Bliss Part 5

... is about to end.

Returning to work on Monday. NOT looking forward to it.

But a week of leave has been a godsend, despite spending half of it - or maybe more - mopping, vacuuming, dusting, wiping and getting soaked in detergent and dirt.

The upside: meeting up with Australian friends for a tiring but fun day at the Jurong Bird Park, where numerous pots of festive flowers were on display and we had a ball getting swarmed by excited lories ( that's the Lory Loft for those of you who don't know what I'm talking about ), followed by afternoon tea at a posh hotel ( felt really bad about ordering a $14 pot of Singapore Sling tea, but they wouldn't let me get away without drinking something! ), and a tummy-busting dinner at a nearby Japanese restaurant.

They were particularly thrilled with a dessert called "momo ice-cream", which comprises peach-flavoured ice-cream covered with a shell of white chocolate coloured to look like a real peach ( very creative I must say ), with a core of what looks and tastes like Ferrero Rocher.

Mmmmmmm. :)

Last night was feast #2 - a reunion dinner with relatives at a seafood restaurant along the Singapore River. Great location, terrific ambience, and heavenly food for a very reasonable price, complete with 10% discount if you have the right credit card.

Last but not least, I've finally submitted that pesky journal article, ONLY because I want a pay hike, nothing else. :)


Things I CAN look forward to - Jamie Cullum's upcoming Esplanade gig in April, and Joshua Bell's performance at this year's Arts Festival. Playing Beethoven and Mendelssohn, yech. I'll probably choose Beethoven. Lesser of 2 evils. Why no Tchaikovsky or Mozart?!

Also, the annual JC class gathering at our teacher's home, complete with spouses and kids, and a long overdue BBQ with clinical group mates.

Need to exercise like crazy over the next couple of weeks!

Bliss Part 4

A sure sign of impending physical meltdown always presents itself after 3 months of work in the ER. So yesterday evening, as the influx of resus cases continued, with 2 collapses and countless geriatric patients with raging fevers on nasogastric tubes in vegetative states, I suddenly felt the room spin and had to stop in my tracks for a few seconds until my head cleared.

But I managed to finish the shift despite a few milder episodes thereafter. And today, I'm relieved to escape an even worse fate in resus, by being assigned to consultation and having competent MOs running the show.

Am just waiting for the evening to end, so I can start my leave and recharge my dying battery.

How the hell am I going to do this for another 20-25 years?

Anyway, the week ahead isn't going to be easy. Chinese New Year looms, and as always, I'm in charge of house-cleaning, since I refuse to let my parents go through any heavy physical exertion, and think it's a waste of money to hire professionals who may end up stealing my valuables for all I know.

In the middle of all that sweaty activity, I need to finish up a journal writeup and get it submitted, meet friends visiting from Australia for an entire day out ( they were extremely hospitable when we met them at the Gold Coast last October ), congregate with relatives for a reunion dinner, and run a long list of other assorted errands in between the social engagements.

But I'm not complaining. Anything beats fighting daily battles in the ER. Not seeing sick people - or even worse, WELL people - in the hospital will do wonders for my mood.

As Dr. Gregory House famously said, "Treating illnesses is why we became doctors. Treating patients is what makes most doctors miserable."

Second, many hearty congratulations to Jason Mraz for winning TWO Grammy Awards! Don't think Make It Mine was the best choice - his rendition of Love For A Child is far superior - but I've always predicted that he would win a Grammy someday, and am thrilled that he's swept 2 in a year, especially after he lost in 2009 for I'm Yours.

Well-deserved, Jason, bravo! :)
Now if only they'd get him a spot performing at the Grammys ceremony already. He'll bring the house down for sure!

Am eyeing a new series on cable's Fox channel ( Ch 132, FYI ). Called White Collar, it features a con artist being arm-twisted into aiding the FBI - not the most original idea ( e.g. Catch Me If You Can ), but boasts a tasty Matt Bomer in the lead role, so I'm game. :)

Premiered last night, but I've been too busy with other programmes to watch it. Will post a review once I do.

Glee continues to enthrall. Episode 3 was so much fun, with the high school teachers forming an all-male a cappella group called, cheesily enough, Acafellas. Check out their performance of Color Me Badd's I Wanna Sex You Up. Real high school teachers are never this cool. :)

And I have such a huge crush on Matthew Morrison right now!

John Lloyd Young made a guest appearance as a thumb-less teacher, but his vocal abilities weren't showcased at all. Such a pity.

Something else to look forward to - the final season of Monk starts on Starworld 9pm tonight. I've watched every single episode since S1, and can't wait to get some closure regarding Monk's torment over his wife's unsolved murder. Not going to read episode guides for this one!

I intend to enjoy some good food this coming week. I rarely venture far for meals since my mom's an excellent cook and I love staying home ( TV, books, Internet, fluffy pet cat ), but social commitments offer good opportunities for pigging out once in a while, so I'm going to enjoy myself dammit! Just need to make up for the calories with more exercise.

Oh yes, forgot to mention that I'm currently poring over Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol. 100 pages in, I'm far from impressed. Think Angels & Demons was exceptionally good, then The Da Vinci Code got tiresome, and now Symbol feels limp and lifeless. Am certain Brown had a strict deadline to meet, since his publisher would insist on yet another Robert Langdon adventure so Hollywood can churn out a 3rd Tom Hanks / Ron Howard flick.

The result? Every scene sounds and feels staged to the point of annoying the hell out of me. And why does the author deem it necessary to start most chapters with a character's name? Robert Langdon this, Katherine Solomon that... you get the idea.

He sets things up in Washington, D.C., which is intriguing enough, but again, the prose lets the story down. This isn't helped by the fact that I finished Jeff Lindsay's mind-blowing Dexter In The Dark just before picking this up. The difference is colossal.

Last but not least, I'm so thankful to W for tipping me off about a website that offers free American TV shows online, and actually works! Have already watched 2 episodes of Dexter Season 4, which is so freaking AWESOME! Uncensored too, so everything makes perfect sense now. You can bet local cable will snip out the naked bathtub murder scene when it hits our shores.

