I cannot deny the fact that I am mildly depressed, but music is my drug and my sleeping pill. Here are some of the stupid aphorisms that I wrote down after finishing the comprehension in my GP test.
Women hold up half the sky, men pretend to do the other half.
Life is about minimum effort, maximum credit.
I'm not doing to type the other few because they don't look like aphorisms at all. Currently, I don't feel like a guy at all. I need to show more confidence. Strength. Faith.
Ok but anyway I'm advertising for another concert I would be performing in, this time for my Piano Ensemble. It's going to be at the ArtsHouse, which is behind Victoria Concert Hall. I would be performing Chopin's Nocturne in F# major. It's at 7.30, and tickets are sold at $10 or less. I can't remember, maybe even $5. There would be free drinks and an excellent ambience, with the purple and blue lights and cosy sofas, it really feels like a living room. A classy one.
Headed back to the studio again this Thursday to record Yisin's new song, Regrets. Great to see Martin again, Nathaniel his intern, and of course Lennard (i think?) who OWNS the studio. But the local music scene is always so cool, just that I wished everyone would stop smoking.
My dad's long-lost brothers and sisters are coming over in a short while, and I think everyone is quite excited about seeing them, especially since I've been hearing about them since young but never ever seen their faces. So it has been a long 16 years of waiting. Well, can't believe I would get to see them today. I'm rambling on and on.
I think I need some sleep. Sleep is my drug and my sleeping pill.
Wait! That means I'll keep sleeping right. I can't. I need to wake up.
I feel like typing a short story. But it will probably sound like I'm rambling. Like, a Narrative! Or a Travelogue! That would be cool.
And I finished my PI finally. No more work. .. ... .... ..... ...... ....... ........ ......... .......... ........... ........... ............. .............. ............... ................ ................. .................. ................... .................... .
Are the dots of the equal size? They look comparatively different beside each other. The rows of them.
. .. ... .... ..... ...... ....... ........ ........ ..........
.. ... .... ..... ...... ....... ........ ......... ..........
... .... ..... ...... ....... ........ ......... ..........
.... ..... ...... ....... ........ ......... ..........
..... ...... ....... ........ ......... ..........
...... ....... ........ ......... ..........
....... ........ ......... ..........
........ ......... ..........
......... ..........
..........
Wheezlebug! Bungaloon.
Bishbangpoofbamf! Butterbatter. Come on tomorrow. I'm waiting for you. Come on.
I shalt be deluded and go read the Bible now. I wish Thomas Ang were here to entertain me with Kapustin. I wish some musicians would come over now to improvise with me. I can't wait to practise four hands. It's every musician's wish I suppose, to play with someone they are most comfortable with.
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Monday, May 25, 2009
soya bean milk with honey stars
This house has two blogophiles, one who blogs almost everyday and the other not-so-frequently but often enough. So here I am sitting beside my dad, who has taken to pasting all sorts of notes all around the house, with new rules being set up. It's like Camp Senja being run by Corporal Daddy who tracks shares constantly around the hour.
Actually I don't know why the change, but I preferred it better last time when he gave us the freedom. I mean, that's why the $10 is for right? We definitely can't spend more than that. But I suppose he wants both of us to eat inside the house, which is pretty reasonable, but considering we both have our own close circle of friends I think he should adapt to the situation, be flexible, and allow us to eat outside on some days. But the problem is, on what days?
Ok but we figured out the answer - that him not working makes him feel lonely for dinners, so we should do our best to join him for dinners. Then what happens to dinners with other important people? Well, I think the best way to find out is to let things run by its own. But it's already kinda sickening to watch him stick to the computer all day and look at all those numbers.
Drink beer, eat, shit, cook, look at stocks, go out with friends.
Head nodding, pencil scratching, hum of the computer, stacks of papers, notes.
Dinner at 7mile, tangyuan is <3.>
Actually I don't know why the change, but I preferred it better last time when he gave us the freedom. I mean, that's why the $10 is for right? We definitely can't spend more than that. But I suppose he wants both of us to eat inside the house, which is pretty reasonable, but considering we both have our own close circle of friends I think he should adapt to the situation, be flexible, and allow us to eat outside on some days. But the problem is, on what days?
Ok but we figured out the answer - that him not working makes him feel lonely for dinners, so we should do our best to join him for dinners. Then what happens to dinners with other important people? Well, I think the best way to find out is to let things run by its own. But it's already kinda sickening to watch him stick to the computer all day and look at all those numbers.
Drink beer, eat, shit, cook, look at stocks, go out with friends.
Head nodding, pencil scratching, hum of the computer, stacks of papers, notes.
Dinner at 7mile, tangyuan is <3.>
Oh right, about this morning. Yes, I waved Ma Yanjie off in the nicest of manners, with a few polite words spoken while I was in a trance, but I think it went something like, "no, school starts at 9am. please go away." It is articulated in the way that you wish you could tell the person to sod off, but because such an impolite order would most likely provide no following peace, you might have as well be nice from the very start. Which I think I did, correct me if I'm wrong MYJ.
Meanwhile I would like to use my blog to adverti$e again for the Inspire concert series! Let us all rally behind the hard workers who slog behind the scenes to make these concerts successful.
And dear readers, on my part comes a more personal request - if you ever meet Chi Ling these few days running up to the concert, do step up to her and say good job and thank you for doing this for charity. I will greatly appreciate it. I'm sure she would too :)
You can tag on her blog at www.chilly-chanchilla.blogspot.com, or alternatively you can tag on my tagboard since I placed this here.
Starting from myself, great job Chiling! All the hours dedicated to ensuring the success of the concerts, all the phone calls, letters, e-mails, SMSes, and the recceing. You rock :)
Cya lovelies!
