Err... What the?!

Google search hit: singer tied to a windmill upside down. My site is number 5?!?


Mocha was..

Awesome! I had a great time on Sat night @ Hunter on Hunter. We danced for almost 3 and a half hours straight... my legs were dying by the end, and I got home around 4am. Ah, I love clubbing... much fun it is. Sydney needs more R&B clubs.. there are way too many crappy techno and commercial dance clubs out there. *sigh*

So, as usual there are stories to tell. I can't believe how desperate some people are to pick up at clubs. Its really quite amusing. It's those people that give clubs the whole "pick up joint" reputation. I bumped into an old school friend who unashamedly told me he was scoping around, hoping to pick up a nice indian chick (he was indian).

I've found that you have to even be careful where you look.. coz if you accidently glance at some guy, they may get the wrong idea and try to pick you up. Its funny, some people just don't get the message.. I mean, Alicia had to say that we were *ahem* lesbians *ahem* to defend us from over-eager-desperate-guy-trying-to-dance-with-us. But it worked. :P (Btw, no... we are not!!!!) This other time, we were protecting each other from a guy who just didn't get the message... Alicia finally had to resort to the "hand in the face" method, which is most effective. :P

Other than those few incidents, it wasn't too bad. I had heaps of fun, and the picking up wasn't as bad as some other places I've been. They even featured a performance by J-Foxx - a dance entertainment group. There were two dancers, one of them was Juliette Verne, AK's funk teacher (I visited that class a few weeks ago). Man.. she can move her body! They were both really good dancers!! The song was.. uh.. interesting. Its called "Lick my neck, my back" by Khia.. I won't repeat the lyrics coz they're kinda ruuude. :P

The music wasn't bad. We got there late (around midnight) so I think we missed a few good song. They played the song "Gangsta Lovin" by Eve (feat Alicia Keys) a few times that night, and now I really like the song!

Current listening :: Rock The Boat - Aaliyah

Clubbing!

Oooh.. I'm going clubbing tonight! Woohoo! I'm going to "Mocha" @ Hunter on Hunter. Hm.. I really should go shower and get ready now.

Busy and stuff

Sorry about the lack of updates. I can't believe its Thursday already! Anyway, whats been happening, in a nutshell:

• Dance class last night was awesome! (As usual. :P) I now have a bruise on my right knee to match the one on my left - which I also bruised more during the floor work in our lyrical routine. The lyrical was really cool this week.. and really hard! It apparently is the audition routine they're using in upcoming auditions for the stage production of The Lion King, except Ramon changed it slightly and made it a tad slower (for which I am most thankful). Still, my left hip... oww! We constantly, throughout the whole routine had to hold that left leg in the air (around 90 deg or above). Anyway, the second routine was to Britney's latest, "Boys". That song is funky! Its in the Austin Powers 3 movie apparently. Now I really wanna watch it to check out the dancing (and to see if Ramon borrowed some of her moves again). All in all, it was very fun. :)
  
  
• Work was really busy today.. like.. I actually have work to do at work now! *gasp* :)
  
  
• I've been a little distracted by another blog that some friends and I have created. Its a blog where each of us will write an ongoing fictional fantasy story. We each take turns and pick up where the other person left off. Its only just started, and we're still getting members, but its looking to be fun. I've only written one entry so far... and I gotta say, writing fiction is quite hard! Despite all the countless fantasy novels I've read. Anyway, I'm quite looking forward to Vron's entries. I know she'll be a good writer. :P

Current listening :: "Boys" - Britney

Ski photos!



The above photo was taken by me at my ski trip this year (I believe it was while I was sitting on the Mt Perisher triple chairlift looking out to the Olympic and Sun Valley black runs in the distance).

I scanned in 10 of my 28ish photos last night (gee my scanner is slooow), so clicky here to see me in my embarassingly bright purple ski suit!

