My God-Daughter's baptism

Lil Sharlotte received her Baptism today & I'm glad & thankful that my new class hadn't take off. Had it started, I wouldn't have been make it to church in time at 4pm since class would have been from 3-4pm. The ceremony was simple but seeing that I most likely will not get to experience my own child's baptism, being there for my God-Daughter was just as gd.

I've not seen the lil one since her 1st mth party on the 24th of last mth & how much she's grown... she coo-ed so much to me when I carried her & she kept looking, smiling & sticking her tongue out at me, when I played with her.. getting really cheeky now.. lol... she also knows know to complain when she gets disturbed or when we are talking abt her & screams her lungs out when she wants her milk.. lol.. my, my... a drama queen in the making =p

She's so chubby, esp her cheeks & her Dad keeps wanting to bite on them... as for me, I kept wanting to bite her arms... LMAO... she's our lil Michelin Man.. heh heh.. Sharlotte loves being carried upright & is very attentive to the things around her, can't imagine how she'll be like when she gets bigger.. it'll be fun getting to bring her out I'm sure... Her dad's dying for her to grow up but I told him, he better enjoy her now til she starts running & climbing around.. hahah

It's been 3 days...

I have to confess... up until now.. I am still in awe awe awe =p That evening watching the Royal Shakespeare Company present 'King Lear' was breath-taking & astounding.. Without a doubt, the one who left me in great awe & lost for words was none other than British theatre legend - Sir Ian McKellen. Call me biased but unless you have seen for yourself Sir McKellen in action (& I am NOT saying on the silver screen!!) or were present in the audience one of those nights, you will not understand why I said what I said.

From Thursday right straight to Friday before the play unfolded, I was totally anxious.. couldn't really believe I had one of those coverted tickets in my hands. Sure, my ticket might have been for a seat high high up in Circle 3 & cost $122, but I didn't give a damn.. it's Sir McKellen, so who cares abt anything else. Friday I had gone back to the office for a lil rehearsal for my company's D&D & I had to ask my collegues who had gone the night before. All 3 of 'em were left speechless and were raving abt the performance. That of course got me more anxious.. lol.. usually performances are on a high on the opening night, then drop into a lull & end on a high again but I trusted that this wouldn't be the case with the RSC.

The minutes passed & soon I made my way to the Esplanade, meeting 2 other collegues who were there for the show too. Very quickly, it was 15 to 8pm & we took our seats. The whole time as I waited for the theatre lights to dim, I felt like a child on Christmas morning, who had just awoken and was eager to fly under the Christmas tree to rip open the presents. Moments later, the actors came onstage & the magic started. The whole time I was only focused on one man - Sir McKellen.. of course I was taking in the rest but I won't deny that most of my attention was soaking the aura of that theatre great. Watching him perform, left me with goosepimples. Sir McKellen had initially declined to take on the heavy role of Lear but boy, was I glad he changed his mind. Sir McKellen's Lear was endearing, you could see before your eyes how he unfolded from an egostitical monarch to an old man fested upon insanity. The change towards insanity was so very subtle, you could literally see the struggle from within him, fighting against going mad. The rants in the storm were not overly done, with loud rants and abuses but subtle, slow and steady questions and doubts that were presented.

The rest of the cast were able to hold their fort as well, except Cordelia (Romola Garai) & the King of France (Ben Addis), who were a little plastic.. they seemed out of place.. Cordelia seemed to be moving through the emotions without carrying them forward. Frances Barber, who played Lear's eldest daughter, Goneril, was really great too, though at some moments she came across as too forward in character. Two other actors beside Sir McKellen who really left an impression on me were William Gaunt, who played the Earl of Gloucester & Sylvester McCoy, who played Lear's Fool. It is never ever easy playing the role of a Fool but McCoy did a wonderful job. In the scene where the two rejected fathers were lamenting their misfortunes - the Earl of Gloucester & Lear, it was so moving the exchange between the two actors, I fought to hold back my tears in vain. They both clearly portrayed the pain, hurt & anguish experience - one on the verge of insanity & the other having had his eyes gouged out.



The whole play took a total of 3 and a half hours but time wasn't of the essence... that was how it is, watching a Shakespearean play, what more one based on one of his greatest tragedy. I had to sit leaning forward to catch the full view because there was a barrier in front of me, but I couldn't be bothered.. here I was right in the front row of Circle 3 & right smacked in the centre.. it was still a good view & no barrier could change tt for me. Unfortunately tho', I had 2 dings sitting nearby.. one a "supposed" GP teacher on my left & a young boy (abt 17-20) a seat away on my right. That boy was giving his friend beside him a "know-it-all" about the best seats to get if one was back in the Shakespearean times at the Global Theatre... when the first scene opened and Cordelia took her spot to speak, Mr. Know-It-All commented rather loudly "Man, she's hot!" I'm like "Hello? You're here to watch a substance play, not to compare how hot or not the actresses were.. in case point, a shallow comment. Know what's worse? At the end of the performance, when Sir McKellen garnered a standing ovation, that same boy was shouting loudly "Magneto!!!" I almost slapped him!!! Come on, man.. Magneto.. Sir McKellen is way more than that X-Men character he played in the movies.. any "know-it-all" Shakespeare fan would know... & to even shout out "Magneto" at a Lear performance is plain juvenile.