Sunday, May 24, 2009
failed to continue post.
Words in italics are written by MYJ.
BAlls! I have no idea why I decided to type that as my first word for this blogpost, but it warranted a "that's disgusting" from HORSEY! So today's post will be a split-post. Basically, in a split-post, two people will blog IN THE SAME POST. So you really don't know who the fuck is typing what. And who is typing which. And what is typing who. Deng deng.
Ok now I wouldn't tell you who is typing this, but I'll pass the computer to MYJ.
i was told to just type some shit, so here it goes: some shit.
After staring at the computer for multiple seconds, I'm utterly shocked and curiously clueless as to what to type in response to the comment. As they say, shitty things come out from shitty people. :O She tried to assassinate me by pushing my head! (onto the computer screen duh not some oncoming car). Stop laughing bitch.
Hou no! She's going to hyperventilate. As her feet constantly kicks the dustbin lever, she tries to recall her driving lessons. Well it's kinda terrible because she's laughing SO badly she just lost her balance. And the most absurd thing is that the floppy hair she has on her head (duh, where else) moves around in the most inconsistent manner. There, she goes off to the window to cool off, with hands on her hips and attempting to control her breathing.
Yes, that's it. One, breathe in, two, breathe out. Her lips curl into a tight shape, a fight against a sudden gust of laughter.
And no! The pillow goes on top of her head.
Now, my week.
Just like any ordinary week, this week has been sprinkled over with a myriad of activities, like powder on the donut. It culminated with HC Dance Night 2009, which was nothing short of titillating. For some reason whenever that word comes out the first thing that pops up in MY head would be lactation. I hope I'm not the only one. I'm sure any word with a 'tit' in it conjures an image of the breast.
"Can'(t it)?"
"(Tit)-for-tat"
Then the French irony of pe(tit).
If you googled what French irony really meant I'll laugh at you, in a French style.
Where were we. Right, titillating. Before that? Dance Nite. Sure. Before that I had the joy to have dinner with Chiling, Michelle (from her class), Kaizhi and MYJ. Homey Loses, Lomey Hoses, Holy Moses, I finally get to meet the man that MYJ talks about every single minute when I'm at home, Kaizhi this, Kaizhi that. Woah Kaizhi dao me. Kaizhi is so cute. There she goes, rattling the word 'shit'. But hey, look who invited me to the living room in the first place!
(the author has to go to school here - it's already 8.46am)
BAlls! I have no idea why I decided to type that as my first word for this blogpost, but it warranted a "that's disgusting" from HORSEY! So today's post will be a split-post. Basically, in a split-post, two people will blog IN THE SAME POST. So you really don't know who the fuck is typing what. And who is typing which. And what is typing who. Deng deng.
Ok now I wouldn't tell you who is typing this, but I'll pass the computer to MYJ.
i was told to just type some shit, so here it goes: some shit.
After staring at the computer for multiple seconds, I'm utterly shocked and curiously clueless as to what to type in response to the comment. As they say, shitty things come out from shitty people. :O She tried to assassinate me by pushing my head! (onto the computer screen duh not some oncoming car). Stop laughing bitch.
Hou no! She's going to hyperventilate. As her feet constantly kicks the dustbin lever, she tries to recall her driving lessons. Well it's kinda terrible because she's laughing SO badly she just lost her balance. And the most absurd thing is that the floppy hair she has on her head (duh, where else) moves around in the most inconsistent manner. There, she goes off to the window to cool off, with hands on her hips and attempting to control her breathing.
Yes, that's it. One, breathe in, two, breathe out. Her lips curl into a tight shape, a fight against a sudden gust of laughter.
And no! The pillow goes on top of her head.
Now, my week.
Just like any ordinary week, this week has been sprinkled over with a myriad of activities, like powder on the donut. It culminated with HC Dance Night 2009, which was nothing short of titillating. For some reason whenever that word comes out the first thing that pops up in MY head would be lactation. I hope I'm not the only one. I'm sure any word with a 'tit' in it conjures an image of the breast.
"Can'(t it)?"
"(Tit)-for-tat"
Then the French irony of pe(tit).
If you googled what French irony really meant I'll laugh at you, in a French style.
Where were we. Right, titillating. Before that? Dance Nite. Sure. Before that I had the joy to have dinner with Chiling, Michelle (from her class), Kaizhi and MYJ. Homey Loses, Lomey Hoses, Holy Moses, I finally get to meet the man that MYJ talks about every single minute when I'm at home, Kaizhi this, Kaizhi that. Woah Kaizhi dao me. Kaizhi is so cute. There she goes, rattling the word 'shit'. But hey, look who invited me to the living room in the first place!
(the author has to go to school here - it's already 8.46am)
Sunday, May 17, 2009
driving - the blogpost that spans a week
I just realized how busy it can be if you're a musician and you don't have a car. I reserved this Sunday morning for getting the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto score from Neville at church (now I can proudly say I went to Church this morning, but any other questions after that are entirely unnecessary. Questions like, "How was Mass?" are vastly irrelevant).
But as Dr Gooi says, the process is very important. How did you get to Church? Did you enjoy getting to Church? Answer was no, because my Ez-link ran out of money, which meant walking back from the bus-stop to Senja LRT station to top up the EZ-link card. Ain't it EZ.
It was convenient though, considering the bus-stop I was at was the wrong one, because 176 didn't stop there. Yes, lots of sweat and morning mucus. Must have been the instant teh-tarik. And then my favourite breakfast fare of pancakes and scrambled eggs for myself and MYJ. Done in 10 minutes, full for hours.
