Still Hungry

Not talking about literal hunger as you have probably guessed.

Went to play badminton & tennis last night.

Everything went well, OH WAIT, except the part where the idiotic management of the condo somehow double booked the tennis court AGAIN!!! Meaning 2 ppl made the booking for a particular slot at the same time.

It's quite an unpleasant feeling when you're so eager to get on the court to play, only to find that someone else is playing when you get there. I don't blame them, it's not their fault. All of us are victims of poor management and a lousy booking system by the authority. I promise I will give the management a piece of my mind in the future.

In the end we reached a settlement with the Korean guys that also made a booking. They played the first half an hour, and we played the second. BUT seriously, playing half an hour is barely enough to break sweat. Totally "tak syok" if you know what I mean.

But I guess there's always a positive in everything. For one, I was pleased with my play even though it's been quite long since I last played. And I guess we made some new Korean friends, though I don't remember their names. (Sorry, I can't remember names. Besides, at that time all I could think about was playing tennis. I think one was Jeff or something)

Yesterday's game made me realize that I'm still hungry, that I still have the desire to improve and play in competitions. Maybe about a month ago, when I wasn't playing that well, I had thoughts of stopping. Sometimes I just feel like I'm not strong enough to play competitive tennis. It can be quite demoralising when you get trashed and pushed around the court.

But that's in the past. After my finals, I will dedicate my break to work on my game. So if you wanna come play with me, I'm more than happy. Seriously guys, just give me a call.

What Comes to Mind

There is so much I want to say so here goes:

1. English paper last Friday - was alright, I'm satisfied.

2. Maths paper on Monday - made some ridiculous mistakes, I WAS frustrated at myself for throwing away marks like that - but that's in the past. I've moved on.

3. Next paper (Chem) is on Monday - So there's one week to chill (I mean study). It's quite liberating actually, to have a break like this. But it can be misleading - so I need to constantly remind myself that the finals are not over yet. This is like giving me a teaser of the month long break that's to come.

4. Who says u can't have fun during an exam period? I'm gonna watch a movie tomoro nite. Possibly Angels & Demons. People I know who have watched it say it was great, so I'm excited.

5. French Open coverage on Astro is fantastic. All day long. It's like an overload of tennis.

6. Nadal is wearing pink. Did you see? I also like what Del Potro is wearing. Reminds me of a zebra. A hot one. Nike does sports wear justice. I salute them.

7. Word has it that Kylie is engaged to Andres. I'm not surprised. They have been spotted shopping for property in Spain. I'm happy for her!

8. Tomorrow is Kylie's birthday! She turns 41. She was at Cannes recently and looked amazing. Finally, here are some pics:

Of red clay in Paris

Yeah it's that time of the year. OK i know i should stop using that line.

But it IS in fact time for the 2nd Grand Slam. I love Slams. And Wimbledon is just bout a month away! Before venturing into grass, the players head to Paris for Roland Garros, the climax of the clay season.

U either love or hate the clay. Some players like Nadal are addressed as 'clay court specialists', this would be their time to shine.
Other stars like Andy Murray, the Williams sisters and Sharapova have made it clear that clay isn't their turf.

Clay courts are the slowest of all surfaces. But this means we get to see longer rallies and ultimately fascinating matches. Winning on clay is about endurance and agility. Movement is so important. I like to see them slide.

Nadal is of course the hot favourite, he is seeded to meet Verdasco in the QF, and Murray in the SF. In the other half of the draw, Federer is likely to meet Djokovic in the semis.
I predict a Nadal-Djokovic final.

On the women's side, Safina is expected to win her 1st Slam, she is seeded to face Venus in the SF. Serena is in the bottom half, and will probably face Jankovic or Dementieva in the SF.


I know i'm in the midst of my finals, but I will definitely slot in some time to watch the matches over the next 2 weeks. =)

That time of the year

No not Christmas. And it sure ain't my birthday. No funny hats or candles.

It's THE time where some of us have exams, whether it's mid term, finals or just another assessment. Soon 2009 will reach its half point, that means CHANGE will come. I have about a month off before entering uni. But right now the focus is on getting through the finals.


