Exchange at Hai Sing

There was an exchange with students from Sacred Heart College in Australia at Hai Sing this afternoon. It was rather an eye-opener, and the performances brought by the Australians were enjoyable.

HSCband started playing Bandology as the Australians entered into the band room, and played a soundtrack from Howl's Moving Castle as well as Highlights from Shrek 2. I must say their performance was not bad already la, judging from the fact that they are a mixture of Sec 2s and 3s. No excuses, but nevertheless, the Australians were good. Haha. Felt a tinge of embarassment when I heard them, yet their music director were still saying that HSCband was good, he was listening to their phrasing and it was good, and even said 'Good work!' to Mrs Chua. (-_-") Haha.

This is HSCband playing while the SHC students were walking in

That's Mrs Chua
The SHC people. There's a Japanese there if you notice
SHC playing

The SHC band is made up of a concert band, as well as a jazz band. So after the concert band played a medley, the jazz band played a Stevie Wonder number, and after some speech they went up to the Hall for the chorale performance.

Those people standing up are the jazz band, as well as the saxophone players in the first and second row
There there. I must say the trombone girl has got not much confidence

Well, other than members of the jazz band are actually members of the concert band, some of the concert band members are part of the singing chorale too. They seem to be able to do everything! Which is good, because I see them having many skills. Like me, I only know how to play the tuba but can't sing. Can't even do sports properly. Haha. I think some of the members belong to the volleyball team too. By the way, they are 14 to 17 years of age.

The chorale

There was this guy, he's quite cute I must say. Like when he sings all that, I bet many of the girls on the floor were mesmerised. Haha. The chorale sang Oh Happy Day and after that they dispersed to leave only the guys on stage. Then there were some acapella, and they danced, did some actions, they were very very cute! Haha. But what caught my ear was this bass guy. His voice and tone is very nice! And he's quite cute. Haha.

That's the cute guy. Pardon the 2 megapixel camera
There the boys. The bass guy is on the most left

This is the SHC tuba player
There the bass guy. Cute right? Heh heh heh
That's the cute guy that all the girls were mad about. Other than the Japanese

Heh Yi Xin was still very shy to go take photos lo! Irritating. Haha. Bet she'll regret if she doesn't. But it was too glaring at the back, Yi Xin and I were cursing about it. Haha.

After sending the Australians off I went to MJ supposedly for sectionals but by the time I reached there I might as well go home in the first place. Haha. They were making announcements when I reached.

After dismissal, the band president, Yi Jun, came to me and asked me 'Erina, are you putting on weight or is it because you were wearing white?'

And my world came tumbling down.

T_T Please, please, please. Let it be the fact that I was wearing white and wore a double layer can? Hate to admit this fact though I know it's true. It's a fact, like I said.

Erina! Carry your butt and find work can? Your lards are coming back!

And when I was washing the dishes, this guy pressed the doorbell. I was directly in his view, and he seemed to be a Chinese national due to his slang. He was like, ‘对不起，太太。’

I glared at him. Then my dad came out.

‘啊，对不起，打扰了，先生。’

I almost wanted to shout ‘你刚刚叫我什么？？’ and kill the guy. He was here to so-called 宣传 something to do with the recent diseases like the avian flu and HFMD. Dunno la.


Blah blah, blah blah blah...

‘你的太太呢？’

‘哦，她在睡觉。’

And he gave an exclaimation that implied that isn't she just behind you?

But ya, he shut up and went off. He'd better. Stay for a minute more and you won't be able to go next door. Haha. Just kidding. At least this may be better than thinking that I'm a maid of the house.

An eye-catching headline

This late morning when I woke up, I walked to the kitchen and saw today's Straits Times on the dining table. The headline of the Home section read:

JC student kills himself, convinced his private parts were too small

I almost fainted.

In this era, are youngsters too bothered by their physical appearances that they have to commit suicide? The student got to be too sensitive. His doctor said his size is normal for an Asian, his girlfriend and family gave him support. Why must he still jump off the block?

He is already in J2 in one of the top junior colleges in Singapore, and he took S-Papers, but he still seem to be very narrow-minded about such issues! The State Coroner blamed on the fact that the sex education which this student have been through is insufficient, which I think could be a reason. I don't remember learning that having a small penis is normal. Well, whatever.

The boy wrote in his suicide note that he jumped not because of stress of his studies, but because of his physical development, and still insisted there was something wrong down there.

The thing is, everyone wears clothes when they're outside, how can anyone really judge the sizes of their private parts? Moreover, even if he worries that his future partner will mind his small pte part, I think she should love him for who he is and not care, as long as he is fertile or whatsoever (I don't wish to elaborate on the 'feeling' part, if you understand).

Please, girls' breasts are more obvious to eyes whether they're big or small, shouldn't girls be more conscious? I don't think in Singapore there are girls who will commit suicide just because they have small tits!

Goodness.

Yes, they can always blow up their boobs and I never heard of any surgery to - well - grow that part. A guy may have a huge *coughs* but he may be infertile or he may have a problem erecting. Isn't this as bad?

Dear friends, if you feel that you're not well-endowed in any part of your body, please don't fret too much, don't be silly! You don't have to kill yourself because of this! I will not want to lose a friend due to reasons like this! Sympathy for the boy's family and girlfriend, but I seriously think that this whole thing is...quite dumb.