It's not a myth that I sweat alot, which I guess would be attributed to my body's high metabolic rate, so I wouldn't really blame the morning sun and the teh tarik for the mildly wet clothes.
Visited my mum, and then it was a change of two buses before I finally got to the Conservatory, where here I am sitting in the computer room, aware of the fact that I have only seen two other people in this building, one being Dr Hecht himself and the security guard. Everyone's probably back home hundreds of kilometres away, spending time with their loved ones after months of music and homesick-ness.
I thought, if only I had a car. Getting from home to Church, then Church to Conservatory would be much easier. And subsequently, from the Conservatory to Evans Road. Then I can also fulfil my dreams of one day being able to say, "Chiling, let's go for Rochor. Yeah, downstairs already." Then I'll dwindle my time at the carpark reading scores, and then she'll get down soon enough.
Or Ma Yanjie. "Oopezi, don't cook dinner tonight, eating out. If you don't get down by 5 minutes, I'll drive the car into the kitchen and shine the lights at your face."
So that would be it. She would get down, and then we could go eat out. Unfortunately/fortunately, she's going to be able to drive first, and then I would have to wait till I turn 18. By next year, she would be able to drive...then she could go fetch me to RJC already. Eh, entirely cool.
The past few days have been a flurry of motion. No, wasn't a case of terrible food and visits to the loo. On the contrary...(pentatonic scale please, with pedal. Technician! Fade out!)
On the contrary, I visited Seven-mile junction (now known to today's generation as Bukit Timah Market. Whatever. I'll stick to Seven-Mile Junction) together with Sydney and Kenneth earlier this week, one of my favourite food haunts. Kenneth had mutton soup, which apparently 7-mile boasts one of the best in Singapore. I had Happy Duck Rice (literally), and it dasted really telicious.
[yes, you probably re-read that again.]
But nonetheless, it was really good, duck was tender, peanuts were great. Sydney and I decided to rob some of Kenneth's mutton, but I sort of adulterated the mutton by having it dipped into duck sauce. Never mind that it still tasted great.
I guess the next day we went to watch the Chamber concert at Hwa Chong, got a sunflower for Fiona. Knowing that it was a school chamber concert, we weren't expecting an Esplanade performance, but it was fun enough. Three of us, myself, myother and myhalfsis then went for a sumptuous and beautiful dinner at the same place, this time having peanut tangyuan. The whole time we were laughing so hard, and I think MYJ even teared a little. But it was nice.
(here the author decides to go relieve himself and go up to practise. Bye!)
for now.
It's 1.55am, and I'm back home feeling more dull than ever. Firstly I'm pretty tired, and secondly there's no one to disturb from sleep. This morning's words were written under deft and silent typing so that I did not disturb my colleague while she had her sleep in the computer lab. Now, I can type at whatever volume I wished to.
Let's continue the day's narration - well Pop gave all of us the ride back home, including Chiling, and I was glad we could all reach home before the dose struck us. But before that I think I am pretty apprehensive towards Hwa Chong guys, (no don't ask, it's instinctive. and besides, sensitive.) But one of her classmates (apparently class gentleman and poet) actually said hello to me! (sorry I forgot your name) - I know this sounds really absurd and quirky but he probably was the first HCJC person to ever say hi to me other than my primary schoolmates. Maybe I just don't look receptive enough.
The next day being Friday - gosh, it's Monday already - and all 5 of us (by now you all should know who...pop aunty MYJ CCL JS) caught Angels and Demons. MYJ was so scared she cried on the way back home. I got really worried and was super concerned, you know the fabric of the pillow right...not good material to cry on. But I let the person to her devices. I didn't eat much of the popcorn, was probably staring at the screen the whole time without realizing. Solid movie. All the questions were surprisingly answered, and it was a satisfying end for such a complicated movie.
The next day, we practised four-hands...
And Sunday was just another busy day of soccer plus the most heavenly shower I've ever had. Besides we talked super long about OBS, kinda prep lesson for Amanda. And then later in the night, about music, practice, and careers. Discoveries, revelations, and practice. Hanon, Czerny. Mind, body and soul.
Next week, I'm bringing the bass and the amps to Boon Lay. Let the rock begin.
But as Dr Gooi says, the process is very important. How did you get to Church? Did you enjoy getting to Church? Answer was no, because my Ez-link ran out of money, which meant walking back from the bus-stop to Senja LRT station to top up the EZ-link card. Ain't it EZ.
It was convenient though, considering the bus-stop I was at was the wrong one, because 176 didn't stop there. Yes, lots of sweat and morning mucus. Must have been the instant teh-tarik. And then my favourite breakfast fare of pancakes and scrambled eggs for myself and MYJ. Done in 10 minutes, full for hours.
It's not a myth that I sweat alot, which I guess would be attributed to my body's high metabolic rate, so I wouldn't really blame the morning sun and the teh tarik for the mildly wet clothes.
Visited my mum, and then it was a change of two buses before I finally got to the Conservatory, where here I am sitting in the computer room, aware of the fact that I have only seen two other people in this building, one being Dr Hecht himself and the security guard. Everyone's probably back home hundreds of kilometres away, spending time with their loved ones after months of music and homesick-ness.
I thought, if only I had a car. Getting from home to Church, then Church to Conservatory would be much easier. And subsequently, from the Conservatory to Evans Road. Then I can also fulfil my dreams of one day being able to say, "Chiling, let's go for Rochor. Yeah, downstairs already." Then I'll dwindle my time at the carpark reading scores, and then she'll get down soon enough.
Or Ma Yanjie. "Oopezi, don't cook dinner tonight, eating out. If you don't get down by 5 minutes, I'll drive the car into the kitchen and shine the lights at your face."
