Desmond & the Grey-skies Rainbow.

--It's been a long week.

It's recess week, which means some sort of a break for me. The strange thing is, it's already Thursday night. Can't help but wonder, "Where did all my free time go?"

To be fair (to me), I think I've used it rather constructively. Not exactly the way I'd liked and imagined it would have been, but I think it's constructive nonetheless.

Also, it's been raining the past few days and rainy days always make me happy. It's nice to sit and listen to the pitter patter of rain drops. Might have something to do with the weather, but I've been doing a lot of thinking. So many thoughts I've tried to sort out. So many resolutions.
That said (or not said), I saw two happy things in the skies yesterday. First, dark rain clouds! Bluish-grey! Favourite colour! And second, two rainbows!! I always think of clear skies and rainbows. But this was a very very pleasant surprise.

Desmond & The Change Table-feet .

Table-feet.
How things change.
Oh! how the tables
turn.

I bend over
in pain

laid out at
their table-feet.

"Foolish man, with sword and shield
raised boldly by your side.

Foolish man, on mighty steed
with brutish speed you ride.

You fly upon me with your ideals.
But forget that change befalls
us all.

Shifting clouds, and changing tides.
Pray tell me who and what alone abides?"

I hate you essays. Just when I thought I was well-ahead, you pull some tricks and leave me in my despair. I hate you essays!!

Desmond and Cinema Dilema.

Maybe it's the result of watching too many shows with too little happy endings -- I've become re-wired to expect bad, painful, endings.

Or rather, not to expect happy endings.

Between the dramas, plays and films I study in school, and the B-grade shows I watch on Cinemax and late-night Channel 5, there's enough drama to last a lifetime. (Oh kay. I exaggerate. But you get my point.)

I watched Slumdog Millionaire the other day and it was a rather painful show. It was good, but painful. Bittersweet. My mind was spinning as I tried to sort the movie, among other things, after I left the cinema. And I realised that somewhere in the middle of the film, I had already psyched myself for a bad, orge-tale ending. I expected the worst.

EDIT/SPOILER:* I realised I forgot to say that the movie ended well. And my fears of a bad ending were unfounded.*

I guess I'm really trying to say: I've turned into a popcorn-bucket-half-empty guy.

Anyway, that's that. What I need right now is to watch some brainless, ridiculous, Adam Sandler chickflick. No more thinking.

Disclaimer: I don't drink. I just like the shot.

Desmond and the Answer of Songs.

I did this a couple of days ago, and to be honest, it's a whole lot of fun!!!

---

1. Put your iTunes/Napster/Zune Player/WinAmp/etc on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS!
4. Tag 10 or more friends who might enjoy doing this as well as the person you got it from.

IF SOMEONE SAYS "IS THIS OKAY" YOU SAY?
Life Inside - Matthew West.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
Your Name High - Hillsongs

HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?
This Ordinary Life - Matthew West.

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE?
To the Beat of our Noisy Hearts - Matt Nathanson

WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?
Turkish Delight - DCB

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
Breakfast Table - Chris Rice. (As a sidenote, I hate seeing this particular question. HOW WOULD I KNOW WHAT THEY THINK OF ME?!! Ask them, lah.)

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR PARENTS?
Lose Myself - Jeff Deyo.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
Your Love Come Down - Paul Baloche.

WHAT IS 2+2?
God of Ages - Hillsongs.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
If There's One Thing - Tim Hughes.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
When I'm With You - Klaus.

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
I'm Your Man - Michael Buble(GUM).

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
Indelible - Brooke Fraser. (Haha, I want to be unremovable when I grow up.)

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
My Desire - Jeremy Camp. (WHOKAY.)

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
What the World Will Never Take - Hillsongs.

WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
Light A Candle - Avalon.

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
This Song Was Meant for You - Third Day. (Too bad you're dead and can't listen to it. But we're playing it anyway.) Haha..

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
Whole World In His Hands - Tim Hughes. (I'm not a "World Domination" kinda guy.)

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
Sooner Surrender - Matt Nathanson.

WHAT'S THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN?
Glory in The Highest - Chris Tomlin. (Why would that be the worst thing!??!)

