A yearly tradition

How do you want to do it... with all of your close friends? a selected group of friends? spread it out into multiple gatherings? an intimate candle-lit dinner for two? or just plain-old family gathering?

I've tried it all.

So this year, it's back to the basics. I remember one year, maybe 4 or 5 years ago, it was Chinese New Year time and both of my parents were back in HK. It was one of those strange events (maybe due to the alignment of some cosmic forces) that we were all reunited under one roof. While it's not like it never happens anymore, it was still special considering the circumstances and the timing.

I heard before somewhere, that birthdays are not really a celebration for yourself as a being, but more an occasion to thank your parents for bringing you into this world and trying their best to raise you into a decent human being.

So while last year's big feast is still a vivid memory... I mean, I don't think I ever had that big a group sitting together in my honour, plus the fact that it was also the debute of a new beau, whom, sorry to say, has taken an eternal leave of absence... it would remain as it is, good memory, from the past.

Thinking back and reading some of the old posts, I dubbed last year the start of a great decade... things were finally working out in all sorts of ways, I was comfortable. But like everything else, good things also come to end. That does not mean my run is over though. Entering the 2nd year of the decade, I look at myself, and I see a slightly more seasoned person, with a few more scars here and there, but making good progress. That's what living is about, right?

So, back to square one... or, maybe more appropriate: just another beginning, among the many and many more we all will face, and should be glad that we can do it again and again :)

... On the road again... where to? by what?

Borrowed the title from a dear friend's heartfelt email today. Thanks. ;)

Have been thinking about a new Entry for the last week... but didn't know what to write after pouring my heart out. Well.... just whatever, I guess...

- I am enjoying my on-the-go music quite much, and have gotten back in touch with music that used to fill my life. This one in particular stood out tonight when I was at the gym...



So, back to the title. Sometimes we choose to get off the ride, and sometimes we're kicked off... does it matter if we are off at the right stop or not? Probably not. On the road again... to seek another ride, or to tackle the challenge on your own? Maybe that's the journey we all have to take.

(will keep it short this time... ran out of BS to say)

P.S. Wordy: Took your advice and now we are finalizing our plans for March. Looks like it's a go! Also re-thought about my August travel plans. :)

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

It's one of my favourite movies. I love it's wackiness, I love Kate Winslet and Jim Carrey, I love the suggestion of loving the same person the 2nd time around, and I love the open-ended ending. So when you are really given a second chance, would you take a go at it again?

______________________________

Recently, on 3 separate occasions, this film was presented to me once again. A dear friend wrote me a note referring to this film, which led me to watch the film again last week, and a couple of days ago another dear friend emailed me and told me that she'd just watched the movie again and that prompted her to write me.

Erasing a memory that hurts so badly... for the time-being... is a quick fix. Oh how we want to get pass the sadness, how we want to emerge from rock bottom, how we always reminisce happy times, and how we cannot make a connection to reality...

The film suggests that despite having your memory erased, you still end up falling in love with the same person over and over again. Do we really learn from our so-called "mistakes"? And even knowing that it hadn't worked before, Joel and Clementine still decide to try again. Is that just being a hopeless romantic, or is that a belief that love is always there but it's timing and events that alter the outcome? So, love alone, really is not enough to sustain a relationship? But that's not even the point of the movie... because it's the process that we see Joel and Clem enjoy, when they really "live" the relationship, that they both want to go back and experience it, remember it. Another movie (which I also like) shares a similar theme, Adam Sandler's 2006 flick "Click".

_____________________________________________

Just did a simple search online, and this movie has some pretty good taglines:

I already forget how I used to feel about you.
Our memories makes us who we are. You can't change the past.
Would you erase me?
This Spring, clear your mind
I'm fine without you.
Do I know you?
You can erase someone from your mind. Getting them out of your heart is another story.
Replace My Memory
A comedy for anyone with a past they'd rather forget.

_____________________________________________________

I especially like the 3rd to last one...

"You can erase someone from your mind. Getting them out of your heart is another story."

Some people erase someone by running away, others do so by having a rebound, some resort to different substances, etc. I wonder, can you remember and forget at the same time? The reason I said this is because some say,

"oh you just need to forget about it and move on"

But then some say,

"Remember the good times, learn from it, treasure the memories"

You have to know one thing, that moving on is not that easy.
It's not like you're leaving everything behind and moving somewhere else; you're still in the same space breathing the same air going to the same places. Everything stays the same and the difference is tiny, miniscule. It doesn't even make a difference to ANYBODY else in this World but you, and you alone. That's why you feel so alone. You feel like you're in this perpetual Black Hole.

