Happiness...

is coming.

*taken from LASALLE alumni's upcoming performance title*

Yes, yes, my happiness somewhat is coming. Yesterday two things made my day. Well, one and a half. Firstly it was the shoes that I ordered came with the postman, right in front of my door when I was on my way home. I was ecstatic, like finally! I got my (hopefully) awesome new pair of shoes!

But it was quite a disappointment that the shop didn't copy exactly the model I gave... Now it kinda sucky looking, plus they have measured my ankle size and in the model the top part wasn't this tight... It's too small I can't even zip up smoothly - needs extra strength really, thank God it was real leather (does that help with extra tugging strength for not spoiling).

*supposedly...*

*but it turned out like this...gold some more...:(*

Should it have a negative, it also has a good side which is comfortable. I dunno why, the sole's thin and all and it's 9cm heel but I feel like walking in the clouds... And I could possibly not zip it to have another effect... :)

Noontime, I was heading back to school when that person happened to just arrive, facing towards the entrance, wearing a pair of baggy jeans with tan suede boots and a reggae colored armband and a cap. Seeing on the floor, his desktop computer and a dusty keyboard caught my eye. From afar, I thought it would be the moving man, the one from pick-ups that help with people who moved, looking from the way he dressed, especially that boots he was wearing. It was when I passed, he shouted in Japanese and I peered back (drat he's not the ugly kinda of type but actually the cute kind oh mother of Mary my heart palpitates I don't wanna leave just yet) to see this guy. I casually left and saw a girl taking out all the stuff out from the taxi (maybe his sister... maybe his girlfriend...!) but they seriously do not look alike.

He was speaking like the actor Masaki Okada.

I think my heart skipped a beat at the point I was passing him.

I thought he was the moving man. But then he wasn't the hideous all-pierced tattooed kind of Japanese, he was the nicer (yeah, Okada's the figure).

Did I tell you I was dreaming that Okada would be coming here for school, to get out of the Tokyo hypness and learn like a normal student, knowing that probably no one would recognize him?

From that hour on, right after I came back from school (goodie bag packing) I searched every floor where there might be 'clues' of where they're at. It now sums up it's either on the 5th of 6th. I've instigated stalking plans and this is my only sole entertainment in Singapore I'm looking forward to, live, not on screens. And I've also got an 'agent' on the 5th floor in which I haven't inquired to about anyone moving in.

THANK GOD MY FLAT HAS ONLY 6 FLOORS. YIPPEEEEEE~


My nephew, baby T has grown outrageously! Compared to the last time I saw him, he's now all grown up with bigger marbly eyes and super smooth milky skin, also a weird hair pattern...


Cuteness! Then the happiest time of my family, or my Singaporean family, is eating! So I tempted him with the banana walnut muffin from Delicious Muffins in Sunshine Plaza which are the gods of muffin making here.

*ohhhh it looks soooo good, I want but I can't eat it...>,<*

*take a closer look at his watering mouth... =P*

I'm a very bad auntie for him. But then again, the whole family (except baby T's dad and mom I guess) loves to eat. It gives happiness and bliss when good taste enlighten our taste buds. And like today, I was invited to eat at PS: Cafe at Dempsey Rd., which serves western cuisine and of course, a wide range of tempting desserts to die for. The main courses were just right in taste and in the tummy, eating a whole but didn't feel heavy: Caesar Salad mixed with bits of bacon and lots of crunchy croutons which were absolutely smashing, then a chicken dish that was cooked like pizza (as in the topping) and I didn't get to try the , except this tall dark double chocolate BLACKOUT cake (the second from the right).


SEE HOW TALL IT IS? DON'T ASK ME. Served with vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce which was a good combination since the cake was heated and I would puke if I ate too much chocolate. Of course, it was shared into 4 slices. Currently I am sick of any kind of chocolate, meaning I won't be eating my chocolate muffin anytime soon...

Baby T today was not in a good mood. He was famous for his quietness and his friendly approach to strangers; he's not scared of a lot of people in one place; today was very different.

I was thinking he knew the truth about the dalai lama or guru my cousin invited for lunch to (an undisclosed comment for me) and he was upset he was carried by him, then I think I saw a little moment - a hint, a second of him making a (totally hilarious) ugly face after throwing his face to the opposite side of the guru's face; I found it very entertaining, with his versatile hands of picking up the angpao from the guru's pocket. Who would have guessed? We all didn't see it. Does he have what it takes to join the Master Junior, a show which showcases youth talents in magic?