*yawn*

Just woke up from a bit of a snooze in front of my computer at work. Aren't power naps great. :P

*stretch* Hmm.. think I need some tea. Then its off to the gym. :)

I bought a webcam! :)

Monday morning again, and I'm still tired. I really should have slept earlier last night - I went to bed at 9:30pm(!) - but I couldn't help finishing Magician's Gambit, and then read through the first third of Castle of Wizardry. Ah, the addiction of reading a good book. :)

Anyway, big news! I have finally purchased... *drum roll*... a webcam/digital camera!!! Yay for me! I can finally cross the "webcam/digital camera" off my wishlist! :) Its a Logitech ClickSmart 510, and I finally found one on ebay that was a reasonable-ish price (compared to the $350-ish retail price in Australia) - brand new with a 2 year manufacture warranty. I didn't even have to bid for it because it was a "Buy It Now" item. Unfortunately its all the way over in the US, so I have a while to wait before I actually get the camera.

Its quite a high-end webcam and works well as a digital camera too, producing fairly good quality pictures for something at its price-range (ie. its not a $1000 high-tech digital camera or anything). Check out Tweak3D.Net for a very thorough positive review of this webcam. Its also rated number 2 in the top 5 webcams of the CNET.com electronics reviews.

So yay! Excited I am! :)

Now... $$ recuperation time. Please stop me if I am tempted to buy anything else that is not a necessity!!

Current listening :: "Full Moon" - Brandy

Neeed Sleeeep

Ugh.. not feeling too well today. :( I think my lack of sleep has finally caught up with me, and my body is not happy. Feeling a little woozy.. and dizzy.. and slightly nauseous. This always happens when I push myself too far in terms of expending energy/lack of rest.

Need Sleep Bad.


Shopping!

In other happier news, I went late night shopping last night with a girlfriend. I ended up buying this really cute top from Bardot at Parramatta Westfield. Its white, with bits of brown and beige embroidered flowers. It has three buttons at the back and then it opens up to reveal the lower back. A very nice summer top for casual or clubbing wear. And it goes well with this brown beaded sparkly belt I bought last week. Yay! :)

I hadn't bought any clothes in ages.. but enough shopping for now. I've bought so much in the last 2 weeks.. but I'm all ready for summer! Now I have a pink singlet top (really pretty with lacey bits!), 2 white singlet tops, a black lacey clubbing top, a belt, and 2 cute tee's (one white and one pink). Hmm.. ya think I'm into white and pink at the moment? :P

Current listening :: "Blazin' - Hip Hop and R&B cd 1" - 100% dj mixed by Nino Brown

Got dizzy dancing tango

I noticed the latest Shakira single "Objection (Tango)" is number 2 at the moment, and her album is number 3 in the charts. Now, I know the charts are no indication whatsoever of an artists talent, but don't people realise that.. well.. her vocal talent leaves much to be desired! I mean, I'll give it to her that the songs she's composed aren't bad - the music is likeable - and the fact that she actually composed and arranged the songs speaks rather highly of her (as opposed to most pop singers). But this is kinda spoiled the moment she opens her mouth. Please.. get some singing lessons and vocal technique! The way she sings makes *my* throat hurt in sympathy.

Anyway, sorry if I've offended any Shakira fans out there. I kinda like her latest single - though probably only because we did her song in dance class last night - the tango bit at the beginning is pretty cool (hence I just went and bought it!) To me her songs are a little marred by her voice.. I mean I'm pretty tolerant when it comes to pop music - I like most of it (to the dismay and disappointment of my more alternative friends :P) - but her voice for some reason is particularly irritating to me, more so in her first two singles.

Now, to more important matters. Dance class last night was awesome! Ramon was away, so I went to Michael Boyd's Intermediate Latin/Funk class. I have been wanting to try it for ages, but could never seem to pull myself away from Rrrr-amon's class. :) My movements felt a bit awkward, as I wasn't used to his style (or the style of Latin/Funk for that matter).. but I really enjoyed it. My hips felt (and must've looked) so unco compared to him... my gosh that guy can move his hips! Hehehe. :P I think I really need to work on my isolations. The routine we did was to that Shakira song - and since its a tango, the dance was obviously rather tango-like. Very cool! We even had floor work in the routine, which of course left me with numerous bruises all around my left knee. :\

Current listening :: "Objection (Tango)" - Shakira

Dancing.. yeh!

