My Blue Heaven

Boredom you are breaking my heart

Almost 1am. I probably should go to sleep.. but for some reason, I don’t feel like it. Or maybe I just can’t be bothered. Too much effort to turn off the computer, and go upstairs. Now how’s that for lazy.. or perhaps its more lethargy and listlessness. *sigh* Methinks I’ve been listening to too much Bluebottle Kiss again. Why does it always send me into a depressive state…. yet I love their music so… and their new album is AWESOME! Definitely has grown on me the past few days.. as I expected it would.

Meanwhile, the cat is going nuts. Its that time of night… he’s in aggressive mode, racing around the house doing who knows what. Chasing after his own tail, biting his hind leg, and bolting away everytime we come near. Hehe. I suppose he’s gotta let out that excess energy.. after sleeping on my brothers bed the whole evening.

Gourmet chef

Tonight (or rather, last night), I cooked Andrew and myself a lovely gourmet meal (since I was home alone.. parents out for dinner, and my bro at a concert). On the menu: chicken breast stuffed with finely chopped leek, bacon, capsicum, tomato, herbs and cheese, baked in the oven, topped with a tomato, mushroom, leek confit. Some tiger prawns, sizzled with garlic, pepper and herb. Finally wedges, steamed veges, and a hot dinner roll. Yummmy! 🙂

Unfortunately (as it was my first time cooking this particular meal), I somewhat overcooked the chicken, which ended up a bit on the dry side. I way oversteamed the veges, which turned out soft as mush, and left the dinner rolls in the oven slightly too long. Ah well, it still tasted very nice, and certainly pleased Andrew’s tastebuds. It also cost us $0.00. (Though it did take me almost 2 1/2 hours to prepare and cook… hmm.. gotta work on that one.)

Ok.. think I’m almost ready to sleep now…..

Current listening :: “Crawling with ants” – Bluebottle Kiss

Everything Begins And Ends At Exactly The Right Time

Have started to slowly absorb the new Bluebottle Kiss album, “Come Across”. After only 1 or 2 listens, some songs definitely appeal to me, while others have yet to grow on me. I find with Bluebottle Kiss, patience is required, as it grows on you, more and more with each listen. I’m unsure whether “Come Across” will be as good as “Revenge Is Slow”.. at the moment, the latter remains my favourite BBK album.

There’s a long and rather eloqent review of the cd at Oz Music Project – and the last paragraph pretty much expresses what I’ve been thinking (and then some)..

“‘Revenge Is Slow’ was never going to be easy to follow up, but ‘Come Across’ does admirably well. Instead of lingering on the past, sitting on one’s accomplishments, it finds Bluebottle Kiss still experimenting, using its past not as an illusion to cope with the present so much as a means to negotiate a way forward. This is a record about endings and passage, of how to proceed when one has crash-landed in unfamiliar territory, of how to go on when the familiar roadmaps no longer apply to the terrain on which one finds one’s self stranded. Though not as accessible as ‘Revenge Is Slow’, this is a record that, although it misses a few, hits most of its marks and weaves a deep texture which only sustained listening will fully reveal. That Bluebottle Kiss continue to reward their listeners in such fashion is testament to the band’s durability and commitment to the creative, defiant spirit of rock music, when so many of their more heralded contemporaries find themselves mired in self-perpetuating market logic. A little dirt about the ankles it seems, is far more conducive to innovative, affecting, enduring music than bearing the fetters of sanctioned glamour.”

Jazz class last night was alright. We did this really hard exercise – to impro over the jazz standard “All The Things You Are”, through 10 different key changes! Great practice for our jazz improvisation & sightreading.. though I, admittedly, sucked at it. Hm.. time to brush up on my jazz modes! We took a chorus each at first, but then he changed tact and made us take 1 line each (8 bars), through all 10 chorus’s. We really had to be on the ball for that one!

[Update: 1:15pm]

This entry at LuckyKat’s blog makes me wish I lived in the US.. if only for their autumns… *sigh*

Current listening :: “Come Across” – Bluebottle Kiss

Tired

Argh… am so tired. I’ve been bad this week. Have been sleeping at around 1 – 2am every night since the weekend. Not good, I think I’m making myself sick. 🙁 And its all coz I started reading the Riftwar Saga again (Raymond E Feist). I can never put those books down.. even though I’ve read them only a 100 times before. 🙂

Though thats not the only reason for my late nights, I’ve also been practicing real hard for the Saltlight launch. I spent around 2 – 3 hours both last night and the night before going through the songs, and doing my technical exercises and scales. I’d forgotten how physically draining just playing the piano could be. I actually perspire as I practice!

