Wednesday, December 21, 2005

When The Lights Went Off

'Contact (Full Names, Home Tel...), Qualifications..'. **POOF**. No, I did not dissappear. It was pitch black. I was listing down the stuff that I need to include in my resume before the lights went off totally. Luckilly, I haven't started to type it out. I used the handphone light to guide me down the stairs before i start to dig out all my tea light candle to light up the hall.

My parents and I just sat down in the living room. They were chatting away and I cant seem to sit still. I was fidgeting with the candles, walking in and out of the kitchen, went out to check on my dog and so on...I WAS BORED! Yes, I was really bored. A black out got me thinking that we are so dependent on all the electronic gadgets we have at home. We practically cant live without it. No TV. No Internet. No Music. No fan. Sighh...I just went out and sat with my dog.

The air was so cooling outside. SKy was beautiful and the view was breathtaking. At least its midnight blue and not purple, like the ones in Sunway. Thanks to the city lights. Nice to be back home with all the trees and fresh clean water. I could just drink from my tap because I can be sure that its not brown like those in the hostel. Sometimes i just wonder how i can bear with my filthy hostel. Sigh..Survival Skills Needed.

I went over to JOy's house for a night. My parents went to bed. It was too early to go to bed for me and its hot. So, JOy picked me up and i slept over her place. Well, she left to KL today. It was such a short meet up session. First day in Taiping, I let her spend time with Josie, dont wanna be the lamp post. Then, yesterday, we were just lethargic.

Tuesday, December 20, 2005

A Workaholic Reflection

“So do you have someone yet?” Rani asked.
“Single and happy”, I answered with a smile. A short pause.
“I’m too busy to fit a bf into my life right now”, I continued.

Its 2.30 am now. The conversation suddenly rang in my mind while I was watching ‘Returning Lily’ on Hallmark. I felt disgusted at myself for uttering the second line. I felt sick that I actually said that I am too busy to fit somebody into my life. Its just wrong.

The movie that revolves around a workaholic who got so busy that she neglected people around her, herself and her life. Finally, she found the meaning of living after a short trip back to Hawaii to bury her nanny’s ashes. It strucks me after a while.

Money. Full schedule. Endless traveling. Jobs. Internship. Future. The list runs on in my mind. I am turning into lil’ Ms. Scrooge. Well, I am not totally all that. I just got my own version of Christmas Carol re-run early :).

Human creates time. Human schedule their own time. There is no such thing as ‘no time’ for anything. Sometimes people get so busy with their new life, they forgot to contact their loved ones or old friends. Maybe their busy schedule has changed their perception towards that aspect of life. Its just not important anymore in their life.

I have been so busy this whole year. Juggling between my studies in uni and my piano diploma. Thurs to Sun in KL and Mon to Thurs in Subang for a whole year. To gain something, you lose something else. What I lost was my social life and free time. What I gain is wonderful dinner at uncle’s house, outing with cousin and music lessons.

An empty schedule scares me now. I think I have turned into a workaholic. Now I am exhausted physically and thirsty mentally.

I think I might just found the answer on what to do next month. Maybe I will still try out for the audition in January for a job. In the meantime, from 19th till New Year, I am taking a break. That’s what Christmas is for :). Prepare for 2006. Stay at home and reflect on 2005. Those sweet, bitter and sour memories. Resume my songwriting and writings online. Learn new skills, language and read. Rest.


MERRY X-MAS to everyone! Happy New Year 2006! Take some time off to rest. Even for a day.

Monday, December 19, 2005

Home Sweet Home

Home, Home by the lake...Finally back to Taiping. Came back with Joy and Josie. 4 hours, ahh..sucha long journey.

I know i should not be spending anymore, but i cant help it. ITs Lee Hom scorebook! I must get it! I am in KLCC. The only place i will be is Kinokuniya. Was there to get the scorebook. I did not know that i will end up getting another two more books. Then, Joy dropped me a surprise visit in KLCC while I was at the Cinnabon outlet.I was suppose to meet her in Nandos Pudu. She wanted 4 chocolate cinnabon but it will only be ready in 20 min. So, we left KLCC and went over to Nandos. Poor Josie, he waited half an hour for us.

I was pretty quiet at lunch. I was busy enjoying my hot peri-peri chicken with greek salad and fries, plus garlic and peri peri sauce. Looking forward to try their caesar salad, it looks good. Caesar salad is one of my favourite salad other than the Oriental salad in California Pizza Kitchen. Its salad with leafy lettuce, grilled chicken, bread pieces and parmesan cheese. Sounds good? :) I have only tried the one in Starbucks so far. The oriental salad taste very much like the 'Yee Sang', a must-have chinese cuisine during chinese new year. There are 28 ingredients in 'Yee Sang' and the act to mix it all up is call 'lou sang'. To signify prosperity and success in the upcoming year.

Okie...enough bout food already! I can go on and on..Maybe i should start a journal on cuisine one day since i enjoy eating so much :) MUahhaha!

Sunday, December 18, 2005

Crab Feast!

