Back from a weekend at Melaka - a bit browner due to all the sun. Walked a whole lot. Mostly bought foodstuff and gifts for sis and parents. Saw Malaysian manga!....but none of them the titles I follow unfortunately : ( Tried to be tempted by the anime dvd but the bug wasn't biting. Didn't really see anything I wanted but took a whole lot of pictures and did the before-and-after thing by buying postcards showing old pictures of landmarks and took present-day pictures. Climbed up a long way (for me) to see the chapel - the old church was fabulous because of the engraved slabs and pitted stones. All sorts of Bryce inspirations once I get the photos developed. Hills after misty hills of palm jungles. The scenery there was a real eye-opener because they was just SO MUCH SKY I started to feel like that zealot Relg in David Eddings' Mallorean series. They told me that after he first time I would like travelling - but I really dunno - missed the snug honey feeling where there wasn't so much sky that it felt like I was on another planet! Guess me really mountain turtle liao. Lots to write about - maybe will set up a page on the website - then I can have boring travel pictures like everyone else, heh!

Wah! Peacemaker Kurogane so fast finish liao! 24 episodes, hmmm....

Have gotten firm info that Ep 25 of Full Metal Alchemist will be a meaningfully depressing one (FMA is always meangingfully depressing) so gonna hold off on that first...

Had a staff tea today. It was held on a boat which started out from Clifford Pier and made a brief stopover at Kusu island. Going there was fun but on the way back, the boat rocked a lot and I got very dizzy. The fun part of the excursion was the tortoise shelter where the person tossed a big stack of vegetable into the enclosure and the tortoises all zoomed (well, for their spped, they were quite fast) for the food. The eye-opener as how some large tortoises lumbered out from the mini-caves in the wall and trampled over some unfortunate tortoises to get at the veggies. We even saw a three-legged tortoise.

Goping to leave for a one-night stayover at Melaka on Saturday - haven't changed currency or gotten anything packed yet. *sigh*

Am feeling a slight increase in workload - definitely given more responsibilities where I gotta exercise my own initiative and
I'm on my own. Makes me feel energized but it also makes me stress out more.

Was on the bus home the other day, when say on the dashboard of a car, chibi Naruto figurines. Sakura, Sasuke, Naruto, Kakashi and Iruka - heheh.

Full Metal Alchemist mini-marathon comments - prepare for the flood.

Episode 20

Hahahah, was worrying about sweet Al having to deal with a psycho - who knew that psycho is such a cartoon feller? Love the part about the Barry getting indignant that Al didn't exhibit the correct response to his armour body, heh. Black humour moments like this are what makes FMA interesting. That and the fact that funniness of a character doesn't prevent him from being a psycho jerk who did a real number on Al's sense of identity.

And another priceless joke about Edward's height - gotta collect all those lines one day...

Eh, disembodied armour talking - will the weird stuff never cease in FMA?

Wow, good dose of Elric-brothers angst coming from nowhere - but does seem logical, given the state of Al's body now.

Episode 21

Woohoo! Cool Scar moment! But only as a direct result of comparing him to Barry the Chopper. *snerk*

Hmm, Scar's tattoo look Homoculus-related. Is that Wrath being released? (Eh, is Greed - but sure looks like a Wrath to me..)

Philosophizing head and suicidal arms? @_@

Eh, Iron Blood Alchemist is atill alive?

So, Crimson Alchemist - that psycho from the Ishbal episode.

Strange growling sounds emitted from the end of a dark tunnel - the only better clue to turn around and run for it is the omnimous thudding footsteps that follow a whistle which neutralises your growling foes.

Eeeeeee! This sure is an episode filled with many familiar faces...

Whah, so Scar's bro isn't so innocent either. Tried to bring his fiancee back?