But we all crawl back from this Black Hole... dunno how (oh would somebody please tell me), but we all eventually make it, because the Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is our will to love, our will to fall in love.

Unpublished posts

A few posts remain in Draft status, most of the time it's because I started writing it, but didn't finish it at that moment, so it'd remain in the "black hole" forever.

Not that I don't want to finish it, but this blog is about my feelings, and sometimes just some BS comment I'd like to make at that moment. When the moment passes, you just lose interest or you don't know how to continue writing. The concepts are gone, or "outdated", or maybe, forgotten.

Feelings come and go. And yes, you can't predict, guarantee, or hold on to a feeling. (But that doesn't mean that we can't try, right?)

... I've just lost my train of thought...

Sometimes, you get exhausted from feeling so much, and it becomes... a blob... a thing that you can't quite define. Maybe it's a good thing to be numb.... blah blah blah, blah blah blah...

What can you do

What can you do.
What can you do?

I wish something could be done... :(

十八年前的事

今晚我放棄一位摯友的音樂會，去了一個跟舊中學同學的聚會。
當年只完成中二課程的我，十多年來都沒有跟中學同學有什麽來往。但其中都有一兩個最終成爲很要好得朋友。

十幾個同學中，有好幾位，真是差不多十八年都沒有見過。好奇的是，十四位中，至少有三四個什麽都沒有改變。可能有些是肥了、頭髮少了，但與我所記得的真的沒有太大出入。不過，可能走的時候年紀還小，所以，幾個個別同學個子高了、大舊了。

母校裏，中一到中三是同班的，然後中四開始分理科及文科班。小弟沒有經過中學選科或會考的洗禮。。。中二已經遠走亞美利堅，所以跟這些由少玩到大的老朋友真的沒有太大的集體回憶。十多個年頭大家做了什麽？往英國讀書的有、澳洲的都有、當然香港的就更加多。現在，有些當上什麽投資銀行的顧問、分析員，作核數的也幾個，醫生、電訊設備系統、心理醫生、建築師、律師、工程師、外展訓練導師。。。大家都有了自己的calling。十四個人，七個已經結婚。我想，都差不多了。。。人生行到第三個十年，都應該有確定及清晰的方向，找到分享生命的另一半。是他們的生活“正統”？或是我的生活沒有方向？大有可能兩者皆是。

他們是否開心，我不清楚；亦未有太大興趣探討。始終，大家的世界不同，成長得過程不一樣，沒有什麽同樣的經歷。有時覺得自己的經歷大不同，但是亦只是自己太自我中心。每個人都有自己的故事，奈何要評論其他人的生活呢？自己有時做太多武斷的評論，爲什麽？是要自己提高對自己的評價？自我欣賞度過低？自尊或自我價值較低？未知。。。

很多時候，自己是内向的；沒趣亦沒時間去應酬。與自己一班圍内好友一起，感覺是舒服的，亦頗有安全感。雖然重遇十多嵗時的一圍同學是一個。。。“很不同”的聚會，但始終有點兒格格不入。起初我們還要作自我十年回顧的介紹。。。有點兒生硬、而且有點悶罷。沒有關係的關係，是根本大家的世界從一個共用的班房變成十四個小宇宙而所以演變成完全的斷線，還是十多年都沒見就是大家彼此關係的見證？這些可能就是答案。

與之前“Regret”一篇相呼應，其實有些記憶是埋在腦後。同學提起班房中的瑣事。。。“王伯”、“Mr. Siu”、“Miss Mok”是十多年來遺忘了的片斷。想起某些同學的趣事、老師的花名，都令自己會心微笑。

聚會結束後，飛過中環第二場，與一班摯友吃甜點。很多事，盡在不言中。講的笑話、小小的點頭，已經可以令我說：心領了。

苦中作樂, Reprise

When the going gets tough the tough keeps going.

Seems like an inspirational quote that we should pledge alligence to during times like these. If anything, I realize one thing... that there is really nothing you can do to make you feel better. There's no quick remedy, nothing you could do to make it hurt any less. You can try to fill you schedule with dinners, movies, gym, exercise, etc. but really, none of these would help. It's like going to jail, it's a fixed sentence, and you're gonna do time no matter what. But if somehow you have good behaviour, they might let you out early and finally you get back to your old self. Previously, I had taken the route of being on exile, and that turns out to be a bad idea... because you simply prolong the healing process and you never really get over it. So... Jail vs. Exile, for the long-term well-being, jail time seems to be the "better" way. (c'mon, is there really a BETTER way for this?)

