Optimist~*

Ayu as the new RIMMEL's spokesperson!!! :D

So girls, what are you waiting for? 

Go get the London look now! XD 

Mood: Mixed

Music: Kimi ga Nozomu Eien OST

"No one can ever know what something really sounds or looks like or even is."

- 'Once upon a day' by Lisa Tucker

Ok. So Blogger is finally becoming a tad bit friendlier to me. :)

So, this shall be a optimist-friendly post! :) 

(eh.. no link?) 

But let me assume the role of an optimist for once. :)

0.5.

 A man once answered an advertisement in the newspaper which said, "New Porsche -- $50.00" After paying for the car, he asked the woman why she had sold it at such a low price. She said, "My husband ran off with his secretary, and sent me a telegram saying, 'Sell the Porsche and send me the money.'"

From Comfort, the Feeble-minded...consolation for people who do dumb things 1(800) 437-1893

In San Diego in the late 1980's, a man named Tony visited an old people's home and began speaking with an elderly lady. As he talked, he helped himself to peanuts from a jar at the side of the old woman's chair. After some time, he asked the woman if she would like a peanut. She replied, "Oh, I can't eat the things dear. I just suck the chocolate off and drop them in a jar beside my chair." 
From Comfort, the Feeble-minded...consolation for people who do dumb things 1(800) 43

Ok. Got your attention now? ;)

Many strange occurrences took place in the past few days. 

Some really make me wonder if someone is really passing on luck to me or what. :) 

1. QET. 

I actually passed it and got exempted from the English module(s)! 

This despite the fact that I thought I NAQ-ed throughout my entire essay.

I know... you might think I'm being pessimistic againnnnnnn, 

but seriously, I was actually already in that state of mind whereby I would be very willing to take the English module since it would probably help me a lot a lot to brush up my English. 

So, it came as a pleasant surprise. :)

Maybe it's really true. That the less you worry about one thing, the more easily it will fall into place. 

Not to forget,

lucks to my friends from NTU who will be taking their QET soon! :D

2. Shooting Star

ok. No joke.

But I saw it when I was strolling along the canal near my house.

The most random place, I know. haha.

The flash across the sky lasted for 1 sec the most. 

And it was a really bright flash. :) 

Really really pretty. :)

"Millions of shooting stars occur each day, including during daylight hours. When you stare up at the night sky, however, you can only see about 0.005 percent (one twenty-thousandth) of the total area of the sky. This translates to just a dozen or so shooting stars per hour."

 http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/astronomy/showers_andstars_000809.html

So why do people feel that witnessing a shooting star is a rare event?

It's probably because we don't look up into the sky often. 

Too preoccupied with other things? Or just not interested in such trivial events? 

haha. Call me naive, innocent or just plain childish to make a big fuss out of such a small event.

Whatever it is, I'm still grateful. :)

3. Shunji Iwai's works!

YES YES YES they are alllllll awesome! :D

The very first film I watched... what... 12 years ago?

And it left me a very deep impression. (though I couldn't understand the story very well at that time. XD)

Love Letter

After 12 years, I suddenly had the urge to watch 'Hana to Arisu' aka 'Hana & Alice'.

Beautiful storyline. :) 

Hana to Arisu

Then, I got hooked on his works!

haha. Rainbow Song.

Ok. Actually I blogged a short entry on this but it was wiped out by blogger. (grrrrrr....)

Anyway, the point is, I nearly teared towards the end. 

What's more painful than regretting something you wished you had done and it's already too late to be done?

It's sad.

When you realize that the person you've secretly liked for so many years actually liked you too... and now it's too late to do anything about it... because the person is gone. for good...

SO, morale of the story is really...

JUST GO... AND DO IT. 

Before you regret it later on in life. 

Because life is really too short to be wasted on wishing that you could turn back time again. 

Anyway, extra credits to Ueno Juri and Aoi Yu (such a sweet and pretty girl! :D 'Alice' in 'Hana&Alice'). :) 

Ok. Back to my craze over his works.

Immediately, upon finishing 'Rainbow Song', I watched 'April Story'.

starring Matsu Takako!!! (one of my fav actresses!) 

This is a relatively short film and well... too short for me to say much. 

haha. But still, it's pretty interesting. :)

Actually, after 'Rainbow Song', I intended to watch the highly acclaimed 'Swallowtail Butterfly'.

But it's really pretty dark and I'm trying to maintain my optimistic approach to life (HAHAHA)

So, maybe next time. 

