I've just embedded another song on my blog, but somehow it only plays for 30-seconds, so I guess you'll just have to click on the link to listen to the whole thing. I just stumbled upon it as I was surfing imeem.com for Philippe Jaroussky. It sounds really delightful, like there's a celebration with people dancing around in medieval times, eating meat and drinking wine.
This is the kind of uplifting, positive-sounding music I need during these dark times.
Managed to study at home today, Dad went out to play Mahjong, so I had the house to myself the entire afternoon. The temptation to do nonsense was very great, but I forced myself to sit down to Math. The TV I got to watch after was well-deserved, I tell you. Those Math questions almost killed me!
Tomorrow's a public holiday, so everyone will be home, dammit. The libraries will be closed and I will die! There's nowhere I can study! Eateries are too noisy and distracting, home is.. the same as eateries.
It's strange to want to study. A year ago I hated Math like hell, now it isn't so bad, just a little frustrating when I can't get the right answer.
Chew told me that the kids in Biomed at SP all got 5-6 points at 'O' levels. How the heck am I supposed to get in, then?! My aim is only 10-11 points, from which I subtract the CCA bonus points (which, I hope, will still be valid next year when I apply). I'm working so hard for Biomed, I had better get in next year and go do all sorts on a well-deserved trip to Venice!
I will earn my trip to Venice.
In case you're wondering, "earn" doesn't only apply to money.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Wednesday, April 29th 2009
Hey guys!
Gonna do a quick blog entry before "The Simpsons" starts on Star World. Haven't touched the TV or computer in days, or even a week! Just got back from Bangkok, Thailand close to midnight yesterday. It was risky to go there so soon after the protests, but what the heck, if it's time to die, it's time to die.
I'm back, alive and well, so I guess it's not time to die yet!
Finally got my dreadlocks back again! I had them for a couple of months, then took them out on 7th April so they could.. recover before I went to Thailand to re-do them properly. They looked and felt pretty soft on 7th April, but only when I tried to take them out, I realised that they're the toughest things on earth! It took me about 3-4 hours to get them out completely, and not without pain, either!
Got them done in Thailand at Khao San road by some guy who looks like the Thai version of Bob Marley. His dreads were beautiful, but they were probably extensions. Anyway, it took about 3 hours to complete my head of dreadlocks, they're tighter than when V and I did them the first time.
Glad to have them back, my head felt so empty without them! Feels so good to have messy, expressive hair again. When I took them out on April 7th, I realised how crappy and over-grown my hair was. Thank goodness for dreadlocks.
Individuality, baby!
Gonna do a quick blog entry before "The Simpsons" starts on Star World. Haven't touched the TV or computer in days, or even a week! Just got back from Bangkok, Thailand close to midnight yesterday. It was risky to go there so soon after the protests, but what the heck, if it's time to die, it's time to die.
I'm back, alive and well, so I guess it's not time to die yet!
Finally got my dreadlocks back again! I had them for a couple of months, then took them out on 7th April so they could.. recover before I went to Thailand to re-do them properly. They looked and felt pretty soft on 7th April, but only when I tried to take them out, I realised that they're the toughest things on earth! It took me about 3-4 hours to get them out completely, and not without pain, either!
Got them done in Thailand at Khao San road by some guy who looks like the Thai version of Bob Marley. His dreads were beautiful, but they were probably extensions. Anyway, it took about 3 hours to complete my head of dreadlocks, they're tighter than when V and I did them the first time.
Glad to have them back, my head felt so empty without them! Feels so good to have messy, expressive hair again. When I took them out on April 7th, I realised how crappy and over-grown my hair was. Thank goodness for dreadlocks.
Individuality, baby!
Friday, April 17, 2009
Friday, April 17th 2009
Haaaaa..
Today, I just couldn't bring myself to do any Math. Been committing 3 straight hours a day for the past week, I think I've run out of steam and need to take a break. Almost went blind when I spent 3 hours drawing graphs yesterday! Stupid Distance-Time graphs.
