Earth Hour

http://www.earthhour.org/news/sg%3Aen

In 2009, Earth Hour is being taken to the next level, with the goal of 1 billion people switching off their lights as part of a global vote. Unlike any election in history, it is not about what country you’re from, but instead, what planet you’re from. VOTE EARTH is a global call to action for every individual, every business, and every community. A call to stand up and take control over the future of our planet. Over 74 countries and territories have pledged their support to VOTE EARTH during Earth Hour 2009, and this number is growing everyday.

The earth need your attention. Just switch off your light during that hour.



Star gazing, anyone?

Clarification

First thing I wanted to say is, why did the last post was post. Because I was stressed. And my only way to cope with stress (especially at 2am) is to blog and to write out my feeling, even though I know how negative the effect can be.

So when I calmed down, and look back, I realise that the post itself is not fair to the exco member.

So I want to clarify:

The whole thing was actually a major misunderstanding involving many many parties. No point explaining now, because it's really solved and over.

Don't blame or accuse the exco members for any reasons I mentioned. Like I said, no blame on them. They really try to do things and make the band a better place. Love them, like how I do! They are nice people (like how I was when I was in exco)!

I do have something to say about the system. The problem is (I just concluded this out of myself, might not be true), the band had not had a full time English horn player like me before, and had only one player on oboe for long long time. So, when suddenly more oboists joined in, and then came me (the reeds eater), the resource suddenly became not enough. Therefore, there were problems, which I had been swallowing for sems. And then, one day, I exploded. What I didn't realise is, they are already working hard in solving this problem. So, see, they are good people!

So, hope you can understand the mistake I did in the last post. (it was 2am and I couldn't sleep anyway, the brain was functioning at -20%).

Let's make the band a better place!

Tired

This is something that really bothers me. I don't know whether is acceptable to put up here, but I need to voice out. Shoot me if you want, I am used to it.

When it comes to music, everyone knows that I am very passion in it.

Such like practicing everyday, making noise at CFA everyday. Obviously people are not happy with it, but it doesn't hurt the passion.

But ever since I started English horn in 2008, I had another big problem, which not many people may realise. Politic, as I would call it. I think no one knows, but I hate politics as much as I love music.

Reeds problem. I practice so hard, that my reeds usually wear out in 2 to 3 months, not as long as one year as people "commonly known". And when it comes to buying reeds, I have another problem.

Money problem. Obviously the band doesn't have enough money, always. Every single sem, I got my reeds and got arrows such like, "Why you buy reeds??? You know we don't have money???", or, "Why you never tell me you buy reeds??? You know we don't have money???"

At one time, I dug out my own money just to buy two reeds. $70. Gone in 3 months (more or less expected).

Being in exco before, I know exactly what kind of problem they are dealing with. That's why, I never blame them (except when they scold me).

But when Tess told me that she got scolded because I just got 2 new reeds, my mind changed. I guess you understand the feeling of seeing another person being accused when it's really nothing to do with her. Then I started to think a lot.

She also told me that I may need to pay the reeds by myself. Then I started thinking a lot more.

The first thing is, I have the money to pay for the reeds, but am I really supposed to pay for it? Like someone just told me, the band should bear the responsibility to supply any needs for musicians. And what I always think is, musician should really just focus on the music making and no need to worry about accesories. Obviously I am the only one who is suffering in this, simply because my reeds are far too expensive.

And then I think, I actively search for a better instrument (for those that don't know, I am using NUSSO instrument, which is 10 times better than ours), and always got scolded for reason I don't want to reveal. I practice a lot to improve, for the sake of both myself and the band, and I always got scolded by our very own people, "shut up" (ok, not that direct, but you know, my intepretation always fail). I even trouble myself by taking the instrument everywhere I go so that I can practice easily.

Then I started to feel tired. And sicked of it. The trigger is really still the reeds problem. Thinking of having to deal with reeds problem every single sem made me really unmotivated. And disappointed. Thinking of the stress that is on Tess, made me really unhappy.

I know is the system, not the people. Like I said, no blame on exco and anyone else. That are certainly something that they cannot do, like money. But I don't see the point of paying the reeds myself. Not when I am playing only for the band, for the concert, and for the band to earn money from the concert. I cannot even convince myself that it is a money to pay for the band. $70 a sem? That sounded too much for me. And I haven't counted in the money that comes from my family members that are going to watch the concert. Ok, that is not really related, so I never count in anyway.

Then I started to think of the solution to this.

