Jotwein's World

I have the urge to change my layout. But with having your own domain, nothing’s ever as simple as it ought to be. Especially not when I hardly have an inkling of what I’m supposed to do in order to change this layout of mine. One day when we both are free I had better ask James.

Today I finished a book. But not just any book. The Green Mile it’s called, by Stephen King. I’ve watched the movie plenty of times. I don’t remember any of the other actors’ names, but there was Tom Hanks and Michael Clarke Duncan in it. Stephen King’s supposed to be a scary writer. But I loved the movie, though I don’t particularly like scary movies (most of the time anyway).

Save the storyline and characters, the book is terribly different from how the movie eventually came out. Admittedly this is the first time I read a book so fervently, every morning on my way to work even if I felt like I should take a nap rather than delve into the deep pages of Paul Edgecombe and John Coffey.

In fact, I’ve been doing a lot of reading lately, which is quite unlike me. I used to read plenty when I was younger, sure, but I read relatively less now. Almost nothing except textbooks these days. It’s refreshing to pick up a novel for entertainment’s sake. In a trivial (or not so) pursuit for success and money that we live so mundanely from day to day, the more I read the more I wanted to read.

(Okay at this point, looking back at what I have written, I don’t think this is where I initially wanted this post to go. But no matter)

This trip, if anything, has been one of firsts. So many first that I believe it’s the first time I’ve had so many firsts. Now that’s a first.

Anyway yesterday was the first time I’ve been to a movie alone. And while not exactly the most enjoyable silver screen experience I’ve had, the movie pretty much made up for it. For I watched… *insert drumroll here* …Transformers: Rise of the Fallen.

And it is epic. I can’t even begin to fathom or explain its epic-ness.

Which would really be my reaction to such a movie wouldn’t it? After all I did absolutely love the first Transformers. I adore Optimus Prime, Bumblebee and all the Autobots. I’ve watched the first installment more times than I can bother to count.

It was the perfect way to conclude the week, even if immediately after the movie I took a brisk walk home so I could Skype Pap and Cabe (as usual Mum was off doing something else).

And here we are, first day of Week 15. Thanks to a mid-week holiday (HK SAR Establishment Day) the week will probably feel shorter than it actually is. What a nice way to spend the last public holiday of my time here. Now I gotta figure out what I’m actually gonna do on that day. Hm…

I wouldn’t post something like this normally but I’m really excited by this discovery. As with anything, there is a story behind this one.

I was looking for a new wallpaper, something not quite related to me but something that I could still relate to. And that’s when I came across Vlad.

Vlad seems to be a designer, and his work (I’m assuming it’s a guy since the name is Vlad) is available for download on the Apple website. I got the set containing my current wallpaper from here. In fact, I just found his website. www.vladstudio.com, check it out (you know you want to chel).

For those a tad to lazy though, here’s the wallpaper pic so you can just rip it off my blog.

Just what I wanted. Mission accomplished!

Oh, I just wanna mention that Hongkong’s on typhoon alert now. It’s currently at level 3 on a three point warning scale of levels 1, 3 and 8. The ironic thing is people are still going around like nothing’s gone wrong, and especially so when there are now more than 600 H1N1 cases in Hongkong. A truly interesting thing to witness.

Anyway, I’m off to watch Hero. It’s on TV now! Haven’t watched it in quite a while now. 6 weeks more till we’re done! The time has all but past in an instant.

This time away from home has, as these trips alone usually do, made me think a lot. Admittedly I’ve learned a lot on this trip, as I’ve said before, but ultimately the lesson I’ve learned most of all is to be thankful. Thankful for what I’m used to, thankful because there are many things I don’t have here.

It’s not unlike me to think, too much at times, about the strange happenstances that make up this crazy little thing called life. And yet I know that nothing happens by chance. Nothing. But why shouldn’t we think? It’s only human to ponder, to speculate, to make it seem like we’re really bigger than what we are, that regardless of all the doubt, we are and can be somebody important. Somebody better.

I’ve just realised that whenever I type something that goes deeper below the surface it sounds as if I’m going through a rough patch. To be honest I haven’t quite felt emo in a long, long time. Not even when I think about how far away I am from home. I reckon just one of the myriad things I ought to be thankful for.

So this brings me to the topic at hand here. Thanks.

At a point in time when there seems to be such little joy in the world, when people are worrying about money, I am blessed. Sure, I experience my little problems, and my life could be better in some respects, but I am more or less happy and that’s a wonderful feeling. After all, that’s what we all want to be when we grow up, ain’t it?

We take for granted an awful lot in life. But it really does take a bad situation for you to truly appreciate what you had. And I can’t complain.

In all truth, thank God it’s Friday. It’s time for a rest. By the way, I really ought to put up a picture of my new hair while it’s still as short as it is. Need to remember to do that.

I have no idea when I’ll stop counting. Maybe never. Probably when I hit zero. But who cares! I have 7 weeks left before I’m home. Ironically though, the part I’m most looking forward to would be the part that will give me the biggest problem. Chances are I’ll be really pressed for space for packing when I’m preparing to go home.

The past weekend saw the introduction of FLO. Chel’s really excited about this one, I can tell. (Credit to her for getting me into the whole analogue movement!) Meet FLO.

I have yet to fully appreciate FLO’s capabilities basically ‘cos I haven’t developed the film yet, but I will all in good time. It’s an entirely different experience I have to say.

This time is just gonna pass too quickly. Okay fine I can’t wait for it to end ‘cos I wanna get home to my holiday but still, there’s some work I would like some more time to complete (though actually I’m doing it in good time).

Thankfully there’s a holiday next week! HK SAR Establishment Day. The last holiday I get until we’re done. Okay I’m rambling. Until I next feel like blogging!

Your 53rd year on earth, your 18th father’s day, my first father’s day away from home. Happy Fathers’ Day, Pap.

Thank you for always believing in me. Even when you said you gave up on me, I know now that you never have. Together, you and Mum have given me more freedom than I probably deserved and appreciated, but I’m glad that even though it took a while for me to get there, you gave me the time to figure it out.

It was great having you over in HK those 3 days because this time away from home has showed me that it’s much harder to live on my own. It’s not easy to have to be responsible all the time, but I have grown up and look forward to being home again.

I’ll be home soon.

Love,
Josh

This is really exciting. The great unveiling of the big project I’ve been working on since I blogged earlier. I can’t stand the suspense anymore so it’s right after the jump (to add more suspense).

Just so you know, it’s the result of cropping, resizing and shifting many many many times. A total of more than 200 layers. It is a masterpiece, if I do say so myself. And I do.

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Viktor: You say you are waiting for something, I say to you yes, yes, we all wait.
Amelia: What are you waiting for?
Viktor: You. I wait for you.

Hello everybody! It’s time to blog again. This weekend marks the end of week 11. 9 weeks more! I don’t think I’m really dying to go home, but it’s kind of nice to think that I’ll be on a Jetstar flight from Hongkong to Singapore soon. Soon!

The previous week’s been a killer. 4 out of 5 days I was out of office, 3 of which lunch was provided for me. I’ve spent a lot less this week as a result, and met a lot more people! Fabulous and yet awfully, awfully tiring.

Anyway, I’ve had a thing for middle names lately. I think they are pretty awesome. But I was having a little trouble figuring out what middle name I wanted for myself. Hence this convo:

Heh. Thanks for the vote of confidence Sammie! And happy belated 19th! I will wish you again on your second 19th next year!

Okay there’s a new photoshop project on my plate now. It’s gonna be epic. Keep your eyes glued on this space. PEACE!