Been painting a lot, too. Finished an acrylic-on-canvas piece in a day last week. I must admit, though, it was a pretty small canvas. I painted a lonely mime sitting on the antenna on the roof of someone's house, and I named him Monty. The painting I'm working on NOW, however, is about half my height, pretty big, though the size seems standard to avid painters. Just started working/experimenting with oils, and I think I'm doing quite well, since I've never used oils in painting before, and no-one taught me how. I'm convinced that if I can master oils, I can conquer anything!
It is both physically, mentally and psychologically demanding of the painter. Rendering the shades is difficult. What colour paints to use to blend into that exact tone, texture. Choosing which brush to use for each part of the painting, stupid shades just don't look realistic enough to suck you into that place and time of the scene.
By the way, the photo I'm painting is of a little cosy alley in Venice. The roads are canals, and there are the alleys! Ok, better just describe it as a cosy tuck-away corner.
Painting with oils is physically demanding, as you can stand over a tiny part of your painting for hours on end, just desperately trying to achieve the right shade, painting it over and over again, or fixing smudges or uneven lines. My neck has been pretty stiff recently.
I won't explain the psychological part. If you try painting, you'll find out.
I used to yearn for the kind of life the "Little Rascals" had. I still do, but this trying to spend time on those lonely, uncomfortably warm afternoons is not what I had in mind. Everyone I know is starting school next week, and I'm going nowhere. It seems pessimistic of me to put it this way. I probably will get what I want since I'm putting in effort for it, but the fact still remains that I won't be starting school next week, or attending any school this year.
My brain won't be totally idle, I'd still be practising Math 4-5 days a week for hours each time, and I have my music exam to work towards, and I have my drawings and paintings to do, and of course the Geography and Social Studies.
It's not so bad, only my dad doesn't believe I'm studying hard, and mom doesn't think I'll be able to achieve anything in life just because I don't have a tutor. I just don't get it. You'd think that I feel bad enough already, without them pushing and yelling at me all the time.
Basically, what I've been trying to do nowadays is stay away from them and their conversations. I switch off when they start steering the conversation in the direction of my current academic situation and how I "will never make it without a tutor".
I don't have anything to feel guilty about, I tried so hard for the exams, but I failed. There you go, so try again, harder this time. Not "you won't pass without a tutor", don't drill that into your kid. If their kid were a spineless idiot, maybe their insults would have caused suicide by now. Sometimes being stubborn can be a mighty good thing.
I think I'll stick to Joe Dirt's optimism on this one.
Today, I just couldn't bring myself to do any Math. Been committing 3 straight hours a day for the past week, I think I've run out of steam and need to take a break. Almost went blind when I spent 3 hours drawing graphs yesterday! Stupid Distance-Time graphs.
Been painting a lot, too. Finished an acrylic-on-canvas piece in a day last week. I must admit, though, it was a pretty small canvas. I painted a lonely mime sitting on the antenna on the roof of someone's house, and I named him Monty. The painting I'm working on NOW, however, is about half my height, pretty big, though the size seems standard to avid painters. Just started working/experimenting with oils, and I think I'm doing quite well, since I've never used oils in painting before, and no-one taught me how. I'm convinced that if I can master oils, I can conquer anything!
It is both physically, mentally and psychologically demanding of the painter. Rendering the shades is difficult. What colour paints to use to blend into that exact tone, texture. Choosing which brush to use for each part of the painting, stupid shades just don't look realistic enough to suck you into that place and time of the scene.
By the way, the photo I'm painting is of a little cosy alley in Venice. The roads are canals, and there are the alleys! Ok, better just describe it as a cosy tuck-away corner.
Painting with oils is physically demanding, as you can stand over a tiny part of your painting for hours on end, just desperately trying to achieve the right shade, painting it over and over again, or fixing smudges or uneven lines. My neck has been pretty stiff recently.
I won't explain the psychological part. If you try painting, you'll find out.
I used to yearn for the kind of life the "Little Rascals" had. I still do, but this trying to spend time on those lonely, uncomfortably warm afternoons is not what I had in mind. Everyone I know is starting school next week, and I'm going nowhere. It seems pessimistic of me to put it this way. I probably will get what I want since I'm putting in effort for it, but the fact still remains that I won't be starting school next week, or attending any school this year.