Once I'm done with Dexter, it's on to Gossip Girl. Hope the webmaster will add Nip/Tuck and Nurse Jackie soon. I love dark comedies. :)

Bliss Part 3

One, finding a website that allows me to watch the latest seasons of my favourite TV shows online, for free. No need to fiddle with the computer to change my IP address, etc.

Thank you so much, W!

Going to dose up on Dexter Season 4, then move on to Gossip Girl. Hope they'll add Nip/Tuck and Nurse Jackie soon. I've seen episodes overseas and would love to see the full seasons.

Two, hearing from a reliable source that John Mayer is possibly coming to Singapore - finally! - for a big solo concert in May / June this year.

Considering the fact that I own all his albums and have been listening to him since 2002, waiting 8 years to see him 'live' has been pure torture.

Hoping Michael Buble and Robbie Williams will return soon, and that Josh Groban will make his debut on our shores in the near future.

Three, this one's for my mom. :)

A few days ago, I wondered aloud why local TV stopped airing The Bachelor and The Bachelorette. The comment was precipitated by an article in People magazine featuring the latest Bachelor, a gorgeous commercial pilot named Jake.

Lo and behold, I suddenly decided to do a quick check of the Channel 5 programme, and stumbled upon The Bachelor Season 9, Episode 1.

I'll leave you to read the synopsis on your own. Suffice to say, my mom is now addicted to the show, and constantly tells me to "remember to set the timer" every night because it airs at an unearthly 2am.

So far, the first 2 episodes have fulfilled my expectations. I watched at least 3-4 seasons of The Bachelor years ago - the best one had Andrew Firestone; yes, THAT Firestone - and am familiar with the format. 25 over-enthusiastic women fall all over themselves vying for a single eligible man's attention, before being whittled down to 12, then 11, then 10, etc etc.

There's always a drama queen, a super-b****, a bimbo, and a nice decent girl somewhere in the mix. Makes for interesting viewing, but being the cynic that I am, it comes as no surprise that none of the seasons has ever produced a tangible long-term relationship, except for Ryan and Trista from The Bachelorette, who got married and now have 2 beautiful children.

So what do you think of Prince Lorenzo Borghese ( above )? Seems charming enough, and looks years younger than his actual age ( he was 34 when this was filmed ). One of the more watchable Bachelors they've had on the show, but his choices at the first rose ceremony were questionable to say the least.

Anyway, my mom's having a lot of fun with this, so I wanted to mention it. :)

Four, going on leave in a week's time. Lots of house-cleaning to get through, but also meeting up with good friends visiting from Australia, as well as college pals and clinical group mates from med school. Oh yes, there's also a big reunion dinner with relatives. Picked a seafood restaurant with a scenic backdrop. Looking forward to it!

Till next time...

Bliss Part 2

Finished Dexter In The Dark in record time - the ending was a little anti-climactic, but paved the way for some serious character development where young Cody is concerned.

Intriguing. :)


The main focus of this entry, though, is Evan Kasprzak from So You Think You Can Dance Season 5.

Spotted him during the audition round for Season 6, which just aired this Monday, when his older brother, Ryan, performed a tap routine for the judges. A flashback clip of the 2 siblings from S5 came on, and I immediately recognized Evan, who auditioned first back in S4 but never made it to the Top 20.

Evan returned in S5, got through to the Top 20, and eventually finished in 3rd place, while Ryan didn't get through to Vegas and thus, waited another year to re-audition for S6.

Confused? I apologize. :)

The point is, Evan's beautiful jazz performance in S4 was so memorable that I was thrilled beyond belief upon finding out that he showed up again in S5. And since Starhub cable has skipped S5 for now - argh! - I've had to satisfy my cravings with YouTube videos, before a friend can pass me his downloaded version sometime in the near future. Thanks, J!

My favourite piece at the moment is choreographed by Ryan. It's a little grainy, but features the full routine. Have already watched this countless times, and I still can't stop smiling! It's just so... perfect!

I never picked up dance myself, but love watching the pros doing what they do best. Fred Astaire ranks right up there at #1 for me, and Anne Miller is a close 2nd.

The Kasprzak brothers have, through SYTYCD, revived a dance style that many still associate exclusively with Hollywood films of yore. But it's just too much of a good thing to be kept under wraps!

Check out this cool montage of Evan's solos. Light as a feather, and all those crazy leaps, whoa!

Don't miss this sexy performance to a Jamie Cullum song. Very nice indeed.
Then there's this kooky-gorgeous Mia Michaels piece.
Why the heck can't I find Evan and Randi's spectacular jive?!

Last but not least, Ryan's got a website, so be sure to pay him a visit!


Pretty big news in the local paper today - The Chippendales are coming to Singapore for a gig at Resorts World Sentosa in March.

I agree that timing it with International Women's Day is one of the dumbest excuses ever.

Singaporean women want to see male revue shows, full-stop. There's no shame in that!

I watched The Chippendales in Las Vegas back in 2007. Uncensored, but relax, there was no full monty, though they came very close to it. Brought my mom, and we both enjoyed it immensely. Cost much less as well, so I'm not prepared to fork out $138 for a possibly PG-rated local version.

Plus, the dancers in the photo are different from the guys I saw in LV. No Juan DeAngelo or Steve Kim, who are much better-looking. That look DeAngelo gave me at the photo-taking session still gives me goosebumps, man. :)

Just wondering if the guys will be allowed to greet audience members at the end of the show, like they did in Sin City? If anyone who reads this intends to go to the Sentosa performance, make sure you get aisle or front row seats. I was in the front row in LV and hugged 4 of the Chippendales. So did my mom! They're soooo friendly.

I'm going back to Vegas for my 40th birthday, no question about it. :)


And this video should be renamed: OMG!

How I miss Broadway... a scene from one of my favourite musicals ever... maybe I can persuade my mom to go to New York next year. ;)

And Neil Patrick Harris is the new Billy Crystal. Will he host the Oscars soon? ( A great clip of Hugh Jackman's stellar effort last year. )

Bliss

...comes in many forms.

