Rhythmic.

This Port Dickson get away is definitely quite worth it.

I spent nearly the whole afternoon getting used to the odd and different time signatures, except when it gets to odd timing and all. The ones like 9/11. I wouldn't know how that's supposed to be like.

But learning it would be quite fun.

And to top it all, I actually HAVE the time to finally learn.

It's best for me to optimise this time to learn as much as I can, because once January comes into play, I won't have much time. So yup.

Yup.

How ah.











I want me camera ASAP. :(

Oh Whee.

Minor updates:

• Results: I got A for my Financial Accounting 2, and B+ for Commercial Law, Management Accounting 2 and Accounting Information Systems. Terbaik.
• I am very deprived from sleep.
• I am screwed because I'm blogging, uploading pictures of the Starbucks 10th Anniversary Gala Night Dinner, and packing at the same time.
• Need to rush about Starbucks for Christmas shopping. (Family assignment?)
• Christmas present decided: Canon PowerShot SX 10 IS .. and I have it on hand with me!!!
• Learning Dream Theater's Overture 1928. Fun song to mess around with.
• Heads off to Port Dickson for the end of the year tomorrow.
• Currently based in Kota Damansara on Weekdays and Ikano on Weekends. Effective next year as agreed on both of my Store Managers due to my stupid college schedule next year.
• Demotivated to study.
• Lost all sort of priorities.

Ok. Will blog more. For the moment, here's something to see with the wide-angle feature in the Canon PowerShot SX10 .. Cantik giler.

Sensation.

For the past few days, I have been going off course and not focusing on my music studies. Weird, but I think I really need some time off.

.. Which I have been doing, lately. I'm glad to say that I never felt any better in my nearly-hectic life.

*blabbers*

I have to really thank those who have been worried, and have been praying for me to enjoy such relaxation.

I'm bad at this. Haha.

Anyways, after months of thoughts (Since July), I was thinking which would be better:

• MIDI Controller/Keyboard - to continue music production at a more effective and efficient rate compared to sickening mouseclicks.
• Canon SX10 IS - to finally snap pictures that I don't usually get to during gigs and events.

The music keyboard would cost about RM1,100 - 1,300 for the range I'm looking for. Something wide with many keys, a modulation and pitch bend wheel, and a USB port (which should come in all modern keyboards these days. But sadly, the cheaper ones don't come with that). Voices and effects doesn't matter because Reason won't detect that, and Reason already provides 2 GBs worth of samples, voices, instruments and effects.

The camera, as I went scoping around randomly yesterday, would cost RM 1,799. Some packages would include a lower price tag, with batteries, a tripod, camera bag, memory card.. etc

So I thought about this. I'll work my butt off for my passion, which is the musical side, and the camera..shall be me Christmas present because my dad already approved of it.. Wheeee!

Oh. Add another RM100 and I'll be getting the basic range of Canon's DSLR family. I was holding onto it for a few minutes yesterday @ Low Yat Plaza, but like most handphones out there (or iPods), you'd spend all that money, but end up not using at least half of the provided functions.

Might as well stick to something not-so-serious, yup? Plus it works quite well as a mini-SLR.

Wahohohohoho











.. XD

Anybody Wants To Work?

-Programmer
-Multimedia Production
-Creative Designer
-Photographer

Able to work on shift (flexible time), own transportation. Fresh Graduate Candidates are most welcome. Please email us your latest resume.

MAIDI CORPORATION SDN BHD.(763794-A) D-3-02,BLOCK D.
NO.5,JALAN PJU 8/2, BANDAR DAMANSARA PERDANA,
47820 PETALING JAYA,SELANGOR.
MALAYSIA

Tell - 03 - 7710 8775
Fax - 03 - 7710 6775

email - fery@maidi.com.my

It's Not Work That Exhausts You.

NZX:
"Uh. Where's the Frap Mix?"
"Uh. Where're the domed lids?"
"Uh. Where're the syrups?"
"Uh. Where's the parchment papers?"

And many more.

And then came Borders; The Curve:
"Uh. Where's the place to dispose of the trash?"
"Uh. Where's the Markout Pitcher?"
"Uh. Where's the steaming pitcher?"
"Uh. Which one is decaf, and which one is espresso?"
"Uh."

Uh. Uh. Uh.











The other thing about working in cafes based on franchises, would be that you have to adapt to the store. And if you're not quick enough, half of your productivity is wasted by those "Uh"s.

Uh.

Uh.

Yeah man.

Uh.

Oh. For Borders, was even better. Because me and my senior, Nana, and both of us hailing from Ikano, not knowing what is there to be done in the new store, and where the items were placed, both of us died on the spot. We just served customers, and did whatever we needed to do.