My uncle made the most incredible feast today. Steamed crab in two variant = Fried with black pepper and steamed with egg. Oooooooooo! It was just so so delicious! Plus, fried vege and home maded fish paste cooked in soup!

Earlier, we were at Times Square, went to Neway with Sy Yun and Tyan! Ahh so funn...we havent sang together for quite some time. Neway black out that day. We got extra 15 min. The food that i ordered sucks. The unagi is just so so gross when its soaked in the soup, too fishy in taste. NOodle is fine. Should have ordered the Marmite Chicken, that tasted really awesome. Then, it was shopping spree for cousin. We had waffle with Belgian choc. Just awesome. There was not enough time to watch a movie, so we went back home instead. For da Crab Feast!!

Saturday, December 17, 2005

Monash Open Day

I suck today. I have never been so stressed up in a performance before that i did not feel like playing for the second session. Being a classical piano accompanist is not that easy.

Firstly, my sight reading has gone really bad. I have not been playing much new pieces. That's why. Thanks to university life. Time to brush up. PLaying contemporary is so much freer, you can just play wahtever u want as long as its within the chords. Sorry Bei, u have to bear with my lousy sight reading. Hahahha.Thanks for being a great host while am at your place despite you are busy packing for you trip.

I was practising at her place from 12th Dec to 14th, and also on 16th night. She's the flutist and i'm the piano accompanist. 16th was a really tiring day. I got back from the audition, and both of us stil have to practise at night. I could feel my muscles and bones are like falling apart. I just crash when i touched the mattress.

We only made it for two half an hour session that day. She played really good and i screwed up quite a lot that day. Sighh...but it was fun jamming with ya bei! ehhehe..hopefully there will be more this kinda session :)

Monash gave us both a t shirt, cup and mouse pad. They gave me a XL size shirt when WIlson is only wearing size L. Aaaarrgghh..wondeer if they would allow me to change it. Andrew will give us a treat too! So sweet of him!

After the performance, i rushed to pack my back to go over to Cheras. Thank you Melissa for dropping me at Bangsar Lrt! Reached cousin's place, nobody was at home. SObs..i had to sit out there. Then i decided to get my lunch from the mamak nearby. Fried chicken, turmeric cabbage and curry with rice, with teh 'o ice. Just perfect. Sy Yun got back with Jia Hsien and i followed them to fetch Mimi. When i got back,i just crashed. Too tired liao and feeling a bit sick too. Over exhausted. That's all for the day.

Friday, December 16, 2005

Project Super Star

Woke up at 8.30 this morning. I have an important mission. I was there to test my guts. Today is the Project Super Star audition. Well, not many people knew i went for it, not even my parents. I just told a few friends and that's it.

So i got all dressed up, had a good breakfast and off I go. Reached Berjaya Times Square at 10 plus. There were already a trail of people lining up there. So there I was waiting at the line. I can see a variety of people there which includes, the ah beng, the ah lians, the cool dudes, the nervous one and then.....there is this guy that caught my attention. He looks like a mixture of Wu Ke Chuen and Dylan something (forgot the name of that actor). All dressed up in working attire. At least there is some eye candy to entertain me while i waited to register. Well, ya see, i went there myself without anybody. As usual, I will look for possible victim to talk to.

After registration, we have to sit down and wear the number given Mine was 1510. An hour or two to wait. Spoke to the girl next to me and her friends. Its good coz i could do with their help to look after my bag. Then, it was my turn, being called out with the other 9 participants including Mr. Cutie. I think i was half dead already, tired, slightly hungry and lack of spirit.

So, when it was my turn, I could feel my whole self shaking. I couldnt control it. The room was quiet and bright. The two judges just look at you without saying a word. A cameraman on my left and lights shining at my face. Then, I picked up the mic and sang a verse. MIssion failed of course. I could still remember seeing my hand shakes when i was singing. Voice sounded aweful. AHh...I pray hard that i do not see my face on TV. It would be such embarrassment.

I still have stage fright. Its proven. But this is not the same kind of stage fright. I am quite comfortable performing in front of a crowd if I am in a band. Not use to solo ones. When all the limelight is on me. My nerves just starts to shiver.

Well, it was a good experience and wont be my last :) More challenge ahead. I think its fun. Audition are places where you can meet people. As i was going down the escalator, i met JEssica Tham! My uni mate...waht a surprise! Then, i met this gal Echo Tan (who knows Jessica) and she's from Taiping as well. It was really fun to meet another Taiping-ians. We had lunch at 'Char TOng Kee' with Echo and another guy whom she just knew 2 hours ago. We exchange numbers and then i'm off.

Tadaa! My audition story.

Sunday, December 11, 2005

Freaking Lazy

Freaking lazy freaking lazy, am freaking lazy..Too lazy to blog..so much that happened..I cant really keep track of my time..Busy, I would wish for one whole day, resting in my hostel room, With my pillow, Music in the background..as i daydream away....

