Prudence, Caution, Deliberation.
The Hermit points to all things hidden, such as knowledge and inspiration,hidden enemies. The illumination is from within, and retirement from participation in current events.
The Hermit is a card of introspection, analysis and, well, virginity. You do not desire to socialize; the card indicates, instead, a desire for peace and solitude. You prefer to take the time to think, organize, ruminate, take stock. There may be feelings of frustration and discontent but these feelings eventually lead to enlightenment, illumination, clarity.
The Hermit represents a wise, inspirational person, friend, teacher, therapist. This a person who can shine a light on things that were previously mysterious and confusing.
via Joe.My.God. is this crazy amazing mash-up video done by the talented DJ Earworm. A complete guide of this year's pop song. Amazing Stuff.
Happy New Year's Eve. Hope you're with a loved one to celebrate tonight.
(My) Sony Eric 810 was found in a cataonic state this early afternoon after being kidnapped by a pair of Lucky jeans and drowned in the abyss of the washing machine. Rescue worker in the form of a hair dryer came to the scene and offered the breath of life, but proved to be futile and highly unrecommended. Currently we are using Chinese medicine on him by burying Mr. Eric in a tub of long grain Jasmine rice. (Bless the Asian habit of keeping rice.) But this reporter's outlook is pretty much the same as the crowd gathering outside John Paul II's building on that very fateful day, If we have to count on Chinese mediicine as a last resort Mr. Eric is surely passing on to the netherworld.
Mr. Eric is survived by his charger, an USB connector, his sim card, his battery and hopefully his memory card and its contents. I'm sure he'll be missed, but we'll be glad to hear that his distant relative Sony Eric 850 from the land of Ebay will replace him as the prime minister of communications for the State that is YvesPaul.
In memory of 810, let's take a moment to review his best work:
A friend of mine was selling a brand new 8Gb iPod Touch for $180, he won that at his company Christmas party and he already have a GPhone. Since my iPod is going monotone on me and the iPod Touch can be used to play games and go online and that price is really good (comparing to $229 +tax at the stores), I bought it from him.
After looking in my old iPod, I find out that I actually have 17Gb of songs, so obviously my new iPod will not satisfy my needs. Luckily I haven't opened the box yet, so I posted it on Craigslist for $200 to earn a quick buck. Selling stuff on Craigslist is not easy, after you post it, you have to wait for responses and then call them back and negotiate some more. Ever since X'mas Eve, I've been pulled to an array of parties and Mahjong session which only ceased after last night, and even though I've gotten 4 responses minus one exchange request, all the responses have kinda trailed.
One kid tried to negotiate a discount and claimed that he doesn't have enough money and offer to pay half first. When I refused, he called me back and told me to keep it for him for a week. A lady called and said I'm too far away for her to meet. The other guys still hasn't called me back yet. I'm posting the ad again, hopefully it'll garner more responses.
Adele is suppose to come and perform in Philadelphia on January 15th. I've just found that out 2 weeks ago but it's already sold out. I feel like kicking myself. Her tickets were sold for $15 each and when I check on the other ticket sites for them, they were pumped to a whopping $314 a piece. I wonder who will buy them for that much. After physically walking to the venue and see if they have reserved some aside for ground sale and asked a few questions about a potential venue change, my plan is to just go there on that night and see if there are anyone selling them on the side. It might be cheaper. Although after checking back, the price has already dropped to around $150, maybe the closer it gets to the event, the lower the price will be. Even I've heard she might come back to Philly again, I'm still crossing my fingers. Around $50-60 a piece would be ideal, that'd be about the same price I got the Amy Winehouse's for.
Oh, plus I thought $9.99 a pound of lobster is cheap since Reading Terminal sells them for $15-20 a pound. I just bought 3 of them for $7.99 a pound, just to find out that at ShopRite they sell them for $4.99 a pound. Although killing live things weren't fun at all.
Lifted from Vic at Maybe It's Just Me..., where my evil twin SpyValue deemed too good to pass up.
From Philly.com
Phila. man shot because family talked during movie
By Barbara Boyer
INQUIRER STAFF WRITER
A South Philadelphia man enraged because a father and son were talking during a Christmas showing of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button took care of the situation when he pulled a .380-caliber gun and shot the father, police said.
James Joseph Cialella Jr., 29, of the 1900 block of Hollywood Street is charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault, and weapons violations.
"It's truly frightening when you see something like this evolve into such violence," said police spokesman Lt. Frank Vanore.
Police were called to the Riverview Theatre in the 1400 block of Columbus Boulevard about 9:30 p.m. where the gunshot victim, a Philadelphia man who was not identified, told police a man sitting near him told his family to be quiet and threw popcorn at his son.
After exchanging words, Vanore said Cialella allegedly got out of his seat to confront the family when the father got up to protect them. That's when the victim was shot once in the left arm, sending others in the theatre running to safety.
Cialella then sat down to watch the movie. Police arrived a short time later and arrested Cialella and confiscated his weapon, Vanore said.
Hey folks, X'mas is finally winding down. I hope you guys had a great time. Of course, the weekend is still ongoing and we can still party hard. There has been a lot of gaming for the last 3 days and my brain is a little fried, so I hope I can still manage this Meme.
Today's Meme is brought to you from Sunday Stealing. Sunday Stealing - lifting important meme for you since August 2008.