And this, too.

I would need lots and lots of courage to watch this. 

Cos I know I would be damn affected by it. 

'All about Lily-chouchou' 

It's waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay toooooooooooo dark.

(close match with 'Dead Run', I feel) 

And the finally, 

I MIGHT watch this instead. 

An almost surrealistic film about 3 asylum patients. 

haha. ok. Enough of my craze over his works.

But seriously, you guys should try watching some of his films too! :)

Just stream from tudou.com. :)

pictures credit to wikipedia

4. BELATED BIRTHDAY

haha. I know this is super overdue, but still want to thank many many people who really made my birthday memorable. :)

REALLY LOVE THIS BDAY CARD. :D

thanks to tg-bin and py! :D

(you girls are really creative!)

Well, in case you guys don't know, there are NINETEEN 'Thursday, July 16 2009' in both Eng and Mandarin pasted around the words. :D 

Me stabbing the cake. XD

thanks once again, girls, for squeezing brain juices to surprise me!

rusty-bin, tg-bin, py, amber, sb and curry! :D

Anyway, my birthday this year was a little extraordinary.

- had QET in the morning. (.....)

- had a bad headache before/during/after watching 'Harry Potter' with Tako! 

- survived on Panadol for the rest of the evening.

- had to buy my own bday cake!!

Mum: Eh. you remember to buy your own bday cake later! 

Jas: ????????? 

what's this?? LOL. 

- had steamboat with cousins + family :)

- couldn't BLOW out the candles cos I was still pretty sick at that time. SO, I had to fan it using some random paper. =__=

Jess: DON'T BLOWWWW!!! Everything will be covered with YOUR VIRUS! 

Jas: THEN HOW?!?!?! candles melting already! 

Jess: Use this! *passes a paper* 

Jas: ............. =________= 

- played L4D afterwards. LOL. 

Surviving on pills!!!

And all the bday pics turned out like @#$&!*(@#&~@#... 

Either too eerie (the lighting) or too random (like with people's faces cut off or in a blur)

Anyway, this year's bday is filled with surprises. :D

A really... memorable one indeed! :D

5. AYU(is)MI(ne) XD

ok. lousy. 

Anyway, she's still as gorgeous as ever. :D

has latest mag appearance! 

credits to AHS Forum! 

Pretty pretty~

And her newest single

Sunrise/Sunset ~Love is All~

Ok. Imho, it looks a little strange.

But WHO CARES?! as long as it's AYU. XD 

Ahh... it has been sooooooooo long since I was last so HYPED up with Ayu's stuff! :)

6. FUNNY PICTURES!!!

This is seriously WHAT THE. XD

LOL

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO~~~

I beg to differ! XD

credits: http://blog.jimmyr.com/

(awesome website! do check it out! :))

(Pardon me for some crude pics there. XD) 

haha. okok. Hope you guys had a good laugh! :)

SHOOTING STAR!!~*

I.

REALLY.

REALLY.

REALLY.

SAW.

A.

SHOOTING.

STAR.

WITH.

MY.

VERY.

OWN.

EYES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!




At the most random place and the most random time!!!

And trust me, it's not some stupid satellite thing or slow-mo helicopter/airplane.



You just know it when you see it. :D




A simple belief.





And I made a wish. :)

thoughts~*

"Another negative entry?"
"Why is there hardly any happy entry?"
"What is bothering Jasmine so much?"


I wonder, I wonder.

So, blogger is still a little bonkers, I guess? =/



1. TIME

is running out, for me.

Very soon, it's the start of UNIVERSITY.
A completely new environment, new faces, new courses (things that I've never studied before), new... everything.

It's like stepping out of your house and realizing that the scenery has changed very suddenly.
To a scenery that is really unfamiliar to you.


I've never fancied changes, let alone HUGE, MAJOR changes. >.<
What's with all the bidding, selecting of modules, arranging of time tables, registration etc etc etc etc etc etc etc.


I wonder how my life is gonna be like.


For someone with such pathetically little self esteem, I can't help but feel dread, fear and... ya, more dread and more fear.


Haiz.



2. Am I happy?


The fact is that I do smile, I do laugh, I do go out and have fun.
Just like you.

The fact is that I do enjoy the gorgeous sunshine, I do joke and kid around, I do enjoy going to random places, I do enjoy staying at home and laughing over silly videos.
Just like you.