The most easy way to think, is simply not playing English horn anymore. It sounded a bit extreme, but for me, it may be the best way. Go find another player that can afford the reeds himself, or a player that can use a reed for more than a year. Then the band no need to afford too many reeds, and a happy ending. Somemore, a lousy player like me are gone. Me? I can go back to flute, if they want to accept me. I hope they do.

The other way, is of course taking out $70 every sem from my bank. And every sem I got 2 new reeds, enough to practice, enough to perform. Happy ending. Or is it?

The other way, is to settle with the people. But then, it becomes really political, which I hate most.

I know, I am very demanding and troublesome and annoying, but I am just like that.

Maybe I should just start practicing back my flute skill so that the flute section can accept me.

Edit:
I forgot to add a really important point. I don't really want to deal this problem with the exco now is because I know they are very stressed at this moment, so I don't want to give them more problem.

Edit edit:
Case close. Happy ending.

My Maps

Many people know I have bought a new phone. But not many people know why I bought it. Even fewer people know what it can do.

This is what my phone can do:

View Larger Map

In short, I took the BTC bus to NUS.

I recorded this route using the GPS system and “My Track” software.

The best thing about “google phone” (officially incorrect) is that can sync with google easily. Just like sending this track record, i just need to touch a few times, then done. All gone to my google account online.

From childhood

Deep in my mind, there are always a lot of things that I have been wanting since very young.

Something like a SLR, I had been wishing for it since very young, just without the chance to get one (but it was so long ago that I almost forgot). That’s why when I suddenly have the chance to get it, I bought it very fast.

Another thing deep in my mind (and I always know), is a handphone that has embedded keyboard, or with touch screen and fancy colours. And I am realizing my childhood wish real soon.

The only thing now I can think of that can make my deep mind complete, is a tablet PC. Not that kind with keyboard, but just a big touch screen. Something like a oversized iphone.

What’s next?

Today went to Esplanade to treat someone, then bought a ticket for Philwind concert on Sunday.

$21 for circle 1 first row the centre-most seat. I don’t know what to say. Good seat? expensive? I just know I need to go because is really the last time to see Mr. Tan conducting.

And then went to buy bus ticket. Monday night.

So the following:

Later going Vivo to meet friends for dinner.

Tomorrow I planned to go Orchard Road to have Christmas feel before I go back.

Sunday, two concerts to attend. One is harp concert by Yeda and Jane, another one is of course the philwind concert.

Monday don’t know can go where, but most probably go CFA until night then go back.

And I am not feeling really comfortable now. Because of the hot weather.

Actually what bother me most is still about food. I am not exactly rich now, and quite difficult to find food. Maybe instant noodle everyday again.

Sienz.

End of story

I forgot to talk about the end.

So yesterday I had my last paper in this year.

To celebrate the last paper, even though I finished everything at 2.30pm (including checking 3 times, write down everything that is not needed), I still stay in the exam hall for nothing.

Actually there are some reasons:

1. Raining outside
2. No where to go
3. Project meeting pending
4. Open book exam, so I can bring in everything, and can “read” my score to find back the concert feel.

Yup.

It’s much more easier than I thought (In fact, everyone of us thought). The reason being more than one third are MCQ questions.

Then my mother told me something weird about the exam. But I cannot say out.

Still just like every other exams, my life seems to be aimless again after it. What worse? The loneliness that follows.

ME3162

For an open book exam like this, I don’t feel much of the urge to study.

Moreover, the forum already teaches you everything. Like a big chunk of summaries of the chapters.

We do have a very good professor that can play flute quite well, unlike the ME3122 professors that I hated a lot.

The last one isn’t as tough as you might have expected. I even got time to read some novels and watch movies.

ME3122

This was actually the module that I was most confident of, before I saw the paper.

As soon as I saw the paper, I knew 25% was gone.

One, out of four, of the questions I didn’t even learn before.

After the exam, I checked again IVLE, everywhere I can find, I still cannot find a single thing about the topic. No, there are something in the forum, but I can’t possibly learn anything from there.

The best thing is, all the people around me (except Mr. Kang) know about that, and I felt so lost.

They even said got tutorial questions about that. But, where was it???

Like Mr. Kang said, the lecturers sucks, the tutor sucks, and the exam is even more sucks…

Near lost

I had a very bad incident today.

As the BTC bus reached OED bus stop, I jumped out of the bus, only after a moment to realise that I lost my wallet.

Total scare.

