My dear friends. This is going to be my third post as to the topic on UGLIES Quartet. For those who haven't read my first and second post, you are strongly advised to read it before continuing with this post. Otherwise you will have no idea on what is this post about! You can read my first post here and the second post at here.
Some might wonder that why sometimes its called a UGLIES trilogy but yet it has four book in the collection? This also result to some places you find people calling it as the UGLIES Quartet. The UGLIES series,meaning the books UGLIES, PRETTIES and SPECIALS, and EXTRAS are counted as UGLIES Quartet. Originally, the UGLIES Series was meant to be a trilogy only, with UGLIES, PRETTIES and SPECIALS counted in the collection. However, with the release of EXTRAS, some might count it into the trilogy, thus changing it into a quartet collection. However the author argues that it is not officially part of the trilogy, but a companion book because it will not focus on Tally Youngblood. The main character in EXTRAS is instead a fifteen-year-old girl named Aya Fuse living in Japan several years after SPECIALS ended. Thus, I shall refer to the UGLIES trilogy&EXTRAS together as UGLIES Quartet as it is easier to refer to.
So this post is just basically to show the different covers of the UGLIES Quartet. Which one do you like best?
Let's start with the first edition covers which were the US covers that were first published by Simon & Schuster. It was then before other companies started releasing and translating the UGLIES Quartet in different languages and covers. Personally, I like the US covers better than the UK covers which are also published in the language English.
US COVERS
Below:US UGLIES Cover
Below: US PRETTIES Paperpack Cover
Below: US SPECIALS Hardcover Cover(Published first before Paperpack version)
Below: US SPECIALS Paperpack Cover
Below: US EXTRAS Hardcover Cover
Let's go on to the UK Covers. All the UGLIES Quartet are released in Paperpack edition.
UK COVERS
Below: UK UGLIES Cover
Below: UK PRETTIES Cover
Below: UK SPECIALS Cover
Below: UK EXTRAS Cover
Next is the Japan cover for UGLIES! The Japan version of UGLIES is a novel version with only some pictures inside. Don't mistaken it as a manga of UGLIES!!!
JAPAN VERSION
Below: Japanese Cover of アグリ-ズ (a gu ri- zu)(UGLIES).
Below:Character Information Page for UGLIES main Characters. Rightmost is, of course, Tally (タリta ri-). On the left-hand page are: upper right: Peris(ペリスpe ri su) upper left: David(デヴィシドde vi shi do) lower right: Shay(シエ shi e) lower left: Dr. Cable(ドクタ-ケke-ブdo ku ta- ke- bu)
Below: Here’s the party scene, with Peris(ペリスpe ri su) in his tux and Tally(タリta ri-) clutching a pig mask and looking crumpled in Japanese UGLIES Cover.
Below: Shay(シエshi e)on hoverboard in Japanese UGLIES Cover
Below: アグリ-ズ (a gu ri- zu) Japanese Cover of UGLIES book two(which I think is PRETTIES in this case.)
Next, Taiwan Traditional Chinese Edition Uglies Cover!
Below: 醜人兒(Uglies)
Let's move away from the Eastern countries and on to the Western countries!
From Right to left:UGLIES,PRETTIES and SPECIALS GERMAN Cover
From Right to Left: UGLIES and PRETTIES Italian Cover(Notice that for the UGLIES cover, its the same picture as the US UGLIES Cover?)
Below: UGLIES Polish Cover
By the way, I am thinking of getting that boxed set since that exclusive content is a glossary of ugly slang and bubble-speak written by Scott Westerfeld himself!!!
Below: US UGLIES Trilogy Boxed Set(UGLIES, PRETTIES&SPECIALS) LAY OUT.
IF you want to know about the story of UGLIES series, then read this BBC online news article on the future human species here. The upper class human is just very similar to the PRETTIES in the UGLIES series.
My dear friends. This is going to be my second post as to the topic on UGLIES Quartet. For those who haven't read my first post, you are strongly advised to read it before continuing with this post. Otherwise you will have no idea on what is this post about! you can read my first posthere. Ok, this is going to be the post on all about the UGLIES movie estimated to be released in year 2008!!!! It is going to be distribute by Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation, the company that released "Eragon" also a movie made from the story of a novel. IF you don't know about the company Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation, look at the picture below and I am sure you will recognize it. The production company will be Davis Entertainment, that has produced some movies such as "I, Robot","Garfield,Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties","Eragon","Garfield Gets Real" etc. You can find Uglies on Internet Movie DataBase(IMDB)here. Indeed, IMDB have posted several false project before. So is this real? There's a article on Variety talking about Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation going to make a movie on Uglies. If you can't view the website, never mind. I have taken a screenshot of the article which can be viewed here. It's worth mentioning that IMBD is not the only site that have Uglies as an upcoming movie, but also other sites like The Movie Insider and Hollywood.com. However, I do not know how credible these sources are. Also, it seems that Mr Westerfeld himself didn't admit or having posting anything about the possibility of an Uglies movie in his blog. Or perhaps it was just that he was bound by a contract or something. But you can go to his blog post titled The Big News where he talks about the Variety article. This is as close as having Mr Westerfeld admitting and confirming on Uglies might be made into a movie. If you ask me do I want to have a movie of UGLIES? Of course! But it must be an excellent movie. It must not be a product which they changed the story here and there and then claim that this is a movie based on the novel Uglies. I presume that they will be needing a lot of editing considering how high tech life in the Uglies story is. I think that having a movie of it(assuming that it's well made)will be good for it allows even more people to know the Uglies Quartet and perhaps they would like to read the rest of the quartet. Not many people knows about Mr Westerfeld, unlike J.K Rowling, whom lots of people know of.
