12.28.2007
Cover Up
Saw quite the scene while walking to the GO station this morning...


(I'm loving my new camera phone =D It's fog, by the way, not blowing snow)
---
Too lazy/tired to write a full post about my Boxing Day shopping adventure experience, so here's a summary: like the past couple of years, I went to Yorkdale (this time with Mick), & there I got a bag, a merino wool sweater, a polo, & most importantly, the Zara coat that I've had my eyes on for months. I wasn't really expecting to get it (even though when I first saw it with Claudia a while ago, we both knew I had to bring it home eventually xP), but I still insisted to go to Zara first since there were a few items that I liked when I did my pre-Boxing Day browsing. As soon as the store opened at 8, I rushed upstairs to the men's department & started frantically looking for the coat. Had lil luck at first, & was just about to give up when I saw some other dude taking a look at it on a rack. It was hidden between a pile of other coats, so it was hard to notice at first glance. When I got closer though, I realized it was the only one left (thank God that guy ultimately let it go =P) & without a thought I went ahead & grabbed it. At that point I was pretty sure that it wouldn't be in my size, but lo & behold, it was, & when I tried it on, it fit like it was tailor made. I knew I had to get it right then & there, but I still decided to call Claudia (& woke her up...sorry babe xP) to hear her opinion. Got her approval & I went back downstairs to check with Mick & see how she'd like it. With another go-ahead, I finally made the purchase even though it wasn't the best deal (it's still the most expensive coat I've ever bought xP). It was definitely worth it though - two days later, I still can't stop looking at it & trying it on just for fun, lol. Hopefully I'll get to wear it out soon (maybe tomorrow at the family gathering??)...
Addendum: Wore the coat tonight for buffet with family, & all my cousins loved it...xD
Kakeru @ 21:06 +



12.25.2007
Double Vision
After nearly 3 hours of struggle, I finally managed to place my order for a Sharp Aquos 32" LCD TV during Future Shop's online Boxing Day sale last night. It was crazy...I kept getting in queue to checkout, only to get kicked out of queue (or led to some other weird page when the queue was "finished"), & then eventually removed from the site altogether. I ended up just leaving it be & not try again until 10 (the sale started at 8) & by then traffic seemed to have cooled down & luckily my TV still was available for purchase (probably 'cause it wasn't as great of a sale as the other ones =P). I've been wanting an LCD TV for a while now, & I've been telling everyone I'll save up & wait till Boxing Day to get the best deal. Originally I wanted the 37", only to find out later that it was too big for the cabinet in my room (& no, I'm not getting a new cabinet just for the TV...nor am I gonna mount it, too much work xP), so I had no choice but to downgrade to a 32". After debating for the longest time whether to get the 1080p model, in the end I decided against it, since I figured that 300 bucks would be put to much better use in other places (ie. clothes =P). As for why Sharp, it has always been between that & Sony for me...not to mention the TV in my room right now is a Sharp & I've gotten used to its controls, hehe.
But the best part of all came this morning. I woke up to sounds of tools & things breaking. Apparently my parents were finally
taking apart my mom's broken Sony 34" Trinitron TV for easy easier disposal (that thing is at least 200 lbs, no kiddin')...after helping out & having moved the (still 100+ lbs) remains downstairs, I briefly mentioned how I ordered my TV (I already discussed with them last night). It was then that my mom decided it would be a good idea for her to get one as well, even though I ASKED HER EXPLICITLY LAST NIGHT whether she wanted me to get another one along with mine. 10 minutes later, with next to NO research, my mom said yes to the 42" (yes, what else) Sharp Aquos, this one with 1080p. <sigh> SHE TOTALLY STOLE MY THUNDER!! xP Ah well, at least I got her to pay for my delivery charge...
Few hours later, while browsing FS' site again, I noticed a PS3 (80GB model) bundle that comes with a Blu-ray remote control & 3 games for $499. I was THIS close from buying it (there were only 5 left in stock), just one "confirm" away...but I ended up keeping my own promise of not getting the PS3 until i) the white version gets here, ii) it slims down, & iii) the game selection gets better. Thank to both TVs being charged to my credit card, I would've gone over my credit limit if I were to get it anyway (although I'm sure they would have no problem raising it for me xP). My Wii is doing just fine at keeping me entertained nowadays, so I can definitely wait...to be honest I'm already excited enough about playing my Wii games at 480p, haha (such low expectations xD). Here's hoping that my new TV will arrive before the year ends!!
Kakeru @ 22:10 +



