Wednesday, December 27, 2006

点滴

今天有机会出外走走. 站了一天, 吹头洗头, 走路好象是一种享受.
在理发院, 过得很充实. 今天又学到了新招!
刚好经过衣店, 就自己再添多些便衣, 也顺便买了两件来送给学生.
总是这样, 不买就不买, 一开始购物就没什么节制 !

一月的演奏会就快来了. 是有一些期待, 一些担心.
期待着顺利演出, 担心着自己有没有把每一个彩排做好. 时间不多, 要加油.

正在寻找一个3G手机. 开学前要换.

学假要结束了, 忙碌的日子, 希望多姿多彩.

几首曲子还没编完. 老天,再放我一个礼拜假吧!

三舅的生日要到了, 希望祝福能直达天堂.

指挥棒断了, 还没修.

濠雨成灾; 雨神听话, 下够了, 我烤肉会那天你别下.

叫鸡

杰 : 我们有没有叫鸡?

店员 : 你们没有叫鸡.
(我想: 有没有叫鸡, 还要问你? 哈哈哈!!!)

杰 : 今天有什么鸡?

店员 : 今天没油(有)鸡.
(难怪没叫鸡...)

杰 : 那么有什么鸡?
(还真是非叫不可.)

我这个老友, 对什么服务员每次都是百般刁难. 该是八字不合吧!

杰 : 有什么鱼?

店员 : 今天石斑不错.

杰 : 多少钱?

店员 : 30 元.

杰 : 不要了!

从认识他以来, 就知道他比较挑剔. 他叫我点菜, 我总是笑他还是自己叫吧, 他是最不随便的一个.
就快要到美国读硕士学位, 他是我们几个当中比较上进的了. 希望他一切顺利. 我们等你回来!

Sunday, December 24, 2006

菊花热

"花落人断肠, 我心事静静躺."

有时失去了, 才惋惜当初没有珍惜. 但也就因为惋惜, 一份记忆却变得如此珍贵.

"怕你上不了岸, 一辈子摇晃."

有时就是恨不下心去决定. 拖得越久, 就越难.

Friday, December 08, 2006

一悲一喜

I've been visiting my uncle at his place.

He's now all rags and bones, turned completely yellow due to liver failure, unable to speak and literally bed-ridden.

I touched him and I cried, as much as I tried not to.

My aunt whispered to him, like an piece of joyous update.
"Kevin 去学剪头发."

Actually, I told my mum, my aunts and uncles and my cousin about it this evening.
What I expected was some immediate traditional response; "you are thinking of changing job?", "Why you go and learn this type of thing?", "Hairdressers are all ah-guas and sissy." etc.

What I recieved was such warmth. I've been booked by my cousin to do free colouring for her, my mum wants me to do up my aunt's hair; and she doesn't mind getting hers permed once I've learned something decent. My cousin reminded me to keep her on top of the list, and not dump her for my girlfriend.

Even in the state which my uncle is in, I'm sure he'll be supportive of it as well. I hope he hears it and is happy that her daughter is getting free colouring and perms.

First day!

Phew... I stood for a hefty 6 to 7 hours today. literally.

Well, what did I get done? Some basic sectioning skills, blow drying techniques.
In a certain sense, it's quite like music. Practice!
My first hair drying took me about 1 hour plus, inclusive of the sectioning and managing of long and tangled dry hair(which definitely got me a little irritated).
My 2nd try was better! 30 minutes! and hopefully it gets better.

The teachers are friendly and my classmates are very young. Min age: 13
Some of them already know I'm a school teacher and have Math and Science questions for me.
One of the hairdressing teachers asked me if I'm fierce in school. I must have appeared quite docile. You say leh? Ask my student loh!

As of now, Hairdressing is really very HANDS-ON and I must admit that I feel a little thrown off from this learning pattern at first, coming from a more academic background. Oh well, I guess I'll get use to it in time.

Thursday, December 07, 2006

吉他盛况

To hear the Niibori people do the percussion parts, is truly enlightening.

The resounding thumps still embed in my memory; not just the cohesion in rhythm and sound quality, but mood and in every sense, musicality!

When they do percussion on the guitar, the instrument instantly transforms into a drum!!! I think many a times when we do percussion on the instrument, we still treat the instrument as a "guitar" and hence the percussive sound that is produced lacks the punch and rumble which percussion instruments have. More often than not, dull wood-slapping sounds are heard. Could be technique or interpretation as well. or even the energy of the player.

豪子 feels that the Niibori people 比较敢玩 compared to ourselves, which I agree. He was also telling me about the way the Niibori guitarists do tremolo should be endorsed in GENUS XP. Perhaps I could ask him to explain to the group this Saturday...
(Which suddenly strikes me!!! perhaps he should get a go at conducting as well... since he has a keen musical sense and a good sense of humour)

The ratio of the ensemble that came is about 5 : 3 : 3 : 3 : 2

It was great seeing Manji again, he's taught me a lot during his stay in Singapore 3 years ago.
Think he's grown a bit.
I don't think Manji remembers me, although we shook hands and acknowledged.
To see him playing and hurrying around after concert, reminds me of his passion for music and life. Would love to visit his rehearsals when I go to Japan, not looking like anytime soon though.

I have a feeling that Masak may be revived after this concert. Heh heh

摸索

A sudden surge of energy to learn hairdressing.

I recall I had this interest when I was doing my National Service. That was a period where I had plenty of time to spare, taking up guitar was one of them.

During August, when I accompanied my students to do their NT electives, I was also particularly keen in their hair-styling workshop. My students were quite impatient to learn and I had to opportunity to try out on the dolly heads when they take their break. The instructors commented that I'm a fast learner!

Recently, I've just sent/sponsored a student to do a hairdressing course, since he told me he's interested in picking up this skill(for livelihood or not, I don't know). I've went for the briefing and found myself also interested. Reluctant at first, considering my schedule during school days. But now, somehow I'm starting to convince myself it may just work out. Perhaps a career change, who knows?

I'm blogging this down because I'm going to bed soon. And sleeping always helps me make decisions.

Friday, December 01, 2006

Of moogles and chocobos

Besides the awesome graphics and storyline anticipation, the game offers very much a revision of Lord of the Rings. Why? Cos most of the characters, other than Penelo and Vaan, all speak in Medivial tongue.

"Make haste, we must."

The speech done by the characters in the game are quite witty(in the English sense) at times, makes me wonder if they've developed it more on a English platform than Japanese.

Orchestration of the game music is fantastic, starting from the Prelude at the "Start/Load game" screen; the melacholic harp arpeggio, typical of FF series, enhanced with a choral voice and orchestral garnish, almost bidding the Playstation 2 console a final farewell.

The gameplay is new, with plenty of on-field attacking, rather than battle screen mode. Much of the game reminds me of FFVI, which was also quite based on the same setting, huge armors clanging and empires ruling, not forgetting the Espers and all. And it seems Omega(weapon) is back, or it's reincarnation.

Friends out there who've NOT gotten your PS2 or PS3, please do yourself a favour.