1. What is a nickname a former (or present) lover gave you?
Bebo (Principe said because I'm big)
2. How do you style your hair? If you just would say "cut" what style is it?
I'm clueless with hair the best I can do is just messe it up using some wax and make it stand up a bit in front. I have no idea what my cut is called. Ape?
3. What's your least favorite Christmas song?
The Twelfth Days of Christmas, of course. (On the eleventh day of X'mas... hear me say Kill Me Now in Ms. Creole's accent.)
4. How many colors are you wearing now?
Two; Asian skin tone and Asian hair black.. just kidding. White and Blue.
5. Are you an introvert or extrovert?
Introverted
6. What was the last book you read?
Charlaine Harris' From Dead to Worse
7. What's one piece of fiction that changed your life?
Fiction that changed my life? Let's see... Green Eggs and Ham didn't change my life, Harry Potter didn't either, how about The Creation of The Gods?
8. If you are attracted to someone who is already in a relationship (or married), what might you do?
You mean like right now? We're still chatting online and meeting sometimes. Aw... I hate myself.
9. Is there anything that has made you unhappy recently?
Nothing get me more upset than relationships, whether it's love, friendship or with colleagues. But then I guess the opposite can be true.
10. What's your favorite dessert?
Has anyone tried the English Sticky Toffee Pudding. Aw... So good. They sold it at Whole Foods for a while, but I don't see them anymore.
11. How long does it take you to get ready in the morning?
Under 45 minutes from wake up to out the door.
12. Name one website that you visit daily. Why do you read it?
I do read the blogs on my blogroll everyday, if they update it daily. Just to catch up and keep up with my friends' like and dislikes. One of them would be Towleroad, it's gay news central.
13. What was your last job before either you are at home or at another job?
I was doing IT for a non-profit.
14. Do you like to clean?
Hate it. Especially dusting, wiping, moping and vacuuming. Over the years, I've learn to appreciate washing dishes, but that's about it.
15. What was the last song to get stuck in your head?
Chasing Pavements by Adele (Oh, and this question is evil)
16. What's the last movie you saw?
Twilight (Only recommendable for rental)
17. Pirates or Ninjas?
Isn't that a choice between the sea and the land? Ninja, they like to hide in the night and it seems to be a lot more fun being a ninja.
18. What is your least favorite thing to do that you have to do everyday?
Lying in bed waiting to fall asleep.
19. Best time of your life?
When I was in Hong Kong hanging out with my group of 12 closest friends walking by the harbor on New Year's eve. I just deeply realized at that moment how happy I was.
20. What are you most looking forward to in the coming year?
Getting a new job, maybe even moving to the West Coast.
Anyhow, hey y'all, have a great weekend!
Christmas Tree
Ra pa pum pum (x4)
Light me up put me on top lets falalalalalalala x2
The only place you wanna be is underneath my Christmas tree(x2)
Light me up put me on top lets falalalalalalala x2
Ho ho ho under the mistletoe
Yes everybody knows
We will take off our clothes
Yes if you want us to we will (you)
Ho ho ho it's Christmas
My Christmas tree is delicious (x2)
Light you up put you on top lets falalalala (lets go)x2
Ho ho ho under the mistletoe
Yes everybody knows
We will take off our clothes
Yes if you want us to we will (you)
Ho ho ho it's Christmas
My Christmas tree is delicious (x2)
Here here here
The best time of the year
Take off my stockings where
I'm spreading Christmas cheer
Yes if you want us to we will (you)
Ho ho ho it's Christmas
My Christmas tree is delicious (x2)
Space Cowboy Lady Gaga Lady Gaga
And she goes
Space Cowboy Lady Gaga Lady Gaga
Here we go
Cherry cherry boom boom.
Wishing you all a very merry X'mas. Try not to drink and drive!
With much, much love,
Paul.
I'm still flirting and seeing CuteCub, he's like a drug that I can't get enough of and we seemed to have pretty good chemistry. I know, it's kinda dumb and dangerous to be with someone that I can't have. I'm watching my steps and hold myself back bit by bit which is easier said than done. I'm looking out for flaws to focus on to bring him back down to size, but in my infatuated state, I can't find any, well maybe little things that can be easily looked over and I'll consider myself lucky if I have to live with those flaws. It's especially cruel that now he's using his webcam when we chat online.
Last night after a few beers, he revealed to me that his boyfriend will be graduating in the coming summer and that since he's a foreigner and given the current job market, he'll probably have to return to his native land afterward. CuteCub has no plans to move away, so they eventually will have to break up. It sounds horrible and it reminded me of my breakup with Principe, but I can't help but glimpse a spark of hope and invoke a series of what-ifs. I'm infatuated with him enough that I don't wish them any sadness though.
At the same time, Calico Guy which I've had a little fling with in late spring resurfaced to tell me that he is now living in the great NYC and got a new boyfriend. He had been unemployed and living with his ex the doctor in the same bed for a year and since his ex found a new beau and decided to move down to North Carolina to take on a new job in a new hospital. Calico Guy was forced to move and find a job for himself, which he did for a few months. Now he's in NYC worked part time and lived with his new boyfriend for a month before being fired. Now his new boyfriend is threatening him with a breakup if he doesn't get his act together. Calico Guy has a weak mind so that's probably just the jolt he needs, although it's kinda cruel to say something like that right before X'mas. I can understand the stress of living with a partner who's not contributing, especially while you're living in a big city with higher living expenses. I seemed to remember being the sugardaddy for all of my relationships, no matter how much older my exes are.