Meanwhile let's quenched our thirst for an Uglies movie with this fan made Uglies & Pretties Trailer(BELOW) made by an user named TheHatchChild334 on YouTube. This is made according to some events happening in the novel of UGLIES.
If you have read UGLIES and PRETTIES, watch the video Pretties made by an user on YouTube named laylaylayla. This video shows some events that took place in the novel UGLIES and PRETTIES.
While we are on the topic of Uglies and Pretties, let's talk about some fake Pretties in our world shall we? Have you ever thought that the pictures and cover magazines featuring a particular star is really pretty? Have you ever thought that they are really that pretty? Well, i am sad to say that you are wrong sometimes. Most of the pictures you found of the pictures or magazine covers of a star had been tampered with. Using make-up,lighting and photoshop, they can air brushed a star to make it look perfect. Don't believe in me? Watch the video below.
Now do you understand why stars always look so perfect? I dare to say that quite a number of us normal people without make-up can actually be prettier then most of the stars without make-up. Without make-up and photoshop, most of the stars are actually normal looking people like everybody else. Let me show you picture of some stars that are normal looking in real life. All pictures taken from here. Below: Jessica Simpson
Below: High School Musical Star Vanessa Hudgens
Below: Extreme Makeover
Of course there are some stars that are naturally pretty. Below: Reese Witherspoon(I am not totally sure if she really don't have any makeup on.) With the right clothes,make-up,lighting and sometimes a little help from the photoshop, you can look gorgeous as well. But I think that the most important would be being beautiful inside. It's no use having a beautiful exterior and being ugly inside for people will sooner or later notice it.
Stormy weather.....there is a lot of thunder rumbling and lightening flashing going on now. Ok. So this is just going to be a very quick update. I changed the picture to represent me because that my teacher said it was not clear when it was reduced in size. This had to be done for the back of the Polo Shirt had to be able to contain all the 29(or was it 30?) students design. Apparently, my picture was too complicated as the printer could not capture the tiny details when it was reduced in size thus causing a patch of black on my picture. She actually ask me to meet her in the general office after exam. When I got there, she actually told me to find another picture to replace it right on the spot! As I was in a hurry to get home(I was going to go out with my mum), I went to the library and just found a very simple but cute picture of Mokona Modoki, Soel, from Tsubasa Chronicles as Soel is cute but has a simple design to it, I doubt that the printer can mess up the picture again. It was only when I got home that I found out that this is a fan made picture. Oh well... what ever...I've also posted a CLAMP picture of Soel below.....don't you think that Soel is so cute? For those guys who might be here looking at my post, please ignore me this fan girl raving.... :x
I would not be free for either the half of the days or either the whole day. This is so as surprisingly, the number my end of year holidays activities comparing to last year's, increased incredibly. This year 2007, is the year in which that I have the most number of activities going on during the end of year school holidays. Every year during the end of year holidays, I mostly spent my time reading novels, using computer, watching television and going to public libraries(plus a couple hours of window shopping ^^). I normally only go out to the public libraries(and the malls) once in a week during holidays. Even if when I go out with my friends, it's only for at most 5 times in the 2 months holidays. It seems to be very pitiful to me for most of my other friends seems to go out every day. In case you are wondering, I don't usually touch my textbooks at all during the holidays and I will leave my homework until the last few days before I will start doing it.
But this will all change!!! As this November, I have couple activities already planned and also some others to be confirmed. Let me start with those in which have been confirmed. (It's not all play and no work!)
I will be attending a course in which I signed up for(along with one of my good friend), when one of the teachers came to my class and asked if we are interested. This course has only limited places and fortunately, I am in the course! Sadly, my good friend is not but fortunately, there's one people who wants to back out of the course and so my friend(the back up as the teacher says)is in the course with me too! What's this course I have been mindlessly rambling about? This course is named Digital Gaming Development, which is one of the Advanced Elective Modules (AEMs) and our school will be collaborating with Temasek Polytechnic for this. This means that I will be going to Temasek Polytechnic to attend this course during 1-13 November 2007. Only 3 days are of half day session. I will upload a picture of my timetable here when I have time. The time in which the course will end for a full day session is 4.30pm. A typical half day session will end at 12.30pm if I am not wrong. Just in case you do not know, here's what I found about AEMs from Wikipedia,
AEMs may be used for polytechnic admission under the Joint Polytechnic Special Admissions Exercise (JPSAE) and the Direct Polytechnic Admission (DPA) exercise. They may also be used for credit exemption in subjects that are relevant to the pupil’s subsequent course of study in the Polytechnic.
