Words Lost Their Meanings Long Ago

[There’s No Mathematics To Love And Loss – Anberlin]

Gonna write it up before I do anything else.

Today I went to see Shrek 4, but more on that later.

It seemed to be a day of running into people. At Syndal, who else would sit next to me but Carmaine (wow, haven’t mentioned her in a fair bit), and in the station right after that, Nat – who now lives in QUEENSLAND – just so happened to find us as well. The habit of always going to the 3rd carriage seemed to have stuck with everyone.

Then, at Melbourne Central, I nearly get blindsided by Idiot Lee, who turned out to have been there with Swin, Yeleng and Whitty (which was awkward because I’d turned Whitty down the night prior saying I had to go out with another group of friends. Well, I wasn’t lying at least.)

Ran into Joey L and a few younger MacRob girls too…it really was a day of running into people.

After realizing that 3D movie tickets were 20 bucks, we all decided to have cheap Hungry Jack’s for lunch. Sting, Cle- and Penny wanted to see Toy Story 3 but, since I am seeing it next week with Jac, I opted to see Shrek 4 with Viv and Fiona instead.

Onto my review of Shrek 4 (Not a full-blown review but a review nonetheless):

It wasn’t the best that they managed, and I still think that Shrek 2 was better. But there were some good gags in this one, and a few interesting references and metaphors. The storyline (without giving too much away) was generic and of course a happy ending, but it was not a bad idea for a final movie, and it does create a sort of reflection on Shrek’s life.

I have to say, I wished that they had something slightly more intricate and complicated with the major storyline (regarding the change in Shrek’s life), especially since they had the power to play with time, past/future, and magical wishes. Still, I suppose if you made it too complicated, the kid would not understand and follow.

I wish there was more gags with Pinocchio and the Gingerbread Man, and Puss-in-Boots’ fatness (that’s not a giveaway, you saw it in the trailers) was only made fun of very slightly when he first came on screen. But apart from that, it wasn’t a POOR effort. And at least they didn’t have some random Justin Timberlake-esque guest star doing the voice of a slightly-important character.

Oh and JANE LYNCH had a voice role but it was so small! WHAT!? She has the best intonation! Should have given her a bigger role.

Alright, apart from that, and I don’t think I gave away too much, that was it.

The train ride home passed without running into anyone.

And oh, it was cold.

Alex.

P.S. No point seeing it in 3D by the way. FYI.

The Way You Move Ain’t Fair

[Hey Soul Sister – Train]

Happy birthday Jac!

Today (but because of one reason or another, WordPress has time-stamped this for Wednesday. Today I meant by Tuesday) was Jac’s long awaited 18th birthday, and I think it was rather a successful day.

Starting with the awful weather, it went uphill from there. Took the train up with Mandy and Dot cos we ran into them, then Jac and I went to Journal Cafe near City Library.

Jac got this creepy text message asking if she was at Flinders, and it was from an unknown number. That number never texted back again…

Had lunch (or rather, I ended up eating most of her food anyway) and then we went to Melbourne Central because we wanted to see Toy Story 3.

But, it was getting really full, to the point where the only seats left were in the front. Jac doesn’t like that, so instead we went to State Library and went to the Games Room.

UNFORTUNATELY, it was full due to school holidays, so after some random presentation started, Jac and I went to play pool at RMIT. At first we didn’t realize that if you paid the money, the white ball would roll out, so we sat there dejected until someone else came along and did it.

It was a tight game, and ended with Jac’s victory, because I’d mistakenly stuffed and set up the black ball for her. Oh well, it’s her birthday anyway.

After that, we went BACK to State and watched some guys play on the Guitar Hero for a while, then decided to walk to Crown for dinner. That girl walks so slow that it got to the point where she had to drag me to slow me down – and it was VERY slow walking.

The thing that she didn’t know, and the reason I’d wanted to walk fast was that we were meant to get to Oriental Express by 6, where the others were waiting to surprise her. Because of her slow walking and my inability to find the restaurant, we ended up being 20 minutes late.

The fun part was that she didn’t suspect a thing! I was glad that my subtleties seem to have worked.

Dinner was sushi train, and it went by without a problem, and then it was time for cake. Now, I’d asked Nash to get a Black Forest Cake but apparently there were none left, so, being the awesome boy he is, he got a cake in the shape of a dog:

It was particularly funny because I’d always called her my puppy. And the restaurant people sang and everything, it was excellent.

