45 posts tagged “xiaomei”

Mahliza, my 12-year-old niece, got addicted to Why Why Love while we were vacationing. Her mom, my cousin took her to the salon to have her hair rebonded. It was going to take three bloody hours so I let her borrow my iPod so she won't get bored. for some reasons, she ended up watching WWL. I have no idea how or why. she was raised in the US, have no idea about Asian dramas (her older sister loved to watch Gossip Girl in my iPod) and yet, she got addicted to a Taiwanese drama whose stars she hasn't even heard of. and since then, she'd watch the episodes every day and ask me questions on why this happened etc. To an innocent (and extremely shy) 12-year-old girl, there were things in the drama that were still not within her comprehension I suppose. And it was refreshing to see it from the perspective of a young girl. I was happy of course when she told me she prefers Huo Da (Mike) than Huo Yan (Kingone) for Jia Di (Rainie). A light bulb quickly lighted up in my head... I just recruited someone into the RM ship!

Mahliza's four-year-old brother, TJ bonded with my sister so much they were practically inseparable. TJ has lots of allergies and he survives only through French fries, rice crispies, milk and apple juice. The first time I saw him, he practically hid under my cousin's skirt except she wasn't wearing a skirt. It took a while for him to warm up to me and even then, not totally warmed up. But he's such a sweet little boy who loves to say "I love it here" in his soft voice.

One time, Mahliza and I were talking about WWL and her 10-year-old sister Allyson joined us. Ali is such a bubbly kid, the kind with the witty comebacks in sitcoms. And I told them about Devil Beside You.

Me: It's a story about stepsiblings who fell in love with each other.
Mahliza & Ali: Eww! Stepsiblings?
Ali: That's gross!
Me: Not exactly, they're not related by blood.
Ali: But still... you mean, they go to the same school, go home to the same house and they're dating?!
Me: That's why the drama is so interesting. You wanna watch it? But you have to promise me you'd watch it only after you do your homework otherwise, I'd be in trouble with your mom.
Ali: Well, we do homework for like 10 minutes and after that we're free to do anything.

Now I have to burn DBY and WWL for my new recruits to the RM ship.

"KC tells me they are just friends. My friend’s kids also say the same thing. Hindi na ba uso sa panahong ito ang makipag-on (laughs)? Iba na talaga ang generation ngayon (is it no longer common these days to go into a formal relationship? Today's generation is really different)."-- Gabby Concepcion when asked about his daughter KC and RG.

Actually, KC or GC or RG are not the point of this post.

I've just been thinking... "just friends", "very close friends", "close friends" must be the euphemism for boyfriend-girlfriend these days. My OTP both swear they're just very close. Hmmm.

I was browsing at Kino over the weekend looking for Outliers (SOLD OUT!!!) when I came across a book on writing and I lazily flipped through the pages. One thing, I really avoid reading books that tell you how to write well, how to improve your writing etc etc. Short of dummies' guide to writing although reading that would be fun I suppose than reading an all-too-serious book telling you you should write like this or that. An editor told me that the best way to improve your writing is to read other people's writings. And to practice until you achieve a style that you're comfortable with. And never to follow a book that guides you step by step on how to or not to write.

Going back to the book, I came across one of the advice. And that is, write like you're viewing the scene through a camera. Meaning don't view it from a single angle alone. View it from different angles. 3D. Like a camera was turning around the scene and capturing the peripheries.

I really found that interesting. I've been told I'm so detailed in my writing. I've noticed that too. I guess it's either I have an overactive imagination or I turn a scene round and round in my head to get the story I want. But yeah, I like reading stories that do not just tell you from one POV. I just hope that while telling my story, I do not get lost in the details. Though I really enjoy it when I can visualise the story and makes me feel like watching a movie.

What is it about Taiwanese stars and those yellow taxis? I just read today about Jolin and Show meeting up at the Regent for an ad collaboration, but what caught my attention was how she caught a taxi from her company. This is not the first time I've come across news stating that this star and that took a taxi to go somewhere else.

Even Jerry Yan takes a taxi... Cheng Lin met an accident once while riding a taxi... XiaoMei was seen hailing a taxi (previous post) after a late night with friends at a KTV. A lot of other stars too... don't they have cars? Or drivers to take them around? Or if they're too stingy to pay for gas, can't their companies provide a service for them? I'm not saying it's demeaning. It's nice that they still strive to live like ordinary mortals. But isn't that a risk too? What if they encounter stalkers or deranged fans. Or get kidnapped? This just boggles my mind. And yeah, wouldn't it be exciting to be a taxi driver in Taipei?

Taiwan has just implemented a stiff 'no smoking' law. No smoking on modes of transport and in indoor areas of public establishments like stations, KTVs, Internet cafes, manga rental stores, theatres and restaurants unless there are designated smoking rooms.

oh no XiaoMei... what will you do? You were caught by the paps smoking in the car and even littering while driving once... and smoking while hailing a taxi (below, an old photo like two years ago?). The fine for individual offenders is $300... small change for him I guess.

Taiwan is the 17th country to impose such stiff law.

This story made me cry this morning.

 

Wong Wong is a 10-year-old black mutt in Taiwan who's been waiting for five years outside his old home for his owner to come back. The owner has died and the dog was kicked out from the house. Volunteers are trying to find a home for him. Brings to mind Hachiko in Tokyo. That's why dogs are called man's best friends. Such loyalty. I miss my dogs.

(Indulge me since I need to cheer myself up after reading that news... ChengLin, in a recent TV guesting, says she likes guys who loves dogs (since she's allergic to cats) and the next thing that happens is XiaoMei is in the news saying he has a dog named MiuMiu (while her dog is named Yumi) and he often takes her for a walk. What's funny, MiuMiu is not even his dog, it is his meimei (younger sister)'s dog. Maybe XiaoMei should adopt Wong Wong...)

Only happens every 48 years... when Jupiter, Venus and the Moon form a smiling face. Such a nice way to start December... on a day that there is so much "smart" love too. Are you watching this???

P.S. just have to add this from a friend reassuring me on something:
See, even the moon is smiling. Let's just be happy. Why fret about things we're not even sure of.

A photograph is a secret about a secret. The more it tells you, the less you know. -- Diane Arbus