What a journey it has been...

Another New Year

2010-01-03T14:25:40Z

This is one of those posts that I talked about the past year, and make some smart-ass comments about resolution for the next one. Reading the post from last year, not much has changed during this time of year between the two.

Same ole stuff:
- Dinners with friends (3 times with 3 different bunch)
- Go skating (3 times- a new rink has just opened within 5 min bus ride)
- Hit the gym (once)
- Movie (none this year- seriously?)

New stuff this year:
- Shopping the New Year's Sale (I now own a pair of skinny jeans... Don't ask. I can't gain weight EVER again!! I also have my new favorite T-shirt)
- Sightseeing (older part of Bangkok I've never seen before. Bangkok is pretty much empty during the long weekend)
- Feeling that occasional waves of loneliness during the holiday, a symptom commonly associated with falling for someone (at least for me). Can one be too old for such things?

So let's see. My very generic resolution. I'd be please if I can maintain (or increase the intensity) my exercise regime. 5 lbs or 2.5 kg to go before I reach my first goal (now the weight goal is NOT a resolution- the exercise regime is). Be more positive and a better mentor/boss at work. Take more risks in life and love. Hopefully, I don't crack as work/chorus/life/love pick of the pace this year. We'll see.

A trip to Chiang Mai with Suanplu Chorus

2009-11-22T15:56:23Z

Last weekend I went up to Chiang Mai with Suanplu Chorus. We performed at one of the big stage in Chiang Mai, Kad Theatre. The show went pretty well- little mishaps every now and then like most out-of-town shows I've done in the past. Good learning experience for us all. The crowd seems appreciative (enough), and I think we got a pretty good responses. We took lots of photos... I got tagged with so many of them on FB, borderline ridiculous, last week. Good time. Now for the list...

State Railway of Thailand: This is the second time I take a long trip on SRT (the last was in high school). Bangkok-Chiang Mai takes about 12 hrs on an express sleeper train. I think we made no more than 7-8 stops, and majority of that is in Bangkok (Hua Lumpong, Samsen, Bang Sue, Lak Si, Don Mueng). Food and booze (for some) with singing on the side we have a great time. Sleeping on a train is more difficult than I thought. I can get used to constant motion and vibration, but once the train slow down (i.e. going thru a station or town) I woke up. Now I know why people go to bed so early on a train... you need that to compensate for all the sleep interruption during the night. The sleeper bunk was actually pretty good, but the same can't be said about the bathroom nor food at the dining car. Best to take care of both before you get on the train.

Kad Theatre: Well, I'm grateful for their generosity, and their PR people (that I have to deal with) are quire pleasant. How I wish I'd get to sing there during its first few years though. It's not bad by any means, but it's showing sign of aging (imagine the old McCaw Hall). Stage piano that needs re-tuning (and after a few hours, replacing), a few nooks & bumps on flooring, and bats (you read that right! bats!). I guess our soprano high B (or whatever actual pitch we arrive at the end of that song- we always got a little sharp) must have woken them up.

Food, food, food: I'm not the type who like to shop for gifts or crafts, but I'd rather just eat my way through a weekend of concert + sightseeing. Chiang Mai didn't disappoint me in that regards. All kinds of northern food. I discovered my new favorite, Khao Ngeaw- rice seasoned with pig's blood and herbs wrapped in banana leaves then steamed, topped with fried onion and garlic (I think this what sealed the deal for me) just before you eat them. Other stuff I have had before, but discover a GREAT place for northern style herbs sausage- the BEST I've ever had.

Luge car: Hmm, this is at the Chiang Mai zoo. Luge car down a slope. Since I've already seen the panda and all the animals the last time I was there, I ended up at the luge car along with other not-so-animal inclined folks from the chorus. I hate going fast ANYWHERE in general, never mind down a slope on top of a small hill, yet I unintentionally manage to pass two guys. All that before I stop to adjust my about-to-fall-off helmet just before the last curve (it was the biggest slope and I got scared!!). What can I say once is enough...