Uh.

Is Goodnights. Hoho.. What a day..

Bushfire Fairytales..

Ignore the title. It's just the first 2 words that Jack Johnson sang in his song, Inaudible Melodies. Also quite a good song. Secret behind the composition of that song would be that he was studying film production and how music or sound makes the film more presentable, and stuff.

Tomorrow will be a funky/Happy Starbucks/super budgeting day.

10.30am - 6.30pm, Starbucks NZX - Ara Damansara.
7pm (hopefully) - ??pm, Starbucks Borders The Curve - Mutiara Damansara.

Talk about being infected with the Starbucks sickness.

Genius.

I had a fun outing today. Went about Bangsar Village and Gardens. And guess what? I have finally decided on my Christmas present.

It's not the keyboard/MIDI controller I would love to get for music production. Guess I'll have to stick with my trusty mouse and assumptions regarding human velocity on how the human fingers hit the keys at that point to express the perfect emotions for the right note.

I have decided to outbeat my mother in her worthless Nikon digital cameras to get a semi-SLR. Which would be a Canon Powershot S10 .. Yum yum. The last I messed with my friend's semi-SLR, it was the Canon Powershot S3. Then the S5 came out in the middle of this year. Then now it's out of production, and here comes the S10.

Bigger, bulkier, but more fun. Hehahohohohoho..

That's it for now. I haven't even got the time to blog about the Penang trip. In fact, I think I'll cancel that blog lah. I will never have the time for such things.












The ways that your heart sounds makes all the difference
It's what decides if you'll endure the pain that we all feel
The way that your heart beats makes all the difference
In learning to live
Here before me is my soul
I'm learning to live
I won't give up
Till I've no more to give

Back In KL.

I'm way too tired to blog at the moment, but I would like to announce that I've gotten home safely, and I will be literally shaking my legs for a couple of days until next Friday, where I shall leave for Port Dickson.

Wonderful, right? hohoho.

... Blahs. Now my expenses are going to rise because of this issue. Oh well. Lalala..

I May Not Watch What I Speak..

.. But I watch my thoughts as God sees everybody right through their hearts and mind.

Words may mean anything these days, so it's up to intentions to prove whether if you meant a certain phrase or not.

Scary, isn't it? But that's how things are supposed to be anyway.

Trip to KL; prepared.

Sleek.

If you see nothing but a black suit, that's what you're supposed to see and not mistake.

I think it would be some kind of weird tradition to wear the tuxedo.

But hey, this isn't your ordinary tuxedo. This is the same tuxedo I wore for my cousin's wedding last year..


Except this year, minus the guitar, and probably the bow-tie. I've got no idea what the hell to put on my neck. Probably a simple tie should do.

It's the dinner requirements. Weird, but orders are orders.. Wheee ...

Final Day in Penang.

And I spent it with two friends of mine while attending the Penang Jazz Festival.

It's nice to watch a small organisation ..getting bigger, and bigger.

I remember the organiser's words..

"If this were to be successful this year, I would do it again next year."

And that was 2 years ago if I'm not mistaken?

It happened again last year.

And it happened again just now.

Awesome stuff, seriously. What surprised me would be this Korean Jazz trio, that goes by the name of Jeon Young Se Trio. The double-bassist is mind blowing. He's not Victor Wooten, because he doesn't play the electric bass, but bloody hell, does he shred on the double-bass shit well.

SHRED, mind you. The speedy finger guitar stuff term.

And the pianist? Accurate, melodious, and blind.

Perfect LAH!

Well, time to start packing. Will blog about what I did when I have the time. Or if I don't forget of course. Hohoho..

Understand This, Woman.

If I were to tell you something like:

That device is not meant to be plugged into the computer before you shut it down because that will crash the whole system after you try to shut it down.

Don't ask why. That's the problem I faced, so I'm reporting in advanced.

It's a thing that I managed to troubleshoot because I foolishly went through the scenario. Don't come up to me and say:

I need to be there to know what you're talking about.

How about.. You're not supposed to press the big red button that says "I CAN EXPLODE AND CAUSE THE 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th IMPACT BECAUSE I AM A FUCKING BOMB" on a big black bomb, or it will explode and it will cause the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th impact, which not only causes humans to cease to exist, but will cause the universe to become a big black hole without any stars in it.

Or replace the battery because this one's running flat.

How am I supposed to explain these things when they're so freaking obvious? If something runs out, replenish it. Why should we replenish it? That's up to you to crack your mystical nut-filled brain to figure out.