This marks my 200th post~

Another rainy day

Went to Sam's place in the morning, then went to meet Yi Xin to watch Take the Lead. It was quite a nice show, I like to watch shows that are not only stories and plots but more of a lot of singing (like musical movies) and with a lot of dancing (Bollywood. Kidding).

The storyline was fine..I didn't feel much of goosebumps when everything boils down to a happy ending, but I did feel happy. Haha. Dancing was good.

I quite like the fact that they had African American actors and actresses as the main cast, because I hardly see this race do ballroom dancing. This is good know, due to the racial differences even more Whites can accept them. The wonders of the media.

Thank you. Uh-huh.

If you don't get this part then go watch the show. Anyway.

Trotted down to Hai Sing after that for band and it was...well, I dunno. I think Hai Sing's standard is really really dropping. The sound that you hear is not music anymore, I don't even know if it's noise...no feeling, everything is just a dry feel lo. Ya.

Tried out my new mouthpiece. It's still a teeny weeny large for me la, but otherwise should be fine. Will use it for longer practices then see how lo.

Got a few job offers today...hope they call back soon.

Ah.

The more I swim, the more I seem to forget how to swim.

Went swimming with Yi Xin again today, took pictures (again) but lazy to post it..haha. Ya. Anyway, I only know how to go about freestyle-ing and today when I swam, I kept sinking! Shit la, things are getting horrible. Bless me.

Then after the swim I went to Tampines Mall StarHub to change my SIM card to a USIM, i.e. the SIM card that you can use for 3G functions. Heh. So I was video calling my brother for test and talked to Sam through video call later in the night. It was sooooooo funny! 'Cos this video call thing got lag one, and then because of my stupid phone, I always see images hung there but I still can hear the other party talking.

Oh and talking about my phone, when I slide it up, there is a click sound. I don't remember it was there. Hence I guessed it must have been through too much torture because to open the back cover is a tedious task and I think too much force was on the phone. I got no evidence to say who caused it ma, could be me, could be the StarHub technician, so I can't do anything. Sigh. Felt a terrible ache in my heart when I noticed the click and the tiak and the snap. Sighhhh...

Today was quite a bad day, really. Actually wanted to meet Yi Xin at 4pm or so instead of 6pm, due to the rain. My mum took my light-weight umbrella without telling me and I searched high and low for it, in the end she asked me to take hers, which is ultra heavy and I was already carrying a damn heavy bag. So got quite fed up and went into the rain without an umbrella. The rain was very heavy, and I had to walk a longer route to shelter myself from the rain, but still got into the rain anyway. When I reached the bus stop, there were a few East Spring Primary School students playing football by the road in the rain. They were trying to kick the ball to the bus stop from the other side of the road. So when the kid at the bus stop missed the ball, I suffer the consequences. Why? The ball splashed into a puddle of water and got onto poor me. After a while of staring and making faces at the kids I realised I didn't bring extra coins to enter the swimming complex and the lockers. So went up and got things and went back. Called Yi Xin to tell her that I'd be late. It was 4pm. And she was still bathing. T_T Haha not that I mind la. Anyway, I realised I forgot to bring something else and I went back home. Very frustrated. Told Yi Xin that we'd wait till the rain stopped then meet.

T_T

Oh my

Yi Xin was telling me she saw the weather forecast thing at the bottom of my blog and I didn't know why, when I saw the weather forecast thing in the middle of my blog. And the whole sidebar was at the side *duh*.

I suspected a problem with the browser. Since I'm using Mozilla Firefox, I opened up Internet Explorer and this is what I saw.


It's like, oh no. Mozilla has got a perfect view of what I'm blogging.


And I realised those IE users may see trash when they visit. Haha. Doesn't matter. Either that, or there's a problem with my IE browser.

Finally

The last time my brother signed a contract with SingTel was in 1999 (don't have to count, it's 2006) and he haven't gone down to get a new phone or anything. All his phones are passed down from my mum who didn't like the phones.

Thus, after some influence from yours truly, I finally got my brother to SingTel to get a phone after the trip to IMM.

We saw on SingTel's advertisement that there's this phone exclusive to SingTel only, it's a Sony Ericsson K608i that with my brother's plan, he could get it at S$148 with a two-year contract.


My brother got a black one anyway.

No more foreign saliva

Went to IMM with Yi Xin, Felix and Hong Wei to get my new mouthpiece and the accessories for MJ band.

It was rather entertaining with Felix around so the train ride wasn't boring at all. Haha. Felix tortures at the same time.

All four of us chatted happily with Ms Sia at Band World with all those suaning and irritating and laughing. Haha. Crazy people.

Ms Sia recommended me the Perantucci PT-88+. I was rather afraid at first because I may not like the mouthpiece and it'll be unsuitable for me. A mouthpiece costs over a hundred so I don't really dare to buy for trying. Since I can sell it to Felix in case it doesn't suit...I bought it anyway. Haha. With a mouthpiece pouch. No prices quoted.

I initially went there for the PT-84 since I used it before, during the pre-SYF days last year and have been using it as much as I could. Still remembered when I first used the PT-84 I felt so heavenly. Haha. Because my tone sounded heavenly. So I didn't like to use the Denis Wick 1L mouthpiece (usually meant for beginners) ever since. Heh.

Differences?