I got a little stressed out at the end once we arrived in Bangkok. Things were a bit hectic with all our luggage and musical instruments to be unloaded from the train. Nothing I can control yet I let it got to me. I guess the lack of good night rest sorta affects my general calm composure. So that's about it. My Chiang Mai trip.

Memoirs Of An Imperfect Angel- Mariah Carey

2009-10-03T15:53:13Z

... yeah, she's obsessed all thing butterfly and acts (and dress) like a woman half her age. I've been buying her stuff (even through the glitter period) and now she's still one of the few artists I feel obligated to buy an actual CD. (You know, that round thing with a pretty sheen you put in a player to listen to music?).

I like it more than I thought I would.

The whole thing sounds fresh, kinda surprising for someone who's been around for almost 20 yrs. It's like suddenly being in love makes her more confident in taking more chances. For example, this is like the first album without obvious potential singles, like E=MC2. The album is very coherent, kinda like the most of "Butterfly". The lyric are very specific as if it was not aimed to please the mass like the Emancipation of Mimi.

Still, she's back to using a lot of the whispery tone, while appropriate for many songs might turn some people off. She's also very wordy in this album- lots of words cramming. While it's nice that the album is coherent, songs in the middle kinda felt repetitive... but then again it sets up the mood perfectly "I want to know what love is", which close the album (not counting the bonus tracks).

Oh well... so there. This album will grow on me I'm sure. "It's Wrap" would sound good covered by a jazz singer in a smoky bar. Love the marching band reprise of "Up Out My Face". "Languishing" will surely get me teared up when the time is right.

Lastly, she always gave better interviews to the British... don't know why. Read it.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2009/oct/03/mariah-carey-interview

Hello Facebookers (is this working?)

2009-10-01T08:27:04Z

My facebook note page and my public livejournal are now linked. We'll see how this goes. There are two ways of doing this it seems (via either FB note or FB feed). It seems many of my friends do have facebook and will respond. My LJ crowds this doesn't mean I love you any less.

keyboard/elec piano hunting

2009-09-20T14:17:12Z

Saturday was spent with a friend signing a contract for a new house in my neck of town. Walking around, doing some measurements- before we headed off to skate, and later furniture browsing. It's slightly distressing that my friend is now a homeowner, and what have I got?

After stopping by work to finish up my annual self-evaluation, I went on a keyboard/electric piano hunt around Bangkok shopping center. While there are better deals to be had at piano shops/ dealer, these guys don't generally have show rooms with all the models out. Last week was Central Department Store (Jaeng Wattana/ Lad Prao), the Mall Ngamwongwan, and the dealer by Maung Thong Thani. This weekend I went to Emporium (pretty nice selection there- newer model but not all) and Central World. Funny that the best selection of Casio keyboard that I want is in a Kawai store.

Anyway, I'm going to sit on this for a few more days (if not weeks). I'm about to shell out what is to be about a month worth of salary on a musical instrument. It HAS to be good. New model is just dropped in the US as well. Who knows how long it will get here, how much of a "premium" they're gonna charge, and if the older model (most likely cheaper) will suddenly disappear from market. AARRRGGGHHH!!!

Healed (mostly)

2009-09-17T15:07:14Z

No longer need the splint (ไม้ดาม) for my finger, and I can stop taking antibiotic. The finger won't completely heal until another month or so, but I can function (almost) normally now. Yay!!

Neil Patrick Harris in NYmag

2009-09-15T03:47:25Z

Via Andrew Sullivan. I like NPH. He's great.

Quick browsing of the piece, and I'm struck by the mention of the "Real World: New Orleans" Danny Roberts and his effect on NPH. Hmm. The guy, Danny, has pretty much the same effect on me as well (no, not because he was cute). Interesting, isn't it? I wonder if it's true with other gay guys my age.

http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2009/09/virtually-normal-an-update.html

Full link
http://nymag.com/arts/tv/profiles/59002/

life in bullets...