Off to dance class now. Yay! :) Of course, I had to forget my contacts today. :( I hate dancing in glasses. I seem to be doing this more often... maybe I'm getting old! *scary thought* But come to think of it, I forgot to do alot of things today.. like I totally forgot to go to my waxing appointment at 4. I must have left my brain in bed this morning. :\

Laziness

Gee I feel like such a lazy bum today. I was supposed to go to dance class tonight, but decided not to - partially to save money and partially to save time so I could practice piano and just chill at home alone (and read some more Belgariad.. yay!) But now I feel guilty because: a) I'm still at work - being the geek I am, I can't pull myself away from updating my blog (obsessed I tell you.. obsessed!) and b) I've been so lazy the past few days - eating heaps and not exercising at all.. tsk tsk.

So now that I've given myself a little pep talk, I'm gonna to haul-ass to the gym (note the Clueless reference :P) and work out some! Yeehar! :)

Oh dear...

Got this link from a post on High8us. Dearie me.. I am speechless. All you people out there that don't like clicking on links, you HAVE to view this!!

(Note: You need sound and macromedia flash player)

(Very Late) Friday Five - High School Edition

1. What was/is your favorite subject in school? Why?
In junior years, I used to love geography. I was good at it too! But I didn't choose it for my HSC. So in senior years, my favourite was 4U Maths... and Economics. Gee I'm a geek. My 4U teacher Mr Haize was awesome.. he was soo easy going - like we could just walk in and out of class practically whenever we felt like it.. go visit the other 4U class next door.. whatever. :) I also think I liked Maths coz of Jan's maths tuition. Guess the 5 hours of tuition a week pays off huh..

2. Who was your favourite teacher? Why?
This would have to be my Economics teacher, Mr ... um.. I can't remember his name. :\ Also Mr Haize was pretty cool (he was a lecturer at UTS too).. but he wasn't that good at teaching.

3. What is your favorite memory of school?
Back in year 8 - the letters and notes Alice and I used to write each other, and the really silly names we came up for each other. Thats how I got my nickname "Kazzie" and all variations thereafter. Year 8 was probably the best year of highschool for me. Everything went rapidly downhill after the beginning of year 9. Which reminds me - Valentines Day - year 9. This stands out as my favourite memory. I got my first rose (our school had a rose delivery service thingy for Valentines Day) from this guy that I had a major crush on.. and we started going out that day. It was so romantic. *sigh*

4. What was your favorite recess game?
Handball at first! I was good at it. I remember being King, and holding that position against Raymond (who was the best player there) and in a match between the two of us.. I beat him! Yahhh!!! :) Then in year 11 and 12, I moved on to basketball. I was obssessed! Before school, every recess, lunch and free period I'd be at the basketball courts with the boys playing ball. I was good at shooting.. jumping for the ball, and blocking/stealing the ball from people. But I couldn't dribble for the life of me!

5. What did you hate most about school?
The feeling of absolute, aching loneliness as a result of being one of the most unpopular people in the year - being classified as a reject basically. Being nicknamed "Sony - The One And Only" coz I had "no friends". And no, I'm not bitter and cynical about this at all... :P Anyway, I just hated high school (year 9 onwards). I was so happy when it was over and I could go to uni... so happy...
Oh yeh, also assignments and exams.. blah blah..

Current listening :: Beautiful Collision - Bic Runga

Bookworm

I think I've rediscovered my love for fantasy books. Particularly my old-time favourites David Eddings and Raymond E Feist. Ah the nostalgic memories they stir of my days in high school. *sigh*

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to find some secondhand Eddings books. Failing that, I'll just go to Galaxy Books. Yay! :)

[Updated: 4:40pm]
My mission to buy as many David Eddings books as I could was a success. Secondhand bookshops rock! I bought:

• All of The Belgariad series (except for Pawn of Prophecy, which I already have)
• Soceress Of Darshiva and Seeress of Kell from The Mallorean (thats 2 out of 5)
• Ruby Knight and Sapphire Rose from The Elenium (thats 2 out of 3)
• The Shining Ones and Domes of Fire from The Tamuli (thats 2 out of 3)

Total cost = $53.80. Woohoo!! What a bargain!! :)

Very happy am I.