The fact is that I am a human being too. I am not all about negativity (or I would be dead by now). I'm not all about hopelessness, meaningless thoughts.
Just like you.


I enjoy being happy. I enjoy being relaxed and stress-free.
I enjoy days when I don't get consumed by dark thoughts.



But days like these seem to be dwindling.




When I'm with others, I am mostly laughing, joking and being happy.
Why, why then, when I sit down and start blogging, all I can think of are these stupid, meaningless dark, negative thoughts???



2.5. Let me look around me again.



3. FOR YOU, AMBER

For some reason, even though I don't know what really happened, my heart started aching.
Is it because I could relate to your fears and dread?

I know at this moment, nothing I say will go in. But still, I hope you can have the strength to pull through this. You know you can. I won't ask you what happened because I understand the feeling of reopening a closing wound and taking a closer look at it.

Let time do the healing. Denial. I went through it myself too. If it makes you better, an occasional escapade is fine. But remember to come back and deal with it head on, if you feel you're ready to.

Cry, if you have to. Then wipe those tears away and stand up again.

What doesn't kill you only makes you stronger.


Amber, I believe you're stronger than you think you are.




4. Knowing

Is knowing everything really good for you?


It's as if someone has painted a beautiful picture over an ugly one.
Then why bother to scrape off the beautiful exterior to reveal the ugly interior?

Does it make one feel better knowing everything?

Knowing that beneath the beauty of it all, lies the revolting truth?


We want to know so much.
Too much.

And then we regret knowing that much.


It's funny, isn't it?




5. Happy. Not.

I intended this post to be a LITTLE happier.

But unfortunately, looking at the state of it, it's turning into another wistful one?




Do I think too much?
I think I do.



Would you rather chance upon a blog with pretty pictures, happy words, interesting, funny facts?

uh... I think I do. LOL.





6. Rainbow Song

Hmm. Let's see.

Murakami Haruki. Kazuo Ishiguro.
Satoshi Kon. Shugo Fujii.

and now, Shunji Iwai.

What do they have in common (besides being Japanese)?


They all made me addicted to their works.


Murakami with his Norwegian Wood, After Dark, Sputnik Sweetheart, South of Border West of Sun, Dance Dance Dance etc etc.

Kazuo Ishiguro with his Never Let Me Go.

Satoshi Kon with his Perfect Blue, Paprika, Paranoia Agent.

Shugo Fujii with his Living Hell and White Panic.


and now,

Shunji Iwai with his Love Letter, Hana to Arisu, All about Lily-chouchou and Rainbow Song.



Watching Rainbow Song now.
Had to choose between RS and Lily-chouchou and I decided on the former.

Cos the latter is waaaaaaaaaaay too dark.


And I think this is not the right time for something so dark.




7.

Listening to Mussorgsky's 'Pictures at an Exhibition', recommended by Ms Iris.

Why are Russian pieces so... intriguing???


Like till now, Stravinsky's 'Rite of Spring' still haunts me.




8. Misunderstood.

I think what causes conflict in this world is really,
just that we're all so different from one another, yet so similar...

When we don't see eye to eye, it doesnt mean either of us is in the wrong.

It just means that we're having different perspectives on this issue at this point in time.


Disappointment. Frustration. Confusion.
Who can blame you, anyway?

For I am not that strong.
But that doesn't mean I'm that weak.

I know ultimately, you still won't see things from my perspective.
And it's ridiculous trying to make you see things the way I do.

Because we're different.
With different mindsets.



9.

You remind of me a rainbow. :)


RAINBOW

la la la...
I hear a gentle voice from somewhere
Which might have always been heard
The warmth found just near to me

I was forgiven by forgiving many things
Including my childhood so long ago
I was healed, though I intended to heal
I've just noticed, in the way
That I was saved by love
Though I tried to keep love away

You come down quietly from somewhere
And always tell me
Of the happiness just near to me

Supporting and being supported
I draw close to you little by little
Protecting and being protected
I get convinced
That I was saved by love
Though I tried to keep love away

If you have a pain hard to get over
Shall we share it and walk on?
Gathering pleasure too big for each of us
Shall we share them and walk on?

I sing this song only to you now
I sing this song only to you now
You are my special treasure
You are my special treasure

la la la...
No rain, can't get the rainbow
No rain, can't get the rainbow

- Lyrics by Ayumi Hamasaki

ayumi.primenova.com




10.

To love and be loved is the greatest gift ever.