2009-09-08T16:53:30Z

-Still can't make myself start doing some work at home in the evening... the time will come when it's no longer a choice, but a necessity. I can work a little harder during work hour I guess :-p

-My index finger is healing well. My own opinion, not the doctor. I'm getting sick of daily cleaning, and hopefully it's dried enough to not need daily care anymore.

-Gain back some pounds. I blame it on many late night tiring rehearsals before the second staging of our concert. Now that I don't have to rush to eat before a 7pm rehearsal (which makes me hungry again by the time I got home at around 11pm) hopefully I can lose a few more pounds easily.

-Post my profile on some personal site. We'll see where this is going. I really don't hope for much (already people are befriending me without an exchange of words); one day I'll understand all this. At least it holds more promise than me meeting someone at bars. (You think I'm reserved and shy; most of the Thais are worse than me).

Break the routine + the dream

2009-08-02T04:31:48Z

I think it's about time for me. Starting today (Sunday), by actually staying home for a change... (or may be I should try to spend the weekend without turning on my computer- I'll give that a second thought).

Yeah, I think I'm out and about too much. It's not particularly stimulating, all the activities that I do. Meeting the same group of people, doing the same kind of things, and hang out at the same places. I think there's something to be said about having multiple activities you're engaged in yet none of them gives me the sense of satisfaction or accomplishment (gym is getting boring and no improvement, same with skating- can't never get the sit spin, and chorus "business" is getting in a way of me enjoying the music). Breaking out of a routine would be nice if my schedule is not so packed already. Hmm.

-------------------------

I guess I've grown a little as evidence by the kind of dreams I had. Instead of showing up at school naked or showing up at a test complete unprepared (not even pencils or IDs), these days it's showing up at a conference having no preparation nor appropriate outfits for a talk I'm about to give. Variation on the same theme.

herbaltisane @ 2009-07-31T08:47:00

2009-07-31T01:59:12Z

I was watching Toni Collette's segment on Craig Ferguson last night. With Mamma Mia is set to open in Bangkok in a week, I was like "hmm, wouldn't she be perfect in that (dull, IMO) film adaptation last year?" We know she can act. We know she can sing (Connie & Carla), and then I keep going back into her list of films... and then. Oh. Wait.

Muriel's Wedding.

Nevermind.

Sigh.

2009-07-26T03:30:12Z

Why can't people just say what they want or tell me what they want me to do? So I can't just say yes or no. Not be all convoluted in what they think is "manners" and "saving (their) faces" (for Asians) or "saving (their) asses" (for the Westerners), and get all upset/mad when I didn't figure it out right what they want or get it wrong. Rrrrrraaaaaahhhhh!!!

Hillary Clinton wearing orange

2009-07-22T03:38:59Z

Am I the only one who thinks she's trying to signal the need for both yellow and red to reconcile and work together? See pic from the link. The Thai media who loves to read into things haven't mentioned anything...

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106859985

Confession of a dieter

2009-07-21T15:53:34Z

I broke down and bought a little box of brownie today (2 pieces). And devoured it. Not gonna lose that extra 10 lbs anytime soon.

Mae Nak... Thai musicals...

2009-07-19T15:22:22Z

I went to see two Thai musicals last week (yeah, like I have a lot of money to spare!!). Just can't help it. Oddly enough both of them are based out of the same folk tale. A woman (and her baby) who died during birth, while her husband was away at war. Through her love and attachment, her ghost-self kept hanging around for her husband, and lived with him after his return. Anyway, it's one of the most famous folk tale in Thailand. Many movies and TV shows were made about it.

It's great for the Thai to start making musicals- an art form that I love. It's disturbing that the two production almost happens side by side. In fact, both opens within a month of each other. This is the Thai way apparently. Everyone has similar ideas, but thinks they can do better than the other. Instead of collaborating and pooling resources, they put on two separate shows. (Heck, we do the same even in the science!!). Both have their own strength and weakness, and how I wish they'd combine both.

