“Imagine a room full of people, a room that is without light,
we’re dancing and prancing and twirling around,

and we aren’t aware of one another. Some of us are careful,
while others are rude.  But we have not much of a choice,

for in here we are all one. So trapped in here,
we dance through time and space.

And then one day, someone flicks on the light,

I see you, you’ll see me.

But do you see the reflection of yourself in my eyes? For that is not who you think you are,

but who you are.”

- Kenny Shen, 2008.

June is reaching an end. I’m already 1 year old + in my current job. I’m 9 months into a wonderfully dreamy relationship. I’m not perfect yet, but I’m happy. I’m also getting sick of blogging haha… sorry, gotta be honest. (hence the bloody lack of updates.)

Well I love the Sundays. Today I slept late into the noon, after a long night of playing an old game (Diablo 2). Woke up, went with Princy for facial and indulge my tummy tum tum in fried mars bars and sausages from Chippy’s. Slept again, went for dinner with the family at Thai Express (the new Ginger Chilli Padi Chicken is just HOT!) and then came back, did my usual charting for the week.

So much have changed in a year - just check Facebook and you’ll see what I mean. I see old friends growing (one of them is already preparing for a preaching test at bible school as I type, another giving birth). I sure miss them, yet I know I won’t be seeing them as yet. Speaking of giving birth, my dear colleague Moss Dom is giving birth sooon… to a lovely baby boy! I can’t wait to see the little kiddo and christen myself as his ‘unofficial’ fairy god-father! Ok, without the wings. Princy’s brother is going in to commence his OCS course tomorrow. So much changes…. ahh… the seasons of life.

We have yet another new colleague at work now… I wonder what’s her background? I’m sure the next half of 2008 will be an interesting one. I’m halfway through ‘Fooled by Randomness’ and I’m pretty intrigued by the author’s view on ‘unrealized histories’ - mapping out multiple possible scenarios in life… I’m sure to be hooked on replicating his ideas into practical forecasting both on and off the markets. This July, I’ll be returning - yes - to the classroom again, albeit a bit different… for a 10 month course in Financial Mgt. I hope by this time next year, we’ll see me in an entirely new field? Yes? *ponders.

Well, this is rather abrupt, but with this update we have to say goodbye to this blog. It’s been a good way of cataloging how life have unfolded for me over the last one year, and at the same time, it’s run its course. Friends, life events, good and bad have come and gone… and so too must this blog. For all you silent readers out there (yes, I check my stats… and a quiet 1062 visitors in the month of May alone… why don’t any of you leave some comments LOL), thanks for being interested in my life.

Have fun. Goodbye.

Happy trails to you, until we meet again.
Some trails are happy ones,
Others are blue.
It’s the way you ride the trail that counts,
Here’s to a happy one for you.

-
Dale Evans

June is so quiet, so flat, so …. boring? Or is something brewing?

As the world prices in recession and all that yada yada bad news, it’s not always so serious in some fields. Creatively put, not here. I’m sitting in a field where MTV, Taxi, Yolk and a multitude of others are hiring. We’re seeing an influx of sweet young cracks every year as the local art schools takes on an expansion roll. Sure the competition is still stiff. But cream off the 40% that graduate and skip industries (why? ask them.), we’re looking at a healthy sector, despite the much evolving roles of advertising and communications these days. Right brainers are more in demand than ever before, as we all should see an increase of software, robots, outsourcing, cheap overseas workers replacing the used to be costly left brain fields.

Who says your kid shouldn’t write with their left hands? Well, that aside, I find it impertinent to ask myself today why ain’t I switching companies? Why in-house? And why am I kicking off a 10 month part time study for a Diploma in Finance Mgt? Why am I doodling charts at night for Forex, and bringing in funny green products to sell online and at flea markets? Or solving IT related problems for others at work? I find it constricting when anyone boxes a designer and say they should be relegated only to the world of visuals and color. Stay out of the numbers, the stats.