At least these kinda stuff give me some perspective to put my life back together. If I can't even support myself, how can I be there for someone else? Finding a job will be the number one item on my new year's resolution. I think I'm ready now.
For the ones who's complaining about the unusual coldness of this winter which is completely understandable since I've never heard of snow storm traveling so far south before - meet the people at the Sakha region of Russia in a town with a population of 800 called Oymyakon. 
Oymyakon is deemed to be the coldest town on earth. Since it's located in the middle of two mountain ranges which trap cold air for the entire year. While its summer's average high can reach 72 degrees Fahrenheit, its winter's average low is around -57F. According to Wikipedia, it's record low of all time is -85.7F. Brrr. 
It's hard to imagine people living in such extreme weather that people consider -30F as nice weather and kids still have to go to school unless it's below -52F. (Below -52F because they liked B-52's?) Oymayakon, where birds will freeze mid-flight and turn into dangerous projectiles and people can freeze in just a few minutes outdoor without proper clothing. I guess no picking up the newspaper in wife-beaters and boxers, but then again what newspaper?
Since the town is so out in the wild, I can imagine the daily necessities like food would be extremely expensive. Who would want to deliver there anyway? And it's hard to imagine that the town can be self-sufficient unless there's oil or they can sell ice or cold to others. I'm pretty sure that's not how you make Freons. Why don't they just pack up and leave? It's not that simple I'm sure but it's better to stay and suffer. (That right there sounds like a relationship advice)
But honey, it's only -30F, you can play outside.
I'm so exhausted.
After a 4-hour Mahjong training session for new learners on Saturday afternoon, me and my friends drove to Delaware to another friend's place for our X'Mas party, after dinner we did our pollyanna that involved picking names from a hat and stealing other people's gifts. Since there's a rule that the gifts have to be $5 or under and most people there are tennis players, there were a lot of tennis balls around. Fortunately I was the last one picked, so I get to steal a gift-wrapped $5 bill but got stolen later and I chose an etch-a-sketch for my second option. Other gifts also include a $5.99 digital camera, a 3-piece set of X'mas figurines, some interesting decorative masks, chopsticks, chocolates and the pear-shaped candles I bought. I even made a gift bag out of wrapping paper and used some ribbons and all to make it real pretty. At the end, the gift itself is not really important, but we had lots of fun. I end up giving the etch-a-sketch to one of my friends' nephew.
CL brought a fun party game with him called Apples to Apples where each of us are given 7 red apple cards with a noun of the card, it could be a person, a place, a thing, or an incident... And a green card is selected randomly with an adjective on it. And people are suppose to choose the most appropriate noun for it with one of the players being a judge and see which noun is the most appropriate for the adjective. The winner will take the green apple card and be the next judge, the first one who gets 4 green apple card would win. There were 13 people playing and yours truly wins with Hillary Rodham Clinton (for Heartless), Giant Squid (for Legendary), Sunset (for Magical) and Asians (for Smooth). It's really funny to see what people come up with for different categories and also see the different value system for different judges.
We played some more Mahjong and some Wii games and turn around it's 6:30 am. Sleep for 3 hours and then it's more Wii. Our favorite is the tennis game in Wii Sports. Four people playing doubles. By the end I can feel my forearms aching like I had lifted weight for the past hour. Not my shining moments, since everybody else are really into tennis, but I'm also a lot better than a lot of non-gamers. SV played so violently that I was afraid for the host that he might break something. We played Mario Kart for a bit, and I'm actually better at it than even people who own a console. 
Another Wii game called We Cheer where we were supposed to imitate cheerleader and use our controllers as pom-poms, dancing to C&C Music factory's Everybody Dance Now. We took a lot of pictures while other people were doing that for blackmailing purposes later.
Time flies when you're having fun. After some Mahjong, it was 5:30 in the morning. Some needed some sleep, but a few of us were still playing Wii for another hour. And then we played some more after 3 hours of sleep. Went out to a mighty cool dinner (Lucky's Coffee House?) for a late lunch and then drove back to Philadelphia and go to another friend's house and played some more Mahjong and got home just before 9pm.
I never felt so in need of a shower... It's a good thing I can stay in bed for as long as I want. Since I have some leftover Chinese takeout in fridge, I don't think I'll move much for the rest of the day.
The weekend is here and I've a Mahjong training session and a party to go to later. I'm not quite feeling the X'mas and I sincerely doubt that I'll be celebrating it this year. So I decided not to do a X'mas meme. Instead, I lifted this from Judd at Sunday Stealing, it's just a list of your favorite things. X'mas-y enough, no?
Fill in your favorite for each of the following:
1. Political show: The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
2. Picnic food: Hmm... You can have any food at a picnic. Um... potato salad?
3. Mixed drink: Some fruity martini like apple or blackberry.
4. U.S. President: Clinton, for the booming economy and even the sex.
5. Kind of student to teach: WTF kind of question is that? The smart kind?
6. Hobby you do or wish you still did: Video games
7. Sports commentator: Not a clue, I can't think of a single one but Madden.
8. Sport to watch on TV: Texas Hold'em counts? If not, figure skating then.
9. Animal to have as a pet: Dog, Alaskan Malamute or any other kind should be fine, no bull dogs though, sorry.
10. Halloween costume you have worn: Well, I've only worn one thus far, my Chinese Vampire costume.
11. Kind of dessert: I'm a chocoholic, so the chocolate zuccotto cake they have at Maggiano's is perfect. Dense, rich chocolate mousse in between fluffy chocolate cake in a dome shape. Can't beat it.