Watching them both I can't help but thinking. All this is like if Andrew Lloyd Webber and Stephen Sondheim would each make a musical out of the same story. One with all the glossy flashy effects, straight forward plot, and a few catchy tunes repeated ad nauseum with ever swelling orchestra. The other with more complicated music, well developed characters, but suffer from the second act melt down. I clearly preferred one camp over the other (except perhaps the male lead whose singing leaves me wanting a bit more). There are several scenes that I think is genius- if they'd rework the second act (cut out a few songs), it'd be great!

Mariah defender...

2009-07-16T10:46:33Z

... well in case you're going to hear it from the (tabloid) entertainment news. Let me say this about Mariah's new music video "Obsessed". They'll be all like fanning the feud between Eminem and Mariah. Some even try to analyze getting run over by a bus ending as some kinda of whatever.

I only have a very quick explanation... "Mean Girls" - the movie (which is one of Mariah's favorite). Let's see which smart critics can come up with that first.

This past week...

2009-07-11T16:10:50Z

- It's funny how on certain days clothing can change how I feel about myself. I'm thankful for pants that fit just right (and I'm willing to pay, almost, premium for it).
- Never do a favor for someone until you're clear about how much is expected of you, especially if there's a chance you might resent it after.
- Work hard, bitch all you want about the system, but NEVER about the people.
- Always nice to meet up an old friend even if you ran out of things to talk to each other.
- Don't be afraid to politely assert yourself.

What the hell is this post? Ah. whatever.

Sondheim and me...

2009-07-06T15:36:03Z

... just read on someone's else facebook status update about Sondheim's new musical. I just realized that the whole time I was in the US (14 yrs), Sondheim had no new musical opens on Broadway. I came back to Thailand, and three months later "Roadshow" opens. (I have to say though that I saw the second reincarnation of that show called "Bounce" at the time in Chicago). Reading through the review, it seemed they took out the only song I sorta kinda remembered from Bounce ("What's your rush?"), and give one of the hetero love song to the gay couple, gasp! Nice. Wanna see it now, but it will never come here.

Living in the suburb...

2009-07-05T13:11:34Z

... I'm not the one to usually complain about where I live, but damn it's hard living in a suburb without a car (that I can drive, i.e. my parents drive sticks).

It works to a certain extent with a lot of planning. Not very hard for me since I tend to pretty much stick to my regular schedule or plan things way in advance with minimizing trips in and out of the city as one of the main criteria. Well, once it involves other people, the planning goes out the window as not everyone is as ready to plan their weekend as long in advance as I do. Thank god it's a (very) long weekend I got 3 more days to try to meet up.

Anyway, I've considered a move to a small studio rental in town where I can get up late(r) and be out without having to worry about the additional 30-45 min commuting home. Financially, it's a draw between a studio rental (or even mortgage) and a car payment... right now, the car is coming slightly ahead.

Web site story

2009-07-03T16:31:16Z

Already posted on FB, but it's easier finding old stuff on LJ... still good the third time around. That Tony dude is so good at singing and smiling at the same time. I gotta work on that.

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

"gig"

2009-07-03T06:46:59Z

I mentioned something about "gig" in my last post that I was planning to elaborate on.

You see, in Thailand, the term "gig" is most commonly referred a relationship that falls between friends and boyfriends/girlfriends (or whatever combo would please you). The term generally implies a sexual relationship (i.e. sex buddies) and more casual arrangement. Sometimes a gig can be non-sexual as well. If I were in the US, it would be, I think, the equivalent of saying "I'm going out on dates" or "I'm dating/seeing someone". The fact that one is allowed to have a "gig" while in a bf/gf relationship is kinda weird in a way.

It even has an urban dictionary entry on this use of "gig", but not very popular...
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=gig&defid=2053518

One of those days...

2009-07-02T16:34:17Z

A bad gig (in a musician's sense- see note below) today kinda ruins it for me.