12.22.2007
Reflection
To me, today is always the second most special day of the year, next to my birthday. In fact, while sometimes it might take time for me to recall what I did on my b-days, I can always tell exactly where I was & what I was doing on this day. What is today, you ask?? It's the day that Ayu's new album leaks onto the internet!! xD
Oddly enough, when I first heard about the album release, I wasn't that excited; you could almost say I wasn't excited at all. It's weird because I've loved all the singles she's released from this album - glitter/fated, for instance, is my most-played Ayu single IN A LONG WHILE (minus the anomaly that is HEAVEN). But in the back of my mind, I was doubtful that this would top her previous effort, Secret, which ranks amongst my favourite Ayu albums. Which is why when the previews for GUILTY came out, I was almost bracing myself for disappointment...
...but it never came. The songs blew me away, with "Marionette" & "untitled ~for her~" leaving the biggest impressions. And today, when I finally got to hear the whole album from top to bottom, I was so moved I had chills down my spine. Granted, this album isn't perfect - I know she can do better than to fit THREE instrumental tracks into the second half of the album. I understand she's just trying to give better transition between the dark songs & the happy ones, but as great as some of these interludes might sound, I feel that they destroy the flow of the album (& really, no matter how hard she tries, "glitter" will still stick out like a sore thumb xP). I was really hoping for at least one more new song, considering she's only had 5 single tracks to work around. On the other hand, I'm glad this album didn't fall into the trap that most can't seem to avoid - lopsided song distribution. True, "GUILTY" isn't necessarily her best title track (it just never takes off & leaves much to be desired), but at least Ayu was smart enough to put all but one of the single tracks in the first half to even things out, while leaving (IMHO) the standout tracks for the second half. When I was previewing the album, it came as a shock for me to find the last song to be my favourite, something that has never happened before (sorry, "JEWEL" still rules over "Secret" as my favourite on Secret =P). Clearly, Ayu was intent on making us listen to the whole album before presenting the most personal, most expressive track she has to offer. One cannot listen to its lyrics & not feel her pain after the loss of a friend, & through these words I hope she finds solace. This album might be filled with feelings of guilt, sorrow, & confusion, but like always, Ayu lets us know that things will only get better. It's this sense of hope that makes me truly love the album, & I'm grateful that Ayu's allowed us to have a peek of what's underneath her seemingly flawless life. =)
Kakeru @ 20:16 +



12.21.2007
Icebreaker
So Ayu's new PV for "(don't) Leave me alone", one of the two new videos off her new album GUILTY, has officially gone on air in Japan (tomorrow morning, their time). And all I can say to describe it is...HOT!!!!! I watched the PV three times¹ in a row as soon as I got it, just 'cause she looks so friggin' amazing (I'm in love with her hair AND her skin...I've got such an urge to touch her xD). *o* At times though she did look a bit like Koda Kumi familiar...






