The highlight for me for Day 4 is that I finally had some good luck at the casino. I managed to win in both my afternoon and evening sessions.
This was also due to the fact that I had an incredible string of luck in the perfect pairs at the Blackjack table. Not only did I hit pairs several times, I managed to get 8 perfect pairs in the two sessions today. Unbelievable. The unfortunate thing was I only participated in 3 out of these 8 occasions. At odds of 25-1, a $5 bet would yield $125. A fellow gambler spotted my luck today in pairs and proceeded to follow my bets and he made even more money from pairs than I did.
Lynn has been nudging me to go out and participate in some outdoor activity, but I am enjoying myself at the casino. Two rules I abide by - I don't play on credit, and I limit myself to a certain amount of cash I bring out, so that if I lose everything for that day, that's it. I consider it 'entertainment fee'.
Now, sandwiched between my 2 lucky casino sessions was a visit to the LM gym for class. I had wanted to attend BC by Dan & Rach (as printed on the schedule) but I was slightly disappointed that it wasn't them and it wasn't the BC39 rehearsal. It was Nathan, but I had fun too in a different way.
Nathan was joined by Angie, another instructor on the stage, so after doing 6 tracks, he made a call to all the international instructors to join them on the stage for 2 tracks. I hesitated at first, then in the end I went up. Who knows if I'm ever going to have a chance to go up the stage at Auckland Studio 1 ever again?
I think there were about 10 of us on stage, and there was more than enough space, so you can imagine how big the stage is. And because of the massive size of the studio, I couldn't even see the faces at the back clearly. We did BC3707 - Let The Beat Control Your Body (one of my favourites) and BC2308 - Retro Rush. Nathan made a mistake in Retro Rush and he punished himself with some pushups. It was hilarious.
Being on the stage was really hot (pun intended). I had fun and enjoyed it.
So after BC, I popped down to Studio 2 where they were doing the BB44 rehearsal (I didn't know!) and they were more than halfway done. So I joined for the last 3 tracks. I must say the hamstring track (T9) is just so beautiful... Lift Me Up by Kate Voegele.
After BB, there was a BJ session and they did a warm up which I hadn't seen before. Could it be the warm up from BJ47? I also saw Nathan join in.
Oh and to sidetrack a bit... for yesterday's BJ48 filming... guess who was doing JAM... DAN! Yes, Dan the Man from BC. What I really liked about the LM culture is that the instructors support each other for filmings and classes.
And the reason why I couldn't stay for BJ was because I arranged to have dinner with PJ! Yes, finally had the chance to catch up with him after so long. The first time was when he did my class at the old PF Far East Square Wed 7:30pm, and the second time was during Global Summit when I came down to Auckland earlier this year.
After dinner and a very nice chat, I headed back to the casino again! I think what made the difference today was I had some discipline. When you gamble, there is bound to be periods when you are lucky and periods when you are down. The trick for me was the moment I won some $, I stashed the chips away in my pocket. Capital preservation first, winnings bonus.
The night was not without a scare too. I changed my usual $150 and it was wiped out within 3 rounds of Carribean Stud. Unbelievable luck from the dealer. When I had pairs for the first 2 rounds, the dealer had a larger pair. When I had a King Pair for my 3rd round, the dealer had THREE OF A KIND! I was there no less than 10 mins.
Left with $100, I decided to abandon the game and pursue Blackjack. That was when my incredible run of perfect pairs helped me so much that I not only recouped, I made too.
Discipline. Discipline. I must remind myself...
And I wanted to add one thing, was playing blackjack halfway when I heard some wild shrieks. Some lucky woman struck jackpot. $85,000! So lucky!
Now to bed early for 8:30am BC tmr. Hope I can wake up.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Auckland Day 3 - Filming Day
I'm tired. So damn tired from today's filming classes. And I didn't even do all! But first, a message to the one who's leaving me comments from NZ, pls say hi to me if you know who I am.
Ok, so today was the filming for 4 programs - BV, BP, BA and BJ.
I gave the first one a miss cos in all honesty, I seriously don't appreciate BV, maybe it's catered to a different audience. I'm not slamming the program, I'm just saying it's not for me.
Anyway because of that I missed BP as well. It was a miscalculation on my part. Between each filming there are 20mins before the next program, and as soon as BV ended, people would have snapped up all the step boards, bars and weights. Let's just say that I reached before filming started but there wasn't any equipment or space left.
Not really a problem for me because I just watched from the back and it was pretty enjoyable too! There were a couple of re-takes here and there. Glen said something wrong, and Matt another presenter put on uneven weights for the bar and went ahead before realising. But they made a joke out of it and everything is in good fun.
Anyway, I must say that BP69 music is superb. I'm not sure if it was the fantastic sound system for Studio 1, or it was just the track selection, I found myself liking most of the tracks. I particularly liked T4 ("building castles"), T5 (a track formerly used in BC34), T6 (a track concurrently used in BC39 by a female artiste) and my favourite was T8 (used in BA64 - not sure if it's the same version).
All you BP instructors, pls listen carefully for the shoutout to 'Singapore' by Susan when watching the DVD.
BA next, and I really found myself looking forward to this. Not sure if it was because I missed the BP, but I really wanted some action.
Intensity wise, I'm not sure BA64 is the most intense, or maybe it was because the space constraint limited the range of the movements, or it was because I had slept 12 hrs for 2 consecutive days and was feeling really recharged haha. But it was fun. Spirits was high and energy levels were also high. My favourite was the running track - the same track for BP69 track 8. It was just pure fun and enjoyment.
BJ last! Disclaimer - potential spoilers here so Lynn may wish to skip the remaining of this entry and pretend that you didn't read this. But before I proceed, let me say that I took a pic of your G-GOD and with him too! Hahaha!
BJ48 - I rate this as one of the best BJs ever. Could be one of my favourite releases. Love the combos for all the blocks, not exactly easy and not too difficult. Watch out for words and phrases like 'UFO' and 'Where's your head at?'
For a 1 hr program, we spent more than 2hrs dancing and do many re-takes! The reason being (clarified with Gandalf after the class) was that there would now be 2 versions of the same choreo block, one with a higher complexity to cater to those advanced. So meaning to say, after we finished one block, we did the same block again with slightly modified moves. And not only that, there were a couple of technical errors and miscues and performance enhancement retakes.
But seriously, nobody minded or gave a damn. Everyone was just so happy to do the block over again! Yes, even me and I was super tired. This BJ release is going to be HAWT! If it isn't then I will give up Bodyjam totally!
After the class, I hunted Gandalf for a pic to fulfill my promise to Lynn and also a quick chat about the program. Then I met Rach and it became a BC discussion. A bit wrong I know, but I couldn't help myself.
I told Rach - if you guys come to Singapore, pls visit the gyms. You'll be amazed how popular the program is!
Alright enough for now, no pictures as usual - no time to upload them. So long... another update soon!
Ok, so today was the filming for 4 programs - BV, BP, BA and BJ.
