I'm a simple girl with a li'l dream, of seeing her humble works in exquisite print, to share with all who feels for words, written with
an unsupressable urge. So indugle in my fantasies, and plow your way through my memories, greatly appreciated you will be,
if you can leave your comments here for me.


Sunday, January 29, 2006

10 Things To Do Before I Die




John Steinbeck once wrote, “It seems to me that if you or I must choose between two courses of thought or action, we should remember our dying and try so to live that our death brings no pleasure on the world."

I am fatalistic. Or at least, I think I am.

I like to imagine the various ways I would die. Sometimes when I lie in bed at night, staring at the plain white ceiling, I can even see my soul hovering over me - looking down at ME - looking up at my soul. It's freaking eerie.

Heck. I even have a grand plan for my funeral.

Then I start ticking off the things I have done in my life. Things I have not done. Things I should have done. Things I must do.

Sometimes the list changes - depending on what I am going through at that point in my life. But it does not differ too much from this not-so-exhaustive list. Unlike Suspicious Bastard - I don't wish to be God. It just takes the fun out of everything because being God gives you absolute power to do whatever you want.



Then what's the point of having a wish list?

The sado-masochistic streak in me love the long, agonizing, torturous process of getting what I want - so that I can ultimately die a truly gratifying death.

After staring at that ceiling for quite some many years, I figured I can finally settle for this list (for now at least).

10. Visit Jerusalem. I'd see it as the most humbling experience of my life to retrace the final steps which Jesus had taken before his crucification - on the rugged stones of this ancient city .

09. Write Memoirs of My Freaking Life - Vols. I - III. Trilogies and beyond get readers hooked as proven by Rowling's Harry Potter series, Tolkien's Lord of the Rings epics and the most recent James Lee's Mr Midnight teenage horror trash. It's about time to exhume those skeletons in my closets...

08. Publish A Magazine. I ought to do this before they hammer the final nail into my coffin. I figured a magazine not only fulfils my insatiable appetite to write, it offers a channel for the remarkable writers that I know a chance to pen their works too. Another dream? Possibly....but not entirely impossible, is it? Success comes to those who dares to dream, or so I was told.

07. Chill out in Maldives. Appallingly extravagant but absolutely de rigueur. The magnificent sapphire, glistening bed of waters beckons to me, and stirs up a yearning so deep that I can almost taste the sea on my lips.

06. Teach. Something I have always wanted to do. The kids I have taught in the past awakened a part of me I never thought existed. They are always eager to please. Perpetually attention seeking. Their innocence sometimes almost makes me feel guilty about being an adult. If I can choose to make a difference, I would like to make a difference in their lives.

05. Volunteer. Too often, I convince myself I have much more important work to do. I have been greatly blessed and have yet to pass these blessings along to someone else who needs it more. There's no excuse and there shouldn't be any. For I have eyes, but yet my heart's blind.

04. Keep a pet. A dog preferably - I prefer wagging tails to feline claws anytime. It will probably be my only best buddy left when my human companions are snugly six feet under.

03. Backpack. That means to explore the world with the clothes on my back, stake out budget hotels, snare cheap exotic buys and make new friends on my travels. How about a travel blog to immortalize those breathtaking landscapes and grandiose infrastructures, and record unique happenings, if any?

02. Aging gracefully. The worst thing about growing old is watching yourself waste away. Nothing can be more depressing than to allow yourself to decay physically, and meekly accept the inevitable deterioration of the spotless mind. The best revenge against the sands of time is to age beautifully - by living an unconventional life, honing our skills, developing life's wisdom, enhancing our body, mind and soul - and most of all, continuing to believe in love.

01. Complete the Bible. There's a reason why this book is the bestseller of all time.


Fiction has it that the moment before you die, your life is played back in 8x rewind speed. History cackled to live and in those flashbacks, you'd wish there are some things you haven't done, and some that you have. If only there is a formula to determine when our time will come. Then we can plan on a timeline the stuff we need to get done before the "deadline" (no pun intended).

