Sunday, January 31, 2010

Sartorialista 10:58 AM

Decided to try my hand at some more fancy photography.. including macro, infinity and shots with different ISO speeds. Because I am training myself to take on the DSLR!!! Wahaha.

What better subject for fashion photography than myself to brush up photography skills and improve my feel for fashion right (so bhb kns.. haha dont laugh!)

Satin-feel collar and cotton sweater..

Searching for the right angle..

Green sweater with black turtleneck for the cold days.... wait did I do this combi before?

A more casual look.. for the less frigid days.. in my gap peacoat and white scarf.

Practising photography means not just taking one subject, but multiple. So freshly popped corn became my 2nd subject... haha healthy (reduced fat) snack!

Attempting a more artsy shot..

Mix and match: Banana republic sweater (gotten at a discount, a total steal! Very proud of myself) and Cotton-on floral shirt.
I'm becoming a fan of casual/formal mix-and-matching. Gives unexpectedly good results sometimes! Of course, experiment with a few different combination before going out.. to give yourself a feel of how things look.


Saturday Jan 30th 2010: snowy day! Flurries were forecasted with 1-2 inches accumulation expected, but the storm turned North unexpectedly resulting in a full day of snow and 4-7 inches accumulation, and weather alert upgraded from winter weather advisory to warning.
Infinity+high ISO shot to capture falling flakes..

Winter wonderland early in the day..

Cars starting to get snow capped..

Flakes falling from the sky..

View from my couch..

Holly the reindeer on my couch.. watching snow fall (she's another subject of mine!)

"Ahh the bliss.."

Snowy sidewalk and bushes..

The aftermath, when its not so fun anymore.. the great digout!

Before..

Starting the digout..

Sweeping snow off the windows (in case you can't see clearly, the reflection shows me in my eskimo cap because it was -8 degrees C outside... ooh frozen fingers.. forgot my gloves at home FML)

Halfway done! Good job KS!

Almost cleared of the snowy mess...

Yay all completed!

That was not so bad after all.. the snow was really fluffy and none of it has really melted yet and stuck fast to the glass, so it was not that hard a job. Tougher to stomach was the cold hehe..

Okay! Till next time!

Saturday, January 30, 2010

F My Life 3:45 PM

I just thought of a total 100% FML moment I had with this gay friend of mine so I gotta write it down because it was too traumatizing. Anyway one day he was talking to this lady and talking about setting her up with a guy blahblah (a straight guy not a gay guy... he knows straight guys too) and I just jokingly interrupted "Hey that's not fair, how come you never ever set me up with any guy??" And he replied, "But you have a boyfriend though! Or at least, I thought he was your boyfriend until I realized he's gay." FML.

PS he's not talking about Weijie..

snow! 10:58 AM

Oh the contradictory feelings of wanting to wake up early today to watch snow falling, and the throbbing hangover that makes me want to close my eyes and go back to bed. Finally got up at 12 noon, a little food and hot coffee took care of the nausea and back to snow watching! Flakes falling! Will upload some pictures soon whee! There's an inertia to move when beautiful snow is falling slowly outside. Let me enjoy this moment before it turns slushy and gross.

Sunday, January 17, 2010

project runway (pirated version) 8:58 PM

Lately been hooked on this fashion photographer's blog, the sartorialist. He's pretty famous, seeing as how he gets invites to almost all fashion events. Ivy probably told me about this before, because it jogged my memory when I read about him from Marie Claire. There are a couple things that struck me about this dude.. firstly, he doesn't go for just high end fashions, although like all self-respecting fashion photographers he can spot a manolo blahnik when he sees one. And he can probably also tell you which season which year its from. But no, he photographs everybody from runway model to flea market hawker. Anyone who dresses not just fashionably, but also interestingly.

Another thing that struck me about him is his photography. This guy is probably photographer first, fashionista second. A lot of fashion photographers make models pose and then take shots from angles that look best etc. But this guy, he has to work with what he has, to shoot just random people walking in the streets. Precisely because of how difficult that is, and yet how he always manages to capture that picture perfect moment. Below is my favourite picture so far, beautiful woman strolling on the beach, colorful sundress, straw bag, beaded sandals, dog beside her. The best part? The setting sun at the back.

To be able to capture that perfect moment, where each step looks so random, relaxed, yet so beautiful. Amazing. Maybe I should pick up fashion photography as a hobby.. since I'm interested in fashion, I'm interested in photography.. now I just need to get that DSLR.. hmm waiting for my angbao money heehee.

Back to my boring version of project runway.. now I feel so inadequate kns.

Green sweater, black turtleneck. According to sartorialist, thats the 2 hottest elements this season in France (or was it Italy). SCORE!

This is what happens when I tried to be artistic. I was testing the Macro function in my canon.. apparently didn't turn out too well, although some might argue I look best this way kns.

