My Life: The Musical

Hey guys.

What is it about music that makes things seem so easy? (This is just a random thought that just popped into my head.) I feel like crap at one moment, I play a song and the crap goes away; I feel like I'm on top of the world in another moment, I play a song and the feeling magnifies. Recently I've discovered that for me, it lies in the lyrics. I've become so obsessed with finding the real meaning behind songs I like, that I've aligned them in accordance to my life and how I'm going to live it. I've become this person who's living life by some songs and their philosophies. My life has become a musical, or an episode of Glee. And you know what, I think I like it. Let music solve all my problems. I'm proud of the fact that I can use the lyrics of a song to compare them with who I am and who I want to be. Isn't it what art is meant for anyway? The artist's aim is to move whoever is in possession of their piece, isn't it so? Whether it's the beat of the song that moves you, or the lyrics, or both! Either way, I'm fascinated by my latest discovery.

This one's for those who find that music runs through their veins. Cue music...until next time! :)

Flashback Fridays: It's Just My Voice!

Hey!

Oh, a lot has happened since we last talked. As you can probably see, things are pretty busy on Ziggie Talk. No more random drop-bys that I used to do. It’s really sad if you really think about it. If you want a testimonial from me, I’d tell you that I’m pretty exhausted already! Phew! But it’s sooo much fun.

Anyhowzer, I attended an afternoon chemistry lab a few days ago. I had just completed my experiment where we were testing for ions in various salts and stuff. So I went over to hand over my report and the lab demo (demonstrator), asks me something; he says, “Are you done?”

“Yes, I’m through,” I replied.

Then he looks at me all funny, like he’d discovered something on my face. I was kind of hoping that it wasn’t the blackhead I was poking at in the morning.

He continues, “Your voice is very soft and you speak very slowly.”

I of course looked puzzled and...well, puzzled.

I said, “Really?”

“Yeah, you see!?” he screamed.

“What?”

“There!”

I wanted to slap him, but instead I nodded. He signalled me to sign out of the lab. C’mon, I don’t talk slow...I don’t. Well maybe my voice is a little soft but I don’t talk slowly!

Anyway, I hardly got any sleep that night because I realised that our former housemates may have left with my kunfu DVD. It’s not just any DVD, it’s “the DVD”. It’s called 7 Secret Rivals. Every time I thought about it, I lost all form of sleep in my system. I have to get it back! For all I know, they could have moved really far.

I guess it’s my punishment because I lie a lot. Well, the woman –bless her heart- was so excited she was moving. She was smiling, jumping about, laughing. So she slipped into my room and said,

“Are you going to miss us?”

I forced on a smile, “Yep, I sure am.” which was a lie of course.

I could most def do without them, I’m just being honest. It’s a long story. But if I’d told the truth, I would have sounded mean and rude. I’m not mean or rude – never- it’s impossible. I mean, I have a “soft and s-l-o-w” voice after all.

Anywho, that’s it for today...and this week. I hope to see or hear from you again. Enjoy the weekend.

Byeee!!

When in China...eat Dumplings

Hey!

I finally get to make posts about Chinese cuisine! So I went out and had these dumplings, after hearing so many great things about them. A friend of mine took me to this lovely place (see pictures below). This type of dumpling is called 大娘水饺 (Da niang shui jiao), very popular among overseas students in my school, so they say. So I had to find out for myself. It was a cold, windy, and rainy, evening; but I have to admit, they were a woot! and a half. I loved them! And the sauce, I think it's made from vinegar and crushed chillies: A-mazing! It was all worth it, tugging through the windy weather, just for dumplings. If you want me to get into detail and all fancy and stuff- you know, describe things from my palate's point of view- I'd say if you're into savoury, sour, and spicy all at once; this is the dish for you.

Outside the restaurant

The menu

Inside the restaurant. Very warm and clean

I give this experience 4/5. A happy stomach, makes a happy Ziggie! Approves and recommends to the avid explorer.

Until next time...

Flashback Fridays: The Colour Blue, The Colour You!

[Remember this?]

Why are Mondays considered blue? Why is the colour (which is one of my favourite colours by the way) associated with such misery and darkness? I mean think about it. This classification has us indoctrinated to thinking, “you know what, I am having a blue day or a dark day”. Think about it again; we basically have a colour for everything! Personally when I picture a place or a moment, it comes along with a colour. If I think that tomorrow is Monday, the first colour that rushes to my mind is blue. If I think of Friday, the first colour I think of is yellow. To me, the significance of yellow in this case is ‘paradise’, ‘retreat or freedom’, ‘an oasis in the middle of a hot desert’. How about locations; what colour comes to your mind when you think of home compared to the place you are visiting or you currently live in? Or when you go to the mall; what colour springs into your mind when you choose one mall over the other or when you picture yourself entering the mall complex? You see it don’t you? You can see those colours. You were probably not conscious about it but you can see it. It’s there. Right, now that that is sorted, there is one more colour to think about. What colour do you see when you look at yourself or when you think about yourself, be it your physical appearance or your personality or the way you behave and treat others? Is it blue or yellow? What is your colour? Is it red, brown, green, violet, azure, pink, orange, and so on. And what does this particular colour mean? Dude, if your colour is blue, then we all know what that means; or do we? Try it. Evaluate yourself using colour; it’s fun. If you can evaluate poor Monday with the colour blue, then what’s the colour “YOU”?

