I need a double cheese burger and hold the lettuce Don't be frontin son, no seeds on the bun We be up in this drive-thru, order for two I gots a cravin' fo' a numba nine like my shoe We need some chicken up in here, in this skizzle For rizzle my mizzle, extra salt on da frizzle Doctor pepper my brothah, another for ya motha Double-double supah size and don't forget the fries
5:15 PM
Monday, March 05, 2007
The Mama Shop
I had promised my dad that I'd help him out with my cousin's wedding preparations on the previous Saturday, and I'm always true to my promises. Despite the late nights of defending Aiur and having irregular sleeping habits, I made it a point to go all out with helping my dad. (He's a great dad and person, always thinking of others before self, braving many tiring days doing everything her can to help his family. I admire this quality of his.)
I was delighted to have found out that I'd be doing the preparations near my primary school, Punggol Primary School (PPS). A place that holds many sweet memories, I was more excited about being near it once more, taking the nostalgic bus route back there again from my humble home. It feels incredible to walk in the footsteps of your younger self. You take the same route, but you take things in differently. Every stop it makes, I managed to visualise the friends I knew walking on the pavements, heading back home after a day at school, in that weird combination of pale yellow shirt and sea blue shorts/skirt. I'd remember the friends who lived in the buildings I passed by. I'll remember the puppy love moments of me just looking out for the girl I like who lives nearby. I'll remember, that I had a friend who lives just beside me, and we frequently took the journey home together.
That friend is a guy called Zhi Qian. I still remember him as being the quiet guy, always calm in his actions. He's selfish with words, and I'm the exact opposite of him then. Always making the small talks, always trying to get him to smile and talk more. Alas, even with such close proximity, I've never seen him since my graduation from PPS. I've come to conclude that he has moved to someplace else. If ever he finds this post about him, I hope he makes contact with me somehow. Memories.
I realised that the 'mama' shop at the destination bus stop was still the same. It's a shop called Majfa. I love that shop to bits when I was schooling then.
I bought countless cards for my collection. Spiderman. X-Men. Fighter planes. Battleships. It was a classic hobby. And I still have those cards here with me, preserved in photo albums or a bundle, locked away for no other significant purpose now other than a smile for the stupid things I've done to collect them. Back then, it costs me about two bucks or so for one small pack. I bought it every week without fail.
Indian curry puffs there were quite a favourite of mine after school. Despite always causing a mess eating it, it tastes really good. A good snack before I reach home to eat my mum's ol' cooked food. (I kind of regret not buying it that day, but I'll definitely head back to get my taste buds renewed on it.) Even after eight long years, they're still selling it. Amazing. It comes with really nice chilli sauce. Mix the two, and you're headed for a sensuous, tasty feeling. Brings me close to tears.
Who could forget the simple toy that is the styrofoam model planes. It was really dirt cheap back then. About fifty cents or cheaper. I can't recall, but it's just a simple plane that you make out of joining the wing and body parts together, and clipping the propeller to the nose as the finishing touch. Simple, but addictive. I haven't seen or played it in years, but it was one of those things I really liked. (Note to self: Buy all the different models twice. One for keepsake, the other for obvious reasons. (Note to note to self: For playing it of course! (Note to note to note to self: Find out the inventor of the ingenious toy.))) I used to play it with my group of friends at the void decks and fields. We'd always try to get the most air time possible, throwing it in every possible fashion we could think of. Hope I can find it when I head back there again. I had once threw it from my my house window, and it flew really well. Damn. I should try that again.
There was another thing I liked as well. The bubble maker. I can't really recall the brand, but I remember the casing was either a pink or blue, with a ring stick inside to blow bubbles from. That was fun as well. I'm beginning to think that I might enjoy doing it at this moment as well.
Phew. Writing all that made me feel good. I'm proud that I was a student there. It was always lively then, with so many irreplaceable moments created. And to think that I've only written about the 'mama' shop thus far. Heh. I shall continue the other half of this story on another day, whenever that is.
Punggol Primary. Pride in Performance!
1:54 AM
Thursday, March 01, 2007
Go Anywhere
'Go Anywhere' by John Mayer (As in Any Given Thursday DVD)
Fold me up Take me out I'm portable
Fold me up Take me out I'm portable
Well out here We have anything we want We have anything we want at all
Out here, we just bolt it to the floor Tape it to the wall
Rolling with a satellite Watching the Cosby Show on Nick at Nite I'm weird but I feel alright I am a soldier now
Fold me up, fold me up Take me out, take me out I’m portable
Fold me up, fold me up Take me out, take me out I'm portable
Out here, we're just singin', playin' whatever we feel And the threat of falling out of bed at night is real When you're traveling on a box with 18 wheels
If I can go anywhere at all, if I can go anywhere at all If I can go anywhere at all If I can go anywhere, anywhere
And if I can go anywhere at all And if I could go anywhere at all I mean if I really, really, really can go anywhere at all
Won’t you tell me why, why, why, Why Georgia why
Just a small taste of the musical genius that is John Clayton Mayer. (Yes, that is his middle name.) I really like this small introduction he did for 'Why Georgia' from his Any Given Thursday DVD, something which I bought many years back, excited me then, and still excites every bit as much, or more, even at this point of time. Still, I can't forget how HMV cheated me of my money by making me pay near to fifty bucks, as after a month from the point of buying, it went to half the price I paid. That moment was greatly taken advantage of by Wally, my dearest companion in anything John Mayer. Up until now, if I ever mention it, he would say, "Hah!" proudly for having bought at half the price. Alas, as a dedicated fan, I shall let HMV live. (Yes, you are spared too, Wally.)
Fold me up. Take me out. I'm portable. I mean, really.
In any case, I would like to have to tip my hat off to the wonderful television series, Scrubs. I've been watching quite a bit of it recently, and I must say, it's the most excellent form of comedy I've seen. Or, I might be biased in that sentence. What I meant to say is that, it's the form of comedy that I really feel comfortable with. (It comes close to Friends, which I'm guilty of not being able to watch every single episode.)
The way John Dorian, or better known as J.D., converses with himself in the mind is something I can exactly relate to. I am not shy to say that I do that a lot, sometimes wondering if someone has made an initiative to make a living in there, and pays off his rent by being the inner voice. As much as this make me sound like a nutcase, it actually helps to do a little discussion mentally. As people would most likely tell you, do think before you speak. (Just don't take it too far and actually try to get the number of the person in your head by constantly sweet talking him/her for it.) Back to reality, here's what I'm trying to say.
Go watch it!
Oh, a small shoutout to dae. I miss that best friend of mine.
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