For me, a lot of it is associated with TV shows, movies, food and travel.

But reading - it has become a luxury I can ill afford, given my work schedule and other commitments. But when I get bitten by the bug, the need must be satisfied.

So as my People and Time magazines pile up, and my sleep cycle gets turned upside down, I draw immense pleasure from the fact that I've found yet another fabulous author to whom I can declare my undying loyalty. :)

I'm talking about Jeff Lindsay.

After watching the excellent Dexter series for the last couple of years, I finally decided to read Dexter In The Dark because it's the only novel that features a storyline which was not covered in the TV adaptation.

But Lindsay's proven to be such an amazing writer that I'm game to backtrack and read his earlier works despite knowing how they end, just so I can savour more of his exceptional prose.

He's really that good. Believe me.

"Although it was slightly dimmer here, the parking lot was still far too bright for me, almost too bright even to see the moon, although I could feel it there in the sky, smirking down on our tiny squirming fragile life, festooned as it was with monsters who lived only to take that life away in large, pain-filled mouthfuls."

This is taken from Chapter 4, and just one of many other memorable lines scattered throughout Lindsay's prose.

As you can see, the general tone is a cynical one. And what I love about the novel is the rich detail it provides, especially where the inner workings of Dexter's mind are concerned.

Watching 3 entire seasons of the TV series doesn't even measure up to reading a mere few chapters of the book. This is because a viewer naturally gets caught up in the criminal investigation, with only the occasional voiceover to describe Dexter's stream of thought.

Despite being a hard-cover edition with only 300 pages, the amount of information crammed into this relatively slim volume is mind-boggling. Not only do you learn about Dexter's Method, you also get cozy with those around him, especially his foster sister, Deborah ( a Miami PD detective ), his fiancee, Rita, and her 2 young children, Astor and Cody.

Deborah ( or Debs ) is one of the best female characters I've ever encountered in written form. She's extremely foul-mouthed and short-tempered, but Lindsay manages to use her mannerisms to great comic effect. Her interactions with Dexter are side-splitting, and made me realize how casting Jennifer Carpenter was a stroke of genius ( as was putting Michael C. Hall in the lead role ).

Astor and Cody also receive lots of attention compared to their fleeting appearances on the small screen. I just love their quirky personality traits and dark, revealing moments. Little wonder Dexter is already planning a training programme so they can follow in his footsteps!

"I looked down at S____, taped to the table with his unlovely face hanging open, and I thought, as I never had before, this is what we all are. This it what it comes to. A bag of meat that breathes, and when that stops, nothing but rotting garbage."

Another memorable quote, chosen because I was so struck by this observation which has crossed my mind numerous times ever since my own cynicism peaked about a decade ago.
There're many others worth mentioning, but this is by far my favourite of the lot.

Dexter's sardonic brand of humour is infectious, and he effortlessly dissects ( mentally and physically, heh ) every person he meets, picking up little verbal and visual cues that point to his/her insecurities, before exploiting them to his own advantage.

He describes himself as an "artificial human" devoid of any genuine emotion, but well-trained by his late foster father, a Miami PD veteran, on how to disguise himself as a normal human being. Oddly enough, I still find him very appealing. Perhaps his frequently hilarious comments have something to do with it. They're laugh-out-loud funny. :D

Of course, the beautiful characterizations take nothing away from the core content - a serial killer who targets college students, offing them in a ritualistic manner reminiscent of demon worship during King Solomon's era.

And I haven't even elaborated on the Dark Passenger - an inner voice which guides Dexter in his criminal investigations and, more importantly, murderous vigilantism.

Woooo.... :)

I still have another 60 pages to go. Will try to post another entry once I reach the finale.


Glee!

I just HAD to stick the exclamation point right in there. :)

This wonderful show finally began its run on local cable last Wednesday, and I am absolutely ecstatic.

Far from being labelled another High School Musical, this hugely enjoyable series sprang from the delightfully twisted mind of Ryan Murphy, who's best known for Nip/Tuck.

The pilot episode moved a little too swiftly, but I'll probably get used to the frenetic pace. What I most look forward to is the music!

Already compiled into 2 soundtrack albums - yet omitting a few choice songs, like a rollicking cover of Duffy's Mercy ( available on free MP3 sites, thankfully ) - the best things about the Glee cast's cover versions are the arrangements and vocal delivery.

These aren't actors who sing. They're singers who act. Lea Michele and Matthew Morrison, in particular, hail from Broadway ( Michele was the female lead in the Tony Award-winning Spring Awakening, which I missed when I was in New York in 2007 and still kick myself over to this day, argh! ). I loved the Spring album recording from the opening number, which happens to feature Michele belting her heart out. And she continues to dazzle with her soaring performances of everything from Les Miserables' On My Own, to Celine Dion'sTaking Chances, and R&B hits No Air and Take A Bow.

I downloaded Glee's digital soundtrack albums over the weekend, and have been hitting repeat on a few songs, namely the Don't Stand So Close To Me / Young Girl mash-up, Lean On Me, Smile, and Endless Love.

The studio recording of Endless Love is tonnes better than the Lionel Richie / Diana Ross original. And turns out Matthew Morrison ( who plays the Glee club coach ) has the most exquisite voice. Even my mom asked about him when I played this on the car stereo.

There's a short video clip here, but it ruins the beauty of the song, so be prepared.

What I love most, though, is the unabashed, exuberant celebration of music, and its application to life's myriad situations. We all have sentimental attachments to songs that hold special meaning, whether to a certain person or event. Glee's repertoire spans generations and is presented with so much heartfelt emotion you'd have to be made of stone not to feel something when you listen.

I also like to sing along when driving alone in my car. It's very cathartic. :)

Well-deserved wins at the Golden Globes and Screen Actors Guild Awards. Next, the Emmys!