Death rolls out no red carpet for anyone but rather - wields a cold, menacing scythe over your head like an impending thunderstorm. I could never dictate when I am going, but I can decide what I want to do before that.

With this list, I am hoping that when my life is being rewound, I would not feel that stabbing pang of guilt which eats into you and makes you feel you have just wasted your time on earth.

I'd say, weave your own red carpet - so that when you hit that rewind button, there will be no regrets.


“Live life so completely that when death comes to you like a thief in the night, there will be nothing left for him to steal.”

Friday, January 27, 2006

Musings on Love - by Neil Gaiman




"Have you ever been in love? Horrible isn't it?

It makes you so vulnerable. It opens your chest and it opens up your heart and it means that someone can get inside you and mess you up.

You build up all these defenses, you build up a whole suit of armor, so that nothing can hurt you, then one stupid person, no different from any other stupid person, wanders into your stupid life...You give them a piece of you.

They didn't ask for it. They did something dumb one day, like kiss you or smile at you, and then your life isn't your own anymore.

Love takes hostages. It gets inside you. It eats you out and leaves you crying in the darkness, so simple a phrase like 'maybe we should be just friends' turns into a glass splinter working its way into your heart.

It hurts. Not just in the imagination. Not just in the mind. It's a soul-hurt, a real gets-inside-you-and-rips-you-apart pain.

I hate love.” – Neil Gaiman


That's Neil Gaiman for you. I personally don't think he hates love. He probably hates all the hurt, pain, discomfort, agony and vulnerability that come packaged with LOVE - without a life-time love/time/money-back guarantee. In economic terms, LOVE would most possibly be a significant high-liability investment with zero returns.

Gaiman probably knows more about love than anyone else - to be able to describe it so perfectly and aptly.

After reading that passage, I realised I "hate" love too. But no matter how hard I try, I cannot help falling in it. It is what makes us - complete. I'm sure everyone needs it just as much, no matter how much they claim to 'hate' it. To say you don't need love, is as good as saying you can survive without air. I've read somewhere that men are created with an innate need to be with someone. And that's why we are constantly searching for that person - instinctively, subconsciously, unknowingly, unwittingly - throughout our lives.

Someone once said,"To love someone is nothing; to be loved by someone is something; but to be loved by the one you love - is everything."

What do you think?


Love seeketh not itself to please, nor for itself hath any care, but for another gives its ease, and builds a Heaven in Hell's despair.- William Blake

Friday, January 20, 2006

Wanna Be Her Valentine? - Part 2




The Love Faerie is BACK......

Miss Valentine #1, as expected, sent hearts into a state of flurry and male hormones scuttering busily all over the world wide web. Her mailbox was filled with proclamations and declarations of interest (not 'love' yet) from enamoured suitors, bedazzled by her sweet smile and pleasant disposition. Of course, my flawless description of her added that final magical touch to her already beautiful soul.

Has she got a Valentine's Date yet? Well - only Cheryll Ms Charming Sweetie Pie knows the answer. I shall leave her to update you guys on her "Singapore Valentine's" finalists.

Oh - I have this extremely funny tidbit that I absolutely must share. Gotham Penthouse actually dropped me a note to offer a free bottle of wine to the man who gets the date with Cheryll! My post actually nabbed her a sponsor! Hahaha... They offered to host the couple at their club and has cheekily gone ahead to chill the wine - awaiting for the V-Day.

Love is in the air, isn't it? Without much further ado, here's the Love Faerie with Miss Valentine #2 - Michelle!

Let me see - how shall I describe Michelle?

She's a hot babe, a sexy chick, a sassy lass, an adorable girl with a surprisingly innocent and girlish charm about her. Despite her happy-go-lucky disposition, she is really a very sensitive soul. She surprises you with what she knows sometimes, and shocks you with what she doesn't.

At first glance, Michelle looks like a fair princess with her porcelain-like complexion - but hold your horses - she's no Paris Hilton. She plays the guitar, the keyboard, the drums and wields a Grade 8 cert in piano.

My rantings on this blog suddenly seemed muted in comparison. How can anyone who looks so good have so many talents? Life is so unfair.........!