And it was proven that we argue a lot when, on the train back, Yeleng and Aym- both decided we were the on-board entertainment.

I love you, Jac!

Alex.

P.S. The guy in the soccer ball is still in there.

This Freak I Became

[Dear Angel – April Sixth]

Man it was cold today! I was out hanging up the laundry in our front balcony (we’re the Asian equivalent of white-trash; undies hanging in the front balcony. Cool.) and suddenly a gust of wind blows.

Even though I was standing in the full sun, I was painfully aware of how useless it was the wind bit THROUGH my 3 layers of warm clothing. I couldn’t keep my hands in my pockets, but instead had to keep handling cold damp clothes.

I think there’s something odd going on with my mom’s body, though, because she was only wearing 2 layers, one of them light, and she was outside for ages in the wind and she said she felt warm. Though she was moving around a lot, that’s still not right.

By the way, I just realized that the laundry I’d hung had all fallen over. Damn.

We just roasted some meat with cumin. This is…I smell…fra..grant.

Jackie’s birthday tomorrow!

Alex.

Cardboard Boxes Took Us Miles

[Inevitable – Anberlin]

Yesterday (my net having finally uncapped today) I went out for a whole day of Brentwood people fun. Well, it would have been just Brentwood people except, as the world is small, MacRobs have started infiltrating that group too.

Started my morning at 8:30 am, and got ready, then walked to Jac’s house so we (Novo) and I can finally work on the song together. (I”ll spare you the hesitant exaggerations: we managed to ascertain the first verse, and get an imagery for the 2nd verse. We’ve more or less agreed on the pre-chorus, but not so sure about the chorus itself.) Jac made her sleepy and wet-haired appearance a while after Novo and I got there, and (I guess it was mean but) the three of us – including Jac’s mom – sort of teased Jac about sleeping so much.

(Jac slept through the first half of when Novo and I were working.)

Anyway, we managed to convince Jac to play a song on the piano. I don’t know what she was so shy about; she’s fantastic.

At around 12, Novo left because he wasn’t going to Brendan’s house, and then we waited for Nash to show up, and took the bus up to the Glen. It was getting quite cold and I felt a bit guilty for asking Jac to wear one of those big dress-shirts and stockings. She said she wasn’t cold. Her hands told otherwise. On the bus to Rowville, Nash kept on dozing off so I started throwing random bits of rubbish I’d accumulated in my pockets at him.

Finally, we made it to Rowville. Walking to Brendan’s house, Nash and I were shocked to realize he lived a mere 20 meters away from one of our other mutual friends (who doesn’t know Brendan). We were tempted to knock on this friend’s door and run away.

We sort of sat around for a while at first – Brendan has a cute baby niece called Brenda (yes yes I laughed too) – and Jac and I played with her for ages. That kid simply loves plummeting her fist into whatever she likes – and she liked me. She threw a ball right at my face, then chortled. I wasn’t sure whether to be flattered that she likes me so much with violence, or that she seemed to dislike a consequently unbruised Jac.

We were watching Tom and Jerry when Swin arrived, and as we were watching, as per usual, we played the ‘that’s you’ game. Jac decided at the start of the cartoon that I was Jerry. I looked at her and said, ‘You’ve never watched this cartoon before have you? You really picked the wrong team.’ She understood what I meant after, 3 episodes later, she realized Tom loses in every episode.

When Swin started feeling a bit bored, we decided to watch the 2nd Transformers movie. It was, to say at the least, a disappointment. Megan Fox didn’t even get that many awesome lines. I did like the scene where Shia’s mom got high off weed (half because Jac wasn’t aware that it was weed so didn’t understand why we were laughing, and half because the mom got insanely high).

After Transformers, we got pizza! Ate pizza while watching the Exorcism of Emily Rose that I brought.

I also found out I tend to make friends with people who are very grabby in a horror movie – April, and now Jac. It would have been funnier if my arm didn’t start aching.

People starting leaving at a certain point, and it got to the point where only Swin, Mani, Kay, Brendan, Jac and myself were left. We watched Doctor Who, the David Tenant episode with the Angels who move when you blink. That episode was freaking awesome!

Then, Brendan decided to put on Lesbian Vampire Killers. I was shocked he had it recorded. I also wasn’t aware that it was a very British/Tarantino movie (if not very C-grade).

