Through The Looking Glass II

Happy Birthday to June!

Besides July (*wink wink*), the month of June has always held a special place in my heart.

It is a month choke-full of birthday celebrations, gathering with friends, and lots of catching up for old times sake. With the weekends occupied by irresistible hi-tea spreads and scrumptious buffets, this unusual mid-year season hands out an unofficial license for me to embark on my merry-making binge 6 months ahead!

It is thus a month you tell yourself to temporarily ditch that year-long plan to fight the battle of the bulge (middle-aged already), and enjoy the intoxicatingly delightful concoction of friends and food (and drinks, of course). Well, new year resolutions are seldom kept beyond the first couple of months anyway! Are they?!

I often wondered if there was some cosmic order somewhere in the past for June babies to contribute healthily to the annual population growth rate here! Or maybe it's got to do with the mating season? Hmm..

Anyway, for you, my Geminis and Cancerians pals, I did some homework and here're some trivial horoscope information. I observe with mild enlightenment and amusement some degree of accuracy in there. Anyhow, do take it with an ample pinch of salt lah. It's all in the name of good clean fun ;)

GEMINI

Gemini go everywhere together, hand-in-hand, symbolizing your dual nature. Our world comes in pairs: good and evil, male and female, in and out, yin and yang -- and you Geminis are living proof.

Some might say Gemini are an entanglement of paradoxes, but the truth is that Gemini have an easy acceptance of opposites. Gemini world is one of duality. Gemini can like this and that, one thing and its opposite. It's like you see your world through a radio and Gemini can tune experiences and points of view in and out as your interests change.

You Geminis are curious, talkative, versatile and mentally active. Your mind can bounce around from one topic to another with great ease, making Gemini the champion of cocktail party chatter and lighthearted social encounters. Others will think that Gemini are fun to be with, but your ability to change with the changing winds can also lead others to see Gemini as shallow.

Gemini motto might be "A rolling stone gathers no moss."

You are the eternally youthful child, no matter your chronological age. A razor-sharp wit can have you verbally dueling with the very best of opponents, who moments later are your best of friends. As you fly through life, don't forget to take time to smell the flowers.

Gemini Greatest Strength: Your curiosity about a variety of interests
Gemini Possible Weakness: Distracting yourself from what is most important

CANCER

Crabs live in the inter-tidal zone of the oceans, where tides rise and fall twice every day. This is the most dynamic and changeful place on earth, but also the most nutrient rich.

Because of the constant change, Cancer have developed a hard outer shell for protection. Cancer can use the hard outer shell of your home as your protection. But it's more than just that. Typically, your sensitive Cancer can hold your feelings quietly behind your own walls.

Crabs also have large pinching claws, and Cancer can hold onto things, especially from the past. Cancer are fiercely loyal and have a difficult time letting go. But Cancer are also quick to bring those you love inside the safety of your outer shell while you nurture them. Cancer love is protective, but unless tempered, can be smothering.

Cancer motto could be "A good defense is the best offense."

Like a Crab in its cave, your attack can consist of baiting your opponent into your territory. What appears to be a retreat to others can be your best aggressive tactic. As you feel your way through life, building your security by developing your home and family relationships, remember that unexpressed anger can turn into resentment and depression, so find someone you can trust and share your feelings.

Cancer Greatest Strength: Your ability to nurture others
Cancer Possible Weakness: Fear of the past repeating in the future


THE CELEBRITY CONNECTION

To help you boost your bragging rights at your parties, about which famous personality you share your birthday with, I've also done some online research on who they are, and what they do for a living. (Names of celebrities in brackets.)


Congratulations to everyone dear and near!


HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE JUNE BABIES!

1st: Kool Kae (Alanis Morisette - singer)

4th: Little Sis (Angelina Jolie - actress, aka Mrs Brad Pitt)

5th: Mummy Mandy (Mark Wahlberg - actor)

6th: Daddy Beaver (Bjorn Borg - tennis star)

8th: Master Oyster (Joan Rivers - host)

12th: Mr Atas (George H.W. Bush - former president)

15th: Mistress of A's (Courteney Cox - actress, of "Friends" fame)

16th: Mischievous Mike (Phil Mickelson - golfer)

21st: Mr DIM no more (Prince William - erm.. prince?)

