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Went for the “Max Takano & Stagea” ( Electone ) concert at Kelana Jaya yesterday with Anakin. It was organized by Yamaha Music (M) Sdn Bhd. Prior to this, I’ve watched him perform a couple of times in Malaysia. My most vivid recollection is him wearing a tux and bow tie :P
The concert started at 3.45 pm with a song which reminded me of my PS 1 card gem ;) hehehe…
He then greeted us in Bahasa Malaysia- Selamat datang, Tuan-Tuan dan Puan-Puan, which was responded with a round of applause from the audience.
In fact, most Electone performers greet us in BM during these concerts, eg Yasuya Tomioka, Masa Matsuda, etc.

I hate the late comers who abide by the “Malaysian time” of turning up late for every occassion. Can’t they respect others by turning up punctually? And also the kids who were yelling and running around. For God’s sake! If you have a yelling kid, or if you can’t control your kid or in other words, if you’re a useless parent, don’t bring them and disrupt other people’s time-out! And the toilet-goers who do not have the slightest common sense to use the washroom before the concert and who scurriied in and out along the aisle. Sh*t them! What a load of uncivilised people! Would be nice if Yamaha adopts the Dewan Filharmonik’s rules of not allowing the late comers into the hall till an interval ( after a certain piece) and only allow for toilet-breaks during the interval. What bad manners most Malaysian have!

We were treated to a variety of genres, and he even showed us some functions on the Stagea. Awesome… I recalled my first electone, from the B-205 series. It was a far cry from those days in the early 80s!

The next few songs were rather “dry” for me, I needed something refreshing for my Sunday afternoon - i forgo my afternoon nap for this, for Heaven’s sake! Play something that I like!

Moreover, the big, fat guy in front of me was fidgeting in his seat, sitting up straigt, blocking my view. Celaka… Hey, I paid 10 bucks for this ocncert! Let me have my money’s worth, man!
I waited and hesitated for a good 10 minutes, silently praying that he’d be alert enough to sit lower ( the seats are tiered, mind you… yet he was still blocking). Being really pissed-off now, I leaned over and said, Excuse me. But you’re blocking me, can you sit lower please? Thank you”

After that, he lowered himself but the fidgeting continued. Heck.. As long as I could get a good view, I don’t care even if he lays on the floor grasping his chest, gasping for breath!
It was just in time because the following song was Star Wars! Whoo-hoo! My favourite!

I enjoyed every bit of his arrangement - the STAR WARS theme song, Imperial March (Vader’s song) and Luke’s song… WOW! Loved every bit of it! Esp Vader’s breathing… Hail Lord Vader! I LOVE STAR WARS!
Then Totoro and Pomp & Circumstance arrangement. It was encore time and he obligingly played Rasa Sayang in many genres, beginning with a music box first, followed by others.

He made it look so effortless, he looked so relaxed whilst performing on the Stagea.
Makes me wish that I could play like that too… Sigh… Wishful thinking…
I should say I like the second half of the concert more And he was a performer who has good rapport with the audiences too.

Would love to attend his concerts again.
And I’m also hoping for Masa Matsuda’s concert. Will he be coming in 2006?

“They’re a friend but they don’t have the right to lecture you — stand your ground”
Thia is what my horoscope said today.

Feeling rather upset this week. We’ve been friends for 16 years (at the very least) and yet it’s so sad to find that we’re drifting apart. I’m just trying to get everyone to come together, to meet up, to exchange news, to see them, to bond with them… But, all I received were brickbats and stones being hurled like asteroids all over me!
Every time we do get to meet up, only 3 or 4 of us REGULARS will turn up. The rest will have their own reasons and excuses. 101 reasons… Have to accompany family, boyfriend, hubby, kids, work, distance is too far, sleepy, boyfriend can’t get along with us, boyfriend feels bored,etc…
hey, when we meet up, we always welcome the kids and their other halves! And, it’s a not weekly, or bi-monthly or even monthly affair. It’s only once quarterly and yet…
Talk about effort! Who is not busy now? Everyone of us is busy. Everyone has to work, her own life to lead. I’m having 2 full time jobs and 2 part time jobs, whereas they, only one. and i dare say, my working hours are definitely more than them! I’m working 6 1/2 days a week, sometimes 7 days! Who is not tired?
And I can’t even air my grouches, not even a bit. After airing it, all the poison arrows will be aimed at me (by the ones most fond of being IRREGULARS), calling me insensitive, inconsiderate, immature, etc
Who are they to call me that?
I try to go for almost every gathering, unless if it’s during my teaching hours. Even so, if they’re still around, I’ll rush over, feeling tired and exhausted and stinking (for being out of the house since 8 am), without even complaining a bit.
And another, a full-time home-maker with 3 boisterious kids in tow, makes the extra effort to keep in touch even though she’s in another state. Who is more exhausted than her who has to take care of 3 young kids the whole day? She doesn’t have coffee-breaks like us! She’s on her toes most of the time, till her hubby comes home.
Fine. If an apology is what they want, I apologize then.
If they want to cross me off their list, it’s fine with me too.
I’m sick and tired of their “reasons”…

My new job as a translator/sub-title specialist gives me a certain feeling of achievement when I see my “works” on the shelves of video shops, more so when the VCD or DVD cover carries the synopsis which I’ve done.It’s a type of satisfaction which I seldom get from teaching. Also, it’s less stressful compared to teaching.

I get to use my language skills too. Kids nowadays are a hard nut to crack as their parents. Spare the rod and spoil the child. Teaching-wise, I feel glad when the parents appreciate what I do, but how many parents are appreciative? How many students practise willingly when there are so many temptations going on around them(Playstatiion, computer games, etc)? Only a handful, and this handful is what keeps me going as a teacher. These little angels who come for lessons because they love learning, unlike those who were forced by their parents to come for classes. Yet, the parents are committed nor are they co-operative. Teaching is not as glamourous as it used to be in the 80s and 90s.

It leaves me so disillusioned, that I was on the verge of depression a couple of years ago. I still want to teach, I’d miss those little angels of mine if i quit. I love languages and music. I don’t want to give up my music at all. Moreover, my pay as a sub-title specialist is relatively low compared to my earnings from teaching. I need to put bread on the table and pay my bills. So… just grin and bear with those little devils!