So that would be it. She would get down, and then we could go eat out. Unfortunately/fortunately, she's going to be able to drive first, and then I would have to wait till I turn 18. By next year, she would be able to drive...then she could go fetch me to RJC already. Eh, entirely cool.
The past few days have been a flurry of motion. No, wasn't a case of terrible food and visits to the loo. On the contrary...(pentatonic scale please, with pedal. Technician! Fade out!)
On the contrary, I visited Seven-mile junction (now known to today's generation as Bukit Timah Market. Whatever. I'll stick to Seven-Mile Junction) together with Sydney and Kenneth earlier this week, one of my favourite food haunts. Kenneth had mutton soup, which apparently 7-mile boasts one of the best in Singapore. I had Happy Duck Rice (literally), and it dasted really telicious.
[yes, you probably re-read that again.]
But nonetheless, it was really good, duck was tender, peanuts were great. Sydney and I decided to rob some of Kenneth's mutton, but I sort of adulterated the mutton by having it dipped into duck sauce. Never mind that it still tasted great.
I guess the next day we went to watch the Chamber concert at Hwa Chong, got a sunflower for Fiona. Knowing that it was a school chamber concert, we weren't expecting an Esplanade performance, but it was fun enough. Three of us, myself, myother and myhalfsis then went for a sumptuous and beautiful dinner at the same place, this time having peanut tangyuan. The whole time we were laughing so hard, and I think MYJ even teared a little. But it was nice.
(here the author decides to go relieve himself and go up to practise. Bye!)
for now.
It's 1.55am, and I'm back home feeling more dull than ever. Firstly I'm pretty tired, and secondly there's no one to disturb from sleep. This morning's words were written under deft and silent typing so that I did not disturb my colleague while she had her sleep in the computer lab. Now, I can type at whatever volume I wished to.
Let's continue the day's narration - well Pop gave all of us the ride back home, including Chiling, and I was glad we could all reach home before the dose struck us. But before that I think I am pretty apprehensive towards Hwa Chong guys, (no don't ask, it's instinctive. and besides, sensitive.) But one of her classmates (apparently class gentleman and poet) actually said hello to me! (sorry I forgot your name) - I know this sounds really absurd and quirky but he probably was the first HCJC person to ever say hi to me other than my primary schoolmates. Maybe I just don't look receptive enough.
The next day being Friday - gosh, it's Monday already - and all 5 of us (by now you all should know who...pop aunty MYJ CCL JS) caught Angels and Demons. MYJ was so scared she cried on the way back home. I got really worried and was super concerned, you know the fabric of the pillow right...not good material to cry on. But I let the person to her devices. I didn't eat much of the popcorn, was probably staring at the screen the whole time without realizing. Solid movie. All the questions were surprisingly answered, and it was a satisfying end for such a complicated movie.
The next day, we practised four-hands...
And Sunday was just another busy day of soccer plus the most heavenly shower I've ever had. Besides we talked super long about OBS, kinda prep lesson for Amanda. And then later in the night, about music, practice, and careers. Discoveries, revelations, and practice. Hanon, Czerny. Mind, body and soul.
Next week, I'm bringing the bass and the amps to Boon Lay. Let the rock begin.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Wanted: Mas Yanjie
Mas Yanjie caught on picture! Wanted in Singapore, if found please recapture and send to Singapore Zoo. Picture above.
Sorry for scaring all of you readers off. Just scroll down if it makes you uncomfortable!!!
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Yellow Submarine
It's a cloud descended upon my house. I slept for half an hour, Hwa Chong girl is already sleeping with her Nokia still blaring out Chinese music desperately collected over the past few days. She wants the battery out, I want the music out. Just charge it, who cares if it isn't dead yet! But no she refuses to, and now the lights are all on, her handphone is still on, and she's off.
On the other hand, I feel in a more accomplished mood today considering I actually finished the composition and am actually being extra by adding, well what do you know, extra parts. Then I have to ask myself, are they really essential? Yes they are, just that I haven't made them totally essential yet.
Whatever.
Hold on, I shall go get a sip of water to quench the sour tinge in my mouth.
Oh right before this slips off my mind I would like to say how much I admire the works of female authors. They just notice the subtler things, are able to better express emotions in words, and generally though I have had trying times comprehending the time, space, characters, it does feel like a fluid read. Yet it's sharp in details and meticulous, sometimes I do find it hard not to pick up the book when I supposedly have more important things to do.
Doris Lessing, Emily Bronte, Jeannette Winterson.
Meanwhile Aunty has problems trying to open the gate. I merely stare at my computer. Sometimes she sounds as if she were trying not to hurt the door, and the time she takes to open it is mind-boggingly slow. A quick click, a turn, and the door opens - a matter of seconds if I did the job.
I feel shagged now. A morning of badminton, Literature, History and Aural class. Helped to carry a teddy bear and jellies for a HC senior I don't even know, and suffered myself to buy aLIVE bar hahah that wasn't a typo it was really dead but the brand name is ALIVE. (in the voice of Nigel Chu Jia En)
I got the MEP scholarship! woohoo $1000, 5 Hanabi meals with loved ones. Let's go LKY! then we can both truly hanabi lol...
On the other hand, I feel in a more accomplished mood today considering I actually finished the composition and am actually being extra by adding, well what do you know, extra parts. Then I have to ask myself, are they really essential? Yes they are, just that I haven't made them totally essential yet.
Whatever.
Hold on, I shall go get a sip of water to quench the sour tinge in my mouth.
Oh right before this slips off my mind I would like to say how much I admire the works of female authors. They just notice the subtler things, are able to better express emotions in words, and generally though I have had trying times comprehending the time, space, characters, it does feel like a fluid read. Yet it's sharp in details and meticulous, sometimes I do find it hard not to pick up the book when I supposedly have more important things to do.
