I’ve decided to delete most of my scary studio makeup photos.

Because they’re really scary.

But some actually turned out quite decent, so those I kept.

If you don’t frequently take photos of yourself, you probably can’t imagine how one could look totally different in different shots of the same batch.

I took these shots at an industrial area roadside while waiting for the Goonfather to turn up with his shining chariot to pick me up.

This was right after I stepped out of the studio for my Gadget3 cover shoot.

It was quite windy, so I got some wind-swept hair shots.

Two years ago, I wouldn’t have dreamed of taking photos of myself in public like that. It’s like the ultimate in lunacy.

But I think the practice of taking photos of oneself in the middle of nowhere is now relatively accepted, even if not encouraged.

In any case, the road was quite deserted so there was no issue at all. Doh.

Here’s a photo of me with normal makeup, taken in the same week as the above shots, for comparison.

Okay, that’s all for today. I just received a new game today and I think I should play it so I can talk about it tomorrow!

It’s X-Men Origins: Wolverine!

OMG the movie is out too, isn’t it? I NEED TO WATCH!

How come no one give me free tickets for that movie? Haha.

Okay, sorry, talking about myself makes me bimbotic. I shall disappear now.

Bye!

I totally forgot all about this! I said I would post up my interview after the magazine is off the shelves, but it seems I’m a month late.

Click to enlarge interview page.

For those who can’t view graphics on my site for whatever reason, here’s the text version of the interview:

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An Xpert Opinion

One way that Microsoft is helping new players get comfortable with their online gaming service Xbox LIVE is the introduction of the Xbox Xperts. The first Xpert unveiled by Microsoft was the bubbly Sheylara, a gamer who made her name in the blogging community. We took her aside to ask her a few questions about being an Xpert.

What’s the role of an Xbox Xpert?

Think of us as something like community leaders. When new users join the world of Xbox LIVE, they might feel shy or not know what to do next or how to join in multiplayer games. So we’re there to welcome them, help them get settled, answer their questions and introduce them to the Xbox community.

What’s Newbie Nite?

Newbie Nite was something I came up with to ease new Xbox LIVE members into the multiplayer gaming scene. Many people join Xbox LIVE and face either of two problems immediately: They don’t have online friends to play games with, or they join a random multiplayer game and get thrashed by expert players who have been playing the game for ages. That can be quite unpleasant for some people and doesn’t give them a chance to experience everything that multiplayer gaming has to offer.

So, in Newbie Nites, I get a bunch of new members together and arrange gaming sessions for them. This allows them to make friends with people of the same gaming level. We have fun together online once or twice a week and it’s my hope that lasting friendships will form from these weekly sessions.

Do you feel like you’re a teacher, of sorts?

Haha, don’t call me a teacher! I think I’d prefer the word facilitator or, like I mentioned before, community leader. Sure, I’ve had to answer countless questions about Xbox and Xbox LIVE, but I don’t teach so much as share what I know. I like to think that, in the online world, we’re all sharing information and having fun together.

What’s the Xbox community like?

Like any other community, the Xbox community has all sorts of people in it. We have hardcore gamers and casual gamers. We have shy people and rowdy and fun-loving people. But, basically, it’s just a community of people who love gaming and who love gaming on the Xbox 360.

I’m also very heartened to report that most people in the Xbox community are very friendly and sociable. They love welcoming new gamers into the community because it means there are more people to play multiplayer games with.

Who are the new folks joining Xbox Live? What are they normally like?

They could be anyone, really. Some are people who have been playing on the Xbox for years and just recently decided to join Xbox LIVE. Some are people for whom an Xbox 360 was a birthday present, so they join Xbox LIVE as total newbies, maybe out of curiosity. Some of them learn about Xbox LIVE through the ads that Microsoft runs regularly through the media.

Most of the time, they’re pleased that there are Xbox Xperts onboard to welcome them and they do respond positively. In fact, I’ve made a lot of fast friendships with these new folks and we communicate regularly via Xbox LIVE messaging.

What’s it like to work with the new members? What are typical first impressions of the Xbox Live service?

It’s always a joy for me when I initiate contact with new members and they respond with a friendly message back. We don’t only talk about gaming and Xbox LIVE. Members also share with me about their lives, what they’ve been up to, and their other hobbies. It’s very rewarding for me when they treat me like a friend instead of some distant personality.

I think most of the really new users are surprised to have someone welcome them to Xbox LIVE and that encourages them to explore more. Some will feel overwhelmed initiatlly. That’s why the Xbox Xperts are in place to make sure they’re getting the full benefits of this service!

