What it means to love…

Holding your tongue is definitely one. Sometimes it is far easier to rant, but some things are better left unsaid, or at a more opportune time.

I would have sent you this sms, that basically outlines:

How you seem to be blaming me for having to go for a wedding dinner when it isn’t my fault.

How you don’t see that I have certain roles to play as the elder son.

How my rare family days don’t seem to matter much to you, and I still have to prioritise you on those ocassions.

How I have been looking forward to going to the Istana, because YOU were so excited about it.

How I re-arranged my family’s plans so that I can go to the Istana with you.

How I called up a couple of brunch places, but still went with CM-PB anyway ‘cos you want it.

How I was checking up if the Filmgarde cinema was any good at Kallang, so that we can have something different from GWC for once. Not to mention, Filmgarde apparently has the best seats in town.

How I was looking forward so much to this weekend in general because I finally have the load of work off my shoulders, and we have three days with one another instead of the usual two.

 

And all you cared about is how I didn’t pick up your calls, how I didn’t sms you enough, and how you were having a bad day.

My nose has been leaking all day, I’m still aching from trying to work out yesterday (and why do I bother to work out?), and I haven’t been sleeping all that well as I was wondering if I have really done enough for my kids. Not to mention there are all those incessant consultation periods, and I still have my SC and softball kids to worry about this upcoming holiday period. But you see, all this is still work. And I have work angst like you do.

But all this doesn’t matter. Because I still want to spend tomorrow with you, even if it means changing ALL our plans. ‘Cos the plans don’t really matter as long as we spend quality time together. It has to start with you NOT snapping at me though.

The beauty of analogies

Cameron and Chase, two of the original team of three working under House, were about to get married. Chase, is a hopeless romantic, and is certain that he wants to live with Cameron for the rest of his life. Understandable, since this is his first marriage, and he is an Aussie (though I’m not sure if nationality has anything to do with it!) Cameron, on the other hand, once married a dying man, and has had commitment issues ever since. Plus, she kept a vial of her late husband’s semen, for the purpose of artificial insemination, if the need ever arises.

You should be able to guess by now, the final obstacle to the two lovebirds walking down the aisle and saying their vows – the vial. Chase thinks Cameron is planning for failure since she still wants to keep the vial; Cameron says she isn’t entirely sure about marriage, but also insists that these doubts are normal. The romantic Chase says these doubts may be normal, but he doesn’t have any. Cameron retorted that it is impossible for anyone to know for sure about these things, and Chase said he is sure.

But you see, all that is just backstory. The moment of genius is about to arrive.

Cameron goes to House for advice, like most people on this show do. Of course, you have to be prepared to be mocked and insulted, but you often do receive some wisdom. Cameron, once more reiterating, that she feels these ‘normal’ doubts, and is merely keeping the vial for insurance. It is just like buying fire insurance for her condominium apartment. And what does House reply? Would you go homeless if you are unable to buy fire insurance for your condominium? I don’t want to spoil the script-writer’s genius by explaining it, but this is really amazing.

Now, if only real-life dialogue actually works like this. Apart from dialogue between us, of course. 🙂

Are we still…snobs?

Our top movie lists include blockbuster titles…

• The Shawshank Redemption
• Dark Knight
• Forrest Gump
• WALL-E
• Up
• The Prestige
• Slumdog Millionaire…

…to the more esoteric productions…

• American Beauty
• Memento
• To Kill a Mockingbird…

Yet recently, we watched The Informant and Planet 51. We enjoyed the latter thoroughly, even though we were extremely tired on both occasions – which meant the level of fatigue was not the issue. Not to mention that it was Matt Damon against Dwayne Johnson (still better known for his WWF days); biography against animation comedy; serious move against light-hearted family fun.

To me Planet 51 has several elements that makes a movie good.

1. Humour – It is always difficult to avoid cliches, and this movie didn’t. What it did do is offer a new perspective to old jokes, for a while anyway.
2. Action – Don’t get me wrong. While I love the Die Hard series, I’m not looking for ass-kicking, car-chasing, building-smashing kind of action. What I mean is, the movie must have momentum, and leave you at the edge of your seat at times. Or at least, sit up.
3. Character Development – Emotions. The audience must feel for the characters, and what eventually happens to them. In this case, it was neither the human astronaut nor the alien boy, but Rover, the solar panel powered electronic “dog”. Don’t ask.
4. Thought Invoking – And if the film does not appeal to the raw human emotion, then it must at least set you thinking. Of course, the whole movie is a satire about how we think we know so much about the universe around us, or how we seem to think the world revolves around humankind, and that everyone else is alien. But that is the obvious. Other things are more subtle – like why is Dwayne Johnson the voice-over for a white astronaut, and why are there predominantly white astronauts in the first place? Or how the human condition makes us so susceptible to herd mentality?