Still, nothing could beat the "supposed" GP teacher.. for crying out loud, you claim to be a teacher & yet you know bananas abt theatre etiquette.. she kept moving forward & back in her seat, nevermind if you do it quietly but her seat kept creaking & to add to that, she had a plastic bottle at the side of her chair, so everytime she moved, the plastic crackled. URGH!!!!!!!! Then she kept fidgeting with her stupid shawl, kept flinging it over her shoulders again & again & the tasseled bits kept hitting me.. I was ready to take her shawl & strangle her!!! During the intermission, after she came back from outside, she asked to borrow my programme booklet and then was talking her friends just like the boy on my other side did abt how greatly knowledged she was.. talking abt how it was like having visited Stratford-upon-Avon, blah blah blah.. then she told me (dunno why.. not like I cared to know) that she had done theatre studies when she was at Cambridge. I was just thinking "Yeah, you studied theatre studies all the WAY in Cambridge & ur knowledge on theatre etiquette is like a clueless banana." Besides all that moronic behaviour, she added even more but putting her foot up on the wall's edge, under the barrier & then sitting cross-legged on the chair!!! OMG!!! It's not like ur feet are clean!!!

Despite these two, I refused to let my once-in-a-lifetime Sir McKellen-RSC experience fail.. it was mindblowing & had I had the money, I would have gone for all 3 shows.. I came home totally buzzed that night & wasn't able to sleep.. lol.. kept thinking of the whole performance.. I'm so glad I grabbed the chance even tho it meant days of bread & instant noodles.. nothing can compare to the rush I had watching the performance. I am also so glad that RSC chose to have a stopover at Singapore, making us their ONLY Asian stopover. I paid $15 for a huge RSC Lear poster even tho I hadn't much money left but I just had to get it.. I'll be working to get that huge poster framed & have it hung up in my own home.

This is the picture on my poster.. if only Sir McKellen had actually signed it =p

A day plus & counting..

Sir Ian McKellen... Sir Ian McKellen... Sir Ian McKellen... Sir Ian McKellen.... Sir Ian McKellen....
Sir Ian McKellen... Sir Ian McKellen... Sir Ian McKellen... Sir Ian McKellen.... Sir Ian McKellen....
Sir Ian McKellen... Sir Ian McKellen... Sir Ian McKellen... Sir Ian McKellen.... Sir Ian McKellen....
Sir Ian McKellen... Sir Ian McKellen... Sir Ian McKellen... Sir Ian McKellen.... Sir Ian McKellen....
Sir Ian McKellen... Sir Ian McKellen... Sir Ian McKellen... Sir Ian McKellen.... Sir Ian McKellen....
Sir Ian McKellen... Sir Ian McKellen... Sir Ian McKellen... Sir Ian McKellen.... Sir Ian McKellen....
Sir Ian McKellen... Sir Ian McKellen... Sir Ian McKellen... Sir Ian McKellen.... Sir Ian McKellen....
Sir Ian McKellen... Sir Ian McKellen... Sir Ian McKellen... Sir Ian McKellen.... Sir Ian McKellen....
Sir Ian McKellen... Sir Ian McKellen... Sir Ian McKellen... Sir Ian McKellen.... Sir Ian McKellen....
Sir Ian McKellen... Sir Ian McKellen... Sir Ian McKellen... Sir Ian McKellen.... Sir Ian McKellen....
Sir Ian McKellen... Sir Ian McKellen... Sir Ian McKellen... Sir Ian McKellen.... Sir Ian McKellen....
Sir Ian McKellen... Sir Ian McKellen... Sir Ian McKellen... Sir Ian McKellen.... Sir Ian McKellen....
Sir Ian McKellen... Sir Ian McKellen... Sir Ian McKellen... Sir Ian McKellen.... Sir Ian McKellen....


Okies... u get the hint.. heh heh *(^_^)*

Introducing...

This post is dedicated to my favourite author - Jonathan Kellerman, psychologist & best-selling novelist. I'm kinda surprised that I've not had a post dedicated to this man til now.. lol.. bad of me.. haha.. The world of criminal psychological thrillers is a world where I hold dear & close to my heart, so here's a lil sth to open my world to u...

I love things related to crime - fiction & non-fiction.. how the criminal mind ticks, how cases unfold, etc are what calls out to me. As it is ,I'm a huge fan of Crime TV shows/movies too.. lol... CSI, Cold Case, Without A Trance, Criminal Minds, Bones, so on & so forth. I've longed wanted to study criminal psychology too.. heh heh.. Hence, this is where Jonathan Kellerman steps in.. using his expertise as a trained child psychologist, he is able to work his own magic in his writings, especially so in his series of Alex Delaware novels. Alex Delaware like Mr. Kellerman is a child psychologist, who also deals with crime cases, together with his close friend - Detective Milo Sturgis, a gay cop. From the 1st time I got hold of Mr. Kellerman's book 'Devil's Waltz' back in 1998, I have never looked back and have continued following his works, one after another.. to date, I own 21 of his novels, with 19 books from the Alex Delaware series.