My X'mas present turns out to be a blessing for times like these, and I am rediscovering some songs that I used to like alot, including this one:

某次　某晚　生命中某人
臨分手也狠　說世界誰比我親
我信那兩秒的我　曾經是最開心的人
幸福純屬偶然　誰介意沒永生

＊還記得幸福的感覺　苦中可作樂　已堪稱快樂
　誰為寂寞戀愛　將來也許更寂寞
　能記得受苦的知覺　苦中總有樂　還祈求甚麼
　若永久一起無方　我也懂得難過
　已證明　曾發生的不算幻覺＊

你說每次見到我　良心便再得到試煉
熱戀容或偶然　朋友永遠發展
Repeat＊

你能對我講　曾真心喜歡著我
亦已真心不喜歡我　還求甚麼
Repeat＊

無題

有時d歌詞真係寫得好到肉...



最好　有生一日都愛下去
但誰人　能將戀愛當做終生興趣
生活　其實旨在找到個伴侶
面對現實　熱戀很快變長流細水

可惜我　不智或僥倖
對火花天生敏感
不過　兩隻手拉的太緊
愛到過了界那對愛人
同時亦最易變成一對敵人

＊合︰也許相愛很難
就難在其實雙方各有各寄望　怎麼辦
要單戀都難　受太大的禮會
內疚卻也無力歸還
也許不愛不難　但如未成佛升仙
也會怕愛情前途黯淡
愛不愛都難
未快樂先有責任給予對方面露歡顏

＃得到浪漫　又要有空間
得到定局　卻怕去到終站
然後付出多得到少不介意豁達
又擔心有人看不過眼

合︰可惜我　不智或僥倖
對火花天生敏感
不過　兩隻手拉的太緊
愛到過了界那對愛人
同時亦最易變成一對敵人

重唱　＊,＃

合︰無論熱戀中失戀中都永遠記住第一戒
別要張開雙眼

I could only feel the excitement...

Happy New Year.... WHOA>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Farewell 2007

Was starting a post about a Recap of 2007, but got too side-tracked and of course it'd be late now... so, that will be posted under a separate post later. :)

In the meantime, I wish you a safe and fun New Year celebration welcoming a fruitful 2008 for all. :)

Mx reporting from the USA

Regret

It has taken me a long time, but I have finally learned the word "regret" on this trip.

My friend YH said that maybe I just like having drama in my life and having self-pity from time to time. But, whether it's true or not true, I do sincerely feel, that there is much to regret about. I don't know whether making this small trip is the right thing to do, or just a way to feel more sorry about myself. Instead of celebrating a colourful past, I feel sorrow and sadness. Is it the rainy weather? the familiar streets? the people? the season? or everything combined which remind me so much of it.

Life is hard.

American style Christmas, American Life

Reporting on location from the US, so I use English ga la (actually, the problem is I can't find the Chinese input method here...)

Arrived yesterday after a 12-hour flight... after unloading my stuff at home, went nearby to an American diner, and had a true American-style waffle with 2 eggs and sausages... YUM! Sorry, didn't take a picture... but I guarantee you it was really good. Nothing beats warm butter and real maple syrup.

In order to get over jetlag, I tried my best not to sleep during the day... so I drove our family's old Camry that has over 110k miles on it. Still runs perfectly, and in good condition. Do you notice that we don't have any old cars in HK? Of course not counting those classic cars. But it's hard to find many "cheen chut" in HK. Mostly it's because of registration requirements and the inconvenience of having to go through the required smog checks every year after the car turns 7 years old.

Anyway, after breakfast I went to the local gym, the REAL 24-hour fitness. It's a Friday and it's still quite packed during lunch. Like the no-frills style gym, almost looks like it's housed in warehouse. My take is... a gym is a gym. As long as it has adequate equipment in good condition, that's all I need!

Another of my favourite living in the US, is going to the bookstore. Barnes and Noble and Borders are two of my favourites. I like Borders better, because B&N is just getting too big. But anyway, after gym I headed to B&N and browsed through the periodicals sections. Always a good way to spend spare time, looking through gossips magazines, Travel and Leisure, Fitness, Real Estate and stuff. I also like looking through Robb Report Christmas edition, where they showcase the most outrageous Christmas gifts... this year, a Ferrari F1, a 300-carat diamond, million-dollar yachts, etc. Good to dream from time to time.