PT-84
Model PT-84 provides a powerful, projecting sound. It is very flexible, has a good upper range, and gives a very quick response for a mouthpiece of this size, particularly in the low range. This is a very popular mouthpiece, highly recommended for the Eb tuba.
CUP - 33mm diam. Medium deep.
RIM - Width 7.5mm. Fairly sharp inner edge. Moderately round rim
THROAT BORE - 8.4mm

PT-88
Model PT-88 was primarily intended as a special applications mouthpiece for low register playing. However, it has found considerable acceptance for use on medium-large bore CC tubas. It serves very well on any BBb tuba, providing a very full, strong tone. It is recommended for advanced players. (*Coughs* Kidding la!)
CUP - 33.5mm diam. Very wide, deep cup. Bowl-shaped and very round at the bottom.
RIM - Width 7mm. Rounded inner edge, very rounded outer edge.
THROAT BORE - 8.2mm

The thing is, I couldn't find the actual specifications for PT-88+, but I know it's similar to PT-88 from some information I found online.

PERANTUCCI Plus Models: The PT-24+, the PT-50+, the PT-83+ and the PT-88+ feature a new outside shape which incorporates modified cup and bore specifications as well as additional weight for unprecedented stability and projection of the sound.

I'll need a lot of breathing practices to use the PT-88+ well, which is good.

More information about the Perantucci tuba mouthpieces can be found here and here.

PT-88+ feels so right in my palm...hahahahaa
PERANTUCCI PT-88+
The pouch with my mouthpiece inside it

Gonna do some elaboration of the specifications of the mouthpieces that I've seen and/or used before.

DENIS WICK
1L
Extra deep cup. Large fitting (all modern instruments). For all large tubas. Enormous volume and range. Needs strong embouchure.
CUP - 32.50 mm
RIM - 7.48 mm
BORE SIZE - 8.43 mm

1XL
Especially for the professional tuba player, new mouthpieces have been introduced to give even more volume and projection. They are a little more difficult to control, but the extra effort repays dividends.

The inner rim contours are a little rounder for players who need to spend long hours in practice or performance. Much research has gone into the subtle reworking of the exterior shape to give even more powerful maximum dynamics and volume in all registers.
CUP - 32.50 mm
RIM - 7.48 mm
BORE SIZE - 8.43 mm

3L
Deep cup. Large fitting (all modern instruments). Deep well rounded cup and huge throat and backbore give rich organ-like tone
CUP - 31.25 mm
RIM - 8.11 mm
BORE SIZE - 8.78 mm

PERANTUCCI
PT-83
Model PT-83 offers a distinct but dark sound in all registers. The sharp inner rim provides quick response. It is designed for use with the CC and BBb tubas. It is an all-purpose mouthpiece.
CUP - 33mm diam. Medium deep.
RIM - Width 7.5mm. Fairly sharp inner edge. Moderately round rim
THROAT BORE - 8.4mm

PT-84
As above

PT-88+
As above

But anyway, if your playing basically isn't that good, getting a new mouthpiece won't help that much la, really. It's like the texture of your tone is already bad, changing mouthpieces thinking that it'll help won't help. I think. Nevertheless hope the mouthpiece will help me!

I'm so happy that I outlived the times when I have to share mouthpieces and wash others' saliva stains away. I'll just wash and use mine. =D

Anyway, something funny happened on our way to the Jurong East MRT Station.


This man was sleeping on the train. And his head did almost touch the seat beside him and other passengers moved away. I mean, it's pretty normal if you see people sleeping and keep tilting their heads on the trains or buses. But he's extraordinary. He might as well lie down on the seats.

More like a news site

My blog is becoming really like a news site! Haha. Just that the news are boring ones. Rather.

Just added this weather report thingy on the sidebar. First it was the clock and then the countdown timers, and now it's the weather!

What else am I missing?

Spent my day with music and friends

Heh. Woke up at 11am plus and used the computer for a while, after which I went for the MJ main band practice (realise that I've been spending my time with bands instead of hardworking-ly looking for jobs).

Sat in (or stood up, since there wasn't a space for me to put a chair) for the main band practice. Then there was alumni practice. ... ... ...

There was a bit of time for self-entertainment before the band room was to be closed. Hence, Hong Wei started playing his Phantom of the Opera - All I Ask of You solo while squatting on a chair.

Please donate and put your rubbish (not money) into the wastepaper basket, thank you
This is Wang Quan

And took a bit of photos and caught up with the alumni who NEVER attended and finally came today. Haha.

Going to Band World at IMM to get a mouthpiece tomorrow! With Yi Xin, Hong Wei and Felix. New combination!

Photos

Gonna put some photos here...

Took these photos from my phone.

This marks the first photo which was taken (not by me) into my phone. When I was paying for my phone and well, you know what happened. Tuesday
At Starbucks

At HSCband room upon returning from Suntec (where I got my phone)
Ah this is before I left for MJCSB pract on Wednesday
My first ever lion. Been hugging it since Sec 2. Credits to Daniel and Cedric~
At MJ. This is Felix

With Jie Ying
At the gallery in MJ with (from left) Kai Yan, Felix, Hong Wei and Me!

Took photos and realised I didn't remove the protective plastic film off the camera lens.

Yep. That's it.

Exchange rates

Nope nope it's not another Econs topic (read: forex or foreign exchange rates).

Uh is the term 'tomb sweeping' correct?

Anyway, went tomb sweeping again today. Then my relatives were making a lame fuss out of the Hell bank notes. Then a thought (a stupid one as usual) came to me.

I don't know if this is gonna be an unlucky post for you, sorry.