Current listening :: "Blazin' - Hip Hop and R&B cd 1" - 100% dj mixed by Nino Brown

Sadness and hope

I just came across two blogs whose most recent posts lingered on the topic of death. They were so moving, I shed a few tears. But even more sad was knowing that their only hope was what they could grasp out of this present world we live in. I wanted to leave a comment, telling them about the reality of an infinitely better life after we die, which will be eternal.. that things don't end with death. But anything I thought of sounded so insensitive and cliched.

Christian search hits

Oh no.. it seems the straight-down-the-line, conservative, evangelical, musically-oriented christians in Sydney have found me. *gasp*

Number 3

:P

Current listening :: "What Women Want" Soundtrack

2000 Hitz!!

Hey.. I've hit the 2000 mark! Yay! :)

Anyway, thanks for the comments on my (very long) WKC summary post. Just wanted to point to another really good summary. Most encouraging it is.

Hmm... feeling the need for a clubbing fix. Clubbing want I to go again soon.

Well.. at least I have dance class tonight. Yay! :)

Current listening :: "Hot In Here" - Nelly

Peace In Chaos

Last weekend I went to Katoomba, along with about 2500 other women. We were attending a conference called WKC (Womens Katoomba Convention). And it was awesome, the teaching was great and I was greatly encouraged by all that I learnt! (Funny note: In the first session, I walked into that tin shed and commented to Vron "It smells like perfume and babies here!" Quite a distinction to what I hear Mens Convention is like. :P)

Anyway, I'm going to type up some notes from a few of the talks, for three reason. Firstly as an archive for me to look back over, secondly as a way for me to meditate on and remember what I learnt, and lastly as an encouragement to those reading.

I'll put up the main points that I found important from Greta Gauts' two talks, all of my notes on Elizabeth Foords' seminar and a few main points from all three of Trish Johnson's talks.

Beware, this is gonna be a long one!

Greta Gaut - Talk 1 - Finding Peace In Stillness
Psalm 131 & 46

• We're often so busy coz of 2 reasons. Firstly, our vanity/pride (top-dog-itis) -> we need to find our importance with child-like humility (Ps 131:1). Secondly we are too ambitious and get in over our heads - we feel we are crucial and irreplacable and end up not working with God but against Him.
  
  
• But I have stilled and quieted my soul (Ps 131:2) - step out of the hustle and bustle and get to know my Maker and trust Him with the things in life I don't understand (eg. why did my loved on die?) Crawl onto Gods lap like a weaned child with its mother. A weaned child still goes to the mother out of love and trust for assurance and comfort.
  
  
• Be still and know that I am God (Ps 46:10) - Take a break and pause and ask, am I trusting God? Acknowledge that God is bigger and be aware of His capacity.

Greta Gaut - Talk 2 - Getting To Know The Peace-Giver
Psalm 119

• We live in a quick-fix society. But to have the real thing in peace & security, we need to get to know God well.
  
  
• The quality and strength of our relationship with God is mirrored by the quality and strength of our knowledge of the bible. We need to read and reread the bible coz we're forgetful and we're rebellious.
  
  
• Priorities - what matters to me? What I long for betrays my priorities. But, we know you don't often long for something you haven't seen, so read the bible. Also ask God to awaken a longing for His word.
  
  
• What you value most, you will put into your heart, and what is in your heart, you will put into doing. Your heart is the seed of who you are. Do I have a good heart (Ps 119:36-38) - one that is teachable, or bad heart (Ps 119:70) which is fat smothered or obdurate (hard hearted, impervious to moral persuasion, refusing to pay attention to God).
  
  
• If we struggle to run Gods way, he will increase our desire, our will and our ability to do this. He will give us "enlarged hearts" (I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free - Ps 119:32)
  
  
• I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. (Ps 119:15). Meditating -> filling your mind with Gods word so as to control your actions, eg like a cow chews and rechews its cud. It will shape your thoughts and actions if you internalise it (memorise or deep reflection).
  
  
• For I delight in your commands because I love them (Ps 119:47). Delight is paralleled with love (eg love letters which you read and reread). Set a pattern for ourself so we have past experience to make us long to return. It requires discipline AND emotion.
  
  
• Getting to know God, through the bible, brings rewards - blessing, enlarged hearts, love, reverance for God, wisdom, certain hope, comfort in affliction, joy, secuity, and peace.
  