When I do something right, I get nagged. I do something wrong, I get nagged. Better still, perform a bigger crime because I'm going to get nagged anyway. With my mum around, there's no such thing as justice.

I can bet my ass and nipples off that if she were to be a lawyer, she can proove that a bank robbery is an act of charity for the hungry or underpaid.

I Can't Explain This Strange Deja Vu ..

.. But I don't mind.
I hope to find the truth.

It's been a while since I last sat down and thought about things. Like who I want to be, who I once was, and have I improved in any way from a biased-free thought.

The answer is.. I've changed for the better, but good qualities from the past diminished slowly.

I don't know what I've become; and I don't know who I am anymore.

I've been trying to be understanding to some points in life, but I guess that's not turning out fine for me.

Although I stand with minor success, but I feel like I'm in the middle of a battlefield and the flames just gets bigger and bigger.

Who am I?

And who are you?

This is the point where people forget what you once were, and sees you for someone else. Someone new. Someone whom you aren't.

The years have passed, and the people we once knew, isn't the people we know. The appearance of them turns out to be the same, or different, but the soul that you once spoke with just...disappeared?

Where are you?

Every single day, I feel sleepy, not only because I've been reluctant to get adequate rest, but a part of me is losing it.

I'm slowly forgotten. Not by others..

.. But by myself.

The musical side may be a little bit dramatic, but it's like a symbiote that grows in me. The more I run away, the more music I listen, the more I forget, and the more problems accumulate.

.. Where do I go..?

I've lost a great amount of people, and I don't expect to blame anybody for the cause. This is because I am at fault.

The more hatred you have towards a certain individual,
allows evil to conquer your thoughts,
and kills your sanity.

That Rhythm In My Head.

Every time when I face a problem of some sort, I'll only hear of that particular rhythm.

|1 2 3 1|2 3 1 2|3 1 2 3|1 2 1 2|

Obviously, I've resorted to music in being my sanity provider when I'm facing certain situations that I can't handle, or when I'm on the level of getting tensed easily.

And I tell you, it's no joke trying to resist everything.

No, it's not.

But then again, it's part of life.

So who cares?

Ok LAH!

Please do forgive the Malaysian slang. Just that it was a joke by a regular customer of mine back in Starbucks Ikano.

Today's another day. I'm always looking at new HDDs to purchase, but hell, are they quite costly. At this rate, I don't think I'll be getting anything for myself this coming Christmas.

Ok LAH!

Who cares anyways. Christmas is the season to give, not to satisfy yourself with personal needs or whatever it is. That can be done.

Christmas comes once in a year, so I'd better stop complaining. I hope my next leave isn't as hectic as what I'm going through here in Penang.

Gila apa.

...

Ok LAH!

I'll see me darlings in KL on the 8th of this month <3 .. well, whoever is left here in KL, for that's the case. I don't know who went where and whatever it is, so yeah.

Mirrored.

See the man, who stands in the mirror.
The one you could trust, or the one you could refer.
See the soul, whom slowly he tortures.
Is the light, or the darkness, the path he'd prefer?

Look again, and speak of what you fear.
The thoughts that breaks you into a child; and into tears.
Look again, and think before you speak.
Before your words spears through the weak.

The truth stands before you,
But to accept, or to risk, is not of what he would do.
The truth stands for the dummies,
The dummies speaks of nothing but philosophies.

The cold war, won by morons.
And death brought upon the fallen, to move on.
The next stage in life,
Where we all shall be..

Naiiiis.

I received this actually on my birthday, but I wasn't in Penang to collect it. When I took both of them out from the plastic, the metal surface crumbled into dust. Literally.

Especially the right pedal. To my surprise, my mum said that my uncle gave me a drum bass pedal, which I have to completely agree up to this point, or I would be acting too smart or abusing my knowledge regarding music or should study more about music because I am not a professional musician of sort.

Ok LAH!

I have to agree with that. The part that says that I'm not a professional musician of some sort.

Now to the next bass drum pedal, it's heavy, not made out of plastic but metal, and it's a little bit cranky as some bits and pieces of it broke, so you can't rock it a little bit too hard. Literally, it will break. It's more to like a .. talkbox-pedal. I can't call it a wah-wah pedal because I doubt it'll go wah-wah like many other pedals. In fact, there is a switch that says yoy-yoy and bow-wow. Thing is, how is that supposed to sound? Or what am I supposed to call this thing?

Yoy-yoy/Bow-wow pedal, lah.

These things came from the mid-1960s till the 1970s looking at its age and the way it is designed. In fact, I wouldn't know how it really works until I get back to KL because my rig is there.