You see, we always use our 'mortal' money to buy stacks of Hell bank notes, which has got many zeros to each note. Are Hell bank notes this worthless?

Have you ever wondered, how much of this


is equal to this?


Like there must be some exchange rates that we can refer to.

And also, in Hell, do they have those Indian uncles as money changes? And how are their rates? Like how much Hell money they can exchange for a Sing Dollar.........

And maybe things in Hell are really expensive that they need so many zeros.

Don't cringe. You'll need the notes eventually. Hey I'm not cursing you, I'll need them too.

CHOY! CHOY! CHOY!

I'm sorry that this post may be a bad omen for you and your computer, because you see a Hell bank note right there. But nevertheless, I'm rather amused by this post myself. Sorry. Heh.

I should just smack a 'SPECIMEN' across the Hell bank note too.

Age is creeping onto me

Don't worry la, I'm not going to fuss over the wrinkled skin or aching limbs.

Went to Hai Sing for band practice today, the Sec 1s were having practice too. Only one tuba Sec 1 came since the other two are out of school to support some volleyball match. That boy didn't get the F note at all, then Mrs Chua was like, 'Yes all of you got the note except for tuba.' I was like. Oops. Haha. First time I met the Sec 1s and it has been soooooo long since I was responsible for a Sec 1's tuba playing progress. And so Mrs Chua asked me to bring him out and give him some practice. Told Wei Jie that it has been eons since I last taught a Sec 1. Like fundamentals...I think I don't have good foundation already, and I don't remember how I was taught. Then how to teach? Got slightly pressurised la.

Got to know that the boy's name is Irsyad. Nice name eh? The tuba Sec 1s this year have got very special names. There is this Inez, and Bei Xi (pronounced the same as 北西 as I was told) whom I have never met before. So weird. But doesn't matter. Spent about an hour with Irsyad and *proud* I think he has improved a lot! Thanks to me! And of course his never-give-up attitude. Really leh. He is very hardworking. Give him break he don't want lo. See? Good example man. Haha. But can confirm next practice he will not be able to catch most of the notes...never mind! At least he can recall a bit the feel of the notes!

You see, last time when I was still in Hai Sing, Secondary 1 juniors are only a few years younger than me, I can even afford to see them in school. Now...the new batch is like a whole six years younger than me! And four years later, the Sec 1s will be 10 years younger...Oh my. I'm so old. *hunches*

Oh by the way, I need to mention this. HSCband is in a mess! Other than playing wise, their time management also needs a lot of supervision and good planning. Today is the Thursday the 13th. Hai Sing's Speech Day is on the 21st which is next Friday. Which is the last day of their band practice before they go for study break for the mid-year exams which end on the 19th. And they have a performance in Sentosa on the 20th. How are they going to do it? They already don't have enough practice for the Speech Day, much to say the Sentosa performance. And next Wednesday there is this Australian band, but we cannot confirm what sort of band they are, and so there will be an exchange. How to find time to practice?

Aiyo.

See. So aunty.

My blog is really boring

REALLY boring.

How do you put music into the blog? Don't worry, I won't put those typical news jingle. Haha.

You reap what you sow

Spoke to a good friend of mine today, and she (or he) is rather troubled.

Sometimes you thought that you've been in this scene for so long...yet others who came later than you are given more recognition though you know you are as capable too. I guess I understand the situation, like I often do wonder how my friend felt when this other person got the better side of things, and she is like being only the substitute for that other person. From what I see, sometimes I think that my friend is more capable than that person some way or another. Because you can see who is more 认真 in the things that are being done and take note of details...performing wise I won't be able to judge already...as in if I judge too much people will know what I'm talking about...but doesn't matter la, don't wish to comment more.

I feel for my friend la, honestly. I do feel that sometimes things aren't as fair for her but then it's like I cannot do anything...sometimes if you have a lot a lot of qualified knowledge yet you don't know how to go about imparting it, you won't be good already...that's why I think experience do count too. But never mind la, though you all may not get what I'm talking about. Yes friend at least you know enough already.

I tend to be bias la...just so happened that this friend cares for me a lot (I think), of course I'll favour her more than that other person though both are my friends..and I'll be more sensitive to the feelings of my friend. Hmmm.

After thinking about it, does "You reap what you sow" really true? In terms of studies, perhaps. You sow in a smart and effective way, you will reap great returns. However if you're just sowing the wrong things and didn't take notice of other factors like the weather and quality of soil etc, what you will reap is not what you will expect after putting in all those effort. Like how they tell you to study smart.

朋友！振作起来！

New faces in the elections

Well, it seems like there are a lot of new faces in the People's Action Party lately. I'm actually quite turned off by it. What's with the young and dynamic thing? I think in order to make PAP more attractive they are recruiting so that Singaporeans will be like, 'Mmm, got younger people surely more capable.' As if! They are trying to pass on to the younger generation, I mean, this is alright, but I feel that they are making things too last minute. If we were to really vote for them how are they going to show us that they really can other than going around to shake hands and wave and give speeches?

Moreover when I see them introducing the new members on the news I am introduced to their qualifications too. And show that they were from whatever whatever school then graduate from so-and-so university and got degrees etc. I mean, so what? Those newbies are executives or academics from recognised institutions in Singapore, like an exec from NTUC or a lecturer from NUS. I rather they tell us what these people are capable of, better than later you have people who become a member to enjoy any privileges or something? How can they prove that they can be a listening ear to the people of the contingent and help them and give them aid? And they are already with high-end jobs, how do you expect them to commit fully into their new responsibilities?