So Good Luck everyone! Pay special attention to your health. Get enough rest and don't stress urself till u go nuts. There's nothing worse than falling ill during an examination period.



Made this Yhart to bring us all some much needed luck =)

Love to you all! Let's go kick some exam ass!

Made some Yhart

Today is one of those days where I'm inspired to channel my creative side.

I have tried many things (including writing and recording a rap song about the house rabbit), but today I was playing with 'Paint', as in the program.
Remember some time ago I posted some of my work? Well today is like Part 2. Only I think it's better. All of these were made today:

Oh and for the record 'Yhart' is not a foul word. It stands for "art by Y.H."

cubbe4basic

The following 3 are under the "Cubbe doubletile" series. In total I made 6 varieties.

The final 2 are inspired by disco and the dancefloor.

WavenPurp

Pentaisco

I love mixing around with colour. Every piece is intricately coloured. There is thought to it, not just random blurting. I hope u can see and appreciate it the way I do =)

GaGa Fever

OK if by now u have still not heard of Lady Gaga then ur seriously outdated.

She's one of the hottest artists on this planet right now. All parts of the world. I say ARTIST and not singer or musician becoz Lady Gaga truly embodies the definition of an artist. I've never seen music portrayed in such a creative way. It's an expression of art through music. And I think this is what music is supposed to be.

It's so different from what we have seen. She is unique and I quote in her own words: "I can't be copied."

She is probably the coolest artist of the decade. She does the dance genre proud.

I have to admit I wasn't a fan coz I've listened to the tracks from her album and I tot they were just loud and repetitive. But slowly her hit singles started to grow on me, from 'Just Dance' to 'Poker Face' and now 'LoveGame'. There is something addictive about her songs. Her presence cannot be denied. Even if ur not a fan.

B-r-e-a-t-h-e

One of the softest Kylie songs.

This performance in 1998 was humble, vulnerable in a way but still captivating.

During this time, she was not as popular compared to her earlier fame (1987-early 90's) and when she became a megastar in 2001. At this time I didn't even know who Kylie was.

But now when I listen to tracks from that period, I really feel it's the most honest and sincere material Kylie has ever done. It may not sound as radio friendly or catchy, and some songs were slightly dark (like 'Too Far') and had hints of frustration (like 'Limbo' which I love).

Sure, her disco pop tracks now are addictive, easy on the ears and its makes u happy and feel like moving your body, but it's just not as heartfelt as some of the stuff she has done in the late nineties.

However it seems that catchy pop songs have greater commercial value and appeal to the general public. I guess it's good to have a mixture. Somedays I listen to the fast dance numbers, while on others (like today) I opt for more mellow and soulful tracks.

It's Freakin Hot

The title says it all.

Unless ur from another planet or a distant land, i'm sure u would notice the rise in temperature. I can really feel the difference.

It's uncomfortable to be sweating even when i'm seated indoors. The heat wave is getting to me.

Hot weather = Poor health & Bad temper

It feels like we're living in an oven. But i'm no roast chicken.

It's times like this that air conditioning becomes a necessity. Or cold drinks.

Anything to beat the heat. How i wish i lived in an igloo. Do u know any Eskimo friends?

Mash Up

This is sort of a continuation from my previous post.

Did u know u can find a lot of mash up songs on YouTube?
So I typed in "kylie and rihanna" and this result came out:

A mash up of Rihanna's vocals for "Don't Stop The Music" with the music of Kylie's "In Your Eyes". Honestly I've never heard a mash up that sounds so in sync.

It's absolutely a perfect match.
The image is slightly disturbing, but yeah the song is worth a listen. This is what Rihanna would sound like in Electro Pop.

The DJ who made this has good taste!

Kylie + Rihanna @ NY

Been a while since I did a Kylie update. She has been busy lately.

Kylie was at New York for a gala where she met Rihanna. They both look stunning.