Went to a movie afterwards... "Enchanted".

Had been looking forward to seeing this movie since seeing its trailer in late Summer, and also reading it on Donald's blog. What a fresh approach to Disney classics. And the characters are so lovable! The little girl Morgan (played by Rachel Covey) is just so adorable. And though I've never been a "Grey's Anatomy" fan, Patrick Dempsey also did quite well, and is very charming,and what's there not to like about his character? Prince Edward (James Marsden)'s character is quite hollow, maybe written to reflect reality in fairy tales? That nothing is ever perfect. Marsden sings quite well though. Amy Adams is just a pleasure to watch, and of course how could you not love a fallen Princess in Sin City?

It's always a favourite thing of mine to catch movies in the US, because they don't get released in HK until months after. I'll probably also do:
The Savages

Charlie Wilson's War

I'm Not There

Elizabeth: The Golden Age

27 Dresses

No Country for An Old Man


Hope I've got enough time :)

2007 bye bye!!!

December is half way over, and as I mentioned back in October, the last 2 months of the year always fly by so quickly.

This is not a "Recap of 2007" post yet, but since I'm just COMPLETELY bored now, I might as well write some random thoughts down.

1. I love old pictures. Last week I bought an old vintage photo (real one, not a reproduction) for a friend's birthday. It's a photo taken in 1950 from Bowrington Road towards Leighton Hill, where he and his wife live now. It's not of anybody's interest unless you are into that sort of stuff, and since the location is so obscure (Leighton Hill was a former Government Staff Quarters site), it has never been published in any of those "Old Hong Kong" books. But I thought it was such a rare find, and my friend liked it much (or so he claimed, haha). The photo of course is quite expensive, but hey, to see that it's money well-spent, THAT's priceless. If you're ever into these old photos, reprints or otherwise, check out Picture This at Prince's Building in Central. This is where I bought that photo. I also found another similar store, but at a lesser known location, at the junction of Old Bailey Street and Hollywood Road. They seem to have a big collection, but not as "packaged" as Picture This. The name of this store just escaped me, but when you stand at that junction, you'll see its entrance at the foot of the steep decline that is Old Bailey.

2. Preservation of King Yin Lei seems to be a hot topic lately. I am for sure all for preservation of these built heritage, because most of our beautiful architecture are gone forever. That is why I like looking at old photos... you'll be amazed of what kind of buildings that once stood in HK. But then, we don't have a comprehensive policy to balance property rights and the need to preserve these places. If you think about it, these property owners, most likely investors, are "penalized" for owning a piece of beautiful architecture. There needs to be a way to create a win-win-win situation for all.

I've included a few of these buildings, still standing or gone forever, for you to check out. :)

3. The end of 2007 signals an end to many things. I really hope 2008 would be as eventful as it has been in 2007. :)

This mansion is now redeveloped into one of the most expensive piece of real estate in the world. You can own one of the 4 houses now stand here for a hefty HK$400m+.

This property, referred to as Kingslere Hotel, stood on Kennedy Road at the turn of the 20th century. I have yet to identify it exact location, but I suspect it to be somewhere near the present-day Monmouth Terrace.

Funny how we have to bring the train back to Tsim Sha Tsui after the demolition of this beautiful train terminus in 1978.

What is this today? Filippino Central: World-Wide House.

And this? You might be surprised. This is HSBC in the 1920s.

The old "Lo Chun Ting" is not the object of my fascination, it's that white humongous apartment building in the bottom right that is interesting. It looks exactly like an apartment block taken from London. This is present-day Peak Galleria.

Still one of the most classical building ever stood in Central. Don't know when exactly it was demolished, but back in my primary school days, it had already become an indistinguishable Government structure with a public car park and post office. Present-day location: part of Cheung Kong Centre where the retail space and the pubic toilet are.

Not far from the above photo, the building on the front left is now the benchmark of Central office rents and sales: No. 9 Queen's Road Central.

The future of this? Who knows?

Planning for Cherry Blossom?

Whoaaaaaaaaa..... (Courtesy of the website quoted below)

A plan discussed long ago, and a trip I've always wanted to make.... Now we finally begin some intial discussions and initial planning.