Maybe I'm too narrow-minded la. Whatever.

Man, I'm not even 19 yet, I can't vote. They'd better let me.

Kidding.

A new mobile phone

Aaaaaah....finally, I got my new phone after all those hassles. The rather new Nokia 6280. Aaah...heh heh.



The phone feels so right in my hands....!!! Haha. Hope I look after it well though.

A million dollars

I just joined a tuba forum and it seems like almost all the members have tubas for themselves. I...I don't even have one. I can't afford...too expensive already. A good tuba can cost you a 5-digit sum. Never mind la, I don't really need a tuba to that extent...not as if I am majoring in tuba or what.

And it occurred to me what I'd do if I had a million dollars. $1, 000, 000. I think I'll really go get a tuba. At least I have a lot of it left. Then I can go get some materialistic stuff for my personal pleasure, like a lot of new clothes, bags, blah blah blah, an endless supply of necessities...I may even use the money to revamp my flat. Make it nicer, cleaner, more comfy...use it to pay for my education...blah blah...give my parents some money...blah blah...

Dunno why I'm thinking of all these. Money-faced all of a sudden.

A disappointment

I knew about this long ago la, but kept forgetting to update about it.

If you've been reading my blog since this year, you'll know about the PhilWinds Tuba Choir thingy. Well, eventually the conductor only composed the piece for seven tubas so obviously I'm not up to standard to be one of the seven la. But seven tubas...I dunno why is it still a tuba choir, when I had been in a seven-strong tuba section before in a band. I think so la, at least, when I was in Hai Sing. But doesn't matter...no more aspirations to be in it already lo. To think that the initial plans were to have 20 tuba players...

Ya however if they're recruiting for tuba choir members, of course I'll have a go. Heh.

Where my interest lies la. Yep.

Sex

Sex. It used to be an extremely censored issue when we were in school. When we had sex education, boys and girls just giggle and turn red. And sex was a funny issue.

But as we grow older, it became something that is imbibed in almost all men. Serious. Began to know guys who, as an individual, think about unhealthy thoughts. And then it scares me.

Read in the papers that the average age of people having pre-marital sex is getting lower. The papers can interview and youngsters just admit that they have sex weekly at their partner's place since the age of 15 or whatsoever...there was this girl from a reputated junior college who scored I think 5 distinctions in her recent A levels. She said something like throughout her JC life she went to her boyfriend's place to have sex every Saturday. Scary huh.

This made me wonder if I'm either too conservative or lagging or not 'in'. I mean, this is not a fashion issue, but the thing is that I still have the traditional thought of only sex after marriage. It can also be the fact that the people around me are not that open, but I really get grossed out when I found out that this schoolmate or that ex-schoolmate had sex with his or her companion and blah blah blah, all sorts of gossips and rumours. Eew.

Read in the previous Sunday's The Sunday Times that there was once in a supermarket, this man had his handphone upside down in his shopping basket and he got oddly near a female who was wearing a skirt, and the basket was tilted to an awkward angle. So it was realised that that guy was actually filming under the woman's skirt la. See, so disgusting. Thank the guy up there that he was caught.

I guess this tells quite a lot about what guys think, not exactly as girls never think la, but then those Martians have a greater tendency to think about such topics and '自-high'. I know that my sort of partner thinks of such things also..but of course, I can protect myself but then I just get the grossed out feelings whenever I know about such things to people around me. Chatting with a friend online, she also has the same experience with her boyfriend. I mean, I didn't know that guys can get so similar.

But I don't remember my ex being such a person though. And this, at least, made me appreciate him more lo. Sigh.

Guys. Why do you all get so excited about such things? I mean, why is it a man's nature?

Sigh...

Back to job-searching. So irritating. *dreams* If only I can work in areas that I'm interested in like perhaps administrate for music schools or shops or whatsoever...or just go play in a band or what and get paid.

Ha. If only I have such talent. Crazy.

I'm picky la I know. On both the pay and working hours. I want a $7 job. And office hours and days too. Sian leh. So desperate for a job and can only envy those people with good and stable jobs. Haha. Crazy.

Irritated with the computer speakers. They will give those very irritating noises (say tiak-tiak) when I play my Josh Groban songs. Then will tiak for the rest of the time I use the comp. Irritating.

Crazy

I think I'm in love with my blog. Keep coming in to take a look though I don't think anyone else does. Crazy. No la. It's just the clock on the top-right and the countdown timers at the bottom of the page. Like so interesting.

*look somemore*

Thought of changing the template for my blog la...already quite bored by the way that it looks. But if I were to change I'm afraid later earlier postings get messed up or what..then have to change colours for the captions for the photos and the colours of the clocks and timers..heH I'm very particular about colours in my blog. Later if I change my blog to green I don't think red clocks will look suitable at all. Then so troublesome. Nevermind lo. Just keep it the way as it is. Heh.

清明节

It is the Qing Ming Festival (清明节) where the Chinese visit the tombs of their ancestors and pray, give offerings and clear the graves up a bit. (also 扫墓, literally grave sweeping in English, do correct me)

Went to mainly the West and North areas of Singapore to do those today. Visited the graves of my maternal great-grandparents and grandparents. It's actually the first time I went, as for the past years I've been caught up with schoolwork or something cropped up so I couldn't go. Felt odd la. When we went the MacRitchie area I thought I was hiking in sandals. Really.