OH and Kylie will tour North America for the first time in her career later this year. I know her American fans have always been upset that they never get to see her 'live'. Now after such a long wait they must be exhilarated. Just like how I reacted when I found out she was coming to Singapore. =)

This year Kylie is doing a lot of live performances. In the past she hardly does this. She will be performing at various events in Denmark, Portugal, Spain and Poland. I'm not sure if these shows are a continuation of the KylieX2008 tour, or if it's a completely different show.

I feel that Kylie plans to stop making music. There's no news of her recording new material, and the fact that she is doing so many live shows is like giving her fans one last chance to see her perform. Maybe she wants to settle down with model boyfriend Andres Velencoso.

That's just a gut feeling. I hope she will release another album. At least one more.

Make it Loud

I'm stressed right now.
I think my previous post didn't really express just how pressured I am right now.

You know, whenever I'm stressed I like to vent out my frustration.
And playing tennis is one way to do that.
I just wanna go hit some balls. (OK that sounds weird)

Watch this video.
Just the vicious hitting and the loud screaming is enough to make me feel better.
This was during the 2005 Wimbledon semis I think.
Super entertaining. Especially the rally at minute 2:10. Look at Maria's reaction at minute 2:29.

BE WARNED. IT IS LOUD.

One word: Tired

That's all I can think about now.

Physically and mentally drained.

Yesterday's English trial wasn't tough, but having to stay at college till 6.30pm was exhausting.

Today was the Moral Studies exam. I'm so glad I bought the textbook last week, it saved my life. Special thanks to Shien Yin and Zhi Shan for the advise. I don't regret buying the book.

If you don't read, ur practically dead meat (hey it rhymes). Who said Moral was about common sense?

Since I only used it for 1 week, it's still in perfect condition, so I will try to sell it off to my juniors hahaha.

You know, I've never studied so fast in my life. I read half the textbook in 3 days. Once again, I'm living proof that last minute studying can be effective. Especially for lazy ppl like me who suffer from short term memory.

Tomorrow Bio test first thing in the morning. I already knew there's not much time to study tonight, so I've already read most of the notes in advance. Smart leh! (pardon the self praise)

This week is hectic.
Can't wait for Friday nite. Got tennis session with Mr.Ong again. =)

Oh... And American Idol is now down to the TOP 3. All 3 guys are talented in their own way. Unlike last season where David Cook was my favourite, this season I don't know who to root for. I like all of them. So whoever wins, I'm happy =)

Watch Campaign

I cleaned my watch on Sunday as it looked filthy.
The hazards of owning a WHITE watch with lots of tiny HOLES that trap dust like nobody's business.

I forgot to take a 'before' pic, I figure u don't want to see how gross it was anyway.

It looked so shiny and sexy after thorough cleaning, I decided to give it a photo shoot. Here are the pics taken with my Nokia... I edited a bit to make it more tasteful. Special thanks to Green Lego Dinosaur for modelling!

I know what ur thinking. Aren't I supposed to be studying?

Yeah yeah. I'm keeping a close eye on the time ;)

Say It Isn't So

Was reading some tennis news, apparently there are rumours that Maria is retiring. Some claim that the problem with her shoulder is career ending. Others say it may be psychological, the fact that she lacks motivation to get back. After all, she has plenty of money, and now she can focus on the other things in life.

It may be true becoz this year she has been withdrawing from tournament after tournament, delaying her supposed comeback since March.

A number of professional players have retired early. Think Martina Hingis, Justine Henin.
Tennis can be really taxing on the body, physically and mentally.

I hope Maria doesn't give up.

She's one of the players who really made me love tennis and have influenced my attitude towards the sport.
She's so aggressive and her hunger for victory is so intense, watching her play makes me wanna play better and win even more.


Come On Maria! Tennis needs you.

U like?

Hehehe as I have said on many occasions, change is inevitable.

You know, sometimes I despise change. Coz I'm afraid of letting go, afraid that the good times will be erased.

BUT there are certain types of change which I embrace.

For instance, new clothes and new furniture. And of course a new look.
In this case not me, but me blog.

Initially I changed the template, but I decided to stick with this coz I like this stretched look better.

So I ended up changing the colours, the font type, and of course the header.

HOPE ya like it.
I would like to think that I have good taste (LOL). Tell me if i'm wrong =P