Movie Night and Some Other Schitt.

I watched "Taxi" with Minnie-Person. Loved the action. I know, it wasn't "The Fast n' the Furious" or some shite, but hey. It's a lot nicer when traffic's involved ;) Hehehe. But there were a few scenes when the thought "Hey, we drive like that regularly in KL" crossed my mind :p

I didn't swim with Empress. My bad. I had my suit on, and the nice manager-lady at the Sweat Club did me a favor by letting me in without my having to produce a pass or anything. Of course, I'm thoroughly embarassed that I haven't paid up my dues for the next year ;) Ah well. After Raya.

Anyways (and yes, I realise I say that a lot), listening to the great Ella Fitzgerald herself. Damn, that woman can scat! :)

Had a very enlightening convo with my teacher. On, what else? Classical vs. Modern (in this case, jazz) :) I've been getting off easy these past two lessons, due to the puasa month. Dang, it's tiring to try keep your diaphragm inflated when you're just so tired. I know, it's wussy, and it's truly not THAT bad. I'm just lazy, and add to the fact that I've been running on 4 hours of sleep a night the past couple of weeks (I've got the luggage to prove it!!), well...I'm glad fasting gives me a handy excuse :p

Back to the convo during class: Here's a sample.

"...I know my diaphragm is collapsing...I'm just..." (wiggle body to express utter blah'ness) "..dunno! Tired!"

"Aiyo! You-ah!! Always so critical. Before you even get to the end of the exercise, you already quit, think so critically of your sound!"

"I know, I know!! I can't help it!" (fidget some more, mostly in frustrated embarrassment now).

"And about jazz. Classical and jazz is the Same Thing!!"

"Okay, I know, I know...but here's the thing" (hold up three fingers on the right hand), "I need a good technique, speed, and creativity."

Hold up the left hand: "Classical has the technique. Right?"

I get an affirmative nod and this eye-rolling glance that says a whole volume of "Duh!!!" in it.

"Okay, I got speed, I got creativity...I don't have technique. So I learn from you lah!! But if I try to add technique now, I can't be fast OR creative. How? I know lah...once I get it right, I'll add that last bit in. BUT NOT YET!"

And FINALLY we're communicating, because she says "Aiyo!! That's what I'm trying to tell you!!"

And here I am going, "You are??? I was trying to say that too!!!"


Hahaha!! I love my lessons. To quote the lady: "I like you as a person, but I HATE you as a student!", hahahahaha!!! :) It's really nice to have a teacher who doesn't tell you to shut up and just DO. I've enjoyed my classes a lot more with the teachers I had AFTER I came out of the first college. Teachers whom you can actually discuss the theory of the technique with, who do understand that some people work better with a map in their minds.

Of course, I realize I drive my teachers nuts with my questions, because I don't show results when they give me answers. But I take a while to process my thoughts *shrug*....can't help it if 'a while' can range from a few weeks to months ;)

But hey! Thinking works for me. What's wrong with that??

Got a call to do some show thingy involving kids. From my sister's friend. But since she woke me up in the middle of a much-needed nap, and she mentioned kids at a time when my brain couldn't handle it, I declined most politely. Which reminds me, anyone interested? If I heard correctly, the part requires some singing. I gotta double-check, but that's not a problem. Also, it's for Christmas I think. I didn't even ask what it was about, but I _am_ sort of committed to the Christmas program, so that's another reason to say no.

Anyway, this post has taken ages to type. I'm actually moving around on SWMUD. I can't believe it. Being a clannie kind of puts you in action I guess. *shrug* I'm publishing, before I hit anymore snag delays. Har.

I'm BACK!!!

So I've not been keeping up with my blogspotting. Sue me. Erm...on second thoughts, I just remembered. I know someone who -could-, so I'm going to retract that real graceful, like :p

What 'm I feeling? I dunno. Maybe a few residual urges to run head-first at top speed into a convenient wall? Or the need to just close my eyes, and whack my palm against my forehead, while chanting "Stupid, stupid, stupid" like the mantra to end all mantras? Yeth....I think I'll do both until I forget why I'm trying to knock my brains out through my ass.