Doris Lessing, Emily Bronte, Jeannette Winterson.
Meanwhile Aunty has problems trying to open the gate. I merely stare at my computer. Sometimes she sounds as if she were trying not to hurt the door, and the time she takes to open it is mind-boggingly slow. A quick click, a turn, and the door opens - a matter of seconds if I did the job.
I feel shagged now. A morning of badminton, Literature, History and Aural class. Helped to carry a teddy bear and jellies for a HC senior I don't even know, and suffered myself to buy aLIVE bar hahah that wasn't a typo it was really dead but the brand name is ALIVE. (in the voice of Nigel Chu Jia En)
I got the MEP scholarship! woohoo $1000, 5 Hanabi meals with loved ones. Let's go LKY! then we can both truly hanabi lol...
Monday, May 11, 2009
Sarnday
Today's blogpost is typed under duress, because of an uninvited guest sitting beside me. Truth be told I'm the one not invited, the computer is in fact hers, and I'm here because my ass is bigger than hers. Which means I can shove her aside.
The 23872942th arrangement of the furniture in the house means that we now have a new way of getting around, but surprisingly none of us have to CRAWL around to get to places. So much to type, so little time.
Let's start from...what happened just recently. Well actually let's start from what happened 24 hours ago. 24 hours ago, I happened to be throwing tissue paper at Ma Yanjie's general direction (no no serious I was aiming at the AIR space around her, not her. I'm too nice to even THINK of harming her). None of the tissue paper were used, of course, for I'm not such a dirty person, and if I were I would have tried to throw the toilet bowl.
Rationale for that? Mr Lee said anything worth doing is worth over-doing. Toilet bowl is the way to go.
Then after that I was content to go to bed after a good bout of volleying clean paper. I woke up this morning thus to the ACTUAL Mother's Day, at roughly 10.43am.
I fell asleep roughly at 10.44am though. Was checking the time. Then I woke up again at 11.30am, brushed my teeth, took a nap till 12pm, and I was off! To visit my mum at the Church of St Mary of the Angels.
Ok yeah, I know, it feels like 5 years since she died, because so many things have happened since she passed away. Got a new family, tons of new furniture, international competition experience and an award, college, more music, crazier classmates, a freaking cool teacher, and a beautiful other. All at once I feel like a lucky bastard who doesn't deserve any of this, but often life is about living with what you don't deserve, so you learn to treasure them more.
That aside and some of the smart shit I pretend to say, life has been really kind to me this past year. I'm not hinting at any nexus, but it couldn't be pure coincedence to say that some of it had actually been finally possible. I think it would be unfair if you were to condemn me for saying that, but it's unfair for me too because you didn't wear my shoes.
After taking a bus to church, I took two other buses to the Conservatory for a practice with Adriel and David. Dumka trio, it should be known, and rehearsal had been effective. It's always fortunate to work with technically fantastic and musically sound musicians. Then you can look towards more extra-musical stuff, and you don't have to worry about simple things like intonation and rhythm. Another reason why I'm such a lucky bastard.
Rehearsal till 4.30pm, and an exclamation from David Loke saying that he had to leave early because his grandfather passed away this day last year. It followed with an outburst from myself claiming this day for my mum also, and our eyes twinkled such that it nearly preceded an empathetic high 5.
"You know I wished I could give you a high 5 now, but it feels inappropriate. *chuckles*"
Adriel's mum fetched me to Bishan, where I waited at Yisin's house with a round of FIFA for the new HACAS president to finish her meeting. She actually finished it by today, and she totally deserves a good pat on her back, on behalf of all my readers here. Yes you do :). So proud of her.
Got back by eight, and Dr Hecht was back, like last Sunday. We had a sumptuous dinner, not without thanks to Ma Yanjie and her mum's fantastic cooking, and us three men contributed by eating and finishing up the food. It's tough work, but we survived in the end. So hilarious, American humour. Dr Hecht typed a letter for my dad's speech upon leaving DHL this Thursday, but it's never going to come out here because of the cuss words.
My dad choked several times though, it was just crazy.
Well that basically sums up my day, but since Akkra reminded me, he beat me 3-1 in pool the day before he left. Don't tell him I GAVE in to him to make him happy! Haha just kidding. And sure, all the best to Fiona's performance on Thursday. Go support come come come only $5 if you realise you are just slacking around digging your nose and not helping out with any work and not happen to have any serious work to do and is are really am will be can be should be must be feeling a little in the need for some chamber music then this is your night.
Just go watch it - for the effort I just put it, it surely is worth $5.
Cheers!
The 23872942th arrangement of the furniture in the house means that we now have a new way of getting around, but surprisingly none of us have to CRAWL around to get to places. So much to type, so little time.
Let's start from...what happened just recently. Well actually let's start from what happened 24 hours ago. 24 hours ago, I happened to be throwing tissue paper at Ma Yanjie's general direction (no no serious I was aiming at the AIR space around her, not her. I'm too nice to even THINK of harming her). None of the tissue paper were used, of course, for I'm not such a dirty person, and if I were I would have tried to throw the toilet bowl.
Rationale for that? Mr Lee said anything worth doing is worth over-doing. Toilet bowl is the way to go.
Then after that I was content to go to bed after a good bout of volleying clean paper. I woke up this morning thus to the ACTUAL Mother's Day, at roughly 10.43am.
I fell asleep roughly at 10.44am though. Was checking the time. Then I woke up again at 11.30am, brushed my teeth, took a nap till 12pm, and I was off! To visit my mum at the Church of St Mary of the Angels.