This was the day between when the weather was crazy cold and today when the weather suddenly went really warm. So that was a really perfect balance between cold and warm, the temperature winter should be like. (pretend u cannot see that unmade bed behind.. i know its a far cry from a beach and setting sun as a background)

My favourite sweater this season from Banana republic, with black turtleneck. Love it because of its unique color, and how its 40% wool so it keeps me really warm, and how it doesn't get 'hairy' after repeated washes hehe

Same sweater, pink top. A more casual look.

On a particularly cold day... all wrapped up.

Plaid... last season's favourite but too comfortable.. love it!

Thats all folks.. look out for more as KS tries to polish up her photography!

Saturday, January 9, 2010

Say No To Whiners! 12:38 PM

Have you seen those facebook messages/msn messages that go, "Have to go back to work on a weekend (insert sad smiley)" or "It's 10pm and I'm still at work (insert sad smiley)" or "Working late again" "Working on a weekend again" " Back at work on a holiday" "Back at work on New Years Day" blahblah. Doesn't it really get on your nerves? I sometimes feel like shaking these people and telling them, STOP WHINING! If work is all you have to worry about, YOU SHOULD BE GLAD!

You have to pardon me if I feel no sympathy for these people. You see, living all alone in a foreign country, and doing my PhD in a top university, of course I have a lot to worry about for work. I go to work every weekend almost, and stay late almost everyday, sometimes the only person working in the entire building. And see, for me it doesn't stop there. When I am about to go home, I think about which road to walk home from so that its safest. I wonder if anyone is going to jump me when I'm walking home late at night after work. Then when I finally come home from work, I have to think about what to cook for dinner, because eating out over here, unlike in Singapore, is too expensive for me to do on a daily basis. I mostly end up eating instant noodles cos I'm too tired to cook. And then there's the weather. Is it going to be windy tomorrow? Is it going to snow? Are the roads going to be icy (if its a weekend and I'm driving to work)? What kind of clothes should I wear? And then there's more. Checking the mail, seeing if there's any forgotten bill to be paid, checking the laundry, seeing if it needs to be done by today, looking around the house, seeing if it needs to be tidied.

And then there are the miscellaneous stuff that pop up along the way. Have I filed my taxes? Is it time for me to change the engine oil for my car? Is it time for the tyres to be rotated? Can it start up today (for the day after I got AAA to jumpstart my car)? Is it time to review my insurance so that I might be able to get a cheaper insurance? Is there a cheaper apt to rent/buy? And when things break down around the house, how do I fix it? (I usually just go to youtube and search 'how to do XXX', very useful!) And when it snows, I will wonder, should I go down and brush the snow off my car? And when it rains, should I go scrape the ice off my car (if the temperature dips below freezing) before it freezes hard to my windshield? And when household equipment break down to unfixable states, I will have to go search for a replacement and buy it.

But of course, this is not just about me. All I'm trying to say is, having to do all these alone is hard, having to take care of myself in a foreign country is hard. Sometimes I do wish life can give me a break. Sometimes I also wish there were a man around to help me with random stuff. But I don't complain/whine. Because I know that I'm not the only one doing this. There are many friends living here who have to go through the same things everyday. And many others who have a lot more to take care of than the above, those who have little ones at home to take care of, who have aged parents to take care of, those who have lost their jobs and do not even have a home to live in any more, having to face the harsh winter every night in the streets.

That is why I get so annoyed when I see people whine. Especially when they deem it their mission to make sure everyone in their friends list see their whinings. And usually its those people who have the least to whine about who whine the loudest. My message to those people, enough already! Suck it up and just do what you gotta do because there's no getting around it. Whining is not going to help. And to those of you who read this, help me out here. If any of your friends whine, do me a favor and get them to shut up. This is becoming a whiny epidemic! For the future of our fellow countrymen (yes because its Singaporeans living in Singapore who whine the most), this has to stop!

Friday, January 1, 2010

merry xmas and a happy 2010!! 10:57 AM

Hello all! Sorry for the lack of updates, been busy with lots of people visiting. Firstly merry christmas and a happy new year 2010 is here! Here are some select pictures I got in my camera, not in order, the rest are with the parents!

The most famous christmas tree in the world, at Rockefeller center. Thats my mom... freezing her ass off ahhaa

With flash.. no good.

Crazy tourists on horse carriages...

Bro and I at busy Times Square near midnight... crazy packed with tourists.

Mom and dad.

Times square again.. different angle.

Times square again.. another different angle. Kao this is starting to feel like a photo shoot.

Bro and I, a different angle.

Bro and I again, another different angle.

Inside the statue of liberty museum.. the original torch! Or something.

Outside the statue of liberty, the national park, snowy still after the monster snow storm.

Another snowy angle.

Me and the lady, again.

Bro and the lady.

The lady herself.

Me in my eskimo headgear.. it was a particularly cold week!

Ahhh coffee....

Snowy NYC...