Got home to find that my net didn’t uncap like it was meant to, and then slept rather late because I was up reading NCIS fan-fiction. Sue me.

Alex.

What Was Ever Really Special About Me?

[How Far We’ve Come – Matchbox 20]

This is just a quick note to tell people who’re keeping up with the slow slow updates.

In Chapter 2 ‘It’s Only Natural’, Sera had explained that in order to drink from humans, consent is needed.

I had thought about it, and as much as I hate changing details that I, myself, created, I thought it was a) impractical and b) a bit dumb to have that. I have now changed it to the usual myth: that in order to gain entry into a property, consent is required from a permanent resident of the property. It still explains the good looks, but in a less limiting manner for further on.

I am currently writing. I went driving today but it’s not much to talk about.

Alex.w

If It Never Ends Then When Do We Start?

[The Sweetest Goodbye – Maroon 5]

How I kept myself entertained for 10 minutes tonight: While on webcam, I tried to use the lag to my advantage. I tried to zip up my jacket fast enough so that the lag skips over my hand zipping it up, thus making it look like the jacket zipped itself up.

It was so much fun, I did it again and again and again.

Alright, so what did I do yesterday?

I had enough brain to try to beat the rush hour traffic, and got driven to the Glen early. What I didn’t realize that Jac didn’t have the same thoughts, and she arrived later on a bus, 14 minutes after I started waiting for her by the station corner. It was rather windy and cold.

To my order, she dressed rather well – but didn’t bother doing her hair – and thankfully she wore the pair of boots without heels, thus not rendering her TOO much taller than me.

We took the train up, having nicked an mX off one of the seats. Now, how does someone not know the word “hangar” but know the word “geyser”? I ask you this, and Jac probably should know – it was her.

We got to Southern Cross, and went to the apartment building where Hungy lives. Incidentally, it’s the same apartment as where Bel lives – they don’t know each other. When they all came downstairs, I saw that our company for the night would be Sting, Hungy, Bill, Cle-, Jacky (or, as we had to refer to him, Mandy’s Jacky), Mandy, Jac (my Jac, for the night) and of course myself.

We took a tram up to Crown, where M’s Jacky directed us to Kitchen Workshop, a buffet. At the counter, we each got a card which entitled us to a complementary half-kilo of prawns for the night. None of us liked prawns – or so I thought.

M’s Jacky ended up eating his entire half-kilo. Hungy had 4 servings, as did Cle-. Bill had half of his half-kilo. Mandy tried out all of her Jacky’s desserts, and I made Jac eat, which was miraculous.

The dinner table conversations weren’t the highest of the brows. I suppose I should admit it was partly due to my fault. APPARENTLY I am sick-minded.

After dinner, we walked to Flinders St station via Southbank, as I always like to do. It was really windy, and Mandy and Jac were starting to shiver a little. We walked past a guy who was living in this room for 28 days just watching the soccer. It was so weird (and cool at the same time).

The train ride back was pretty normal, except for Mandy’s twitching when she sleeps, and her left eye being bigger than her right one.

Stayed up last night watching the Spain VS Switzerland match. Dude, GG Spain, not getting a single goal in, AND losing to Switzerland.

Made Jac stay up til 1 am haha. I do feel bad about it.

Alex.

Singer In A Smoky Room

[Don’t Stop Believin’ – Glee Cast Cover, original by Journey]

I don’t usually post pictures here anymore, but lemme just say, this picture is fueling me to watch all of Lost, ASAP.

Sorry if it’s a bit big for the browser.

I got this off “The Daily Wh.at” on Tumblr, and this was the description:

Make-Believe Map of the Day: The most accurate geographical map of the Lost island ever illustrated, by Professional cartographer Jonah Adkins, who spent the past four years designing and revising this masterpiece.

Ahhhh Video Ezy here we go!

Alex.

P.S. If I ever didn’t give due credit for pictures to their respective owners, I am really sorry. Usually, when I post a picture, if it’s mine, I will have already boasted about it, or it will have my face in it. But from this point on, I will give credit where it’s due to the pictures that are not mine, because saying it’s not mine is not the same as telling people whose it is. And some people (like this dude) had put a crapload of effort into the stuff that they create. This was brought to my attention from Katherine, so there, I credited her as well.