Hmmm....interesting.
Besides that, I am also not free for the whole day from 14-26 November 2007 as I am going over to New Zealand for a exchange programme with Te Puke High School, a high school in New Zealand! This is going to be a 14 Days 13 Nights trip along with 3 key personnel (Mr Yong Kek Shoong (VP), Mrs Sukhdev Singh (HOD EL/Literature) and Mrs Chia Siew Ching (SH Pupils’ Welfare). It's a small group as only 30 of us(students)(30 is the maximum number they would take.)are going there. This is going to be the fourth time my school organized a twinning programme to Te Puke High School. We are traveling by Singapore Airline. The original total cost for the whole trip was $3449 but then the school informed us that due to a surge in prices of jet fuel worldwide, Singapore Airline is imposing an increase of approximately of S$140 per participant at 1st August 2007. However, as my school has been working with the travel agency, Global Adventure Consultants Pte. Ltd. which has planned the previous trips to New Zealand, for two months, the company is willing to absorb partial cost of the increase. Thus, each of the participant will now have to pay an additional of $70. This brings the total cost pf the trip from $3449 to $3519. Before you gasp and faint, I am happy to say that due to the subsidies offered, and also that I can deduct $500 from my Edusave, I only have to pay $1126.
This trip includes 5 day hosting with one of the Te Puke High School student's family so we can get to know about their daily life. If you interested to see the programme itinerary(and the places we are going along with some pictures) for this New Zealand trip, you can download it from my school website. Just check out my school at Wikipedia and you will know the link to my school website. I am very excited about this trip for this is going to be the 2nd time I am going overseas and 1st time I am traveling by plane! I am going to borrow a very big suitcase from one of my uncles who always go overseas for work purpose. Besides that, some other preparations for the New Zealand trip included getting a cheer ready, a powerpoint about Singapore, dance and song performance, a symbol/picture to represent yourself for the polo shirt.....
The symbol/picture I have already handed it up as the deadline was on 28/09/07(Friday). If you don't hand up by the deadline, your symbol/picture will not appear on the polo shirt. I stayed back after school yesterday(28/09/07) to do last minute work for the symbol/picture. At first I wanted to use the picture below, but then I found the picture below on the internet. But as my school library printer for student use is only able to print black and white(as seen in the picture below) , I print out the picture in black and white. Hence, I had two pictures to choose from to put onto the polo shirt. I was troubled for both pictures were very nice. Then I realized that as the polo shirt colour is black(we choosed the colour ourselves), the picture might not even show up on the polo shirt at all. So I used the colour printer used by authorized people(I am a librarian so I can use it) to print out the coloured picture(shown again below) and used it as a picture to represent myself.
Below:The picture used to represent myself. What do you think of the picture? =^0^=
Remember the last time I posted about my school holding a Jam Band Competition during National Day Celebration Concert? If you don't remember, go HERE to read about it. Below is an extract from my blog post on th Jam Band Competition along with videos of the song the champion band singer sang.
Below is the exact video and the song she sang(Kuang Biao)... "Butterfly", Digimon Season 1 First Opening Song
Butterfly Original Full Song
Below is another nice song from Digimon
Digimon Tamers Opening, "The Biggest Dreamer" sang by Wada Kouji
In overall, the second band won the first place and the second place was given to the band our class and E4 class formed(the name of the band is "Fatal Attraction"). One thing I am curious about is why on earth does all their costumes look like Cosplay or something? Not that I mind of course, I think that they did put out a good show.
So the whole concert ended with the Choir..... it's quite nice concert this year...is it possible for the school to host Cosplay next year???
I just realized that the videos of the 3 bands performance are available on Youtube! How slow I am! Some of our school students must have taken it using camera handphones during their performance. But anyway, the videos are below. Please note that the audio and image quality is not very clear so it might cause some of you to think that they are lousy singers. But I think that they are not bad. Besides, our school sound system is not exactly that great either. The microphones couldn't catch those words clearly even when people speak.
TOTAL OF 3 BANDS COMPETING FOR 1ST, 2ND AND 3RD.
Below:Champion Band Named "Kuang Biao" Song:Butterfly from Digimon(Original version see above in the extract.)Or you can view it HERE.
Below:1st-Runner Up Band Named "Fatal Attraction" Song:A Beautiful Lie by 30 seconds to mars(Some members are from my class!!!)Or you can view it HERE.
Below:2nd-Runner Up Band Named "This Tragic Affair" Song: Famous Last Words by My Chemical Romance. Or you can view it HERE.
Ok! Here's the blog post I promised my friends!!! As some of you know from my last post, I am totally hooked on this Uglies Quartet which includes the books named UGLIES, PRETTIES, SPECIALS and EXTRAS. As far as I know, the US cover was the 1st edition of the Uglies Quartet that came out on the market. It was before other publishers got interested in the book and started publishing Uglies Quartet with other covers and language to suit the market they are targeting.