Scar's bro does a very very good mad scientist ne? Seems half the alchemists in the series all got mad or bad in some way. (*squints* Is Scar's bro sporting a tan line? So dat's why Scar went mad - naked alchemists, heh)

Scar-san? *LOL*

Oh, seems the Homunculus don't know that perhaps they are modelled after people who once lived - another puzzle piece. Does that mean somewhere there used to be a guy who looked like Gluttony?!

Eh, that chimera-maker's lab is a regular house of horror ne? That red chamber looks like a Homunculus lab - with all those stange markings.

Wow, Edward, ultimate temptation - so much liquid crystal ready to be changed into the Philosopher Stone.

Episode 22

After such a tense situation - and the next thing we see is Hughes in pink birdie pyjamas?

Roy Mustang does have a sense of humour! Albeit a meglomanical one...

Ahhh! He's wearing those PJ in company!

Eeeeek! Gluttony is still the most scary character on my list!

Hughes seems to be aware that Furher is playacting....maybe the flowery PJs gave him away?

Wah, that's a pretty good way of bringing up the fake Al issue up again.

I can see Envy and Lust making convincing military personnel - but Gluttony!?

Episode 23

For a talented alchemist - Edward sure has a 'unique' way of drawing.

Hahaha, Something that would catch the eye = Armstrong-complete-with-sparkles-version.

Hwah, so much angst in just one room. Very soap opera moment.

Wah, end of episode = Angst-city of Al. Handled moderately well though.

Thought nothing could beat Mizuki in that purple confectionary of a sweater. Now they have Atobe in a pink frilly shirt!!! They really have some twisted psycho on the production team!

Read Cards on the Table - hmm, interesting analysis of the psychology of the characters. Then read The ABC Murders - Wow. Enjoyed the moustache jokes, heh.

Read Tsubasa 4 and got a Guu moment when Mokona opened his mouth to teleport them *snerk* and a Xelloss moment when Mokona said "Hi-Mit-Tsu!" Lots of echos with the CCS manga so you could believe they really are travelling in alternate world - Tsubasa is CLAMP's damn fine excuse to recycle characters, I tell yer. It's also got more meaningful angst (hate meaningless angst), than CCS. Like poor Syaoran having his name ripped out of the script in Sakura's memoies and the empty seat at her birthday party! But what I mentioned earlier seems to be coming true - Sakura seeing Syaoran as a mysterious protector type person. Changes the whole dynamics of the situation. And somehow he can relax better now, because he seems convinced that since she won't remember him, a romantic relationship is impossible. Like how you would relax around a girl who you know couldn't possibly like you back? Previously he was was all lefts and rights to avoid being too forward.

Found my purple flowers ring which I thot I lost - happy! ^_^

Dreamt of a murder mystery - everyone in one big house. The murderer is exposed in a letter left by the victim (who may or may not be alive). The letter explained in detail the victim's suspicions of who the murderer is, as well as an account of the past events that may have led to the crime. The idea is that the victim may have tried to blackmail the murderer by threatening to divulge that he wore a toupe or something like that. All I can remember is one character saying rather dryly - "Well I am terribly disappointed that he let himself is carried away over something so little."

Kyyyaaa! Before I forget - haven't finished the whole volume but the last Hana Yori Dango is soooo touching! That's the way to finish a nice long romance! Frustratingly open-ended but still gives a pretty good idea of what will happen in the future, leaving poor readers salivating for more. Nice small pencil board freebie included too but the best part of the volume is the short story on Akira because it showed the four of them when they were little kiddies and the tensions that existed in their friendship even when they were very young. Also did well to bring out one of the least featured member of the four and I believe it hinted beautifully at a little Akira/Tsukushi like that small-talk column in one of the volumes when a fan had written to enthuse that pairing instead of Tsukasa/Tsukushi. Gonna read it in more detail when have the time - it is a pretty sad volume because it did seem to be too strong on "tying up all the loose ends."

OD-ed on nasi lemak and KFC this week. Four of the first and three of the latter. Yikes!