What will be more interesting would be that..these two pedals does not have any .. adaptors to it. Nor are they any battery slots to put in the usual 9v batteries like many other modern pedals.

I don't know if these pedals are for show, or for real. But I'll find out probably when I get back home, if it doesn't rust to bits and pieces, of course.

If it works, I guess I don't need to save up for a wah-wah pedal, I suppose?

.. Cool!

Be Specific.

My mum woke me up today, and I usually take time to unwind and get myself prepared. It's a common lifestyle in KL, anyway. I just wake up, slack off a bit, then head straight for work or college or whatever it is I'm supposed to do.

So as I arrived late to help my mum out in some weird place, I called her up..

Her: "Hello?"
Me: "Hi Mum. What's the unit's block?"
Her: "...."

... 30 seconds later..

Her: "You know ah, I struggled by myself ah, and you know ah, the contractors were not so helpful, you know. So ah, I had to do everything by myself, and it's too late for you to help me out already lah"

Too late for me to help you out?

... Ok LAH!

*pressed on the end call button

She called back right after that.

Me: "Hello?"
Her: "It's xx-xx."

Then right after that, came the nagging spree! Penang to me, is the city that never sleeps. Only because I always get nagged till next eternity or something. And well, yup. I got it again.











It's funny that you have to be a total jerk and asshole to get the right answers. Notice that I only got the answer to my question after I shut the phone.

In Starbucks, we've got 5 cards to present to partners depending on their performance.

Be Welcoming
Be Considerate
Be Involved
Be Knowledgable
Be Genuine

I present my mum the 6th "Be" card. Which is... Be Specific. She had finally done it!

I Have A Dream..

.. A song to sing..

I don't know what's going on in KL at the moment, but one thing's for sure. I'm staying back in Ikano.

I suspect next week's a busy week, and with its current condition, it would be not wise to be elsewhere.

Then again, everybody needs everyone, if you get what I'm saying.

Too bad I'm not 'everyone', or I would've helped everybody.

Back in Ikano probably on .. Tuesday? I can't seem to confirm my schedule here in KL because of family stuff.

The same ol' nonsensical stuff, yup.

Blasphemy.

I'm Not That Mean!

At least I came home empty handed. For the first time coming home from KL, I got my mum something.

Well, it's cheap since I could get discounts or something off Starbucks, but she likes to keep a lot of powdered stuff around the house.

So by using my intensive & learnt knowledge regarding coffees, I got her something that protects beans from oxygen, light, moisture and heat.

.. Hahahahahahahaha.


Hohoho ..

Being Home.

.. Feels kind of empty.

But still remembering entering the roads of Penang, when I screened down the windows, smelling that horrid stench in the air..

.. Just put a big smile on my face.

I'm actually happy to be in a smaller town, with crazy bus drivers, speeding motorcyclists, 30kmph average speed on the roads, and your friends living just 10 blocks away from you, so on and so forth.

I just settled my ordering for my contact lenses, and visited my high school. Everybody there was happy to see on how I presented myself, because they knew how I was back in high school.

Nothing to be proud of, really, but they saw I became more responsible as a person?

Kind of cool seeing those who once taught you when you were forced to wear school uniforms.











Happy times, happy times..











.. Seriously happy times.

And BAMMM!

I'm HOME!

MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA..!

Passionate Flames.

Petrol, road tar, burnt rubber, a lot of wind, and ..

.. a lot of fun.

Penang, here I come...











............!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HAHAAHHAHAHAAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHA

YESSSS. I'm finally driving back..not to work, not to do other events, not to rush around places, but I'm driving back for my own pleasure. Woohoo!!!!

I Got Tagged.

Now, I would get really lazy to tag others, so please tag yourself, thankius.

I can't seem to copy and paste.. So I guess I'll have to type out the questions. Urgh.

1. Who is your all-time inspiration?

Everybody. As long as they're unique in their own ways in whatever they do, and manage to budge me to learn what they do, I suppose they're part of my inspiration. If a drum professor can be inspired by his students when he's already a drum professor, what say you?

2. What am I feeling now?

Stale.

3. If you were to be stranded on a deserted island, who are the 3 blog buddies you would take with you? Why?
Hmm. Good question.

4. Where is the place you would want to go the most?
The land of eternal time signature changes and musically beautiful.

5. If you can have 1 dream to come true, what would it be?
To be a person with many masks.

6. Do you believe in seeing a rainbow after the rain?
I believe in seeing light after darkness.

7. What are you afraid to lose the most now?
My mind.

8. If you win $1 million, what would you do?
Save it up. Then spend it some time in the future.

9. If you meet someone that you love, would you confess to him/her?
No.

10. List out 3 good points of the person who tagged you.
Spontaneous, witty and determined.

11. What are the requirements you wish from your other half.
Good hugging skills. Lol. I've got no requirements. Even if I do, it would change from time to time. Not to say I'm adventurous, but I'd accept an individual for who they are even if they're good or bad. That's what love is to me, I guess?