My brain won't be totally idle, I'd still be practising Math 4-5 days a week for hours each time, and I have my music exam to work towards, and I have my drawings and paintings to do, and of course the Geography and Social Studies.
It's not so bad, only my dad doesn't believe I'm studying hard, and mom doesn't think I'll be able to achieve anything in life just because I don't have a tutor. I just don't get it. You'd think that I feel bad enough already, without them pushing and yelling at me all the time.
Basically, what I've been trying to do nowadays is stay away from them and their conversations. I switch off when they start steering the conversation in the direction of my current academic situation and how I "will never make it without a tutor".
I don't have anything to feel guilty about, I tried so hard for the exams, but I failed. There you go, so try again, harder this time. Not "you won't pass without a tutor", don't drill that into your kid. If their kid were a spineless idiot, maybe their insults would have caused suicide by now. Sometimes being stubborn can be a mighty good thing.
I think I'll stick to Joe Dirt's optimism on this one.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Monday, April 13th 2009
I think my father is trying to work me to death. He said not only should I be studying in the afternoon, I have to study in the morning, too, and I cannot use the computer or TV.
This is ridiculous! Were I not defiant, I would've turned into a spineless idiot by now, listening to him all these years. He hated it when I kept my hair long, he hated it when I cut my hair short, he hated it when I got dreadlocks, he hated my primary school CCA, gymnastics, and made me quit in primary 2, he hated my secondary school CCA, choir, and tried to force me to quit in Sec 2. He used to call me an idiot when I didn't do well in Sec 2 until I yelled at him. He used to slap me when he lost his patience teaching me Math.
He's just this VERY unhappy person. If I didn't have my music, I would have died.
A little defiance never hurt anybody. It took me years and years to realise that I shouldn't listen to him, but it took me years to build up courage and determination, too. People can tell me what to do, but it's my choice to obey or not.
Am anticipating Philippe Jaroussky's "Opium". Since I'm rarely allowed out of the house now, I try to have my voice lessons in the morning, and then spend about 5 hours walking from place to place. It's amazing what you see in Singapore when you walk rather than take public/own transport.
So far, I've been on 2 major walking trips. The first was around Paya Lebar. Since I didn't have a map, I tried to use my human instincts to find Parkway Parade. Ha, ha, my human instincts brought me there after 3 hours of walking!
The second one was when I took the MRT to Buona Vista (Holland Village) from my voice lesson. Did I mention that Holland Village is such a charming place?! It started to pour heavily at Holland Village after 2 hours of walking, so I sought shelter in the supermarket and waited till the rain got lighter. I also ate laksa for lunch while waiting. Luckily, I was carrying an umbrella, so I headed out into the now lighter rain and walked aimlessly, hoping to find the MRT track. Once I found it, I tried to remember the direction I came from, and followed the MRT line to Queenstown station. From Buona Vista, on foot, it looked like a damn long way to go, and some paths were flooded, so my shoes got soaked through.
When I finally found Queenstown station, I looked at the bus-stop guides to see if any of the buses go to Queensway shopping centre, and where they stopped before that. I followed the route by spotting the factories, etc, and finally saw IKEA, the blue and yellow building. Since Queensway shopping centre was after IKEA, I knew I was almost there!
Then, of course, after shopping, I walked back to Queenstown MRT station and took the MRT home.
Tomorrow's my voice lesson, and I shall go to HMV to check out "Opium". I do feel depressed that everyone else is starting school orientation, but hey, with every setback, you learn something new about yourself, so heck.
I'm starting to like Math, but I really dread my parents hiring a tutor. ALL the past tutors I had were terrible. Most were doing it for the money, others just had no patience to deal with me. My grades never jumped with tutors, not even a bit.
It comes as no surprise that I can't stand tutors.
This is ridiculous! Were I not defiant, I would've turned into a spineless idiot by now, listening to him all these years. He hated it when I kept my hair long, he hated it when I cut my hair short, he hated it when I got dreadlocks, he hated my primary school CCA, gymnastics, and made me quit in primary 2, he hated my secondary school CCA, choir, and tried to force me to quit in Sec 2. He used to call me an idiot when I didn't do well in Sec 2 until I yelled at him. He used to slap me when he lost his patience teaching me Math.