Oh, exciting news, the new Bluebottle Kiss album is out!!!!! And there’s a limited edition bonus cd to be had. Also, if you go to Red Eye Records, you get this additional bonus promo disc with the cd.. I’ll be heading down there myself in about half an hour. 🙂

Current listening :: “This Way Up” – Saltlight

Radiohead tour!

I’ve got tickets to see Radiohead on 23rd April 2004 when they come to Australia!!! WOohoOo!! We managed to get ourselves 8 tickets (a friend got 4 tix, and I got 4) from the Radiohead w.a.s.t.e fanclub website… and tickets don’t officially go on sale till Monday! Very happy am I! The tickets I got are for GA standing room, in front of the stage (cooool), and my friend got 4 tickets in the seated area. We didn’t get a choice, but I presume they’ll be good spots coz these are presales, put aside for the fanclub.

Saltlight update

Anyways, rehearsal on Monday night for the Saltlight album launch went quite well. It was good, considering it was our first time playing together, the first time some of us had ever played the songs, and that we only recieved the charts that night!

I’m gonna REALLY push for people to come the the album launch from now on. We REALLY need to sell more tickets.. I’m so suprised at how small the response has been so far. And personally for me, this is my (and Andrew’s) biggest performance yet!! It’d be nice if our friends came and supported us too! 🙂

So… all you people that visit my blog (yes, I see you, I know you read this regularly).. BUY A TICKET FOR THE LAUNCH, AND BRING A FRIEND (OR 10)… and for the christians, support this great gospel ministry and event!!! CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS.

Heaps of work is being put into this album launch… its not gonna be your average gig or concert… it’ll be something more… something just a bit different! So come, enjoy a great night out with friends, and hear some great original music performed live!

Current listening :: “Hail To The Thief” – Radiohead

Kitty update + stuff

My kitty got attacked by a bird on Sunday! Grrrr. 🙁 Just a normal brown and white, a small bird.. it swooped down on him while he was scampering about in the garden. My poor kitty. He was so scared he ran back inside. I gave him a cuddle as compensation, and threw a few pebbles at the offending bird. 😛

My weekend was alright.. didn’t do much, but at the same time, didn’t get enough sleep either. Or I’ve been hanging around the wrong people, coz I think I’m getting sick. 🙁

Anyway, tonight me and Andrew will be going to the first band rehearsal for the Saltlight album launch. I oscillate between “yay!” and “eek.. scary!”. Hope things go well.. and hope I can play the darned song! Well, am off to shower at the gym now, then heading straight to church where the rehearsal will be held.

Current listening :: This Way Up – Saltlight

Joy in jazz

Last night I had so much fun in my Jazz Fusion class. We’re starting to really gel as a band (and so we should, after being together for over half a year already – but it does take a while..) Dunno how to describe it, but classes are getting better each week. I guess we’re all getting into the rhythm of playing together, and we’re just relaxing and letting go… which really shows in our solo’s (even mine). We’re also getting quite familiar with the pieces.

We’ve been playing alot more blues lately too. Like, just for a warm up, or at the end of a class, Nick (our teacher) will decide to throw in a standard 12 bar blues. (Or not so standard at times, like last night, where we played an altered 12 bar blues, with #5 and #9’s everywhere, using the altered scale to impro!) Anyway, I think this has contributed to our ability to let go… because blues is so much easier to solo over… its more feeling and less thinking. The guitarists in particular really go off in their solos (coz I think they tend to play more by ear and less by knowledge). Its awesome! 😀 I was never really that familiar with the blues, but having been in the class for a term and a half now, it’s exposed me to different styles of playing, not just swing, but also funk, latin and blues. (Hence jazz fusion!) I quite enjoy playing the blues now! Its fun! 🙂 I wish I could do this more.. just jam with ppl like we do in class.

Well, at least I really should practice more often at home. I haven’t managed a single practice the last 2 weeks. I’m a shocker. Particularly since our class will be performing at the end of year concert at the Con. Argh! I’m gonna have to solo! Arghh! Our concert will be on Thurs 27th Nov. So people, make sure you’re free that night! 🙂

Anyway, am very glad its finally Friday! Tonight is my friend, Leo’s, band’s album launch (Ultra Suite) at the Sandringham, Newtown. Hopefully we won’t be too late and miss out on their playing! Saturday and Sunday have nothing concrete planned, which is good. It’ll be nice to just relax.

Pain

Quote from esined’s latest post: “Psycho time of the month is here which means: eating and more eating and turning all scary emotional.” Yes, I totally understand.