  

Elizabeth Foord - Seminar - Living Through The Tough Times

Pop quiz 1: What is your deepest hurt/heartache?
Pop quiz 2: What are your expectations of life?

• Why is the world the way it is? Answer in Gen 3 - Adam and Eve did not believe God
  
  
• Why are people the way they are? Coz we're all basically selfish and focused on self. (For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God - Romans 3:23)
  
  
• We must expect disappointments, heartaches, hardships, difficulties and be realistic. The bible is realistic (Ps 90, Job) and wants us to be realistic about life - if our expectations are wrong, we'll be more disappointed. Life is about persecution. We can bring disappointment and hardship into our lives coz of:
  • too high expectatinos of our husband/friends/children
  • disobedience to God
  So don't set unreal expectations - set our hearts on serving God and doing His will and He will provide what He wants in our lives.
  
  
• We can choose our reaction to hardship and suffering. We first should acknowledge our suffering to God - its good to say "I'm hurting". Its good to shed tears. But then for a christian, it can be different because God gives us the necessary resources to handle suffering. Three things to remember:
  1. God is sovereign - in control of everything that happens in this life, even when evil seems to be winning. eg Jesus death on the cross - seemed like evil was winning, but God used that to save all people on earth. God takes all hardships and turns it into good, nothing is outside His will.
  2. God is wise - he's all-knowing, allows nothing into our life that doesn't come from his wisdom
  3. God is loving - only wants good for us (And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. - Rom 8:28), though it may be hard to see when we're hurt.
  When we go through suffering, our reaction can determine the outcome - whether we focus on self or on God. Remember that its not what happens TO you but what happens IN you as a result that matters. If we respond in a right way, then God can take bad things and use them to turn us and grow us more like Jesus and that is the purpose of life.
  
  
• This world is not all there is. Paul says our present suffering is not worth comparing with whats ahead. The world is a temporary abode which we are merely passing through. God can use things to not let us get our roots too deep. We need to look up coz this world isn't our home.
  
  Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." - Rev 21:1-4
  
  

Trish Johnson - Talk 1/2/3 - Gods Purpose, Power and Peace
John 15 - 16

• God prunes us to get rid of anything hindering us from being fruitful (John 15:1-3)
  
  
• Remaining in Jesus is necessary for christians to be fruitful - we can do nothing without Him. There's no way someone can stop studying the bible and still remain close with Jesus.
  
  
• Remaining in Jesus brings three things:
  1. God is glorified through our character fruit (eg Gal 22-23), love, obediance and joy
  2. Friendship with Jesus - shown through active and continuous obediance (John 15:14)
  3. Fruitfulness (John 15:15-16)
  
  
• Is Christ working in me or am I just working in Christ's name?
  
  
• If you want to work with Jesus in a close relationship, there is a cost that the world will reject you because they first rejected Jesus, but God more than provides the resources for us.
  
  
• Keep on praying in difficulties and in busyness, (John 16:24). Prayer promotes joy, because it makes God himself real and also if we recieve an answer.
  
  
• Peace is the possesion of adequate/sufficient resources. Do I have this? How easily would my peace be broken?
  
  
• Jesus' peace - the awareness that God is in me and I am in God - brings three things:
  1. I'm not afraid when I'm alone - Jesus is with me
  2. I'm not afraid when I'm going through trials/troubles
  3. I have awareness that somehow this trial will turn to good and I'll be infinitely better afterwards
  
  I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. - John 16:33
  
  

Phew... that took absolutely ages! Hope it wasn't too long, and that you guys found it encouraging. :)

Current listening :: Eyes On Me - Final Fantasy VIII Piano Collections

God protects?

Cool picture. Funny caption.

"Duck!" .. "Where?"

This morning whilst I was getting ready for work, my dad called up to me "Look and see whats in our pool now!". So I trudge over to the window upstairs.. Lo and Behold.. there are two ducks merrily swimming away in our pool!!! How cute!!! :)

They were even drinking the water (salt, chlorine and all?!) and eating at a few weeds sticking out from between the tiles around our pool. I was thinking "how cute" right up until one of them pooped on the tiles. They better not poo *in* the pool!