Ok yeah, I know, it feels like 5 years since she died, because so many things have happened since she passed away. Got a new family, tons of new furniture, international competition experience and an award, college, more music, crazier classmates, a freaking cool teacher, and a beautiful other. All at once I feel like a lucky bastard who doesn't deserve any of this, but often life is about living with what you don't deserve, so you learn to treasure them more.
That aside and some of the smart shit I pretend to say, life has been really kind to me this past year. I'm not hinting at any nexus, but it couldn't be pure coincedence to say that some of it had actually been finally possible. I think it would be unfair if you were to condemn me for saying that, but it's unfair for me too because you didn't wear my shoes.
After taking a bus to church, I took two other buses to the Conservatory for a practice with Adriel and David. Dumka trio, it should be known, and rehearsal had been effective. It's always fortunate to work with technically fantastic and musically sound musicians. Then you can look towards more extra-musical stuff, and you don't have to worry about simple things like intonation and rhythm. Another reason why I'm such a lucky bastard.
Rehearsal till 4.30pm, and an exclamation from David Loke saying that he had to leave early because his grandfather passed away this day last year. It followed with an outburst from myself claiming this day for my mum also, and our eyes twinkled such that it nearly preceded an empathetic high 5.
"You know I wished I could give you a high 5 now, but it feels inappropriate. *chuckles*"
Adriel's mum fetched me to Bishan, where I waited at Yisin's house with a round of FIFA for the new HACAS president to finish her meeting. She actually finished it by today, and she totally deserves a good pat on her back, on behalf of all my readers here. Yes you do :). So proud of her.
Got back by eight, and Dr Hecht was back, like last Sunday. We had a sumptuous dinner, not without thanks to Ma Yanjie and her mum's fantastic cooking, and us three men contributed by eating and finishing up the food. It's tough work, but we survived in the end. So hilarious, American humour. Dr Hecht typed a letter for my dad's speech upon leaving DHL this Thursday, but it's never going to come out here because of the cuss words.
My dad choked several times though, it was just crazy.
Well that basically sums up my day, but since Akkra reminded me, he beat me 3-1 in pool the day before he left. Don't tell him I GAVE in to him to make him happy! Haha just kidding. And sure, all the best to Fiona's performance on Thursday. Go support come come come only $5 if you realise you are just slacking around digging your nose and not helping out with any work and not happen to have any serious work to do and is are really am will be can be should be must be feeling a little in the need for some chamber music then this is your night.
Just go watch it - for the effort I just put it, it surely is worth $5.
Cheers!
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Happy Mother's Day Aunty!
I'm starting to insanely vainly view my life as an adventure, and my blog as its novel. I know, it's the delusional once-in-a-while oh HOT DAMN i'm in a spur kind of moment. The weather has been oppresively hot nowadays, and Singaporeans have been dealing just fine with it.
But the good news! Mas Selamat has been caught. Now I can sleep without worrying whether he would untune my piano at night while I'm not awake, though he has dealt a serious blow already by breaking my cello A string, and detuning the rest.
The weather is another suspect.
Mother's Day was not without occassion - I was in the company of the two sisters and their mum, otherwise fondly known in my blogposts as Aunty (in the right context, not Yanjie's mum). She who let me stay in her kitchen and watch her cook, help her bake, listen to her share secrets about her daughter (chuckles), and cut the vegetables, albeit under the watchful eyes of Chan Chi Ling.
But before I had finished sectioning ONE cucumber it would disappear, for the sound of each chop threatened the disappearance of a thumb, and the appearance of its red innards.
Long story damn short, Aunty deserves 5 stars and BEST MUM award, because she is truly in my opinion, the best mum I have ever seen. Without question, she would hence deserve the best present, which today came in the form of a song.
Written and composed by Chi Ling, sung by Chi Ling and Amanda Chan, mouthed by Jonathan Shin, piano played by Jonathan Shin. Happy Mother's Day Aunty!!!
And yes, before I forget, myself and myother are performing in Inspire 09: HeartStrings, plus eXDee is performing in Gifts from the Heart, which is basically the gala concert for Inspire 09..and the theme song for Inspire 09 is a song written and composed by both of us! So do please come down and support us.
HeartBeat - Inspire 09 Dance Concert @ Hwa Chong Institution (College) Auditorium
12 June and 13 June 7.30pm, tickets at $8.
HeartStrings - Inspire 09 Instrumental and Choral Concert @ Singapore Poly Convention Centre. 25 July 7.30pm, tickets at $8.
Gifts From The Heart - Inspire 09 Gala Concert @ Republic Polytechnic Cultural Centre
21 August and 22 August 7.30pm, tickets at $10 and $12 each.
We will both be performing 4-hand works by Rachmaninov and Camille Saint-Saens.
Cya!
But the good news! Mas Selamat has been caught. Now I can sleep without worrying whether he would untune my piano at night while I'm not awake, though he has dealt a serious blow already by breaking my cello A string, and detuning the rest.
The weather is another suspect.
Mother's Day was not without occassion - I was in the company of the two sisters and their mum, otherwise fondly known in my blogposts as Aunty (in the right context, not Yanjie's mum). She who let me stay in her kitchen and watch her cook, help her bake, listen to her share secrets about her daughter (chuckles), and cut the vegetables, albeit under the watchful eyes of Chan Chi Ling.
But before I had finished sectioning ONE cucumber it would disappear, for the sound of each chop threatened the disappearance of a thumb, and the appearance of its red innards.
Long story damn short, Aunty deserves 5 stars and BEST MUM award, because she is truly in my opinion, the best mum I have ever seen. Without question, she would hence deserve the best present, which today came in the form of a song.