My reply may be a bit more visual on the physical language than you might want to accept. Anyway, I find it an obsession for the next half of 2008 to revisit the range of the Renaissance world, and the idea that getting into too much takes away focus and makes you a ‘jack’ of all trades. Is it arrogance? I’ll prefer the word ‘curiosity’. After all, there’re 2 schools of designers - one that’s driven by aesthetics, and the other by curiosity. I tend to lean towards the latter. I’ve observed some who stick to one thing and then they remain only a ‘jack’ at it. So simple deductions simply doesn’t account for the deviations witnessed.

And if anytime I fail, I’m sure I would have gathered much more than if I’ve not tried. And there’s always the resume and portfolio ready to mail to one of those open slots… afterall, 2008 is a year of choices, at least for the creative field. There’s no fear, only fun.

Snagged a copy on my way home yesterday… if you’re Radiohead junkie, nothing more to say to you than a wink. If you’re not - “Where the hell have you been?!” Get one now!

*skits back to Wawa land.

Ok, so what’s been up up up lately? At the work front, we’ve nothing changed REALLY, except that a new colleague joined us - take this: she’s a fresh law graduate - and my dear Toshiba crashed on me again, halting my work and wasting 2 days getting every single damn software re-installed.

I’ve been busy reading up about Forex trading, which is something new me and my mates got into. You can read about my new journey here: A little trader’s diary

Having some free time on the 14th June? Drop by Home Club and visit my stall. For more details? Visit The Little Green Party. Don’t forget to support the other people peddling their wunder wares on that afternoon… 4pm onwards.

My freelance efforts have been well rewarded so far - Sarvesh, Utterly Art & Start Studios are among the latest clients, putting a little bit more than I can chew at the moment. Also, we’ve started a pro bono effort and may be posting up new work for a local charity organization soon.  Got work for me? Please drop me a mail.

Don’t forget to visit Digital Homelands showing in NaMOS soon. (and of course my ‘Forget Me Not’ ;))

Well, be back soon and have fun.

Sorry I’ve been missing from here… so much going on. Add night speech training sessions at the company, I’m all ready to see bed all the time. Will update this week… so much to type!

Sounds interesting, only $15 for very smackingly good stuff:
FILM SEMINAR: GETTING YOUR FILM INTO FESTIVALS
Jun 9, 8 to 930pm

Join former Director of the Sydney Film Festival, David Stratton, in this evening seminar as he shares his thoughts about getting films into festivals.

David will address some of the ‘characteristics’ of winning films and typical ‘follies’ that he has encountered. He will also speak about his observations and advice to filmmakers based on the programming trends of festivals and broadcast. Both first-time and experienced filmmakers alike can benefit from David’s experiences, as he has previously served as President of the International Critics Jury for the Cannes and Venice Film Festivals, as well as film consultant to SBS television (Australia’s multicultural and multilingual public broadcaster, with more than seven million viewers each week).

Register at Objectifs

“Tell me, why is it easier for us to judge others? That guy with a tattoo? That guy who smokes? That guy who buys 4D? What offence has such done unto others that invite their judgement?

Didn’t I say it was easier to see the speck of sand in others’ eye than the log in your own?

But if a log is in ours, how do we have space to see the specks in others?

The log isn’t in front of your eyes.

Meaning?

It’s behind. To see it, one must look inside of themselves, examine themselves. It’s easier to see forward.

Ok. What about the problems in today’s world? Social problems for example… what’s the cause? Why do people switch off from the ones around them so easily? Is it because they’re tired? Sleepy?

Who isn’t tired? Who isn’t worn out? Sleeping is a choice.

Then why don’t people choose to stay awake?

Maturity. Only the mature choose to keep their eyes open after work is done. To see their children’s needs and achievements instead of the bed. To see that passion is fulfilled and intimacy carried out after a long day as their commitment to their spouse. The immature choose sleep.

What about natural disasters? Why are they increasing?  Haven’t we got smart enough to save our own planet?

Your technology has improved. Your science has leaped by bounds. Humans today are far more advanced than they ever were before. And the death toll has never been so astronomical. You figure it out.

Ok. Good night.”

The best animation… on walls!!! All I can say is… ‘WOW’. View it or regret it… this is a must see.