[Posted on: 11/09/2009]

10 Things Ziggie Should Do in the Month of December!

If you're rolling your eyes at me, thinking "not another one of her lists." Too late! I've just realised how much I've missed making lists for myself at the start of each month. Now don't label me boring, but in a way, I get a kick out of living by a list. It gives me something to look forward to everyday...hmmm! *weird smile goes here* I've thought about it long and hard, and I could only come up with only 10 things...I'm busy, shoot me! Here goes...

1. Complete a short story. Make it exciting and gripping!

2. Purchase a new guitar. Humming my fave songs isn't going to get me through Christmas

3. Choose a day in one of the weekends and go to see a movie at an actual cinema, big screen and all. It's been a while dude.

4. Enroll in the creative writing course of your dreams. (I'm actually going to put a big star on this one *)

5. Stick to my fitness regime, and stop cheating!

6. Prepare for the 25th, because all bets are off on that day! I don't care about fitness and all the feathers attached to it! I'm going to eat whatever the hell I want. Here's to that!

7. Prepare for the new year. For the first time ever! I'll spend it in the cold, indoors, without my family *sob sob*

8. Bone up on my Chinese. It's my mission to be semi fluent in the language before my next birthday.

9. Post regularly, when I can, on Ziggie Talk. (I have to underline this one).

10. Begin work on my New Year's resolutions for the year 2013. More lists. Woot!

So here I go again, all by my lonesome...You can call me, The girl with the list!

Until we meet again...xoxo

On the first day of December...na na na!

'Sup?

It’s the first of December and Ziggie’s lovin’ it! Not only is it a quarter past Christmas, but it’s a quarter to New year too! (isn't that the lamest thing ever?) It seems like only a minute ago, I was making a similar post, talking about trying to put the eXcitement, in Xmas! (this one’s even more lame). Anyhowzer, this marks the official commencing of the road to Christmas and New Year, and I’m prepared and excited about what's coming up in the last month of the year. Well, put your seat belts on, and watch out for more randomness from yours truly!

Until next time…

Freddie Mercury Memorial

Hellooooo!

So today marks 21 years since Freddie Mercury died. Just like his birthday, it's a pretty big deal to me. I like to take time off and really acknowledge it. It's not a day of mourning, or feeling sad about many factors that I think about sometimes. Things like how I’ve never seen him perform, and I never will; or the fact that I’ll never meet him. Nope, it’s not that day. Like previous years, I like to have a good time with friends, or which ever way I choose. I like to spread the love, the best way I can…as a fan of Freddie Mercs of course!

I had an interesting day today. Firsties, I woke up to a little sunlight in my room.  You see, my room in the apartment I live in, gets no sunlight…(long story). This morning however, as I sat up on my bed, after a good night’s rest, I was struck by a blinding light in my eyes…okay, maybe it was not that intense. It was actually a reflection of the sun from the windows in the building opposite mine, but there was light, and it felt good! (see pic below). Now call me superstitious or just plain crazy, I don’t really care! I saw it as a sign, because of what today was. A light from Freddie perhaps, hehe, I believed it and it made me so happy! It made me realize that even the darkest and coldest of places/ days, can receive a little light on a regular.

Light in my room

Anyhu, (I’m babbling away again, aren't I?) I jammed to some Queen tracks before I went out with some friends and had an awesome lunch and enough laughs to get me through the rest of the day. Even though it’s really cold over here right now, the walk in the warm sun made it all worth it!

So here’s to today! A day totally spent in honour of Freddie’s memory. Once again, I’m grateful for the music that has heavily influenced my life and who I am today as a person. I’m totally inspired by Freddie and the legacy he’s left behind. And for that, may his memory live long and hard!

Until next time… 

When in China...eat!

Greetings, greetings, greetings! Or the more appropriate way to say hey, Ni hao!

This is just a brief introduction of the first installment of my 'When In China' segment. I've decided to start with the cuisine. A teacher gave us a top 10 list of foods most favoured by foreign students on my campus, in one of my classes. So inquisitive me, has made it her mission to find out if they really deserve the hype they've been given. I've already started on a few and I'll make consecutive posts over some time about these supposed pieces of heaven to the palate. Now these posts are better termed Zhenjiang, where I'm situated, and where I'll be trying out the dishes, instead on China (I mean its such a huge country), but pretty soon I intend to do a little travelling; that's when the title will be more appropriate. Besides, I'm sure these lovelies are enjoyed throughout :). China has many different areas, you know, each with their own unique taste and cooking style, so bear with me, love!

Thanks for stopping by!

Ziggie Talk...on again

Hello and hello!

I'll skip my apologies for being so absent all the time, go straight to removing the cobwebs and dust that have settled on my blog and revamp it…again. Blame me for being a procrastinator, the biggest the world has seen. I on the other hand, am going to pin the blame on my big move. Over the past few months, I’ve been swamped, especially mentally, with my big move to China this past October. Now that I’ve settled in, its time to write about it! Which is why I’m introducing a new segment called: “When In China…” Of course you might be thinking: ugh, it’s so predictable! But what else do you do in a foreign land? You eat, sight see, and learn cultural norms. 

So stay tuned for Ziggie’s new adventures!

PS: I hope the image is relevant to the subject matter. You get it...right? *tilts head*

PPS: That's probably my last shadow!

Until next time, laters!

Happy Birthday Freddie Mercury!

Thank you for the love you gave to music! Next year I hope to have my Freddie for a Day costume, or mustache...