I had to run to Kent Vale, just in time to catch the BTC, which was just about to leave for another trip. And the wallet was lonely sitting there for me to collect.

Can’t imagine what will happen if I really lost it. By then the problem will not just be money crisis.

ME2151

This is a module that I can’t even remember the name as people asked me. After digging my notes, now I know, “Principles of Mechanical Engineering Materials”. Isn’t that difficult to remember?

I usually refer to it as “the material module”. For Mr Kang though, he got it as “MLE”.

The best thing about this module? It’s like an essay+calculation module. Half of the questions I tackled like an essay module. Another half? Engineering method of course.

But that is still not yet the best thing. The even best thing? 30 marks of MCQ questions. Oh no, is 30 marks of true-false question. Like the best module in my entire NUS life. But, don’t think it’s that simple, is negative marking. Sad to say, our professor isn’t as stupid as we may think.

OK, so 3 down, 2 more to go!

Eh I didn’t talk about the fun thing, yet.

You know how many band people I met just now? OK, got me, Mr. Kang (the unavoidable – but very important!), Jama, Hui Lian, Zoey Tay, Lisabelle (eupho) and michelle (bassoon). Compare to Tuesday, only Xiuyu. Like 400% more! (Mr. Kang is not included in the formula)

So I was talking to Lisabelle last night. Because she was in the same hall as me, I said it would be fun if she would be at the last row, and if I would be at the first row. It happened that, she was really at the last row!

But how about me?

The LAST row!!!

Yup.

OK, enough for self-entertainment after exam. Time to get more entertainment. Do not expect me to study now.

Exam Blue

It’s not new that every time during exam period that I will offend someone. At least make someone not happy.

Everyone that talked to me will either be pissed by me, or don’t want to talk to me anymore.

I think is the side effect of studying too much. Like overloaded engine vibrates unboundedly.

But my brain isn’t slow. It’s actually working too fast and crazy. By crazy I mean I will do anything that I didn’t know I will do. It’s only after I did something wrong then I realized that it was wrong.

I don’t have a good EQ.

Sad to be my friend.

So sorry my friends.

TIme for a change

Since I am 21 years and 7 days old, it is time to put in some changes.

The first one to change is the timetable.

So I have build a timetable for myself:

7.30am, wake up (if possible)

8.00am, eat breakfast (if really can wake up)

12.00pm, nap for half an hour (if possible)

2.00pm, lunch (if I don't oversleep)

7.00pm, dinner (if I can find food)

11.00pm, shower (if can reach home)

12.00am, sleep (if I can fall asleep)

So you can see that it's full of unknown and uncertainty.

I wonder how long this timetable will even be remembered (by me of course).

Nevertheless, it's a good sign that I have a more organised lifestyle! yay!

Time To Move On

This is a story so special that you need to read from bottom up. Yes. Due to the special picture upload function from Googel Chrome. And no, I didn't choose it, neither do I have a choice.

And the end of the story.

That's what I bought for myself as birthday present.

And Zheguang recommended me something else.

My birthday present.

And that's all for that day.

Actually nothing much, just that we did stupid things outside NYDC, while they are busy closing shop.

OK, so the story continues.

We are so proud of Mr Tan that we made a metamorphosis on his name.

And more importantly, proud of Mr Tan.

And proud of the section.

Yep we are proud of NUSWS.

And even after.

And after.

This was before.

We ordered ALL except two. Don't ask me which two, I wasn't the one that ordered.

Two legendary SLs.

Jinyang the boss.

Then we went to NYDC.

My share of cake.

My present.

OK, not that I hated the balloon that they gave me, just that I don't feel comfortable holding a balloon. That's all. Yep.

You can see how hard I smiled with my balloon.

Me with my balloon (reluctantly).

Xinhui with her balloon.

And Tess the Moh trying to take a photo. The act of her taking a photo already worth a photo.

And they got suprise, which wasn't really a surprise.

So did Jinyang.

But eventually they were there.

And that's for oboe section.

That's all for the flutes that appeared. Oh and Vin Yee. Well, you can still see her hand. Yup, that's her hand, and Jinyang's hair.

And Sunday went to section dinner with flute and oboe section. At 鼎泰丰. If you don't understand, then just forget it.

Alantic grill fish. So nice that Daniel envied me. Yep.

Mind you, a candlelight dinner. The moment I stepped into the shop, I thought, "Holy crap, a candlelight dinner??!!" Like damn gay. But we didn't have choice.

