uncles aunties nephews nieces

i still like Chinese New Year.
even though it used to be more fun.
playing mahjong, poker, board games, sparklers and singing karaoke with my cousins.

now that most of them are married with kids, they have other stuff to do on 初一.
give out ang pows, take care of kids, feed kids, entertain kids, show off kids.

so besides receiving ang pows, i entertain kids too (income opportunity hohoho).
since i'm getting better and better at it.
since there's more and more kids for me to entertain.
(seriously, are my cousins baby-producing machines or what?!)

i can definitely foresee my cousins sending their kids to me for Chinese tuition.
HELLO. PLEASE SPEAK MANDARIN TO YOUR KIDS AT HOME.
OR ELSE THEY WILL SUFFER...IN MY HANDS...WHEN THEY GROW UP.

haiz. 3-year-old playing games on iPad. what is this world coming to?!
i would rather play Simon Says or Hide & Seek with them.
at least there's more...human interaction.

thankfully my relatives are not your average irrinoying uncles & aunties.
they still wish me 学业进步 year after year, without asking about my relationship status.
maybe they're afraid to 踩到地雷 (i'm known for my bad temperament).
maybe there's other cousins to serve as distraction (yeah my younger cousins started bringing their PARTNERS this year).
or maybe there's the ultimate distraction: MY BIG FAT ROUND FACE.

so, my dear nephews and nieces:
when you're my age, it's perfectly fine to play with your Android and ignore all those unnecessary interaction.
but for now, learn to mingle and get all your 称呼s right. you can't get away by calling everyone UNCLE, cos there's a truckload of UNCLES in that house.
and i'm one of them.

GUYS

i doubt any guys read my blog. right? GUYS? *silence*
okie good. cos this post is about YOU GUYS.

it's a known fact that i have VERY FEW buddies.
from pri to sec to JC to uni, i'm always the only guy in my clique.
okie except NS.
but that one not counted as clique. just friends, or ex-colleagues.
it's not like i would wanna hang out with them on weekends.

those monthly KTV outings, pre-KTV dinner, post-KTV supper, post-supper cab rides are burning holes in my pockets.
and they always have to choose Fri nites, when it costs $20++ for 3 hrs of KTV (cos they only go PartyWorld. TSK.)
which is why i always come up with excuses to avoid these outings.

we really dun have much to talk about (except reminiscing about army days, which is a total waste of 2 yrs of my life).
we just eat & sing & eat & sing & eat.
and i always reach home REALLY LATE, bored & exhausted.

to be frank, it's not just them.
i always consciously distance myself from guys, even when they try to be friendly (YES INCLUDING MY DAD & BRO-IN-LAW).
there are a few guys (not from NS) who always sms/whatsapp/fb me.
i know they are trying to keep in touch, show concern blah blah blah.
but sorry i find them a nuisance.
and i dun feel like replying them, cos if i do, the conversation will go on & on & on until i suddenly stop replying.

and i dun feel like going out with them, even if it's just for lunch or dinner.
WE. JUST. DUN. HAVE. ANYTHING. IN. COMMON.
i'm not stereotyping, but guys do always talk about soccer, sports, girls, cars, rock music & army days.
BORINGGGGGG.
and i can't be my dramatic bitchy gossipy self when i'm with them.
and sometimes i find it difficult to get my point across to them.

yeah.
so.
my life has been perfect without buddies.
and it will continue to be.
no regrets.

my parents have accepted the fact that their son is always surrounded by ladies (sisters, not girlfriends).
ever since my pri 6 birthday party at macdonalds.
i still remember their shocked faces when they saw my 25 female classmates.
YES I INVITED ALL THE GIRLS IN MY CLASS, AND NONE OF THE GUYS.
it started wayyyyyy back in pri sch.

since i'm not gonna get married, i wuden have to worry about forming a 兄弟团.
and i dun need fashion advice from guys (it will be damn awkward to shop together).
and i'm really not used to 勾肩搭背-ing with guys (although i totally dun mind doing that with hunks).
*winks*

and so it is...