Below: UGLIES US Cover Title: UGLIES Author: Scott Westerfeld Publisher: Simon Pulse ISBN: ISBN 0-316-70129-7 Language: English Media type: Print (Paperback)
Below: PRETTIES US Cover Title: PRETTIES Author: Scott Westerfeld Publisher: Simon Pulse ISBN: ISBN 0-316-70129-7 Language: English Media type: Print (Paperback)
Below: SPECIALS US Cover Title: SPECIALS Author: Scott Westerfeld Publisher: Simon Pulse ISBN: ISBN 0-316-70129-7 Language: English Media type: Print (Hardcover&Paperpack)
EXTRAS TO BE RELEASED ON 2 OCTOBER 2007
Below: EXTRAS Title: EXTRAS Author: Scott Westerfeld Publisher: Simon Pulse ISBN-10: 1416951172 ISBN-13: 978-1416951179 Language: English Media type: Print (Hardcover&Paperpack)
How I Found This Book. I came upon this quartet while I was in the public library scanning the shelves looking for something to read. The spine of UGLIES(right)and also the title, caught my eyes. As to me, it's not everyday in which you find a person's face at the spine of the book. I grabbed the book, and turn it to the front cover. The title "UGLIES" along with the tag line "In a world of extreme beauty, anyone normal is Ugly" intrigued me. What's with the title called Uglies? A story about Ugly people? I read the summary of the story and was determined to give this book a try after reading it. I am glad that I have not made the wrong decision about UGLIES as I am absolutely in love with this book after reading it! END OF HOW I FOUND THIS BOOK
INTRODUCING UGLIES Set in a futuristic world where people are divided in three parts, it's compulsory for every person to have an operation once they reached the age of 16 years old. This operation will turn each and everyone of them into a Pretty. As for those who are under 16 years old, they are called Uglies. The main character is none other than Tally Youngblood, a 15 going on 16 years old Ugly who is looking forward to the long waited operation that will turn her into a Pretty. By becoming a Pretty, she will be able to enjoy the special privileges that comes along with being a Pretty. Not only that, she will get to live in New Pretty Town where New Pretties go to after the operation. Even though New Pretty Town and Uglyville are only separated by bridges, the life that goes on in there is worlds apart. While Uglies have to go to school and also to stick with a curfew, New Pretties does not have to stick with curfews and they only have to have fun. This seems like the perfect life for Tally Youngblood, but when a new found friend, Shay, enters the scene, a series of events follows that changes Tally Youngblood's life forever.
When one first encounter this book, perhaps they might think that UGLIES is only suitable for girls to read for the cover is quite misleading(due to a girl as the model) and the plot is based on a beauty theme. But I am only to happy to point out that this book is suitable for people who are interested in reading a science fiction and adventure story. This book is certainly suitable for ages. As long as you are interested in the story, there's no reason why you shouldn't read it with the reason saying that "It's not for me."! So to all boys who think that this is a girls' book, NEVER JUDGE A BOOK BY IT'S COVER! There are fighting scenes in it as well!
This sucks!!! I just bought Pretties($14.76) and Specials[Hardcover]($23.15) from Kinokuniya and Borders separately on 6 September 2007, Thursday. But guess what? When I reached home and went online, I found that Uglies Boxed Set(containing Uglies, Pretties and Specials) is due to be released on October 23, 2007 at a price of approximately $39.61(I convert the amount directly from USD)!!!! The total cost of buying the two books are already $37.91!!! So by buying the boxed set, I saved more and get more as the cover says "exclusive content inside"!!!! ARGGGHHH!!! How I regret not doing my research before I buy!!! I want to know what's the deal with the exclusive content!!! Somehow...I feel.....like...buying......the........boxed........set....... :p*I mean what's with the "exclusive content!!! Trying to guess about it killing me!!!"* Can someone be kind enough to give me money to buy it??? :x
Some unnamed person tagged at my tagboard asking me on why do I want to braid my hair as it such oldies. But I don't think so for given the pictures which latest hairstyles magazines provided, stars are wearing their hair with braids. They are suppose to be the trendsetter aren't they? If you improvise the braids which their hairstylist did, there's no way that the look is oldies. Perhaps I did not make myself clear in my post and thus that resulted to some misconception on my idea of braiding my hair. Below are some recent pictures to show that stars do wear braids as well and it's not oldies if you just know how to do it the right way.
Below: April 2007 American Seventeen issue
Below: April 2007 American Seventeen issue with Molly Sims(No 6) wearing French Braid at the crown of her head.
Below: April 2007 American Seventeen issue with Molly Sims wearing French Braid at the crown of her head.
Below: Emily Osment taken 06-02-2007 wearing braids.
Below: Rachel McAdams wearing braids taken as of 14-03-2007.
These are just some of the picture I found of stars wearing braids. I have more of them in my magazines collections. The American Seventeen magazine is providing us ways of reinventing our looks with French braids! So why should it be considered oldies if magazines are featuring braids? But thanks to this unnamed person for commenting on my style as I had asked for suggestions and comments on the hairstyle I am going to get and this person did heed my call. So thanks anyway!