I gave the first one a miss cos in all honesty, I seriously don't appreciate BV, maybe it's catered to a different audience. I'm not slamming the program, I'm just saying it's not for me.
Anyway because of that I missed BP as well. It was a miscalculation on my part. Between each filming there are 20mins before the next program, and as soon as BV ended, people would have snapped up all the step boards, bars and weights. Let's just say that I reached before filming started but there wasn't any equipment or space left.
Not really a problem for me because I just watched from the back and it was pretty enjoyable too! There were a couple of re-takes here and there. Glen said something wrong, and Matt another presenter put on uneven weights for the bar and went ahead before realising. But they made a joke out of it and everything is in good fun.
Anyway, I must say that BP69 music is superb. I'm not sure if it was the fantastic sound system for Studio 1, or it was just the track selection, I found myself liking most of the tracks. I particularly liked T4 ("building castles"), T5 (a track formerly used in BC34), T6 (a track concurrently used in BC39 by a female artiste) and my favourite was T8 (used in BA64 - not sure if it's the same version).
All you BP instructors, pls listen carefully for the shoutout to 'Singapore' by Susan when watching the DVD.
BA next, and I really found myself looking forward to this. Not sure if it was because I missed the BP, but I really wanted some action.
Intensity wise, I'm not sure BA64 is the most intense, or maybe it was because the space constraint limited the range of the movements, or it was because I had slept 12 hrs for 2 consecutive days and was feeling really recharged haha. But it was fun. Spirits was high and energy levels were also high. My favourite was the running track - the same track for BP69 track 8. It was just pure fun and enjoyment.
BJ last! Disclaimer - potential spoilers here so Lynn may wish to skip the remaining of this entry and pretend that you didn't read this. But before I proceed, let me say that I took a pic of your G-GOD and with him too! Hahaha!
BJ48 - I rate this as one of the best BJs ever. Could be one of my favourite releases. Love the combos for all the blocks, not exactly easy and not too difficult. Watch out for words and phrases like 'UFO' and 'Where's your head at?'
For a 1 hr program, we spent more than 2hrs dancing and do many re-takes! The reason being (clarified with Gandalf after the class) was that there would now be 2 versions of the same choreo block, one with a higher complexity to cater to those advanced. So meaning to say, after we finished one block, we did the same block again with slightly modified moves. And not only that, there were a couple of technical errors and miscues and performance enhancement retakes.
But seriously, nobody minded or gave a damn. Everyone was just so happy to do the block over again! Yes, even me and I was super tired. This BJ release is going to be HAWT! If it isn't then I will give up Bodyjam totally!
After the class, I hunted Gandalf for a pic to fulfill my promise to Lynn and also a quick chat about the program. Then I met Rach and it became a BC discussion. A bit wrong I know, but I couldn't help myself.
I told Rach - if you guys come to Singapore, pls visit the gyms. You'll be amazed how popular the program is!
Alright enough for now, no pictures as usual - no time to upload them. So long... another update soon!
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Auckland Day 2
Before I start this entry, I must say that this time round, I will be posting less pics than my first trip if any. Reason being I don't have much time to upload the pics, and also this time round as it's not the Global Summit, there aren't so many international people around taking pics and it isn't too conducive to take pics during classes and all that.
And another thing - an observation from yesterday's classes. Yes, presenters make mistakes too. They're human after all. There were a few during the rehearsals and I reckon everything will be cleaned up on actual filming day.
My day started at 2pm. Yes, that's how early I woke up. I was clearly very jet-lagged so I slept nearly 12hrs. Missed my 1:10pm BB class, but it's not the end of the world.
Went for a late lunch, and headed to the casino again. This time I didn't win or lose a single cent. I changed another NZ$150, went up to NZ$400, but I cashed out my capital and proceeded to lose the balance haha.
Went to gym for 5:10pm BC. It was D&R again. This time I had my second taste of BC39 and I must say that I quite liked it. My comments on this release - I think they're going back to basics, choosing good music and simple chorey. Yes the choreo is a little too simple I feel, but workout wise I definitely felt it, jet-lag or not.
T4 is going to be a fav. At least mine. Another Scooter track.
T7 I think this MT is really good. I like the combo
T8 the combo on the same arm... that one hurts.
These are the early favourites.
BJ was next and I was disappointed that there was no rehearsal but at the same time I was really pleased that it was Gandalf and Rach! Yes, Rach stayed back and somehow mananged to change her outfit behind the stage.
They did a mixture of the old tracks and I really loved the hip-hop combo from BJ44. The 'tick tock arms' combo. The class was hot!
After the class, I was deciding whether to stay for BB or BP but I ended up doing neither cos I was so hungry. Anyway the thing about Auckland studio 1 is that the entrance is a staircase, so people usually come in and sit by the side while they watch the class finish. As soon as the cooldown is done, the people come storming in with their BP equipment, so it's kinda difficult to find a space. I've got to resolve this issue during filming day, otherwise I won't get a bar to use!
I had a nice panini at the cafe. Haven't had time to browse through the LM store yet. I think the less I browse, the better it is as I won't be tempted to buy anything. It's freaking expensive.
After the class, walked to the Supermarket and I bumped into PJ there! What a coincidence having seen him in the gym earlier already. Bought some food back. and here I am updating my blog.
Shall call it a day for now because I still have to go to the casino! Bye!
And another thing - an observation from yesterday's classes. Yes, presenters make mistakes too. They're human after all. There were a few during the rehearsals and I reckon everything will be cleaned up on actual filming day.
My day started at 2pm. Yes, that's how early I woke up. I was clearly very jet-lagged so I slept nearly 12hrs. Missed my 1:10pm BB class, but it's not the end of the world.
Went for a late lunch, and headed to the casino again. This time I didn't win or lose a single cent. I changed another NZ$150, went up to NZ$400, but I cashed out my capital and proceeded to lose the balance haha.
Went to gym for 5:10pm BC. It was D&R again. This time I had my second taste of BC39 and I must say that I quite liked it. My comments on this release - I think they're going back to basics, choosing good music and simple chorey. Yes the choreo is a little too simple I feel, but workout wise I definitely felt it, jet-lag or not.
T4 is going to be a fav. At least mine. Another Scooter track.
T7 I think this MT is really good. I like the combo
T8 the combo on the same arm... that one hurts.
These are the early favourites.
BJ was next and I was disappointed that there was no rehearsal but at the same time I was really pleased that it was Gandalf and Rach! Yes, Rach stayed back and somehow mananged to change her outfit behind the stage.
They did a mixture of the old tracks and I really loved the hip-hop combo from BJ44. The 'tick tock arms' combo. The class was hot!
After the class, I was deciding whether to stay for BB or BP but I ended up doing neither cos I was so hungry. Anyway the thing about Auckland studio 1 is that the entrance is a staircase, so people usually come in and sit by the side while they watch the class finish. As soon as the cooldown is done, the people come storming in with their BP equipment, so it's kinda difficult to find a space. I've got to resolve this issue during filming day, otherwise I won't get a bar to use!