I’m too tired to write on, but I think I have made my point.

The Shawshank Redemption

Everyone wants to be somebody

Taub was a successful plastic surgeon, but had to leave his job when he was caught having an extra-marital affair with one of his partner’s daughter. Gosh! But enough of the back story already.

The gist was Taub met his supposed college junior, who offered him a job and a way back into his old kind of lifestyle. Add his current rocky marriage (after he confessed to his infidelity) and his unstable financial situation into the mix, and we have a man who is, quite essentially, gullible. Very.

But we’re not here to chastise him. Everyone, wants to be somebody. To live a life of meaning. To matter.

Just like the Seventh-day Adventist Church. William Miller, based on a passage from Daniel 8:14-16 (go on, Google and read it if you are not familiar with the text), predicted that Jesus would return to earth. And when Jesus didn’t show up, his followers, the Millerites, merely dismissed the fact that Miller had got the date wrong, and that Jesus would show up eventually. The Seventh-day Adventist Church, by the way, is the eighth largest international body of Christians. Only religion and irrationality can make one’s beliefs stronger when proven wrong.

One thing led to another, and I decided to do a quick read about the apocalyptic end that has been predicted to occur in 2012. Eschatology, a field of study by itself, studies the ultimate destiny of mankind. I must admit, it has a nice ring to it.

But the real star of the show, S05E18, is…

No, I'm not referring to Taub with his back facing us.

Turning points…

A woman, hell-bent on survival and returning to her old life, caved in to the notion of morality in a single moment, and decided to sacrifice herself to save a boy she hardly knew. This was what Tracy Strauss did in Heroes S03E20, to save Micah Sanders. Although I felt it made little sense, not to mention was not in keeping with her character, I am intrigued by the possibility that people can turn in the spur of the moment.

Ice Queen till the end

The other thing that amuses me somewhat, is why someone as influential as Angela Petrelli does not think of eliminating Danko right from the start. Or am I simplifying matters in thinking that it is easy to kill someone? What does that, make me?

The Past Week – History Boys

I have never been a big fan of lamentation of the past. Of course, that doesn’t mean that I don’t do it; perhaps it may be more apt to state that I don’t like to admit to it.

The past, unfortunately, is often just a reminder of what we could become, but didn’t.

Still, the past week has flashed by rather quickly, as with the many weeks in 2009 that preceded it. The best part of Saturday, despite possibly the best company I can hope for, was spent doing up lecture notes for a cohort that I do not even teach. True, I did volunteer for it, and not that I regret doing so. What did catch me by surprise, was that I am not quite as efficient as I had hoped to be.

Sunday started off with some exercise, something that I have been aching for, quite literally. It went well, until it started raining. Truth be told, I am someone who likes walking in the rain, so that did not cause anything more than a slight inconvenience. What would eventually get me annoyed though, was that she fell sick afterwards. And if I were to point a finger to apportion any form of blame, it would be in the direction of her father. Naturally, he was an unknowing culprit, but it still does not change the initial fact. Relationships with the possible in-laws have been cordial so far, but I suspect it will not be any less trying as the relationship I have with my own parents. Not to mention, given the nature of my personality, I am quite well disposed to have frequent clashes with both my father and hers. Something about 一山不能容二虎 I suppose. Much less three tigers. This may be a good reminder not to have a son in future.

The rest of the week went by as such, but there was this general malaise about me for the next five days, not to mention that the weather has been amazingly suitable for sleeping in. I saw 33 thrice, the first of which I don’t remember much of to be honest. The next two lessons were much more enjoyable, though I still owe them a few clarifications. I will see them again next week, hopefully in a costume that is not too humiliating. 22 I only saw twice, and even then the second lesson was cut short by this inexplicable policy to send our students to a military facility as part of national education. I guess I have to take that back. It is possible to explain for it, but I just do not agree with it. 42 I saw twice as well, the first of which was a bumpy experience, most of it down to the fact that they had a preceding math test, in which presumably most of them got slaughtered. Still it was no excuse for a poor lesson, and amends were made on Friday. In between, there was one lecture which I was merely an audience for, a H3 class that went ok and Y6 class which I relieved. On top of that, our team of three managed to finish up the proposal for a business plan competition, and I did go on that excursion, where the main objective, if not the only one, was to influence the young minds whom I accompanied. There was also the small matter of one training which I assisted in, but not much else.

The highlight, was never in doubt. It was the movie I watched on Thursday, History Boys. It was a film that I cannot put a finger on, and a crass movie rating will not do it any justice either. Watch it, feel it, think on it. But even more so, was the company I had for it. And unfortunately, I lost sight of the sheer importance of that, even for a few days or hours in this week.

Now I just have to start the new week on a much better foot.