Some people might think that a school way of celebrating the nation birthday might be very boring. But personally, I think for this year school celebration for Singapore 42th birthday, the school had certainly outdone itself. The parade and the speech was as usual, but luckily it was kept quite short so it's certainly bearable. But the main difference in past year and this year concert could be seen clearly. The concert program was well thought for. Unlike the previous year concerts, the school did not choose to include all the performance arts CCA into the concert, but only allow the school Choir and the Modern Dance to have a chance to perform. After watching the parade, the whole 1500 students flooded into the tiny hall and one of the backstage crew was holding the microphone and kept screaming at us, quite rudely I dare say, to sit down quickly and not to choose our favourite seating spot as many of the students are going to come in soon. After more hustle bustle around, and also after rejecting 2 calls from an unknown number to my hand phone(it was in silent mode.), all the students finally settled down while the stage crew was frantically trying to set up the stage. One of the teachers took over the microphone and pleaded with us to use the background music as a guide for our noise level and not to let our noise level cover the background music which was playing on the speaker. Finally two Secondary 2 host came out and greeted us. The concert offically began with a short 15 minutes video about the history of Singapore. The rest of the program consists of Jam Band Competition, Singapore Quizzes during intervals, Modern Dance dancing, 3T class dancing and Choir singing(encouraging us to sing as well) as an finale. But I will be commenting only on the Jam Band Competition, Modern Dance dancing and the big finale for the Choir.
There's only 3 bands performing and competing for the 3 places. Looks like most of the people are really into studies or either is that they just don't bother to join. So among the 3 bands, one of the bands is a combination of 2 of our classmates and 1 from E4. They are all boys. The other one of the bands is all boys while another band consists of 2 girls and 2 boys. The judges were the teachers and our Vice Principal. I wondered if they know how to appreciate our music..... >.<||| The first band which came out had on costumes loose ties and suit. There's a screen behind each time the band plays so the band could use the video as an advantage to show a video of the original artist singing etc. But although the music is nice, I could hardly hear what the singer is singing about. Maybe it's because that the microphone is not of good quality, but they certainly do not have the "IT" thing to capture the audience attention. They were performing some typical rock 'noisy' English language song and I was covering my ears the whole time because it was just so loud. In the end the first band got the last place. The second band is the one that got the first place. When the host announced what song the band will be performing, I couldn't hear it properly. I could only hear that the song name was called "Butterfly". So I was speaking to Elie about that I think Mariah Carey did sing a song called "Butterfly" and wondered if they were going to perform the song. But then, when they began to play the introduction and the video behind starts playing, guess what the video is playing? It's playing a video on the Digimon! WOW!!! Me being a super fan lover of Japanese animation and anime songs, was of course, absolutely excited! I never imagined that they could perform Japanese songs!!!! So I instantly forget about protecting my ears from the loud music and started to enjoy every moment of the band members playing the introduction for the song when a girl who looks like a native Japanese with messy braids in her hair came out from the backstage to the stage and started to sing. YES! She's singing Japanese song! Her voice is a bit more clearer than the other bands. I enjoyed this band performance the most. =) Below is the exact video and the song she sang... "Butterfly", Digimon Season 1 First Opening Song
Butterfly Original Full Song
Below is another nice song from Digimon
Digimon Tamers Opening, "The Biggest Dreamer" sang by Wada Kouji
In overall, the second band won the first place and the second place was given to the band our class and E4 class formed(the name of the band is "Fatal Attraction"). One thing I am curious about is why on earth does all their costumes look like Cosplay or something? Not that I mind of course, I think that they did put out a good show.
So the whole concert ended with the Choir..... it's quite nice concert this year...is it possible for the school to host Cosplay next year???
I have been pondering and toying with the idea of a new hair cut. I been wanting to do it for quite some time but I have no courage to actually do it. But after my brother's words on how my look, hair and spectacles are always old kind, I realised that it's true. After looking at a couple photos of me when I was young(I will post the photos up as soon as possible), I realised that my hair style has not changed much over the years, my spectacles, amazingly enough, even though I had it changed a few times, is actually the same design and colour. Everything that I could control about me has not change at all. Guess that it's time to step out of my safe zone, and actually make some changes about myself to keep up with the times and also, to make me look more beautiful. I will be going to cut my hair with my mother at 24 August 2007(Friday)...I have been wearing my hair in the same way for more than 4 years and I think that it should be time to get a change. Maybe getting layers for my hair? But my fringe is naturally wavy(though it's leaning a bit to the curly side ) and it's really frizzy while the rest of my hair is not very straight but I guess it will be considered as a little bit wavy. My fringe and the rest of my hair are like two contrast of each other that you wouldn't find it on the same head. But somehow it is on the head of mine. What is more frustrating is the fact that my hair was not like this when I was young. My hair was sleek, perfectly straight and healthy looking. Do you doubt my words? Look at the picture of me when I was young. For those who know me, you will surely see the differences of me now and when I was young. I think that perhaps, I was better looking and with better hair when I was young?