Had two dreams which I've long written descriptions of - but since they involved:

1) Chinese-songs guessing games on a bus

2) Infiltration into a matsuri in a Japanese sch/military base and seeing the new and improved Zero helicoptor

3) Eating sugar cubes but not tasting them and yet still feeling the tooth decay

4) The phrase - “Some say that mermaids are ferociously protective of their young and taking them away could result in terrible rages to rain down on the offending party, resulting even in the loss of life. But then he had more than one of those.”

5) Discovering that I have a dream voice which narrates the events and another voice that speculates on the dreams in my err...head.


...I shall spare the precious few readers of this blog (including myself) the totally mind-whapping details.


Was saying to meselph that am gonna totally relax on my sunday since saturday was soooooooo long. Instead got dragged out to shop with mom and traipsed off to Yishun so she can spend a few hours with my aunt. Should be irritated but am not because I got a real kick of out of the first time I saw my mom like a shirt so much, she wore it straight of the changing room, stopped by the cashier to pay for it and even recommended one for my aunt. And dun you get that nice feeling when you make a parental unit happy - not like happy because they are glad you did well on your studies and will grow up to be a relatively useful addition to society - but happy-for-themselves happy?

Long long long long day yesterday - not trying or too busy - just really long - like 8.30 am to 10.30 pm kinda long. *yawn~* Had to work this Saturday, then help out for R+R duty. Had a two hour break in the middle so had lunch with a friend at KFC. Then bought my first holey pullover! You know, those knitted shirts that are meant to be worn over spaghetti tops? - except I dun have spaghetti tops. Just the whole idea of holey pullover + spaghetti top + tight back jeans = is a look I always wanted to try but me and fashion don't get along too good on account that I feel any skirt/pants/shirt over $45 is daylight robbery.

Went to the IT fair to filch phamphlets for my sis who is stuck working at one of the booths. Reached the height of no-lifeness when I was more happy discovering clear boxes the exact size to hold the cd sleeves which I use to keep my anime than being able to purchase a digital camera. The Creative MuVo2 looks lees glow-y in real life than on a phamphlet. Thicker too. The radio/voice recorder addition is a real attraction. Radio and MP3! Managed to keep from drooling over the Canon A80 and Nikon Coolpix 3700 when the salesman offerred to let me examine them. Huge crowds.

Only tiny bits left, but had a dream of my old jc classmate - she was singing in the church choir (though only can recall that the building was slightly aged, not necessarily that it was a church) and the funny thing was that I remembered dreaming of another occasion where I did see her sing in the choir. I can't remember the question - but she replied matter-of-factly, as she always did - "Of course." Dreamt of a long table and many people sat around it like a conference of sorts. Also dreamt of three girls (one of them was my perspective) dancing on an earth path with grassy plains on both sides. The path was slightly wet (must be the raining recently....) and there were those beige ant-hills, except they were really flat. Remember falling on one of them. The weird thing was the Mariah Carey soundtrack - Can't live without you - which really got irritating after a while.

Been pouring since the morning (Where is all this water coming from?!) and I'm freezing my nose off at work.

Rewatched a scene last night, Full Metal Panic!, where Gaul loses control of the Tuatha Dannan and Tessa (bleeding from the nose) proclaims in a semi-hysterical voice that even if she died Chidori (who is hooked up to the ship's computer) will still protect the vessel. I really thought Tessa lost it then and Chidori may end up unable to unmeld her mind forever. Also how Sousuke saw hollograms/hallucinations of Chidori in unlikely places around the ship (like on the storm-lashed deck when he and Gaul were locked in a life-and-death stuggle. Okay, what really gave it away was that you could tell that she's in her birthday suit, so it had to be a mirage!) - now I know what it reminded me of. Anna McCaffrey's brainships. Esp Helva and Niall, the very first book I read. Wasn't quite so impressed with the rest though...

Wow, looks like Peace Maker Kurogane just crossed the line into being one of the animes I would definitely not recommend to kiddies. Was thinking that the anime won't be as violent as the manga but...Just watched eps 18-20 in a go and it had not-so-minor character death already, aside from other nasty things, not all shown, some only spoken about but you get a very clear implication of what happened. Good thing I didn't watch this while I was too depressed...