( And please get Jersey Boys star, John Lloyd Young, to guest star in a recurring role. He's phenomenal! )


Another show keeping me glued to the TV screen: The World's Greatest Musical Prodigies, airing every Saturday night on Biography.

Showcasing some of the globe's most talented young musicians, it is a fascinating documentary which also provides dramatic twists, notably in Episode 2, where a tough fight between 4 astounding pianists produces a frontrunner, yet culminates in a victory for the underdog.

I say "underdog" because this child is clearly the poorest of the lot, living in a tiny apartment with only one breadwinner in the family. He hardly speaks during group interactions, and played a very strange piece during his stage audition. I considered him a long shot, especially when compared to the confident Hong Konger who displayed a natural gift for improvisation. So I was extremely moved when Alex Prior picked him for his ensemble, demonstrating maturity way beyond his tender age. A happy ending indeed!


Before I sign off, a link to Matthew Morrison YouTube vids, in which he shows off his pipes on pieces from Broadway musicals. I LOVE Younger Than Springtime from South Pacific! And I didn't realize he was in the original cast for Hairspray - he played Link Larkin, and I own this album!
And don't miss his fantastic duet with Kristin Chenoweth on Alone - much better than Heart's original solo version! Plus It Takes Two from Hairspray!

Okay, time to return to Earth. :)

Reviews

Guilty Pleasures by Laurell K. Hamilton

Finished this yesterday. Don't like to rate in terms of ABC, 1-10 or number of stars, so I'm just going to say it's good. Reeeaaaally good.

Personal taste, so not everyone will share my opinion.

Reasons I enjoyed this novel:

1) it's extremely fast-paced

2) very exciting

3) lots of fascinating characters ( not an easy feat considering my high threshold for such things )

4) the last couple of chapters are downright chilling

5) Hamilton has a let's-get-down-to-business style of writing which suits the story well, though she does tend to repeat herself on occasion, and thinks a vampire hunter who collects stuffed penguin toys is supposed to be cute. ( Errr, no. )

In short, Anita Blake is a vampire hunter / animator - the second is a term used for those who literally raise the dead.
In Guilty Pleasures, Anita is recruited by the city's vampire clan to investigate a series of gruesome vampire murders which have left the local police flummoxed.
She's an unwilling party, of course, but compelled to agree through various methods, one of which endangers her best friend's life.

Along the way, we meet the rest of the motley crew of colourful characters, from a fellow animator who harbours a shocking secret, to a mercenary vampire hunter nicknamed Death, to a vampire junkie / stripper - it gets better - to the terrifying Nikolaos, and Anita's mysterious love interest, the French bloodsucker Jean-Claude.

Oh, and don't forget the crazy ghouls who remind me of demonic hyenas, and lycanthropes who transform not into wolves but - wait for it - giant rats.

Everybody, say "wooooooo". :)

There was initial word that a U.S. network had picked this up for a TV movie / series, boasting no less than X-Files guru Glen Morgan as an executive producer. Sadly that is not to be. But I can't say I'm disappointed either. The novel is just too amazing for words, and there's a high chance the final product would've disappointed fans severely. Each character is infused with so much personality and physical detail that casting the wrong actor / actress, especially in the most pivotal roles, would result in disaster.

And all those breath-taking sequences - from the erotic stage performances at the Guilty Pleasures nightclub, to the sinful Circus Of The Damned, to the horrifying ghoul chase at the cemetery, and the climactic showdown between Anita and Nikolaos - how could they translate onto the small screen given the budget constraints? No cheesy special effects please!

HBO did a great job with True Blood, but Anita Blake is a much more kick-ass type of woman.

As luck would have it, I found Book 2, The Laughing Corpse, at the library yesterday, so it's sitting on my shelf while I quickly read Dexter In The Dark, hopefully within a week, if I sleep less, haha.


Orphan

Didn't realize this movie received so many bad reviews. I actually kinda like it. Maybe 'cos I'm wired the right ( or maybe wrong ) way. :)

First, I love Peter Sarsgaard, so renting this DVD was a no-brainer.

Second, I enjoyed it from the get-go. Very atmospheric, builds up the story and tension well, with a terrific cast to complete the whole production.

Young Isabelle Fuhrman, who plays the psychotic Esther, delivers a breakout performance. The creepy costumes and pigtails definitely help!

Tiny Aryana Engineer, who's hearing-impaired in real life, almost steals the show from her older co-stars, with her giant doe eyes and genuinely petrified stares.

The plot twist in the last half hour caused my hair to stand on end. Not merely because the revelation itself was mind-boggling, but because Esther's bizarre behaviour finally made sense, and made your skin crawl big-time.

If you don't care what the critics say, then listen to me and watch this film.

Can't wait for An Education to be released!

Oh God...

I apologize for the expression, but staring at a triage complaint about a patient who came to the ER because he "feels sleepy after taking Tramadol" takes the bloody freaking s***** cake.

How about a referral to us for "depression", even though the patient expressed refusal to see a psychiatrist?

Miracle workers, that's what everyone perceives us to be.


On a happier note, American Idol Season 9 kicked off yesterday, and here's my favourite from episode 1.

I won't spoil things with an intro, but I'm curious about whether anyone who hasn't seen this audition ends up as surprised as I am, and in the best way possible.

His performance was just so... unexpected. :)

Quite a few talented young people out there, but it's going to take a helluva lot to top Adam Lambert.

Pure Indulgence Part 2

Aka in continuation of the Hot Older Men On TV post.

Feel free to heckle me. I just click "delete comment", with appreciation of your efforts, of course. :)

Wanted to do this quite some time ago, but don't really know why I didn't get round to it.

To the right is Campbell Scott, who has a recurring role on Royal Pains.

He plays a mysterious tycoon with a sprawling home in the Hamptons, who hires an ER physician to be his "concierge doctor", mostly for the purpose of hiding a hereditary neurological disorder from the prying public ( and more importantly, company shareholders ).

Film buffs will remember Mr. Scott from Dying Young, in which he co-starred with Julia Roberts. It was a sappy romance with lots of plot loopholes, and the whole thing was terribly forgettable.