I had a nice panini at the cafe. Haven't had time to browse through the LM store yet. I think the less I browse, the better it is as I won't be tempted to buy anything. It's freaking expensive.
After the class, walked to the Supermarket and I bumped into PJ there! What a coincidence having seen him in the gym earlier already. Bought some food back. and here I am updating my blog.
Shall call it a day for now because I still have to go to the casino! Bye!
Auckland Day 1
Yo everyone, I'm in Auckland finally and updating right from where the action is. It's my second day here, and I've finally found some time to update this blog so that some of you can follow my adventures here.
I took the 9pm SQ285 flight on Monday and reached Auckland 10hrs later, that was about 12noon local time here. The flight was good, I was spoilt for choice from the movie selection. I watched 3 - Harry Potter, Gattaca and Hairspray hahaha. There were at least 5 or 6 more that I wanted to catch but I just simply didn't have the time. So in the end, I think I only slept like a couple of hours.
The flight was on the new B777-300ER so it was comfortable and there was quite a lot of space. It was a near full flight, but I was just so lucky that the seat beside me was empty. My only complaint is that they didn't change the food menu so I remembered eating exactly the same stuff as my last flight to Auckland.
Reached Auckland and boarded the Airport Express to city. Bought the return trip for NZ$22. I asked around and found out that the taxi ride from the city to the airport is only NZ$35. If I had known this earlier, I would have taken a cab with my luggage. Not worth saving that $ for all that hassle since I take cab to work everyday and it costs more than NZ$35. I may stinge on some things... but definitely not cabs!
I chose to stay at Oaks (Hobson St) this time round to give myself another option. Pros and cons, and till now I haven't decided which location is better. I stayed at Latitude 37 the last time round. Latitude is quiter and more exclusive. Oaks is not so exclusive, some homeless people around loitering and asking for money, even though Oaks is right beside a police station. On the flip side, Oaks is nearer to the casino and has air-conditioning and internet access available for an exhorbitant fee, which is why I can update this in the comfort of my room.
The first thing I did was to catch some sleep and then head to the gym for BC at 5:10pm. I had a pleasant surprise when I got there. It was Dan & Rach and they were using this timeslot to rehearse for their BC39 filming. How fortunate that my very first class should be a sneak preview of the release before the actual filming.
There were 2 international presenters, a male instructor from Brazil and a female instructor from Portugal. Shall keep their identity secret for now, not sure if I'm allowed to post any 'SPOILERS' from the new release.
The feeling from my first taste of BC39 was that it was very raw. And because I didn't know any of the tracks, I had to pay extra attention so I ended up working up harder as compared to being in an 'auto-pilot' mode where I know instinctively what the next move would be.
After BC39, it was BP69 rehearsal. This time there was Glen and 4 other instructors. I didn't finish the class cos I was just too tired from my jetlag. It was my first BP experience in LM Auckland gym and the bars are freaking heavy. It's not the usual hollow weight bars we use in Singapore. The class was crazy-packed. I think BP is still the most popular prog in LM NZ.
But I stayed on. For BB coming right after. And I had another pleasant surprise. BB44 rehearsal! This time there were 5 instructors and surprise, no Jackie Mills! Apparently, she has something on this quarter so she's not in it. I couldn't really remember what happened in BB, except that the sun salutations is a recycled track with different chorey. I was so tired that I nearly fell asleep in relaxation/meditation.
Now when I was doing the relaxation, I kept hearing sounds from Studio 2. I know that there was a Bodyjam class down there but the screams and shouts coming from that studio were just unbelievable...
So after BB, I packed my stuff and went down. They were doing BJ48 rehearsal! Man, I missed it. Watched them do it but I didn't join in. Didn't have any strength left, and also the BB sort of left me in a very zen mood. Wasn't about to break that up by dancing!
I showered, left the gym and had a quick dinner. On the way back, I walked past the casino and I decided to go try my luck. I was seriously very tired but somehow I just walked in and the next thing I knew, I was sitting at the tables.
I changed NZ$150 of chips and played. There was a time when I was holding just over NZ$500 of chips. I should have stopped and cashed in, but no, I just continuing playing and I ended the night without any chips. Hahaha... now I know why they say gambling is addictive. Must learn to stop. Those who win keeps on going cos they think they can win more and those who lose wants to recoup their losses...
At the end of the day, my mantra is... play within my means!
I took the 9pm SQ285 flight on Monday and reached Auckland 10hrs later, that was about 12noon local time here. The flight was good, I was spoilt for choice from the movie selection. I watched 3 - Harry Potter, Gattaca and Hairspray hahaha. There were at least 5 or 6 more that I wanted to catch but I just simply didn't have the time. So in the end, I think I only slept like a couple of hours.
The flight was on the new B777-300ER so it was comfortable and there was quite a lot of space. It was a near full flight, but I was just so lucky that the seat beside me was empty. My only complaint is that they didn't change the food menu so I remembered eating exactly the same stuff as my last flight to Auckland.
Reached Auckland and boarded the Airport Express to city. Bought the return trip for NZ$22. I asked around and found out that the taxi ride from the city to the airport is only NZ$35. If I had known this earlier, I would have taken a cab with my luggage. Not worth saving that $ for all that hassle since I take cab to work everyday and it costs more than NZ$35. I may stinge on some things... but definitely not cabs!
I chose to stay at Oaks (Hobson St) this time round to give myself another option. Pros and cons, and till now I haven't decided which location is better. I stayed at Latitude 37 the last time round. Latitude is quiter and more exclusive. Oaks is not so exclusive, some homeless people around loitering and asking for money, even though Oaks is right beside a police station. On the flip side, Oaks is nearer to the casino and has air-conditioning and internet access available for an exhorbitant fee, which is why I can update this in the comfort of my room.
The first thing I did was to catch some sleep and then head to the gym for BC at 5:10pm. I had a pleasant surprise when I got there. It was Dan & Rach and they were using this timeslot to rehearse for their BC39 filming. How fortunate that my very first class should be a sneak preview of the release before the actual filming.
There were 2 international presenters, a male instructor from Brazil and a female instructor from Portugal. Shall keep their identity secret for now, not sure if I'm allowed to post any 'SPOILERS' from the new release.
The feeling from my first taste of BC39 was that it was very raw. And because I didn't know any of the tracks, I had to pay extra attention so I ended up working up harder as compared to being in an 'auto-pilot' mode where I know instinctively what the next move would be.
After BC39, it was BP69 rehearsal. This time there was Glen and 4 other instructors. I didn't finish the class cos I was just too tired from my jetlag. It was my first BP experience in LM Auckland gym and the bars are freaking heavy. It's not the usual hollow weight bars we use in Singapore. The class was crazy-packed. I think BP is still the most popular prog in LM NZ.