Me when I was young.
Is it possible to have a different style and yet to be still able to braid my hair like some of the examples shown at this site and this site ?
[EDIT@11 August 2007]
If I am still able to braid my hair, and have a great haircut that is totally for me AND also that I love it so much, of course I will get that haircut done. Putting the question on if I am still be able to braid/French braid my hair after the haircut aside, I still have some doubts as it going to be a change no matter how big the change it is. I have always worn my hair without layers with a blunt end and most of the years, having it long. I haven't change my hairstyle since Primary 2 or 3 in which I had cut it to short. It been years then and I had yet again grown it back to long hair, for my face shape is no longer suitable for long hair. So my current fear is that...what if I don't like my new cut????? yes, it will grow back again, but I have to live with it for couple months. I am still not sure about what style I wished my new hairstyle to be, but one is I am certain that it must includes the following few points:
*my hair must fall at least about 3 inches below my shoulder *be suitable for my face shape *be suitable for my hair type *easy to recreate & easily maintained *perhaps make my curls/waves nicer *must not make it look even more frizzy *will look awesome even if I didn't use any styling products or tools *allows me to still be able to braid my hair *I must love the way it looks and it must just makes me feels that I am beautiful!
Anyway, I bought 2 magazines filled with lots of hairstyles just to hopefully to get a better idea of what kind of haircut I wished to go for. Also, I am currently browsing through some websites too...I found this hair style>>> and I am loving this hairstyle! But than again, let's be realistic. My hair is not suitable for this type of hair style at all. But I just want to show everybody this hair style and how pretty the girl is. :P But there's been change of plans of when I am going for the haircut. I am no longer going to cut my hair at 24 August 2007(Friday), but I will still accompany my mother to watch the hair stylist cut and dye her hair as I wanted to choose a nice colour for her. I asked my mother's advice on if it's advisable to get a new haircut and guess what? She actually approves that too! Actually the hairstylist I have been going to had been asking me if I want to have some layers in my hair every time I went there to get my hair cut. But, every time she asked the question, I flatly refuses to, due to numerous reasons. Since my mother decided that it's time I get a change of hairstyle, I talk to my mother about if she have any ideas or what so ever. During our talk, she realised that if I want to get the message on how I want my new hairstyle to be loud and clear to the hairstylist I usually goes to, it will an impossible mission. This is due to the fact that the hairstylist loves money too much and wants to cut a person's hair as quickly as possible so that she could earn lots and lots of money in one day. So she rather not to spend time on telling and listening to your opinion on how you want it but will rather cut it as quickly as possible. This is okay for you if you are going back for a trim, but not if you wish to change your hairstyle. So having a consultation time with her is certainly a big no no. But my mother and I went there for a haircut as it's cheap at a price of $4 per adult and $3 per child. she is able to provide a service this cheap as it's at her house in which we get our haircut. But if you wish to go there to cut your hair, you must make an appointment first as she has tons of customers. So my mother suggested that I shall get my new haircut at the salon my brother frequents, as my brother can get the kind of haircut he wants there, and we don't have to make an appointment first,plus, we can get the hairstylist opinion on what kind of haircut is more suitable for me and after my new haircut, I can still return to my old hairstylist for trims if I wished to. But this salon cost $8 for each haircut per adult. So now, I guess that I shall be looking through lots of hairstyles, print out those hairstyles and ask for the hairstylist at the salon for advice. I will inform you all if I really cut my hair! =^.^=
[EDIT@12 August 2007]
I am crazy!!! I don't know that choosing a new hairstyle for myself could be so hard!!! I don't know what kind of look I want to get except for the points I have listed above. So far I have been looking through tons of magazines and websites to get a look that I like and is suitable for me. So far, I haven't even found one. The models mostly have straight hair so I do not know what the haircut would look like if it was on my hair. Though I would like to mention many thanks to SUVEN ! Thanks for offering to help me find a perfect hairstyle for me though! Though I would very much love to have bangs, it seemed to be virtually impossible to me as my fringe is wavy leaning to curly side as I have mention before, and having a fringe will be ultra messy.....besides will the haircut look as nice if it was without using hair products and tools? As you can see from my post now, I have decided to change my hairstyle!!!! TO HELL WITH THE FEARS! I am going to make sure that the hairdresser understand perfectly what I mean before she cuts my hair. Do you know of a style that might suits me? Please post at my tag board with a link of the picture of the hairstyle you think might suits me. Please be reminded that I only accept long hairstyles though. :D
All right everyone! Just in case someone says that I have been slacking in the blogging department, I am so not and typing this quick and short update on my life is the evidence. I got to hurry on finishing this post as I still have a project on my hand which is due this Thursday which is when we have to present our work to the whole class. Technically saying, there's not much except on finishing and perfecting some editing to be done which I had been slacking off with. But seriously speaking, I think that it's such a boring task for the information can put someone to sleep. But what can I say? This is what my teacher asked us to do and we just have to cooperate or else we will get it from our teacher. Anyway, I will be explaining about the following happenings in detail when I have time in a new post. Currently, there's couple of things going on like for example, the 14Days 13 Nights New Zealand trip in November which I hope that I will get in, couple of projects and also that unfortunate presentation marathon today that had me cursing the person who invented projects. Besides that, I also have to change my passport photos! I am currently trying to save lots and lots of money now so just wish me good luck! How I wish that I have at least a 2GB memory card for my digital camera~! I am going to post on National Day's song and also on Uglies soon! Anyways, more on all these subjects later when I am more free...