Nice to see he's aged wonderfully. Very athletic and distinguished, and sports a cool European accent in Royal Pains, which adds to the overall appeal.

Here's my other sentimental favourite ( the first being Josh Charles ) - Andrew McCarthy, who also appears sporadically in Royal Pains, but who was also seen recently in Lipstick Jungle.

In Royal Pains, he portrays yet another rich bloke, this time an absent father to his haemophilia-stricken and extremely precocious teenage son.

He also wears the most gorgeous suits, and looks bloody fabulous. :D

I'm a big fan of his, beginning with his early roles in Mannequin ( co-starring Kim Cattrall, who later played nymphomaniac Samantha on Sex And The City ), Sixteen Candles and St. Elmo's Fire. Very thankful for the fact that he hasn't lost any of that terrific hair.

Last, but certainly not least, is Simon Baker from The Mentalist.

He previously starred in another TV drama series titled The Guardian, but didn't make any headway till his small role in The Devil Wears Prada, which I strongly suspect is due to a drastic change in his hairstyle - from an earlier buzz cut, to wavy curls.

Well, maybe his more light-hearted persona also contributed to his recent success. Was always so intense and glum in The Guardian, but played an unscrupulous flirt in Prada.

As the so-called "mentalist", he spends a lot of screen time playing amusing mind games with his colleagues - and occasionally, witnesses.

I also love the fact that he's constantly dressed to the nines, in a full suit and even a waistcoat, striding around in the sunshine and even climbing up and down hills and mountains in this getup.

Not realistic at all, but great to watch!

( Not entirely impossible either. Was in Rome during the sweltering July season in 2005, and saw lots of Italian men running around in their suits, eating gelato. I just kept thinking, "Why the heck don't they take those jackets off?" )

Succumbed to the public library's collection yet again.

Have borrowed Guilty Pleasures by Laurell K. Hamilton, she of the Anita Blake Vampire Hunter series, and whose short stories in Strange Candy greatly impressed.

Also grabbed a copy of Mr. Darcy, Vampyre. Believe it or not!

( Was hunting for Tom Holland's Vampyre, about Lord Byron, but someone borrowed it, argh! )

Okay so the Amazon reviews aren't exactly good, but I'll probably leave this until I finish the other 2 books I'm hanging on to, then speed-read through the whole thing.

The 3rd novel is none other than a Jeff Lindsay tome. The Dexter TV series is based on his work, and I can't for the life of me remember which title I have, but it's definitely not something from Seasons 1/2/3. Somewhere around 2.5 maybe ( he's engaged to Rita, hasn't gotten married yet ).

Reviews to follow at a later date.

Pure Indulgence




Discovered a new TV series this past week, titled Hung.
Quite surprising that local cable decided to bring this in. I mean, it's about a high school teacher who resorts to prostitution to pay his bills.
And he's got 2 teenage children who are oblivious to his moonlighting.


Risque? You bet!
The fact that the show doesn't sink into a cesspool of bawdy jokes and stereotyping is admirable, and credit goes to the cast and writers, who handle the characters and subject matter deftly.

Lead actor Thomas Jane deserves extra kudos. I'm not familiar with his work, but find him hilarious as hapless Ray Drecker, who stumbles around female clients until he finally finds his mojo and becomes a consummate professional.

His dysfunctional family life is insanely funny, with an ex-wife ( a haggard-looking Anne Heche ) who ditches him to marry a rich but nerdy dermatologist, and offspring who look nothing like either parent - Ray was the school jock, his ex a beauty queen, while their kids are sullen, ugly and pudgy.

The female customers could've been reduced to caricatures ( e.g. the rich but lonely tai-tai's, etc ), but so far, I've seen only one such example, namely Ray's wealthy lawyer neighbour's frustrated wife.

One character really stands out, and qualifies as quite the stroke of genius in my book.

*spoiler alert*


Named Jemma, she forks out piles of cash for the sole purpose of playing out scripted fantasies, complete with re-do's a la Groundhog Day.
Being a pretty and brainy 30-something-year-old, Ray falls for her easily enough, but ends up getting his heart broken when it turns out the entire "relationship" was part of her plan after all.
When the last payment arrives and the truth is revealed, Ray's devastation is palpable, but at the same time, he also experiences relief.

It's a mind-bending, bittersweet few seconds that will be difficult to top!

Anyway, Jane's a lovely addition to a growing crop of sexy older men on television. :)

Another sentimental favourite: Josh Charles ( right ).

He stars in The Good Wife, a new legal drama which airs on Hallmark Channel 17 - pilot episode previewed on Tuesday, but the official run begins Jan 14.

You can read about the series at the link provided.

I first saw JC in 1989's Dead Poets Society, aka my personal all-time favourite movie. He played lovable and lovelorn Knox Overstreet, a hopeless romantic who was inspired by poetry to woo the girl of his dreams, and succeeded in winning her heart.

I adored him in that film, after which he disappeared for more than a decade, before resurfacing in 2003's S.W.A.T. in a peripheral role.

20 years after Dead Poets, he still looks as boyish as ever, exuding cheeky confidence as a swaggering high-profile lawyer who takes an old friend under his wing following her husband's career-wrecking scandal.

The Good Wife's been garnering rave reviews in the U.S., and I enjoyed the pilot episode immensely, not because of the legal plotlines ( too easy for my taste ) but for its stellar cast. Aside from JC, there's Julianna Margulies ( famous for her work on the early seasons of ER ), Christine Baranski ( from Cybill and Bowfinger ), Chris Noth ( Law & Order, Sex And The City ) and another sentimental fave, Matt Czuchry.