But I stayed on. For BB coming right after. And I had another pleasant surprise. BB44 rehearsal! This time there were 5 instructors and surprise, no Jackie Mills! Apparently, she has something on this quarter so she's not in it. I couldn't really remember what happened in BB, except that the sun salutations is a recycled track with different chorey. I was so tired that I nearly fell asleep in relaxation/meditation.
Now when I was doing the relaxation, I kept hearing sounds from Studio 2. I know that there was a Bodyjam class down there but the screams and shouts coming from that studio were just unbelievable...
So after BB, I packed my stuff and went down. They were doing BJ48 rehearsal! Man, I missed it. Watched them do it but I didn't join in. Didn't have any strength left, and also the BB sort of left me in a very zen mood. Wasn't about to break that up by dancing!
I showered, left the gym and had a quick dinner. On the way back, I walked past the casino and I decided to go try my luck. I was seriously very tired but somehow I just walked in and the next thing I knew, I was sitting at the tables.
I changed NZ$150 of chips and played. There was a time when I was holding just over NZ$500 of chips. I should have stopped and cashed in, but no, I just continuing playing and I ended the night without any chips. Hahaha... now I know why they say gambling is addictive. Must learn to stop. Those who win keeps on going cos they think they can win more and those who lose wants to recoup their losses...
At the end of the day, my mantra is... play within my means!
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Coincidence
Just watched The Amazing Race and this episode, they ran the entire leg in Auckland!
What a coincidence. I've a good mind to visit some of the places featured in TAR!
What a coincidence. I've a good mind to visit some of the places featured in TAR!
Monday, October 20, 2008
Time Flies
It's incredible how time flies. One week from now at this time, I'll be on board SQ285 heading to Auckland for my second pilgrimage. It just feels like it was yesterday that I booked the tix! Now it's so close and screaming at me!
http://zhengjie-auckland.blogspot.com/2008/08/auckland-redux.html
Lots of things to be cleared. I haven't started packing yet, haven't checked the address of my accomodation, haven't even started clearing my work before I embark on my little adventure.
I worked till about 10pm today, just clearing as much work as possible. I don't want lingering issues, and I hate leaving shit for my colleagues.
This time round, what do I want to achieve from the trip? I don't really know, I guess most importantly, I do need a break from work and the financial markets to recharge myself, secondly, I want to participate in the filmings, and I guess I can perhaps spend some time exploring Auckland if time permits. I'll have plenty of time but maybe I'll spend it at the casino to try my luck.
Filming wise, I guess I won't be having too high expectations this time round just in case I get disappointed. I know February was a one-off affair where everything was in conjunction with the Global Summit, and doing the filming masterclasses with hundreds of trainers is just awesome. I expect it to be a smaller affair this time round.
As usual I'll try to take lotsa pics though I must admit uploading them (and the vids especially) is a chore. In fact, I'll be back the following Tue, and have Wed to Fri to sort things out before I return to work.
So anyone wants to buy LM clothing from the clothing store? Instructors, pls SMS me your orders!
http://zhengjie-auckland.blogspot.com/2008/08/auckland-redux.html
Lots of things to be cleared. I haven't started packing yet, haven't checked the address of my accomodation, haven't even started clearing my work before I embark on my little adventure.
I worked till about 10pm today, just clearing as much work as possible. I don't want lingering issues, and I hate leaving shit for my colleagues.
This time round, what do I want to achieve from the trip? I don't really know, I guess most importantly, I do need a break from work and the financial markets to recharge myself, secondly, I want to participate in the filmings, and I guess I can perhaps spend some time exploring Auckland if time permits. I'll have plenty of time but maybe I'll spend it at the casino to try my luck.
Filming wise, I guess I won't be having too high expectations this time round just in case I get disappointed. I know February was a one-off affair where everything was in conjunction with the Global Summit, and doing the filming masterclasses with hundreds of trainers is just awesome. I expect it to be a smaller affair this time round.
As usual I'll try to take lotsa pics though I must admit uploading them (and the vids especially) is a chore. In fact, I'll be back the following Tue, and have Wed to Fri to sort things out before I return to work.
So anyone wants to buy LM clothing from the clothing store? Instructors, pls SMS me your orders!
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Today's classes
Coming off BC37, today I started mixing for my Sat classes and I certainly had a lot of fun doing it. When I was a participant doing BC, one of the things which I looked forward most to a class was the anticipation of which track the instructor would play.
I like doing new releases but not for too long as it get boring. And sometimes I also don't like instructors who play the tracks from the entire release as I like being kept in suspense. But then again, sometimes I'm guilty myself of playing the entire release - BC25/BC28/BC30/BC34.
For the morning STC class, I decided to go retro! I chose tracks from N&G days, and it felt really good. I enjoyed doing them very much as it's been so long since I did those tracks. Some of the members clearly enjoyed doing the old tracks, it was easy and there were lotsa opportunities to shout along. I was talking to Wei Li, who also attended the class, she quite liked the old songs too. Scooter and all those europop haha.
For the afternoon PP class, I decided to choose the crowd favourites from the 20s releases. Not N&G but D&R's tracks. Particularly enjoyed doing If I Were You and The 6th Gate. Maybe my fitness levels has dropped ever since I became a weekend warrior, but I barely made through 'The 6th Gate' in my usual swashbuckling style. This MT is freaking siong.
So we had a few mins to spare and I walked to my ipod and just mumbled over the mic, "we have time for one more, shall we do something from the new release?"
That was when I heard a murmur in the crowd "Sea of Love". It was so rare to hear that from anyone, especially the PP crowd. Of course I duly obliged. Sea of Love is definitely going to be a perennial favourite. I can almost guarantee that.
I like doing new releases but not for too long as it get boring. And sometimes I also don't like instructors who play the tracks from the entire release as I like being kept in suspense. But then again, sometimes I'm guilty myself of playing the entire release - BC25/BC28/BC30/BC34.
For the morning STC class, I decided to go retro! I chose tracks from N&G days, and it felt really good. I enjoyed doing them very much as it's been so long since I did those tracks. Some of the members clearly enjoyed doing the old tracks, it was easy and there were lotsa opportunities to shout along. I was talking to Wei Li, who also attended the class, she quite liked the old songs too. Scooter and all those europop haha.
For the afternoon PP class, I decided to choose the crowd favourites from the 20s releases. Not N&G but D&R's tracks. Particularly enjoyed doing If I Were You and The 6th Gate. Maybe my fitness levels has dropped ever since I became a weekend warrior, but I barely made through 'The 6th Gate' in my usual swashbuckling style. This MT is freaking siong.
So we had a few mins to spare and I walked to my ipod and just mumbled over the mic, "we have time for one more, shall we do something from the new release?"
That was when I heard a murmur in the crowd "Sea of Love". It was so rare to hear that from anyone, especially the PP crowd. Of course I duly obliged. Sea of Love is definitely going to be a perennial favourite. I can almost guarantee that.
BC37 review
Been planning to write this for the longest time but I've been bogged down by work. Anyway, talking about BC37, I guess it is one of my favourite releases ever, so many tracks that I like, could be my second or third favourite after my current favourite - BC34!