12. Comic strip: Don't read much paper, but I think I liked The Mostly Unfabulous Social Life Of Ethan Green
13. Ice cream flavor: Haagen Dazs' Pineapple Coconut
14. News source: The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
15. Vacation spot: Greece, never been.
16. Wine: I don't drink wine, but a friend brought some dessert wine from South Africa and they were good. How about Marsala for cooking?
17. Way to waste time instead of working: Go online!
18. Reality show: I was a fan of Amazing Race, but I haven't watched it for the past few seasons.
19. Children's movie: Castle in the Sky by Hayao Miyazaki. You've got to see it.
20. Celebrity you wish would retire: Why would I want my favorite person to retire? Jack Nicholson?
Have a great weekend! :)
Last week's 7-Layer Meme, there was a question about listing a favorite CD I own and I've listed Amy Winehouse's Back To Black, I know that she's messed up and it's tired by now but it was real good when it lasted. I got me thinking about listing some CDs that had made an impact on me or that I like a whole lot.
Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814 (1989) - My first CD ever, she was the dance standard, it was very social conscious and the music was great. I miss that Janet, I was lucky to have that as my first CD.
Sinead O'Connor's Am I Not Your Girl (1992) - I love Sinead purely for her talents, her voice is wonderful and I love how she redo old songs and usually comes up with something better. I was a fan ever I first heard her voice and followed her career until she went ape-shit religious and lesbionic. Other the her So Far... The Best Of album, I think I like Am I Not Your Girl the best. Her rendition of these classic tunes are really wonderful. Her version of Gloomy Sunday and How Insensitive are great and her Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered remains to be one of my all-time favorite songs.
Boyz II Men's Cooleyhighharmony (1993) - When my friends were into Backstreet Boys, Kylie Minogue and a teenage heartthrob called Tommy Page in the early 90s, I was way into these Philly boys. It's not the reason I'm in Philly now though, things just happens. I was very into the way they harmonized, gay guys like me sooner or later will learn to ignore the overtly heterosexual tone of the songs. haha.
Toni Braxton's Toni Braxton (1993) - It's one of the best debut album anyone can put out, she's got a great voice and the album is very complete. It's one of L.A. Reid and Babyface's legendary production work. Some great belching ballads in there.
The Cranberries' No Need To Argue (1994) - After their Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We?, The Cranberries came out with a more mature sophomore album. Dolores' voice is haunting and well utilized in the subject of violence in Ireland, her humble family and background. It's beautiful and carries substance and an infectious love and sadness.
Bjork's Post (1995) - You cannot find anyone more inspiring than Bjork. She manages to put different sound and weave it into harmony. Clinking metals, ship horns, all the sound that surrounds us day to day are categorized and made into songs. She once said that she often challenge herself to pull any words in a dictionary and put it into a song, inspire a concept and just go for it. Both Post and Homogenic are great albums.
Tori Amos' Boys For Pele (1996) - Another one with cryptic messages, but you can Tori Amos is really, really talented. She has an urge to shock and inspire her audience. Not a lot of people will have a inner album cover of herself breastfeeding a pig or pretend to be a drowned corpse. The ideas in her songs are intriguing, you can feel real emotions in her song and you can follow them as they change. Sublime melodies, and you'd be mindblown by how a piano can express such violent ideas.
Fugees' The Score (1996) - I bought it for Lauryn's amazing vocals and got so much more for it. It opened my mind to experience a life where I would not be able to experience otherwise. Great rhymes, great music, although I feel bad for Praswell sometimes, the other two seems so much more talented.
George Michael's Older (1996) - Must have been a great year for music. I liked George Michael ever since Careless Whisper, he was really good looking back then and not the druggie who enjoys public sex now. Back in 96, I didn't even had a clue that he was gay. All I remember were the muscled body in the Fast Love video. (Did I mention I was still a virgin back then?) Jesus To A Child and Older are great songs. The album itself is very well produced.
Jamiroquai's Traveling Without Moving (1997) - The top hat wearing Jay Kay has been my hero for a while, I was in love ever since I've got a whiff of Acid Jazz from them, Incognito, the Brand New Heavies and such. Too Young to Die, Space Cowboy and their aboriginal didgeridoo playing ways are a hoot. But it's not until their third album Traveling Without Moving that they finally have a completely satisfying album. Of course, much can be debated.
Mary J. Blige's Share My World (1997) - For me, Mary J. peaked at Share My World (is it because of Babyface?) It is one of the best R&B album ever produced. What's a singer without drama, Mary J.'s strangth is her ability to bring emotions, not that hip hop stuff that anyone can do.
Lauryn Hill's The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (1998) - Every song is carefully written to pack as much talents in ti as possible, you're awed by her words, her rhymes, her vocal, the beat, the arrangements, the sampled melodies. Every song is a bundle of wows, it's overwhelming to the brain and yet you feel so excited listening to her.