23rd: Mummy Jan (Selma Blair - actress, of "Hellboy" fame)

26th: Flying Dragon (Chris Isaak - singer)

26th: Ace Daddy (Derek Jeter - Major League Baseball star)

30th: Mummy Nan (Fantasia Barrino - singer, "American Idol")


P.S. CALLING FOR BABIES PICTURES:

If you are kind enough to contribute your baby picture for my personal project (picture of you as a baby, not picture of your offspring!), please email the JPEG to donutfactory@gmail.com.

All contributions will be greatly appreciated.

And no, you don't have to be born in June!

Quotable Quote

One half of knowing what you want ..

.. is knowing what you must give up before you get it.

~ Sidney Howard

Quotable Quote

How am I going to live today
in order to create the tomorrow I'm committed to?

~ Anthony Robbins

Through The Looking Glass

Abandoned, Discovered

As part of my photography class assignment, students have to submit a photo essay of what they wish to shoot: the idea and rationale behind it, etc, etc. (An A4-size paper worth of essay, mind you!)

Our shooting homework for subsequent weeks would then be to take pictures according to the photo idea and theme that we submitted in the essay.

I have an interesting mix of classmates from different parts of the world. Besides the locals, I have classmates who hail from German, France, USA and Holland.

This Dutch classmate, I call him "Wolverine", cos he looks just like the X-man character in the film!

Wolverine has an interesting idea for his photo assignment - to capture pictures of abandoned buildings!

Yes, old buildings that have been abandoned. If you think it's easy to find them in Singapore, think again.

In its efforts in modernization, I see this small country sparing no efforts in ensuring old useless buildings are torn down to give way to glossy high-rise skyscrapers, while interesting old buildings are methodically restored to their past glory, and then converted into shophouses or museums (but seldom do they get abandoned to rot)!

Anyway, Wolverine uses his animal instinct to successfully track down this abandoned building, located - of all places - in the heart of town! (It's actually tucked away in some inconspicuous corner of Grange Road.)

So with a mix of excitement and trepidation yesterday, Wolverine and I (two otherwise law-abiding fellows) walked quietly up the path, sneaked a glance at each other and muttered "let's go" before trespassing into an area that is obviously private-owned.

For our efforts, we were rewarded with a dilapidated bungalow towering over us. Yes, for sure, it's abandoned. And for a long time too.



It looks like it could be home to a respectable middle class family in its hey days. Overlooking an open overgrown field, the 2-storey house boasts large windows and a little front porch area strewn with rotting woods and overgrowing weeds.




Stepping into the house, you are greeted with graffiti on the walls, shards on the floor, algae everywhere, and more rotting planks of decaying wood.






If you were there, you would witness two grown men tiptoeing their way gingerly around inside the house, all for the great art of photography!

(Ringing in my head is the "995" number that I dutifully inform my fellow trespasser, when he asked me just moments ago what's the emergency phone number for ambulance in Singapore.)

When we both saw the interior ceiling, we were horrified. We instinctively turned to look at each other, and agreed that it's just a matter of time before the ceiling collapses - it's just a question of when!

We may be brave, but we're not foolhardy.. thus we eventually decided against going upstairs.

The graffiti at the stairwell ominously foretells "Shinning Path" (sic).



As you can see... the whole place looks kinda spooky, really - even in broad daylight.





In case you're wondering, my photo essay idea is not to shoot abandoned places.

My presence here was requested by this dear classmate who thought that he could use an extra buddy around, to help call the ambulance or something...

... you know..

... just in case the roof collapses on him...

.. or he chances upon a visiting Mighty Python or Black Widow.

(OK. If you must know, these are scenarios painted by him, not me!)






I hope our super hero manages to capture some shots for his homework.



All these precious pictures you see here are taken by his bodyguard, who risked life and limb and broke the law to obtain these pictures, so you won't have to ;)

It was an interesting experience, thanks to Wolverine. In any case, I'm just glad it was a case of cry wolf :)

Door of Opportunities

Difficulties are opportunities to better things; they are stepping stones to greater experience.

When one door closes, another always opens.