If you're a loyal Gilmore Girls fan like myself, you'll remember Matt fondly for his role as filthy rich, arrogant yet soft-hearted Logan Huntzberger. I had no idea he was in The Good Wife, but immediately sat up when I heard his voice amid all the on-screen chatter. He's grown up beautifully, and I'm ecstatic to see him on TV again. :)

A couple of short DVD reviews before I sign off:

Terminator Salvation turned out to be a huge treat. Had been avoiding this movie for months because the trailer made everything look so freaking gloomy, but the actual film got my adrenaline pumping big-time! The visual effects are amazing, the dialogue well done ( nowhere as cheesy as Avatar's melodramatic cliches ), and the cast absolutely perfect.

Christian Bale totally deserves to be John Connor, and Anton Yelchin is terrific as young, hot-headed Kyle Reese. Sam Worthington is so much better here than in Avatar, and Moon Bloodgood beats Megan Fox hands down in the sexy action babe department.

But did we really need a nude Arnold Schwarzenegger cameo - though it's obviously computer-generated? Err, no we didn't.

Public Enemies isn't as bad as everyone says it is, but compared to other films set in that era, it definitely falls short in many ways. Johnny Depp and Christian Bale look fabulous in their suits and fedoras, but suffer from a wobbly script and really bad editing.

Just finished Coraline last night. I've never read Neil Gaiman's novels, but the cartoon version is relatively good. Has that Tim Burton vibe, though I enjoyed Corpse Bride much more.

Anyway, recent animated films which I love dearly include Bolt and Kung Fu Panda. Compared to these, Coraline is so-so at best.

Currently blasting John Mayer's Battle Studies in the car. Not as magnificent as Continuum or Try!, but it's beginning to grow on me. Will write more next time.

Adios, 2009

As the year finally draws to a close, I look forward to the start of a new one, and all the wonderful opportunities and experiences it will undoubtedly bring.

As always, I swear that I won't make a list of resolutions, but do so anyway. And no, the one I posted in an earlier entry is nowhere close to the real thing. :)

I did promise to review a couple of albums, so let's get that out of the way before 2010 officially begins.


Adam Lambert's For Your Entertainment is a dazzling debut, full of bold melodies and even bolder lyrics. Boasting Lady Gaga and Pink as collaborators, the tracks are uptempo with heavy dance influences and radio-friendly tunes. From the opening number - the pumping Music Again - to the cheeky Strut and Sure Fire Winners, it's guaranteed to keep you awake, or jolt you out of whatever stupor you might be in.

I like to blast it on the way home after a night shift so I don't fall asleep at the wheel. How's that for safe driving, heh.

Personally though, I prefer the slower songs, where Adam's vocals truly shine and make you realize that voters made a big mistake with Kris Allen.

Track #5, Soaked, has Middle-eastern inflections which blend seamlessly with Adam's glory notes. A Loaded Smile drips with sensuality as he tenderly caresses each note. Sleepwalker has a darker edge, buoyed yet again by Adam's heartfelt delivery. And Aftermath allows the listener a chance to savour his lower register, which is, in my opinion, tonnes better than the higher octaves he's famous for.

But it is Broken Open which seals the deal. With its skeletal accompaniment, this New Age-flavoured track lays Adam's voice bare, producing an almost choirboy-solo-in-a-cathedral quality.

Little wonder he's beaten Kris severely in album sales. Don't suppose he'll come to Singapore for a concert?


Robbie Williams' much anticipated Reality Killed The Video Star sees him back in fine form, following the dismal reviews of Rudebox ( which I didn't think was that bad to begin with ). I rate this close to his best album so far, namely Sing When You're Winning, which launched chart-toppers like Rock DJ, Better Man and Supreme.

On Reality, Rob returns to his pop/rock/dance roots, complete with tongue-in-cheek lyrics. Lots of catchy melodies here ( I'm not the type to memorize verses ), with favourites including the hard-hitting Bodies, the obvious Pet Shop Boys-inspired Last Days Of Disco, an infectiously fun Do You Mind?, and the George Michael tribute Starstruck, where RW sounds eerily similar to the former, and the whole number is a dead ringer for an original GM piece titled Star People.

Again, will you please come to Singapore for a gig already? Haven't seen you since 2001!


Last but not least, Jamie Cullum's The Pursuit.
Definitely more mature, continuing his trademark preference for experimenting, but still not as enjoyable as his best work on Catching Tales.

He does good covers of Rihanna's Don't Stop The Music and Stephen Sondheim's Not While I'm Around ( from Sweeney Todd ); standouts include Mixtape and Wheels, mostly because of the interesting melodies and tempo switches.

My favourite of the lot, though, is Music Is Through, a 7-minute whopper that serves as a fitting finale. I've played it to death on the stereo. :)


Due to time constraints, I'm going to sign off here.

But I will say this before I go - if you have Starhub cable, watch out for 3 new TV series coming this month, namely Hung ( starts this weekend ), The Good Wife, and Glee.

Glee! Woohoo!

Happy New Year everyone. :)

Chillin'

Always a relief when I'm on standby and my phone doesn't ring. :)

This was taken from the Marina Mirage at the Gold Coast. Just 5 minutes' walk from Sea World, and looks like a hangout for rich people, many of whom come from the nearby posh hotels.

Ate at the Omero Brothers seafood restaurant, with its out-of-this-world Moreton Bay Bugs - tried the BBQ and Mornay dishes, plus a Max Brenner Chocolate Bar, serving an orgasm-inducing Belgian waffle sprinkled with chocolate syrup and served with a gigantic scoop of creamy vanilla ice-cream. Thank you, M and P, for buying us such a wonderful meal! :)

There's an establishment just next door called the Palazzo Versace, which has an eye-popping marble floor in the sprawling lobby. I went in to use the restroom, heh. No security checks!

Great Video Clips

Unearthed these hilarious Viggo Mortensen interviews. :)

With David Letterman, Part 1 and Part 2.
The latter has a priceless story about duck hunting. LOL.

And with Jon Stewart. Key phrase: "4-hour erection". Heh!

Quite surprising to see VM's easy sense of humour. Don't think he's ever done any comedy before. Think he should start, like James Marsden did with Enchanted. Someone should also persuade VM to star in a musical. It's a talent that ought to be shared with moviegoers all over the world.