Alright! Finally I have gotten my heart around unplugging the USB wire for my connection to internet and replacing it with my family's Canon Digital Ixus 40. I am so glad that I have camera at home because I have this tendency to take photos of beautiful things and scenery so that I can remember it forever. My friends had been forever persuading me to show them pictures of the few but mostly thoughtful presents I had received. so here's a couple pictures of them hoping that you will enjoy it!
Please note that ALL PICTURES I have taken of presents I received are in the EXACT CONDITION I received in. This is done so that you can judge for yourself on how thoughtful the presents are!
Present from Elie:All pictures are taken the minute I got home. Above:Present from Elie.
*I have known Elie for 1 and a 1/2 year.*
I was talking to Elie for tons of times on how I am going to buy the Death Note movies VCD the moment I knew that it was released. One day when i meet up with her after the pledge taking, she suddenly said to me that she knew what to buy for me as a birthday present, even though it was during March(that was during the Secondary 3 camp which we both didn't attend due to special reasons.). I asked her what present she intended to give me. She replied that she shall give me Death Note movie VCD! I was surprised with her answer as I thought that she was fooling me. But she added that she will get my present ready very fast. As i am not sure if she's joking around, I just requested that please let the disc be in VCD for I do not have any DVD player at home. I was not really thinking about this but a week later during Mid March when we were in the middle of a lesson, she suddenly turned to me(we were sitting together at that time), put her hand into her bag and sang 'Happy Birthday to You! Happy Birthday to You!'...'huh?' was the only word i could utter through my shock. After all, i had never expected her to give me my birthday present this early and what's more, during lessons too! But anyway, she pulls her hand out of her bag with a flourish and guess what I see? It's none other than the Death Note Movie VCD i wanted! The decorating effort Elie has put in looks like a present to someone she likes as it has lots of straws folded into hearts.HAHA~ no offenses to her though! Of course i loved the present she gave me! It is what i wished for! I would like to say a big thank you to you ELIE!!!!! I will get a good present for you too~!!!!
Present from Vivien: All pictures are taken the minute I got home.
*I have known Vivien for 2 and a 1/2 years.*
Left: the back view of the present. Right:The front view of the present.
Top:The package of the present.
PRESENT REVEALED Top: A pair of shiny silver earring with a purity percentage of 92.5% of silver and 7.5% of copper which the warranty card says that will not make it less shiny but more stronger and less prone to breakage.
I received her birthday present to me in 25th June 2007 after my CCA when we went to the nearby mall to shopped for correction tape in Popular (but she didn't buy it as it doesn't have the type she wants.). On the way to walking back home with her(as we lived very near together.), she commented that she had already bought my present(FINALLY!). Of course I kept pestering her to give me my birthday present which she refuses to. I did not give up by using my ultimate way of persuasion and finally she said that she will give it to me after we passed that certain point and also that I will need to guess what it is. I got the right answer, which was earring, after a few attempts. When we reached there, she reached into her school bag and complains that her school bag had causes the the bag to cease. She then ask if I do mind receiving a present that lacks in the area of appearance. Of course I do not mind! I am already very happy to have people giving presents (that are bought by themselves and not second-hand.) to me! But mostly, I rated presents on how much thought you have put in it and not the price. What's the point of giving me a $900 antique vase when a simple piece of pretty jewelery that cost not more than $5 will do? After all I have no use for such a expensive vase. Not that anybody did give me a vase of course. It's just an example. When Vivien passed me the package for the present, I actually asked her if she did put the the present into the plastic bag as package was so small that it didn't bugle at all. She told me that she did indeed out the package into the plastic bag and truth to her word, when I look inside the plastic bag, I found a small package lying in it. She then commented that she wouldn't mind me opening it right away for I had already guessed what it was. I opened and out flew a earring which landed on the floor. I was still searching in the tiny package trying to take out the earring so I didn't notice the piece of earring that was on the floor. It was Vivien who noticed it and informed me. I picked it up straight away and was feeling quite guilty that I had dirtied the earring just right few moments after I touched it. Luckily, Vivien didn't mind that. I was still admiring the beautiful and delicate earring that sparkles so prettily when I reached home. It is my first piece of jewelery I owned that was made of silver. I have to admit that real silver jewelery is certainly much nicer than normal cheap jewelery I usually buy in terms of shine and quality. There's just a special thing about it that makes it so appealing. So when I lost one of my gold earring to the toilet bowl, I went to the shop where Vivien bought my birthday present, and bought myself a pair of silver earrings. Once again, thank you Vivien for such a nice belated birthday present! Don't worry...I will remember to get you a nice present!