Nina Simone's Quiet Now: Night Songs (2000) - Shameful, I know, because this is a compilation album. But it's very well done, her songs are remastered and you can hear them clearly. Not only that, all the songs chosen are the quiet ones, not the fighting side of Nina, but love songs mostly. All of them are so beautiful, I can cry. It also contains a great version of the famed I Loves You, Porgy. It's a very sweet album.
Angie Stone's Mahogany Soul (2001) - The album of Angie Stone that I like best. She tells you like it is, honest, direct, the essence of a strong black woman. (like Kathy Griffin, lol) I mean who else can sing you a song called Time of The Month? I feel like I have strong affinity to female singers and you can really hear the soulfulness in Angie's songs. You can't fake it. Listening to it is like being in the big waterslides at the water park, you can only follow the groove while it takes you up and down. No two ways about it.
Coldplay's A Rush Of Blood To The Head (2002) - It's somber and moody, what more do you want? Seriously, I rarely go for rock or bands but their music is just too beautiful. They sound so tortured(?), like there's a great inner struggle going on, it's twisted elegance.
John Legend's Once Again (2006) - (I wonder what had happened since between 02 and 06, oh well) His last name might as well be Legend. Extremely talented, great voice, I just can't get enough and even though he had put out three albums now, the quality has been consistent. You don't get talent like him often, not often enough anyway. He's just great in my book, not to mention cute.
Amy Winehouse's Back To Black (2007) - Another extremely talented person, but maybe she's too young? There's definitely something wrong with her. In her right mind, she could produce great music effortlessly, it's such a shame when you know that it probably won't happen. Other than one song in Back To Black that I hate, the album was perfect, she got a great voice and the 40s styling fits her perfectly. Ugh, what a waste?
Adele's 19 (2008) - Adele's album is growing on me, because like Amy, she has a great voice, she writes her own material and during the production of the album, she's only 19. Her voice is rich and it captures you. The general topic of her songs are about young love, but then Hometown Glory is such a pleasing alternative. I see great things happening for her, and I hope we'll hear from her again very soon.
I got tagged by Sue at Fair View for this meme. (But I've done it before... whine) Well, since this is a different time, I guess I can do it again. :)
You Can Only Type ONE Word. Not as easy as you might think.
1. Where is your cell phone? Stand
2. Your significant other? Missing
3. Your hair? Chest
4. Your mother? Dead
5. Your father? Deadbeat
6. Your favorite thing? Music
7. Your dream last night? Nope
8. Your favorite drink? Tea
9. Your dream/goal? Contentment
10. The room you're in? Studio
11. Music? Always
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Love
13. Where were you last night? Bed
14. What you're not? Aggressive
15. Muffins? Croissant!
16. One of your wish list items? CuteCub
17. Where you grew up? Everywhere
18. The last thing you did? Repair
19. What are you wearing? Jeans
20. TV? Resting
21. Your pets? Non-existent
22. Your computer? Aging
23. Your life? A-wasting
24. Your mood? Blue-ooh-ooh
25. Missing someone? Yes
26. Favorite Store? Supermarket
27. Your summer? Disastrous
28. Like someone? Sure
29. Your favorite color? Blue-ooh-ooh
30. When is the last time you laughed? Hours
31. Last time you cried? Months
HEY YOU! With that funny look on your face... You're TAGGED!
Say love me or leave me and let me be lonely...
Back when I started going into my latest obsession of vampire novels, I reached over to my nightstand and randomly picked a tarot card for a bookmark and got The Sun, I took it as a good omen. I think the Chinese upbringing lead me into the habit of looking for omens. We were always try to create our own good omens while avoiding the bad ones. I was particularly upset when I dropped the card during a bus ride to New York and thought how lazy and stupid of me to use a Tarot card as a bookmark, since now that Ive lost one I'll have to replace the whole deck. Given I have two other decks, but that was my only Rider-Waite, the others are just there for their exotic decorative looks. After that, I told myself that I now have 77 pretty bookmarks. While randomly pulled out the 8 of Swords to replace my lost one, not a good card, but I managed to turn it upside down for my purpose. I got tired of the sight of that one easy enough since it's such a hostile sight to start with and as I was randomly pulling out another replacement last night, it was the Lovers and the sheer irony of it made me burst out laughing.
I can't believe I've never posted this song, I think it reminds me of my current situation. It's one of my all time favorite and as ashamed as I should be, it's the song that introduced me to Nina Simone by the way of Billy's Hollywood Screenkiss. Hope you enjoy!
Love Me Or Leave Me
Say, love me or leave me and let me be lonely
You won't believe me but I love you only
I'd rather be lonely than happy with somebody else
You might find the nighttime the right time for kissing
Night-time is my time for just reminiscing
Regretting instead of forgetting with somebody else
There'll be no one unless that someone is you
I intend to be independently blue
Saaay, I want your love, don't wanna borrow
Have it today to give back tomorrow
Your love is my love
There's no love for nobody else
Say, love me or leave me and let me be lonely
You won't believe me but I love you only
I'd rather be lonely than happy with somebody else
You might find the nighttime the right time for kissing
Night-time is my time for just reminiscing
Regretting instead of forgetting with somebody else
There'll be no one unless that someone is you
I intend to be independently blue
Say I want your love, don't wanna borrow
Have it today to give back tomorrow
Your love is my love
My love is your love
There's no love for nobody else
One of the great Jazz album I owned was Joni Mitchell's "Both Sides Now" but I've lost it during a move, bought it back just to lose it again. In the album there's this song called Don't Go To Strangers that I love. I think music really helps me through emotional times as they just magically appears in my head when I need them. "Play with fire, get your fingers burn..." was the line that keep appearing in my head these two days but it's not until today that I found out one line in the song actually says "I'm an old hand" and not "I'm an old hen", haha. Amy Winehouse had a legendary performance with one Paul Weller here on Jools Holland with the song; legendary because I doubt Amy can ever perform in that level again.