Written and composed by Chi Ling, sung by Chi Ling and Amanda Chan, mouthed by Jonathan Shin, piano played by Jonathan Shin. Happy Mother's Day Aunty!!!
And yes, before I forget, myself and myother are performing in Inspire 09: HeartStrings, plus eXDee is performing in Gifts from the Heart, which is basically the gala concert for Inspire 09..and the theme song for Inspire 09 is a song written and composed by both of us! So do please come down and support us.
HeartBeat - Inspire 09 Dance Concert @ Hwa Chong Institution (College) Auditorium
12 June and 13 June 7.30pm, tickets at $8.
HeartStrings - Inspire 09 Instrumental and Choral Concert @ Singapore Poly Convention Centre. 25 July 7.30pm, tickets at $8.
Gifts From The Heart - Inspire 09 Gala Concert @ Republic Polytechnic Cultural Centre
21 August and 22 August 7.30pm, tickets at $10 and $12 each.
We will both be performing 4-hand works by Rachmaninov and Camille Saint-Saens.
Cya!
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Pops!
Absolutely depressing that my dad would be sitting opposite me and smiling and talking about shares - it's probably the only thing that pleases him most. If the stocks go down, his mood goes down too. And if the stocks go up, he nods, tells his friends all about it, and basically his whole day brightens up.
Or whole night - he comes back at around 10:45.
Yeah maybe it's the only thing he can be interested in now he's in his late 50s. One can never be satisfied about the money one earns right? Can't even be bothered to read some books I recommend him. Maybe people around him might get happier once he reads those books. Ok who am I to comment until I have started earning for my own pork chops. It's all about the money ain't it. All about it.
Been lacking serious motivation to do any of my homework nowadays, and I'm feeling this urge to go back to my musical roots. Go back and practise. If only I could take away one white slip for every 2 hours of quality practice I have with my piano.
Sunday is freaking declared as 'family' time. Why be so hypocritical and pretend its family time when obviously MYJ, aunty and myself don't even know each other well enough yet? I feel so restricted and I yearn to hear the laughter again talking to CL, Amanda, and aunty. It makes me feel much more comfortable, cross my heart.
It's unbelievable how 'stone' I feel nowadays when my dad is around, it's simply stifling. I hear the keys ringing, and I immediately stiffen, aware of this presence. When he enters the room, all I can bring myself to mutter is a simple 'hi'. A man with the most radical, bizarre and weird ideas, treats his house like his company, us like his charges. Confounded statements and reasonings. Maybe that's what makes him unique.
I have to bring myself to like him - after all, it's only another few more months before he leaves for China, and I can breathe a sigh of relief, knowing I have food to eat and piano to practise. It's so like Ibiza again - all by myself in the hotel room.
Meanwhile, thanks dad for all the 16 years, while you continue to pen down your figures and numbers and I wait for the fan that could only blow in your direction.
On a livelier note I'm looking forward to pool with Akkra tomorrow, and a good dinner before he leaves for Thailand on Saturday. Take care of yourself, buddy!
Or whole night - he comes back at around 10:45.
Yeah maybe it's the only thing he can be interested in now he's in his late 50s. One can never be satisfied about the money one earns right? Can't even be bothered to read some books I recommend him. Maybe people around him might get happier once he reads those books. Ok who am I to comment until I have started earning for my own pork chops. It's all about the money ain't it. All about it.
Been lacking serious motivation to do any of my homework nowadays, and I'm feeling this urge to go back to my musical roots. Go back and practise. If only I could take away one white slip for every 2 hours of quality practice I have with my piano.
Sunday is freaking declared as 'family' time. Why be so hypocritical and pretend its family time when obviously MYJ, aunty and myself don't even know each other well enough yet? I feel so restricted and I yearn to hear the laughter again talking to CL, Amanda, and aunty. It makes me feel much more comfortable, cross my heart.
It's unbelievable how 'stone' I feel nowadays when my dad is around, it's simply stifling. I hear the keys ringing, and I immediately stiffen, aware of this presence. When he enters the room, all I can bring myself to mutter is a simple 'hi'. A man with the most radical, bizarre and weird ideas, treats his house like his company, us like his charges. Confounded statements and reasonings. Maybe that's what makes him unique.
I have to bring myself to like him - after all, it's only another few more months before he leaves for China, and I can breathe a sigh of relief, knowing I have food to eat and piano to practise. It's so like Ibiza again - all by myself in the hotel room.
Meanwhile, thanks dad for all the 16 years, while you continue to pen down your figures and numbers and I wait for the fan that could only blow in your direction.
On a livelier note I'm looking forward to pool with Akkra tomorrow, and a good dinner before he leaves for Thailand on Saturday. Take care of yourself, buddy!
Friday, May 1, 2009
uncompleted post.
All the fuss for nothing.
"No, she's going to be bad, she's going to mistreat me, I'm so afraid of her." Whining like a true musician. But she turned out to be nice - I mean she's a tuition teacher you know? She teaches Chinese you know? And she's good with kids (well that's what you have to be when you're a teacher).
The past week has been a battle against time and myself. No, not coming into terms with my identity or anything. Most of you probably know I've been working damn hard for the past week for my juries, but yes, it's useless. To find the thing I'm good at (impromptu-ing and doing last minute stuff) failing me at the element I discovered this gift from, that is music. It doesn't work, and I have paid the price hard.
Recently I've discovered my dad and I have differences in ideologies and ways of executing things. Let's talk about the most pervasive thought in my brain now - religion.
The wheels and cogs started moving just 2 weeks back when I decided to pluck this yellow paperback from Ling's mini-library. The title itself was quite provacative - God is Not Great. Provacative means having Long come over to my table and covering the word 'Not'.
