Merry Xmas 2020

Hello, we are really coming close to the end of yet another year. I had been spending alot of time together with Z over the xmas weekend and it was only today I got some me-time to work on my email, think of ways to gamify my new hire orientations, finish off Girlboss, close my personal finances and now, to type away here reflecting on the past year. But let's start off somewhere closer, shall we? :D

So, two days right before xmas eve both Z and myself took half day off work to check out this fire ramen place at orchard. THE FIRE'S IN YOUR FACE MAN. I swear my foundation melted hahaha. The food wasn't that out of this world but the fire experience defo makes it worth a visit!! And then the day before xmas eve Z was still trying to perfect his french onion soup lol. I drove over to his house for dinner after screening through countless applications for this accountant position. His first french onion soup tasted empty which might be due to the fact that he used chicken broth. He switched to pork broth the second time but added too much white wine haha (his dad still think he should pour more wine zzz all the drunkards in his family LOL) but other than that I thought the soup was still nice and it felt like he's almost getting the taste right. We spent xmas eve with his group of friends (they call it kopi sesh but they are always drinking alcohol leh) they are a funny and chillax bunch me likey hahaha and because Z wanted to drink a little, I ended up staying over at his house for a good 3D2N (we wanted to drink at his family's xmas dinner too!) I don't usually have any plans line up for xmas in recent years because everyone's just hanging out with their significant other so it's nice to have Z around this xmas (: His xmas french onion soup didn't turn out any better than the practice ones though I think he xiao emo lol. His bros opened up like 4 different alcohol after dinner omg I think I got high hahaha there were the usual red wine they usually drink during meals, a honey mead that tasted really sweet, sapporo premium beers that slide smoothly down the throat, and this omar whisky from taiwan ..... how to not get high you tell me lol. Right after the alcohol rounds Z and myself were trying to make the soundbar work for this sing K app but we were just singing at the top of our lungs without the echo effect fml. The next day we both were really just chilling out in his room and I don't get his Orange is the New Black show siaa hahaha I suggested watching this korean show called Sweet Home they say it's the korean version of Stranger Things!! Omg the show's really good in the suspense thriller factor.

There goes my very chill xmas weekend (: Ending this post with a still from the fire ramen place showcasing Z's unglam expression and my very scared face when the first flame went up (and it's not even for our ramen, it's for the couple seated beside us hahaha) I really think in the face of danger my hand instinctively reach out for Z lmao.

Merry Xmas & Happy New Year 2021.

It's about and yet not

Hello, I woke up to wet weather today and thought it the best idea to jump into the shower without the heater on and boy, was that the most refreshing get-out-of-bed motion hahaha THE WATER'S SO COLDDD. And right before that I was just really snuggling under my blankets watching Nina Yu's (aka oh no nina) youtube videos on her day and bullet journaling (which most defo makes me want to crack open my very neglected bujo)

So I guess I'm just checking in here with a little life update which I hardly ever do on this space now, but which I would like to do more of. 

I have recently pored over two photography books which were inspiring in the sense that they make me think more about the photographs I take (and that having a less than pro camera doesn't make me any less serious about documenting and recording sights) The first book was Blind Spot by Teju Cole. In the words of his foreword author, Siri Hustvedt, his photos "emphasize the pedestrian". I like how the texts complement the photos, so socially woke with its layers of meaning that they all seem to come together to prompt a single action. To instigate. To single-handedly unearth buried truths long forgotten. Then, to remember. And also, I just like how the photos deviate from the mainstream (some POV that I don't think I would have considered if that particular sight was to fill up my eyes) The second book was A Photographer's Life by Jack Dykinga. The book in essence traced his imagery journey from his photojournalist days to being a landscape photographer / evangelist. I think alot of parts reek of egotism but I enjoy the wisdom to be gained from his experiences. Consider this. Total elapsed time for photography: ten seconds. Total elapsed time for scouting image potential: one week. All for the pursuit of honest imagery. To pay attention to the corners when it comes to image composition. To race against sunrise and sunset because timing is everything. To always search and never compromise.

Before I got together with Z, I didn't understand why people are so obsessed with getting increasingly sophisticated equipments. I felt like I can still take good photographs with my iPhone (even though I also owned a semi-pro Panasonic back then). I mean the best camera is the one that you have with you, isn't it so ??? But Z mentioned something about getting sharp details. And when I was flipping through the pages taking in Jack Dykinga's landscape photos, it occured to me that phone cameras will not give me images as clear as these when I blow up their size. That maybe my iPhone is really only good for social media content but not if I want more. So I guess I had compromised before on that technical front (have since changed to a semi-pro Sony I really love taking pictures with this camera) and I might still be very lacking when it comes to technical knowledge, but I hope I continue to take honest photos that continue to speak to me even after years have lapsed.  

So this post is about photos and yet not photo-centric at all hahaha. Till next time, xx

#520

So, it's official with Z (: You know, sometimes I feel like could it be a glitch in the fabric of the universe that's causing all these stuff that are happening ... to happen ??? Like the coronavirus is changing the game in the economical and social spheres, directly affecting our physical spaces and mental wellbeing (cabin fever you guys). And that after all this is over, we will be moving towards a new normal. I guess what Im trying to say is that if suddenly being in a relationship (with Z) is gonna be a new normal for me then I totally welcome that hahaha. It truly becomes a love in the time of the coronavirus. 2020, can you get any weirder (and sweeter) ?????