LEt's see what i have completed so far:

28th-29th Nov: Finish testing my exam piano in Wan Utama

2nd Dec : Back to Taiping to help with the Charity Musical Concert

4th Dec: Played for the concert and coordinate stage work

6th Dec: Back to KL with mum

7th Dec: PIano exams in Sheraton Hotel. Hung out with mum and old friend
in Bukit Jalil. Its been long since i've last seen them.

8th Dec: Went Redbox with Von and Josie, Had PIzza Hut too and saw Narnia

9th Dec: Went to cousin's house for the weekend

10th Dec: Went Neway with cousin, Did a lil shopping, Saw Perhaps Love

11th Dec: Went to visit Mei Yee, had pizza hut again! Woo hoo!

That's for the week. Super packed with events!
Recap of da week

Saturday, December 10, 2005

Girls Days Out

Its a off day for my cousin today. Its also the first time after my 5th semester we went to karaoke together so long. As long as 4 months! Wow! We we so happy actually, it has alwiz been our weekly routine before she started working. She was much free-ier then, we can go during the weekdays. She never managed to book the weekend usually because its always fully book. Finally, she found out that we can book a week earlier! YAyayy! Neway, the food there is still as good as ever. We had cheese baked crab and claw stick with penne. It was brilliant!

After that, we went shopping. I'm not suppose to be buying anything coz am on a tight budget. HOwever, heaven alwiz knows when you are broke and when to drop something that u wanted to buy for so long, and finally u manage to find it! I's the moss agate pendant! I have been looking for one for so long and finally i found it. The cutting is really pretty over here. Not the regular pendulum shape. its flat and thin. The moss is so beautifully spread that it resembles the mountains in China, some of the pendant has yellow tint. It looks like a sunset backdrop with green mountains. I picked the square one with no yellow tint. Price was reasonable but i had to use up my next week allowance for it..but its WORTH IT mauahaha :D

Cousin bought a few top, purse and a b-day present. I got a good bargain on a bag, It was 80% off! Only RM 14...so happy!

Then, her bf and SOphia came over for the 5.30 movie. We watched Perhaps Love (Ru Guo, Ai). Not a bad attempt for a chinese musical. HOwever, it does resembles moulin rouge in certain parts. The first song was sung horribly by the guy. Jacky cheung did a good job in his singing. Takashi Kaneshiro and ZHou Shun..they are ok..voices not too bad. But i love the song he sang for her. The script and lyrics has nice meaning in it. Overall..the show is ok. I still think I enjoyed Narnia more :D

After the movie, all four of us was freezin! We decided to eat chicken rice in Yulek, Cheras. It is a rainy day, nice day to have hot soup and chicken rice , along with blended ginger and chicken rice chilli. YUmmy yummy! Then, we food freaks could not resist the 'yao char koay' at the road side. We both got the regular one and another one with sesame and slightly sweet. You know what's cool about this shop? Its a chinese snack stall run by Indians. This is the best i have ever tasted so far as well. GOod job man! Next, was dessert and the row of shops below. My fav longan milk. The one i have been promoting non-stop. IT's actualy boiled longan (the brown ones) mixed with milk. The taste is awesome. Try it to know it.

Then, we went over to 'Lil Genting' (Xiao Yun Ding) to check out the city night view from above the hill. After that, back home. I just lay dead on the bed after a nice shower. Satisfied and happy as we check on the goods we bought for the day :)

Friday, December 09, 2005

Pasar Malam Story

I had my favourite waffle after dinner. Butter and honey. Not bad at all. Ooo, went to Pasar Malam in front of Leisure Mall at 9 something. The shoes were realy cheap and pretty. RM 10 per pair, got myself a pair too. We were the hero for that night. We had a hard time looking for parking. So we parked at one of the road side thinkin that cars should be able to pass it. Besides, everyone parked there as well. Kancil are perfect cars to squeeze into any corner. But who would have guessed a bus would bother to pass that lane? We did see a bus got stuck in front coz cars double parked at the road, we did not think that ours would too. Hahaha..it's a funny scenario. Scary too.

When we walk back, I saw a bunch of ppl crows near where we parked. I thought there was an accident. Then, i raise my head a lil, I saw a trail of busses, 5-6 of them, waiting to pass that road, blocked by our car. Ooopppsss! Big mistake to park there. Those bus drivers were all down, waiting for us to come back, so that they could drive through that lane to get to the bus terminal. Jia Hsien walked over and get the car. They were pissed indeed. But being a Singaporean, he could not understand a word spoken in BM. LUckilly, they did not try to beat him or something. PHew! So that's the pasar malam story. One Kancil that made 5 busses lined up in a trail.

I have never travelled so much in my entire life. This is my first year. It's been a very tiring year but i am happy with it. All effort was done for my music. I am still praying that i will pass my diploma exam. I just dunno what to comment on the recent exam i took. But, my piano exam is finaly over. Kinda sad. I miss having lesson with her. I think she will be really busy next year. Its great that she just got a part time job in Sedaya recently. Such gifted teacher should not be wasted.

My teacher forgot that i was suppose to meet up with her at 3pm. Travelled all the way to Sri Petaling for nothing.Luckilly, there was no heavy rain when i got back :) Went on to practise the performance pieces for Monash Open Day. -End-