Five Friday - Irritating edition

1. What is your biggest pet peeve? Why?
Intolorent/arrogant/self-righteous/proud/elitist/superior/cynical people... esp the extremely "alternative" types when they constantly (even in their cutting humour) pan music/movies etc of the "popular" culture and think they are so much better/more intelligent than someone else because of the kind of music they listen to and their ability to criticise others, whereas it really just shows their callous and unloving hearts. Other things.. really slow drivers, esp in the fast lane (its usually a woman, old man/lady, or asian), bimbo's - you know those stupid girly girls with the empty-headed giggle and "Oh my! Did I do that? *bimbo headshake*".. and goody-two-shoes types.

2. What irritating habits do you have?
I have issues with being on time. I take ages in the shower, and in getting ready to go out. The more dressy the occasion, the longer I take. Also, being reaally indecisive and picky, esp with the smallest things.. like food.. or the colour of something. And this adds to my being on time issue.

3. Have you tried to change the irritating habits or just let them be?
I try and try to not be late. Getting better actually because I'm more organised (perhaps as a result of full-time IT work). As for indecisiveness and pickiness. Well.. not sure what I can do about them really. I try to be a little bit more decisive when I know my indecisiveness is going to affect other people/hold people up. I guess I try to be more aware of whom my actions affect.. but if they affect noone.. well.. I'll just spend ages picking the colour of my phone cover. :)

4. What grosses you out more than anything else? Why?
Hm. Spiders! I hate them! I fear them! They give me the creeps! I can't even kill a tiny insy-winsy one. I get my dad to. :) Also cockroaches are pretty gross too. Yeuch! Also really smelly toilets... esp in China where u squat to go in a shared tunnel and see your urine mix with everyone elses. Ewwwww....

5. What one thing can you never see yourself doing that other people do?
Hmm.. this is actually quite similar to AK's answer.. doing full-time ministry/going to bible college. I just don't have the desire to do this..

Current listening :: "Magic" - Disco Montego Ft Katie Underwood

I'm off

Friday 5pm finally. Time to go homeski.. or rather to Glueski. :)

I'll be at WKC (Women's Katoomba Convention) this weekend which is a christian convention in Katoomba attended by a few thousand christian women from all denominations all over Sydney. Should be a great weekend of fun, food, fellowship and bible teaching. We're staying in luxury motel accomodation this time.. yay! No more trying to get to sleep in a yucky old pub which has on again/off again water supplies and a loud band playing downstairs at 1am. Until I return..

Couldn't have said it better myself

This blog thing is getting harder every day, or rather every time I find out someone I know is reading this. It's getting harder to say how I really feel so I will have to start writing obscure, wanky paragraphs and make you read between the lines.

The above was quoted from an old entry at Shauny's blog. Interesting. I very much understand. Not that I mind you people I know reading this.. afterall a blog is meant to be read. Just one of those unsolvable things I guess.

Tales of the Plush Cthulhu

Hehe.. a friend posted this on High8us. Its kinda cute and amusing. Come see this thrilling tale unfold.

Current listening :: "Magic" - Disco Montego Ft Katie Underwood

Dream job?

Anyone looking for a career change? I love the job description.. hehehe. :)

[Edited: 6:58pm, 5 Sept 2002]
Aww looks like that jobs not there anymore. Anyway, off to the gym I trot. By the way, check out my new tag board. :)

Ugh

This is a rather shocking (and gory) event. A man was fatally stabbed by his wife with a kitchen knife whilst driving down the Gore Hill Freeway (at Artarmon) in peak hour traffic, at 8:45am yesterday morning! Then as he tried to run, he was chased down and stabbed a few times in front of dozens of motorists. This as a result of a supposed domestic argument!

Go here and here for the articles.

Dare to dream?

Today was a rather tiring day. My legs are really sore.. particularly the front part of below the knees (whats that area called?!) I don't think I've ever been that sore there before. All that from just walking around the city.. from work to Imperial Arcade to David Jones to Imperial Arcade to the Conservatorium to work and finally to Wynyard Stn then home! I knew it was a bad idea to wear boots today. That and the fact it was 27 degrees today. Woah!

