Just Like Heaven

Since a few of us are blogging about Uncle Bob and his friends coming to town and performing tomorrow and posting their lyrics, I decided to post my favourite lyrics of theirs also lah!

I hope they play this song tomorrow!

'Why are you so far away?' she said
'Why won't you ever know that I'm in love with you,
That I'm in love with you?'

You
Soft and only
You
Lost and lonely
You
Strange as angels
Dancing in the deepest oceans
Twisting in the water, you're just like a dream
Just like a dream.

- "Just Like Heaven" by The Cure

You're A Rocket Through Me

For the past week, it seems like the word of the day has been 'infidelity'. Now, I don't like to judge people and pretend to be some kind of moral compass or paragon of virtue. But one thing I absolutely cannot stand is infidelity. I've seen first-hand the damage it is capable of and how it tears relationships apart and destroys everything in a family or relationship.

Now, I am no stranger to temptation and I have to admit that I've been tempted before while in a relationship. However, I've never indulged in those temptations, because I had to think about how the other party would feel and how I would feel if I were cheated on. It's one of the worst things in the world and I think that it's something incredibly difficult to recover from and forgive.

There is absolutely no good reason to cheat on someone. If you're feeling neglected or unfulfilled regarding your current relationship, tell the bugger you're with and sort things out. If the relationship cannot be salvaged, break it off before you go off gallavanting with someone else. The main reason people don't break off their current relationship before cheating is because they want to have some kind of safety-net. In case things don't work out with Guy/Girl #2, they can always go back to Poor Sap #1.

Then again, there are relationships where both partners cheat on each other. These are the ones that baffle me the most. I'm not saying it is right because "it doesn't hurt anyone" as both parties have an 'understanding' but it's ripping value from the sanctity of marriage and the idea of being in love with one person and making sacrifices to be with that person.

At the end of the day, I guess I'm just disgusted with how some people are pissing all over the idea of being 'faithful' and thinking it is an option, not a must. Have our values degenerated to such a point where so many marriages end in divorce and the term 'MBA' (married but available) has become so commonplace that it's a joke?

Thankfully, there are still some people I know who scoff at infidelity, and there are some couples who give me some hope that not everyone can't keep their pants on. As Chris Rock famously said, "Every man is only as faithful as his options." That may be true on the surface, but at least I know of a couple of guys who would be glad to prove him wrong.

An End Has A Start

This is probably very meaningless, unexciting and bo-liao, but I thought it was interesting.

I was playing Text Twist (thanks to Redz, who reminded me of its addictiveness) and listening to my Itunes library on shuffle mode. As I was guessing the words, there were quite a few that I didn't manage to guess.

Interestingly, they corresponded with the song that was playing at the time (at random):

Word missed out: "Rev"
Song playing at the time: "Holes" - Mercury Rev

Word missed out: "Arcade"
Song playing: "Ocean Of Noise" - The Arcade Fire

Word missed out: "Editor" and "Edit"
Song playing: "An End Has A Start" - The Editors

Weird, huh? It still doesn't beat the time I read the word "fox cub" in a Murakami book and at that exact moment, my iPod shuffle played the song "Fox Cub" by Mew.

In case you've guessed that I'm a fan of random coincidences, you're a genius.

I Just Want Something, Something For Nothing

Sometimes I look at you and I think that you're maybe the only person I have met so far who has the potential to understand me inside out. And sometimes, I look at you and I wonder if you will ever let down these impenetrable walls that you've built around yourself all these years. Sometimes you let me have a peek, just the quickest glimpse, and I see the stuff that I've been looking for in a person for so long.

I don't know when you're going to let me in and fully trust me. It's still too early for that, we've known each other for a few months but I find that you understand me better than some people who have known me for years. And I do understand you, but sometimes I don't know how to tell you that without making light of your situation.

I'm not in love with you - I'm not that naive or stupid to think that love (the true, deep, tried-and-tested, go-through-all-kinds-of-shit, unconditional kind) can develop so easily over such a short period of time, but if I continue down this path with you, in a year or maybe even ten, it is definitely going to happen.

I just hope that I'm not chicken-shit enough to stay through the rough times and still be here when it happens. Although you're so closed-up and secretive, sometimes you say the most astounding things to me that give me hope that I will still be here always, as I promised.

"Alright, so I guess I owe you some form of payment then."
"Your continued existence alone is payment enough."

This Is The End, The Final Showdown

So it's finally over. Brazil has won the Copa America, beating my beloved Argentina 3-0, one of which was an own goal by Ayala. I can't imagine how he feels, being the team captain and accidentally sabo-ing his country with an own goal. Poor guy.