Have to do my usual disclaimer in case I'm taken out of context again - the below review is my own personal thoughts and feelings about the tracks.
T1 Warm up - Summer of 69/I Never Liked You
I think this is an average warm-up. Nothing too spectacular in terms of music and choreo. Started out not liking these 2 songs very much, but after listening and doing so many times, it's still manageable. Pales in comparison to BC36's Walking in Memphis/James Bond Theme. 6.5/10
T2 Combat 1 - Beat It
I love this song. Musically, I think it's great. Choreo wise, a little simple, but I think within the context of this song, I doubt anyone else could have come up with better choreo. Definitely one of my future recycled tracks. 8/10
T3 Power 1 - Baby I'll Love You More
Started out not really liking this song, but this song just grows on me. The more I play this song, the more I like it. My only grumble is that the choreo is a little too simple for a power 1 track. Other than that, no complaints! 8.5/10
T4 Combat 2 - We Will Survive/The Great Bouzouki
I guess the jury is divided on this one. While reading forums and hearing comments from members, many like this track. But for myself, I just can't seem to appreciate it. One of the two tracks I didn't like when I first got my music/DVD, and even after teaching it quite a few times, didn't really quite get into the zone.
This track burns the legs, but I'm sure any ESK track would have matched that. Bring back the ESK for T4! This one didn't work for me. 6/10
T5 Power 2 - How Far We've Come
One of my favourite T5 ever. I've always liked Matchbox Twenty's songs, and it was damn cool to have this track in BC. I like singing along to 'Let's see how far we've come'. Choreo simple enough. 10/10
T6 Combat 2 - Stamp
This track is an enigma for me. On certain days I like the track, on certain days I don't. I haven't come to the conclusion whether I like the esquiva or not. I certainly like the capoeira movements in BC, but I will leave this open as to how the esquiva can be used in combos like the ESK, but given the creativity of D&R, I'm not ruling anything out.
Music wise, sometimes I like the song, sometimes I don't! Choreo wise, sometimes I think it's great, sometimes I think it's messy. Rarely have I had such conflicting thoughts on a single track. Maybe I will like this song after seeing how esquiva works in BC38... maybe... 6/10
T7 Muay Thai - Let The Beat Control Your Body
Full marks! Haha, even before I start, let it be known that i LOVE this track to bits. Pace, power and precision. I love the exhilaration I feel in this track. I think the last MT I really really liked was BC32's Check Your Head. Gosh that was so long ago. I always get into my 'attitude' mood when playing this track and I love the downward punches that keep me breathless everytime. 10/10!
T8 Combat 3 - Sea Of Love
This track is a universal favourite. When I first got wind of this track being in BC37, I've already loved it. When I got the DVD, I loved it even more. When I taught the track, I loved every moment of it, especially the first time I taught it during launch. The explosiveness of the track and the catchy lyrics. Can I give 10.5 upon 10? Haha. 10/10!
T9 Conditioning - Church
The pushups are a killer! I must say that I don't really like this song, don't know why, and I don't even like it in BJ. Of course they can't please everyone with their track selection, but I'll take a rock song over R&B/hip hop for a conditioning track any day. 5/10
T10 Cool Down - Our Solemn Hour
This cooldown is brilliant. Love the kata and the choreo is a bit drama at times, but the song just fits perfectly. The only thing I don't like about the choreo is the kneeling at the end of the track. It kills our knees! 8.5/10
There you have it. BC37 - awesome release!
Have to do my usual disclaimer in case I'm taken out of context again - the below review is my own personal thoughts and feelings about the tracks.
T1 Warm up - Summer of 69/I Never Liked You
I think this is an average warm-up. Nothing too spectacular in terms of music and choreo. Started out not liking these 2 songs very much, but after listening and doing so many times, it's still manageable. Pales in comparison to BC36's Walking in Memphis/James Bond Theme. 6.5/10
T2 Combat 1 - Beat It
I love this song. Musically, I think it's great. Choreo wise, a little simple, but I think within the context of this song, I doubt anyone else could have come up with better choreo. Definitely one of my future recycled tracks. 8/10
T3 Power 1 - Baby I'll Love You More
Started out not really liking this song, but this song just grows on me. The more I play this song, the more I like it. My only grumble is that the choreo is a little too simple for a power 1 track. Other than that, no complaints! 8.5/10
T4 Combat 2 - We Will Survive/The Great Bouzouki
I guess the jury is divided on this one. While reading forums and hearing comments from members, many like this track. But for myself, I just can't seem to appreciate it. One of the two tracks I didn't like when I first got my music/DVD, and even after teaching it quite a few times, didn't really quite get into the zone.
This track burns the legs, but I'm sure any ESK track would have matched that. Bring back the ESK for T4! This one didn't work for me. 6/10
T5 Power 2 - How Far We've Come
One of my favourite T5 ever. I've always liked Matchbox Twenty's songs, and it was damn cool to have this track in BC. I like singing along to 'Let's see how far we've come'. Choreo simple enough. 10/10
T6 Combat 2 - Stamp
This track is an enigma for me. On certain days I like the track, on certain days I don't. I haven't come to the conclusion whether I like the esquiva or not. I certainly like the capoeira movements in BC, but I will leave this open as to how the esquiva can be used in combos like the ESK, but given the creativity of D&R, I'm not ruling anything out.
Music wise, sometimes I like the song, sometimes I don't! Choreo wise, sometimes I think it's great, sometimes I think it's messy. Rarely have I had such conflicting thoughts on a single track. Maybe I will like this song after seeing how esquiva works in BC38... maybe... 6/10
T7 Muay Thai - Let The Beat Control Your Body
Full marks! Haha, even before I start, let it be known that i LOVE this track to bits. Pace, power and precision. I love the exhilaration I feel in this track. I think the last MT I really really liked was BC32's Check Your Head. Gosh that was so long ago. I always get into my 'attitude' mood when playing this track and I love the downward punches that keep me breathless everytime. 10/10!
T8 Combat 3 - Sea Of Love
This track is a universal favourite. When I first got wind of this track being in BC37, I've already loved it. When I got the DVD, I loved it even more. When I taught the track, I loved every moment of it, especially the first time I taught it during launch. The explosiveness of the track and the catchy lyrics. Can I give 10.5 upon 10? Haha. 10/10!
T9 Conditioning - Church
The pushups are a killer! I must say that I don't really like this song, don't know why, and I don't even like it in BJ. Of course they can't please everyone with their track selection, but I'll take a rock song over R&B/hip hop for a conditioning track any day. 5/10
T10 Cool Down - Our Solemn Hour
This cooldown is brilliant. Love the kata and the choreo is a bit drama at times, but the song just fits perfectly. The only thing I don't like about the choreo is the kneeling at the end of the track. It kills our knees! 8.5/10
There you have it. BC37 - awesome release!
Monday, October 13, 2008
BODYCOMBAT 38
I know you want it, so here it is!