Whereas Cheryll's saccharine nature makes me seem like a two-horned, fork tail she-devil (in fishnet stockings and ultra-mini black leather shorts!), Michelle brings out the BIG sister in me. I tend to spend more time playing Aunt Agony, and making sure she is not being bullied by some disgusting predators lurking precariously around her. She beams like the Miami sun when she is being showered a lot of attention, tender loving care, and of course, compliments.

But then again, which girl doesn't? We are all suckers for romance.

As I have proudly proclaimed, I am flanked by a bevy of girlfriends who are single, pretty and whom I dearly adore. Michelle happens to be one of them. In one of our gossipy exchanges, she reveals what she is looking for in a guy:
  • At least 1.7m tall
  • Well-spoken
  • Well-groomed
  • Witty
  • Humourous
  • Good fashion sense
  • Sporty
  • Good looking

Once again, I must emphasize that I do have her blessings to post this online so don't shoot me for it. My friends are a shy bunch - and it's not in their nature be extremely explicit with their feelings, actions and words and hence, they are often misunderstood for being cold, proud, unfriendly and distant.


Guess you have to know them better before you judge right?

If you like what you've read, drop her a note (with your pic please...) at mich-pam@mail.com.

As they always say, it's only an introduction. The rest is up to you baby.

"It's not the men in my life that count -- it's the life in my men."
- Mae West (1892-1980)

Friday, January 13, 2006

30 is the New 20s

JAN 10, 2006.

Yes. I've finally touched the golden number 30. It was a night worth remembering, no doubt. There were many memorable Kodak moments, and if I looked at the photos 30 years later, I know they would still bring that grin to my face.




It was a night where my closest friends, old and new, came together to honour the anointment of my Big Three-O, which I shamelessly welcomed with open arms.

It was a night where I am overwhelmed by the love showered upon me by my friends, simply just by being there.

It was a night where I squeezed four tables with over 20 friends who hailed from all over - my ex-MTV girl buddies, my cohort of ex-interns, my present colleagues, my long-time IRC friends, my MSN chatters, my blog readers, my personal friends as well as friends' friends.

It was also the night where everyone in Bar None sang a birthday song for me.

It was the night I've got to eat my favourite mango cake, kindly sponsored by Glen and Kristina.

It was the night where I danced, partied, drank and got a birthday kiss on stage - all thanks to the devious schemes plotted by my cheeky and wayward gang.

It was the night where I drank over 20 shots, some beer, some champagne, half a flaming lamborghini and many other suspicious-looking liquids that were being shoved into my face in the name of "birthday toast". I lost count and consciousness at almost the same time. I forgot my name too, I think.

It was a night of revelry, laughter, sexy moves on the dance floor, loud talking over even louder music, tons of alcohol gargling, presents, cakes, posing for photographs and acting silly and bimbotic.

This is how a 30-year-old woman should embrace her coming of age. In all splendour, pompous fanfare, fireworks, orgasmic joy and a bunch of wild and crazy friends who's either heading the same way or have already surpassed it.

To all of you who have been part of that unforgettable, irreverent, quirky "baptism ceremony" of mine @Bar None that night, thank you. Your friendship meant more than all the best presents in the world (except for that grossly overpriced B&O ten-CD changer hi-fi system).

If it had been the Oscars that night, you would have snagged the Best Supporting Friends Award. And now ladies and gentlemen, here are the nominees.....

Angel, Bee Lang, Bryan, Catherine and friend, Cheryl, Cheryll, Daniel, Danny Boy, Dennis, Eisen, Fidelia, Gary, Glen, Isabel, Jack, Kristina, Michelle-Pam, Pamela, Sabrina, Vivienne, Wei Qi and Yen.



Last but not least, thanks to Bar None - Pammy and Willy - the super duo for the superb hospitality and wonderful drink treats! Willy, you owe me one drink for not showing up before I got totally smashed. I shall claim it from you, you bet I will. :)




================================================================

JAN 11, 2006

I used to joke about my birthday celebrations every year. I have different groups of friends and hence, it can take up to more than a week to complete the round of celebrations! It feels as if I was having my own Elvina's Birthday Festival hahha.....