The song is probably the most full-blown Ayu dance track in years (since "Connected"??), so I was expecting some elaborate choreography in the video. Sadly none was featured (she did dance a bit here & there, but nothing worth of note), which is quite ironic when you consider she danced her ass off in the PV for "talkin' 2 myself", a rock song to its very core...either way, I'm still shocked by how stunning she is in here, & I'm loving every bit of it (even though she doesn't really do much except grind the walls, lol)...=D
P.S. If you look closely, Ayu's tie changes colour throughout the video, & the colour is determined by the colour of the dancer(s) that she encounters. It goes from black to green to pink/blue to purple & then back to black.
¹: The first time I watched it I kept screaming every few seconds 'cause I couldn't get over her gorgeousness...KAKKOI NE!! xD
Kakeru @ 21:16 +



Infallible
Got "morning-called" this morning & was given 10 minutes to get ready, lol. Surprisingly I managed to make myself look somewhat decent in that short period time (thanks to the practice I got throughout high school =P) & was then immediately dragged out by Bons to Markville. While we were at La Vie en Rose, we saw this lingerie set that was perfect for the holiday season...


(I wish that woman weren't in the background in the first pic...I totally didn't notice her. Guess I was too focused on the lingerie itself...xD Come to think of it, it's kinda gross though, if men got it for their gfs/wives, doesn't that mean they have a Santa fantasy?? And the last pic was of a totally different mannequin, in case you haven't figured it out yet...I just found it weird that someone would wear crotch jewelery. Doesn't that get in the way?? Lol)
Next we hopped to STC, which was 10 times more packed than Markville, & it reminded me how I used to do the exact same thing (ie. mall-hopping right before Xmas) during high school. Oh the good ol' days when I had absolutely nothing better to do...=P Anyway, didn't get anything there either, but was a bit shocked when I saw there was already A LOCK UP at Mexx & people were lining up to get inside for the 50%-off-everything sale...it was just pure madness, a week too early. Personally, I'm not lining up anywhere, anytime unless it's Boxing day & I'm sure I'm getting the best deals. =P
The day ended with KBBQ (well actually, it ended with Wii-ing at my house, but this was more the highlight for me, hehe), something that I haven't done in a couple of years (due to an unfortunate incident that included self-induced vomiting...ya, it wasn't pretty xP). It was nice to know that I still enjoy it as much as I used to, & again, a nice throwback to my younger days when Bons & I would KBBQ everytime we went out. All in all, a good day. =)


P.S. I got Mika's album for Xmas. Yay. =)
Kakeru @ 01:52 +



12.17.2007
Day & Night
So, as of last Friday, I've officially switched to Rogers & my new cellphone is now up & running. To test out its 3.2MP camera, I gave a quick walk around downtown today to take pictures of the Xmas decorations. Here, side by side, are the Swarovski crystal Xmas tree at Eaton Centre & the one at Nathan Phillip Square (wish I had seen it with the lights on)...


Kakeru @ 17:08 +



12.08.2007
Surround Sound
Over the past 15 months, I've gone from never having been to a live concert to having attended three. They just kind of happened...Beyonce was
free, Xtina was a b-day celebration years in the making, & JT was just a random promise to a friend. Of the three, I honestly (& surprisingly) found JT's concert the most enjoyable one so far. It was exactly what I envisioned a concert would be - energetic, entertaining, & most importantly, engrossing (it definitely helped that I was just metres away from the stage =P). For the same reason I (again, surprisingly) found Xtina's to be most disappointing, largely due to the lack of audience involvement (& also 'cause her vocals weren't 100%...=\). Beyonce's was somewhere in the middle, I was most impressed by the effort she invested for a free showing (in fact, I think she might've changed just as many times as Xtina did in her concert...=P).
This isn't coming out of the blue. The reason why I'm bringing this up is 'cause as the new year arrives, I'll have two more concerts to attend - one with Mika, & the other with the Spice Girls. Spice Girls...well, what can I say, I've been a fan since elementary school, & when I heard about their reunion & that they were coming to Toronto, I knew this would be my chance to make up for the concert I missed back in '97. Really, it's half redemption, half nostalgia. Either way, I'm sure it'll be one heck of a show, lip-synching or not. =P
As for Mika, I've become a quick (& huge) fan over the past month, & after I've watched a few of his live performances, I was dying to see him in concert. I already missed him the first time so I was preparing myself for a long wait...but thankfully, God listened to my prayers (lol) & he's now coming in January!! So yesterday, at exactly 10 o'clock (when the tickets went on sale), I purchased my ticket & assured myself a chance to see Mika live. =D I'm also hoping that I'll get his autograph & snap a pic or two with him by waiting for him outside the venue after (he does that for his concerts in other cities)...but we'll see how that pans out. I'm definitely keeping my fingers crossed...
Kakeru @ 14:10 +



