Yesterday, it was a dark dark day. My X1 lost consciousness right in my palm. After a painful resuscitation (over a delicious sashimi dinner), I crazily installed an update and it flat-lined again. I cannot understand my lack of sense or explain the sudden loss of simple intellect. Then spent the next two hours reloading and customising the plugins and settings. Achievement. Just when I’d switched off the lights to go to bed, I heard the dreadful beep for the third time. It had hard-resetted itself. Pain.
I woke up this morning to an actual dark foggy day. As soon as I began blaming the drizzle for the low visibility of the World Expo site from the Lupu bridge, we were stopped by guards along the quiet road. The grand locale is not available for commoners yet. I had been fooled by the hotel information booklet. Quite silly, now that I think about it. So the cab headed back to the hotel. He was kind to crawl on the bridge for me to peek and check out the pavillions. Through the damp window pane, they look lonely.
In the departure lounge surrounded by folks in warm lined coats with a horizonless view of the runway, one will never guess this is April in Shanghai.
I cannot get this song out of my head. Most typical of me.
I believe that everyone has a homecity (aka the homescreen where you always return to). It is not necessary the place you grew up in or the town where you’ve worked for most of your adult life. It is the place that you know it is right to reset in.
Many people want to move out of this city. Many people talk down the policies (and politics). Many people question the intentions and doubt the future. I cannot explain why but, in all honesty, I know I want to be here in my final days. This is my New York.
I am Dull Doris. The fruit of socialized dismantlement and commercialized broadcasting. I am the descend of falling lint in the blue vacuum chamber.
Ok. So I cannot write like the guys of Fight Club.
[Ahem]
Since the less than eventful trip to the Coronary Care Unit, I have a new sense of moving forth. No more the obsession, no less the curiosity. No more the status-ing, no less the updating. No more the dramatics, no less the polishing. No more the reel, no less real.
Inspired by Julie&Julia, I plan to do 52 things, things which I have not done for at least 5 years. All in 52 weeks. Each week I will try to recapture the light of the yester brilliance. Makes me smile just thinking about it. 1st week’s assignment was simple, relaxing and quite frankly, came as a surprise. I need to catch up on Week 2 and Week 3 soon before I get derailed again. Flight schedule is not playing well with this hobby. Plus, website is not near ready. Why, lazy me.
Before this entry begins to feel more suited for closure, I shall end with my exhilaration for Michael C. Hall’s win at the Globes. I cannot wait for season 4 to return to FX.
I admit that I might have been too biased with memories smeared by past experiences. Bangkok cab service has definitely improved. Though still consistently trapped in the good old heavy traffic, I did not once fear for my life. Previously. zigzagging cabs in tight one-way streets flipped my heart arteries all the time. Because of that, I have always rejected vacation ideas that will land me in this city.
Beijing cleaned up for the Olympics. Singapore put up prettier Christmas lights for APEC. If Bangkok has changed because of some event, I am very happy that whatever-that-is has taken place here.
I commented one night that this city is full of Manhattan-like lights. Then I was reminded that this is really the city of smiles. Yes indeed. It has even rubbed off on the usually stoic customs officers. Not just in the official airport where they are probably contractually binded to smile at tourists, even the tireless ones in the free trade zones are surprisingly nice.
I may actually be ready to return for a touristy visit soon. But right now, I just want a confirmed flight home.
Do you remember the first movie you have ever watched? Or the first ice cream? Or the first time you come across an amazing sunrise? If you know me, you will know that I don’t have the best memory. While it is a mystery why, I do remember one thing. The first English song I ever heard and loved.
A Little Good News by Anne Murray
I must have been in primary school then. I don’t quite recall how I came to know about it but bits of the song have been floating in my head for years. And today, I actually remember the full song!
There’s a local paper rolled up in a rubber band
One more sad story’s one more than I can stand
Just once how I’d like to see the headline say
“Not much to print today, can’t find nothin’ bad to say”, because
Nobody robbed a liquor store on the lower part of town
Nobody OD’ed, nobody burned a single buildin’ down
Nobody fired a shot in anger, nobody had to die in vain
We sure could use a little good news today
