gambitch - now available in blue

Friday, December 29, 2006

It was delightful, in that light and faint kind of way. It really was.

I know, we kinda had to postpone it because you took the day off yesterday. Should have been expected, actually. I take the day off when it's me - this year was a first exception - so why not you? Plus it allowed you to skip some dumb office party you didn't quite like.

The cake? Wasn't my pick. But you know that already. I thought it a good pick though. Simple and vanilla-based, no creamy decorations - we even skipped the candles. But so elegantly done to give a different level of beauty so that it's not too plain. In fact, it's very beautiful. And it had a beautiful name to go with it too.

To be honest, though, the manner in which we had to hide it before I brought it back out this morning was a little bit hilarious. I guess the folks at the office couldn't possibly guess why I was storing a cake there, and was taking it back out this morning. Or maybe they could...

Anyway, the whole day was sweet in a simple, not-too-strong kind of way. And that was good.

Though I wonder whether the folks at the office are going to notice and have their laughs about you bringing back the cake I took out of the office...

gambitch [ 4:09 PM]

Thursday, December 28, 2006

you sprang into my life
like an unnoticed flower bud
camouflaged by a thick sleepy layer of green
when we first spoke
deep in the night
those sepals hinted at nothing
about the blossoms that would come
and it was almost as if
we were dancing past each other
like dragonflies on water
but that's okay
i like how it all started anyway

you weren't the most obvious of beauties
had nothing that screamed "hey look at me"
no flowing tresses for you
no bouncy ponytail either
(though it'd probably go well with you)
your skin would glow with radiance
if only you believed in yourself a bit more
and slept an hour earlier every day
candy-cane babe you ain't
nor do you want to be
but that's okay
i like how you let yourself be different anyway

you've practically given up on skirts
never quite seemed to like the overtly feminine
theatre black shirt and pants for you in formalwear
and you hardly let up much when you slack either
slightly huggy t-shirts still work best
so you seem to think
be they sunny yellow or sporty red
or even angsty grunge green
i guess your wardrobe is your personality speaking
but that's okay
i like how you choose what you wear anyway

oh how can anyone possibly ignore
the way you unwittingly charm
with your earnestly infectious smile
and your that's-not-a-problem optimism
which lights up the darkest and dankest dungeons
and sweeps every weak-kneed guy off his feet
(which i guess makes me one of but many)
you said you hide a lot behind that facade
that you're darker than you seem
you drink your bad times away on occasion
and never quite let too many people
know when you feel down and could use a listening ear
but that's okay
i like how you bring on the sunshine anyway

there is somehow something about you
that gives me an inexplicable sense of comfort
never felt since my lowest days
or maybe even before
somehow before you i can open up
and trust you with my darkest secrets
though i try to be fair and let you share back
you've seldom (though not never) said yes
but that's okay
i like how you patiently sit and listen anyway

you gave me a stage and let me run wild
observing my every step and move and pose
kept my strings in your hands but never pulled them
except to raise me up when i fall
you taught me to stand strong
inspired me to fly
and without knowing it
you prompted me to grow
the wings within that the angel lost
you shook your head when i said they're yours too
that your wings can take you
wherever you let mine take me
but that's okay
i like how your feathers draw my eyes day and night anyway

you made me willing to try my hand at words
be they fragments of silly verse or incoherent prose
you say they're an avenue for self-expression
and give form to how you feel at the time
right now there are so many things i feel
i somehow am sure my clumsy attempt at words
is less than adequate in telling the story
just the way it is as i can feel it
that's what man invented cuddles for
same goes with a light kiss on the cheek
yet i beat around the bush and dare do neither
keeping to myself what i do not write here
but that's okay
i think you probably understand anyway

happy birthday

gambitch [ 10:25 PM]

Wednesday, December 27, 2006

It may sound odd to be singing on Boxing Day, but that's what I just did. Yes, it's that time of the month again, although because Christmas was on a Monday, this time they had it on a Tuesday.