HOW WILL YOU DIE?
Alive - Israel & Newbreed. (HAHAHAHHAHA, I thought Third Day's "This Song was Meant for You" was funny, but this takes the cake man.)

WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU REGRET?
All I Need is You - Hillsongs.

WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH?
Love Song - Rick Pino.

WHAT MAKES YOU CRY?
The Centre - Matthew West. (Why so many Matthew Wests.)

WILL YOU EVER GET MARRIED?
Born Again - Third Day.

WHAT SCARES YOU THE MOST?
Refuse to be Denied - Desperation Band.

DOES ANYONE LIKE YOU?
Fresh Fire - Don Moen. (DON MOEN?!! Why are you in my itunes?!)

IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE
Much of You - SCC.

WHAT HURTS RIGHT NOW?
How do I Love Her -

WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS?
Beautiful One - CFNI.

Desmond and the Opened Purse.

I had a lecture today, which required a certain book. The thing was, I completely mangled my reading schedule, and so I had to buy the book 15 minutes after the lecture started. And by the time I reached the lecture, I was 30 minutes late.

Then the 2 hour lecture ended an hour earlier, which meant I used the ridiculous book for only half an hour. And we're not using the book next week. And it was expensive.

I love lit, but seriously, I think I hate these books.

Desmond & "Somebody turn off that light!"

I took a quick look at my archive for Jan 09, and I'm pleased to see (12) beside it.
Nice to know I've still been writing.

And I've realised that the past 4 entries have had photos from my camera. That means I've slowed down in looking at photos on flickr. i need some me-time.

I slept more yesterday than I have the previous few days. Which is a nice change, because I love me my sleep. On Saturday I actually woke up to my own shouting. Which strangely, sounded unfamiliar to me.

Oh bugger. Somebody turn off the light.

Desmond and Echoed Picture-timents.

I don't have a clue who took this shot of me with my camera, but it sure did echo how I've been feeling the past few days -- sick.

I think the late nights have really taken it's toll on me -- an old, old, man. Still, it was a whole lotta fun.

Desmond & The Insistence.

Because I'm neurotic like that.

Desmond and the CNY Borne of the Reel.

My uncle passed me a stack of DVDs today. Some were DVDs I used to watch in his room as a kid. I had a mild surprise as I remembered; despite what I said two entries ago, I did watch and enjoy loads of Mandarin flicks as a young boy!

It was like flipping through a yearbook and remembering classmates whom I'd long forgotten. I grinned as I looked through the DVDs - I used to watch Mandarin horror flicks!!! Asian horror flicks are wayyyyy scarier than Hollywood ones!

We forgot to take the ones we wanted when we left, and so my brother and I rushed back to get them while our parents waited downstairs. My uncle was giving us a ride home, and had gone to get the car.

Once at the front door, we realised that my grandfather had locked the gate, and gone into the kitchen. So we spent a few minutes shouting for our rather-deaf grandpa, who of course, played his part well -- he didn't hear us at all.

We were desperate, and desperate times called for desperate measures. So, braced with desperate measure-ment, I sort of "broke into" the house, with a little sticky-finger-ing. I was terribly nervous, because I didn't want the neighbours to think I was a burgler. And I didn't want to scare my grandfather to a premature death if he suddenly walked out and saw two figures sneaking around.

Anyways, we went in, searched in panic, and got out of the house very quickly. And I had to reverse the "break in" which was also nerve-wrecking, because "unbreaking-in" looks just as bad as breaking in.

My grandfather never found out!

It was scary, but quite an adrenaline rush! And I felt like one of the brothers in Supernatural. They do a fair bit of lock-picking and breaking and entering, which was a reason I loved the show. (NOT because I love breaking and entering, but I liked the idea of the unlikely "break-the-law" kinda heroes.)

So that was my Chinese New Year.

(Thinking back, I realised my brother just ran out immediately after he got his DVD!! He didn't even wait for me to lock up! DANIEL!!! So I guess it wasn't like Supernatural after all. Dean and Sam are good accomplices!!)

Desmond and The Long (Night).

To Night

I love thee, mournful, sober-suited Night!
When the faint moon, yet lingering in her wane.
And veil'd in clouds, with pale uncertain light
Hangs o'er the waters of the restless main.