How does it feel to be an ambassador for the Xbox?

It feels great, of course. I feel truly honoured and touched. Yes, touched, because gaming is one of the most important facets of my life. I’ve been gaming since I was five. To be endorsing a product that is, basically, the very essence of me, means the world to me. It’s the most exciting and fulfilling thing that’s happened to me… so far! Having the honour of being a Gadget3 cover girl comes close! ;)

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Okay, that’s the end of the interview. Now, photos!

Larry (makeup artist) does my makeup while Sharon (stylist) does my nails.

Ash (hairstylist) blow-drying my hair, although I don’t know why he wet it in the first place.

Dressed for the cover. Larry touches up my makeup because the photographer said it wasn’t heavy enough.

Ash decides to tease my hair some more since I’m sitting there anyway.

Posing for the cover.

The cover shoot is an endless series of posing while different people come up to fix different things on me, like hair, makeup, clothes, prop, pose, etc.

Sometimes more than one person is fixing stuff at the same time.

Kelvin (photographer) shoots while Sharon stands by in case anything needs fixing.

The final product of all that hard work!

Preparing for the next shoot (for feature spread). Hair and makeup have to be redone!

Group photo with the crew. If you find my face looking a little pasty here, it’s because makeup for professional lighting doesn’t show up well in compact cameras.

I have some photos I took of myself after this shoot, just to see how I look in my camera with the heavy professional makeup. Maybe I’ll post those up tomorrow.

I need to think about it because they look scary. Haha.

Last Friday, I submitted my first food log to Eric Goh, my trainer at California Fitness.

He came back saying, “And why is your breakfast at 3 pm??”

Actually, 3 pm is considered early for me. I usually have “breakfast” between 4 pm and 8 pm, depending on how busy I am.

He also said:

• Cut down on carbs after 6:30 pm.
• Cut all fried food. (!!!!!!! x 100,000)
• Dinner should be lighter than breakfast.
• Take clear soupy food if you must eat at a crazy hour like after midnight.

All very noble aspirations for me to strive for. I have to constantly chant the mantras of my favourite sports brands.

IMPOSSIBLE IS NOTHING!

JUST DO IT!

That kinda helps a bit… until someone walks past me with a box of steaming hot KFC an hour after I get off from an exhausting gym session and I’m starving.

But I am proud to announce that I haven’t eaten a single bit of fried food for two whole days now.

Not two seconds. Not two minutes. That’s TWO WHOLE DAYS. Thank you for the applause.

Eric attempts to convince me that being strapped to a machine resembling a torture rack and hanging by my arms like that is good for me.

By the way, the photos I’m showing today are of the same batch from my first session.

There’s some red tape involved in getting approval to take photos in the gym, so I won’t be able to do it too often.

Well, the plus point of having a personal trainer (even a sadistic one) is having someone show you the proper way to use an exercise equipment so you don’t hurt yourself or train your muscles the wrong way or something like that.

And even if you know how to train properly, a trainer will keep you from cheating.

Trying to cheat but failing because of evil trainer’s eagle eyes.

After two insane sessions, my body is still taking it well.

I’m still able to type, at least.

But if I try to do more than type, for instance if I try to make the bed, my arms will call 999 and report me for attempted murder.

Stretching after each muscle group workout is very important.

It gives you an excuse to escape doing more reps.

Just tell your trainer, “Wait, wait! I need to stretch some more!”

Before you know it, your hour will be up.

Then your trainer will dump you on an elliptical and make you climb-on-the-spot for 20 minutes maintaining an RPM of about 353,729, while he goes off to think up more evil things to inflict upon you for the next session.

Whee. I can’t wait.

I have invented a third mantra to help me get through the next two months:

I LOVE PAIN

Most of the guys I’ve dated have been younger than me.

Not that I choose to be that way, but I look, think, behave and feel younger than my peers. That’s just the way I am.

I suspect that I have elven blood in me. My mental attitude hasn’t been keeping up with my biological human age in a socially-acceptable manner.

When I was 15, my classmates nicknamed me Childish Girl. At a time when my schoolmates were busy grappling with teenage angst, I was busy having the time of my life. I was carefree and happy. I played pranks and instigated my classmates to play all sorts of childish games. I found everything funny. I laughed at everything, constantly.

Continue reading…

Swordplay just shared this with me. It’s quite an old one but still funny as heck!

Source: www.facebookstatus.org