*sleeping soundly in his mom's arms in the cafe*

Afternoon came and my roommate suggested that we visited IKEA. We departed about 3PM, went to both floors and scanning almost everything in our way it took 4 hours before we finally decided to eat dinner in their restaurant.

While I was at the megastore, I thought of calling two friends, one was Ika which was the IKEA card holder which we could have gotten a discount, the other was Putra, because I remembered him as an IKEA fan. So I thought, why not join for dinner for an invitation? But then again, my credit's running out like a big mama running to catch a culprit. Get the gist?

And how interesting we DID cross paths in the RESTAURANT when I came along to where my other friend was waiting and my friend pointed out 'is that your friend' I'm like 'where I don't see' but then after a while this bulky figure I recognize was in front of me. I hit him with my bag so he would turn but he DIDN'T. I was thinking, should I hit even harder? Was this the place those chicken wings are stored? Then I hit the second time where he FINALLY wanted to scold but stopped to see it was me...

Yeah, how interesting that could be. The person to call was also going to eat dinner at the same place with his friends. So we left it at that state.

For dinner, CHICKEN WINGS! That was enough for my dinner; I was sick of the smell of the restaurant which reminds me of airplane food. Ugh.

It had been a great time, 'wasting time' while I have all the time in the world, before I would be inside a little world where 24 hours is not enough at all.

At 8PM we then left to return our snuggly - NOT - home.


Happiness... is when you get something you have dreamt and plan and work hard for it to earn it; is when a little butterfly releases in your stomach; is when I stuff my face with delectable cooking from anywhere I go. :)

Fright Call and a City Hall Walkabout.

Woke up at 11AM today, officially slept at 1AM, a total of 10 hours hibernation. Gah, holidays really make me love my bed up to the notch. I had this weird dream, something like myself in a game and I have to save this dinosaur or whale or something that looks like a dinosaur but it's dying in the sea and I had to retrieve some power gem for it to be alive again (it was dying) then not far away it was the nemesis' castle but somehow after me riding the car I ended up on a boat then gave my grandma who became like the queen or even the evil person behind or hell dunno a leg massage. YES A FOOT REFLEXOLOGY THING. -,-"

weirdness...

Yesterday I had the i.drawwws... meeting, a collaboration with the SDEA to create an interactive and a drama-like situation like what we do everyday IN SINGAPORE (not at home). The theme is 'communication' and thus what we do everyday by communicating, and in Singapore, is thru the approx. 10 million colors thru this 13 inch window screen (aka the white macbook of mine) is how we communicate: seeing and typing, not seeing and talking. Facebook, MSN, YM, blogs, and a whole lot of variety of platforms where we can share our thoughts candidly and anyone can see and comment on it.

The meeting was at 1PM and I planned to go around 12+ a bit. BUT THEN MY WALLET WENT MISSING (this reminds me of Vanessa's hilarious post! heeheehee) and I frantically tried to search my shipwreck room; I do remember last night after coming back from grocery shopping I took out some cards that made my wallet too thick, then I do remember putting it above my pile when I went in and left it at the bed...
...
......
.........

GYAAAARHH WHERE IS IT! Clock was ticking after eating lunch at 12PM and I was ready to go and filled my bottle and it's gone missing! Not inside the bed, drawers, in the plastic bags, in the pile, anywhere! I don't remember putting it anywhere! OH DEAR... what if what if what if what if what if what if whatif what if what if... I checked my drawers a couple times but it's not there. Clock ticking to 1PM! Anyone who's going to the i.drawwws thing I had to call since V needed me to pass her note because she cannot come and she wanted a space - pass it on to Dahlia.

So in the end after calling Debra but then she was also not feeling well thus not going, Derrick was the only candidate who would go there. And yep, he is going and I forwarded the note.

It was close to 1.

Few minutes after,

I FOUND MY WALLET.
In the 2nd drawer I already tried looking. I think my eyes are an eyesore already how can my eyes missed the wallet just there onthe right side on top of my PSP and I just saw it after 1PM...
2(@#*%Y@#LKFH:DSJ; KJ(P*#L#P@(*Y(*P@HIOHLKJF*JFP(*@#@(P#*Y%(@#*YL

ANNOYED!