I'm feeling mopey enough to do a double take, but I couldn't find a good version of Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out to Dry. I love how Sarah Vaughan did it, but all they have is Frank Sinatra and I dislike him. Be thankful I didn't go after Donny Osmond's Puppy Love. :)
Don't Go To Strangers
Build your dreams
To the stars above
But when you need
Someone true to love
Don't go to strangers
Darling, come on to me
Play with fire
Till your fingers burn
And when there's no place
For you to turn
Don't go to strangers
Darling, come on to me
For when you hear a call
To follow your heart
You'll follow your heart, I know
I've been through it all
And I'm an old hand
And I'll understand if you go
So make your mark
For your friends to see
But when you need
More than company
Don't go to strangers
Darling, come to me
Don't go to strangers
Darling, come on to me
It's the same old story, I let myself gone completely infatuated and obsessed over CuteCub again. Sure, he's completely my type, good looking in a cute adorable way. He's got nice facial hair, sparkling eyes and a nice hairy chest, a little shorter than me, but it just accentuate his build, charming, educated and he seems to like me well enough. The guy rates pretty high for me, 80%~90% perfect, the problem is that he already has a boyfriend and have no intentions to have open it into a poly. It's futile, as much as he likes to flirt and enjoys the attention. We have seen each other 3~4 times in the past weeks and chatting online every single day, but it can never be and having a person around who reminds me what I can never have is cruel to say the least.
I'm trying to figure out my problem with guys. Maybe somebody else's boyfriend had a stamp of approval on their forehead and are more attractive for it. Or maybe the ones that I can easily have are not good enough because my self-esteem is that low, but my latest observations in the political world have pointed me to the concept of power.
How does one acquire power? I'm pretty sure the ones who are always agreeable would be deemed as pushovers. The ones who always disagree are deemed to be unreasonable and hence not worth the effort. As in voting, the ones that can relinquish power are the undecided ones, the ones that goes two steps forward and three steps back - the teasers. Maybe that's why nothing ever gets done.
The ones that have my heart hangs upside down are all unavailable in one way or another, while still retains a friendly facade. With Lucius, he doesn't want to be tied down and he has other issues. Medic Guy is constantly available, although I think he just like me for my looks than me. Even Principe doesn't deny me much but one thing, his ass, but maybe that's for the best. I'm scared to find out that if the perfect guy came along and give me everything I wanted, I might feel bored.
At least I told him how I felt, so there's nothing left for regrets. We are still chatting. The wise would have taken back the power but stepping away. Then we are still young, maybe I'll get a chance 20~30 years down the line, not that I'm wishing them ill, but things happen. Meanwhile, I'll take this as a catalyst for me to better myself. Go to the gym, get a job and all. I must make myself more attractive if I want a chance in love.
Here comes my melodramatic side again, *Snap* out of it!
The Gay Luck Club is having a X'mas party next weekend and we're having a pollyanna. The rules are simple, well, not really. Everyone has to buy a gift for $5 or less and wrap it. During the party, there's some kind of name drawing and gift stealing and some craziness. I can see how it can potentially be fun, but finding that gift prove to be harder than I thought. 
It's not that you can't buy anything for $5, but for a gift that somebody would want is a bit hard. Obviously a gift card for $5 is rather impersonal. So the search started at an Architectural bookstore that carries a lot of nick-nacks. There were nothing under $5. One thing that I found interesting and look cheap enough was a keyring with a beetle attach to it. It looks pretty but it cost. $7.99.
I thought about going to the wine store and find something, the tiny bottles of liquor probably cost $5 or less, but who would want them? I couldn't find anything in Macy's that would cost $5 to save my life, or even Old Navy of all places. That's when I stumbled into a store called Five Below. Five Below is a magical place where everything they carry is $5 or under, but then again I couldn't find anything that I might want. A Santa hat with an Eagles logo on it, cheap iPod speakers and things made of styrofoams do not make good gifts. The only thing that I liked was a red shirt with a yellow drawing and text that says "Chopsticks Champion". I would have bought one, but then I don't know the size of the potential gift getter nor that if someone would find the shirt offensive. 
Bath and Body Works was selling 4 tiny moisturizers for $10, and I could possibly divide it up, but who would want that? Borders have a a pack of 4 Indian rug looking coasters for $20, but who care to receive only one coaster? I went into West Elm and saw a nice small metal candle holder with their signature design, but it's a few bucks over my limit. I almost gave up and decide to pick something from home or going to get a small bottle of poppers or lube as a gag gift (I wonder how much they cost...) But stumbled into home store with a window display of a list of things that cost less than $10. There's a metal piggie bank that cost $8, an aroma rubber duckie that cost $10. After browsing for a while I saw a pear shaped candle that costs exactly $5. Perfect. It's not extremely fancy but at least it looks adorable.