Warm Up - Writing On The Wall/Because The Night - 2–4 Grooves/Cascada
Combat 1 - Try It Again - The Hives
Power 1 - Like I Feel (Squad E Mix) - D Code feat. Emma
Combat 2 - Headbangerz Rock Da Club/Cold As Ice - Nick Skitz/Starsplash
Power 2 - The Best Damn Thing - Avril Lavigne
Combat 3 - No Good (Start The Dance) - The Prodigy
Muay Thai - Raver's Paradise - Nick Skitz feat MC BB (Stadium Mix)
Power 3 - What Hurts The Most (Al Storm Remix) - Cascada
Conditioning - When I Grow Up - The Pussycat Dolls
Cool Down - Say (All I Need) - OneRepublic
Warm Up - Writing On The Wall/Because The Night - 2–4 Grooves/Cascada
Combat 1 - Try It Again - The Hives
Power 1 - Like I Feel (Squad E Mix) - D Code feat. Emma
Combat 2 - Headbangerz Rock Da Club/Cold As Ice - Nick Skitz/Starsplash
Power 2 - The Best Damn Thing - Avril Lavigne
Combat 3 - No Good (Start The Dance) - The Prodigy
Muay Thai - Raver's Paradise - Nick Skitz feat MC BB (Stadium Mix)
Power 3 - What Hurts The Most (Al Storm Remix) - Cascada
Conditioning - When I Grow Up - The Pussycat Dolls
Cool Down - Say (All I Need) - OneRepublic
'Pink' in Combat / Recycling tracks
We've had quite a few Pink tracks in recent BC history, and they've all been quite good. BC28 lower warm up - Trouble, and the two track 6s - BC31's U & Ur Hand and BC32's Leave Me Alone (one of my personal favs).
I'm heading down to Auckland later this month for the filming, can't believe it's only 2 weeks away... and soundbites are out that Pink is going to be in BC39.
Everything's great, but the sad thing is that it's gonna be in BP69 as well. I'm not sure if I've mentioned this to anyone before, but I hate tracks being recycled for other programs. I think when tracks are recycled they sort of lose their orginality and uniqueness for that track and choreography. Even if I like that song very very much, I would also discount it slightly.
Maybe that's the reason why I didn't like We Will Survive. Oops, did I just reveal one of only two tracks I don't like in BC37? Been used in BP before years ago and I still can't dissociate it from BP. The other one, the conditioning track 'Church' is being used in exactly the same release cycle in Bodyjam! It just feels funny doing it.
The exception of course is if the cooldown tracks are being used for Bodybalance, which is a totally different feel.
The worst thing I discovered is that Les Mills doesn't get it any cheaper for using the same song in 2 programs, so they still have to pay the licence fees separately. If that's the case, why re-use the song?
I'm heading down to Auckland later this month for the filming, can't believe it's only 2 weeks away... and soundbites are out that Pink is going to be in BC39.
Everything's great, but the sad thing is that it's gonna be in BP69 as well. I'm not sure if I've mentioned this to anyone before, but I hate tracks being recycled for other programs. I think when tracks are recycled they sort of lose their orginality and uniqueness for that track and choreography. Even if I like that song very very much, I would also discount it slightly.
Maybe that's the reason why I didn't like We Will Survive. Oops, did I just reveal one of only two tracks I don't like in BC37? Been used in BP before years ago and I still can't dissociate it from BP. The other one, the conditioning track 'Church' is being used in exactly the same release cycle in Bodyjam! It just feels funny doing it.
The exception of course is if the cooldown tracks are being used for Bodybalance, which is a totally different feel.
The worst thing I discovered is that Les Mills doesn't get it any cheaper for using the same song in 2 programs, so they still have to pay the licence fees separately. If that's the case, why re-use the song?
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Crabs, Crabs and Crabs
Just a very quick update before I go watch England vs Kazakhstan.
It's been a really satisfying week thus far, with all the hardship at work culminating in not one but two crab dinners. I love eating crabs and hanging out with crabs so Fri and Sat has been lovely.
First up - Fri nite. One of my colleagues suddenly had a wacky idea, and soon 15 of us gathered and had a nice dinner at this 'zi char' place opp Punggol Park. The crabs were fantastic. My boss joked that the response is even better than offsite trip. After the dinner, we adjourned for a few drinks, and I left feeling slightly high.
Sat - My 2 classes as usual, not sure if it was the pre-weekend drinks, or the fact that I've officially become a weekend warrior, I was spent by the time I finished conducting both my classes, and had no more energy for Bodyjam.
Came home, went for my weekly fix of foot massage, before rushing my ass down to TPY for our Crabby dinner, which was arranged so damn long ago. We were supposed to have it last Sat, but last min a few of us came down with bad throats (myself included) so we postponed it.
7 of us LM junkies - myself, Lynn, Chris Boy, Vivi, Wei Li, Jean and Eric - had a massive dose of crustaceans before an ice-cream overload at Swensens.
I nearly forgot I had a class to conduct on Sun (tmr), and it was only when WL mentioned that tmr have to 'work' then I remembered.
It is still hard for me to classify conducting classes as work. I love doing it, so why should it be called 'work'? Can I call it a passion, a hobby or an interest?
The enthusiasm still burns within, only that I don't have that much time to devote. At this juncture in my life, perhaps it is better for me to pursue what all 'crabs' crave - security.
It's been a really satisfying week thus far, with all the hardship at work culminating in not one but two crab dinners. I love eating crabs and hanging out with crabs so Fri and Sat has been lovely.
First up - Fri nite. One of my colleagues suddenly had a wacky idea, and soon 15 of us gathered and had a nice dinner at this 'zi char' place opp Punggol Park. The crabs were fantastic. My boss joked that the response is even better than offsite trip. After the dinner, we adjourned for a few drinks, and I left feeling slightly high.
Sat - My 2 classes as usual, not sure if it was the pre-weekend drinks, or the fact that I've officially become a weekend warrior, I was spent by the time I finished conducting both my classes, and had no more energy for Bodyjam.
Came home, went for my weekly fix of foot massage, before rushing my ass down to TPY for our Crabby dinner, which was arranged so damn long ago. We were supposed to have it last Sat, but last min a few of us came down with bad throats (myself included) so we postponed it.
7 of us LM junkies - myself, Lynn, Chris Boy, Vivi, Wei Li, Jean and Eric - had a massive dose of crustaceans before an ice-cream overload at Swensens.
I nearly forgot I had a class to conduct on Sun (tmr), and it was only when WL mentioned that tmr have to 'work' then I remembered.
It is still hard for me to classify conducting classes as work. I love doing it, so why should it be called 'work'? Can I call it a passion, a hobby or an interest?
The enthusiasm still burns within, only that I don't have that much time to devote. At this juncture in my life, perhaps it is better for me to pursue what all 'crabs' crave - security.
Monday, October 6, 2008
What Hurts The Most
Loving this song lots! Cascada's cover is really catchy.