Anyway, it was rather tiring and caused me to miss the repeat of American Idol 5. Very sad! I want to watch lo, found out that Mandisa was kicked out...she's good leh...I really wanna know what went wrong with her performance. She was never in the bottom three until this week. Very very sad....I wanna watch...Why won't that Paris Bennett just leave? I think she has got a rather fake personality in fact. I don't deny that she can sing very well, but character-wise, she's a no-no for me.

Need to really go intensive in job search now...it's been a week! Pray for me that Erina will 顺顺利利 find a job!

Another concert

While I advertised MJCSB's concert, I thought I should advertise HSCCB's too.

Hai Sing Catholic Concert Band
presents
Viva Musica V
21 June 2006, Wednesday
1930 hrs
Victoria Concert Hall
$10, Free Seating
...and there's alumni, too!

Ya, I don't have tickets for this too. You can try my juniors though I don't know how you can. Haha.

Going clock-sy

Since my blog is imitating something like a news site, I thought it ought to have a clock. Thought the clock is quite nice and serves as a useful decoration. Haha. Going crazy.

The blog title tells it all - Boring News. So am I.

Slightly back on track

Due to the fact that I slept late....I overslept and was an hour plus late for the HSCAB practice. But still went on well la. First time I attended the practice till dismissal lo. Haha.

Then went for lunch with my section and also others till it was time for me to go for MJ main band practice. Took the CC Tuba fingering chart from Aaron and printed it out already...then passed to Kai Yan lo. Sat around and listened to them for their practice. So envious. I find that the pieces for this concert is very challenging and nice also lo..like every song also got its trait, and something that I like about. Probably because these pieces for Joie De Vivre II are focused on musicals and movies..then very nice, enjoyable and interesting. Not that the rest of the overtures etc are not la, but there are pieces that I didn't really like when I used to play in MJ concerts. Lucky juniors! Band practices for them more challenging then they can improve more la.

After practice I tried the new tubas and felt odd. Aren't used to holding them. I'll try using the 993 for alumni though, hope Felix doesn't mind! But I still want to use 7094...so far my favourite tuba to use. Then I asked the stringbass player to give me a crash course on playing the stringbass...but the crash course was like, ten minutes? Had to rush off for a funeral that I wasn't needed there. Still quite pissed.

In the meantime, thought I ought to publicise the concert a bit. Though you can't get tickets from me because I don't have any.

Meridian Junior College Symphonic Band presents
Joie De Vivre II
19 May 2006, Friday
1930 hrs
Victoria Concert Hall
$10, Free Seating
...and there's alumni!

Hope I didn't provide any wrong or insufficient information.

I think I'm becoming to be a very very spoilt brat even in front of my friends. Die. Like can see Felix and Kai Yan quite irritated just now. Dunno if they were la, I just...just happened to want things to be done in my way. Equals brat. I think I've been spoilt by them since we got closer together lo. Sorry. =P

An absent-minded idiot

Was preparing all day to go get a new phone that I've been planning to get all these while. So I got my parents and Yi Xin to go to the latter's ex-shop to get my phone. But because the stock wasn't there yet, I shopped around with my parents and then I realised that I forgot to bring the upgrade voucher. So, a wasted trip. Irritated with myself and waste so much of others' time.

Rushed to MJ for the combined band practice. My conductor asked me to go over so that I can have the chance to chit-chat with her too. The new tubas came, a Besson 993 series BBb tuba and a Conn CC tuba (which I don't know the exact serial number for the model). The rest of the tubas are either 794, 994 or 7094 series and are in the BBb key. 794, 994 and 7094 have piston valves upright whereas the Conn and 993 have them on the front. Take a look.

This is the BE 794
BE 994
BE 7094
BE 993
Conn

Because the CC tuba is in a different key as the rest, fingerings are therefore different. New fingerings to be learnt! Quite confusing for a retarded person like me. Will need loads and loads of practice. But I learn liao also won't really get to use much of it...sigh. Heh. New things ma, I wanna learn.

After practice I joined in to 'scare' the juniors when they were blindfolded to their bunks (actually I merely tickled or hit them using the mallet sticks) and hopped on to my conductor's car for supper at Bedok with the alumni who attended the practice. So long never chat with Ms Sia already, just chat and gossip also fun lo. Haha. Reached home at nearly 2am. Heh.

Today

Went to Sam's today, he said he wanted to cook spaghetti for me and spend some time together.

I've never met anyone this blur.

When we were going to prepare lunch-cum-dinner, he realised he didn't buy the pasta but got every other ingredient. (-_-")

Never mind...

Voucher

The voucher for my handphone is here! So I can get a new mobile phone..finally can put the creeky phone away..

Swimming!!!

Ha! Though there was an extremely heavy rain filled with claps of thunder in the evening, Yi Xin and I managed to wait till near 8pm for our first swim together! =D

I reached Tampines at around 7pm, so I called YX and told her I'd go to the stadium there first and see if the new swimming complex was open. So since it was, and the rain was getting smaller, we decided to meet (actually I decided that)! AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH! Was so enthusiastic about this whole thing!

Was so excited when I saw the inside of the complex while waiting for YX. Haha. Got slides and this mushroom where water pours down from the 'hat' part. Aaahh I feel so excited.