He's just this VERY unhappy person. If I didn't have my music, I would have died.
A little defiance never hurt anybody. It took me years and years to realise that I shouldn't listen to him, but it took me years to build up courage and determination, too. People can tell me what to do, but it's my choice to obey or not.
Am anticipating Philippe Jaroussky's "Opium". Since I'm rarely allowed out of the house now, I try to have my voice lessons in the morning, and then spend about 5 hours walking from place to place. It's amazing what you see in Singapore when you walk rather than take public/own transport.
So far, I've been on 2 major walking trips. The first was around Paya Lebar. Since I didn't have a map, I tried to use my human instincts to find Parkway Parade. Ha, ha, my human instincts brought me there after 3 hours of walking!
The second one was when I took the MRT to Buona Vista (Holland Village) from my voice lesson. Did I mention that Holland Village is such a charming place?! It started to pour heavily at Holland Village after 2 hours of walking, so I sought shelter in the supermarket and waited till the rain got lighter. I also ate laksa for lunch while waiting. Luckily, I was carrying an umbrella, so I headed out into the now lighter rain and walked aimlessly, hoping to find the MRT track. Once I found it, I tried to remember the direction I came from, and followed the MRT line to Queenstown station. From Buona Vista, on foot, it looked like a damn long way to go, and some paths were flooded, so my shoes got soaked through.
When I finally found Queenstown station, I looked at the bus-stop guides to see if any of the buses go to Queensway shopping centre, and where they stopped before that. I followed the route by spotting the factories, etc, and finally saw IKEA, the blue and yellow building. Since Queensway shopping centre was after IKEA, I knew I was almost there!
Then, of course, after shopping, I walked back to Queenstown MRT station and took the MRT home.
Tomorrow's my voice lesson, and I shall go to HMV to check out "Opium". I do feel depressed that everyone else is starting school orientation, but hey, with every setback, you learn something new about yourself, so heck.
I'm starting to like Math, but I really dread my parents hiring a tutor. ALL the past tutors I had were terrible. Most were doing it for the money, others just had no patience to deal with me. My grades never jumped with tutors, not even a bit.
It comes as no surprise that I can't stand tutors.
Thursday, April 02, 2009
Thursday, April 2nd 2009
I'm about to upload two of my current favourites from the CD "Mazarin". The music dates back to the 17th century, but I'm not quite sure what language it is. They're sung in Italian, but the titles are in Dutch, I think. Language not stated.
One is instrumental, and I love the building up of instruments at the beginning. They have different entries, one by one. It makes me think of skipping in fields covered with flowers.
The other piece is sung by Philippe Jaroussky (of course!), and it's about praising the Lord's name, that's why it sounds so happy. Very lovely, cheerful piece. I listen to it first thing in the morning while I'm still cosy under covers. Be sure to listen to them loud, because some parts are quite soft, especially the beginning of "For Bra for Att Vara Sant".
Can't wait for Jaroussky's next album, entitled "Opium". He's switched from Italian to French. After all, he is French, but I prefer him singing Italian, not quite sure why. Don't know if HMV has brought it in yet, will go down next week to check it out. Meanwhile, happy listening!
One is instrumental, and I love the building up of instruments at the beginning. They have different entries, one by one. It makes me think of skipping in fields covered with flowers.
The other piece is sung by Philippe Jaroussky (of course!), and it's about praising the Lord's name, that's why it sounds so happy. Very lovely, cheerful piece. I listen to it first thing in the morning while I'm still cosy under covers. Be sure to listen to them loud, because some parts are quite soft, especially the beginning of "For Bra for Att Vara Sant".
Can't wait for Jaroussky's next album, entitled "Opium". He's switched from Italian to French. After all, he is French, but I prefer him singing Italian, not quite sure why. Don't know if HMV has brought it in yet, will go down next week to check it out. Meanwhile, happy listening!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)