House of me

If there's one thing that still bugs me about living in Singapore is that I can't live by myself. I can't just go out, rent a place and come home late without answering to my mom and dad.

A decent place around here costs a bomb and living in a cheaper HDB flat, or worse, a room, just kills whatever romantic notions you'll have of being independent. You can't just bring your date home without walking past your parents and saying hiya. Well, it's no surprise that Singaporeans propose to each other just to get a flat all for themselves. (It's easier and cheaper for married couples to apply for a place here.) Where's the love?

Look, my mom and dad are the coolest parents in the world. Like Dharma & Greg cool. They've taught me everything I need to know, for example, how to kick boys in the nuts. Okay, that's just my mom. My dad, on the other hand, destroys my ears by reintroducing me bands like Stone Temple Pilots and The Clash. And I thought I've a solid rock cred...

As good as it gets, I still wanna move out. I really do.

I had a taste of it when I was back in Australia during my university days. The freedom of calling my very first pizza was bloody indescribable. Taking a bite of the Super Supreme and watching Rove on my little TV made me feel like I was in control of my own life. I was in charge; the CEO of my destiny.

Perhaps one day I will. Either I do get my own place or I move back home again. I really don't know yet. It would be nice to put my feet on the coffee table again.

I have the power

Dada-tada! (Dosh-dosh-dosh!) Dada-tada!

Ahem, sorry about that...

Anyway, if you've been watching Heroes, legally or otherwise, you will know that it's about people with superpowers. Like X-men without the spandex. Or without Gambit. I like Gambit...

Well, I'm very special too. I've a special power: I've been making you (and your kids) wear those Converse canvas sneakers. Yes indeed and it's all my fault.

For many years, when everyone was into Nike and Adidas, I wore those sneakers and they were dirt cheap. Now everyone's thinking: Hey hey hey, that really looks super-duper cool! Then they started wearing them and when my cousins started wearing them too, it is just not cool anymore in my book.

With great power comes great responsibility... Uh-huh, tell me about it. Now those Converses cost a bomb and the "artistic-looking" ones just scream poser. It's just bloody ridiculous. It's sad to see my once favourite shoes on the feet of an idiot with spiky hair, dog tags and Jolin Tsai in his ears. Sigh...

I shall now wear boots. Let's see if the world is ran by Goths in the future. That would be sweet.