christmas is here

Christmas is just round the corner. Shopping malls, eateries, everywhere is oozing Christmassy cheer. But all I'm feeling is stress. Band performance, my little pet project, plans for the new year... they're eating me up.

The Christmas tree in the office is up! And I must say it looks DAMN good. Maybe it's because I love blue. Maybe it's because the previous deco sucked balls big time. Maybe it's because it is really damn good. I love it. It's the first ever Christmas tree I helped put up. Laugh and I'll kick you.

The church's drumset needs a lot a lot of tuning. Wait. Correction: the church definitely needs a new drumset. The current sounds like a set of plastic buckets.

Important performances call for major overhaul. Everyone dug deep into pockets and looped belts tighter to cough up dough for new strings. *cough the church needs a new bass amp cough*

Even a simple enhancement like changing guitar and bass strings got the whole band excited. That's teamwork. That's love. That's passion. Okay I shall stop it's sounding gay now. *cough the new bass amp waist-high enough already cough*

I sure hope my voice doesn't give out. Not with the boys so looking forward to showing off new strings and new skills. Aaaaah I'm stressed-lah!

flowers for the departed

Nothing like the occasional flowers to brighten up one's day. I know I tell everyone I'm allergic to 'em, but the right ones secretly make me smile. Thanks, Kay. For everything. You have exquisite taste, I learned tonnes from you and I shall always be grateful for that.

On a lighter note, it's FRIDAAAAAAAAY! *punch air in ecstasy* This week passed like an arrow, and next week... next week... IS CHRISTMAS ALREADY.

Ah bugger. My heart sinks whenever I think of Christmas. So so wrong. But the thought of our impending half-bucket performance and the band members' reluctance to meet up for practice... how to cheer up? So so screwed.

battle of the bands

Friday was Battle of the Bands day. I was at the movies when it began, but luckily I managed to catch the final few bands' performances. The crowd was so-so, due to the heavy downpour and undying drizzle... but the biggest disappointment was the winner announcement.

WHO THE EFF WERE THE JUDGES??! Managing director of a canned-drink company? Were there even REAL musicians judging the show? Grrrrrrrrr. I'm upset.

nature vs human

Nature dictates everything to move toward a state of stability. If you lift something, gravity wants to take it back towards the ground. If you dry something when it is raining, it is going to get wet again. If you wet something, it is going to dry right back out.

It's different with people. When I move a step back, you move forward and step on my toe. When I ignore, you pull all kinds of stunts trying to get my attention. When I give in, you want to get more.

Somehow we miss the point of balance, however much we say we yearn for equilibrium. We are excited by chaos, however much we say we detest the fighting, the hurting. We are wired to be constantly (subconsciously?) needing situations to throw us off-balance, just to strive all over to find that balance again.

But after some time, it gets tiring. Who's wrong, who's right doesn't seem important anymore. Finding the answers to who gave more, who took more, who should give more now because of not giving enough before... such a waste of time. I'm tired.

No more. Everything else will just have to balance themselves on the ground where I stand.

theresa's farewell

Friday night was Theresa's farewell party at Bernard's. Actually I was a bit surprised she invited me. After all, we'd never worked together before, and having lunch twice doesn't really constitute friendship in my dictionary. But bless her soul, Theresa's such an infectiously cheery person that one cannot help but be magnetised by her. She's a sugar bomb-lah. I think me being close to her best friend Boo is an added advantage to get my ass invited to a free makan session also.

I didn't know half the people there. Was seated next to someone the whole night and I didn't manage to get her name. Shame-lah my social skill. But I can name every dish that was served that night. Aiyah, I'm a food person-ma, not exactly people-person.

For more drunken scandalicious pictures like this one, click here.

pathfinders

Practice for Christmas performances are underway. Although it's more difficult than climbing Mount KK barefoot sans torchlight and water to gather everybody in the band to be at the same place, same time, same mood... we try to have fun while doing it. Well at least I do. It's more positive than worrying my head off the slow progress we're making. Goal has changed from Rock Uncles' Socks Off to Don't Make Floundering Fools Of Ourselves (or make anyone up there in heaven wince).

Jonesy and Ian doing their stuff. They're often more animated during jam sessions than performance. And yes, they're very shy. So engrossed don't want to look at camera. But they're very, very talented oiii. Jonesy is single. Takers? Bassist = magic fingers! BONUS: Band Leader = mature + responsible!

James doing his stuff involving hitting on more stuff with sticks. James writes Chinese songs. And is newly single. Takers? Drummer = strong legs + great stamina!

This studio is nice, complete with everything we need. But we don't really feel comfortable. I is very conscious about other people lurking outside the room. I no likes the way my voice sounds here. And of course, there's the incident when the room door suddenly opened and closed by itself. But! We shall leave that for another day, because...

... I'm in this picture (sweaty and tired from servicing the boys... snapping pictures)! I think my photography angle rocks. All flaws are attributed to the low-end camera I'm using and cacat lighting. But my skills are unquestionably god-like. So never question. Ever.