Lincoln tunnel... leading into NYC.

This is why I decided never to ever drive into NYC again.

In the bus en route to NYC, this must be somewhere along New Jersey. There were still alot of snow removal going on after the monster snow storm.

The sun was rising...

rising sun reflecting off the snow..

Rising sun reflecting off some frozen lake..

Caught in a blizzard! 12-21-09. Dubbed the Blizzard of '09.

Long forgotten pictures from the long ago project hahaha..

Wearing my new sweater..

Turtleneck.

Wool scarf bought long ago from J Crew.

When it wasn't so cold yet.

short sleeved sweater..

Okay! Lets give an update about my life. Since my last entry, I have:

1. Received my parents
2. Brought them here into my home
3. Got caught in my first blizzard in Baltimore
4. Learned that driving with 22 inches of snow on the ground is a no-no
5. Gotten my car stuck in snow/ice
6. Gotten my car stuck in snow/ice a second time
7. Gotten my car stuck in snow/ice a third time
8. Gotten someone to drive my car out of the snow for me
9. Gotten someone's help pushing my car out of a pile of snow that I reversed into unknowingly
10. Gotten someone's help pushing my car out of an ice puddle I drove head on into while trying to park
11. Had my dad secretly gun my car engine while trying to park my car after sending me to buy salt to de-ice the ice around my tyres
12. Smelt the burned rubber and smoking engine after I got back
13. Deiced the area around my tyres so I won't have to do that ever again
14. Went to Atlantic City with my parents for the first time
15. Got into a dispute with the management office
16. Went to NYC with my parents
17. Showed them around NYC, to the many places the lousy tour did not bring them to
18. Met up with Emily
19. Spent Christmas eve and Christmas day in NYC, eating dim sum and korean food
20. Sent my parents and brother off and did not cry
21. Met up with Kim
22. Took a bus back to Baltimore
23. Took a cab back from the bus station to home and almost got kidnapped by the cab driver, whose cab stank of urine and happily drove past my home for a couple blocks, prompting me to yell at him and almost jumped off his cab
24. Swore to myself never to take a cab alone again unless I have taken precautionary measures
25. Went back home and went straight to lab the next day
26. Saw that no one was on vacation and felt really bad (oops no talk about work)
27. Still in a dispute with my management office
28. Seriously considering buying my own apartment now
29. Got a flat battery after leaving the lights on inside my car while I was checking on her after coming back from NYC
30. Considered sitting on the ground and wailing after numerous jump start attempts did not get her to start again
31. Got AAA membership after urging from friends
32. Picked Jing up and showed her around the Inner Harbor and brought her for crab cakes
33. Went with her and Indra and Kahjing to Philly to see the Liberty Bell and the Chinatown, didn't manage to see the Independence Hall before it closed
34. AAA rocks! Jumpstarted my car with one try and told me not to bother with getting a new battery cos mine works fine, and most importantly it was all free!
35. Drove Jing to Silver Spring for dim sum and then went to DC for sightseeing
36. Sent her off via shuttle because it was snowing again and I did not dare to take my car out again
37. Went back to lab on NYE and EVERYONE was there making me feel super bad again (oops no more work!!)
38. Went to watch Avatar with Indra and Kj on NYE, counted down in the car, car stopped right in front of my gate as the fireworks erupted behind us, thank you for welcoming me home Baltimore!
39. Spent New Year's Day at home watching DVDs cos I got no friends around nothing to do and I think watching DVDs is a bit better than going to lab

Okay thats all for the updates... hehe till next time!

Welcome to the blog of 武林盟主. In this space of hers, she is entitled to and responsible for her own thoughts and comments. You are welcome to give your few cents worth in the tag, but do not force her to accept your thoughts should they differ from hers. If everyone thinks the same way we would all be robots no?

武林盟主 is this pugilistic genius everyone calls a deranged lunatic. But that's cos they haven't witnessed her great powers yet! She can be regarded as the best product coming from the Pugislistic World in the past 100 years, and 武當, 少林 and 峨嵋 are scrambling to get her to be their 掌门人. She likes think of herself as the next 杨过, 郭靖 or 张无忌.

武林盟主 also has this slightly straight slightly crooked sexuality. At times when the Estrogen triumphs, she preys on hot guys. Other times when the Testosterone levels peak, she preys on hot girls. Some say that is a side effect of the 葵花宝典. Her doctors are still working to establish that.

Many say she's invincible. But that's not true. Bring a DURIAN in front of her, and she will ditch her sword and raise the white flag. She's still desperately trying to master the 闭气功 so she can overcome this weakness.

She now resides in a tiny little room in a tiny little building in a tiny little university/hospital in the tiny little city of Baltimore, studying her tiny little life away in the hopes of getting some Permanent Head Damage. If you feel you can communicate at her level and wish for her to be your soulmate, feel free send her a note of pugilistic admiration and alliance!