Update in 10 points

1. Still editing. Still working on a project that makes me feel like I'm going through a wringer (you know, the old-fashioned kind that you don't want your fingers to get caught in). May begin doing something new later this year.

2. Finally got a new phone. Only the second I've ever purchased in Singapore (last one was a Nokia 8210 bought in early 2001). It's the sleek new slider, the D820, by Samsung. I've made my own wallpapers (snapped them off the PC's screen with the camera phone) and ringtones (cut and edited MP3s). Random selection of ringtones - It Feels Good To Be A Gangsta, Hooch, Superman (by Lazlo Bane), Darth Vadar's theme. Current wallpaper - Emily the Strange.

3. Found a cheaper site to purchase tango shoes from. Returned the ones ordered earlier (which didn't fit well anyway, and the heel was too low) from the N. American site and am now waiting very impatiently for new ones to arrive (direct from Buenos Aires, from the very workshop that makes the shoes for said N. American company - same design, just much cheaper).

4. Big brother has left for US again. Grad school, but not at Michigan. Illinois, at Urbana-Champaign. Two hours south of Chicago, one of my favorite cities. Residence to one of my favorite public libraries, wonderful parks, great cheesecake, deep-dish pizza, a huge aquarium. I'll stop here.

5. I have a new daily tote. My mom's been threatening to throw out my old bag (a grey tote I've been using since 2000 and refusing to relinquish) ever since the fraying threads got longer and the grey fabric started beading up a lot. Since we were buying luggage at Robinsons the other day, I thought I'd check out what was on sale at the handbags section. Found a spacious black faux leather bag for $30. It's big enough to put all my usual crap in (wallet, phone, keys, notebook, pens, vouchers/coupons stash, miniature toiletries - including six different lip products, of which I use only one; why I retain the rest is a mystery - tissue, iPod, gum, Altoids, assorted papers and receipts) as well as an umbrella, a water bottle, and a book (probably a hardback if I wanted).

6. An old mentor from JC has been pushing me to write again and get something finished. She found out who my agent is and thinks I need to drop everything and write. Well, I just received a gift from my godsister who recently visited Iran and it sparked an idea. So I got started on something new, which is good, but not so good because I haven't finished up with the old yet. More research this summer.

7. I've developed a penchant for baked snacks from Sun Moulin bakery. Sure it's been around for a long time, but this past Thursday was when I really got round to checking out the tasty pastries and little cakes - flaky kaya fingers, dainty seasme puffs, banana-and-cream omelette rolls, small cheesecakes shaped like soap (I wanted to hold one plastic-wrapped cake below my nose and inhale deeply, but didn't think the folks around me would be too pleased).

8. Note on big brother again - I nearly forgot to mention that DSD and I successfully set him up with her friend, and it's taken off more splendidly than we expected. Drinks all around.

9. Playing tennis again. DSD is my trusty partner. We won't play with anyone else yet because we know of no others who would be big-hearted enough to tolerate our poorly returned - and at times hazardous - balls.

10. I'm looking forward to Ed Norton's new movies this year. If they ever reach our shores, that is. Down in the Valley and The Illusionist are small indie movies, so small they might not even get a wide distribution in the US. At least there'll be The Painted Veil with the lovely Naomi Watts. Can't wait. I'll just read this article a few more times before getting on with other things like oh, breathing.

Posted by Monoceros at May 21, 2006 12:41 AM