I've done it again! Allowed several days to slip by without putting mouse to pad, finger to keyboard, whatever...and getting any work done. I've just made a list of "to dos" and YIKES! Either I'm going to have to dish out some pretty clever excuses to clients or work non-stop over the next few days to meet deadlines. Sigh! The stresses that come when you 'own' the work you do.

I found myself day-dreaming this past week of what would I do if struck 4-D. That's a thrice weekly lottery system here where you pick 4 numbers, paying as little as $2 and maybe winning something like $5,000! Which is exactly what a friend did. And another friend placed about $10 on on the same 4 digits and she won (i think) $20,000!!! Sigh! Now, I'm not greedy but $5,000 would suit me just fine. I'd use it to get the 15" Powerbook and max out the RAM. And that would be after taking my family out to a scrumptious dinner of their choice. And if there's any left over, a short trip to Bali, thank you.

I'll never forget how close I came to winning the first prize about 2 years ago. Remember that last Harry Potter movie, with the flying car? Well, after seeing the numbers on that car plate, me and my friend (same one that won $5K last week) said we should play it over the weekend. We didn't. Do you know that that 4 digit number was the first prize?! I thumped my head when I saw the number flash on the TV screen! And thumped it again when another friend called up to say her aunt had played it and won! *Shaking head*

I'm trying my luck again this weekend with about 5 numbers. I'll keep you posted if I strike it rich. You could be reading about it on my new laptop then.

Once again, Bix Production did themselves proud. This dance theatre production was fresh and stimulating with the use of an innovative software that formed an integral part of the show. The software, TVG, was specially created by SecondRule, right here in Singapore. It allows a body's motion to control the music which results in strange harmonic distortions and rhythms. Anyone entering a designated space triggered sonic leaps that were further amplified with movement. The show ended leaving everyone breathless: the audience at its sheer audacity and brilliance, and the dancers after a vicious 10 minutes of frantic dance in a tempest of whirling bodies and sound. In my opinion? "The Tale of One" is their best performance yet. Now I'm hungry for more! I would love to see this performed on a much grander scale, say at the Kallang Theatre? How about it, Bix?

blah! today. But tonight... Tonight is the last night of my friends' dance production. Their group, Bix have been performing in an art gallery in sell-out shows for the past 2 days, and tonight is another sell-out too. And there'll be a post-show party. Am so looking forward to getting together with everyone there. We haven't done that in an age!

For the last two days, I was stationed at a client's office at the Singapore Science Park, doing a whole bunch of powerpoint slides for a seminar series they have starting this coming Tuesday in Sydney. While there, I couldn't help but notice the near silence that pervades the whole office. No radio, no casual chatter; everyone speaks in hushed tones. Once in a while, a voice punctuates the air in loud Chinese, negotiating an international call with a poor connection. How can anyone work in that kind of vacuum? And this was the marketing department of a large IT MNC company! I was expecting something more vibrant and alive, not that cold, sterile shell. Thank goodness for being a designer/copywriter - where being colourful, individualistic and extravagant are marks of a creative soul.

I never thought that it would come to this.

The US, or in this case, Disney's Miramax is doing an about-turn on its deal to finance and distribute Michael Moore's Farenheit 911. An already controversial director, Moore delivers a potentially damaging documentary about the events following 9/11 from the White House's point of view. In it, Moore exposes the ties between the Bush family and prominent Saudis including the Bin Laden family. Not to mention a little known bit of news of how the government and some agency (take your pick...FBI, State etc.) shuttled all of the Bin Laden kids who were studying in the US out of the country almost immediately following the 9/11.

Disney's Mike Eisner is blocking the film's distribution through Miramax, claiming that it's not in line with Disney's image of delivering family oriented films. Than what would you call Miramax's hit - Kill Bill Vol II? Could it also be that Eisner isn't eager to rock the boat with Florida's Governor Jeb Bush where Disney has a billion dollar presence?

This is censorship in action, folks. In the land of free speech no less. Industry observers say that this film could have serious repercussions on Bush's presidential campaign, hence the move by some pretty important Republicans to block its release. So, while the rest of the world may soon be watching this documentary which is premiering at Cannes, the country which proudly proclaims its right to free speech and copyright protection may have to resort to pirated versions. How nicely ironic!

For the full scoop, read more at:
Mike's Message and Moore Exposed

It's another scorcher today! When sweat trickles down your back and nothing can help save sitting inside the fridge, it's time to just take off to the movies. Or somewhere with artic registering air-conditioning. UGH! I feel dulled by this heat and can't bring myself to do any one of the 101 little projects I started. I'm longing for a weekend away in Bintan, by the beach with something tall and cold, preferably with lots of citrus and an umbrella in it.

A great injustice was done last night. Latoya London was voted out of American Idol while Jasmine Trias is safe. Makes you wonder what the American public is calling music these days. The ones on the charts are a sure sign though - Britney, Beyonce, Jennifer, Enrique (sorry Ees!) and the innumerable boy and girl bands. All bubblegum and fluff pop stars manufactured by a system more concerned with image than any real voice talent. Don't forget that in a studio and with those mixers and controls, a producer can turn a whispery, volume-lacking singer into a potential Billboard climber.

If Fantasia does NOT reach the finals, I'm NEVER watching AI again.

That was some cold I caught and I'm just about getting over it today. Nearly one week of sniffles, phelgm, sore throat and a blocked nose but funnily enough, no fever or the usual body aches that tags along with the flu. Add that to an air-conditioned work environment, I was not getting any better. So I took off to rest today but I was still productive. Finished up some work that was due, sent out some invoices and cleaned out my blogs.

Tomorrow I'll settle down to a weekend's worth of Sex and the City, Season 3. I'm hooked on it.

I've been lucky the last few weeks with freelance work coming in thru my ex company and some marketing companies I've made contacts with. But it's not the same as having my own direct clients. I've got a couple of contacts to call to arrange meetings but the thought of cold-calling, selling myself is really putting me off. However, if I want my company to get anywhere (never mind becoming an international design conglomerate!), those phone calls are a hurdle I need to cross.

Got a cold today. But this does not 'feel' like my usual allergies. Think I'm coming down with the flu. Ack! It's been a rainy gray day. Listening to *Aimee Mann's Ultimate Collection*, a perfect foil to this weather.

Just saw my gynae today for my annual checkup. She's an angel with a soft voice and hands but I do dread these visits. And now I've got something to look forward to - she's scheduled me for my first mammogram in September. Oh joy!

Grumble: Why is it we wait over an hour for an appointment that we booked for a certain time, almost a week in advance? What's the point of booking then?

The gardenias are in bloom! Alas, they are halfway around the world from me. I do love these flowers and their heady, sensuous perfume.

I can't believe you're gone! I fought hard to resist the signs but there it is. After nearly 12 years in a relationship that few can even boast of, I now have a stranger in your place. You opened worlds I could never venture to, filled my dreams with places I may never see and taught me, sometimes painfully, about life. Your serene glow comforted my insomnia-filled nights and proved less addictive than sleeping pills. Yet I strayed many times only to return exhausted to your undemanding self, abandoning all cares to enjoy the light of your presence. Already you're a fading memory except for this reminder.

This is in memoriam of long years together, a steadfast relationship and an old friend. To my dearly departed Thomson 14 inch TV. May you rest in peace.