I never realized how much things cost, you nearly can't buy anything good for $5 anymore. The surprising thing is that gas cost $1.29 in Jersey now. Next time I'll bring a bottle and buy me 4 gallons.
It's hard to not get caught, especially when you're the only barefeet guy there. I've to say that Bush has surprisingly good reflex.
Pale Teenagers + Nice Hair Style = Vampire Movie?
Since it was a full moon and it's the brightest that anyone has seen for the past 15 years, I ventured out to see Twilight. I have always liked vampire movies, over the years vampires had been romanticized and they are not awkward Frankensteinian, half-man, half bat creatures like Nosferatu anymore. The power of vampire itself is really sexual, they were said to be able to hypnotize women into giving up their blood willingly even though they might be grinding in bed. Thanks to Anne Rice, the homoeroticism of vampires were brought up front and center in her novels and in the Movie Interview With The Vampire. The new generation of vampires abandoned their tuxedo wearing Eastern European accented ways (Sorry, no more Count Chocula) and go with a lightly pale teenage facade to ensnare the heart of teenagers everywhere if not their blood.
Naturally, I can't help but compare Twilight with the other recent vampire saga of True Blood. It's very much like the lottery, we all wanted to be seen as someone special and somehow the female human characters in these vampire flicks are sought out by vampires as the one, lucky girls. Even more special is that the ones seeking out these girls are always the brooding vampires who are trying to give up feeding on people. Why? a vampire who doesn't feed on people is just a normal guy with extraordinary powers. How convenient?
Bella is a girl whose parents were divorced, since her mother is traveling with her new husband a lot, she decided to move in with his father somewhere in a small town in the state of Washington. Since the weather in Washington is rain more than sunlight, she fit right in with other pale teenagers in her new his school. One of these said pale teenagers is Edward (played by heartthrob Robert Pattison, who's Cedric in Harry Potter). After one freak accident, Bella befriended Edward and discovered that he is quite different from your normal teenager, he's fast, he's strong, he's hot and he's cold - he's a vampire. A fatal crush starts to develop between these two as Bella gets dragged deeper and deeper into the vampire world.
This film is obviously catered for teenage girls but I'm sickened when the myth of the vampires are altered so much for it. Vampires don't sparkle in sunlight! They don't shimmer with diamond skin, that's Emma Frost. There's a scene where they first met and a fan was blowing on Bella and sending her scent over to a disgusted Edward which he later explained that he can't stand her intoxicating smell (Ooh, cheese), it would be a lot more convincing if he said she had garlic breath.
I don't know what I feel about vampires trying to normalize themselves, I object to an ultra-sensitive vampire. It reminded me of the Japanese tend about gays, in fact teenage girl overtly romanticize it into an ultra-feminine point of view that it became something completely unrecognizable afterward. Given the eye candies are plentiful in the film even they might be a tad too young, I wish vampires would still maintain a shade of black and perhaps, red, instead of all pastel.
Nice haircuts by the way. C+
We all like to think that we're complicated with lots of layers like an onion, but only the few lucky ones get to blossom at Chili's.
Lifted this from Chris at My 2 Cents who lifted this from Judd at Sunaday Stealing. Sunday Stealing is a website where all the post are memes stolen from other sites. It only has 20 some memes now, but it's promising. lol.
Here it is:
LAYER 1: Tell us your…
* Name: Paul or YvesPaul, depending on how close we are.
* Birthday (month, day): July 23rd, same as Eriq La Salle, Omar Epps, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Daniel Radcliffe and Monica Lewinsky
* Birthplace: Hong Kong
* Current location: Philadelphia, PA, USA
* Eye color: Dark Brown, arguable black.
* Hair color: Black
* Height: 5'11.5" (arguable)
* Righty or lefty: I'm always right. :)
* Zodiac sign: Cancer/Leo
LAYER 2: What’s…
* Your heritage: Chinese, there might be a tad of Vietnamese.
* The shoes you wore today: My brown leather flip-flops and my brown leather casual sneakers.
* Your weakness: Brown leather (duh), chocolate, tall guys, hairy chests.
* Your fears: Snakes, anything that shapes like a snake and lying idly on the street. (I jumped over a moving multi-colored scarf, plastic tubes, barks and branches alike), loneliness, poverty.
* Your perfect pizza: Ok, don't judge me... I like sausage, mushroom, pineapple and onions on mine. (Ooh, that sounded somewhat sexual)
* Goals you’d like to achieve: Own a house and get a husband (Very white picket fence, I know)
* Your first waking thoughts: Do I really have to wake up? What time is it?
* Your best physical feature: My legs? I have pretty good skin too.
* Your most missed memory: Missed memory? How would I remember?
LAYER 3: Do you…
* Smoke: Tried it, didn't stick.
* Cuss: Sometimes, well, I guess I'm a bit loose in this area. I don't get offended by curse words, so I didn't think it would offend anyone either.
* Sing: Oh yes, I'm from Hong Kong and karaoke is a must.
* Do you think you’ve been in love: Yes, and I know it. (Clap, clap)
* Did you go to college: Yes, but don't judge me.
* Liked high school: Oh yes, best time of my life, not much studying though.
* Want to get/stay married: If I'm lucky enough to find a guy. :)
* Believe in yourself: Not really that much, that has been my problem for quite some time.