And... a clip from So You Think You Can Dance Season 4, of an unbelievable Bollywood dance routine.

They are such consummate pros, picking up the steps within a week yet looking as if they've been doing this their entire lives.
Joshua emerged the victor in this competition - was curious why when I read the result on the Net, but it's becoming pretty clear to me now. :)

After wearing out Adam Lambert's CD on the car stereo, I'm now blasting Robbie Williams' Reality Killed The Video Star.
Definitely his best work since Sing When You're Winning, which spawned monster hit Rock DJ, among others.
One of my favourite tracks, Do You Mind, has been incorporated into a very stylish montage. The song gets cut off halfway, but the "video" gets high points for looking really professional.

Full album reviews to follow at a later date.

That's A Wrap!

Better do this before I run out of opportunities. It's an annual tradition, after all.

So another year flies by yet again, and it's time to reflect on highlights from the past 12 months.

Was 2009 a good one? I would say yes. Not the best I've had - that would be 2005 - but on the whole, far from disappointing.


Best People

1) Hands down, Jason Mraz!

Finally got to meet him after being a fan for 6 long years, and it was worth the wait. Lovely guy, with an extremely bright future ahead of him. Hope I'll have the chance to say hello again the next time he drops by Singapore.

2) The Secret Service agents

A huge thrill, loads of fun, and some of the best conversation I've ever had.

3) Jenson Button

Didn't get to talk to him, but standing an arm's length away was good enough for me! Nice, humble chap.

4) Various handsome Australian young men

... whom I met on holiday. There's the sales staff at Sydney's Virgin Megastore who chatted with me; a beautiful waiter in Brisbane who's a tall version of David Archuleta, with impeccable manners; a delicious blonde cashier at Woolworths who insisted on giving me bags even when I didn't want any ( thought that was rather funny ).
And all the hot bods at the Gold Coast, where shirts are optional, and the guys love a woman's appreciative attention. Eating breakfast at a beachside McDonald's has never been more enjoyable. :)

5) The professors from Mount Sinai Hospital

Fascinating and gracious, had everyone practically eating out of their hands.
One's older and very distinguished. The other's pure eye candy. Good combination. :)


Best Experiences

1) The Dolphin Adventure at Gold Coast's Sea World

I've been meaning to write about this, but eventually decided not to. Keeps it more special that way.
But I highly recommend it to anyone who's game for a great time, loves dolphins as much as I do, and is a competent swimmer ( otherwise they won't let you participate ).

2) The Sea World whale-watching cruise

Not the most pleasant trip if you're prone to sea-sickness and the water's choppy, but in my opinion, just do it at least once. Even if you get violently ill like I did, you won't regret it!

3) Visiting Sydney & Brisbane

Travelling always makes the cut, and both cities were very entertaining indeed. Definitely helped that I've got friends there, and we were very lucky to meet lots of nice, helpful Aussies.

I especially love Sea World, with its awesome aquarium, dolphin lagoon, polar bear enclosure and sting ray feeding / petting area. It's almost as festive as Disneyworld, I kid you not!

4) Jason Mraz's gig

It was in March. Go to the archive to read my 5-star review!

5) The Bridge Project's The Winter's Tale

Not the best choice of play, but unprecedented in terms of sheer star power. Also in March, so check out the archive.

6) The emergency ultrasound workshop in Brisbane

Very inspiring, and made new friends in the process. Plus, I didn't have to pay for it!

7) The Society for Emergency Medicine in Singapore's Annual Scientific Meeting

What a mouthful. Got arrowed as organizing chair, but was assisted by a terrific committee, and pulled off a very successful conference.
Looking forward to the Mount Sinai Hospital professors' return. Need to bring them sightseeing again!


Best Entertainment

1) Glee

Okay, so I've only seen 2 full episodes overseas, but the music is what really gets me. Sure, they may consist of covers, but I have great respect for a cast that can make me actually like a hip-hop tune, when I would otherwise switch off completely.
You absolutely must listen to their version of Duffy's Mercy, and watch the YouTube clip of that dance the football team does to Beyonce's Single Ladies. A riot!

2) True Blood

Seasons 1 & 2 aired on cable in quick succession, and I couldn't be happier.
Alexander Skarsgard is such a pleasure to watch. :)

3) Dexter

I can't stop raving about this show. Season 3 is a stunner once again. Can't wait for Season 4 to hit our shores.

4) Ghost Hunters & Ghost Adventures

I'm such a sucker for supernatural stuff. With GH on hiatus on Starworld ( some stupid computer show took its slot ), I'm now glued to GA, especially since its team leader is much better-looking than most of the GH guys. An early episode had Zak being scratched by a malevolent spirit, in real time as the camera rolled. When a Catholic priest later exclaimed, "You provoked it on purpose? You're playing with fire!", Zak didn't even raise an eyebrow.
Wow. :)

5) American Idol

Haven't been so excited about a runner-up since Clay Aiken. Adam Lambert's album is bloody fantastic, go buy it!

6) So You Think You Can Dance

Mark Kanemura from the 2008 season is quirky sexiness at its best. Search YouTube - you won't be sorry.

7) Twitter

Kevin Spacey jumped on the wagon, and answered my tweets a few times, yes!
Edward Norton also started an account, and kept me coming back for more with his marathon training updates.
Too bad Viggo Mortensen, John Cusack and James McAvoy haven't shown up on the radar - yet.

8) Facebook

Set up my account, at long last.
Having a blast and connecting with friends whom I haven't seen in eons.

9) My cat

Late November marked our 1st year anniversary with Nemo, and he continues to bring joy and laughter into our lives every single day.
Nothing - and I really mean NOTHING - beats having a big fat purring cat cuddle up to you in bed on a rainy night.

10) Laurell K. Hamilton

Always exciting to discover a new author, especially if s/he has loads of novels for me to chew on.
Just finished her excellent short story collection. Will plough through the Vampire Hunter series once my journal article's done.
I have priorities, you know. :)

11) Lev Grossman's The Magicians

A rollercoaster ride with a likely sequel in the works. Violent, perverted and insane. Love it!