12.07.2007
Fashion Criminal?
Ever since this blog layout was up, a couple of people have expressed "interest" over Ayu's nails in the picture above. I always respond by telling them that Ayu is known for her exquisite, sometimes over-the-top nail art...it's really nothing too out of the unusual. However, even I, the most dedicated Ayu fan for nearly 9 years, was taken aback when I saw this:


...are those...claws?? If they are, why are they perpendicular to the nails instead of actually being ON the nails?? I'm so confused!! xD
Overall though, I like the new album cover. It's nowhere as gorgeous as her last one (I wasn't expecting anything to top that, really =P), but it's at least stylish & somewhat intriguing. I like the setting, I like the outfit, I like the pose, I LOVE the hair, I'm even okay with the nails, but the one thing I absolutely can't stand (& therefore can't look away from xP) is HER LIPS. A lil easy on the plumper please Ayu...^^;
Kakeru @ 16:52 +



12.06.2007
Twinkle Twinkle
As my mom took her crystal collection out of the display cabinet for their annual cleaning, I snapped a shot of my favourite piece, a Christmas tree with removable ornaments...


Wishing you all a happy holiday season...=)
Kakeru @ 23:20 +



12.05.2007
Spongy
I'll admit it - I have a knack for buying ridiculously cute yet ridiculously overpriced¹ things. xD I'll let the pictures do the talking...


...yes, it's a "cake" made out of a towel, topped with styrofoam peaches. I have nothing else to say, lol (except it also comes in other "flavours", eg. Black Forest with strawberries on top...& no, I'm not getting that too, one is enough xP).
¹: It actually wasn't so bad, I already got a "deal" at 10 bucks (compared to the other stores where I saw it being sold for 15 or more)...=P
Kakeru @ 18:35 +



12.01.2007
What It Means To Be Me
01. You arrange the bills in your wallet in order of increasing value, face-side out. 02. You pay your credit card bills in full (sometimes even over) before the statement arrives. 03. You dial phones with your left hand, even though you're right-handed. 04. Similarly, you use your left ear to listen to phone calls. 05. You lean your left leg against the door when you drive. 06. You love the winter cold & hate the summer heat. 07. Caffeine makes you sleepy. 08. You get giddy over the smallest things. 09. On the flip side, you also get upset over the smallest things. 10. You have an abnormal obsession over jackets. 11. You go to extremes to keep things looking perfect. 12. You can't eat sweet foods when you're hungry...they only make you hungrier. 13. You think water & milk are the best drinks in the world. 14. At age 24, you still want Lego & Play-Doh as toys. 15. You enjoy playing with kids. 16. You make funny noises without knowing it. 17. Your ellipses always have 3 dots, no more, no less. 18. You insist on using proper spelling/grammar/capitalization in online conversations. 19. You edit your blog entries at least 10 times before publishing them. 20. You're a freak, but you're damn proud of it.
(I have more...but I think this will suffice for now. =P Came up with this on my own, copy & make one yourself if you want...)
Kakeru @ 01:02 +




the id
kakeru
(n.) ka·keh'·loo
compulsively eccentric
blogging since 2002/08


fellow grudgers
andrew [+]
daisy [+]
diana [+]
jennifer [+]
katie [+]
keith [+]
kevin [+]
kyren [+]
mickie [+]
nelson [+]
rita [+]
ruth [+]
stefanie [+]
tary [+]


soul searching
last.fm
flickr


ride the rocket
lyrics of ayumi
ayumi hamasaki
do as infinity
yuna ito
hitomi yaida
namie amuro
mika
field of dreams
university of toronto


time machine