We're asked to perform 3 songs- two on the side stage, and one on the main stage with the PM and the kids (live telecast). We got there 1.5 hrs before the main stage event... (this is after I talk them down from 3 hrs call time). We spent the first hour working the logistics of both stages- leaving what I thought was plenty of time to perform our 2 songs (roughly 7 min total) at the small stage.

What ruined it was the organizer who insisted on running cues on the main stages THREE FREAKING TIMES!!! For us, it was boring as shit b/c it's not complicated AT ALL. We got about 30 kids too deal with as well and the thing is they'd been running that cues like 3-4 times before we get there already. How dumb are they?!?! The organizer also got 4 kids from TV competition to do much of the kids work, and they still messed it up!! So we ended up not getting to perform our two songs, and the kids messed up the key so badly we can barely sing the one song.

And later today I went to the gym without gym clothes in my backpack. It was too late to return to my office to grab it, so I came home. I'm gonna be fat and ugly now! Boo!!

Not H1N1

2009-06-30T15:15:07Z

I finally remember to call the hospital about the flu test results. Well, I did have a flu but not H1N1, just a generic one. I was so distracted last month attending a conference (and catching up with work after being off for almost a week), so I forgot to call until today. Yeah, I'm one of those people who wasted the resources getting tested for H1N1 (my doctor ordered it- this was just before the big spike).

The good thing is that I didn't get. The bad... I still have to worry about it. Sigh.

The day before the show...

2009-06-28T15:16:01Z

... yeah, here it comes. We don't have rehearsal today (thank god for the little break). I should mention that we rehearsed until 11pm the night before (from 6:30pm). Quite a long time to be singing.

"Harmony of Life" will be a good show (might not be great- but I'll leave that to the audience). We won't embarrass ourselves that I can guarantee you. Thai audience in general is pretty forgiving, except that only the hardcore audience are getting in for this show (our venues are small 450 seats). I'm not sure I like that. We're doing run-thru the afternoon of the show (i.e. I have to skip work to go do that).

This is one other thing I don't like about this chorus is that majority of them are freelance music/vocal teachers, both full time and part time. With that comes the fact that their schedules are completely opposite of mine (weekdays don't mean shit to most of them, while weekends is prime time for money making). Anyway, I'll give it a go and see how much I can stand. So many problems with time management, inefficiency, and lack of (more like too many contradictory) vision...

Am I being too American for not being able to stand this kind of things?

Eternally 12...

2009-06-27T03:03:12Z

The irony of this Onion's headline is just too much... (in a good way, I guess).

"King of Pop Dead at 12"
http://www.theonion.com/content/news/king_of_pop_dead_at_12

There's already enough being said about his death, his music, his (very public) personal issues, what it represents. Only in America (at later to a certain extent the whole world) where someone that talented, driven (or forced?) to get there by a demanding parent, can have that level of fame and public attention so young... and we just lap it all up.

Anyway, reading that Onion's piece makes Mariah's frequent "joke" that she's eternally 12 sounds poignant. (At least one can say Mariah's is grown up a bit- probably high school)

Buying clothes

2009-06-21T16:02:49Z

It's been an interesting weekend. I'm pretty much still very tired from being sick all week. So I take it easy this weekend. The only engagement that I kept is rehearsal Saturday night. Skating lesson, cancel. Going to work, sleep through it.

I did manage to check out the shopping Mall on Sunday (I was bored)- the "Shop for the Country" campaign (part of the economic stimulus, I'm sure) is ongoing. I was told by friends of mine that I dress a little too old, which is probably true. I bought most of what I have currently from the US, so they style is a bit different. The Thais are much more stylish. Anyway, it's harder than I thought to spend 3000 baht (about $100) on clothes in one specific store, especially when I don't have any favorites yet. I can totally see my self dropping that much money (or more!) at say Banana Republic or Express (yes, I'm a brand whore), since I know what would look good on me from those stores.

After two hours walking around trying on several pairs of pants, frustrated that nothing look particularly good, I gave up and come home. There's still next week...