Anyway, tonight I went to the Conservatorium to the Information Evening and free jazz concert. It was great! I saw my jazz fusion class perform (along with my fusion teacher).. I probably would have been performing with them had I stayed on. All the performances were pretty good, and the teachers even performed a song right at the end - they played "Tune Up" by Miles Davis. Love that piece!

After the concert I stuck around for about an hour, talking to various teachers. My first Con teacher Alan Webb (who is also a christian!) gave me the latest update on the christian jazz ensemble band "Selah" that he's in.. they're releasing their 2nd album soon! Yay!! Its mostly instrumental this time.. with original compositions by a couple of the band members (prob Mike Kenny and Spike). I'm looking forward to it! Its been 2 1/2 years since their first album.

I also spoke to Nick Fowler, my jazz fusion teacher. He gave me some good advice and encouragement. He offered the option of doing a jazz performance group class plus some private lessons to work on my jazz voicings (my chord playing, particularly LH voicings, is quite weak). Otherwise, as my other teacher Tony Graf advised (from Contemporary Keyboard 1), I could continue with Cont Keyboard and do level 2. I think I'm leaning towards the Contemporary Keyboard class, for three reasons:

1. its cheaper
2. takes up less time - 1 hr a week opposed to 2 hours a week jazz perf class + periodical private lessons (in Maroubra!)
3. allows me to focus on just improving my jazz voicings and chord playing before jumping in the deep end in an ensemble class - I've been putting this off long enough because of my impatience. I just wanted to play, and so I skipped the tedious structured learning process that I probably need in order to overcome my difficulties with jazz chords

But talking to Nick Fowler was good. He asked me.. Where do you wanted to go with this? Do you want to perform and play with other people? Yes and yes!! I really want to play with other jazz musicians.. and perform if I ever get the opportunity (with or without pay, it matters little at this stage). Talking to him has made me realise that perhaps it is possible for this to happen - I'll meet lots of people here at the Con who are in the same boat. For example, two of my classmates from jazz fusion have teamed up and formed a band. Just like that. I wish to do that too!

Woah.. this is a long post. My posts seem to be getting longer. I hope they haven't become too long and tedious for people to read.

Anyway, my final point in this post is that I am perhaps daring to dream again. My dream that I can possibly get somewhere with jazz piano playing. I don't plan on going professional or anything.. but just perhaps small time, on the side. Or even just the opportunity to play with people, in a band. I mean my other dream of getting somewhere with dancing is probably not going to come true, coz I started way too late, so this seems a more realistic choice.

Food therapy

Off to get some chocolate covered strawberries. Am very much in need of some food therapy.. preferably of the chocolate variety.

And round and round we go...

Just came back from funk class tonight. I decided to go try AK's funk/hip hop dance class tonight (in WestSyde :P), just to do something different. And different it was... but fun. I quite enjoyed myself, though it was a beginners class, and she taught the rather simple routine quite slowly. It was good because it allowed time to work on the style and feel of the movements. I think I might go back and try the intermediate class. Still not sure if funk is really my thing (though I love the music)... I prefer jazz. Which is kinda funny coz when I first moved from funk to jazz, I preferred funk.

Anyway, having done that class, I'm having second thoughts about doing a course at the Con again. It would be nice to have the extra time to try different dance classes. I mean there are so many just at SDC I haven't tried yet.. much less other dance companies. I do love the jazz courses at the Con... but I REALLY love dancing too....

Hmmm... round and round I go.. don't you just hate indecision. :(

Side note: I think I'm feeling a little sore. I did so much exercise today... went to Pilates class at the gym plus did some cardio on the X-trainer afterwards.. then 1 1/2 hrs dance class tonight. I'm proud of myself! :)

Choices choices choices

It comes to this again... after a time of rest away from the Conservatorium, I am feeling the itch to go back. Yes, I'm considering whether to do a jazz course this coming term at the Con. Luckily I haven't missed out on the free concert & information evening, which is on tomorrow night.

*sigh*... I could have performed in this concert had I stayed on in my jazz fusion class. Last night I was going through my CD's and came across the fusion CD provided as part of the course materials when I did the class, and just seeing that CD made me really regret stopping - and made me really want to go back.