But it was 1 already. What can do. I wanted to go but it was shining hot!
So I opened my laptop instead... then called Vanessa what time we want to meet in City Hall, and she's like "Uuuuhhh, I haven't shower and today's the day where the school calls us..."
"Why school calls? ... OH!"
Today was like the D day and the school was gonna ring us if we didn't get to get our first choice in what we want to major on. I was not fretting about it and definitely not making this as a hindrance.

But alas.

A few minutes after Vanessa told me about that, an unknown home line number called me.
"Hello?"
"Hi, is this Raisa Tanawi I'm speaking to?"
"Yes this is me"
"Oh yes, this is from LASALLE"

I THINK, I WAS SHOCKED and I got HEART ATTACK.
...
....
"Oh yes, why?"
"We would like to ask you about the volunteer for the opening night, on the 25th we're going to do some goodie bag packing. Can you help us on that day?"



SO, BASICALLY, THE FRIGGIN' FREAK FRIGHT CALL was about PACKING GOODIE BAGS.
(=,=)"

O|--|_

how doomed.

THAT, was over. Then I started to get ready to go when I told Derrick I found my wallet and are you guys gonna be still there I'll arrive in half hour something.

The Arts House was close by to City Hall, exactly in Parliament Rd. It is a nice private gallery with a jazzy cafe that would let me sit for hours and hours reading to my likes. The surrounding and environment is different compared to the buzzing city life, and in this place people could just escape the hectic life and get in touch with everything artsy. :)
When I came it was in the middle of a discussion in a circle. Yikes.

This is the cafe and the outside of it. Also said that they also publish books, so anyone wants to speak out and publish their stories, essays, poetry collection... Well here's one place you literature peeps so keep an eye! Another place is booksactually's mathpaper press but I think it's so exclusive they hand bound it. I think it's too pricey by then, no one wants to get it.

Continue! The rest of the spaces have been shown before in the first meeting of this project, so I didn't have to take images, besides, it's all up on the facebook group for i.drawwws...

Personally, I would like to do something traditional. Thinking that now we communicate not by talking anymore but only by looking and typing. My mind started whirling when I watched the morning show (why suddenly I have forgotten her name? Allen right?) where Zac Efron came as a guest, and when she asked "do you have facebook or myspace or, how do you keep in touch?"
He replied "I don't have them all. I prefer to call my friends."

Yep, that got me to think. Nowadays we never call our friends but 'wall our friends' or IM them. We just stare at the cold words that has appeared, emotionless.
No dramatic voices accompanying it or gestures that we can't see through the phone but somehow I still do that like I'm talking in front of them, those hand movements that are automatic.
Yes, things have changed in our way of communication. Peeps says that without a mobile, you're a total goner. If you're lost it's going to be very hard to contact and all. It's true, but then,

what happened to the peeps a hundred years back who still used snail mail that took weeks?
I think I could have died from waiting maybe, for an important news or something.
However, looking at the competitve world with over population we need to stand out and be fast and grab it while we have the chance, that fast pass tickets that finishes like hawt cakes. If we work slow, as in sending out mails rather than e-mails which could arrive any minute later, I think 100 people would have passed us day by day while we wait in front of our red mailbox for the news.

I'm actually sick of being fast. Everything with the computer. Why not handwritten? Why not snail mail? Even these days handwritten and traditional outcomes has been stamped as antique and more worthful (derrrrr...). Writing comes from the heart and our emotions can be felt, yes felt by the pressure of the pen. If we're mad, thick embossed letters would appear. If we were to write fast, super hopefully legible cursive writing, lightly, would be the outcome. It shows through handwriting, and the snail mail uniqueness is in the postage (who likes to collect) especially getting it from overseas pen pals.

Connected to this project, snail mailing from overseas (planning to do it while my summer holiday to Africa) to my Indonesian friends and them collecting it to make a collection would be nice although it isn't art at all.
I have a typewriter at home and I really love it, I hate computers and I hate typing to it because my eyes would hurt. That could be interesting if I were to type like in the lawyer's court where one (I've forgotten the original word for this) would record the whole talking through a typewriter. Speed typing!
For the sculpture I had the idea to make all the kinds of wires we have, from long internet lines, to those spiral telephone lines, and what else? Pouring out from the window, as the plan was to be, to show that our communication is not by the mouth and eyes anymore but through these objects we speak.