* Think you’re attractive: I'm starting to like myself a lot more after the rhinoplasti and my abs implant.
* Think you’re a health freak: Not at all, if I am I would have gone to the gym after paying for my membership. haha.
* Get along with your parent(s): Parents? What's that?
* Like thunderstorms: Oh yes, I love! I get excited by thunderstorms. It's the Dr. Frankenstein in me.
* Play an instrument: Yes, many. (Oh... did you mean music instruments?)
LAYER 4: In the past month have you…
* Drank alcohol: Yes, at a party 2~3 weeks ago.
* Smoked: Nope. Not cigarettes.
* Done a drug: Errrh, nope. Not that I can remember... (Wha?!)
* Made out: Yes, a lot. Only for medical purpose though, it enhance your immune system. (I've heard)
* Gone on a date: I believe I have. (How do you define date?)
* Gone to the mall: Yes, passed by the one in the city.
* Eaten an entire box of Oreos: Oreos are not my favorite. It might be very un-American of me, the only time I like Oreos is when they are crushed up in Cookies 'n' Cream. (If you ask about Lu's Pims then maybe...)
* Eaten sushi: I remember if I've eaten sushi within the month, I've had a lot of Onigiris, do they count?
* Been on stage: Nope, I've given up that career path ever since high school.
* Been dumped: Not attached for the moment, but my dates are not calling, so...
* Gone skating: No, I can't skate. I tried when I was a kindergartener in Paris, I just can't. (No balance, no coordination)
* Gone skinny dipping: Not in the past month, are you kidding? I'll get hypothermia.
* Stolen Anything: Not the past month, no. Ask again. ;)
LAYER 5: Have you ever…
* Played a game that required removal of clothing: Does sex count?
* Been trashed or extremely intoxicated: I think so, trashed is when you start puking, right?
* Been caught “doing something”: A lot of close calls, but there's no evidence to prove anything.
* Been called a tease: Yes, is that bad?
* Gotten beaten up: In elementary school I'm constantly in fights.
* Shoplifted: Yes. Often. A little bit of a klepto here.
LAYER 6:
* Age you did get/hope to be married: Since I'm already 33, how about 35?
* Numbers and names of children (either you have or want): I think 3 or less would be nice, I could imagine myself adopting and adopting until I have 20~30 kids, but I have a hard time naming kids since my last name is so foreign and nothing sounds good with it. Hopefully my mate will have a nicer sounding last name.
* Describe your dream mate: Wow, Let's see. An attractive cub, manly, handsome, with a hairy chest, tall, easy going, laid-back, reliable, understanding, considerate and has a stable job. Is that too much to ask?
* How do you want to die: Fall from a tall building? I'd like to feel like I flew. Overdose would not be so bad either. Are there any other pleasurable ways to die?
* What did you want to be when you grow up: A few different things, I thought I could cure cancer, or be a cop or a singer/actor. None of them worked, haha.
* What country would you most like to visit: Greece.
LAYER 7: Now tell…
* Name a drug you’ve taken illegally: Mary Jane, didn't do anything for me but that's as illegal as I get.
* Name a person you could trust with my life: With your life? You mean my life? I would say my aunt Agnes, but let's hope I don't need to have other people decide for me.
* Name a favorite CD that you own: There are a few history making album or some that really made some impact on me, but there's none burn as bright as Amy Winehouse's Back to Black.
* Number of piercings: Zip.
* Number of tattoos: None. But if you count the ones you got from chewing gums....
* Number of times my name has appeared in the newspaper: Newspaper? What century are you from?
* Name a past experience that you regret: A boyfriend or two, but what past is past. (If I can only believe that myself)
Alright, have a nice weekend!
Dear Santa,
Since I've been such a good boy this year, I thought I'd write to you and give you my list. I don't think I've lived in any house that has got a chimney, so I figured you owe me quite a bit.
So here it is:
1. I want a new leather chair! My old one is tearing up and styrofoams are sticking out of it. I like brown leather but since I have a black leather foot rest, I wouldn't mind either way. A high-back office ones on wheels would do. 
2. I bought a new leather wallet with a zipper on the side, but the leather got torn within a week. Can I get another one?
3. My bookcase is bent and broken from the weight of the books I have. I'm quite ambivalent about it being crooked, but my ocassional guests might think otherwise. I've heard your elves are quite crafty, so what say you?
4. My vacuum is not working properly either, maybe it's getting old. It's not bending anymore and it doesn't suck as good (which sucks!!!) I've seen enough Dyson commerical to crave one, can you throw in a small dust vacuum as well? I hate dusting and wiping, at least a vacuum or two will ease my pain.
5. Speaking of broken stuff, my iPod is also breaking down. I can only hear from one side and those Mac "Geniuses" can't do anything to help other than offer me a 10% discount if I return the hardware to them. The discount can't even be used for iPod Touch. Santa, can I get an iPod Touch?
6. How about a job? I think a lot of things above can be solved. Do you need an extra pair of hands at the elf factory? Or someone to feed the reindeers?
7. At last, maybe I'll ask you for my very own man. A sane, attractive one with a hairy chest and a good job and good sexual chemistry? Is that too much to ask? Can you deliver him all tied up Shibari style?
Hope you will could grant me these wishes, I'll have the milk and cookies waiting for you.
Sincerely, Paul.
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