But I know that if I do this, my dancing will suffer. I've realised that I cannot do both jazz piano and dancing (on top of the singing lessons I've taken up - though singing is quite flexible and easily managable). It has to be a choice. I seem to constantly flip from one to the other - in the beginning of the year, when I did Jazz Fusion at the Con, I hardly ever went to dance class, and I ended up missing it so much that I stopped piano for dancing. Now I miss piano. This tension between the two demonstrated itself at once in tomorrow nights' Information Evening. I would normally go to dance class as it is a Wed night, but I'm going to have to miss it for this.

If only there were more hours in a day.. or less days at work!!

There are also other factors to consider of course. I'm going to have to budget myself well in order to afford these courses. That was actually one of the main reasons I'd stopped (on top of lack of time and dancing).

<rant>
Also, I feel horribly lacking in my ability as a jazz pianist. Basically.. I suck! I mean, my jazz chord reading sucks, especially if the chord is just a touch more complicated than the simple major, minor, dominant 7th.. or if it is in a key with more than 3 sharps or flats. And my improvising/soloing is even worse!! I mean, please, play something that doesn't sound like you're just playing scales.. and stop playing like a classical pianist!!! Also thats IF I can get which scale to play with which chord. Then if the time sig is in anything other than 4/4... down the drain I go. :(

*sigh* Do all other muso's feel this frustrated with their playing? Or maybe I'm just being really insecure. Oh, and don't even get me started on my performance last term... I don't even wanna think about my solo. *shudder*

And on top of all that... I'm STILL too lazy to practice. I haven't played all term (the last 10 weeks) because I wasn't doing a course. I'm a shocker.
</rant>

Current listening :: "Lost Souls" - Doves

Joy upon joys..

I have discovered The Basement.com.au and its Internet TV Station. To quote from their website: "We are an Internet-only Music TV station with live DJs playing music videos and webcasts from our studios and club in Sydney Australia". How cool is that! I can watch continuous music video's and webcasts at work all day with the fast connection we have here.. if only my computer could handle the streaming videos better. *sigh* Still its not too bad if I keep the window small and use the 56K stream.

So far, I've seen The Strokes, Weezer, Grinspoon, Garbage, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, You Am I and plethora of other video clips of songs I didn't recognise (but Andrew and Tim probably would - I wish they'd tell me what song I'm listening to as they come on). Now I'm just waiting for the Motor Ace live in the studio to come on. This is way cool! :)

Current listening :: The Basement.com.au Internet Music TV Station

Friday Five - Fashion Edition

1. What's your favorite piece of clothing that you currently own?
Hmm.. that would have to be my blue, slightly faded, stretch hipster jeans. I love em and wear em to death! :) As for tops, I love either singlet tops (in summer) or skivvy's (for winter). But then.. there's my lacy pink top... its so preetty..

2. What piece of clothing do you most want to acquire?
At the moment, I'm on the look out for a new clubbing top! Also, I wouldn't mind a nice slinky smart casual dress for party occasions, and some casual tops (I'm getting a bit sick of rotating through the same 5 skivvy's the whole of winter!).

3. What piece of clothing can you not bring yourself to get rid of? Why?
Probably my high school formal dresses. I mean, they were so expensive, and it was such a big deal when I bought them!! Even if I can't fit into 1 of them anymore.. :P

4. What piece of clothing do you look your best in?
Well now... where do I start? Hahah kidding! :P Hmm.. I've been told my skivvy's are nice on me.. and did I mention that I love my hipster jeans? ;) 3/4 length coats are nice too. But I'd have to settle on my clubbing clothes - my pants (either beige or black, slightly flared hipsters), and my sparkly clubbing tops.

5. What has been your biggest fashion accident?
Ooh.. lemme think. The frilly, cutsy, honky pale pink, pale blue, pale lavender dresses I used to wear to church when I was in primary school were pretty shocking. You know those over-the-top cute dresses you get from Hong Kong? Eesh... small wonder I wasn't exactly the popular "Miss Trendy". Oh and couple that with socks inside my sandals! Actually, anything I wore when I was in primary school/early high school as my mother bought all my clothes for me back then... usually cheapo stuff from the street markets in hong kong.

Current listening :: "Full Moon" - Brandy