Anyway, I met up with my ex-MDIS classmates and their spouses for a second round of celebrations - at Chong Qing Hot Pot. Since everyone came in a pair, I thought I should bring my date too! Here are the photos - and don't forget to check out my extremely adorable and irresistibly cute godsons, Adam & Williem!





My heartfelt thanks to Ben and Belinda, Jacinta and Steven, Gillian and Williem Snr., Daniel and of course my two beloved godsons - Adam & Williem Jnr. !

In between the rest of the week, I was meeting colleagues and other friends for tea, supper and drinks. I have two more groups to grace with my lovely presence over this weekend - after which I can finally wrap up my birthday festivities!


“I'd like to be the sort of friend that you have been to me,
I'd like to be the help that you've been always glad to be;
I'd like to mean as much to you each minute of the day,
As you have meant to me along the way.”

Sunday, January 08, 2006

Wanna Be Her Valentine?



This should be Hotel Solace's most interesting post to date.


Allow me to introduce a very special friend of mine - Cheryll. She is one of the sweetest girls I have ever known, both inside and outside.

She is patient, very kind and extremely "teasable"! It gives me a cheap thrill to tease her relentlessly and watch her girlish reaction. Somehow, it never fails to tickle me. The greater her reaction, the more she amuses me.

I can be quite gruff and blunt, whilst she's the exact opposite. While I laugh heartily, she giggles. While I am extremely verbal with sexual jokes, she turns as red as a tomato, but enjoys the joke nonetheless. While I am strong headed and confident, she is modest and awfully sincere. While I am cynical and assertive, she is very giving and tolerant.

In short, she's really one cute babe. It is a wonder we can even click, and very well in fact.

Now for the wonderful news. She is single and very available. Though I strongly believe she would have no problems getting a date, but as her good girl buddy, I feel that I have a responsibility in helping her screen the guys.

With her blessings, I was 'appointed' her personal marketing agent. Hence my blog became the most perfect channel to start the quest for a perfect Valentine's Day date.

After many rounds of brainstorming and close-door boardroom discussions, we have shortlisted the following criteria to snare the perfect date:


- Someone who can connect with her intellectually
- Pleasant looking
- Makes her laugh; someone with a sense of humour
- Trustworthy
- Good tempered
- Preferably someone who drives (cos she stays quite out of the way)
- Financially stable
- Well-spoken
- Level of Horniness - 8/10
- Romanticism will be a BIG plus

* Mummies' boys are not eligible to apply

If you like what you have read so far, do drop her an email (preferably with your recent photo too!) at cheryll@mail.com. I have been promoting my blog readers aggressively to her, telling her what a wonderful bunch of guys all of you have been - and most importantly, a huge percentage of Hotel Solace guests are SINGLE!

So no harm making one more friend right? What's more - she's not only single, she's also incredibly cute, awfully sweet and absolutely adorable!

Just to reiterate - she may be single and available, but she's definitely NOT desperate. She's just such a dear friend to me that I make it my grand mission to help fix her up with a wonderful and fun date for Valentine's! Otherwise, given her shy nature, she will simply spend a romantic day lazing at home - and what a WASTE will that be!

What are you waiting for?


"Trip over love, you can get up. Fall in love and you fall forever."

Sunday, January 01, 2006

New Year Tribute ~ Hotel Solace


Cast off the old, the new has come
The past should stay right where they are
The new year brings, a new beginning
Pack your bags and follow the stars

Forgive all debts
Release all pain
It's time to face the world again

Grief no more for time waits not
Many promises lay abound
Let go in peace, leave it to God
2006 is here and now

Love yourself first
And begrudge no one
Your new life has only just begun

So my friends, take a deep breath
A brand new start, let's all embrace
Believe that life will be awesome and great
And so will be, this Hotel Solace.


Happy New Year, my esteemed guests of Hotel Solace.
May the blog be with you.