12) Clive Owen

A revelation in The International and Duplicity.


Plans For 2010

1) ICEM

Helping the organizing chair with this. Expecting a turnout of thousands, and looking forward to seeing a few familiar faces from New York and Australia. :)

2) Holiday

Have picked my next destination, although I was outvoted by my parents. You'll find out what it is in 9 months' time.

3) Get promoted!

If I'm going to get tortured everyday, might as well get paid well for it.

Book Review: The Magicians by Lev Grossman

My boss won't be happy with this, and my mom's been nagging me to "stop reading novels and get your journal article done already!", but I can't resist the public library, especially the one in my neighbourhood, which stocks a whole bunch of dark, Gothic works.

Hey mom, you need to share some of the blame for dragging me there to find books for you. :)

My taste this year has shifted dramatically, thanks to True Blood, and maybe partly due to the Twilight franchise hype. But definitely much more credit goes to TB.

I've read Grossman's Codex from a few years back. Found it so-so, and got completely lost in the last few chapters, so I didn't get his follow-up right away when it was first published.

Strangely enough, I came face to face with it a few weeks ago while looking for another author, and decided to give it a go.

Am really glad I did. :)

In a nutshell, The Magicians is what I'd describe as a very grown-up, very vulgar and very disconcerting version of the Harry Potter series. The characters begin their education at the age of 18, experiment wildly with everything from booze to drugs to sex and dangerous spells of all varieties, then embark on a perilous adventure to a Narnia-like world which is actually a milllion times more evil.

The central character, Quentin Coldwater, is richly yet delicately drawn. He doesn't have a tragic history like Harry Potter, but possesses his own personal demons, and is far from likeable in the conventional sense. He is egoistic, sulky, anti-social and unfaithful. But he also displays a great talent, earning a place in the fast-track programme at school, and wins the love of a fellow top student.

Ambiguity is the common thread among all the principal characters, with Quentin's close-knit group of friends garnering the most page-time. Girlfriend Alice is wonderfully interesting -- small in stature but huge in magical strength. Eliot is clearly gay and alcohol-dependent, but provides comic relief when least expected. Then there's Penny, the punky but super-uptight fellow ( yes, he's a guy ) who leads his friends to Fillory, a land which was originally thought to be fictional, but soon turns out to be frighteningly real.

The novel has garnered rave reviews from all the top critics, and it's easy to see why.
Grossman's style is abundantly peppered with words that make me reach for my dictionary, but maintains a smooth texture and never sinks into dullness. I love reading his detailed descriptions of Quentin's school, with its supernatural fountains, hidden passages and a marvelous welters board ( read the book if you need to know ). The characters' relationships are in a constant flux, and I enjoy the fact that each chapter brings an entirely new dynamic into play.

Humour is what won me over, with 2 references making me literally laugh out loud. One mentions Quidditch, and the other - of all things - The Karate Kid. Reading the line "wax on, wax off" during a most appropriate incident was priceless!

Where mind-boggling scenarios are concerned, there are too many to choose from. Just off the top of my head: 1) Quentin's audition for magician's college, 2) the many lessons the students participate in, 3) a beautiful rite of passage involving a trip to the South Pole, 4) the terrifying first encounter with The Beast and, of course, 5) their entire journey through Fillory, with a nail-biting confrontation with The Beast -- can't imagine how that will translate onto the screen, if someone ever decides to make a movie / TV series out of this.

Grossman's already juggling ideas for a sequel, as clearly indicated in the last page, when Quentin embarks on a new adventure.

Next time, I'll be sure to make a reservation at the library. :)


At the moment, I'm hooked on Laurell K. Hamilton, whom I knew nothing about until my eyes happened to glance over at a nearby shelf while searching for something else. All the early Anita Blake novels are on loan, so I decided to sample her short story collection.
So far, it's been an exhilarating ride!
Hamilton doesn't favour bombastic vocabulary like Grossman, but her simple and concise prose is equally evocative, and works extremely well in this format. She can flesh out characters in 20 pages flat, make you love or hate them, and make your skin crawl as well.
I'm only halfway through this, and have already encountered zombies, vampires, demons, lake monsters, elves, black and white healers, and violently persistent Cupid cherubs.
If your head's spinning, I don't blame you.
It's a rollercoaster, but the adrenaline rush is so worth it!


Another book I'm eyeing: Tom Holland's The Vampyre, which claims Lord Byron was a member of the blood-sucking family. Semi-fictional - I hope.
( And yes, I stumbled across it at the library. Heh. :))

Photo Break


As I reach the last hour of a HORRIBLE night shift, my thoughts drift ( no pun intended :)) to the Sea World Aquarium.

This is just one of many photos taken at this wonderful place. I could've spent a couple of hours just standing and staring at the display, but not possible when you're with your mum, plus 2 other friends.

The variety of fish is staggering, and the reef an explosion of vibrant colour. Here's a female visitor doing some snorkeling, with a shark swimming around below her ( not pictured ).

Love the tranquil New Age soundtrack playing in the background. Dropped by on a Sunday so the place was packed with family groups. But the kids were very well-behaved, and everyone huddled in hushed awe.

A definite must-see if you're ever at the Gold Coast.

By the way, a big hello to the regular visitor from Google headquarters, whoever you may be. Always an honour to have any Google staff member show an interest in my inane rants. :)

Anyway, I just discovered that the Adam Lambert video has been removed from YouTube, due to copyright issues. Boo...

A consolation: YouTube now mysteriously works on my office computer, though I doubt this will last. So I'm posting another link for your viewing pleasure - something from So You Think You Can Dance Season 4, which I'm currently watching on cable's AXN channel.

So far, this is the one routine I remember and love. Mark Kanemura - the sexy dude in this video - transformed from a quirky dancer who did crab-like movements at his auditions, into an utterly believable Spanish Lothario.

I can't dance, but I do enjoy watching the pros do it. :)

And make sure you watch them salsa, yow!

Time to do an exit round.