12. Which type of people do you hate the most?
The weird species.

13. What is your ambition.
I've got no idea.

14. If you have faults, would you rather the people around you point out to you or would you rather they keep quiet?
Point it out. That's when you learn on the spot.

15. What do you think is the most important thing in your life?
Music.

16. Are you a shopaholic or not?
No.

17. Describe yourself
Indecisive, experimental and curious.

18. If you have a chance. Which part of your character you would like to change?
The part that has a bad temper.

19. what is the worst thing that had happened to you?
Nothing. Even if I had a rough childhood, several breakups, accidents, getting lost somewhere in Penang or KL, meeting bad people, changing myself, it all leads to building my character, and I think it's quite fruitful after an amount of time.

20. If you had to make 3 wishes on the spot right now, what would they be?
1) To be a better musician.
2) To be a better person.
3) To suffer from less insomnia.




To tag:

You.

Final EOM.

Goodbye Ikano.

For 7 months, I was based in that store. Of course, I did hop from store to store to see how was the Starbucks culture. From then, I realised about market segments depending on the store's location.

Ikano was just perfect.

But too bad it changed.

Too bad.

I don't know where I'm going next.

But one thing's for sure. I got news from my Store Manager that I received some nomination for this Spirit of Starbucks Award. The coolest thing is not about the award, but the process about getting the award. My Store Manager approached several partners and managers in the store, and asked if I should be nominated. Even if she didn't ask, they nominated me.

I don't know what is this Spirit of Starbucks Award as I'm still new, only working under this company for a total of 8 months now, entering December (!!!!) ..

What's cool is that I never expected to be nominated; nor would I get such compliments from my partners because.. Personally, I don't think I've ever achieved certain standards in the Starbucks working environment. I know I'm a pain in the ass at times, but it's really nice of them to state my name regarding this.

I am truly honoured working with my partners.

Or at least that I got the chance to work with them.

I've been a performer or entertainer for about 2 years since 2005. 2008 was a halt for me, so the last I entertained people would be in 2007. And as an entertainer, we are completely hopeless species or beings if it wasn't for our fans; the people who watches us, the people who supports us, and the people who likes us for the stuff we play on stage.

Previously, in a band, we practiced and coordinated our nuts off just to pull off an average show. But by doing so, we've earned the ears of some people, and made them followers.

I never aimed for fame. I just wanted to share my music and knowledge with others.

And at work, I also share what I know with others. If I don't know where I stand, I would ask. If I know where I stand, that's another case. If I can help with what I've learnt with the managers and provide my service, I would. If I know there's a way I can help to improve the store, I will gladly do so. Just because I don't mind.

Now, here's a link to see what this Spirit of Starbucks Award thing is all about.

"Examples of actions and behaviors that Spirit of Starbucks Awards have been presented for:
• Job performance that produces results far exceeding expectations.
• Organization of a successful event or activity that contributes to the community.
• Achievements in the area of diversity and environment.
• Suggestion of a process, product or procedure outside of a partner’s immediate area of work resulting in increased savings, sales or productivity."

Cool. I don't know what I've done exceeding expectations, but it would be cool to know of my reasons and capabilities as I've never intended to perform them. They came in naturally.

I have to admit, that I would not be the barista that I am today if it wasn't for the people I've worked with in Ikano so far. These would be the people who had taught me proper knowledge and how it is to make a working environment fun, which is the main motivation for us to work like mad just about everyday;

• Nazmi
• Nik Azrin
• Jean
• Fery Ichsan
• Siti Aisyah Binti Mokhtar
• Mohd Shahrin
• Sharimaniza (Nana)
• Farina Elaina
• Khristabelle Adelaide

And those who introduced me to the Starbucks Experience, through classes:

• Adi Fisfaisal
• Alvin Tham

Mostly, it goes to Fery for creating the ultimate Starbucks Experience through working constant closing shifts. In fact, he tossed me to other places such as Borders in The Curve and the happening store in The Curve itself to learn about different markets and how it is like to work there.

From there, I also learnt many things; like productivity and work skills.

I thank all of you for being my mentor.

Other than that, partners who I have worked with which made things fun, I thank you for making a better environment for all of us.











Well. That's it from me. The trip to Penang shall begin after ... I wake up. Hohohoho..

My sleep shall prepare me..