As always, it was a general joy, especially when I made good on my promise to learn the song I wanted to learn. I think I sang it fairly decently. And I was not alone in that assessment, apparently.

See, what happened was there was this group of people who were sitting a couple of tables away from me. Often, when groups of more than four visit this place, it is quite probable that one of them is celebrating his or her birthday. That unsurprisingly held true this time as well, and the celebrating one was a girl, for whom her friends got her this chocolate cake. Of course, birthday cakes don't come for free - the girl was made to sing as well, and I suppose she didn't fare too badly.

Anyway, so the girl decided to be generous and share her cake with everybody who was around, including the waiters and performers. And, of course, including me. Then there's the whole usual photo-taking thingy, and again all of us, whether we knew the girl already or not, were involved.

So a few of us made some small talk as well after the place officially closed for the evening, and I was complimented on my singing by the group. A very pleasant surprise, really. I don't think that poorly of my singing, but I wasn't expecting compliments from total strangers. Which, of course, makes the compliments very pleasantly surprising!

I didn't get the girl's name - it didn't occur to me to do so - and we didn't exchange numbers. But if we're all music enthusiasts of some kind, I'm sure our paths will cross somewhere as we share in our common interest for music. No harm. And I'm not some desperate little hormonal boy anyway.

But the cake was not bad. Can't be bad, when it's chocolate cake!

gambitch [ 12:51 AM]

Monday, December 25, 2006

While half the city went down to the main shopping district or the newly-opened mega-mall, or even some offshore island, I quietly slipped off alone to what is nowadays becoming "the usual place". After all, the nice owners of this spot organized their own Christmas celebrations as well, and what better way to spend Christmas Eve than to indulge in plenty of lovely fun and soothing music? Food's good too!

It was, naturally, a very long and pleasant evening, and although the place was a little small, there was a kind of cosiness to it that just makes walking down the main streets a less interesting prospect. The place was full, very full, even overflowing, which simply illustrates how popular the place is with so many regulars. The only regret I have is being here alone - although that's okay, because I understand. Still, in the company of other friends who just sort of know we'll all be here... It's not easy to beat that.

There was some fun and games apart from the music, and we played along with quite a bit of it. There was this segment where two of the singers are supposed to get married - not to each other, but to members of the audience. The way to determine who the lucky ones are is to sing duets. Always fun seeing other people going on stage and being made to perform, especially under the egging on of their very nice (NOT!) friends who set them up for it to begin with. I chose to stay away from this whole instalment in terms of participation, though, mostly because I have an evil streak that liked seeing shows like this.

Then there was the bit about guessing the TV commercials. I decided to be cheeky with one of the answers, and my cheek was rewarded with a prize! Not bad, not bad! But the way the commercials were re-shot was also hilarious. Remember, this is about entertainment, so a few cheap laughs would always be in order. The one based on Richard Gere and the Visa ad was particularly side-splitting, I should mention! This is the original...

... and shall I just say the mock version was an excellent attempt at humour!

Then there's the Christmas countdown, of course, and the required mass sing-along, which was thoroughly enjoyable. I'm looking forward to the New Year countdown already!

The only bad part to the night? Getting home with a dire lack of public transport options. But I don't mind that too much. All in the spirit of Christmas, after all!

gambitch [ 3:32 AM]

Sunday, December 24, 2006

I meant to write a Christmas song this year, which - in case you wonder - is not something I'm particularly known to do. But this year felt right, and I actually wanted to compose a Christmas song. Unfortunately, while I managed to start a couple of fragments, I never got around writing the whole thing.

Which means I can't sing this self-composed Christmas song this Christmas Eve.

But no matter. I share with all of you this YouTube video, featuring the legendary and wonderful Nat King Cole. Incidentally, this song was a partial inspiration for my own Christmas song, which must now wait for next year...

Merry Christmas, while I go off to town to celebrate!

gambitch [ 4:48 PM]