But seems like seeing cherry blossom in Japan as a group requires some ingenius planning...

1. Only long holiday in March is Easter, which is the 2nd to last weekend of March in 2008.

2. According to A Beginner's Guide to Cherry Blossom Viewing, on average, cherry blossom comes at the end of March/beginning of April for Tokyo/Osaka/Kyoto.



3. When you involve more than 4 people in the planning it'd get VERY messy when it comes to airlines, hotels, or even WHICH city to visit.

Oooooooooooh!

Of course, the actual time of the trees blossoming varies depending on the weather that year. For example, in 2007 and 2006, Tokyo had her cherry blossom on March 20 and 21, respectively. Osaka/Kyoto had about 4-6 days later. So, we still might be just a tad early... and what a disappointment it'd be if we are just too early by a few days!


But anyway, maybe we'll think of another good reason to visit Japan... what about the food, the shopping, the new developments, the hot springs, the ryokans, or just being silly with a bunch of good friends on the streets of Tokyo? All sounds good to me. ;)

Ahhhhhhhh~~~~!

When are you a quitter, and when are you a realist?

Funny...

I had some free time this weekend, and watched some TV at home.... (it's something I don't do much of anymore, but once in a while is fun)


There was America's Next Top Model, and then there was Project Runway. I am NOT the fashion kind, AT ALL, but it's still fun watching these so-called "reality" series.


In this week's episode of ANTM, this gal Ebony decided that she's had enough. Despite her cool looks, slender and tall build, and very bitchy attitude, she decided that modeling is NOT for her. That is after begging Tyra Banks (Exec Producer) to pick her in her audition tape, and doing quite well in previous photo shoots. When she volunteered to be "voted out", Tyra said she "the most unattractive thing in the world is a quitter" (Yes, I just checked it from YouTube to verify), and so Ebony goes.

Of course I'm not providing commentary on this, but it just got me thinking... when is quitting OK because you realize that it's just not gonna work however hard you try? Now of course you can say, for work situations, you just try for a little while longer and in the meantime, look for something better. Which I agree. But what if this is about relationships? You can't do that absolutely!

Can you rationally make a decision that no, it's not gonna work, and break it off? And we all say, oh of course, why waste each others' time? But if you think carefully, wouldn't you try your best to see if it could work because there's already so much invested? Especially when apparently both sides are still into each other?
.......................
The property market has been on a rapid upswing for the last couple of months. But as most other investment tools, stocks, bonds, funds, etc., those so-called "experts" always tell us, we should set a target when to sell and when to cut losses. Does it apply to relationships too? hmmm.... hmmmmm.... hmmm... P-r-o-b-a-b-l-y...

Funny how we resort to songs we love for guidance. Then I think, what do those lyricists know? What make their lyrics a bible to love? Doesn't it belittle relationships because it's just a whole bunch of sappy words that rhyme? That was a joke. :) but honestly, what make these classic love songs reference materials of how we should handle relationships? Isn't that the beauty of human interactions, because everyone is different, so every relationship is different? But it seems not! Because the same issues always seem to come up. Stories you hear from friends, ones that you experience yourself. It is true, it's those sappy love songs on "Repeat" mode.

Here's one of those songs: "At the Brink of Love and Pain" by Faye Wong <愛與痛的邊緣>



A song I was listening to when I worked 'till 4am last week: "Getting Off By Mistake" by Sammi Cheng <落錯車>(that's a funny translation, eh? haha)



One of the newer Sandy favourites of mine: "Poor Communication" <詞不達意>



What we should aim to become? Sandy's "Goodbye Sadness" <再見悲哀>


再見悲哀 - 林憶蓮
作曲：Eric Kwok
填詞：林夕
編曲：Eric Kwok/Ted Lo
監製：Eric Kwok

＊再見悲哀因我不再計較任何結果
　甚麼都可以坦蕩未在乎誰是錯
　我兩眼合上失去甚麼　是與非也掠過
　別固執到問一切為何

　再見傷感因我不易被淚流留住我
　甚麼的境界都愛自自然地渡過
　去到最尾就如與物忘我　回復身心最初
　面對心鏡內一片平和
　鳥聲瞬間閃過　(這麼最好不過)＊

除了心　只有心　可以解心鎖
煩惱多　因我要得多
微似砂　輕似煙　怎會有風波
有惆悵　跌入了恆河

情路太彎　過就過　當是個經過
感動的愛　當做一次砌磋
沿途上遇上甚麼　都欣賞過
投入時便快樂一起過

REPEAT＊

傻也好　痴也好　因你記得多
忘記的　比你記的多

懷念最好　我便會　繼續愛惜我
花瓣飄過　美在不顧結果
人存活在世就似沙粒飛過
誰又曾為了誰褒貶過

REPEAT＊

這麼最好不過　全是一種經過

Have you cast your vote today?

