Tuesday, January 8
Yay, its my 21st birthday... finally. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!! I want to take this chance to clarify with all those who attended my
bday party that my actual birthday is on the 8 January and not 5 Jan. Its just that I had the party earlier on a
Saturday so everybody could make it.
Orh well, I must say this year's birthday somehow feels a little more different than previous years. In previous years, it feels like its just another year, you know. But this year i feel more emotional compared to before. i don't know whether emotional is the right word but it seems to capture a portion of the feelings I am having.
Emotional, not just because of the fact that I am turning 21, the official age of adulthood. No more acting childish and nonsense, as some have mentioned in their birthday cards for me. Emotional because I realised I have lived 21 years of my life in a safe and comfortable environment, with lots of love and warmth from my family and friends. There is really nothing better I can ask for over these 21 years of my life. And I am very thankful for all that has happened. Family, friends, my home, my room, its just great to be contented with all that I've got and I feel that I am truly blessed with luck and good fortune to be where I am.
Being one of the first amongst my peers to turn 21, and being at this point in my life, I must say it is quite stressful. There are so many things expected of you, so many decisions that can possibly change your fate, so many things you start learning about the outside world. It must be hard for people to cope with it and having to live with it for the rest of their life. And here I am trying to cope with all these feelings and experiences that are so strange and new yet sometimes unknown and scary.
Its quite a mixed feeling and it is weird. Having
ord-ed more than 2 months ago, so much has changed and happened that at times I didn't realise that army was barely 60 days ago. Seeing the Band B guys for the first time at COG the day before, put me in a state of nostalgia as I recalled having marched down the same stretch of road, playing music, enjoying myself. It was quite an out-of-body experience and seemed like I was watching myself doing all that stuff that is going on. It so bizarre yet so interesting. And I believe the guys were quite shock to see the changes in me, not just physically but character wise. I think it is what you call
ord that sort of shapes the attitude and perspective of a guy prior to his
ord and post
ord. I just realised that the sense of longing for freedom has since disappeared after I
ord-ed and its feels like I'm a free person now.
Hmm.
Anyway, going back to my birthday, I have to thank all my invited guests for showing up, with their generous and beautiful presents, courtesy of my
wishlist. Ha. But I had a fun and tiring time hosting the entire event. I was panicking half the time prior to the party as it was raining and the food was not hot, the deliveries were earlier than expected. Everything felt like they were falling apart. But once the guests showed up at around 645
ish (even though the thing was supposed to start at 6), everything just kind of take off and I just went with the flow. It was tiring having to run around the different groups of guests and I honestly think I may have neglected some more than others and I feel terribly sorry for that. But I am glad everyone found their own form of entertainment and stayed for quite a while till the cakes were being cut.
Most importantly, I need to thank
Sunil, Dean,
Farhan for their
tremendous amount of help in setting up the place for the party. And I have to specially thank
Sunil for being the event manager and listening to my nagging and endless worries about everything. And not forgetting Joel who graciously volunteered to make the cakes for me despite all the trouble and mess he has to go through. I couldn't ask for a better cake than the ones he made me. And those who missed my party or simply forgot that you guys were invited and expected to turn up, you guys owe me one (anyway the
wishlist is still up for grabs, anyone?). Don't think you can skip my party and expect to go away safe and sound.
Lastly, I just want to thank everyone for the wonderful memories they've given me at the party (esp the birthday song, the loudest I've had in so many years, it nearly made me cry), and the beautiful presents that they have so generously bought for me. I couldn't ask for a better party, wait, except maybe the
sucky food and chalet, everything else is perfect. So lesson to all turning 21 and intending to do a party, STAY AWAY FROM DOWNTOWN AND THEIR CATERER. Book
Zouk, I think a party at a club is cool. Remember to invite me.
12:04:00 AM
Tuesday, January 1
First blog entry of the year. It just dawned on me that I have been keeping up with this blog for over 4 years alr, and it is going into its 5th. Well, as many can tell, I have not been consistently updating the blog because I don't know what to say beside tell of my daily monotonous routines. But I guess I like it the way it is, cause I don't make a point to update it everyday, instead I pen in (or rather type in) what I have to say or have strong feelings about now and then. uh, whatever, what the hell am I saying.
Its another 4 more days to my 21st birthday party, and I am just getting so excited about it. Its like I am panicking and freaking out at the thought of something going wrong up till the party. But I guess its normal, knowing that this is going to be a massive scale party that I've had for a long time. There are so many people I would like to put on my list and they keep popping up in my head but I really got to cap the guest list as my supply of food and drinks is limited. And I get people who want to go but now can't go, don't know whether to go so don't go and all that stuff, which is really confusing sometimes. And honestly speaking, I will be having a hard time hosting this 80-crowd party at such a congested place like downtown east. Damn those who booked up Aranda and Costa Sands. Well, I guess that is the whole idea of hosting a party, anyway its for my guests to have fun, chill up and take this chance to meet up, and give me presents. Ha. Lets hope this party will rock the year to a good start, well as least for me. Ha.
New year started on a beautiful display of fireworks and in the company of friends. I was feeling a little weird that I am celebrating someone else's birthday instead of Melvin's. Cause that is like the tradition of every year, we celebrate, we have fun and party till dawn. But this year I ended up celebrating Yi Ming's birthday who happens to fall on the same day as melvin. But I guess melvin had plans (which he wouldn't tell me but in the end I found out he was out buying my present, aw, how sweet) and we ended up not meeting at all. Nevermind, I will celebrate another day for him, belated.
So we were chilling out at FISH&Co. at the glass house and making lots of noise as usual. My throat was really hoarse and I hated it but still I talked a lot as usual. The highlight was the bday song FISH&Co had for Yi Ming and the ridiculous hat they made him wear. He stood on the chair, eyes were looking at our group, and the crew of FISH&Co broke into their birthday cheer and song. It was really cool although I wouldn't want to be in the birthday boy's shoe. But it was all fun.
And after dinner, we just walked to Esplanade, knowing the crowd was crazy and we would probably end up sweaty and hot and grumpy. And yes we did end up sweaty and we did so many crazy things that could have got us arrested like jay-walking and stuff. We had to do that as they blocked the path to One Fullerton which was our last hope, seeing that Marina, Esplanade, Padand, Sheares Bridge were all packed and people were almost spilling of the structures already. So we dashed the road, climbed the fences and hopped over. It was really amusing to see how desperate we were to see fireworks. But it paid off, after smelling armpits, rubbing sweat, breathing in fart in the crow, as the fireworks were directly in front of us. It was lovely to watch all the amazing effects they could do with those things.
The 8 minute (so they said) show came to its end signifying the dawn of the new year and it was time to make our way out of the madness to a densely populated zone. Whoever said Singapore has a small population, it hardly seem like it. It feels like the entire nation was out partying, adults with babies in prams, elders, foreigners, emo-kids, you name it la. We were just saying how there should be an age limit for people who out on such occassions which was damn mean of us but that was in 2007. Ha. I guess everyone just wants to get into the festive mood and celebrate. Seems like 2008 is off to a good start, lets hope it gets even better.
10:39:00 PM