I'd been...umm...working on memorizing my words. Well, minus a few mental blocks (and I actually have a lot more of those than I can remember, heh heh), I thought I had my lines down pat. I've always worried more about forgetting my lines, than I worry about embarrassing myself by acting really stupid on stage. Probably because I'm the butt of a lot of jokes off-stage as well, so it's not a problem anymore :p Forgetting LINES though...oh lordie!!! *fans self* I could go on and on about the backflips and sommersaults my tummy does when I think about bungling a line.

Anyway, to wind my way back to the point, I'm just saying that in order to get over stage-fright, I try to wipe my brain clear of my worries. In this case, lyrics :p

So, Night Une, I get on-stage, sing tentatively, don't miss a single word, forget to be musical, and come off sounding lame. Fair enough. Night Deux, I loosen up a little bit more, words still okay, rhythm picks up. Still in semi-control, and just about fed-up with not knowing why in heck I'm not getting in touch with the music.

Night Trois rolls around, and I just about go on-stage comatose, and just ready to Not Give A Fuck *tm*, so I swing up (rather like in preparation to crack some heads with a wooden baseball bat), start off, then about halfway through the BRIDGE, realise I've actually fucked up on verse two!! HAHAHAHAHA!! Realization coming late and all that, I totter to the ending, and get ready to sing song number two, when about two seconds into Verse One, I forget the lines!!! The lines, in fact, that I can sing IN MY SLEEP!!!! How's that for fucky???

So while staring in amused horror, and humming sideways into the mic at my (probably) equally amused accompanist (bless her!!), while seriously considering stopping the music so I could start fresh, it hit me that calling a halt right then would not just be the ultimate gaffe, but I'd committed myself to the rhythm. So swing on we did, the pair of us. I'd gone so deep into the Don't Give A Fuck *tm* state-of-mind, it was a blur of sound and a serious lack of restraint.

I still can't believe I'd let go of my concentration, to the point that I couldn't find my words!!! My words!!! Aaaargh!!

I don't think I can keep doing this. Everytime something to this effect happens, I start to think fondly of a full time desk job, pushing paper around, answering tedious phone calls, and catching cat naps when nobody's looking. Aha. *cough*. Hrm. I still might do that, in fact. I'm not getting anywhere musically.

On other matters: Watched the Wayans' Brothers' latest effort, "White Chicks" at GSC MV. With hubby. Hehe. Like the man says:" It's good fun, total no-brainer." Well, I liked it. Wouldn't watch it again. At least the hamming was at a minimum, which made the movie a little bit less embarrassing to watch. Haha. Would recommend it if you need some cheering up. It's really a good laugh.

Plan: Watch Resident Evil 2, Dodgeball, catch Joel Schumacher's upcoming The Phantom of The Opera (lovely trailer!!!) and most definitely haul Da Doll with me to catch A Shark Tale. Ha! So many movies to watch....nobody to go with! Boo-hoo!

Anyway, that-time-of-the-month is over, and I'm raring to go. Puasa, that is. Body's definitely saying: time for a change again! :) Which also led me to the high-tech'ish reception desk of the Sweat Club MV to check if my membership was still active. Suspended (hallelujah!!! No need to pay the joining fee again!), and which ended October 1st. Which means every month I _DON'T_ pay from that point is added up to the tally for when I finally _DO_ pay. Ahahaha. *cough* I think I'll take the one-year plan if I can afford it next month. Any DV'ian is welcome to use up my monthly passes (a grand total of TWO! :p), if they like.

Okay, done. I'm updated, my burdened soul is cleansed *cough!!*, and Pratchett's 'Maskerade' beckons! Lalalalalalalalaaaaaa!!