*********************************************
I can take the rain on the roof of this empty house, that don't bother me
I can take a few tears now and then and just let them out
I'm not afraid to cry
Every once in a while even though goin on with you gone still upsets me
There are days
Every now and again I pretend I'm OK but that's not what gets me
[Chorus:]
What hurts the most, was being so close
And having so much to say
And watching you walk away
Never knowing, what could have been
And not seeing that loving you
Is what I was trying to do
It's hard to deal with the pain of losing you everywhere I go
But I'm doing it
It's hard to force that smile when I see our old friends and I'm alone
Still harder gettin up, gettin dressed, living with this regret
But I know if I could do it over
I would trade, give away all the words that I saved in my heart that I left unspoken
What hurts the most, was being so close
And having so much to say
And watching you walk away
Never knowing, what could have been
And not seeing that loving you
Is what I was trying to do
I'm not afraid to cry
Every once in a while even though goin on with you gone still upsets me
There are days
Every now and again I pretend I'm OK but that's not what gets me
*********************************************
I can take the rain on the roof of this empty house, that don't bother me
I can take a few tears now and then and just let them out
I'm not afraid to cry
Every once in a while even though goin on with you gone still upsets me
There are days
Every now and again I pretend I'm OK but that's not what gets me
[Chorus:]
What hurts the most, was being so close
And having so much to say
And watching you walk away
Never knowing, what could have been
And not seeing that loving you
Is what I was trying to do
It's hard to deal with the pain of losing you everywhere I go
But I'm doing it
It's hard to force that smile when I see our old friends and I'm alone
Still harder gettin up, gettin dressed, living with this regret
But I know if I could do it over
I would trade, give away all the words that I saved in my heart that I left unspoken
What hurts the most, was being so close
And having so much to say
And watching you walk away
Never knowing, what could have been
And not seeing that loving you
Is what I was trying to do
I'm not afraid to cry
Every once in a while even though goin on with you gone still upsets me
There are days
Every now and again I pretend I'm OK but that's not what gets me
Saturday, October 4, 2008
BODYBALANCE 43
The Tai Chi Track has only two moves, allowing us to sink deeply into our breathing, and immerse ourselves in the simplicity of Coldplay's Lost.
Transiting through the playfulness of the Sun Salutations to Standing Strength, the focus shifts to power, culminating in the challenging Bent Knee Floating Half Moon Pose accompanied by the uplifting Mary J Blighe song, Come to Me.
Prepare for drama. The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus' Soft Rock hit, Your Guardian Angel soars through the Balance Track. This unites with the Angel Sequence to challenge and uplift us.
Invite members to extend into the intense Quad/Abductor Stretch, increasing hip mobility and potentially improving knee alignment, before releasing into a delicious, extended Happy Baby Pose, which does magic for the hips.
Plenty of options are needed in the wickedly tough Core Tracks, overflowing with kooky innovations like Commando Crawls and Plank Pose Pullbacks. Warning – these moves will transform your body!
Sheryl Crow's Always On Your Side is back by popular demand, this time in a duet with Sting, to gently twist us free and begin the glorious descent into Forward Folds and Meditation.
***************************************************
When I first heard BP66's cooldown - Always On Your Side, by Sheryl Crow (duet with Sting), I thought that this would be great for a BB track and it would appear in BB one day.
Little did I know that Sheryl Crow's solo version already appeared in BB33! And the worst thing is the DVD/CD is sitting at home untouched.
I'm so glad it's back for BB43. Great track!
Transiting through the playfulness of the Sun Salutations to Standing Strength, the focus shifts to power, culminating in the challenging Bent Knee Floating Half Moon Pose accompanied by the uplifting Mary J Blighe song, Come to Me.
Prepare for drama. The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus' Soft Rock hit, Your Guardian Angel soars through the Balance Track. This unites with the Angel Sequence to challenge and uplift us.
Invite members to extend into the intense Quad/Abductor Stretch, increasing hip mobility and potentially improving knee alignment, before releasing into a delicious, extended Happy Baby Pose, which does magic for the hips.
Plenty of options are needed in the wickedly tough Core Tracks, overflowing with kooky innovations like Commando Crawls and Plank Pose Pullbacks. Warning – these moves will transform your body!
Sheryl Crow's Always On Your Side is back by popular demand, this time in a duet with Sting, to gently twist us free and begin the glorious descent into Forward Folds and Meditation.
***************************************************
When I first heard BP66's cooldown - Always On Your Side, by Sheryl Crow (duet with Sting), I thought that this would be great for a BB track and it would appear in BB one day.
Little did I know that Sheryl Crow's solo version already appeared in BB33! And the worst thing is the DVD/CD is sitting at home untouched.
I'm so glad it's back for BB43. Great track!
BODYCOMBAT 38
Gosh... even before we finish our new launch BC37 (I haven't even posted my reviews yet), BC38 is on its way!
This time round, it's going to be even more exciting, as a few of us instructors are going all the way to Bangkok quarterly workshop to sample BC38.
***************************************************
Get ready for Kick KATAs, leg conditioning and shoulder-smashing Punch combos because BODYCOMBAT™ 38 – the ultimate heavyweight Boxing release – is gonna take no prisoners!
There's no gentle easing into this class – Track 2 features three separate combos but The Hives' Try It Again will motivate you to "Get up, get down and try it again"!
The ultimate Kick KATA in Track 4 is a truly butt-blasting challenge – you'll chisel and shape your butt with the Back Kick and those deep Lunges in between really seal the deal!
Track 5, Avril Lavigne's The Best Damn Thing, sees the start of those new shoulder-smashing combos. Don't be fooled by the upbeat Pop music – this track is relentless!
You don't get a chance to catch your breath before powering into Track 6 – another butt and leg-toning track – with the Lunge & Esquiva Combo.
Kick-boxing and Capoeira have a strong presence in this track for which The Prodigy provide the motivating sounds required.
Cascada asks "What hurts the most?" in Track 8 and it's safe to say BODYCOMBAT™ hurts the most! Just when you think this track is over – pow, you've got another set to go.
***************************************************
Avril Lavigne in BC again! HOT! And Cascada's What Hurts The Most. I love this song!
This time round, it's going to be even more exciting, as a few of us instructors are going all the way to Bangkok quarterly workshop to sample BC38.
***************************************************
Get ready for Kick KATAs, leg conditioning and shoulder-smashing Punch combos because BODYCOMBAT™ 38 – the ultimate heavyweight Boxing release – is gonna take no prisoners!
There's no gentle easing into this class – Track 2 features three separate combos but The Hives' Try It Again will motivate you to "Get up, get down and try it again"!
The ultimate Kick KATA in Track 4 is a truly butt-blasting challenge – you'll chisel and shape your butt with the Back Kick and those deep Lunges in between really seal the deal!
Track 5, Avril Lavigne's The Best Damn Thing, sees the start of those new shoulder-smashing combos. Don't be fooled by the upbeat Pop music – this track is relentless!
You don't get a chance to catch your breath before powering into Track 6 – another butt and leg-toning track – with the Lunge & Esquiva Combo.