2011 was a good year.

was it better than 2010? maybe not.
with my taiwan exchange and all the drama rehearsal madness, 2010 is quite hard to beat (in terms of fun).

one of my highlights of 2011, would have to be my hosting "career", which began in June. really learnt a lot from all those veteran emcees. at least now i'm certain that freelance is not my thing. 兴趣不能当饭吃. and hosting is not exactly my best talent LOL.

looks like Lady Luck finally decided to shine on me.
what a morale booster to end my 2nd final semester with a bang! i think i haven't scored straight A's since...PSLE. *gasp*
won an Android phone from a Singtel contest! all i did was post a funny comment, apparently it was funny enough to garner so many "likes" hohoho! usual price $598 and i got it for free! 是上天的旨意，要我跟上时代的脚步? MUAHAHAHA!

2012 preview: finish FYP, start job-hunting, finish exams, grad trip, family trip, convocation, start work, enjoy work, survive 21/12/2012, countdown to 2013...

i shall continue to be contented & grateful for the little things in life.
with a new phone, new wallet & new organiser...i'm ready for 2012!

Best of 2011: Music & Drama

TOP 5 ENGLISH SONGS

1. Pumped Up Kicks (Foster The People)
2. Run The World (Beyonce)
3. 6 Foot 7 Foot (Lil Wayne)
4. How To Love (Lil Wayne)
5. Something In The Water (Brooke Fraser)


TOP 5 CHINESE SONGS

1. 愚人的国度 （孙燕姿）
2. 转身之后 （Bii）
3. 你好吗 （周杰伦）
4. 那些年 （胡夏）
5. 因为爱情 （陈奕迅/王菲）


最好看的偶像剧： 我可能不会爱你

最好看的韩剧： 笑吧，东海

最好看的港剧： no comments. 因为今年没怎么在看港剧.

Best of 2011: K-pop

I was officially converted into a K-pop fan this year.
watching all those weekly chart shows (Mnet, Inkigayo, Music Bank) while rooting for my favs.

at first it was the crazily catchy infectious dance beats.
then came the goosebumps-inducing moving ballads.

dun understand the lyrics? never mind.
all that matters is the melody.

TOP 5 DANCE TRACKS

1. The Boys (SNSD)
2. Roly Poly (T-ARA)
3. I Am The Best (2NE1)
4. Bubble Pop (HYUNA)
5. Message (MY NAME)

TOP 5 BALLADS

1. A Long Day (TIM)
2. Don't Say Goodbye (DAVICHI)
3. Hello (HUH GAK)
4. I Told You I Wanna Die (HUH GAK)
5. Even Now (SUNG SI KYUNG)

Best of 2011: Movies

here comes my first year-end list of favourites!

according to my IMDb reviews, i din watch many movies this year (as compared to previous years). was i that busy? hmm.

but anyway, out of those i watched, here's my top 10 (in order of preference):

1. A Separation (Iran)
the Iranians did it again. drama at its best. cuden pick out a single flaw. be sure to catch it in cinemas Feb 2012.

2. The Artist (France)
a silent film which has more heart and depth than all the blockbusters out there.

3. Incendies (Canada)
one of the most shocking endings EVER. the thought of it still gives me goosebumps.

4. Beginners (USA)
quirky feel-good dramedy. kinda like 500 Days Of Summer, but more inspirational.

5. 那些年，我们一起追的女孩 (Taiwan)
expected it to be 青春偶像剧-like, but it was far more than that. lives up to its hype.

6. Rio
7. 127 Hours
8. The Ides Of March
9. Four Lions
10. 让子弹飞


next list: Korean Songs.

it's the end...

of exams.
of another semester.
of another year.

but it's only the beginning...
of holidays.
of xmas shows.
of FYP.

shall keep myself fully occupied until results day.
or else i will think too much n put myself in a bad mood.