I guess that is what is on my mind. Whewh. The meeting finished at about 4PM where went directly to Raffles City, and it was (thank goodness) drizzling. I didn't bring my umbrella, shockingly. My two BFF in Singapore: umbrella, sunglass.
Waiting for Vanessa to come down went to see some stores. WOW!
Has the sale started yet? Everything's on sale already!
Have seen TOPSHOP, River Island, Miss Selfridge, Dorothy Perkins... but nothing came to my likes (AKA BUDGET... :P) there's this nice printed of a lion/leopard sketch on a white tee... $29.90
A black dress for any occasion left in my size... $79.90
Some other long drapey T's but too overpriced as usual for a TOPSHOP tag. That's why besides one black holey leggings with one thick grey leggings that I probably won't use unless I go for a vacation on a winter time, I have nothing from the store compared to my first roommate in Singapore that has almost a quarter from it.

Quite bored in looking at clothes for the past few days, we met up with Putra, and it's been a while since I last saw him, way when I still had long hair. Planned to cook dinner in his place, we headed to River Valley Rd. and it's the first time I went, and the first impression of the whole apartment is nice! Secluded and looks private, small, with a very exhibited swimming pool sandwiched between an even floor numbers, maybe floor 10? Made from glass, and at night it's gonna be a pretty full view for men looking up from below, or not a pretty sight at all when a whale swims but super keliatan at night most def... XD

(SORRY SORRY PUT, pis men! (^^)V)

Went to Cold Storage beforehand and bought that semi-instant carbonara pasta 3 packs, then a big bag of Cheetos curly swirly whatevs, and water. It's on the house today! Wheeheeheeheehee

Up to his little place, a huge rice cooker that looks more like another mini AC somehow and a large LCD TV, and a superbly messy dining table that now looks like where trash will go, with all those plastic bags lying (PUT GO GREEN DONG...), however not afraid with that stolid face of yours that only *glares*.

Teehee.

The TV was clicked on and Putra tried to search a good channel to watch. After watching Eminem (who?) 'rapped' like stupid shit I wonder why he became a singer, I said "Change."
So the channel was changed to E! Channel which was better, but slightly disturbing with Pamela Anderson's so-called Girl on the Loose reality show. Stoopid chick trying to be sexy but you're not. But I do respect her that she does something good, which in the episode we three watched was when she auctioned her car for PETA (organization that protects animals and would speak up when a celebrity like the Olsen twins wearing real fur or skin). But the rest was just back to her shabby image. Blah.

Blame me for being a bit querulous today.

The cooking didn't go smooth, FYI. I knew it. Should have used that sturdy and could be depended on rice cooker rather than cooking on pot, and I knew that it would start bubbling and spilling the water cream when Putra covered the pot with the lid. A hasty move. Less than a minute the pot was covered it was spilling its guts out of the lid.

So Vanessa took over and resolved the problem by not staring at the TV but concentrate on 'stirring continuously for 7 minutes' as the package says, while Putra and I still glance to the TV. I mean we all can't help stirring right, so basically we're waiting for the food to be done. After pasta check, we were ready to eat the pot (inside it of course!) till' it was finish! (maybe, most probably).

But alas, after about 3 refills I was stuffed. It WAS, pasta. Couldn't eat anymore. I think I was half ful after eating the big bag of Cheetos. In the end at 9PM Vanessa gtg, so I followed as well. I wanted to walk, but I think after looking at the map then went down the road I couldn't find Clemenceau Ave where I had to go then turn right, straight till' I found Dhoby Ghaut. So from the bus stop I was planning to walk straight on, somehow it felt OK but I guess to accompany Vanessa. And my feeling was right! Just straight on was back to the Church-SMU-Bugis St. way. Could've just walked, I ate too much and wanted the food to come down.. But next time. Now I know the way. But I do want to know the Dhoby way. So someone next time...!

Then I'm back in my 7th heaven room typing this. *yawn*

AFF'09 Day Two and Done.