Haha we both were like idiots at the swimming complex. Entertaining and disturbing each other, a lot of fun! Good that there was only the both of us lo. When the phones don't ring, it is 100% concentration on each other!

I didn't manage to teach YX how to swim since I only know freestyle and she does the style called...I think you call it the frog style. Ya she forgot how to do that style and only knew a bit of it so I couldn't help much. Heh. Quite fun la haha...enjoyed myself thoroughly. Heh.

No worries, we didn't take photos while in our swimsuit. Took photos after we were done bathing.

After bathing
Ta-daaa
Both of us outside the swimming complex when we were leaving...

After the swim we went to Tampines Mall since YX wanted to get some toiletries. And I settled my dinner at Long John Silver's at Century Square.

Eh? What's that black box in front of me?
Oh...it's Yi Xin's Sony Ericsson K750i!

(-_-")

Ah..so tired.

Alumni - what does it really mean?

Just heard rather bad news from my present alumni bandmates when I went back for the main band sectionals just now.

I'm sorry if some of you don't like me bitching about things like this here, however I'm still gonna do it. It's my diary. Just that I made things open enough and don't mind sharing with you people. But then again, this is my diary. So I wanna note things down. You can not read. Or if you are going to read, you can also pretend that nothing happened. Or if you gonna be real and focus on this post, so be it. As if anything can be done.

Need to clarify that I really do understand the other side's point of view. Since it's MY diary, I'm gonna type about my point of view.

I was actually quite looking forward to the Band Camp. Don't mind not staying over because I hate to prepare all those stuff...but well, seems like I won't be able to attend the camp at all.

If it's for security reasons, fine. On the surface this reason is acceptable. But by analysing the whole situation, security = I do not trust you. OK then, you can go against us and don't even think about opening the band room for us on Saturdays. Easy. Since you don't trust us. Having your own people there got no use what. They're outnumbered. I can just take an instrument home. I don't mind sponsoring my own transport. Like an opinion that I heard: If I want to steal your things, I would have done it long ago. Two whole years in the school. Or in another case, I don't think there's something in the school which I extremely desire that I'll take two years to plan how to get my hands on it. The more valuable things (computers, equipment etc) in the school are mainly locked or you need a pass to get through. For what? I have everything I need at home! What can I get? The metal rubbish bins around the school? Goodness!

I was glad when I got to know that the principal was hyper enthusiastic about having an alumni band. She do not know a lot of us personally, yet the trust is there. And we have someone else who knows a lot of us personally, yet the trust is not there. How come I feel support from a person more distant away from the alumni band when those who are supposed to understand us better do not even have that bit of trust?

We're not welcomed la, that's the message I get. Isn't it obvious? 'Oh, you all can come, but don't talk to anyone of them, just do whatever you want. Don't want you all to interrupt in the bonding between the year 1s and 2s.' Then what is the point in coming? Like can't she think further and focus on future events as well? Think that the alumni will still come for practices ah? It is already a mutual contract that we are going to play for Joie De Vivre II. After that, well. Ha. Dunno. I have second thoughts la. Since I'm not needed. Bleh. 'Oh ya, and the food hor, blah blah blah.' Please lo! Even though I know I am a stingy person, I know when I need to fork out the money! If you're not going to provide us with our meals, then don't. We can always settle outside. If you are, we definitely gonna pay. You think what? We're some parasites? We survive on our juniors' parents' money? Come on!

You think got a lot of CCAs in the school can set up alumni easily meh? Band alumni not easy to set up, alright?

Now things look as if we're just a commercial item needed by the school (note that I understand that the principal is sincerely enthusiastic about our presence), because we are called up when we're needed. So there's a concert coming up, better have alumni! So since our dear alumni president took the initiative to set one up, show that you treasure it can? So narrow-minded!

Oh and there's the 1st National Band Competition coming up also! The lovely conductor wants the year 1s and alumni to participate together. Year 2s gotta study. Oh. I don't even know my year 1 juniors well can? So the whole purpose of this camp is only for Joie De Vivre II. Please do put that down in the band camp programme under objectives. State specifically. E.g. 'The band camp was organised to build strong ties between every individual in the band to form one professional group, for the upcoming performance will do, by the way.' *Sarcastic* So if the NBC still needs alumni, then maybe you all go organise another camp for the year ones and alumni (if any are still available and obliged to join) and please make sure that the year 2s don't come and interrupt OK? If not they'll interrupt bonding between the alumni and year 1s then it's like the NBC got no chance for us to get top medals already leh! So please har, make sure no year 2s come OK? No year 2s at all! NO! I said NO!!! Better even bar them from entering the school during the camp for alumni and year 1s! Later the year 1s say hi to the year 2s how? Then the seconds that was used to say hi how? Then alumni got lesser time with the year 1s liao! *still sarcastic*

Please please realise that the camp this weekend can actually bond more than two batches of people. Full participation from alumni is not needed, it's like we can join in the fun whenever we can. So for things like this, waste resources and we have like, two camps? Oh anything lo, if you all want to even bother about doing some bonding between the alumni and the year 1s, ha! Wait till the alumni are fully enthusiastic for the band again.

I am not desperate to join in the fun, really. It was just an activity that I've been looking orward to since the plannings started and was still sad that I may not be able to drop by due to work. Now that I'm jobless, I have all the time I want and need to go back. Now is there a need? No. Not at all.