In deep depression sunk, the enfeebled mind
Will to the deaf cold elements complain,
And tell the embosom'd grief, however vain,
To sullen surges and the viewless wind.

Tho' no repose on that dark breast I find,
I still enjoy thee—cheerless as thou art;
For in thy quiet gloom the exhausted heart
Is calm, tho' wretched; hopeless, yet resign'd.

While to the winds and waves its sorrows given,
May reach—tho' lost on earth—the ear of Heaven!

- Charlotte Smith.

Desmond & The Clogged Mind.

I feel a little sad that it's been 5 days since I've blogged. And that the strong winds have died down a little. And I'm behind in my readings.

Things seem a little congested and rushed the past few days. Don't get me wrong - congestion and rushed emotions and thoughts aren't necessarily undesirable or unfortunate. And they aren't always about bad things anyway. Other things can clog one's mind by its sheer immensity. At the end of the day, only One Person remains.

Desmond and Red Cliff I.

I'm not a big fan of Mandarin films, but I watched Red Cliff with some of the guys last night. And the amazing thing was... I really, really, enjoyed the movie.

My father loves such Mandarin films, and now (for this particular one, at least) I understand why.

(I can't believe I can't wait to watch the second one!)

Desmond and The Continued Wind.

It's been incredibly windy today too!! I'm so happy! It really reminds me of the weather in Sydney, and even though we don't have the same clear blue skies, I love the shade of grey our skies carry!

-You make me happy, oh skies of grey.

Desmond and the Still of the Night.

The colour of the sky the past few nights has been exceptionally brilliant. I love seeing this shade in the sky at night. (Of course this picture from my window does it no justice.)

It's also incredibly windy tonight and that makes me feel incredibly good inside.

-Superior shot of night life, or no-life if you must.

There's something about the stillness and silence of night that captivates me.
Howling wind rushing through the still and silent night.

Desmond & Missing the Fun of Holidays.

I'd love for the holidays to come quick. Not that school has been bad. (How much can go wrong in the first week?) It's just that, new environments are hard to adjust to, what with new routines and new people. Silence is golden.

Desmond and The Empty Train Station.

I miss blogging and photosurfing for happy Ireland/Christmas stuff.

I miss having time to write the things I want to.

Desmond and The Heartbreaker, the Ex-Holidays.

What did you have to break my heart and end?

-I miss you already, holidays.

Desmond and The Little Notebook of NYR: 09'.

And so 2009 begins. (Or has begun, if you must.)

The start of the year always means resolutions that one gives up by the third week of January. But in case you last longer than 21 days, here's a breakdown of what that means.

After the first month of the year? You're not bad.
After the first month and a half of the year? You're good.
After the second month of the year? Expect Santa to bring you presents come December 09'.

After March? Chances are you meant, "Eat smaller meals in 09" as opposed to the "Eat meals in 09" you thought it was. Re-check your "Little Notebook of New Year Resolutions: 09".

After April? Check your watch, because you've probably dreamt the whole thing up. Then check your calender. It's probably still January.

So knowing resolutions hardly stick (for me), here's some of mine for this year.
1. Go bungee jumping by 3rd Jan 09'.
2. Have dinner on the 2nd Jan 09'.
3. End this entry soon.

- Which way now?

(Whadduyaknow! I've managed to fulfil my No. 3 already!)

Desmond and Damien the Irish Rice.

I did not know Damien Rice is Irish!
They really have some knack for music eh, these Irish lads and lassies.

Desmond and the Fun that was December O8'.

It's been an incredibly fun December, blogging-wise. I've blogged so much there should be a law against it. But its been loads of fun. Photosurfing and Christmas Whining makes for Happy Blogging.

It's highly possible the next time I blog this much would only be a few months later. Still, it couldn't hurt to try.
They say all good things come to an end. I disagree. I guess I prefer to have it as such: "Things end." Not all. But some do. Some good. Some bad. (Some) Things end.

Thank you December 08', Flickr, Yahoo!Uk&Ireland, Christmas, and Blogger. And especially Ireland. You've made this December highly enjoyable.

Till the next time we meet together again (except you of course, December 08').