Second day, my feet was dying already. Rolled in more bandage and changed new handplasts for behind protection (thank goodness it did help my lecet - sorry I don't know the English term anyone help) and there I go in my too small only black shoes here I brought...

(curse it I should have brought my old school shoes which I also used as my usual violin concert shoes. who knew I would ever need to wear again?)

We did the same routine, no more utterubbishing, I'm too tired to type too much, because we did the same thing. The highlights today was the show, which was...


Now Watching: Gold Miss Show, Hugh Jackman and Daniel Henney as guests

AFF'09 Day One.

Schedule of 4 PM till' midnight, I came running because I was running late. Should have known Singaporeans tend to always be not on the dot however always after the allocated time. But still, I gotta stick to my disciplines, I despise people being late, no exceptions unless it's very urgent. Moving here has made me shift from being a discipline person to a more relaxed (thanks to my lecturers who a few are late and is always so). BAD BAD BAD

After signing in, waiting for half an hour, then our work starts, while my friend became the dresser at backstage, I and the rest of the peeps here became ushers and did all the 'rough' work. Packing goodie bags for each seat, cleaning up, putting magazines on every seat, paste labels on chairs, la la la~

*me and the tag*

Eating dinner, models were also on the break. THERE WAS A GROUP OF GUY MODELS FROM PUGH'S SHOW ALL MAKE-UP READY ALL OH-SO HANDSOME TALL AND HAS THE COOL LOOK. There was also a couple model, the girl's has this cool and very beautiful look
Three shows in a day, three times this routine we do. Moving in and out from the storage room then putting another edition of a magazine, then when guests come we are to "push" them to the show (as in the show is starting, please enter the tent, thank you, or in a rough way "HEY HURRY UP THE FREAKIN' SHOW IS STARTING QUARTERLY THANKS TO YOU IT HAS BEEN DELAYED TOO LONG").

The first show has been delayed for an hour, aka Gareth Pugh's was originally supposed to start at 7pm however started at about 8pm-ish. And thus it continued onto the next shows which was also delayed for an hour.

Enough utterubbishing. Back to the show, Pugh's started with an awesome video showing the silhouettes and the magic within his more 'earthy' designs, as his inspirations do come from the earth... "People [have the impression that] my clothes are futuristic, so this season I wanted to do something earthy." Compared to his previous designs, more draping, flowing and heavy drops becomes the major capture of his garments.

the video showing its shadows and silhouettes

Most people would adore this, I also do adore, since he made a difference in those deconstruction and innovation in design. However, his designs are only as a wearable art and not the ones you can wear to a cocktail party. Unless you want to stand out. Some of them are still sleek and clean in design, as an LBD, and it is pretty if you walk (can see in image 3 where the front model has that flying cape behind her, LOL).

As you can see, compared like other blogs, I won't cover much on him since he's not my favorite. :) However he was the only international designer that comes (Lacroix, Jacobs and Westwood didn't attend) that's why everyone made a big fuss out of it, and he even DJ-ed at night in Zouk. Talk about double talent!

The second show was for a fundraising event, after a round of Hansel and Nicholas' fashion show, I didn't take pictures; I'm not too keen with hansel's designs (and is shocked that Jo Soh graduated first class honors in CENTRAL ST. MARTINS. WOW) but Nicholas' were androgynous which I liked. All the fundraising dresses were red to support women's cancer (or something like that). Hansel, Nicholas, Nikicio, stellarissa, and many other local/international designers, two from Indonesia! :) And they were auctioned off on spot.

* I think this is Nicholas, I forgot :P *

The show was fine, but then the last show was my most favorite! I SIMPLY ADORE INDIE DESIGNERS (or maybe because it suits my style?) and this one is a showcase from blackmarket's designers, indie designers from around Asia, mostly Singapore's.

*Reckless Ericka*

*the ending with each designer*

I loved all the five designers for Blueprint 2009 pheat. Blackmarket, and you can also visit them here!

RECKLESS ERICKA
NIKICIO
ELOHIM
STELLARISSA
GIAN ROMANO

Back to utterubbishing. Thanks for the delay, we finished the show at 00:30, then quickly cleaned the tent up with leftover flyers or any trash. Closed the day at 1AM; this is what you get when an important event hires a bad EO company. Screw you Mercury Marketing. Very unproffesional even before the show started.