They just showed a teary-eyed Pablo Aimar on TV. ARGGHH I cannot tahan!

I don't know what's wrong with Argentina today. They were in top form during the match against Mexico, but Brazil were smart enough to stop the Argies from getting into the rhythm of the game. Once they establish that particular rhythm (usually led by Riquelme) it's hard to stop them. So the Brazilians amassed a ridiculous number of yellow cards and fouls JUST to stop Argentina from gaining momentum. Sad, but I have to take my hat off to Brazil for knowing which tactics to use.

Poor Argentina - I hope they don't become a perpetual underdog, because they are far too brilliant a team for that. I'll be crossing my fingers for South Africa 2010 - players like Messi, Mascherano and Tevez will be older and far more formidable. That will be our year.

In the meantime, please let me wallow in depression as I watch my poor boys accept the silver medals.

¡Ay Caramba!

Tonight (or rather, tomorrow morning at 8.50am Singapore time) Argentina will be playing against Mexico in the Copa America semi-final. I'm so bloody excited but pissed because I have to work! I really want to watch the match but I don't think I can find a replacement for tomorrow in such a short time. Sigh.

Argentina has a really good chance of beating Mexico because the main Mexican striker (Castillo) is injured. True, Crespo (Argentine striker) is also injured, but the coach has a wealth of talent to choose from. Most likely, Messi (Pocket Messi is my family's nickname for my favourite player ever, haha) will be in the starting line-up and it's either Tevez or Milito who will pair up with him. In midfield, the playmaking wizard Riquelme will DEFINITELY be featured, unless the coach Basile goes nuts mid-match and pulls him out, just like the previous coach Pekerman.

I really hope Argentina win this one and go on to kick Brazil's ass. I mean, Brazil is a good team, I have to admit, but I'm sick of their overinflated ego and showboating. If they didn't have Robinho, they would have been chopped up by Uruguay into guacamole (Ronaldinho and Kaka opted to sell- sorry, sit out.) It's time for a -real- team to win the Copa. And Argentina seriously deserve it after what they had gone through in last year's World Cup.

Crossing my fingers and toes and eyes for them. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE WIN!

With A Little Help From My Friends

What do I do when I'm angry and depressed? I do the first sensible thing that I've done in months - I stay away from the internet and hang out with my friends and colleagues. The second sensible thing? For the past few days, I have been listening to nothing but pop and dance music. Because it's mindless, it's fun and you don't have to think. And there's really nothing wrong with that. Because if you think too much, either your brain is going to explode, or you're going to go berserk and gun down your local post office. And I'm quite fond of our neighbourhood postman.

I thought I would be getting 2 weeks off to clear my head and get my act together, but apparently not. I have so many errands to run and stuff to finish that I really need to make full use of the 2 off days I do have.

Although there has been a lot of criticism of Live Earth, I really think they got two things right: friends and pop music. Because those two things have a curious but indisputable way of curing what ails you.

Nobody Loved You

In this world, personality and character counts for nothing. Proof in point: you can be extremely good-looking and literally get away with murder, but no one cares if you're ugly and intelligent/funny/smart/hardworking/whatever, because the good-looking person will always have the upper hand.

I don't care anymore about the whole don't-judge-a-book-by-its-cover because that is just simply bullshit. Human beings will do what is natural for our survival - assess the potential threat at a glance, then size them up immediately based on appearance. Whatever second impressions there are later are just flukes or accidental.

Although there are a few people out there who still believe in the goodness of people or the fact that personality overpowers looks, I give them a maximum of 10 years to become utterly jaded and cynical. There is no use fighting the system. Otherwise, why would the cosmetic surgery industry be raking in billions?

And yes, I'm pissed off right now and hurt and angry and disappointed, but it's not the first time, and it sure as hell won't be the last.

Erase And Rewind

Finally we had 'The Talk'. I can't describe how relieved I feel in so many ways. We're probably going to talk about this again later, but in the meantime, a lot of my concerns and fears were addressed. I finally know what's going on and it wasn't half as bad as I imagined. Things are going to get better.

I remember friends who have told me that I was foolish, and even a colleague who frankly told me that this was 'stupid' and 'not to waste my time'. And I also had friends who encouraged me, who listened to me go on for hours and who really understood and never judged me. The thing is, I knew that both groups really cared about my welfare, because it takes a lot of guts to stand up to your friend and tell them that you're afraid they're doing the wrong thing and they're only going to get hurt in the end.

I have to admit that I still don't know what's going to happen. But I do know that it's not as bleak as I imagined, and there is a lot more hope now.