本來都沒有特別留意、亦沒有心去投票。
但始終：投票權是作爲公民的權利，我們應好好運用。
在現有的機制下，這是我們唯一可以參與的民主選舉。所以投那個候選人都好，最緊要是你沒有白費這個不是世上人人都可以擁有的基本權利。

我今早已經投票啦！

2:20am, what's on my mind?

Never thought I was the type that would stay at work until this late, but then, what can you do? When the company is understaffed and people are not delivering as you expected, it either means you have to shift one gear up, or you look for something else.

Well, I'm trying... (which one? haha)

It's actually not as bad as it sounds. 2:25am now, listening to David Tao on my computer... waiting for a draft from a colleague who's sitting 20 feet away... after that I'll need to compile it into the main text and send it out. Why do I bother to tell you all this anyway? I think because I am dead tired and I am not thinking straight....

Oh, it's now one of Jonathan Li Chong Shing's classic "Hard to Stand the Loneliness". Love this song. Not that because I'm lonely or anything... but it perfectly depicts the sentiments of people of our age... 寂寞难耐、时光不再、只有自己为自己悲哀、这一次我的心情不高不低不好不坏。

2:28am, when can I go home?

Was just googling earlier, and found that there's another blog by another C H Mak... he's blog is on Yahoo... seems like he's a father or something, because there's a picture of a dad holding a baby in his arms... Funny, I am coming up in Google searches nowadays... not that there are many instances, but still good to be seen "out there". *sigh* things we do when we are just... wasting time....

2:30am... Miriam is singing "Here Comes the Wolf". Missed her concert last month. Most people who'd seen it said her singing was quite good this time... well... IT'S ABOUT TIME. Like some of her songs... but it seems her songs are very forgettable. The song might be a hit for a year, but when you listen to it again next year you'll find it SO DATED. What could she do now? Stuck in that time in her career when she could either be put on the alter (Sun Toi), or she could open up a new blood path?

2:33am... A-Mei singing "May I Hold You, My Lover?" Yes, please.

2:34am... Was thinking about my travel plans again. It looks like my US plans might be changed. My travel companion is cancelling, but my ticket is non-refundable... so I might still go, but for a shorter period of time. Oh well, will see see. No rush anyway. I'm out of paid leave already, so cutting it short wouldn't mean much to work... I should probably just try to enjoy some time off work.

2:36am... I checked a few blogs everyday... Fun's, Wordy's, and Donald's Movie Blog. Fun's is always fun to read. Not only his writing is funny, people who leave messages on his blog are also funny too. Wordy's always very insightful, and I don't have any friends like him... or so it seems from reading his writing (I don't actually KNOW him). Love it when he writes about his adventures around town at all those yummy Japanese restaurants. Donald's a true movie buff and he's my source for notable upcoming movies... Now I don't have to buy Entertainment Weekly anymore for movie reviews. Donald's quite comprehensive and well-stocked.

2:39am... Now Fong Dai Tung is singing "Love Love Love". Went to a small concert he gave earlier this year at the Arts Centre. This kid is quite amazing, but not sure if he'd ever make it big in the local market. Hong Kong afterall is not a place for those with pure talents. But Khalil is a joy to watch in live performance. Very talented, very comfortable on stage.

2:41am... Sammi sings "Getting Off at the Wrong Stop". She's never been my favorite, but a couple of her songs make it into my "music library". I think it's the melody and lyrics that I love about this song. There is a tragic beauty about getting off at the wrong stop and maybe it's predestined?

