrill, but I have to say that I’ve marathon-ed three seasons so far).
Take for example, the first episode I had watched (which was midway through the third season) - how a female victim fights back against her persistent and rapidly evolving anonymous male stalker – and its subplot - a woman so emotionally abused by her husband, she continues to see herself as worthless despite mentally snapping and killing him. Or in the 100th episode of the series (which was so touching, I cried), where a serial killer mercilessly hunts down the family of one of the protagonists in attempt to satisfy his need for complete dominance over people hunting him – in essence, when the prey becomes the predator.
To sum it up, Criminal Minds revolves around the members of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Behavioural Analysis Unit (BAU), an elite team of profilers led by Senior Supervisory Special Agent Aaron Hotchner, a no-nonsense almost workaholic ex-prosecutor. His team comprises of out-of-retirement SSSA David Rossi (modeled loosely around BAU’s actual real-life founder, John E. Douglas), Supervisory Special Agent Derek Morgan the resident hunk who relies on no one but himself, priviledged-born SSA Emily Prentiss, SSA Jennifer ‘J.J.’ Jareau the media liaison officer and case filter, socially awkward genius Special Agent Dr. Spencer Reid and Penelope Garcia, the brilliant and irrepressible technical analyst.
Like all good TV shows out there, this chemistry this cast has is amazing. I particularly enjoy the bold flirtatious banter between Morgan (played by the delicious Shemar Moore) and Garcia (played by the lovable Kirsten Vangsness). Just a few lines between them, and you may already squirm in your seat! *^_^* Watch out also for Matthew Gray Gubler’s awesome portrayal as the luckless Dr. Reid, who matures gradually throughout the series to come out from under all his gifts, to become bolder and more confident in his newfound profiling skills.
Obviously, the nature of the series means it has a high shock factor – ranging from physical gore (though not as graphic as CSI) to downright eerie (the latest episode of season 5 was about abducted women being artificially paralysed and groomed, dressed and treated like make-believe dolls) – but it is also mentally stimulating because it relies on the art (or science, if you take into account the numerous documented material out there) of profiling behaviours, which in all honesty, everyone does…some perhaps, like yours truly, more than others.
I’ve always been one to observe people’s behaviours, consciously or sub-consciously linking so-and-so that was said or done to outcomes of past incidents…so it’s nice to be able to relate to what this show is about. If anything, it kind of reaffirms my belief in trusting my gut feeling, because sometimes you pick up on significant things too small for your brain to rationally comprehend, but which niggles at your unconscious.
All in all, definitely worth checking out!
WoW 08 January 12, 2010
Posted by blith3 in Books.add a comment
Life’s too long not to go for it.
-Ceri D’Altroy-
The Cupid Effect
Gubler-flu! January 9, 2010
Posted by blith3 in Ramblings.1 comment so far
What started out as innocent research yesterday for my next blog entry has instead enlightened me on why it has become such a dedicated past time to following blogs and twitters of people (celebrities or not) who have absolutely no bearing on one’s daily life.
Two words best sums it up: Gublerland and GublerNation.
Both the website and the Twitter account mentioned belong to Matthew Gray Gubler, who is presently best known for his role as Dr. Spencer Reid from the highly, but quietly popular TV series, Criminal Minds. And if you think the names are lame, believe you me, it really is like stepping into a whole new universe where creativity bursts forth so comprehensively -sketches, painting, photography, blogging, twittering, Youtube.
It’s ridiculous that all that genius is contained in just one person who has the ability – through his great friends – to make it all happen. But that is partially what makes me *heArT!* all this ridiculous Gubler propaganda. The other is that, the content of his work – art and written – is, well, REALLY AWESOME…wicked awesome. It’s completely random and not the most polished (read: honest) but it is off-the-cuff passionate. I love it!
Some of my favourite MGG twitters:
- Fact. I love candy
- Be warned! This decade I’m not messing around. I’m going straight for the jugular in everything i do. Even if im just buying orange juice
- I am the king of america
- Retraction. I’m the king of my apartment
- Anyone that tells you you can’t do something is unimaginative and probably a coward
- Too much awesomeness to take in
- It’s a crime I never told you about the diamonds in your eyes.