Souji already showing signs of the tuberculosis (?) and the friendship between Tetsu and Suzu (who is already getting a little insane) is already collapsing. Hijitaka finally demonstrates his ruthlessness and finally the puzzle of Yamanami's blond girlfriend is solved! (I have a sinking suspicion that he unwittingly caused Ayu-nee's demise by telling his girlfriend about Ayu-nee's disppearance from the Shinsengumi's compound. At the same time, I also suspect that she is the same person who gave Susumu the details of Ayu-nee's death so the Shinsengumi could trap Masuya into a confession) Connections, connections......now seriously gotta go watch something to cheer me up, man....

Dinner tonight was one Long John Silver cole slaw, one 25 cents Mac ice-cream and two cokes. But it was worth it because got to watch Big Fish with friends. Pretty nice movie - deep contrast between the fantasy and the real - and just enough touch of the supernatural. Quite symbolic if you look deeper into it. Quite funny as well! Although I so didn't need to see the Danny DeVito like that, ugh...

Was awfully tempted to read one of Christie's supernatural mysteries but then thought: "Hmmm, do I really need to be sleepless for the next two weeks? Nah."

Having a fun time with Kaeru Shisho's Slayers fic, which does an admirable job of sticking to the timeline (or events) of the three anime seasons. Am particularly looking forward to the next chapter because Zelgadiss finally met Miwan. *cackles* Can't wait for his reaction when he finds out....

Have found another two ways to de-stress after work

1) Read mind-numbingly dumb romances - "My honey lamb, how do you feel?" (Henley, The Border Hostage, p. 97) Hahahahaha!

2) Read Agatha Christie (kinda like a textual Kindaichi) and have my mind twisted like a pretzel - ooh! This time it is the real murderer pretending to be the first suspect when all along he knew he would be cleared so that the second suspect (who is really innocent) will be driven to her death. Wow.

Am feeling more stressed - like I am out of form these days - hope it doesn't last.

Have also taken mightily to boxing my anime in cd-boxes (the 2-cd or 4-cd kind) and generating the jewel case cover so that the thing looks dang good sitting on a shelf. (I keep them all in a box.) Unfortunately, haven't been watching them a whole lot. My Naruto scanlations have been accumulating for the past seven (seven!) chapters. Haven't touched Mezzo DSA. Ignored the recent Peace Maker Kurogane since that Okita's evil twin turned up. Haven't seen Full Metal Alchemist either because read somewhere that Ep 21 is gonna be full of conspiracies and assorted angst. Just download and download but dun watch ---- But I am looking forward to labelling them though.....I've gotta be sick.

And now for Amusing Stuff commercials:

1) Saw at the NTUC seafood section, a tin of water labelled - "For Wash Hand Only" *snerk*

2) Saw (and heard) a magnificent display of a kiddy blackmailing his parents by wailing loudly (or moderately when he felt the time wasn't right to push his luck) all the way from Century Sq's third floor to the neighbouring Tampines Mall's Bossini. Is it twisted of me to observe rather scientifically how he denies his parents anything (until they buy him whatcamacallit) - like screaming to embarrass them, snatching his hand away so they can't hold his hand. And it's pretty interesting to note how his screams escalated especially at the exit of Century Sq and the entrance of Tampines Mall (like he is upset but not so upset that he he coudn't judge where the "critical" points were, heh)

3) Met someone with a very interesting accent - not the kind I would like but the more I listened to him, the nicer it sounded. Like a mix of stuff. Also overheard a guy with an even stronger accent discuss the meditation (Buddhism) classes he goes to - his English isn't really good but he was excellent in getting his points across. Like how meditation centers and grounds you so that you don't get swept away by strong emotions (like depression) but can stay rooted and recognise the comings and goings of emotions.