Before I start this stream of thoughts I would like to hold myself and only myself responsible for the words I'm saying here. In case people start pointing fingers at who said what and who did what, I'm quite in control of my own actions and my brain.
And if the stream of thoughts sound very organized, it's merely a coincedence.
Religion is important. As social creatures we constantly seek guidance from other humans in order to grow, mature, develop our own thoughts and ideas. Imagine an infant placed in a sealed cave without external stimulus and fed water and food daily through a tiny opening, without fail, for 30 years. His world would be the cave walls, the hand that feeds him, and the food and water. Any sense of anything else? Nonsense. Surely the man (now 30-years-old, if he knows it) is denied the rights to interact with other humans like himself, and his development be severely stifled.
Which leads to another question that just popped up in my stream of consciousness - is the ability to fulfil freedoms limited by only the human capabilities (simply saying to live free) - be the only condition to be a human? Is that even a problem?!?!
Let's start from the lowest rung of the human sociax (a word I coined while talking to Fiona on MSN and was unable to come up with a suitable word. Society wasn't appropriate because it didn't quite fit.) - that is the family.
Let's put the above-said poor child up for adoption into this family just 2 years into his terrible cave experience. Yee, he starts learning and growing, he has all his parents' guidance and teachings. Great. He has an expectation set for him by his parents, he has house rules to follow (don't dump your shit here, no no don't put that in your mouth), he understands that his parents have his welfare at heart.
Then let me combine this with one of the most powerful instinct/weakness of the human race - the fear of the unknown. Surely you readers know where I'm heading to. The unseen, the godly, the outside, the intangible. Fear. No no no, that doesn't happe, you might say. It does. Let's start mini again.
"Dave, there's a moth on your shoulder."
"Fuck I can't see it, help me get rid of it now, unless I have eyes on my back which I don't have so get this fucking moth off me now."/"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHh!!!"
Or let's put this into perspective.
"Dave, there's something I can't identify on your ass."
"(pants down)"
Thoughts racing through our head - what could be there? Who could be there? How is it there? When was it there? WHY is it there? Not why is it there on my ass, why is it there in the first place.
-at this point the author stopped typing and decided that he should set off for the Conservatory. It's already been one day since this has passed.-
-at this point the author returns to the post after 1 week of posting. he says forget it and he refuses to continue typing the post but decides to post it.-
"No, she's going to be bad, she's going to mistreat me, I'm so afraid of her." Whining like a true musician. But she turned out to be nice - I mean she's a tuition teacher you know? She teaches Chinese you know? And she's good with kids (well that's what you have to be when you're a teacher).
The past week has been a battle against time and myself. No, not coming into terms with my identity or anything. Most of you probably know I've been working damn hard for the past week for my juries, but yes, it's useless. To find the thing I'm good at (impromptu-ing and doing last minute stuff) failing me at the element I discovered this gift from, that is music. It doesn't work, and I have paid the price hard.
Recently I've discovered my dad and I have differences in ideologies and ways of executing things. Let's talk about the most pervasive thought in my brain now - religion.
The wheels and cogs started moving just 2 weeks back when I decided to pluck this yellow paperback from Ling's mini-library. The title itself was quite provacative - God is Not Great. Provacative means having Long come over to my table and covering the word 'Not'.
Before I start this stream of thoughts I would like to hold myself and only myself responsible for the words I'm saying here. In case people start pointing fingers at who said what and who did what, I'm quite in control of my own actions and my brain.
And if the stream of thoughts sound very organized, it's merely a coincedence.
Religion is important. As social creatures we constantly seek guidance from other humans in order to grow, mature, develop our own thoughts and ideas. Imagine an infant placed in a sealed cave without external stimulus and fed water and food daily through a tiny opening, without fail, for 30 years. His world would be the cave walls, the hand that feeds him, and the food and water. Any sense of anything else? Nonsense. Surely the man (now 30-years-old, if he knows it) is denied the rights to interact with other humans like himself, and his development be severely stifled.
Which leads to another question that just popped up in my stream of consciousness - is the ability to fulfil freedoms limited by only the human capabilities (simply saying to live free) - be the only condition to be a human? Is that even a problem?!?!
Let's start from the lowest rung of the human sociax (a word I coined while talking to Fiona on MSN and was unable to come up with a suitable word. Society wasn't appropriate because it didn't quite fit.) - that is the family.
Let's put the above-said poor child up for adoption into this family just 2 years into his terrible cave experience. Yee, he starts learning and growing, he has all his parents' guidance and teachings. Great. He has an expectation set for him by his parents, he has house rules to follow (don't dump your shit here, no no don't put that in your mouth), he understands that his parents have his welfare at heart.
Then let me combine this with one of the most powerful instinct/weakness of the human race - the fear of the unknown. Surely you readers know where I'm heading to. The unseen, the godly, the outside, the intangible. Fear. No no no, that doesn't happe, you might say. It does. Let's start mini again.
"Dave, there's a moth on your shoulder."
"Fuck I can't see it, help me get rid of it now, unless I have eyes on my back which I don't have so get this fucking moth off me now."/"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHh!!!"
Or let's put this into perspective.
"Dave, there's something I can't identify on your ass."
"(pants down)"
Thoughts racing through our head - what could be there? Who could be there? How is it there? When was it there? WHY is it there? Not why is it there on my ass, why is it there in the first place.
-at this point the author stopped typing and decided that he should set off for the Conservatory. It's already been one day since this has passed.-
-at this point the author returns to the post after 1 week of posting. he says forget it and he refuses to continue typing the post but decides to post it.-
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