And then? Spend like $1000 on posters that are nicely printed give two each to fifty schools and then what do they do? How you know whether they will even post it up? Please la, just one is more than enough can? When I was in secondary school I passed my life reading handwritten concert notices on the whiteboard! Just spread the concert through links and emails la! What is technology for? What the hell. That money can be used to buy a lot more things! Like better reeds! Mouthpieces! Percussion instruments! Whatever you wanna spend on! Crazy! Can at least have some brainy Econs teacher to do this advertising thing? I believe they have more business brains can.

What are a school's alumni for? For show? To show that there are still people around who are like, loyal to the school? I think alumni are people who voluntarily are able to commit into the school and should not be considered too much an outsider. Like they'll interrupt in the CCA's activities and all...unless the situation really proves that la, if not, I don't think they'll. In secondary I was like overjoyed to see the alumni return to teach us during band practices. People that I treated with respect. However, people older than us should learn how to respect us too. Treat us with more respect!

I just hope everything is just a misunderstanding and even hope that blabbering here is a waste of my time because, I am actually hoping for a miracle that won't happen: Everyone, including the alumni, can enjoy and take full participation in the events that come along. Not just when we are needed. We're no tools nor a commercialised group of people. Not for show. For music and friends and people who touched our lives in one way or the other during our time together. If the band has got teachers-in-charge that have all sort of excuses, never mind. Thank the guy up there that the bands I've been in have lovely and great conductors that I do not have too much of hard feelings for this problem.

Don't think I'm not watching.

Jobless days

Don't think I'm able to get the job that I want....and I've been slacking for four days! Since Saturday! Oh my. And I never went out...so no money spent its ok la...

I need more colours in my life.

Hope can go swimming with Yi Xin tomorrow.

All cooped up

If you have been following the news last weekend, you'd have noticed that there are two articles which were talking about the Singapore Zoo having a new exhibit.

The new display was both an April Fool's prank and an attempt to highlight man's role in conservation, said the zoo.

Also party to the joke was The Straits Times, which featured an article on the new Simia mina exhibit yesterday, describing it as the world's first display of the highly intelligent primates.

There were various clues that the story was a hoax. The term Simia mina means bare or smooth ape in Latin. The zoo spokesman's name was Foo Si Yue (April in Mandarin) and the fictitious animal activist group planning to protest against the exhibit was named Free Orangutans Only Legion (Singapore), whose acronym would, of course, be Fools.

This article was on April 2, while the reporting about the exhibit actually was published on April 1. Just to fool readers yea? And I was really fooled but of course didn't go down to the zoo just to check things out.

And along with the April 2 article came this photo that showed two homosapiens in the really small exhibit, said to be around the size of an HDB flat bedroom. Ah. Fooled.

This is the exhibit

So poor thing right this lion...it belongs to a zoo in Melbourne

Forgery?

I went to an ice-cream restaurant to eat with my siblings. After the meal, my brother signed for his MasterCard and I exclaimed, 'Since when you change your signature?' He didn't say anything.

Did I just say that my brother signed this? How come it's my name?

My brother said he'd been doing this for a number of times already, so you can see how many people don't compare the signatures. My brother signed things like 'hamster', and many of his friends' names. So if you get a 'hamster' signature, you can call me.

Today's date

My dad called me this morning, telling me that he dropped money in his room, a total of $22, earlier while he was preparing for work. He didn't switch on the lights as my mum was sleeping so he asked me to help him dig out the money which suspectedly was under the bed.

So when I ducked down and scrutinised every part under the bed I couldn't see a thing. It's just bare floor. I kept yelling at my dad over the phone that his money wasn't there, then he finally gave up and said never mind he will search for himself when he returned.

And before we hung up, he asked me for today's date.

Forgot to mention that fifteen minutes later, my dad SMSed me and said 'Ha........ha........ha........April fool!'

(-_-") Cute meh? Haha.

Ice Age 2 - The Meltdown

The story of this movie is so-so la, sounds a bit Noah's Ark to me, like the vultures and Manny, Diego and Sid represent God and the animals, the animals. Like there is a boat at the other side of the whatsoever and what you'll be saved from the flood!

However, the effect and animation of the movie are hilarious. Damm funny! The sloth herd part especially...hahahahhaa...really very very amusing...

Went to watch with band friends. Don't belong to their clique la, felt quite odd also but rather enjoyed myself. I wanted to sit with Benny and in the cinema, I realised the laughter I heard mostly was mine and Benny's. Maybe we're easily tickled. I did burst out laughing a bit too loud at some point though. Heh.

And I like Manny and Diego. They are soooo charming! And that squirrel-like animal...very funny! Since the prequel that animal had been scurrying around for...I dunno what you call that nut. But that squirrel itself, the animation for it is very very funny...

If you need some laugh, go watch that movie...though I thought it should focus more on the effects of global warming at the same time...so can educate the kids you know. =Þ

Prices reverted

The first thing I did when I woke up this morning was to flip through the papers and search for the StarHub advertisements on Nokia 6280. The dealers which advertised still sell it at $388 for a 2-year contract, however the main shops didn't mention anything about that model in the ads. So I called up 1633 and was told that this week no promotion for Nokia 6280 so means to get at the main shop I have to pay $648 for a contract. Damn. I wanted to get at the main shop in Tampines Mall...but think now cannot already, so will get at one of the dealers...think will bring my dad to Yi Xin's ex-shop so that I can get the phone from there lo. It's nearer anyway.