I could go on and on, but you get the picture. His MySpace blog and the webpage of his official website requires a little more brainpower to decipher his short anecdotes and hard-to-read handwriting respectively (sorry MGG, I’m just sayin’). I like it that his webpage is filled with just scanned pictures…even his notes to his ‘fands’ aka fans who are like friends, which are the best entries of all because of the little illustrations and side explainations that he inserts (again, requiring some brainpower).
I like that fact that MGG has built quite a varied, if not then unorthodox, resume for himself - ex-fashion model (Tommy Hilfiger, Sisley, Marc Jacobs), director of short videos (The Killers’ ‘Santa, Don’t Shoot Me’, actor (Criminal Minds, 500 Days of Summer), voice-over actor (Alvin & the Chipmunks 1 & 2), sketch artist, soon-to-be merchandiser, etc. Not only is it all so refreshing to see something like this from Hollywood, but it also makes it all of it the more brilliant.
Help…I have DEFINITELY been bitten by the Gubler-flu! 
Relationships: The Male View January 7, 2010
Posted by blith3 in Ramblings, Shoutouts.3 comments
You know you’ve hit a friendship milestone when you, as the lone girl, spend nearly 3 hours with 3 of your ’single’ guy friends at a outdoor hawker centre talking in earnest about relationships - engagements, marriage, having kids, one night stands and long distance relationships…in that exact order (admittedly, our discussion devolved towards the end).
I am amazed at our conversation because, although I’ve known them, an average of about 7 years (the earliest of whom I’ve known for 10), our get-togethers have always been on the superficial level. Always talking about what we did or sharing hilarious tales or experiences, never anything truly personal. So trust me when I say I was pleasantly surprised at the conversation. Not only was it enlightening to have picked the male brain, but it made me see them just a little bit more clearly than I ever did before. So what are the broad truths I learnt?
1) If males marry to procreate, then females marry to nurture.
2) No matter how much they may love the atmosphere and talk endlessly about the hot females there, most males do not expect to find their future life partner at clubs.
3) Like female, males also tend to have, what I’d call ’superficial’ no fly zones - most popular amongst males seem to be dating older females or taller females.
4) Males don’t compete, they just benchmark themselves against each other.
5) The description ’a handsome, nice, rich, Chinese boy’ is in itself, an oxymoron. If he’s handsome and rich, he’s almost certainly not nice, neither would he be a ‘boy’ anymore.
6) The ultimate nightmare for any single, red-blooded man would be for ALL his future kids to be hot girly-girl daughters.
Thanks for the refreshing new insight, guys! And yes, I’m aware that the views of 3 27-year-olds are not representative of the world’s male population, but still, I’ve gotta start somewhere in understanding men. I’ll be looking forward to when each of you turn 30, 30 and 32 years old. Here’s to the last man/woman standing!
P.S. – I’m nearly a week late in saying this, but…Happy New Year 2010 to all!
Good Riddance! December 30, 2009
Posted by blith3 in Ramblings.1 comment so far
Here’s an interesting article I came across on the Star Online yesterday.
Times Square Shredder Offers Good Riddance to 2009
NEW YORK (AP): Want to forget 2009? Shred it.
Scores of New Yorkers and tourists seeking a fresh start in 2010 came to Times Square on Monday to put their bad memories through the shredder at the third annual Good Riddance Day.
…
Good Riddance Day was organized by the Times Square Alliance as part of the buildup to Thursday’s ball-drop celebration.
Participants lined up near the booth where discount theater tickets are sold and pitched their bad memories into an industrial-sized shredder. A Dumpster and a sledgehammer were available for items that couldn’t be shredded, which included an old computer and a tin of fattening office snacks.
Maybe it’s the fact that the workplace has been quiet lately (read: blissful), maybe it’s the air of festivities or the after effects of witnessing the matrimonial milestones of many of my friends this year. Whatever it is…despite the trials and tribulations I’ve had, I honestly can’t think of anything I’d want to say good riddance to in 2009.
What about you?