Ok, I'll end right here now because if you're not asleep yet, I will be. ;)

Sandy Live '07: 強力回歸

Courtesy of Sandyandme.com

是尾場的關係？當然。

之前九晚鬰左甘耐，尾場一次個釋放出來。

昨晚顯然是fans大聚會。死硬派必然之選。前九晚的問題，其實是憶蓮差不多被逼要收斂。皆因死硬派分散曬，群衆力量未能合二爲一。前幾次的Concert，4場、5場，頭尾場一定是自己人天下，而中間的周末場（星期四、五），都一定大有捧場者。今次就分散左，唯有尾場才能聚首一堂。

沒想到“自制空間”都是一首跳舞個，就是大家個躉已經等左九晚，已經急不及待。

今次之前沒有聼過演唱的，有“早晨”（作爲換衫/中場位，令過程更加順暢）,“再見悲哀”（出奇地沒有忘記歌詞，因歌詞實在kiu口）。

“哭”已經升華至今年Concert的highlight。我覺得憶蓮其實可以再多改旋律的唱法，令歌曲更加耳目一新。

Encore部分是前九晚都沒有的。尾場又怎能缺少？一開始，“詞不達意”，貫徹始終，是國語大碟“呼吸”裏面的一首熱門sidetrack。之後的“為你我受冷風吹”，雖然是熱歌，但經過重新編排，用soft rock配樂，加了一點搖滾味道，更加grunge，顯示歌者的無奈及不忿，與淒麗的原曲有明顯的分別。

一次Encore已經滿足，誰知Sandy再次出場，而期待的“傾斜”再出，熱血沸騰、全場勁唱。跳完再跳，又來多次“逃離鋼筋森林”，以爲一定會完，點知要我們唱“依然”。雖然反應沒比我想象中熱烈，可能背景配樂太大聲？但令到2007年尾場超越1996年“憶蓮盛放”尾場、8號風球全場棒都唔走的情景更熱烈，就是近代經典“沒結果”。其實“沒結果”都唱過不少次。但自1993年“天地野花”之後，勁嗌的尾段都已經刪掉。今次，差不多有1993年那次的勁嗌，但唯缺最後最後最高的一part。但話雖如此，今時今日Sandy的performance，比1993年因嗌而嗌的version有過之而無不及，亦比以往1996及2005年的來的徹底，並以全場沸騰至頂點的氣氛下作Finale。

This is Completeness. 是一個時代的總結，另一個的開始。做過紅館、會展、匯星，連sidetrack再sidetrack都唱埋，仲可以玩什麽？不如重新開始？

Courtesy of Imagezero

Sandy Live '07 Take Three - Incomplete? Complete...

實在太High.
需要時間collect下d thoughts.
原來缺少了的互動，是要一班死硬派fans去做就的。
今次演唱會的intended effects，終於在11月18日尾場完全釋放。。。

Please let me have a private moment with this euphoria....................................

闊別2年，慢左添。。。

上次跑10k，是2005年嚕。上年跑過15k、又玩過兩項（遊水+跑步）、這兩年又試過Ocean Swim。沒時間練更長途（半馬？），唯有再玩10k啦。

天水圍，奈何最近被冠以什麽“悲情xx”（其實，我對標簽比較抗拒。點解要把整個社區定位成一個形容詞呢？做些有建設性的建議罷），自己對他的認識只基於新市鎮規劃、區内樓盤。天水圍的規劃，從一個社區概念(neighbourhood concept)出發。你會發現，圍繞市鎮公園是嘉湖山莊不同期數的住宅群。中間除了有體育場、酒店、商場，還有面積頗大的園林公園。有輕鐵、西鐵，有三號幹綫、西部通道。在平面上，規劃做的不錯。問題出於那？其實新市鎮由初期開始（荃灣、屯門、以及沙田等）都希望做到自給自足的功能。意思是本區生活、本區工作的目標。長途commute，既浪費時間、更不符合可持續發展理念。但是在香港，中環、金鐘、灣仔、尖沙嘴始終是employment centre。連政府都不肯把行政中心遷離市中心。做成Central-Wanchai Bypass一定要建、中區寫字樓租金日日上升（差不多到1994年歷史高位咯）、每天地鐵上班下班時間都逼爆。政府爲何不帶領市場到新的地區，創建一個新的Administrative Node?講是容易，内裏的issues很多很多。

Anyway，呢篇blog的原意是講10k...

沿著天水圍外圍路跑，都使不錯的一條路綫。天色不錯，只是從港島去新界東北，真是很遠。西隧後、長青隧道、再丁九橋、大欖隧道。。。都要40分鐘。

Nike 10k很多人參加，而且大多數是跑的，不像渣兜10k，很多無聊人只掛拍照。

成績退步了一點，唯有在2008渣兜10k新賽道再挑戰自己罷。

AM / FI / MM

(Courtesy of Fun生活)