In. Pain.

Boys, beware…. Or anyone really.

Current listening :: “Wisdom” – Yellowjackets (the likely song we’ll be performing!)

Impulse buys

Aiyah.. just bought myself a new singlet top. 🙂 I wasn’t intending on buying anything when I went to meet up with a friend at Pitt St Mall. I just wanted to have a look at the new J Lo fragrance “Still” (its not bad, better than “Glow”… I’m on the lookout for a new perfume… been wearing Issey Miyake too much!)

Anyway, it’s a really nice top! Its baby pink (been getting into pink a lot lately!), with a halter neck string. Sorta casual, but not too plain.. you could even wear it clubbing. As soon as I tried it on, I had that feeling.. you know.. when you just know something suits you! So I bought it. 🙂 Here’s a piccy for ya’s.

Mm… summer is definitely in the air. Its not just the warmer days and sunny weather, its the feeling.. the warm radiance, that sexy summer feeling.. reminiscent of balmy nights at the club, or sultry days on the beach. Bring it on baby!

…

Back to office reality… *sigh*

Uses for Microsoft Outlook 2000 – #73

I’ve decided that I need to remind myself to drink more water, because I tend to forget when I’m in the office. Hence, in my Outlook Calender, I’ve set myself a daily reminder to “drink water”, and pressing “Snooze” (set to 30 mins), gives me a timely reminder every half hour to drink some water. Ahh technology.

Current listening :: “Baby Boy” – Beyonce

Tax time

Eeesh.. I always leave things to the last minute, don’t I. *sigh* Anyway, yes its that time of year again. I’ve put off doing my tax return since, ooh, July/August. Now there’s ten days, and counting, till the deadline for my tax return lodgement. Joy.. (well, actually.. if I get a sizeable tax refund..) 😛

Growing old

Tonight on the train home (after going to the gym), I was sitting on the bottom level of a tangara, plugged into my discman (which was on pretty loud) when I vaguely heard this loud crash, and felt a slight shake in the carriage – I thought something had crashed into the train! What had happened, was an old man had fallen down the stairs, from the upper level to the middle level, and was lying on his back. Poor man. It sounded pretty ouchie.. I know how bad falls can be for old people.

It was good to see though, that people jumped to help him.. everyone was very kind & helpful. And he wasn’t too injured… just had a small cut on the forehead and was bleeding a little on the back of his head. They stopped the train at the next station and called the ambulence, which took about 15 mins to arrive. I think he also suffered a bit of a concussion, coz he couldn’t remember things.. like the date, or even what year it was. I hope he’s ok.

Anyway, time for bedfordshire. I had a great workout this evening at the gym.. I really went for it on the X-trainer and with the weights. Yay. Tis a good feeling. Nighty night!

Another weekend, another wedding

Yay! Happy Friday! 🙂 Time for this little piggy to go home, or rather to Glue. I have yet another friend’s wedding on tomm. Tis the season to be married I guess. At night, I’ll probably be watching the new flick “Kill Bill” with friends.

On a completely different note. I just had my eyebrows done, and would you believe I fell asleep while she was plucking?

Hope ya’ll have a great weekend. I’m audi. 🙂

Spring time

Spring is most definitely here. The days are warmer, the flowers blooming.. I love the onset of summer (bring on the beach weather!) The city council has (as it does every year) placed some beautiful flowers in the middle of martin place. So pretty. 🙂

And again..

Yep, I had lunch at the David Jones food hall… yet again. Man, I’m so addicted to that place. This time I went with Vron. We went to the Noodle bar – I had the Hokkien noodles with chicken, and Vron the Seafood Laksa. Yum.

I think one of the reasons I like that place so much is coz it looks so nice. Its so.. clean, fresh, modern and swanky looking, with well-presented gourmet food everywhere you look. Check out the shelf of gourmet sweet sauces (below left). Everytime I go there, I’m sooo tempted to buy a dark chocolate sauce.. but I haven’t given in to the temptation yet!

Of course, the one thing I cannot resist are the chocolate strawberries. When we got to the strawberries stand, they had just laid out some freshly dipped milk choc strawberries to dry. It looked so good, I asked the attendant if I could take a photo (below right). 🙂 Anyway, we bought 3 dark strawberries each. I haven’t eaten mine yet.. they’re chilling (har har) in the fridge, to be saved for afternoon tea.

[Update: 3:37pm]

Giving you a better picture of just how big these strawberries are…

Current listening :: “Senorita” – Justin Timberlake