Kick-boxing and Capoeira have a strong presence in this track for which The Prodigy provide the motivating sounds required.
Cascada asks "What hurts the most?" in Track 8 and it's safe to say BODYCOMBAT™ hurts the most! Just when you think this track is over – pow, you've got another set to go.
***************************************************
Avril Lavigne in BC again! HOT! And Cascada's What Hurts The Most. I love this song!
Thursday, October 2, 2008
A Tale of 3 Scorpios
I read Scorpios like a book. I know how they function, I know exactly how they think and I know what makes them tick and what annoys them. I've been surrounded by Scorpio friends throughout my life. It's like a love-hate relationship. Sometimes what they do annoys me, but yet I enjoy the company of Scorpios the most. I can deal with their 'psycho' behaviour and they can handle the emo crabs. But one common thing about Scorpios is that they like to have their way. Every Scorpio I've met has been like that.
I had dinner with Mr S this evening. It was our first proper catch up dinner since my last trip, and also the first since I started work on this job proper. It was like NS days once again, I was telling him about my current job, what I liked and what I hated.
I like the work environment. I like my boss and my colleagues. I like the money. I like my seat. I like the nature of it. I like the fact that time passes really fast in a day and I have no spare time on my hands. Really?
I hate having no time. I don't like the fact that I'm losing my personal time. No time for gym activities, dinner with my ex-colleagues and my friends. I don't like working till 9:30pm everyday. I don't like accumulating bad karma points at work everyday. But that's life.
That aside, we had dinner at Kuriya. The food was amazing. We ordered a full course set dinner, and a fresh fish (half grilled and half for sashimi). The bill of course was amazing but everything was worth it. I don't mind paying for good food.
So during the dinner, I had a few SMSes with Ms S. Ms S is my colleague from another team, but from my training batch. We hit it off during training and have remained in close contact till now.
Ms S was feeling depressed at work, and I can totally understand how she was feeling. It made me remember our training days when we used to sneak off for coffees and blah blah blah... She would relate to me her evil ways and plans for revenge for those who have crossed her, and I would listen in amusement, believing every word she says, because, trust me, you would never ever want to offend a Scorpio.
Then I came home, I chatted to Ms Y (also a Scorpio) online. Ms Y is my ex-colleague and also never fails to amuse me with her Scorpio-like behaviour. It's true. Scorpios make me laugh.
Ms Y was telling me how angry she was and I probed further. Apparently, she screamed at her mother for buying saline for her when she wanted the multi-purpose solution to clean her contacts. And she's been using saline for two days blah blah blah... the story could go on, but that wasn't my point.
I gave Ms Y a dressing down. I asked her to put herself in the shoes of her mother and imagine how her mother felt. It must have been emotionally draining.
When the mother helped her buy the saline, she was probably feeling very happy that she bought something for her daughter. No parent in the world would want to buy something wrong for their kid intentionally.
Secondly, when her mother woke up from her sleep to rush to CHEERS to get it for her, and returned empty-handed because they don't stock it, she must have felt panic.
I felt like I could identify with Y's mother at that time. The feeling of panic and fear. Emotionally drained. I've been through all that before.
After hearing me out, Y felt really remorseful and asked me what she could do. I told her, for one, she could drop her mother a 'sorry' SMS so that when her mum wakes up, she can see it. Or she could eat some of the food her mum cooked for her but left in the fridge cos she had her dinner outside already.
It reminded me of an incident a few weeks back, when I left my laptop overnight to download the latest BC release, and my mum shut it for me. Needless to say, I lashed out the very next morning when I woke up, only to regret it for the entire day. It (me lashing out, and not the failed download) made me so ineffectual at work that I ended the day early and reached home at 7pm. Throughout the day, I was feeling the guilt of my mum for shutting my laptop, all because she had good intentions and thought I forgot to switch it off. I know she was feeling it.
That incident really made me wake up. Because after all this while, my mum is still the most important Scorpio in my life.
I had dinner with Mr S this evening. It was our first proper catch up dinner since my last trip, and also the first since I started work on this job proper. It was like NS days once again, I was telling him about my current job, what I liked and what I hated.
I like the work environment. I like my boss and my colleagues. I like the money. I like my seat. I like the nature of it. I like the fact that time passes really fast in a day and I have no spare time on my hands. Really?
I hate having no time. I don't like the fact that I'm losing my personal time. No time for gym activities, dinner with my ex-colleagues and my friends. I don't like working till 9:30pm everyday. I don't like accumulating bad karma points at work everyday. But that's life.
That aside, we had dinner at Kuriya. The food was amazing. We ordered a full course set dinner, and a fresh fish (half grilled and half for sashimi). The bill of course was amazing but everything was worth it. I don't mind paying for good food.
So during the dinner, I had a few SMSes with Ms S. Ms S is my colleague from another team, but from my training batch. We hit it off during training and have remained in close contact till now.
Ms S was feeling depressed at work, and I can totally understand how she was feeling. It made me remember our training days when we used to sneak off for coffees and blah blah blah... She would relate to me her evil ways and plans for revenge for those who have crossed her, and I would listen in amusement, believing every word she says, because, trust me, you would never ever want to offend a Scorpio.
Then I came home, I chatted to Ms Y (also a Scorpio) online. Ms Y is my ex-colleague and also never fails to amuse me with her Scorpio-like behaviour. It's true. Scorpios make me laugh.
Ms Y was telling me how angry she was and I probed further. Apparently, she screamed at her mother for buying saline for her when she wanted the multi-purpose solution to clean her contacts. And she's been using saline for two days blah blah blah... the story could go on, but that wasn't my point.
I gave Ms Y a dressing down. I asked her to put herself in the shoes of her mother and imagine how her mother felt. It must have been emotionally draining.
When the mother helped her buy the saline, she was probably feeling very happy that she bought something for her daughter. No parent in the world would want to buy something wrong for their kid intentionally.
Secondly, when her mother woke up from her sleep to rush to CHEERS to get it for her, and returned empty-handed because they don't stock it, she must have felt panic.
I felt like I could identify with Y's mother at that time. The feeling of panic and fear. Emotionally drained. I've been through all that before.
After hearing me out, Y felt really remorseful and asked me what she could do. I told her, for one, she could drop her mother a 'sorry' SMS so that when her mum wakes up, she can see it. Or she could eat some of the food her mum cooked for her but left in the fridge cos she had her dinner outside already.
It reminded me of an incident a few weeks back, when I left my laptop overnight to download the latest BC release, and my mum shut it for me. Needless to say, I lashed out the very next morning when I woke up, only to regret it for the entire day. It (me lashing out, and not the failed download) made me so ineffectual at work that I ended the day early and reached home at 7pm. Throughout the day, I was feeling the guilt of my mum for shutting my laptop, all because she had good intentions and thought I forgot to switch it off. I know she was feeling it.
That incident really made me wake up. Because after all this while, my mum is still the most important Scorpio in my life.
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