street car fish in a tub

i watched the cabbie today with bad subtitles

Dec 16, 2024

3rd November 2024

I tend to scream when stressed. Earlier today this was helpful while on the way to my first Q&A moderation. Borrowed my parents’ car to rush over as I was preparing earlier that morning, as well as catching up with YL. The music of choice to my scream along was Chara’s 2008 album honey. Other than asking YL for advice, I’m equally thankful to the many other colleagues / friends / family that gave me advice. I always used to pinch myself when public speaking. Today was different, this time I fumbled over my phone a bit during the beginning. Next time I think it is best to use a notebook instead.

It’s been a hectic week, as usual. Managed to catch up with different friends, celebrate my sister’s birthday, host family friends from the Philippines and also scroll an ungodly amount of reels / youtube shorts. Other than the more stereotypical vices, this has been my main fault. I write here, perhaps, to look back in the future to check if this habit becomes better. Oh and this post was encouraged by YL’s recent one too.

Made this on a whim last week, probably indicative enough of what I’ve been listening to. I’ve been to 5 weeks of House dance class so far. Week 4 was a particular tough week but I felt way better during the class that just past. Interestingly enough, I have been telling people that House has been my highlight of each week. My call with YL today made me realise that it sits as a 1B to our weekly catchup 1A. I shared with one of my classmates that during one of my calls with YL, she effectively helped solve my sidewalk problem.

You’re dancing too wide, try doing the move smaller.

While it is a difficult move, it gave me immense joy the next class to have followed along with much more ease than the last. Tangentially, I have been practicing some post moves for basketball. Can’t wait to run some games in the future.

Unbelievable bump, especially Earl’s verse.

I'm not okay, but I'm gon' be alright

Chum is 11 years old.

9th November 2024

My colleagues are my friends? An older colleague resoundingly declared that we were all friends in the office two days ago. Probably spend too much time with them. I don’t regret that.

15th December 2024

The festival has come and gone. I did in fact use a notebook instead of my phone during my moderation of Some Nights I Feel Like Walking. Funnily enough there was not much nervousness this time, my brain preoccupied with all the other swirling concerns during the festival. A lot has happened, but the takeaways remain fairly grounded. Cue People by Silver Jews. Really nothing much more to scrutinise – moments shared shall remain clandestine or unearthed in the future when unlikely tangents intersect. A month ago’s worries seem so pointless and fleeting, this sentiment rears its head and comes true for the similar fixations of today.

YL and I went to JT’s House 1 class this past Thursday. Note to self to start writing in another notebook about House movements. I really do want to pursue this – I will continue to chip against this block. YL also said that she was very out of practice – factual given how busy she has been the previous few weeks back in the States. By the end of the class though, it sure did not look to be the case to me – she followed the choreo all the way through, albeit having exercised extra brain power and coming away with a small stich. I on the other hand was completely lost during the last two bars.

Note to self to continue noting to self.

A week more until the family takes a trip to Korea. A week more in December to carve out some time to hang out with YL. This week’s going to move quick. I will try hard to take it slow. Before I clean this up, posting this here for posterity.

Two nights ago I brought a friend to his first local rock show. Prior to the start of the gig, Carpet Golf’s album launch, we walked by the grass patch at Aljunied MRT – the same one Simon and I sat at earlier this year. With beers in hand, I suggested to my friend to have a seat – to imagine that we were not here but in a park in Melbourne. Initially reluctant, he eventually joined me on the grass as we talked music until the sun had fully set. I’d like to think that this moment was an acting of paying it forward.

YL gifted me a Cheers Series Smiski (on the right) and it joins the Yoga Smiska that we both got two years ago in San Francisco. There will be a day where all of them will be reunited between Farrer Park and Little India – one that we look forward to fondly.

A lot has happened this past month. I’m just grateful to have reached the now relatively intact. The title of this post comes from the LUCY song called Sand, a recent earworm – like the rest of his music for me this year.

Artist Scrobbles from 1 Jan 2024 to 16 Dec 2024

Oh and I watched The Cabbie (Chen Yi-wen & Chang Hwa-Kun, 2000) today with bad subtitles. It was rather enjoyable and I look forward to seeing a better copy of it in the future.