Twisting My Stomach Into Knots

[Sound Of Settling – Death Cab For Cutie]

I’ll write this before I get too lazy to. Today, David and I went to the city to meet up with Jac after he accounting exam.

The train ride up we spent talking about Naruto and Detective Conan. It is fun to talk to someone who’d seen a lot of the episodes. He also told me about some Death Note stuff which sounded pretty interesting.

We got to the Exhibition Hall where the exam was taking place, and we realized we had 30 minutes left. So we walked around the building to the Museum, and looked around a bit (we were going to take Jac into the museum since she hasn’t been before) and when we went back out, we started discussing what I would do if I’d bought the Exhibition Hall as my house. The renovations I would do, etc. It got a bit too wishful thinking, but I did enjoy the idea. Yeah, because I can make the museum part of my backyard, and have the IMAX theater as my personal theater. Easy. Ha.

I saw Steph W when she came outside, and she gave me a decent hug, which is all thanks to my awesome advice.

Saw Josh N, and so we were waiting with him when Jac came out. Steph W and her friends decided to take the tram to Melb Central, and David, Josh, Jac and I decided to walk to Melb Central, seeing if we can win. We did!

We all sat together and had Nandos for lunch. I think I might have weirded out Steph’s friends. I discovered that Nandos have Extra Extra Hot Peri Peri sauce. It burns! I LOVED IT! Will have it always now.

We made Jac decide on what to do after lunch, because she never ever ever ever makes a decision. In the end I suggested that we go to Myers so I can look at alarm clocks for her birthday. So, technically, she didn’t decide. Still, as David said, baby steps.

On the train home, Swin called David, and I stole the phone and talked to her for the ride. WHAT!? I haven’t talked to her in months and she can always call David later.

Said bye to David and his friend Matt at Glen Waverley, and Jac and I went to the Glen food court to bum since I don’t want to go home. We played Fruit Ninja, and I beat the best score that Jac couldn’t beat on her iPod, meaning now she really can’t beat it.

Tomorrow, I’m going to buffet with Mandy and the rest. Really looking forward to it! Gonna save me a bunch of money with the 2 hour ticket after 6 pm thing haha.

I had a chat with Steph on MSN just then, and she made me see just how awesome Jac is. So I will be more grateful from now on about being able to be Jac’s friend.

Alex.

Though We Have Not Hit The Ground

[Nothing Lasts Forever – Maroon 5]

I’m following the FIFA World Cup this year. And many people, including my own mother, have asked me a few times: “I didn’t know you watch football/soccer”.

I usually don’t. I only played soccer for a little bit back in Gr 6. But I thought that, this year seeing as during this period of time I have nothing else going on, I might as well go watch! So I got the schedule all ready and I even got the scarf and everything!

Am I doing this to ‘fit in’ with everyone? No, not really. Am I doing this just so I can Tweet about it and make it look like I’m in touch? No, if I did that, I’d have been tweeting about BP for weeks now. Am I going overboard? Maybe. But is it really wrong to enjoy myself enthusiastically?

Which team do I go for? Well, since China didn’t qualify, I suppose I say GO THE SOCCEROOS! I don’t really care who wins, but I do like watching it while discussing with someone. As I did last night with Mandy for the opening match between RSA and MEX.

Well, I guess all there’s left to say is “let’s go play some football!”

Alex.

The Truth Is Hiding In Your Eyes

[Decode – Paramore]

I think I’m wasted enough days sitting around doing nothing. I think I should definitely get some point back in my life! I never wake up early enough anymore, and it’s only partly because I stay up later. I think I should probably get the ‘in bed by midnight’ and ‘up by 10 by the latest’ thing going again. Except I want to get into the World Cup this time around – I have the time – so maybe…that won’t happen.

Either way, I need a reason to get up! I think, I will try to get a new chapter out by the time Jac finishes her last exam, and another one out by my birthday (that’s really pushing it haha).

Today, I updated my iPod again, and now I own every Glee song. Wee!

I think I should listen to Dani again, and get more new music from her, because I always trust her judgment.

There isn’t much I want to rant about these days. Is it because I’m not being stimulated enough – or I am being stimulated the same amount but I really don’t care about what is around me anymore? I think I want to care about what is around me – even if it isn’t politically.

I’m trying to be a good friend and not constantly calling or bugging someone trying to study. Although I really want to.

Alex.