Mr Kellerman is the only author who has held my interest thru so many books & over so many yrs.. it's really amazing.. I've also gotten into contact with the author himself and it has really been interesting... Mr Kellerman even informed me when his 2nd last book 'Gone' hit stores here in Singapore. From his 1st novel published in 1985 - 'When the Bough Breaks', Mr. Kellerman has constantly kept at his works until today, offering new stories that have made it hard for me to put down... lol...



Just on Saturday, I found a copy of his son's 1st novel - 'Sunstroke' & Jesse Kellerman is an accomplished writer and playwright in his own right.. I was done with that novel within 2 days & just like his dad's works, I found it hard to put it away.. heh heh.. The Kellerman family is one talented family 'cos even the mum, is an accomplished novelist - Faye Kellerman. I've yet to read any of Mrs Kellerman's work 'cos I've been keeping up with the husband's writings, but in time I think I'll give her books a read too. Another reason is also because almost all the novels I've read have been works of male authors (unless if it was for school) - Boris Starling, Stephen King, Steve Thayer, John Walsh, etc... don't mean to discriminate agst female authors... sorry *sheepish*

Anywhos, if you're like me, liking a gd criminal thriller, do give Mr Kellerman's novels a try =D






Mr. Jonathan Kellerman
(photo taken from the JonathanKellerman website)




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From his Alex Delaware series: -

When the Bough Breaks (1985)


Blood Test (1986)


Over the Edge (1987)


Silent Partner (1989)


Time Bomb (1990)


Private Eyes (1992)


Devil's Waltz (1993)


Bad Love (1994)


Self-Defense (1995)


The Web (1996)


The Clinic (1997)


Survival of the Fittest (1997)


Monster (1999)


Dr. Death (2000)


Flesh and Blood (2001)


The Murder Book (2002)


A Cold Heart (2003)


Therapy (2004)


Rage (2005)


Gone (2006)


Obession (2006 - yet to be released here in Singapore)





Other Novels: -

The Butcher's Theatre (1988)


Bill Straight (1998)


The Conspiracy Club (2003)


Double Homicide (2004, with his wife)


Twisted (2004)


Capital Crimes (2006, with his wife again - yet to be released here in Singapore)





Non-fiction: -



Psychological Aspects pf Childhood Cancer (1980)


Helping the Fearful Child (1981)


Savage Spawn: Reflections on Violent Children (1999)





Children's Books: -


Daddy, Daddy, Can You Touch the Sky? (1994)


Jonathan Kellerman's ABC of Weird Creatures (1995)

Fallen

This song by Lauren Wood has always been constantly playing out in my head & At times I find myself singing it unknowingly... lol.. Guess, it's pretty stuck on me & the lyrics do tell a whole lot =)

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I can't believe it,
You're a dream comin' true.
I can't believe how
I have fallen for you.

And I was not looking,
Was content to remain.
And it's ironic
To be back in the game.

You are the one
Who's led me to the sun.
How could I know
That I was lost without you...

And I want to tell you,
You control my rain...
And you should know
That you're life in my veins.

You are the one
Who's led me to the sun.
How could I know that
I was lost without you...

I can't believe it,
You're a dream comin' true.
I can't believe how
I have fallen for you.

And I was not looking,
Was content to remain.
And it's ironic
To be back in the game.

Devil's Night

Winds of chill, icy cool;
The full moon blackens,
Hides its face.
A crow flies above, eyes gleaming,
It lands upon, silently.

I arise, slowly from where I lay,
Devil's night, once again.
My soul racked, life robbed,
I wander the land, a walking undead.
I thirst to right the wrong done to me,
Beware, Devil's night is upon.

Revenge churns my being within,
Fuelling undead, reaching free.
All forces summoned, I am to reckon,
Life blown, dark my soul,
I am to walk and seek those souls.

Devil's night, the devil not I.

(inspired from a movie..)

Kisses Quotes

"A man loses his sense of direction after four drinks; a woman loses hers after four kisses."

Henry Louis Mencken, 1880 - 1956

"A kiss is a lovely trick designed by nature to stop speech when words become superfluous."

- Ingrid Bergman

"If you are ever in doubt as to whether to kiss a pretty girl, always give her the benefit of the doubt."

- Thomas Carlyle, 1795 - 1881

"A kiss: To a young girl, faith; to a married woman, hope; to an old maid, charity."

- V. P. Skipper

"There are two things that are more difficult than making an after-dinner speech: climbing a wall which is leaning toward you and kissing a girl who is leaning away from you."

- Winston Churchill, 1874 - 1965