Ever.

believe a belief~*

It's all about

a

simple


BELIEF.

“Someday I'll wish upon a star,
Wake up where the clouds are far behind me
Where trouble melts like lemon drops
High above the chimney top that's where you'll find me”

 

-Somewhere Over the Rainbow by Israel Kamakawiwo ‘Ole

 

Hmmm.

I gave up on blogger altogether.

 

So here I am, writing this entry entirely on Microsoft Word and the copying and pasting on the ‘preview’ box on blogger page. =__=

 

 

1. ‘Hana to Arisu’

 

One rainy morning, I suddenly had the urge to rummage through the stacks and stacks of old VCDs, DVDs in the cupboard to look for something decent to watch. And I ended up watching ‘Hana to Arisu’ aka ‘Hana and Alice’ by Shunji Iwai.

 

Like the rest of Shunji Iwai’s films, namely ‘Love Letter’, this movie was shot really beautifully. I enjoyed the whole film (even though wenshi said it was boring =__=) and especially the solo dance by Alice towards the end… It was breathtakingly beautiful. :) Not to mention the simple yet truly heartfelt dialogues between Alice and Hana and Miyamoto. Gotta give credits to the OST, which added like 10 points to the show. :)

 

So overall, ‘Hana to Arisu’ was splendid. :) Simple, innocent and beautiful portrayal of friendships, puppy love, adolescence, family and dreams.

 

 

 

 

2. Lucky

 

“Lucky to have been where I have been.”

 

-         ‘Lucky’ by Jason Mraz ft Colbie Caillat.

 

Whether or not past footprints have been left scattered all over the place or laid out in one straight line, what’s true is that they are the evidence of the existence of the paths we’ve taken.

 

Some of us take the ‘direct’ path.

We succeed in almost everything we do; we don’t have to try too hard to achieve things that others spend almost their whole life trying to achieve.

We have what others want.

Or to put it simply, we ARE who others yearn to be.

 

These people are a really lucky bunch.

Their paths would be a neat, straight line.

They won’t have to change a route. They won’t have to make a U-Turn.

 

 

Some of us take the ‘indirect’ path.

We often fall flat on our faces. Life is never really kind to us.

We try and try, but often to no avail. (or so we think)

We want to be noticed, to be a head above the rest. We want to match up to the ‘lucky’ bunch.

But, some things are just beyond our reach.

Changing routes every now and then, making many U-turns…

Basically, we have to take the long way to get to our eventual destination.

 

But are we failures? Are we, really?

 

 

Well, hell no.

 

 

True that we are not as lucky as those who basically breeze through life as if there’s nothing that will be in their way.

True that we were not given a head-start in life.

True that we will end up getting hurt, scrapped at the knee, scars all over ourselves more often than them.

 

True that we will emerge stronger than them.

 

 

 

 

For one who hasn’t experienced the bitterness, sourness and pain in life,

he/she cannot say that he/she has experienced life completely.

 

 

 

For one who hasn’t scarred before, hasn’t cried oneself to sleep before, hasn’t felt the sharp heartache before, hasn’t wished and wished for all that one has done to be erased and forgiven,

 

one is simply sleeping throughout this journey.

 

 

True that at the end of the day, what’s tangible is still the list of achievements, the amount of money you earned, the schools you studied in, the outfit you’re donned in.

 

But who have you become?

 

 

What kind of person are you?

 

 

A weakling who hasn’t opened your eyes big enough to take in LIFE as a whole?

A person who has been so wrapped up in layers and layers of silk that he/she doesn’t get to experience the feeling of pain, rejection, dejection?

Someone who is easily destroyed and overwhelmed simply because you haven’t gone through anything negative before?

 

 

Or… just someone who hasn’t woken up, yet?

 

 

To live is to cry, to smile, to laugh, to feel resentment, to feel jealous, to be rejected, to be hurt, to hurt, to feel pain, to feel ecstasy, to feel misery, emptiness, fear, anger…

 

 

Without which, we’ve never truly experienced this thing called ‘life’.

 

 

Why experience life?

 

Because you live only once, and you have to make this truly worth whatever amount of years you’ll be spending on it.  

 

 

 

 

We all want to be wrapped up in our own dreams, living in fantasies and experiencing nothing but sheer happiness.

 

Then, we’ll all be just stupid numbskulls who don’t think.

 

Life will be just a… façade.

 

 

Shallow, easily shattered,

not even worth mentioning.