So the story is, after Da Capo, at Saturday night, I went to find Daniel Kang for dinner.

This week

Let me tell you what had happened this week.

On Monday, nothing really special.

On Tuesday, went to YST for a bassoon and flute recital with DanK. We met Xiu Mei "accidentally" there. That recital was very good, the performers are just so good that we will go "wah, this instrument can play like this?". On side notes, the two performers are graduates from YST, and currently studying at overseas.

Wednesday was the really mad day. I think is the craziest day in my NUS life.

I woke up at 6.30am, took the first BTC bus at 7.30am, and class from 8-12. Then, heavy rain, I played PSP at CFA from 12-2. Then, I rushed to LT7 for my lectures from 2-6. After the lecture, I rushed to UCC for something else, from 6-11 straight. Something very different. You will know later.

A day like this, I will need much energy. So, energy drinks will be important. I took a cup of hot chocolate at 7am, a cup of teh-o at 10am, a cup of coffee at 2pm and a cup of beer at 6pm. Whole lot of unhealthy drinks. I can imagine that my internal system would have been all screw up.

OK back to point. What did I go for? A music fest, by timbre (some kind of pub, if I wasn't wrong). There were some performance, which consist of many kind of genre, like acoustic, pop, blues, soul and rock. But they all have one thing common, that they are all loud. Yeap, way too loud. I felt that my ears were crying for rest after every songs they played.

Nonetheless, that was a very enjoyable music show.


My beer with the stage.


The lightsticks they gave us.

Oh btw, if you are searching for lightsticks, you can approach me (kindly), and I can hand to you the very nice lightstick (new and sealed).


This means that I have taken the food voucher and more importantly, the lucky draw slip.

Oh btw, Michele (our very own trombonist) won one of the lucky price, two tickets to some show. Hunt her for the tickets!


Reverie & Rene.


The soulfellas.


Blue Shaddy from Australia.

I observed something different between Singaporean groups and Australian groups. Singaporean groups touched the audiences with songs that we are familiar with, and the Australians simply amazed us by the technique they have. Like the Blue Shaddy group, the vocal and guitarist and bass drum-mist (all in one) plays very good and impressive guitar parts, and another guy plays harmonica like he never needs to breath.

That night, I slept at 2am. Don't know why, but I just didn't find the mood to go to bed. And then, I woke up at 10am, and cannot sleep further. I think my internal system is confirmed to be all messed up by those unhealthy drinks. Then I played on the electric piano at home for 2 hours. "Maybe", a piece by Yiruma.

Thursday was of course the band practice. I can't really imagine that I actually touched on three different kind of musics. I think I will go crazy if I do this every week.

So the ex-ex-co had meeting (not for important matter) on Munchie Monkey before band prac starts.









And we celebrated Mr Tan birthday when band prac starts.


The card, which is best represented by Khee Nguen of course.

The whole thing was quite messy and more or less unnatural. I had to hide in the harp case with my camera in case he suspect something. But I think he did suspect.

When the lights go off, I was like, "Huh, can you be more professional and let them go in one shot?"




Mr Tan must be very proud of us.


That cake, which I didn't eat.

That night of band prac was so tiring. At the first half I didn't have part, so I played oboe instead. Very soon, I was regret. Playing oboe made my lips felt strain and when I played English horn afterward, thing wasn't going well.

That piece Children March was a nightmare for me. It's sometimes good to have solo, but when every single notes feel like solo, that's totally horrible. Now I understand why not a single "solo" marking on the score, because it is my solo piece! Especially when Mr Tan turned to face me and said, "English horn", I was so shocked that I didn't even play anything correct for more than 2 beats.

It couldn't help when all the notes are at my lowest range, and have to literally pump in tonnes of air to make them sound. In the end I felt like I had raced for 10km, and that's only after 5 minutes.

And percussion section asked me to take photos for them, for the first time. They cost me to miss my 151.


And they are pointing at me! Ok, not all, except Wai Yip.

Friday, that's today, I played Extreme Make-over for the first time. Terrible piece. The starting part isn't anything like from recording. Then I knew I will have to play counter-melody that cannot be heard. Like how usual.

The solo parts are way too easy if compared to Planet Earth or Children March. Then the other parts, heck care, just don't play. Wahahaha.

At least I know I will survive Extreme Make-over, that's provided that I didn't die on Children March.

Oh, and there's another piece called Sleepers Awake. I just wish the part (if any) will be easier.