Present from "my best friend": All pictures are taken the minute I got home.
*I have known "my best friend" for 3 years and 6 months.*
Left: Back view of the package she gave me. Right: Front view of the package she gave me.
Above: Her present wrapped in Hello Kitty wrapping paper.
Above both: Different views of her present.
Above both: Different views of her present.
PRESENT REVEALED!
Above both: The set of cups in the box.
Above both: Different views of the present she gave me.
As we have the same birthday day, it's certainly more special for we have to give each other a present. I haven't bought a present for her on that day but the present I later bought, which was a CD which my mother regretted not buying. As it was released quite several months ago, it was even harder to buy it as not many stores have it in stock. But I found the CD quite by chance when I was in a CD store near my school browsing. I debated with myself on if I wanted to buy the CD as I had only $20 left for that month allowance and the CD cost $18.90. But then I decided that it was worth buying it. By that time I found the CD, it was during may so I treated the present as a birthday and mother's day gift. But my mother gave me my birthday gift on the very day of my birthday when I got back home from school. She knew that I was going to go out with my friend so she gave me $20 as a birthday present.
Present from my brother:
He gave me $20 as my birthday present and I used it to buy The Best Damn Thing album by Avril Lavigne.
Well...enough of birthday presents I had received so far. During the June holidays, I gave myself a French manicure. I done it myself so please don't laugh at my handiwork as this is my first time doing a French manicure. Let me 2 pictures of the French manicure I have done myself. The pictures were taken about 4 days after I done the French manicure so that's why my nails were chipped. When I went out with Vivien and when she saw my French manicure which I raved that it was a very good job done for a first timer, she commented that the white part looks like correction pen. -_-||| Left: Left hand of my French manicure. Right: Right hand of my French manicure.
As all of you can see, I had finally gotten around to changing my blog skin from Death Note movie L blog skin to the current blog skin now which is a blog skin from the anime Tsubasa Chronicle. Tsubasa Chronicle is from the same creator of Card Captor Sakura which is CLAMP. Most of the characters have the same names like for example, the main characters Sakura, and Syaoran. You can learn more about Tsubasa Chronicle at the Wikipedia website. The song which I have included in this blog is the original Japanese version of You Are My Love by the voice actress of Sakura in Tsubasa Chronicle . Her name is Yui Makino. Below shows the video taken from Episode 20 of Tsubasa Chronicle showing Sakura singing the song in the anime.
Direct English Translation Lyrics of what Sakura is singing. The faint scent of tears on my rain-soaked cheeks... The warm look on the face of travelers...
The music from our childhood faintly echos in the background... The memories that I hopelessly try to remember wander aimlessly
That with these wings, launch by my dreams, Over distance oceans and skies we'll soar, together, to a place where memories never fade.
You light up the way for me in the darkness of night. Oh, that warm look on your face... I want to see you...
Romanji Lyrics for You Are My Love(Japanese Version)for easy sing along. Ame ni nureta hoho wa namida no ni oi ga shita yasashii manazashii no tabibito
Shizuka ni hibiiteru natsukashii ongaku omoidasenai kioku samayou
Yume wa tobitatsu no chiisa na tsubasa de omoi no kienai basho made futari de tooi umi wo sora wo koete
Kurai yoru no naka de watashi wo terashiteru yasashii manazashi no anata ni aitai...
("You Are My Love", sung by Sakura (Yui Makino) in episode 20 of Tsubasa Chronicle. The Song "You Are My Love", again, is a song played a few times throughout Tsubasa, but Sakura's version is sung for the first time in episode 20, "Gogo no Piano" (Afternoon Piano). She sings it for a mysterious cafe customer (Oruha from Clover) who accompanies her on the piano. Throughout the song, Sakura has flashbacks of herself and Syaoran as children (though she doesn't remember them afterwards), and the song is basically about her wanting to remember Syaoran, and knowing that she should remember, even if she can't. I love this song so much, I really can't explain. I read somewhere that someone though that Yui Makino's voice in this song sounded very childish, and I agree--it does, and it should. Yui Makino does an awesome job of making Sakura sound like a sad, lost little girl when she's singing this, and it makes the song all the more authentic and heartbreaking to listen to. Usually when an actor sings in a TV show or movie, they switch out of "acting" mode and just focus on sounding good as a singer, even if the way they sing the song is completely out of character. But Yui Makino just did such a great job making you believe that it's Sakura singing the song, and I think that's something that really impressed me. ^_^ Anyway, this is such a fantastic, emotional song, and even though the English version of "You Are My Love" is pretty as well, I think Sakura/Yui's version, with it's simple piano accompaniment, is the best.)
English Version of the song sang by another voice actress for Sakura. I think that the Japanese version is nicer as I do not like this english version as much. The lyrics of the English version of You Are My Love is changed to fit the song.
I hope that you enjoy reading this ultra long post!