Flavour of the Month – Dec ‘09 December 24, 2009
Posted by blith3 in Music, Shoutouts.add a comment
Have A Merry Little Christmas
Have yourself a merry little Christmas,
Let your heart be light
From now on,
our troubles will be out of sight
Have yourself a merry little Christmas,
Make the Yule-tide gay,
From now on,
our troubles will be miles away.
Here we are as in olden days,
Happy golden days of yore.
Faithful friends who are dear to us
Gather near to us once more.
Through the years
We all will be together,
If the Fates allow
Hang a shining star upon the highest bough.
And have yourself A merry little Christmas now.
Amid all the weddings I’ve been attending (that’s 3 more ceremonies tomorrow and the day after), the Yuletide celebrations have been one of the furthest from my mind. But that’s been completely reversed today thanks to my young colleagues - one who’s been looping Christmas songs constantly and another who loves Christmas so much she drew impromptu Christmas pictures for a couple of us. So much that I’m posting this during my last 15 minutes at work on Christmas Eve.
Merry Christmas, everyone! Enjoy the holidays…in my opinion, we thoroughly deserved it!
Zee Avi December 17, 2009
Posted by blith3 in Music.add a comment
When I read about Zee Avi some time ago in the newspaper, she had been touted as the next big thing to come out of Malaysia. Not only was this Sarawakian girl from Miri impossibly young at 23-years-old, she was also making a name for herself in a genre of music, while wildly popular (amongst the higher social class) in the underground music scene, only a few Malaysians - and all of them veterans too such as Francesca Peters and Sheila Majid - have gone mainstream, much less international as she was set for.
As with Marie Digby and Colbie Caillat, Zee was discovered via Youtube. What makes her stand out from them is the fact that unlike her counterparts, Zee was halfway across the globe in Kuala Lumpur when she was approached by Ian Montone, the head honcho of Monotone Label in Los Angeles, via email, to release her music. The email from Montone was one out of 3,000 that she had received in response to a video she had put up entitled “No Christmas for Me”. The details of her fairytale start in the international music scene are told on her website, which can be accessed here. The rest, as they say, is music history.
So while checking my colleague’s computer for some songs, I couldn’t resist copying Zee’s songs over to my own to take a listen. And what I heard blew me away! From the very first few notes of her song ‘Poppy’, I was mesmerised. Zee’s gravelly voice and easy sound definitely gives my favourite jazz vocalist of all times - Norah Jones – a run for her money!
Take a listen to the only three songs I have presently (I clearly need to get her CD) and take pride in this Malaysian export! Honestly.
Poppy - A smooth but bittersweet song about drug addict lover.
Monte – Although the theme is about broken love, the stringing guitar inspires images of cartoon stick figures running across a roughly drawn background of the countryside with shooting stars.
Bitter Heart - Zee’s catchy and easgoing first single belays the serious message of a woman’s point of view about an adulterer partner.
Hats off to this beautiful girl…and congratulations for snagging the Associated Press’ #9 spot for the best albums of 2009. I am mildly annoyed that I’m going to miss her showcase at Sunway Lagoon this Saturday, 19 Dec 2009…so here’s hoping she has another concert in Malaysia soon!
Que cera, cera December 15, 2009
Posted by blith3 in Ramblings.add a comment
At a time when a disproportinate amount of my friends whom I cherish immensely are busy with engagements and weddings (within a space of 12 months, I’ve attended or will be attending 10 weddings ceremonies of high school and university friends, and still have 4 who are currently engaged), the reinforcement that things, at least, are going for me professionally has never been more appreciated.
Don’t get me wrong…I love being single, career-minded (here’s a word I never thought I’d ever use to describe myself) and learning about myself everyday. However, there is no denying that sometimes, it is easy to feel like you’re missing out when everyone else seems to threading a different path, although I am aware everyone has their own unique journey in life.
But today, for the first time all this while – past my fifth year going into my sixth with the same institution – I am pleasantly surprised at my performance appraisal, and just for today, things seemed to have levelled out again for me. Aah, the teeter totter that is life…
To quote the songwriting duo of Jay Livingston and Ray Evans, “Que cera, cera…what ever will be, will be.”
